NikonGear'23

Travelogues => Travel Diaries => Topic started by: armando_m on March 11, 2019, 15:32:42

Title: Baja California
Post by: armando_m on March 11, 2019, 15:32:42
Looking for dark skies a friend and I decided to visit a remote location in South Baja California, a number of friends tagged along making it an 11 people group.
We flew to La Paz and from there drove to San Evaristo, 40km paved and 80km of dirt roads, we were picked up on 4x4 trucks capable of tacking the beating, San Evaristo is a tiny fishing village,  they have modest but comfortable accommodations and outstanding sea food.

Weather was not cooperating when we arrived it was cool, windy and cloudy, so much for the night shots

Next day we got up early to try to get the milky way, it is interesting trying to get a multiple second exposure when the wind makes the tripod vibrate, got as low as possible but finally I got to cold and went back to bed for about 1 hour or so,  once we had day light we got on a couple of boats to explore the nearby islands, saw some fauna and fantastic landscapes with the sierra showing layers of history, even I was excited and I'm no geologist

I'll upload photos of the trip here.

1. From the road
2. Top of one of the islands
3. Small bay  view from the top
4. Finally saw the milky way a few minutes before sunrise making it an interesting combination
5. Sea lions
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: Fons Baerken on March 11, 2019, 15:36:17
These are very good Armando.
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: Thomas Stellwag on March 11, 2019, 18:03:35
I like your pictures a lot - it is always  special for me to look at such places
your night shot is great, as the seals are
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: CS on March 11, 2019, 18:12:36
I like your pictures a lot - it is always  special for me to look at such places
your night shot is great, as the seals are

+1, I can only agree, Armando's images are always a pleasure.
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: armando_m on March 11, 2019, 19:02:07
Thank you for your kind comments, there are defects on the shots which your are to polite not to point out.

I'll upload a few more once I have time to process them

While the trip was planned to do night photography, weather only allowed a few shots, luckily the location was great

See the Sea Lions ? It is a good indication that the water is a bit to cold for humans, I did some snorkeling and afterward it took me a few minutes of uncontrollable shaking because I did not use a wet suit, while they were available I did not want the hassle of putting it on, those things got invented for a good reason !

More Sea Lions, shot from a small moving boat... AF on my D800 can be surprisingly good
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: Frank Fremerey on March 11, 2019, 19:20:27
the sea lions wear wet suits with a fat underskin. They look very happy in your pictures
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: Bill De Jager on March 11, 2019, 19:54:24
That last one is especially good, Armando.
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: Akira on March 11, 2019, 20:11:44
The milky way and sunrise image is just spectacular!
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: armando_m on March 12, 2019, 03:00:18
Thanks again

Sea Lions were pleasantly taking the sun , and jumped into the water when we got closer

Find the climbers
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: beryllium10 on March 12, 2019, 04:33:59
>Find the climbers  Found them ...
Armando, A great series of pictures, lovely intense colours.  Contented sea-lions.  It looks like a spectacular part of the world.  In this one I am intrigued by the green rock.  At first glance I took it for  vegetation, but in fact it's rock - very interesting.   Cheers, John
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: Anthony on March 12, 2019, 10:29:33
Lovely photos, thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: David Paterson on March 12, 2019, 10:52:31
Great stuff, Armando, and I really like how you have processed these.
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: Akira on March 12, 2019, 11:37:19
Yeah, I can see the climbers!  Wonderful red mountain!
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: armando_m on March 12, 2019, 21:43:57
thanks

the green rock is called Celedonite, a mineral
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: Erik Lund on March 13, 2019, 07:31:33
Very nicely captured! Thanks for sharing ;)
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: Bent Hjarbo on March 13, 2019, 08:39:02
Very nicely captured! Thanks for sharing ;)
+1 :)
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: armando_m on March 13, 2019, 16:53:14
Abandoned salt mine

Really strong processing to show the grittiness ... (which also shows some dirt on my lens or sensor )

Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: Frank Fremerey on March 13, 2019, 18:35:20
Abandoned salt mine

Really strong processing to show the grittiness ... (which also shows some dirt on my lens or sensor )



salt crystals are a fascinating photographic subject
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: CS on March 13, 2019, 20:44:14
Abandoned salt mine

Really strong processing to show the grittiness ... (which also shows some dirt on my lens or sensor )

Okay, but your shots are usually full of detail. Take the shot of the lagoon (small bay) on the previous page. I not only see  surface ripples in the water, but also similar ripples running perpendicularly to those ripples, in the sand below the surface of the water!
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: golunvolo on March 13, 2019, 23:52:24
Great stuff Armando, beautiful corner of the world. For me the sea lions on the water stand out  putting something extra on the table.

   Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: tommiejeep on March 14, 2019, 04:50:23
Armando, very good series. I spent much of my youth in the Baja, love the place.  In my early 20's I spent most weekends using Ensenada as my base.  Hussong's was a second home.   I agree with Paco on the Sea Lions in the water.  The composition really makes it pop right out of the scene.
Thanks for posting.
Tom
Title: Re: Baja California
Post by: armando_m on March 14, 2019, 13:15:00
thank you

so Tom you know more of baja than me :)