Danny LaPorte may be the epitome of motocross factory riders. He supported the brand that supported him. Of course, he had personal goals and objectives. He probably accomplished most of them. But what made Danny LaPorte stand out was his professional representation of the factory team. He was and still is “a team player.”

I met Danny in 1982 at the Swiss 250 Motocross Grand Prix (World Championship Series) in Payerne Switzerland. He had just replaced 1981 World Champion Neil Hudson as a Team Yamaha factory rider. I was taken with his professional attitude and media-savvy representation of the team. He confided that a part of his agreement with Yamaha was attendance at what he called “charm school.” He was obviously a good student. After hearing my first name once, Danny never forgot. Name recall had been a part of the “charm school” curriculum.

The recent turmoil in the AMA Supercross and Supercross Lites series inspired this article. The immaturity and lack of professionalism amongst some “professional” riders is embarrassing to all concerned – factory, riders, fans and the AMA. It may have happened during my days as a motor sports journalist but, if so, it was a well-kept secret. And, I do not think it is because the Internet makes such information so much more accessible. I can’t imagine Danny LaPorte involved in such childishness. Nor, can I imagine a factory allowing its brand to be so tarnished.

His “company man” attitude did not mean that Danny LaPorte was a “yes man.” He started that season on a bike that he hated. Hated may be a bit strong. Danny had problems with the new liquid cooled Yamaha, especially on muddy tracks. After a few races he forced a switch to the more reliable air-cooled bike. Let someone else be the “test rider.” Danny wanted to win. As far as I know, that was never publicized and Danny never complained publicly.

Another inspiration to write this came from a friend asking about the most exciting race I had covered. Motocross is exciting. I can’t pick a specific race that was the most exciting. I do, however, think one of the most important races I ever witnessed was the Fourth of July meeting between Danny LaPorte and Georges Jobe at the Dutch 250 MX GP in Mill Holland in their intense competition in the 1982 Motocross World Championship Series. For me, it was THE RACE that made Danny LaPorte America’s first 250cc Motocross World Champion.

LaPorte and Jobe came into that race tied for second in the standings. Dutchman Kees van der Ven had a slight lead and was on his home track. Kees van der Ven was not considered a serious threat. He had never been able to stay with Jobe in head-to-head competition. The Suzuki Team was concerned enough about Danny LaPorte, however, to put sand specialist Henk van Mierlo on a factory bike to help put some distance between Jobe and LaPorte.  The image on the right is Jobe who is very comfortable on sand tracks.

Before the race, LaPorte laughed about the idea of a sand specialist. Why would anyone consider sand an obstacle to him, Danny wondered. “Don’t they realize that I learned to ride in the Mojave Desert,” he grinned? He went on to humiliate Jobe that day – Jobe, van der Ven and the Suzuki sand specialist, Henk van Mierlo. LaPorte won both motos, coming from behind in each.  See image on left.  That was THE RACE that broke Jobe’s confidence – and put any doubts out of Danny LaPorte’s mind. He Knew he could win.

Rather than rewrite history, I will quote from a World Championship Series wrap-up that I wrote for the Stars&Stripes on July 21, 1982. The article was written with just three races remaining in the series:

Story and pboto
By WARREN M. PRICE
At the beginning of the 1982 season, the question was: “Who will finish second to Georges Jobe in the 250cc class of World Championship motocross?”
The Belgian rider Jobe, world champion in 1980, appeared seemingly unchallenged after the departure of Britain’s Neil Hudson, last year’s 250cc titleholder, who had moved up to the 500cc class.
Dutchman Kees van der Ven, consistent finisher but rarely a winner on his KTM, was the name most often mentioned as a possible runner-up to Jobe. West Germany’s Roll Dieffenbach had an erratic ‘81 season and was considered too heavy to be consistent on a 250cc Honda. The American Mike Guerra, sixth last season on a Husqvarna, was not figured to place any higher in ‘82.
Another American Danny LaPorte had raised a few eyebrows last fall with his impressive rides in the 250cc Trophee des Nations in Belgium and the 500cc Motocross des Nations in Germany. LaPorte had led the upstart American team to first-time victories in both events, leaving the European teams in mild shock.
But for ’82 LaPorte was considered as too inexperienced to be taken seriously, despite Yamaha factory support he bad inherited from the Briton Hudson.
It would be a good race for second place, the experts said, but not one of these riders was considered a remote threat to Jobe on his Suzuki.
But all that “expert speculation” came before the start of the 1982 season.
LaPorte, instead of battling other riders for second place in the standings, is leading Jobe and all the rest for the 250cc world crown. And he’s doing it on the strength of four straight grand prix victories, the latest one scored Sunday over Jobe in the Russian Grand Prix.
In the Soviet event, LaPorte won the first moto and Jobe finished second. In the second moto, it was vice versa, with Jobe the winner and LaPorte runner-up. But the American rider was fastest on aggregate time from both events, and he walked proudly onto the victory stand as winner of the Russian Grand Prix.
LaPorte, of Torrance, Calif., now leads for the world title with 173 points to Jobe’s 167 so it’s all very close, with only three GPs remaining — the US GP at New Berlin, N.Y. on Aug. 1; the Finnish GP at Hyvinkaa on Aug. 22, and the Swedish round at Vimmerby on Aug. 29.
While LaPorte’s victory in Russia was a dramatic one, his earlier triumph in he Dutch GP came as one of the most important in his career. It was a turning point, so to speak, and it occurred on the all-American date of July 4. When the Dutch race had ended that day, LaPorte had emerged with his third straight grand prix victory after beating Jobe soundly in both motos.

Refused start money at last year’s Motocross des Nations because he was an unknown, LaPorte is now the dominant 250cc rider in European motocross. What a difference a year makes!
But he started the ‘82 season slowly, troubled by a flat tire in the Swiss round, a lapse of concentration in Spain, and an ignition malfunction in Belgium. Although a bit discouraged, the young American’s confidence began to return when he won the second moto of the Czechoslovakian Grand Prix.
He scored well in the Italian GP, which van der Ven won, but Jobe still led the standings by nearly 50 points.
Despite Jobe’s big lead, he was not invincible. After all, Guerra, the other American in 250cc competition, had beaten Jobe twice and had also won the Spanish GP at Barcelona. In addition Dieffenbach had been the over-all winner in the Czech GP and Van Der Ven had beaten Jobe in Italy.
LaPorte’s first European GP victory came in France, where he won the first moto and placed third in the second to take overall honors. His victory was somewhat hollow, however, because Jobe had not raced. The Belgian had chosen, instead, to allow his injured elbow to recuperate.
But LaPorte had found the confidence he needed with his French victory, and he won again in England and moved into a tie with Jobe for second place in the world 250cc standings. Van der Ven, who had split six of the last seven motos with LaPorte, was leading by two slim points.
But until the Dutch round on July 4, European fans remained skeptical. Jobe had been riding hurt in England, they said, and LaPorte was just lucky. Van der Ven would blow LaPorte away in the sands of Holland and Jobe would beat them both when his elbow healed.
Three weeks elapsed between the British GP and the Dutch round, enough time for Jobe to recuperate. He declared himself ready for the stretch run.
Van der Ven, racing at home, is good on sand and a healthy Jobe is good on any track. And Henk van Mierlo, another Dutch sand specialist, had been given a factory Suzuki ride for the Dutch round. LaPorte would have to ride a great race to stay with the GP veterans.
And that he did.
He beat Jobe in the first moto by two seconds, then vanquished the Belgian again in the second moto by and even greater margin – seven seconds.
Heikki Mikkola of Finland, the Yamaha team manager, was ecstatic about LaPorte’s performance. Mikkola, himself a four-time world motocross champion, said, “Today I saw a motocrosser. Danny rode a perfect race … not one mistake. I’ve never seen a better race.”
LaPorte had beaten Jobe twice, and had come from behind each time. He had won his third consecutive GP, taken the lead in the world championship standings, and won the respect of motocross experts and fans alike. He would not have to beg for starting money again.
“It was a great Fourth of July,” said a smiling Danny LaPorte.

Danny LaPorte was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in 2000.  His profile is a great read. See it at:
http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/hofbiopage.asp?id=211

l8r

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The start of a motocross race is one of the most exciting events in all of sports. It will often be a featured photograph in any publication’s coverage of the race. The image to the left is from the start of the second moto of the Freestone National of the AMA/Toyota Motocross Lites National Championship Series in Wortham, Texas on June 8, 2008. Ryan Sypes (57) has just grabbed the holeshot ahead of Austin Stroupe (51) and Brett Metcalfe (123) and thirty-seven other racers. But the starting referenced in the title of this article is not about the start of a motocross race.  This article is about what to do after you have perfected your skills.  To read more about photographing a race, read this article –  or for action photography in general, check the Link to “Action Photography Tutorial.”

I gave up on being a famous photojournalist after returning from Europe in the early 80s. Races were just too far apart and time off from the day job became unmanageable. It wasn’t until I bought a dirt bike for my grandson that my love for racing resurfaced.

My grandson and I began to share the MX magazines and talk about Papa’s days as a photojournalist. I replaced the old film cameras with digital and started to photograph my grandson and his riding buddies. Soon the desire was at fever pitch. I’m retired. Time is the least of my problems. “Why not,” I thought. I emailed some of the old contacts and soon was back in business. I wasn’t interested in a full-time job but did feel a great rush when I got an assignment to cover an AHRMA (vintage motocross) National in Jefferson, Texas. Just as with my first article, Brad Lackey was my subject.  Lackey is second from left in the photo to the right.  The article was about this replica of the bike he rode to the World Championship in 1982.

If you are interested in a place to start, I would recommend Cycle News. They publish a lot of local events in their Regional Events Section. I contacted Paul Carruthers and David Holther for their approval before posting this article. If you are willing to work for practically nothing, contact David Holther, Regional Events Editor at Cycle News, and request a copy of their Contributor Guide. David’s email address is:
david@cyclenews.com

This is not an automatic. You have to have some writing skills and snapshots of your friend on a bike won’t make the grade. If you want to be accepted at a professional level, you must play the part. I had references and an “old” resume to offer. You may need to cover a few races on your own, submitting an article, results and a picture for consideration. Having an article published does not mean instant acceptance but you can start thinking about and planning for your move toward the front pages; maybe a two-page feature. 

The most difficult part (for me) was formatting the results in accordance with the contributor guide. You will need cooperation of the race organizer or track owner. Before the race starts, you will need a printed list of all the entrants and their race numbers. It would also help if any sponsors were included on the list. After the race, you will need a printout of the results. Cycle News may accept the results from the race without an article but will not accept your article and photo without the results.

You will seldom see more than one of your photographs published with a Regional Events article. Your article should be short and specific, normally no more than 500 words. That is not enough space to cover every race of an amateur event. You will have to be selective. As for pictures, a good rule of thumb is: One rider is riding, two riders is racing, three or more is a race. I believe the guidelines will recommend including more than one rider in your photographs. The photo to the left is the start of an amateur event at a local Texas track. Notice that it is just as exciting as start of the professional race at the top of this article.

Putting these articles together is hard work. It is a slow and tedious process and you will ALWAYS find a discouraging problem. You are also working to a deadline. David Holther will advise you that the earlier he receives an article the more likely it will be published. As with anything else, completing the process a few times and getting some experience (and confidence) makes it seem simpler. And, you are building a resume.

As you put your article together, you may think of offering it to your local newspaper. I seldom see motocross or motorcycle racing in the local papers. But, that is probably because they do not have the staff to cover the event. Give them a call. What do you have to lose? Your track owners and race organizers would certainly appreciate the publicity. It could make you a very welcome sight at their tracks and events.

I hope you find some inspiration and helpful information in this article. I will publish more as I think of it but need to get back to my first love in future articles … The Legends of Motorcycling.

l8r

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This week finds me pushing away from the “how to” stuff and just remembering how fortunate I have been.  My camera allowed me to be a part of one of the most exciting sports in the world – motocross.  It brought me close to super heroes and some of the zaniest characters ever.  One of my super heroes, David Bailey, was born December 31, 1961, in San Diego California.  In honor of his birthday, I’m dedicating this post to “The Icon.”

I first met David Bailey in Gaildorf, West Germany in September 1982.  He was rushed to Germany to replace Donnie Hansen on the US Motocross and Trophee des Nations Team.  Hansen was injured while practicing for these events.  The accident was essentially the end of his career and the beginning of David Bailey’s ascension to Super Hero status.  Ultimately, both riders were inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

One of my first images of The Icon was less than flattering. It was right after the first moto of the Trophee des Nations and he was puking his guts out.  In the rush to replace Donnie Hansen, David was not allowed a lot of transition time.  He was exhausted from the unplanned trip, adapting to a new time zone and sleep (or lack of) schedule, and had just raced his heart out for Team USA.  Against the best motocross racers the world had to offer this hardly heard of American had just hung on for an eighth place finish, enough to place his team first going into the final race.  Certainly no shame in that well-earned puke.  :-) 

1982 was the year after the Americans won their first ever Motocross des Nations title and the same year that one of the zaniest, most revered motocrossers of all time won all four motos of the Motocross and Trophee des Nations, a never-before-accomplished feat.  And, it was to never again be accomplished.  But this is not about Magoo (Danny Chandler.)  It’s the Icon’s birthday.  :-)

After a brief recovery, Bailey went on to an even better finish in the second moto.  He was sixth.  The Americans clobbered the world, placing all four team members in the top ten of each moto and winning the Trophee des Nations Championship by 21 points.

The following week, the team was in Wohlen, Switzerland for the Motocross des Nations.  Europeans looked at the 250cc bikes (Trophee des Nations) as a training ground for the “real” championship – the 500cc Open Class.  Though the American team had also won the Motocross des Nations in 1981, it was still regarded as a fluke by the rest of the world.  Magoo won both “big bike” motos and David Bailey was even better than on the 250; he finished fourth in the first moto behind Danny Chandler, Andre Vromans and David Thorpe.  He beat everyone but Magoo in the second moto and the fluke continued. 

That team of David Bailey, Johnny O’Mara, Danny Chandler and Jim Gibson is on my list of Super Heroes.  Man, those guys could ride.

I later wrote an article about Jim Gibson and his move to Yamaha.  See the previous blog post for that article.  David Bailey won both 250cc Motocross and Supercross championships in 1983, as well as again beating the world’s best by winning  the 250 USGP in Unadilla.  He and Brian Myerscough had one of the hardest fought most exciting motocross races I have ever seen, with Bailey taking the championship by beating such notables as Georges Jobe, Danny LaPorte, and Heinz Kinigadner –  all of whom are former 250cc World Champions.

Danny Chandler made a mockery of the 500cc Support Class at that event, winning so easily that he finished riding backwards on his Honda.

Unfortunately, I never got to watch Johnny O’Mara race again, although he went on to assemble one of the most impressive motocross resumes in the history of the sport.  Man, those guys could ride.

Though an unfortunate crash in 1987 ended his racing career, David Bailey still is one of the most authoritative voices in our sport.  It was his open letter to the industry that finally convinced me to spend over $400 on a piece of safety equipment for my grandson.  It is fun to think of those David Bailey days when I watch my grandson ride.  I even have a few pictures of him that look a little like the Icon.

 To the Icon, I say, “Thanks for the memories and Happy Birthday.” 

l8r

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Sources. Doesn’t that ring of intrigue, mystery? All those journalist quoting “reliable sources.” Or, “anonymous source.” Reporters being jailed for contempt of court. I don’t know how it works in today’s age of information. The Internet certainly opened a free flow of information. Still, knowledge is power, especially for people who make their living spreading the word.

It may not seem as important for a photographer but, as I stated earlier, writing or telling the story is the key to selling pictures. It is important to know your subject and understand all that it involves. It isn’t necessarily about the “scoop.” It is really about presenting the truth objectively. That requires knowledge of your subject.

I didn’t set out to develop sources. As a matter of fact, it happened quite serendipitously. Sources found me.

I don’t have the personality expected of a journalist. I’m timid. I avoid starting conversations and am very hesitant about pointing a camera into someone’s face. I gravitated to people I knew at the races in Europe; Brad Lackey, Mike Guerra, Danny LaPorte. I would hang around their pit area; just passing time and watching the mechanics prep the bikes. The riders were usually indisposed – resting and avoiding disconcerting conversation with fans and press. I gradually got to know the mechanics. They were busy too, but always acknowledged my presence. We soon began to talk. A certain amount of trust developed.

Voila! I had sources. I don’t mean “deep throat” or anything like that but the more we talked the more I learned. And, the more I did not write about what they said the more they said.  

The key is trust. If you are going to tell the world what a source has told you – tell him. If he asks you to not report something, you have to honor that trust. The trust also helped me later.  People started to offer information or help.  I was surprised at a race when Brad Lackey suggested that I position myself at a certain place for a great picture.  And when Jim Gibson inked a deal with Yamaha to race the FIM 125cc Motocross World Championship, I got my scoop.

Gibson was on the USA Motocross and Trophee des Nations team in 1982. I covered those races and enjoyed getting to know the team. While there Jim Gibson agreed to a deal with Yamaha. A friend (source) suggested that I ask Jim if he would be racing in Europe in 1983. I was shocked but made the opportunity to quietly ask Gibson the question. He was probably as shocked by my question as I had been by my source. Gibson confirmed the deal. We discussed his plans in whispers and I had a scoop. To this day, I am proud of that story.

I broke the story in the Stars & Stripes. My mentor, Randy Barnett, was almost as proud of me as I was of myself. Of course, the news made its way around the motocross circles in Europe. That caused a stir. Other photojournalist couldn’t believe it. Henny Ray Abrams, current contributor to Cycle News, and I had hung together in Europe. Henny Ray was a UPI photographer at the time, submitting his cycle stuff to Cycle News. He seemed to doubt the news and was curious about my source. I never told him. I can reveal now that it was a mechanic. The story finally broke in Motorcyclist Magazine as a profile on Jim Gibson and his tuner, Super Wrench Bill Buchka.

I will end another article with emphasis on TRUST. You have to honor a trust and be true to your word. Sometimes it is hard to keep your mouth shut. 

l8r

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After that first successful outing, I was on cloud nine and feeling very confident in my abilities. I was still on active duty in the army and trying to work my new obsession into the schedule. Getting to the races was problematic but knowing what to write was even more so. I soon learned that race reports were too time sensitive to sell. Reports were fine for The Stars & Stripes, my source of credentials, but magazines of the day were printed ninety days after the races. I needed a hook – an attention getter.

This image of Brad Lackey riding in a snowstorm at the Swiss 500 GP was the hook for an article that sold. It is an example of a picture selling the story. Maybe it is an example of “a picture is equal to a thousand words.” If I remember correctly, the report was less than 500 words.

I covered the Austrian 250 GP in Swannenstadt where I met Mike Guerra. Mike was in his first year on the World Championship circuit with full sponsorship from Husqvarna. He had enjoyed only moderate success in AMA Nationals. His best season was a sixth place finish. Selling his story was much more difficult. Editors rejected the story because “Americans are not interested in a sixth place racer riding in Europe.” Winning sells. I needed a hook.

I found my hook in the Russians Guennedy Moiseev and Vladimir Kavinov. The 1974 title was literally stolen from Czechoslavian Jaroslav Falta (CZ) by Russians Moiseev and Kavinov (KTM) and FIM politics. Guennedy Moiseev was awarded the 250cc World Championship in a controversy that continues to this day. The three were still racing in 1981, and still received a lot of interest whenever they were in the same race, especially since all three were riding CZ. I used that controversy as the hook for my Mike Guerra submission. After getting that first submission accepted, follow-ups were expected.

Quotable athletes always make good subjects. Most are hesitant to say much. I don’t know why. Maybe that is part of their factory agreement? Marty Tripes was not hesitant. I loved talking to Marty. He seemed to be a handful for Husqvarna, his 1981 World Championship sponsor. He once told me that he was riding in Europe for $85,000 less than he could make in the US. One of my editors got a big laugh from that quote. I had no idea what it was all about. I guess Marty was prone to stretching the story?

Another time Marty showed up to race with Showa Forks on his Husky. He was not especially complimentary of his sponsor’s machine, saying that the 390 Husqvarna sucked compared to the older 360 models.

When he trashed the rear wheel during the race, his Husqvarna employed mechanic was furious. I am sure he was cursing but mostly in Swedish. I did catch a few words of English, however, as he would look toward Tripes and yell, “86 kilo! He 86 kilo,” indicating that Marty was a bit overweight.

Marty Tripes had such a natural talent for racing that he may have avoided the strenuous conditioning programs followed by Brad Lackey and most other successful racers. No matter, Marty was colorful, fun to be around, and there was no denying … he was one of the best ever to race motocross. Following is a shot of him with Cingoli, Italy in the background. This was taken before he trashed the rear wheel. 

The point of all this rambling is – be flexible. You must learn to pay attention and let the story develop around you … and your pictures.

More next week.

l8r

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My introduction to “motojournalism” goes all the way back to 1980. I attended a World Championship Motocross race in Gaildorf West Germany, where American Brad Lackey was chasing his dream of becoming the first American to win a motocross world championship. It was a terrible day – dark, raining and muddy, but I got close enough to take a few decent pictures. I used those images to query an editor (Art Friedman at Motorcyclist Magazine) about providing coverage of Lackey’s pursuit of the championship.  Imagine my delight when he responded with positive interest.

The unrestricted access, however, came from a query letter to the motor sports editor at The Stars & Stripes, the newspaper for American military members and their families. The editor, Randy Barnett, provided a stack of Stars & Stripes letterhead, a press pass, and contacts for securing credentials to all FIM World Championship Motorcycle racing. That was my biggest break. Randy coached me on “newspaper” writing (reporting.)  Over the next few years we attended several races together and became good friends.

While taping the interview with Lackey, he told me about Mike Guerra, an American from Connecticut, who was racing a Husky in the 250cc class. I also learned that Marty Tripes was just a few vans away. He had a Husqvarna ride. I got a few pictures and some good quotes from Marty Tripes that I managed to sell to Cycle Magazine and Cycle Guide. Do you remember them?  

It was also before digital cameras. We set our own exposures and autofocus was a dream.  I had access to a military photography lab, develping the black and white Tri-X film and making my own 8X10 prints. I would select a few images for each of several magazines – Cycle World, Cycle, Cycle Guide are the ones I remember. Each print needed detailed captions with a cover letter for each package. I did not have assignments. I was sending this stuff at my own expense … strictly on speculation. I made pretty good money, however, and the speculation soon led to paid assignments.

I was very glad to have completed my interview before the race. Lackey was not in a good mood after the race. I took note of that. I always try to talk with racers while they are most approachable – before they have a chance to lose. 

L8r

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Several years ago, I was present for the release of some rehabilitated birds of prey back into the wild.  It was a thrilling event and I took some very up close pictures of wild things.  This image of a Red-tailed Hawk is one of my all-time favorites. 

The birds were released at DeGray Lake Resort State Park in Arkansas.  It was just by chance that we happened to be there.  I don’t remember the organization that provided the care and rehabilitation.  Most organizations that do such work are staffed by volunteers with any financial support coming  primarily from donations. 

 When my wife read about a bird of prey release scheduled for our local area, I could hardly wait to confirm our reservations.  It was taking place in conjunction with a weekend cruise on our local lake.  The Vanishing Texas River Cruise is something we had talked about but never quite got around to doing. 

Last Chance Forever, The Bird of Prey Conservancy is a 501(C)(3) Non-Profit organization based in San Antonio, Texas that receives, rehabilitates and releases back into the wild hundreds of sick, injured and orphaned raptors annually.  On Sunday, November 16, 2008, the conservancy joined with Vanishing Texas River Cruises to release two hawks and an owl over Lake Buchanan.  The joint venture was a great success for the cruise and for the conservancy.  And, it was the answer to a photographer’s dream.  It was very exciting to be so close to these wild and beautiful critters.

This Great Horned Owl is being very carefully handled as it is brought above deck for release in the Silver Creek area of Lake Buchanan.  These animals are wild and very frightened by the commotion around them.  They will strike out at what they perceive is danger.  It is essential that photographers and children keep their distance. 

It is quite easy, however, to get great closeups with a short telephoto lens or the zoom on a point-and-shoot compact.  With so many excited people crowded around these frightened animals, a longer lens and a lower angle are necessary to give the appearance of birds in the wild.  Since the release takes place on the upper deck, a fast shutter speed is not a problem and the sky is the perfect background.

In addition to the three birds being released, the workers from the conservancy displayed several birds that for any of several reasons could not be released.  My personal favorite was this beautiful Barbary Falcon.  i have always been fascinated by falcons and falconry.  It is hard to believe that such delicate beauty surrounds a fierce killing machine.  I was disappointed that it was not to be released.  I don’t recall the reason. 

The big thrill was an American Bald Eagle that had been shot and lost a part of its wing.  Though the eagle has lived in the conservancy’s large flight aviary for more than five years it is anything but tame.   It was saved for last and was not allowed in close proximity of the passengers.  The handler moved to a place on the docking pier that allowed her to keep the eagle away from the too curious and less cautious.  I’m sure the eagle appreciated that consideration.

in addition to the birds being displayed by Last Chance Forever, the folks from Vanishing Texas River Cruise kept a running commentary on what we were seeing with a quite interesting history of Lake Buchanan and a few yarns spun around a few colorful characters. 

Though the release of rehabilitated birds was a special treat, the river cruises are scheduled on a regular basis.  They often see eagles over the lake and have experts on board to point out and identify wildlife around the lake.  We were fortunate on our cruise, seeing a pair of bald eagles building a nest in a dead tree over the lake.  It was a very pleasant day.  It is wonderful way to spend a weekend  relaxing.  in addition to the cruises, cabins and lodging are available at Canyon of the Eagles Resort.

The next release in conjunction with the Vanishing Texas River Cruise is tentatively scheduled for the third weekend in December.  For more information and cruise schedule contact Vanishing Texas River Cruises – at Canyon of the Eagles at 1-512-756-6986 or 1-800-474-8374.  Their website is http://www.vtrc.com/   Last Chance Forever, The Bird of Prey Conservancy maintains a website at http://www.lastchanceforever.org/

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My enthusiasm for rock formations is fading. That may be from over a month of studying Southwestern geology or the constant battle with persistent haze over the Southwestern geology.

I’ve been processing a few images in HDR to circumvent the problem. That works to a certain extent but my HDR expertise needs honing. I can’t resist the urge to pump up the color. This picture is from the overlook at the Canyonlands National Park Visitor Center. It is not an HDR but I pushed pretty hard on the contrast button. Notice the snow capped mountain peaks in the background. It gets very cool in the high desert at night.

Note: I read a sign posted by the Park Service that directly blames the haze on coal-burning power generating stations. It is the worst when winds are from the Southeast – Page, AZ.

We’re camped in Dead Horse Point State Park. There is a very scenic overlook that is fantastic for both morning and evening light. Getting a good spot for pictures at Dead Horse Point requires an early arrival and patience. It is a very popular spot. We didn’t get back from Canyonlands in time to enjoy the early part of sunset but did manage a few colorful images from the red evening light. Although it looks like an HDR, this image of the red light on a twisted juniper is purely photograph with just a touch of shadow lightening.

I returned for a morning session and was there just at sunrise. The place was already crowded. I moved off to one side, edging along some treacherous cliffs and overhangs that I would not have been allowed to traverse had Jane been with me.     I found a soft rock and cuddled up with myself to stay warm until the light was just right.

The light and colors can be very contrasty. But, it also is very saturated and warm. It is the ideal situation for HDR with long shadows and extreme contrast. Mine were not perfect but the HDR skills are coming along. The image I liked best, however, was not an HDR but this self-portrait. Shooting with my 12~24 lens, I was having a hard time keeping my shadow out of the image. Finally I gave up and just included the shadow as a part of the picture. Now, it isn’t just a part … it is the picture.  

I realize that I have nearly completed this article and not included an HDR example. Here is one from this morning’s shoot at Dead Horse Point. As I said, it isn’t perfect but sometimes a poor image is better for learning. At least I hope I am learning from my mistakes. 

HDR of Dead Horse Point Sunrise

This image is the result of three exposures bracketed at two stop intervals– two over, two under and one right on. I did some processing in Photoshop Elements but can’t remember exactly what I did. I think I just lightened the shadows and added the unsharp mask to enhance the foreground tree. The HDR processing was done in Dynamic-Photo HDR, selecting the “Human Eye” version of the tone-mapping result. As usual, I liked the image immediately after processing (otherwise I would not have saved it), but started to find fault after a few “second looks.” I’ve learned from my mistakes that it is a good idea to put your favorites aside for a few minutes, hours, days – forever – and come back later for a more objective evaluation. I need to be more diligent in practicing what I preach.  

We’ve had an interesting and exciting voyage to this point. My lack of enthusiasm for early morning photography, however, is an indication that we should head back to Texas. We’ll return any budget excess to the coffers and start planning the next adventure. Wonder what Montana geology is like? 
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We drove into Moab on Monday, October 6. Jane needed to restock the cupboard and the truck was on empty. What a place – Moab is purely tourism. You can find outfitters and tour guides for nearly any adventure imaginable. Four-wheel drive, overland adventures into the outback areas of Canyonlands or Arches National Parks, four-day float trips down the Colorado River, hikes into the wildest of areas, and the snow-covered peaks hovering over Moab had local businesses yearning for ski season. Mountain biking and dirt bike adventures are also quite popular in this vast area of Public Lands. The BLM has some restrictions on the use of land managed by them but nothing nearly as stringent as the National Park Service.

We found a grocery store, filled the truck with diesel and visited the Moab Visitor Center. It was there that we learned of a nearby wetland preserve. Who would have guessed it? Here we are in the highest and driest areas of the US and we come across wetlands. Jane got directions to the Scott M. Matheson Wetland Preserve. We managed to miss the turnoff and ventured even further into the unknown. We were on a paved road leading through BLM property. We stopped at a trailhead/picnic area that had some of the best petroglyphs we have seen.

A few campers came by and, being the curious type, we followed their backtrack to see if we were missing a hidden campsite. That led us to some of the most “alternative” living styles you can imagine. People were living in caves dug back into the limestone cliffs. There were two homes that were almost exact replicas of Anasazi ruins. The masonry was a little more modern but the design was directly from ancient cliff dwellings, no roof other than the overhanging cliff. One odd feature – they were connected to commercial power lines. Even the cave dwellers had electricity.

We found the wetlands preserve on our second attempt. It was nice. We followed a one-mile, handicap-accessible path through the preserve, stopping at a nice viewing blind, but saw very little in the way of wetlands wildlife. We had been told that water was scarce. It was just too dry for the critters we had hoped to see.

We left there and drove back to Arches National Park, which is less than ten miles from Moab. The roads were being paved with fresh tar and white gravel. Only one lane was open and traffic was backed up waiting for an escort. It was a little annoying but no big deal. We’re always complaining about road conditions. It seems silly to complain about repairing those conditions. 

Arches has a nice Visitor Center and Museum. We walked through the museum and watched the orientation movie. The steep climb from the Visitor Center to the first view point is a scenic drive but too narrow to pulloff.

Balanced Rock, Arches National Park

We didn’t make our first stop until we reached Balanced Rock. There is a picnic area just across from this very popular viewpoint. We stopped for lunch and I tried using my polarizing filter to cut thru the haze for an image of the snow-capped peaks of the La Sal Mountains behind Balanced Rock. Back lighting made the haze even more evident. It took some Photoshop adjustments to make this image acceptable.

The history and legends of the area interest me more than geology and lectures on how millions of years of upheaval and erosion formed the canyons and arches. Delicate Arch, however, is a must-see site. It is the unofficial symbol of Utah.

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park

This image was made from the most accessible and easy to reach viewpoint I could find. It is just a short walk from the historic Wolfe Ranch site. Unlike most images of the arch, I made no attempt at an artistic representation. This is what it is – a popular site that is always difficult to photograph because of the throngs trying to get close. You can just make out dozens of people walking along a trail that leads to the “best view” of the arch. This shot is with my 18~135mm lens set to 135mm. I got closer and used my 300mm for a tight shot. I like this one better.

I probably spent more time reading about and photographing the old buildings and corral at Wolfe Ranch than I did at Delicate Arch.

Historic Wolfe Ranch in Arches National Park

It is the typical story of how this area was settled by ranchers and pioneers. They were the rugged sort, not expectant of any luxuries. Every element of their lives was functional, practical, and only what they could make with their own two hands. The house shown here is much nicer than the original home of Wolfe and his son. This was built to please his daughter who joined Wolfe after he and his son established the ranch. The original home was a hole in the ground with a thatch, mud and rock roof. This house has a window, hinged door and roughly hewn furniture.

We had hoped to make it to the end of the road and hike the trail to Landscape Arch from the Devil’s Garden turnaround. We did but the sun was on the wrong side of Landscape Arch and had dropped behind some tall cliffs. The images were disappointing. This arch needs to be photographed much earlier.  Sunrise would be best; no later than noon, I think.

It was well after dark when we got back to the trailer. It had been a long but interesting day. We went to bed wondering what a new dawn would bring.
l8r

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I finally made the enormous effort necessary to match morning light and photography. I was at the East Gate of Zion National Park before sunrise. It was cold. And I was not feeling very creative. I sat my tripod and camera in the general area to photograph Checkerboard Mesa when the sun came over the ridge to the east, then jumped back into the truck to stay warm. The sun didn’t cooperate. Somebody moved East!  

After watching the sun strike formations farther down the canyon, I snapped a few pictures of the famous mesa and loaded everything back into the truck. The light was not special. I missed that pink, rosy effect of morning light. I guess the mountain air is just too clear.  Even morning light was harsh.

We have been here for three days. Every day has been marvelous for site seeing but none of my pictures have been thrilling. I thought it was from doing most of our site seeing in midday light. Obviously, that is not the entire problem. Zion is just too vast to project in two dimensions. As a matter of fact, the entire Southwest trip has been like that – Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, and Grand Canyon. The vastness of the American Southwest overwhelms most photographers. I’m no exception. Everything looks like a common snapshot. I don’t want snapshots. I have tried panoramas but that format is clumsy to display and hard to edit. And, it still doesn’t display the immensity or the feel of grandeur.

I watched a show last night on the Red Desert, the high desert of Wyoming. You can span the horizon for hours and see nothing. Of course, the desert is teeming with life. Throughout the deserts, plains, mesas, buttes, plateaus, peaks, canyons, mountains and valleys of this great southwest, life is watching us see nothingness. It is that perception of nothingness or the vastness that is so difficult to represent on film – or in digits. I’m thinking I need to get closer, concentrate on detail – contradict the perception of nothingness.

I was concentrating on the texture of some huge boulders with steep cliffs as a background when movement distracted me. Big Horn Sheep!

Young Desert Big Horn in Zion National Park

They were just a few yards away but I was working with my 12~24 lens. I watched for a few minutes, hoping they would not notice me. That was no big deal. Cars began stopping and the big ram and a slightly smaller one bounded up the slope but the females stayed right by the edge of the road, eating leaves off a favorite bush. The rams stood higher on the hill, watching.

Note: The ram shown in the picture is the smaller of the two. I had already inserted the photo before noticing the difference.

I crossed the road to get my 300mm lens out of the truck. The herd remained near the edge of the road for at least fifteen minutes. I took dozens of photos — up close with detail. Again, my pictures are not thrilling. These are wild things; a part of the grandeur, the nothingness, the vastness. I don’t get that feeling from my photographs. They seem to have learned to accept tourism as a part of their daily life. It’s almost like going to the zoo. I don’t know if it is sad or if I should be glad that they are so adaptive. I guess that is part of my enigma.

This time, however, light really is part of the problem. I have some sharply focused and well-composed images but the light is dull. They were in a dark, shaded area the entire time. Maybe I need to learn to adapt.

We may try again tomorrow. My wife was very envious when she found that she had missed the Big Horn. They are not nearly as elusive as the park literature reported.
l8r

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