Photographing Big Bend
	By Dr. W. Preston Reeves
	TLU Professor Emeritus of Chemistry

Big Bend is a West Texas magnet for the photographer.

Before one even arrives at Big Bend, as one drives west from Seguin, there are several photo opportunities that shouldn’t be missed. The roadside park overlooking the Pecos River Bridge is worthy of a stop. A few miles further west, one encounters Langtry, the home of the Judge Roy Bean Saloon and Museum. This is a good place to get the dust off the camera and begin some fun photography. The museum area is interesting for its photo ops – but don’t neglect the ruins of Langtry. Some of the abandoned buildings offer great subjects for capturing the bygone days of this small town.

About 40 miles west along Texas Highway 90, one encounters Dryden with a given population of 10. There is an interesting general store and some picturesque abandoned buildings. A bit farther along one comes to Sanderson. Don’t overlook the railroad depot. There are also some large cactus growths and a few unusual paint jobs on some of the downtown buildings. On west to Marathon is the famous Gage Hotel, which is certainly worth a stop. Also take a few minutes to look around the town and shoot some photos.

Finally our magnet draws us southward toward Big Bend National Park. Some 50 miles of ranch land takes us to the park entrance. Here we pay a fee, get a map and proceed to an enchanting photo adventure.

What does one find to photograph in this rather remote and desolate location?

Let’s begin with the flora of the desert. Dew drops on a thorn bush, a close up of a barrel cactus, a red prickly pear, the dagger cactus, all become photogenic either with the very blue sky, the red sunset or the foggy morning as backdrops.

Moving into the park we find the Basin, which is the starting point for some great hikes. Perhaps an evening hike toward the Window for a super sunset will require numerous stops for great photos. Along the way be alert for wildlife. We have encountered deer and javelina along this trail.

Another good photo trail is the Lost Mine, an easy trail (mostly paved) that is uphill to a nice view across the mountains into Mexico. Near the top of this trail one finds some interesting rock formations. One of my most memorable photographic experiences in Big Bend was the photography of an outdoor wedding overlooking the Window at sunset. The natural beauty of the setting made this event very special.

Now let us move out of the Basin and explore this huge park. Heading to the west side of the park there is a turnoff to Grapevine Hills. The gravel road will probably be rough, but the area is worth the drive. The rock formations at the end of this drive are outstanding. Don’t forget to shoot some black and white. These shapes give neat shadows and let one move into a fantasyland.

Back on the main highway we head toward Santa Elena Canyon where the Rio Grande has cut through rock walls to yield a spectacular landscape. Walk into the canyon and get some close-up shots of the river and the vegetation.

When leaving the area there is a small gravel (rough) road that parallels the main road but takes one through some great scenery. Rocks and clay and gravel give a variety of colors. Some early homes of unique design are also found on this route.

Is this enough photography? No! We have the eastern part of the park to visit. This is about 75 miles from Santa Elena. The eastern terminus leads to Boquillas Canyon, another gorge created by the Rio Grande. At one time you could ride a burro across into Boquillas, Mexico for a cool one, but now Homeland Security either wants to protect us or sell local beer! In any event the photo opportunities still abound in this region.

A sand dune against the rock wall of the canyon can be picturesque. There are also some nice views of the river in this area. Nearby there is a campground and small store. Also in the vicinity are the remains of Hot Springs, Texas, a former resort. There is still an old post office (now closed) and the ruins of several buildings. Colorful rocks abound in this area.

If you have four-wheel drive, there are still additional areas for photo exploration. Perhaps you will be lucky and get a spectacular sunset in the mountains of Big Bend. If this is not enough photography you may head west to such exciting places as Terlingua, Study Butte and Lajitas, and then along a beautiful drive toward Presidio.

This of course is not the entire photo story of Big Bend. One needs several trips at different times of the year to begin to capture the excitement and beauty of the area. This is one area that I do not tire of visiting and photographing. Let’s Go! ♦

Dr. Preston Reeves taught chemistry at Texas Lutheran from 1965-2001. When he retired, he was department chair and holder of the Adolph Krause Professorship in Natural Sciences. He continues a lifelong passion for photography with his photo exhibit, “Photos of the Rio Grande,” which will be on display at the Krost Symposium, Oct. 15-17.