LPL: The Bend

Recently, I got in the truck and went out to West Texas to work on a project for school. I've been going out that way for years, but this was my first time into the 10,000 square miles of Brewster and Presidio counties alone. This worked out pretty well because a road trip with me entails a whole lot of pulling over for photos.

The following are just a few images out of the tons I took. The project I alluded to is for a black and white film class and focuses on Marfa, Texas. I'll post more on that when it is done.

Windmill, 16 second exposure taken at 9:30 PM, Highway 67, Brewster County

I got in pretty late but managed to squeeze some shooting in. The above shot was taken on a tripod with the last glow of available sunlight.

A few days earlier I had made reservations at the Motel Bien Venido in Alpine. For 36 bucks a night, I didn't really know what to expect. Other than a light odor of body lotion and no remote for the TV, the place turned out to be pretty great. I got up the next day with no real plan except to take pictures.

Motel Bien Venido, Alpine, Texas

Cemetery, Shafter, Texas

The sky is bigger out there. I don't think there is any sort of science to it - the sky is simply larger. It's a hell of a backdrop.

Mountains, Farm Road 170

The above image is actually 9 or so images hastily stitched together. If the pictures seamlessly flowed together I don't think any sense of scale would really be conveyed.

Farm Road 170

18 second exposure at 9:50 PM, Study Butte, Texas

The only time I really felt alone out in those 10,000 square miles was at night on the road. There was no moon during my stay, and when there isn't anything around you for 30 or 40 miles exept dark desert, it's an eerie feeling. I took the above picture before starting the hour and a half drive from Study Butte/Terlingua back to Alpine. Just over halfway into my journey, a Javelina ran in front of my truck. Without thinking, I gave the brakes some pressure and moved into the opposite lane's shoulder, careful not to over-steer. I caught the poor guy with my right-front tire, and my truck scored her first real kill.

My last night out there, I was pulled over by the Highway Patrol in my hurry to get back to Alpine from Marfa. The officer was professional and polite (as most Texas Highway Patrolmen I've met have been), and after I explained I was out taking pictures, he confessed that I hadn't really been speeding that much. That close to the border, with all the drug trafficking going on, law enforcement is suspicious of lone drivers at night (I had already talked with the Border Patrol a few times in the past few days). He asked where I was staying, and I told him the Hotel Bien Venido. He chuckled and asked 'really?'. All I could offer in response was a nervous laugh and a 'yeah'. I probably don't want to know what he knew. He gave me a warning for my speeding and wished me a good night.