Hovenweep: A Glimpse into the Ancestral Puebloans

Hovenweep: A Glimpse into the Ancestral Puebloans
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Hovenweep National Monument is far from everything.

Located in the Four Corners area in a remote area on the Colorado/Utah border, Hovenweep (a Ute/Paiute word that means "deserted valley”), is both compelling and mysterious.

If you love long, dusty roads, solitude and ancestral Puebloans then Hovenweep is right up your alley.

I hope everybody had a great Christmas! Besides the fact that Santa didn’t deliver a Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens to under my Christmas tree, I still had a fantastic time with my family.

Have a wonderful New Year!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Obsession and Claustrophobia at Mesa Verde National Park

Obsession and Claustrophobia at Mesa Verde National Park
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Mesa Verde National Park, located in the southwestern corner of Colorado, is a great interactive place. One of the more adventurous cliff dwellings of the ancestral Puebloan people is Balcony House. This cliff dwelling is only available on a ranger-guided tour and involves climbing a 32 foot ladder, crawling through a 12 foot-long tunnel, and climbing up a 60 foot open rock face with two 10 foot ladders to exit the site.

While on the tour I waited in line to crawl through a narrow 12 foot-long tunnel, a woman in front of me froze up and screamed she was claustrophobic. After making a scene she turned to me commanded that I go before her. I happily obliged and squeezed my way through the tunnel being careful not to damage my Canon 5D camera all the while listening to the woman behind me continue to whine and complain.

At the conclusion of the tour we had to climb two ladders to exit the site. I stayed behind the rest of the tour group to get some unobstructed views of the cliff dwelling before heading up. I then spotted the annoying and claustrophobic woman approaching me so I decided to get to the ladders before she did.

As I approached the first ladder, I paused for a moment to adjust my camera around my shoulder and not before Ms. Claustrophobia shrieked, “What’s the matter?! Are you afraid of heights?!”

“No, I’m just adjusting my camera so it won’t swing unnecessarily against the wall and break into pieces” I calmly replied, “you do realize the entire tour group scaled a 32 foot ladder to begin the tour?”

“Oh, you must be one of those types really obsessed with photography!” she snorted.

I turned my back to her and started to climb the ladder.

“By the way please stay behind me at least 150 to 200 yards. Annoying people make me claustrophobic. Thank you.”

She yelled back some expletive but I kept a smile on my face the whole time.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Keeping Strictly to the Straight and Narrow in Durango, CO

Keeping Strictly to the Straight and Narrow in Durango, CO
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

A couple of years ago I traveled to Southern Colorado that proved to be one of my most memorable and productive photo trips. It would open the door for further exploration to the American Southwest and begin a lifelong love of photographing this magical part of the world.

In the charming city of Durango a great trip I would recommend to anyone would be the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train ride. This spectacular train ride will take you through some beautiful forests and breathtaking canyons. Make sure you bring enough memory cards (or film) because the final destination takes to the photogenic historic mining town of Silverton.

Quick tips: Sit on the right hand side in one of the open box cars toward the end (this is for the train departing from Durango). The only downside is that you may get cold (layer properly) and get soot all over your clothes from the locomotive’s smokestack. Also, you have the option to take the train for the return trip to Durango or take a bus. I took the bus because it was much quicker (keep in mind the train trip from Durango to Silverton is very slow for scenic purposes (over three hours). With the extra time saved I was able to squeeze in an hour or so of camera time at nearby Mesa Verde National Park.

Now living in the Midwest I yearn for a return trip to the Southwest to photograph iconic landmarks and discover new ones.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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A Serenading Sunset in Baja California Sur!

A Serenading Sunset in Baja California Sur!
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Baja California Sur has been labeled paradise between two seas since it is surrounded on both sides by the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. It’s where the desert meets the sea and it is the sea that draws people to this magical place.

Our trek took us to the Kuyima Campground located at the San Ignacio Lagoon. Every year from January through March the waters off of Baja California serve as breeding grounds for gray whales before they migrate back up to Alaska.

In the morning we would head out on small Mexican fishing boat called “pangas” to have a close encounter of the whale kind. We spent the afternoon eating sumptuous scallops in Kuyimita’s palapa. In the evening, with our tents right next to the whale sanctuary, we were serenaded to sleep listening to the rhythmic sounds of the gray whales.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Having a Whale of a Time in Baja California!

Having a Whale of a Time in Baja California!
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Mexican drug cartels! Shootouts in Mexican border towns! Violence toward U.S. citizens!

Yes, a perfect time to take a road trip to Mexico!

Back in 2009 my friends, Randy and Florence, and I decided to drive over 580 miles from the US-Mexico border to the San Ignacio Lagoon to experience Baja California’s friendliest whales.

It was a 14 hour drive from San Diego to the San Ignacio Lagoon. We divided the drive up over two days and along the way enjoyed one too many “cervezas” and delicious seafood along the way.

With my water soaked Canon G10 I captured this moment out in the San Ignacio Lagoon of another “pangas” (Mexican fishing boat) encountering two gray whales.

So what about the hype of the violence in Mexico?

I couldn’t tell you.

We were too busy breaking the speed limits on Mexico Highway 1( also known as the Transpeninsular Highway), eating fresh seafood, shooting (photographing) gray whales, and all the while laughing every minute of the way.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Brain Freeze in Winter Wonderland

Brain Freeze in Winter Wonderland
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

A pounding blizzard swept through Wisconsin and as a result I spent this weekend indoors. I was budgeting to get a snow blower this winter, but instead I decided to buy some new glass. I literally paid the price for that decision as I ended up shoveling my driveway all weekend.

Photography is not only an expensive hobby, but it is also responsible for sore backs!

So when I wasn’t shoveling or shivering I spent some time in front of my computer going through photos from some great trips I took. Going through my photo browser I stopped at a memorable road trip I took with my friends, Randy and Florence, down to the San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja California.

Many people go whale watching, but at San Ignacio you can touch these friendly whales in their own environment!

In the next couple of days I’ll be posting more photos from that trip and writing about the crazy Mexico road trip we took to reach the lagoon so stay tuned!

In the meantime, this is a sunset shot of Florence doing her yoga pose at the lagoon after a great day of experiencing the whales of Baja. I would write more to describe the moment I clicked this photo, but I’m having a brain freeze from all this cold weather.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Mission San Ignacio

Mission San Ignacio
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

The site for the future mission was discovered in 1706 by Francisco MarÌa Piccolo at the palm-lined CochimÌ oasis of Kadakaam·n ("arroyo of the carrizos"). The site proved to be a highly productive one agriculturally, and served as the base for later Jesuit expansion in the central peninsula. The impressive surviving church was constructed by the Dominican missionary Juan GÛmez in 1786. The mission was finally abandoned in 1840.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Devil’s Doorway: Photographs from Hell

Devil’s Doorway: Photographs from Hell
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Hiking in Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin I came upon this geological formation known as Devil’s Doorway. I don’t know the history behind the name but my assumption is that living in Wisconsin is hell! The freezing winters are hell! Shoveling back breaking snow is hell! The pesky mosquitoes in summer are hell! I think it’s an appropriate name.

I must be in hell because I’m think about returning here in the next couple of weeks to photograph the Devil’s Doorway blanketed in the winter snow.

I have photographed American Southwest icons such as Canyon de Chelly in Arizona, Bryce Canyon in Utah, Cathedral Rock in Sedona and I always wanted to go back there for a winter landscape photo shoot. I won’t be traveling to those places anytime soon so the Devil’s Doorway will have to suffice for now.

Oh hell!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Mariachis Playing in Ensenada, Baja Mexico

Mariachis Playing in Ensenada, Baja Mexico
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Environmental portraits are an important key aspect in travel photography as it gives the viewer a "spirit of the place."

Taken at the Ensenada Fish Market in Baja, Mexico.

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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A Balancing Act at Devil’s Lake State Park

A Balancing Act at Devil’s Lake State Park
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Winter is upon us here in Wisconsin and the thing that drives me crazy is that the snow here is perfect for snowboarding but there are no mountains! Elevation is something that is devoid in Wisconsin.

Devil’s Lake State Park is Wisconsin’s saving grace. The park is blessed with a scenic lake and 500-foot bluffs. It is these bluffs that provide excellent hiking and rock climbing opportunities. Along the way are some unique geological formations.

A short but steep hike will take you to one of those unique formations. Balanced rock has defied logic and the harsh Wisconsin weather. That in itself makes it worthy to photograph.

The fall colors peaked already by the time I got to the park, but you can see there was still some remnants of color.

The rock wasn’t the only one with a balancing act as I precariously walked toward the edge of the cliff to compose this shot.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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