Hi and welcome to the June 2018 edition of  Workshop at the Ranch my Instructional BLOG. I often post a short Photo Lesson or Image Backstory  on my Instagram (IG) each week. Here is a short series from my IG called “Road Trip Post Cards” that connected with many photographers. Come FOLLOW me and learn about photography on IG:  @daveblackphoto … It’s FREE !

June 27, 2018 … Adorama: Belmont Horse Racing Workshop at Belmont Park, Elmont, NY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inspire-belmont-horse-racing-workshop-with-dave-black-tickets-46017698174   

July 11-16, 2018 … Summit SPORTS Workshop  Denver, CO.  www.summitphotographyworkshops.com

   

Image 1  “Santa Fe Skull” … Nikon D850, ISO1000, 1/250 at f6.3, NIKKOR 80-400mm f4.5-f5.6 lens … Desaturated 80% to B&W, Toned in NIK Silver Efex Pro II … 0 mph.

IG 939 post Monday May 21  Road Trip Post Card Rendezvous in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

It’s finally Springtime out WEST and I’m home for a week with no project due. So, Susan and I are making the trek to Santa Fe for a rendezvous’ with my family. 

As is our Road Trip custom, Susan will be driving while I roll down the window and look for a “drive-by” photo-op somewhere along the daily route. 

As I-25 south is 8 hours of “straight line ho-hum interstate at 75mph my first real picture came upon arrival at my brother’s new home high in the mountains above Santa Fe.

So let’s begin our Southwest Road Trip of Post Cards with classic Santa Fe home decor in the Great Room.

Next Road Trip Post Card: Taos to Alamosa … Adios.

Image 2   “Golden Hour in Taos” … Nikon D850, ISO1000, 1/1600 at f7.1, NIKKOR 24-70mm f2.8 lens, WB 7140K, Polarizer Filter and 2x soft Graduated Neutral Density Filter … Desaturated 50% and Toned in NIK Silver Efex Pro II … 53 mph.  

IG 940  post Tuesday May 22  Road Trip Post Card Taos to Alamosa: Today’s Post Card is Taos to Alamosa.  

With Santa Fe and my family in the rear view mirror, Susan and I chose some lesser traveled roads to angle our way up to our next destination … Taos, New Mexico. 

Taos is where Susan’s grandmother had lived and worked as the very first telephone operator back in 1920 next door to the home of famed frontiersman, Kit Carson.

We matched a photograph of her grandmother standing near Carson’s home where it is still there today and serves as a museum documenting the history of the famed explorer and frontier scout.

With Susan’s family history goal completed we hit the road from Taos to Alamosa, CO. It was about 4:30 PM when Susan pressed the accelerator and we headed West on HWY 64 where the broken clouds on the horizon allowed a brilliant shaft of golden hour to illuminate a sliver of rising prairie with classic Adobe homes … and a perfect drive-by photo-op for me … I just roll down the window and make a picture. 

Next Road Trip Post Card: Alamosa to Creede … Adios.  

Image 3  “Semi Motion” … Nikon D850, ISO200, 1/20 at f14, NIKKOR 24-70mm f2.8 lens, WB 6250K, Polarizer Filter … Desaturated 40% and Toned in NIK Silver Efex Pro II … 67 mph.   

IG 941 post Wednesday May 23  Road Trip Susan at the Wheel Hwy 160: Today’s Post Card is Susan at the Wheel, Colorado Hwy 160.

Over the 15 years of writing 180 Instructional articles for my Website: www.daveblackphotography.com  in the popular Tutorial series on my Workshop at the Ranch page, many have asked to see a picture of Susan driving while I make pictures.

Well, here she is, the lovely and gracious Susan with the pedal to the metal on route from Alamosa to Creede, Colorado via Hwy 160 … She’s not only beautiful, but FAST!

Next Road Trip Post Card: Arrival in Creede … Adios.

Image 4   “Fork in the Road” … Nikon D850, ISO1000, 1/1600 at f6.3, NIKKOR 80-400mm f4.5-f5.6, WB 6250K, Polarizer Filter … Toned in NIK Silver Efex Pro II … 27 mph.  

IG 942 post Thursday May 24  Road Trip Post Card Arrival in Creede:  Today’s Post Card is Arrival in Creede:  Upon arriving in Creede, Colorado we came to a “Fork in the Road.” 

 Next Road Trip Post Cards: Creede to Lake City … Adios

Image 5  “Weather Range” … Nikon D850, ISO800, 1/1600 at f8, NIKKOR 80-400mm f4.5-f5.6, WB 5000K, Polarizer Filter … Desaturated 70% and Toned in NIK Silver Efex Pro II … 0 mph (except for the 35+mph gusting wind)  

IG 943 post Friday May 25  Road Trip Post Card Creede to Lake City: Our final Road Trip Post Card is Creede to Lake City.

The Fork in the Road at Creede left us hungry for a majestic mountain scenic, thus we chose the “Fork” that went to Lake City which would take us up Hwy 149 and a rather unexpected view of a Spring storm front rapidly moving across Uncompahgre Peak.

As many of you know, I’m fine photographing out the passenger window at high speeds, but as we crested the Continental Divide, Susan simply pulled over and said, “I thought you’d want to stop for this one” … and I’m glad she did.

Uncompahgre Peak is 14,308 Elevation in the San Juan Mountains and is one of 53 “Fourteeners” in Colorado.

The wind was whipping as the storm front approached and the sun was sketchy offering only pockets of sunshine on the rugged landscape.

The combination of gusty wind, storm clouds, sun streaks and Spring snow pattern on the range was breathtaking and a “Colorado proud” moment for us to share and photograph.

Being together driving along, just us, is the simplest of pleasures for us … no business, no phone service, no art director … just time together sharing a slice of life. This Road Trip tradition began back when we were first married.

Thanks for coming along with Susan and I on this Road Trip Post Cards journey.

Come by and visit my Instagram @daveblackphoto each week to learn something new about photography.  Until next time here on Workshop at the Ranch.

Adios. Dave