Borrego Springs: Dragons, Stars, Dinosaurs and Scorpions, Night Sky and Star Trails Photos, 2-3 August 2013
NAMM Convention January 2013, Anaheim, CA
Page 1 of 1
Friday 2 August 2013 - Borrego Springs, CA But I had another road trip coming, this one to Borrego Springs, and later, to hang out with friends at a barbecue in the south part of Orange County. I got to Borrego Springs, ate fish tacos at Jilberto's Taco Shop, one of the few restaurants that is open during the off-season, and drove straight to the metal raptor sculptures. ~~~ Title: Raptor Up In My Love (2843) |
I had my car pulled up near the raptors, a few cold beers, and my usual array of flashlights and whatnot. I was ready to camp out here for a while and take cool raptor shots in the hot August evening, which actually wasn't nearly as hot as it could have been. ~~~~ Title: Raptor's Delight (2853) |
There are at least 129 metal sculptures of varying sizes, many of them rather large, on the Galleta Meadows Estates, owned by the late Dennis Avery. The sculptures were all created by Ricardo Breceda, and are absolutely fascinating. Creating a sculpture garden of prehistoric creatures wins major points for me, and although Borrego Springs is beautiful in itself, it's really the sculptures that makes it a must-visit for me. ~~~ Title: Time For The Velocirapture (2867) |
I did one a star trails photo of one of the raptors, and didn't really like how it came out, so I ditched it. It would be one of two star trails shots that I was dissatisfied with on this trip, which is unusual since I'm usually quite happy with those. But it was how the sculptures were framed that I didn't like. This pose would have made a better star trails photo perhaps. ~~~ Title: Raptorous Euphoria (3017) |
 Title: The Sting of the Scorpion (3031)Photographer: Ken Lee Info: Nikon D7000, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens. 30 seconds at f/5 ISO 1600. "Light painted" with flashlight. 2 August 2013 11:29 pm. Location: Borrego Springs, California |
~~~ Title: They Roamed The Earth |
Title: Cricket Milky Way |
Saturday 3 August 2013: Title: Para Las Estrellas |
Title: Prehistoric Elephant Milky Way (3247) |
I was staying at Stanlunds Inn and Suites, a really good budget place in Borrego Springs, so I returned there some time around 3:30 am and fell asleep shortly thereafter. I had a bit of a drive the next day. ~~~ Title: Rattledragon Star Trails |
Along Montezuma Valley Road, a dramatic windy road ascending up from from Borrego Springs to Route 79, I had to stop in the Ranchita Country Store to get a Gatorade and find out about Bigfoot, a giant 11-foot white statue standing outside. "So there are Bigfoot sightings this far south now?" I asked, joking. "There have been starting three years ago!" the store clerk replied, pointing out at the enormous white statue. "His name is Rancheti Yeti". Realtor Joe Rauh named him that. And why not? He built the 300-pound fiberglass wonder, having extra time during the housing slump. Good things do come out of crushing recessions after all. I never found out why Bigfoot had a pink face and hands, though. Gatorade in hand, I hit the road. Shortly after getting on Route 79, I hopped on Route 76, driving this winding mountain road all the way to Interstate 5. Route 76 is a beautiful drive, with gorgeous mountains, streams, lakes, and farmland. I even saw a sign for river rafting at the La Jolla Indian Reservation campground |
The mission was founded on June 13, 1798, but built in 1811, is the third church on this location, and a National Historic Landmark. |
 George had been guiding me the whole way, looking at a map of the sculptures on Galleta Meadows to find the best sculptures. I arrived at Tom's house in the OC in plenty of time for the barbecue. |
|
Ken's photos of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Aung
San Suu Kyi, as well as photos of Peru, Burma, India, Morocco, China, Thailand,
Ghana, Ecuador, and elsewhere, have appeared in many books, magazines,
websites, and galleries. Visit the
Ken Lee Photography Website. Some of Ken's select photos may be
purchased through his
Imagekind Store. Join the fun and participation on Ken's Facebook Page. |
Borrego Springs: Dragons, Dinosaurs, Stars, and Scorpions, Night Sky and Star Trails Photos, August 2013
Page 1 of 1
Eleven Shadows Travel Page
Contact photographer/musician Ken Lee
I usually write the information below for photos that are long exposure photos or otherwise have some sort of technical abnormality, so I don't know why I did it for these first three, but so be it.
I love the elemental, primal nature of this raptor bellowing at the stars.
Another photo with a prehistoric feel that I like, this encounter between the scorpion and the cricket taking place under the Milky Way.
I did a photo similar to this last year with Mike Shelton, and although that one came out well, I found that after my camera was cleaned by the camera shop, the camera controls had all reverted to the factory default. I never knew that this would happen for a camera cleaning. This resulted in me shooting the photo with "JPG Normal", and caused some artifacts that I managed to smooth over. I figured I'd return to try it again, but this time, have longer trails. I don't know that I'm completely happy with this either, but it turned out dark because, well, it was dark. Maybe I'll try it again next year.
I woke up at 10:40 am. Checkout at Stanlunds was at 11:00, just twenty minutes. I managed to make it out right at 11:00 while squeezing in a shower, shave, and a quick stretch. I ate fish tacos at Carlee's. Yes. I had fish tacos twice. And I enjoyed 'em each time.
Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, off Highway 79.
