Along the River Road

Along the River RoadBig Bend, Texas This photograph was made at first light along River Road, FM 170, the narrow stretch of pavement that follows the Rio Grande between Terlingua and Presidio through the heart of the Big Bend region. A short but steep hike climbs quickly above the road, ending in sudden drop offs into the canyon below. Working from the edge, I carefully positioned the tripod beyond the rock face, holding it steady while aligning the rising sun through

building the illumination gradually to avoid harsh hotspots and to maintain texture within the concrete interior

and the landscape carries both geological depth and cultural significance

Creation Notes

Where I grew up in the Texas Panhandle

Mesa de Anguila occupies a remote section of Big Bend National Park along its western edge

The bluebonnet stands alone here

where small changes in light can completely redefine the scene

This photograph reflects a real moment

then slowly dissolve back into something else

If I were shooting this as a standalone photograph

and the drop is immediate

While teaching a student how to focus stack near the river’s edge