BACKCOUNTRY NEWSLETTER AUGUST 30, 2009

Hello one and all,

You are receiving this email because you have bought something from me, thought of buying something from me, stopped by my booth at a show and chatted, or are friends and family. Please let me know if you wish to be removed from this list. Thanks.

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I hope this email finds you all well. A number of things going on in the Backcountry offices as of late…

I have been working at Aerolite Meteorites (http://www.aerolite.org/) quite a bit and having a grand time. Geoff, an accomplished photographer whom I am learning much from, has entrusted me with doing some of the product photography of the meteorites for his website. Check out the ‘new’ sales item page, the majority of the photos were done by me. http://www.aerolite.org/new.htm

Slightly related to that topic…
One of my photos was featured on the rocks from space daily photo. You can see it here at http://www.rocksfromspace.org/August_4_2009.html

And…one was used in the Tucson Citizen Newspaper online Logical Lizard blog entry http://tucsoncitizen.com/lizard/2009/07/29/when-funny-things-fall-from-the-sky/

And… two were used in another Tucson Citizen Newspaper online Logical Lizard blog entry:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/lizard/2009/08/06/turtle-river-meteorite-ancient-iron-from-the-heart-of-an-asteroid/

The past few weeks I have been participating in a weekly farmers market. If you are in Tucson, come check it out - Fridays from 8AM-1PM on the southwest corner of Broadway and Country Club. With that being said, I won’t be there for the next two weeks. Why you ask? Great question; which brings us up to our next segment of news.

Lisa and I will be traveling to Flagstaff for the Labor Day Art in the Park festival! The big bit of news for this year’s show is that I will actually have a booth of my own. (No longer Lisa’s operations manager) This year’s festival will be taking place Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (the 5th - 7th). So if you are in the area please come by. For those of you in Phoenix; it is a great weekend to get out of the heat…

Upon my return to Tucson, I will be spending the rest of the week in the field as the location photographer for Geoff Notkin while he’s filming the new Discovery Science channel show Meteorite Men (picked up for 6 more episodes, thanks for watching.).

After that I will be returning to the farmer’s market schedule with the addition of the Saturday farmer’s market at St Phillip’s Plaza at River and Campbell. Hope to see you there.

So, new desktop installment for this newsletter: I had a tough time deciding on a photo this time around; so many photos so few newsletters. However, I had such a great response to the horse and dog nose photo (thanks so much for the feedback) I thought I might continue the animal theme. Today you will be getting 2 photos since I couldn’t decide between the two. These little Gamble Quail babies were chasing after Dad and Mom who didn’t have quite as much of a problem jumping over the wall and down to the sidewalk on the other side.

Enjoy and thanks for reading.

Suzanne

Impressions

Due to the rare occurrence of cloudy night skies over Tucson, the well developed plan to try my hand at photographing this year's much lauded Perseid meteor shower was thwarted. So, I am sorry to report, no fabulous (or otherwise) photos by me of shooting stars are available. Blast.

However, in an effort to quell your disappointment, I thought I would post some of the photos of my most recent meteorite hunting trips. The most successful portion of the recent Arizona trips has been the photography since the little (or big would be OK) black rocks have been elusive, as elusive as those Perseids. So, though the photos don’t contain any little (or big) black rocks, I’m still pleased with them; they remind me that lately I have visited portions of Arizona previously un-seen by me, talked with interesting people and shared their eyewitness accounts, and met people I am proud to already call friend.

weirdest moth ever

I love watching the trains

yet another beautiful Arizona sunset

standing proud

self-sufficient

The wildlife has been putting on a show for us: Cabaret possibly. With this little guy, however, there was no musical number. He just sat there; hoping that if he didn't move, I wouldn't see him. Apparently he has been talking to the meteorites.

too cute for words (well a lot of words)

The comment I get most is that I'm never in any of the photos I post. That's because I typically look like this when someone takes my picture -- a little disgusted to be on the other end of the viewfinder.

Oh no you didn't just press that button

Saguaro, king of the cactus

The first day in the field saw my sisters and me crammed in a pick up and driving through southern Arizona. My sisters thought it would be a great idea to stop in Elgin at the various wineries to look for any eyewitnesses. Conveniently there was wine tasting available.

little chapel in Elgin

I've decided meteorites should adopt the ways of the desert flowers: attract as much attention as possible with bright colors. I would be OK with a little standing up, waving of the hands, and even a possible "yoo hoo, I'm right down here" yodel.

distinct lack of camouflage

The most significant day spent in the field so far was the trip one of my hunting partners, Brad, and I took to the US-Mexico border trying to get an eyewitness account from a Border Patrol agent who saw the bolide. The agent wasn’t there, called away to some emergency or another.

Mexico

So there we are standing at The Fence; one side the United States and the other, Mexico.

It was a pretty small fence.

I thought it would be a bit more substantial. Possibly due to the times when I have crossed the border into Mexico it was big with the guards, questions, gates, tourists, vendors. Or maybe because it is such a large political, emotional and passionately debated topic in southern Arizona. But all that didn’t exist here. Here it was quiet, peaceful, haunting and incredibly beautiful.

dividing line

a slightly different view

And during all that nothing this is what I noticed: the land didn’t know. It didn’t know the importance of the barbed-wire fence; of the railroad tie barrier; of the difference in language, currency, traditions. There was no abrupt change indicating this should be another country. It was all one flowing continual panoramic vista. The geologic features; the rocks, soil, mountains and valleys, the flora; grasses and delicate flowers; the land, didn’t know. And I felt infinitesimally small.

the land doesn't know

It was a quieter ride back from the border to where I had parked my car. Brad humored me (“it would be a great photo”) and took a small detour to Parker Canyon Lake where we enjoyed the sight of water in the desert, birds nesting, and fish lurking in the reed-filled water.

unusual Arizona transportation

Mom protecting the nest

We were abruptly reminded of the importance we as territorial people have placed on that physically insubstantial fence just to the south when reading a sign that reminded us that this is an area of high drug and people trafficking and please use caution. I wanted to return to the spot on the border, have it all melt away to nothing and let the land take over.

These photos are available as either free desktops, fine art prints, or stock photography. Please email me if you are interested in any of them. These photos are not enhanced and in fact have been reduced in size and quality for posting on this blog.

I know, I know, two posts in one day. No need to duck your head and run inside, the sky isn’t falling and it is not the end of the world; I should be doing paperwork and would prefer not to. Actually, I’ve been pretty busy lately; between working, training, chasing after black rocks that have fallen from the sky, and adopting a new dog (yes…that brings the total up to 3) and haven’t had a chance to do much Backcountry Photography business stuff, so that is what today has been reserved for.

But, anyway, back to the working part. I have been working for Geoff Notkin of Aerolite Meteorites, Stanegate Studios, Meteorite Men, the Logical Lizard, etc, etc, (he’s busier than I am) and a good portion of my job is to shoot photos -- photos of meteorites. That’s right, I am being paid to do two of my favorite things, photography and playing with rocks. I don’t even need to tell you how happy with this turn of events. And not only that, but Geoff frequently uses the photos I’ve taken in his articles. Soooo, let's revisit; I’m getting paid, doing photography, playing with meteorites and building my portfolio. I keep having to refrain myself from telling him I would do the job for free. If you know him, do me a favor and don’t mention that bit.

But, anyway, my previous posts give one perspective of my work, the fine art side, the following links give another. So please check out some of my product photography in the links below. If I may make a recommendation, after you’re done checking out my photos, read the posts, they are entertaining, educational, and well written.

-tucsoncitizen.com: – The Logical Lizard - The Tucson Citizen Online blog post – “Turtle River Meteorite: Ancient Iron from the Heart of an Asteroid” posted 08/06/09
http://tucsoncitizen.com/lizard/2009/08/06/turtle-river-meteorite-ancient-iron-from-the-heart-of-an-asteroid/

-Rocks from Space website, picture of the day, August 4, 2009.
http://www.rocksfromspace.org/August_4_2009.html

-tucsoncitizen.com: – The Logical Lizard - The Tucson Citizen Online blog post – “When Funny Things Fall From the Sky” posted 07/29/09
http://tucsoncitizen.com/lizard/2009/07/29/when-funny-things-fall-from-the-sky/

-Rocks from Space website, picture of the day, July 18, 2009. www.rocksfromspace.org/July_18_2009.html

And if you head to the aerolite.org new listings page, the majority of the photos are ones that I took.
http://www.aerolite.org/new.htm

The Bee's Knees

So, I promised and I teased and now I have to follow through. Thanks for the many requests to see the bee photos; here they are. I saw this little guy while shooting photos of perfect prickly pear cactus flowers, right after an afternoon monsoon rain. He was out trying to dry off from the unexpected shower and made his way out of an open bloom, up a closed bud like it was Mt.Everest, to his final hiding place, inside the closed flower. With a flick of the tail and a butt wiggle to rival JLo, he schootched backwards down into the flower where he proceeded to check out the newly clean world and, for a short period of time, the lens of my camera.

The Cusp

It's The Journey That Counts

The Climb

It's Mine, All Mine

Who's There?

These photos have not been enhanced in any way. And, please note the size and resolution (and therefore quality) have been reduced for posting on this site.

These are all available as fine art prints and, might I suggest, would look great in a triptych (thanks Jack and Phyllis) hanging next to the dragonfly photos. And (a shameless sales pitch follows) --- all of my photos are available on greeting cards; great to have around the house when you need to send out a get well or birthday card so there is no need to run down to the store when you’ve realized Great Aunt Mabel’s birthday is today. My Mom used my cards this past year as her Christmas cards (she felt the prickly pear cactus with the ripened-to-bursting red fruit was decidedly Christmas in the desert-y). So plan ahead, order yours now, you’ll be happy you got that out of the way.