Night at Parker LakeTitle}

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Twenty-Eight miles southwest of Sierra Vista and five miles north of the Mexican border, tucked away in an isolated canyon, exists Parker Lake, an oasis of wonder in the Southern Arizona high desert. Man-made, this citadel of cooling aquamarine liquid surrounded by a verdurous woodland provides a scenic year-round playground for locals and snow-birders alike.

For me, it provided a rare opportunity to capture the Milky Way set against a completely dark sky, along with its reflection, mirrored back on the calm crystal waters. There are not many places in the desert with enough water to capture such an image. I am blessed to have access to this one. I am reasonably sure I will be back here often during the milky way season to study it further.

The world provides a magical vista of natural wonder waiting for us to witness its glory. I am humbled to be chosen as one to capture and share this beauty with others. I remain, devotedly and loyally, His scribe.

Night at Parker Lake
©RGallucci Photography
www.rgallucci.com

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Shot date: June 5, 2019
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
30.0 sec at f/4.0 Bias:0 EV
Lens: EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM
ISO: 6400 Twenty-Eight miles southwest of Sierra Vista and five miles north of the Mexican border, tucked away in an isolated canyon, exists Parker Lake, an oasis of wonder in the Southern Arizona high desert. Man-made, this citadel of cooling aquamarine liquid surrounded by a verdurous woodland provides a scenic year-round playground for locals and snow-birders alike. 

For me, it provided a rare opportunity to capture the Milky Way set against a completely dark sky, along with its reflection, mirrored back on the calm crystal waters. There are not many places in the desert with enough water to capture such an image. I am blessed to have access to this one. I am reasonably sure I will be back here often during the milky way season to study it further. 

The world provides a magical vista of natural wonder waiting for us to witness its glory. I am humbled to be chosen as one to capture and share this beauty with others. I remain, devotedly and loyally, His scribe.  

Night at Parker Lake
©RGallucci Photography
www.rgallucci.com
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Shoot date: June 5, 2019
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
--
Sky
60.0 sec at f/4.0 Bias:0 EV
Lens: Irix 15mm
ISO: 2500
Five light frames with five dark frames by Starry Landscape Stacker 
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Foreground
30.0 sec at f/4.0 Bias:0 EV
Lens: EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM
ISO: 6400
Five images - Mean stacked in Photoshop
--
Blended in Photoshop

A Tree in the NightTitle}

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To walk on a path in the wilderness during the day is to experience the serene joy of knowing our small place in the greater whole of this world. With the gaudy artifice of man-made structures eliminated, one can surround themselves in nature and begin to feel a part of the planet. To tower over the delicate flora and rocks of the understory while being dwarfed and shaded by the grandiose canopy of deciduous and evergreen forest, large boulders and towering mountains set the stage of our part in landscape. Dominating through size, if not ferocity, the small creatures, and insects that abound while understanding one's subservience to the larger predators that roam, thankfully, unseen, allows the gestalt of our place in existence. Taken together, a soul is filled with wonder at the magnificence of creation.

At night though, that experience changes. There is something hypnagogic about walking on a remote mountain trail at night. In the absence of light, even if in a group, one trek's alone. The experience of your surroundings at night is limited to that provided by the small circle of light from your headlamp and the theatrical lighting of the star canopy overhead. On the path at night, the focus is intensified and distractions limited. And, it is during the night on the trail when the most mundane of objects reveal their true beauty.

So it was the other night while we walked back to our cars along the stepped Echo Trail at Chiricahua National Monument. We spent the evening shooting "Groot" rock, one of the unique hoodoo formations at the park which looks uncannily like the Guardians of the Galaxy creature. As we passed by this seemingly innocuous tree, one of our party turned and, seeing it against the backdrop of the Milky Way, stopped our progress and commanded that we all look. I am reasonably sure that during the day we would have walked right past this old gnarly survivor of the decades but not on this night. On this night, this stalwart hero demanded our attention.

Dumping the 40-pound pack of camera gear from my back, I set up my tripod and camera to capture the image. It is one of my favorites of the night. I hope I did it justice.

In the high desert of Southern Arizona, I am continually awed by the magnitude of the diverse beauty. Through my lens, I have been blessed to share the experiences God has me witness. Through my words, I have the humble honor of describing each adventures glory. I remain His scribe.

A Tree in the Night
©RGallucci Photography
www.rgallucci.com

Sharing permited, please credit photographer
Please support RGallucci Photography
We like to be liked ;)

Shot date: June 2, 2019
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
8.0 sec at f/2.5 Bias:0 EV
Lens: 15mm
ISO: 6400

To walk on a path in the wilderness during the day is to experience the serene joy of knowing our small place in the greater whole of this world. With the gaudy artifice of man-made structures eliminated, one can surround themselves in nature and begin to feel a part of the planet. To tower over the delicate flora and rocks of the understory while being dwarfed and shaded by the grandiose canopy of deciduous and evergreen forest, large boulders and towering mountains set the stage of our part in landscape.  Dominating through size, if not ferocity, the small creatures, and insects that abound while understanding one's subservience to the larger predators that roam, thankfully, unseen, allows the gestalt of our place in existence. Taken together, a soul is filled with wonder at the magnificence of creation. 

At night though, that experience changes. There is something hypnagogic about walking on a remote mountain trail at night.  In the absence of light, even if in a group, one trek's alone. The experience of your surroundings at night is limited to that provided by the small circle of light from your headlamp and the theatrical lighting of the star canopy overhead. On the path at night, the focus is intensified and distractions limited. And, it is during the night on the trail when the most mundane of objects reveal their true beauty. 

So it was the other night while we walked back to our cars along the stepped Echo Trail at Chiricahua National Monument. We spent the evening shooting "Groot" rock, one of the unique hoodoo formations at the park which looks uncannily like the Guardians of the Galaxy creature. As we passed by this seemingly innocuous tree, one of our party turned and, seeing it against the backdrop of the Milky Way, stopped our progress and commanded that we all look. I am reasonably sure that during the day we would have walked right past this old gnarly survivor of the decades but not on this night. On this night, this stalwart hero demanded our attention. 

Dumping the 40-pound pack of camera gear from my back, I set up my tripod and camera to capture the image. It is one of my favorites of the night. I hope I did it justice. 

In the high desert of Southern Arizona, I am continually awed by the magnitude of the diverse beauty. Through my lens, I have been blessed to share the experiences God has me witness. Through my words, I have the humble honor of describing each adventures glory. I remain His scribe. 

A Tree in the Night
©RGallucci Photography
www.rgallucci.com

Vermilion SunsetTitle}

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The distant sun disappeared gently behind the mighty Huachuca Mountains as we walked from the San Pedro River towards our car, painting the world in a delicate golden hue. We had just completed an incredible hike that began with three glistening blue Lazuli Bunting perched before us, continued with a magnificent Zone-tailed Hawk perched above us and ending, I thought, with the most wonderful moment of perfect light on a cooperative Great-horned Owl. But then, as the last glimmer of the days available light tenaciously hung in the sky, a Vermilion Flycatcher landed at waist level on a single stalk of tall grass. As that last light surrounded the birds' dark red silhouette with a brilliant rim glow, I felt a deep connection with the grand creation of this world.

There are two hours in the day, at daylights start and daylights end, where Gods love anoints the world with a touch of gold. It is as if He wants us to understand that all that transpires between those hours will be cloaked in the healing richness of creations glory. For me, it is the reinforcing of the understanding that all will be OK. I am humbled to share these moments and grateful to be His scribe.

Sharing permited, please credit photographer
Please support RGallucci Photography
We like to be liked ;)

Shot date: April 15, 2019
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
¹⁄₁₀₀₀ sec at f/5.6 Bias:‒ ²⁄₃ EV
Lens: EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM
ISO: 640

The distant sun disappeared gently behind the mighty Huachuca Mountains as we walked from the San Pedro River towards our car, painting the world in a delicate golden hue.  We had just completed an incredible hike that began with three glistening blue Lazuli Bunting perched before us, continued with a magnificent Zone-tailed Hawk perched above us and ending, I thought,  with the most wonderful moment of perfect light on a cooperative Great-horned Owl. But then, as the last glimmer of the days available light tenaciously hung in the sky, a Vermilion Flycatcher landed at waist level on a single stalk of tall grass. As that last light surrounded the birds' dark red silhouette with a brilliant rim glow, I felt a deep connection with the grand creation of this world. 

There are two hours in the day, at daylights start and daylights end,  where Gods love anoints the world with a touch of gold. It is as if He wants us to understand that all that transpires between those hours will be cloaked in the healing richness of creations glory. For me, it is the reinforcing of the understanding that all will be OK. I am humbled to share these moments and grateful to be His scribe. 

Vermilion Sunset
©RGallucci Photography
www.rgallucci.com
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Shoot date: April 15, 2019
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
¹⁄₁₀₀₀ sec at f/5.6 Bias:‒ ²⁄₃ EV
Lens: EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM
ISO: 640