I’m breaking the Favorite Foto Friday rule today because, well, I have a few favorite photos, five, actually. I am just on a cloud with my latest pictures. Not that they were spectacular, but because I managed to tie a couple of goals into one shoot. I also got a little walk

Yesterday I had some free play time, which turned out to be a great time for me to decompress from the every-day routine. I headed on over to Vasquez Rocks with two goals to accomplish, and that was to come back with at least 1 HDR image, and a few “different” images. That required a little bit of a hike, well, more like a stroll, with a lot of stops. The other goal required me be in the frame, that required me stepping in front of the lens. I have reached the height of my conceit…no, it’s not like that. Being a photographer means most of the time you don’t  have images of yourself. Family functions I am always taking the pictures, and I’ve always got to find different angles. I also hide behind that camera too. Besides, its good to step out there, and know what it’s like to have a camera pointed at you.

So, here is what I did in with my 2 3/4 hour visit. A fair amount of my hike was finding my way down to a ravine, running into a few quail, a lot of lizards, and a fair number of ankle high brush that made me regret wearing shorts. I know better than that, but I was determined to wear cargo shorts. I was also running some inexpensive running shoes. I marvel at how a thorny piece of grass, or strange cacti can find it’s way into your sock, and manage to travel to the bottom inside part of your foot. It doesn’t hurt, but it is annoying. I miss having combat boots, they were always great for these kinds of adventures.

Anyway, I got what I was shooting for, plus more, I hope you enjoy these images as much as I had creating them. Even the one where I almost broke the lens with my ugly mug.

In the Grass

Desert Blooms

Yellow in Black and White

Vasquez in HDR 1

Vasquez in HDR 2