Apache Junction, AZ and Photography Lessons From a Real Photographer

Almost two years ago, I discovered the blog Live, Laugh, RV. I’m not sure how it happened, but I probably found it listed on one of the blog rolls that I was following at the time.  Ingrid, the author, and her husband Al had retired from their careers as homebuilders and began a life as full-time RVers. The blog is very well-written, but, more than that, her photography is stunning.  They were living around Corpus Christie, TX at the time and Ingrid would hike around the lakes and ponds and capture incredible pictures of waterfowl. I was immediately drawn in by her art.

I commented on her blog several times and, when she and Al relocated to Arizona sometime later, I contacted Ingrid by email to ask for suggestions on where to camp. We were thinking about making a trip to Arizona once we learned that RV sites in Florida are nearly impossible to obtain in the winter. Ingrid was kind enough to reply and sent a lengthy list of suggestions. I began working on reservations immediately.  That was over a year ago. We stayed in touch and, as we moved across the Southwest, I contacted Ingrid and asked if she would be willing to meet us at Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction, AZ for some hiking and perhaps a photography lesson. Thankfully, it worked out, and they met us on a beautiful Sunday morning.

Ingrid and Al are a lively, fun couple. Helen and I liked them immediately.  After a period of getting acquainted and a brief tour of Lucy, we prepared for some hiking in Lost Dutchman. Ingrid suggested we take Jacob’s Crosscut Trail which is relatively flat and that we should be able to complete in less than an hour—perfect! While out on the trail, Ingrid walked me through some of the settings on my camera.  My travel camera is a Lumix DC-ZS70 that I purchased from Amazon. I love this lightweight, compact camera, but I have a lot to learn about it. It was only fitting that Ingrid would give me lessons on the Lumix because I bought it after reading her review on her blog.

We started with the lessons as soon as we spotted wildflowers. Recently, Ingrid posted an article on Live, Laugh, RV about bokeh, the process of blurring the background and leaving the main image sharp in the foreground. I asked her to show me how she does it, then set the camera and snapped away.  I think it went well for the first attempt.

We went through several camera settings for different situations and different compositions and, by the time we ended our hike, I had a nearly full memory card, and I felt an entirely new comfort level with this camera. Ingrid was very patient, accommodating, and very careful to avoid throwing more at me than I could absorb on one short hike in light conditions that would not change. She also did not bring her usual camera equipment on this hike, preferring instead to work with a new iPhone that she purchased a day earlier. After some usage, she said that she missed her camera.

I’m not sure how long we were on the trail, but time went quickly, and we made our way back to Lucy in time to go to Goldfield Ghost Town for lunch. Before we left for Ghost Town, I set up my Canon T6i camera on a tripod and took a group picture to mark the occasion. The Superstition Mountains are in the background.

Our lunch at Goldfield Ghost Town included both tasty food and delightful entertainment. We sat on the porch near a small stage where country western singers serenaded us as we ate.  Mingled around were characters dressed in cowboy attire as well as real cowboys and cowgirls who arrived at Ghost Town on horseback.  All, including us, had a great time, but Ingrid and Al had an hour or more drive to their home, and it was getting late in the afternoon, so we said our goodbyes and promised to stay in touch.  I am very grateful for their time and hospitality.

After a down day for laundry and housekeeping, Helen and I were ready for some more hiking.  We decided to bite off a bit more this time and follow the Treasure Loop Trail that would take us to the base of the Superstitions and cover slightly more than two miles. We were aware that there would be some steepness involved, but we felt pretty frisky on a beautiful day. Again, I felt compelled to fill the memory card on my Lumix camera.  The desert wildflowers and cactus blooms were everywhere, and the vistas from the high points of the trail had much to offer a wannabe photographer. I have placed a few examples here.

 

Late that afternoon, we drove to nearby Mesa, AZ for dinner at Organ Stop Pizza, a favorite of Ingrid and Al, featuring the largest Wurlitzer Organ ever built. We placed an order for our pizza, then struggled to find a seat in the sizeable arena-style dining room, complete with balcony. About the time our order was served, we located seats on the main floor in the corner of the room. The organist (and his HUGE organ) is on a stage above the crowd.  Behind the organ are rooms (yes rooms) filled with pipes and bellows to amplify the music. The organist played old favorites and show tunes like the theme from Star Wars, and It’s a Small World After All. During some of the songs, a light show would appear and fill the room with hundreds of moving lights. The pizza was delicious and topped only by the outstanding musical show.

We arrived back at the Lost Dutchman State Park Campground right at sunset. I grabbed my camera, adjusted the settings, and snapped until my fingers were numb. I don’t know if my teacher is proud of her student’s progress, but I’m sure proud of this picture. I still have a long way to go however, so I’ll continue…Easin’ Along.