Bonnie Rannald's Photo-Explorations in focus with nature. : March 2014

Monday, March 17, 2014

Wabuska, Nevada's New Ghost Town

Spirits Still Welcoming Bikers, Truckers and Avon

Wabuska, Nevada was established near the Carson and Colorado Railroad in the early 1870's. Wabuska served as the principal supply center for the Mason Valley area, which was dependent on mineral resources for their economic activity.

The town saw it's heyday around the early 1900's with the discovery of copper in Mason Valley and became the northern terminus for the Nevada Copper Belt Railroad.

Wabusk's name sake comes from Washo Language meaning White Grass due to the white alkaline crust on the soil and thickets of sagebrush and greasewood.

Unfortunately when the copper industry began to decline in the 1920's it also brought the demise to the town of Wabuska.

Like with the arid desert surrounding the small settlement, by the 1950's the town had begun to dry up and all that remained was a few houses and a bar with the two-story grocery store.

Until recently bikers, truckers and even Avon were welcomed in for a cold one to the lingering bar.

However today along with some deserted houses and buildings only the Nevada State Marker, a few spirits and a lonely train are what remain in Nevada's newest ghost town.

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences.

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

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Friday, March 7, 2014

Creating the Image, Sunset Silhouette

From Mental Image to Photographic Print

While living in Las Vegas, I always appreciated the sunsets where the jagged form of a Joshua tree was in silhouette against the painted sky. After I became a serious landscape photographer, I wanted to add to my collection of fire art prints a Joshua tree against a colorful sunset. This was a real challenge because with sunsets you never know how long they will last. Furthermore, unless the tree just happens to be growing in your yard, there is the problem of arriving on location and getting set up before the colors fade.

Each time that I drove out to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area for photos, I would look for the appropriate Joshua tree to go in my sunset photo. I wanted one that was mature with many well defined branches and tall enough to stand out against the sky. Upon finally spotting the perfect tree, I then had to be ready to make the 14 mile (22.5 km) drive to get to the tree.

After many failed attempts, late one afternoon I noticed cirrus clouds moving across the sky. Arriving at my tree, I set the tripod low on the ground so that the branches would appear high up against the sky. I then selected my widest lens, a Nikon 24mm 2.8. I waited and as if on cue the clouds began to take on the brilliant colors of sunset.

While I was waiting, the words of Robindranath Tagore kept going through my thoughts: "Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."

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