Here it is What I learned!
Ok Had a Great trip planned with the PAC to shoot in Tombstone for the Annual Rendezvous of gunfighter’s! This is where lots of reenactment troupes join in the festivities at tombstone to add to the fun!
Well since I am not staying there the alarm goes off at 4 am sharp, I sit up and start at my feet. Wow super tired I drag myself to the bathroom and look in the mirror – seriously considering a dive back in bed… but since I am hosting – that is def not possible! Plus my Assistant organizer is meeting me at Frys Electronics for a carpool!
Ok slowly starting to feel human I get washed and dressed throw my contact in and wander in circles several times making sure I have cash, batteries, CF Cards and all my camera gear .. Grab a few waters, my vitamins and off I go.
I dont get to the end of my driveway and my gas light flips on! Well I either chance it or be late to meet Stephen .. I go for it like that episode of Seinfeld … Ok blindly I jump on 202 and dont figure out Im heading to my destination not the Pickup point.. I realize it 20 mins out of my way (with no gas) and scoot over 101 to 60 to get back on track…
Because of my scenic tour I was at least 10 minutes late but we still needed gas.. off to get gas at the 1 of 4 Circle K fuel fill-ups in a row – we ironically picked the most expensive one ..lol
On the Road again T minus 3.5 hours to go!
It was a Pretty uneventful drive – got to enjoy the sunrise at 80mph no place with a foreground to get a shot so we agreed to keep moving … a quick Jack in the Box Burrito for breakfast and back to the road!
Now after Tucson we headed to Benson, the speed traps were fun – kept me awake – fast… slow… slower, fast again – repeat 🙂
But then we start to see things, still not sure if they were tarantula’s in the road grasshoppers or what! but we decided to stop, until we rolled up to a Border Patrol check and figured we didn’t want to get searched by acting weird so .. we never got to see them up close… but we did pass at least 20 dead skunks – def survival of the fittest out there …
Finally in Tombstone! We roll in 30 minutes before schedule and get out to stretch and grab our camera gear! Off to Big Nose Kate’s Saloon to meet the group
Well we are the only ones there, I mean at all not just the group, oh and a whole lot of bees & flies! So we take a stroll in the ghost town and a few people are waking up and coming out now..
Finally We meetup with the Photographers Adventure Club Members and start to walk! The “Boardwalkers” are out in full force now! A “boardwalker” is someone is costume strolling the streets as a job or for fun!
Got lots of amazing shots! I shot mostly my Canon 70-200 L IS Lens and really was picky about what to shoot. After a few gunfighting shows we decide to Eat! Well where else besides Big Nose Kates! … many of the cowboys and tourists alike joined us there and also a one man band (whom was very loud!) My Ruben Sandwich and Sarsaparilla was to die for!
Back out to shoot a few more Cowboys and Cowgirls for my Wild West Wednesday Theme on Google+ and then hit one more show at Helldorado.
Here it Comes! What I learned:
Overall the trip was great, but in my opinion a little too short, Stephen and I rushed to get there and then cruised back all in the same day, to me a night earlier would have left us closer and well rested. Tombstone needs to kill all the flying things, it was a scene from the Amityville Horror when we walked into the Birdcage Theater, hundreds of bees and flies on the windows.. quite creepy! Also I would probably drink less Sarsaparilla and eat less Ice cream next time .. had to hit the gym extra hard that Monday lol. My Monopod was an old one from my film days and was quite cheap – It needed an upgrade and I gave it one out at Photoshop World in Vegas with a nice one … Manfrotto! Still not sure what we saw in the road, so my truth is they were killer jumping tarantulas that go for the jugular .. Im sticking with it… Lastly next time I see the border patrol I am thinking of asking directions to Phoenix Senor ..
Well thats it for now, hope you enjoyed my photo adventure To join other adventures like this in Arizona and beyond Join here: https://captureschool.net/ The Camera Club Hosts events all over the US and is Based in Phoenix, AZ. If you are interested in getting a chapter started in your Town, State or Area Contact me ASAP!
Nicholas Pappagallo
President – Photographers Adventure Club
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