I tell people all the time as a photographer I see things different.  Some go “I understand” which tells me that they are passionate about their craft, whatever it may be.  Others go “uh huh” and smile, which tells me that they take pictures but they don’t live for photography.  For example a friend of mine was saying the other day that she was in the ‘Mood” to take some pictures.  I had to stop and think about that.  I have never had to “be in the mood” to shoot.  For me its like breathing, it something I have to do.  Even if I do it badly because I am having a crappy day… I have to shoot.  Seriously I take photos EVERY day even if it is a photo with my phone of a bug or dinner.  I shoot.

Anyway back on topic, we, as most of my photography friends will agree, see things different.  Photographers that do portraits, ALWAYS see that perfect photo.  That moment when everyone in the family is who they are or when the light hits the highschool senior just right, or when the bride has that perfect look of love on her face.  For a landscape/wildlife photographer its the light… there is this moment … it does not happen every day but there is a moment in the mornings and evenings when there is the glorious golden light that makes everything  perfect, or when the sun moves behind a cloud and cast just the right shadow, or dark thirty (that is that time between sunset and dark) when the light is amazing because of the red cast from the sunset.  Some people call it talent to be able to see these things.  they say “Man you have a great eye for this stuff”  OK this is what I mean, we see it where others can’t.

I know I am rambling.

But my point is that all of this is out there.  I take photos and people tell me “WOW I never saw that”  or  “you took that here… in Carlsbad…Really?”  It amazes me that people don’t see it.  How can you not see it?  but then I remember they see things I don’t see because of their passions.  I personally don’t see the beauty of football…yes seriously had someone tell me that football was beautiful… my answer was “uh huh” and I just smiled. (sound familiar) So no matter your passion enjoy it.  While it may confuse you how others can not enjoy or see it the way  you do, just know that they feel as deeply about their passion/obsessions as you do.  You can try to explain it but you will probably just get a smile and a general “uh huh” and then they will wander off to talk to a less obsessed crazy person.

Recently, Monday the 6^th and Tuesday the 7^th, we went out to shoot a local/National event called National Night out.

The slogan with National Night out, or NNO if you will is “America’s Night Out Against Crime” and the following is the basic idea behind it. NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs; Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Oh and they have the help of the cops and fire department too. These guys split the parties up into sections and go visit to talk to the host and the guest about the importance of knowing one another and other things.

Carlsbad has a “Fun Run” on Monday night to kick off the Tuesday night event. The fun run is just that a mile run and then dancing in the streets and snow cones and you know FUN STUFF.

NO not turning this into RAH RAH SHUSH BOOM BA kinda things just giving you some back ground.

OK so that all being said everyone had a good time. Shot a number of photos Monday, with Ruthie and Don in the middle of the road as the runners ran past. Not as intimidating as you would think, the bikers at Christmas are interesting though, but I digress.

Tuesday was PARTY NIGHT and the crew hit a number of them. Mostly new ones and we’ve have gotten reports that the people had a great time at the parties and are already talking about having one next year.

It’s a great couple of nights and a great workout for Ruthie. Hopping from the car, running in like a thief in the night, onto the lawn, through the gate, quietly not to interrupt the officers or fire fighters who might be talking, politely waiting to introducing herself.
New Parties this is her spiel: “I’m Ruthie Porter, photographer for NNO and Owner Desert Photos here to get some photos of this great party. Let’s all gather up and flash those amazing NNO Smiles”
With those who have partied before: “I’m here let’s make this happening people”.

Now mind you the whole time the cops and firefighters are snickering because they all know me and they know the rule that comes next.

Once she gets the people lined up: “There is only one rule here. If you can’t see me, I can’t see you. There is no hiding here. If I don’t get you now I will find you later and take the worse possible photo of you ever taken in your ENTIRE life and post it on the internet for the world to see. So a good photo now for a good cause or….”

Then it is back to the car drive like mad to get to the next and start all over again.

Of course EVERYONE offers you food which is not good when you are fat and short of breath and trying to be polite. Cause the food looks good and its hard to eat and literally run and not make a mess in the car, on your shirt, on the camera.

Seriously everyone who knows Ruthie picture this.

Picture anywhere from 11 to 21 parties in a three hour… no 2 hours, cause as it get dark it is harder to shoot in the dark.
A hotdog, a hamburger, watermelon slice and or ice cream not to mention a drink from every one of those parties, people really are polite ya know… but then there’s little miss slobolicious when she’s hustling… OK …REALLY BAD IDEA. Not that she’s a slob in general but …yeah you get the picture.

Why the rambling? No idea. Just being informative and posting to see if anyone is really paying attention.

Point is this NNO fun run and block parties YEA lots of fun
Ruthie running around like a photographer with her head cut off, although fun for you to watch, exhausting for her.
Don driving like a mad man, or as mad as he gets, he’s old the speed limit not really a challenge anymore.
So why do we do it… Because we get to meet new people and we get to shoot them… with the cameras.

But it’s ok if there is a gunshot sound effect in our heads sometimes right?

There are so many things to love about the Southwest desert.  The amazing sunsets. The wide open vistas.  The relatively warm winters.  The beautiful deep blue sky’s.

Living here you realize that we have five seasons.  We have spring, summer, fire, fall and winter.   As a resident of the desert  I hate fire season. Every year part of my desert burns.  Sometimes it is only the forest. Unfortunately this year the fires are hitting far to close to homes and families.

Living in the desert you gain a great appreciation for fire and wild fire fighters  There are several groups of fire fighters from all over the country here to help us save our home.  I know that I am grateful for all of their efforts

I am not so absorbed in the photography that I am going to put myself in a position to cause any trouble for the authorities just to get a photo, to those who are out there taking these photos please be careful as there is no photo worth putting yourself in danger.

That being said, as a photographer, the images coming out of these fires are amazing.  From the hazy day time shots, to the sunset flames, only to be followed up by the bright fire glow after dark.

If you have the chance to see these images please do so. It will give you a new respect for the fire, the men and women who battle every day to keep our homes and families safe and for the beast that is only a lighting strike or campfire away.

Oh how I’ve missed that rush to grab the camera and run outside to shoot something as amazing as the  Annular eclipse.  Now don’t get me wrong.  I really enjoyed the event photography that we did for 10 years.  There is nothing that can compare to the fun and excitement that comes from the local events and people.  The community coming together for the day.

But when I was outside on Sunday night after a friend (thanks Cathy) texted me and reminded me that it was happening, standing at the end of my drive, camera ready, neighbors thinking I am nuts because apparently they have forgotten as well,  and I am tickled pink.  I was crazy excited with every photo I took.  Talking to the camera, coaxing the sun and moon to do what I wanted them to, because they listen ya know.  I had forgoten what that specific rush felt like, when you know that you got the shot, with no filters, no poses, no instruction.  Just you, the camera and mother nature doing what it is that she does.

There is a type of calmness that comes over a person when they fall back into a place that calls to them.  Calls gently and sometimes so quietly that they do not hear it for the crazy that is the world today.  Sunday night I rediscovered that place.  The place where my soul rests and all is right with the world.  Thank you mother nature, the sun and the moon and mostly Don for knowing what i needed and sharing that place with m and calling me home.

It is amazing how life gets away from you.  Last post was January 2011.  I keep telling myself to update and well yeah… not happening. 

This last year has been a year of change and discovery.  Not all good, but not all bad.  Lots of medical issues and answers we do not like but it has opened our eyes and changed our outlook. 

 So this is the end of an era.  For 10 years we at Desert Photos have been event photographers for our little corner of the world.  We photographed local public events and would run when others called.  We spend hours and hours shooting only to come home and spend days sorting and touching up and creating DVDs.  Sounds exhusting huh, well truth be told it was but we loved it.  We thrived and we laughed.  We made some great friends. 

We are passionate about photography any kind really but at some point you have to choose.  Our main passion has always been landscape and non people stuff, cause lets be honest a tree is not going to argue with you about its hair being out of place or want you to do it over cause its leaves are crooked.  So we have made our choice and life will go on, hopefully with a little less stress.  We will still go to events but we will get back to doing things our way, when and where we want, when and where we can.  More weeks willl be spent together in the woods. or by the river, or in the car.  There will be no deadlines and no one to make happy save for ourselves.  If you know anything about us then you know the woods, the river and the car make us happy. 

So with that being said we like you to let us reopen your eyes to the desert around you and continue with us on our new journey.

There are days when you sit around and nothing exciting, special, or even out of the ordinary happens.  Then there are days when out of the blue all those things happen at once.  I had a day like that in December 2010.

Little back ground—Don and I give our business cards out to EVERYONE, so that they can go to the Desert Photos site, or so they can call us, or so they can give the information to others.  The second side of this is that you can also get our email and my phone number off the site, in various places.  The email is easy it is under the contact us link.  The phone number not so much.  It is actual part of the ID tag on our photos.  You can get it unless you know how to view the ID tag. 

ANYWAY enough back ground.  I was sitting around doing a lot of nothing and my phone rang.  Being that it was the holiday season and I was feeling especially nice, I answered it, something I seldom do if I do not recognize the number.  I figure they will leave a message if it is important right.  I know I know why do I pay for a cell phone.

Anywho, so I answer the phone with my customary “This is Ruthie” and the following conversation took place;

“Is this Ruthie Porter?”

“Yes it is”

“My name is Betty Xxxxxxxxx” (that is not really her last name or it spelling just for the record)

“Hi Betty, how are you today?”

(All the while I am thinking OH LORD what is she selling)

“I am fine.  As I said my name is Betty and I am a college professor in Baltimore Maryland”

“Oh that is neat.  I have family in that general area.”

“Really what is the name?”

“Grogg”

“Oh I know some Groggs.  That is so interesting.”

Slight pause

“Betty can I ask why you called me?”

“Yes Yes so very sorry.  The reason that I am calling is because I was perusing the web the other day.  As I am on Christmas Holiday, I was looking for Christmas lights.  I was in images and came across this photo of lights reflecting off water.  I thought it was very pretty and was thinking ‘it must be in the eastern states or mid west’.  Well imagine my surprise when I clicked the website and found out it was in the Desert!”

Yes Ma’am we have water in the desert and pretty lights too.  The photo that you were looking at is part of an annual event here called Christmas on the Pecos.”

“Well it was absolutely beautiful.  Is this a big event or a small home town event?”

So I proceeded to tell her about our Christmas on the Pecos and when it took place and how long it has been running.

She in return asked a lot of questions including the best way to get here and where to stay.  What else could she see while she was here; she asked my advice on what I would do if it were me flying in from the other side of the country.  I told her that she could fly into Roswell and drive here down through Artesia and see the all three towns and still get to the light show. 

For 45 minutes I was on the phone with this total stranger, talking like we were old friends.  Finally she says to me,

“Well that sounds like an absolutely amazing Christmas Holiday!  I think I need to start looking at flights”

We talked for a few more minutes and said goodbye. 

The purpose of me telling this is not to ring Desert Photos bell, there has been too much of that already, but to share and express how interesting it is that you can reach other people across the country by doing one little thing. 

I hope that Miss Betty the Professor did make the trip and I hope that she had a great time.  I hope that she takes home with her memories of the lights on the water in Carlsbad NM and I hope that she has an amazing wonderful holiday.