Have you ever planned and look forward to something, then had it slowly broken down by a series of unfortunately events or circumstances? Well that’s what happened to me recently. I had a trip planned to one of my favorite camping spots in the Mexican high desert. Well, we all have been reading the newspapers and we know that things are kind of mixed up in Mexico right now. I’m a risk taker my nature, but fortunately I know when it’s best to go a different way. So my good friend Dave Goodin and I decided to keep the trip local and head for the Anza Borrego desert. Originally we had a spot picked out in Collin’s Valley, but the weather report called for gusts of wind up to 50 miles an hour. Hmmm, yet another hurdle to get over. After watching the weather patterns from online weather reports, we decided to tuck into one of the Slot Canyons in Canyon Sin Nombre in the Southern part of Anza Borrego desert. I wasn’t crazy about this idea because I had just been there with my son and his friend/father, but knew it was the best alternative knowing what kind of weather was heading our way. Life truly had given us lemons, so we decided to make lemonade… actually we made margaritas, but it’s all good.
Chris Keeney star gazing on the hillside above Canyon Sin Nombre
Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) posing for a 100mm macro photo in Canyon Sin Nombre, Anza Borrego, San Diego County, Southern California
When we first arrived in the morning and pulled into the campsite, I noticed a number of these desert iguanas basking in the sun. Most of then were about 10-12 inches in size from head to tail. Being the reptile lover that I am I knew how to earn the trust of these lizards to get the shot I was after. Fortunately there was plenty of light, so I set my camera to ISO 100, the f/stop on my Canon 100mm macro to f/6.3 and started to shoot. I was amazed how close this little guy let me get to him, so needless to say I got a number of really great shots.
A smoke tree in the sandy wash of Canyon Sin Nombre, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego County, Southern California
Chris Keeney and Dave Goodin relaxing with a margarita in mouth of one of the slot canyons of Canyon Sin Nombre
Some people know me for making a pretty good margarita. I start by moistening the rim of the glass. then squeeze fresh Mexican lime (limones) juice into each glass, then some triple sec, Hornitos tequilla, ice cubes, stir with a spoon, then top with a splash of Grand Mariner and finish with a bit of fresh juice from a blood orange (the blood orange part is optional). Let it sit for a moment (if you can)… then enjoy. [ Caution ] more than two will make you, well… you know.
Sun setting on Canyon Sin Nombre, Anza Borrego desert, San Diego County, Southern California
After the sun set and the stars and moon started to come out, we put away the bocce balls and started taking photos.
Long nighttime exposure of Chris Keeney using hand held bird call to mimic bird calls of the Cliff Swallow that came out at night.
You may have already figured out that I’m an animal lover. So when I noticed that the cliff swallows that were nesting in the slot canyons were coming into the canyon at night, I wanted to see if the would respond to a little hand held bird call I had in my pocket. It takes some getting use to, but when you finally get it, you can actually get birds to talk back to you… or so it seems. I also think that they were reacting to the portable iPod speakers Dave and I were listening to while we took photos. I hate to say it, but the same birds woke me up at the crack of dawn the next morning. Testing me to see how much of an animal lover I really am.
Light painting the slot canyon with spot light hooked up to marine deep cycle battery
Chris Keeney and Dave Goodin experimenting with light painting in Canyon Sin Nombre slot Canyons
A nighttime long exposure of Chris Keeney star gazing in Canyon Sin Nombre slot Canyon, Anza Borrego desert
30 second self-portrait long exposure created at night in the slot canyons
moonlight exposure of myself enjoying a cigar on the sides of the Canyon Sin Nombre slot canyons
Photo of Dave Goodin in Canyon Sin Nombre slot canyon at night. 145 second exposure at f/6.3, ISO 400. Addition light from spot light hooked up to deep cycle marine battery
In the end Dave and I made the best of this trip by traveling to other spots in Borrego with the truck during the heat of the day. Then in the afternoon returning to make dinner & cocktails, listen to music, play bocce ball in the sandy washes, then explore the slot canyons at night to take photos. Needless to say I was exhausted when I got home and had to spend some time blowing all the dust off my gear. A trip well worth the effort.
by CK
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