Alone in the Arizona Desert

Are you using a graduated neutral density filter or are you bracketing and merging shots here?



BTW, awesome photos, which you know, and a nice looking trip. Bring a friend or two next time. It will allow you to push your riding skills a little bit and it is much safer. Being broke down in the Arizona desert is no fun at all.

for those following along, here is a pdf map i found online of the kofa nwr..



link to kofamap.pdf

can someone from Arizona please adopt me....buy me.....sell me (to someone else in AZ)....hire me.....

I love the place!

amazing photos. I am envious. Mine never turn out like that. what a great report...thanks.

That's a cool map Ricardo. The route I took was south on Kofa Maganese Road all the way down to Engesser Pass, then over to the King of Arizona Mine and the primary graded road out to the highway. I couldn't poke around too much more due to fuel range.

I'll share my gps tracks for this day when I'm finished with the RR.

craftycoder, That particular shot was a single exposure. I don't have a neutral density filter and didn't use the Lightroom ND tool for any of these shots. In this shot the setting sun is lighting the rocks so there really isn't a great dynamic range.

I did use the in-camera HDR function for the colorful sunset shots, some of the shots with the palm trees, and a few of the upcoming Burro Creek shots. The Pentax K7 is the only camera I know of that has in-camera HDR.


Thanks again for all the compliments everyone!

Viola-tor, I can't wait to see you start stepping it up with your new Canon.

The depth of color in your pics and the clarity is intense. Great photography. Almost like being there. The desert is great in the spring and after a summer rain.

Take it your keeping the 950


Love the RR and photo skills.

btw really think'n you should be in charge of AZ tourism

I'm weary of the deep gravel so I strike out on the highway to the collection of RV parks and trucks stops that is Quartzsite, Arizona. I resupply on water and fuel. It's been about 10-11 years since I've driven along the Colorado River, and I've never seen the bridge in Lake Havasu City....



I pass lots of wildflowers while driving north of Quartzsite. I force myself to overcome my initial thoughts of making time on the highway and stop to shoot.


I have nowhere in particular to be today.








I even spot more wildlife.




This guy is still following along.

Dave,

Awesome RR and pictures !!.

I have bought 3 digital cameras and NONE of them show the Sky blue like in your shots.

Every picture I take is "hazy" and unclear.

Maybe I need to go get a tz ?

A stop in Parker provides something other than camp food.






Colorado River Playground






It's a nice Sunday for a ride.








In Lake Havasu City I cross the world famous bridge...


...and find parking nearby. One of these things is not like the other.

I swear every photo is postcard worthy! Very nice!

I find a circus nearby and realize it's spring break in one of the largest party destinations in the U.S. Amid the noise of revving boat motors and competing sound systems booming this little girl feeds the ducks.


This guy must be the next Girls Gone Wild wannabe.




Amid the debauchery the London Bridge stands.


The real London Bridge was sold and moved here where it was reassembled brick by brick. It's the first time I've seen it. This bridge has alot of history.

Great report! I rode Kofa on my DR350 in 1990 when I was stationed in Yuma. Springtime in the desert is awesome and with all the rain you guys had this winter, it makes for some spectacular photos.

Keep up the good work.

-Joe

You may want to try a graduated neutral density filter sometime. They are cheap and you can put it on in the morning and take it off at night. You just need to be careful that the front element of your lens doesn't turn during focusing.

I've never heard of in camera HDR. Do you need to tripod it and actuate the shudder several times or does it all happen in the computer some how? When I bracket I just use a tripod and shoot 6 shots of the scene and photoshop it together later. Like this:





Sorry to hijack the thread to photog craft chat.

I'm out.

Outstanding report! I hope to be making it down to Chaco Canyon, NM and over to AZ in about 3 weeks. I hope there are still some flowers to be seen.

Thanks for the trip. Amazing shots of Arizona.

Very nice job on the RR, and as many have said...just beautiful work with the camera.

Thanks for taking us along

Great photo's and report... I love a solo jaunt in the desert to recharge.
And the above qoute is spot on (no pun intended). To each his own, but I prefer "Cowboy mode" over other ways to travel.

From the bridge I try to get decent photos of skimpy bathing suits, but the old people with too much money are the only ones passing. Sorry... I Tried.






I decide there's too many people here for my taste. It doesn't help that I'm sticking out like a sore thumb wondering around in moto pants and boots.

I hit the road and gas up near I-40. I shoot over I-40 and jump off at Alamo Road.




I pass around the perimeter of the Ford Yucca Proving Grounds.


Alamo Road is FAST.


Other Phoenix Riders have recently bragged about 100+ mph speeds here. I keep my top speed around 60.




The scenery is excellent with boulders and joshua trees.




The only downside to solo riding is it's more difficult to get photos of yourself riding.