PS#3: Ansel Adam's Viewpoint

In 1942, Ansel Adams visited the Big Bend area. One of his images was taken from an informal viewpoint along Old Maverick Road. If you do Google search for "Ansel Adams Burro Mesa", you will find the image that he shot from this spot. (here's a direct link to the photo: ccp.uair.arizona.edu/item/11570)

This location can be accessed on the west side of the park. It is 2.6 miles south of the west entrance booth. There is a hill on the east side of Old Maverick Road. The summit of this hill is where Ansel Adams stood almost 70 years ago.

click for larger image

Shooting Specs:
Camera: Canon 5DII
Lens: Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS
Filter: B+W circular polarizer
Shutter Speed: 1/90 sec.
Aperture: f/8
ISO: 100
Camera mounted on tripod

I've shot from this location a few times before, but I've never seen nice clouds like this while I was there. On the day this photo was taken, a strong cold front was moving through, and the wind was blowing in 30+ mph gusts. The front had initially cleared out the sky of all clouds, but mid-afternoon, a set of high cirrus clouds developed overhead and then quickly moved east just as we were passing by AA's hill. It was a happy coincidence.

My approach to this scene was to capture the basic elements in front of me: the wide arroyo, Tule Mountain (the small, flat-topped mountain near the center), the Chisos Mountains in the background, and the sky. (Just to note- Burro Mesa is in between Tule Mountain and the Chisos.)

And that's it. Simple. Desert, mountains, sky. And I believe that Ansel got it right nearly 70 years ago. This scene captures the essence of Big Bend.