Desert Wildflowers are in Bloom

The cactus flowers are spectacular this year

This year marks an epic cactus bloom. It's the best display of wild cactus flowers, and continues to be so.  I heard this bloom is considered a 100 year bloom (prolific). A combination of cold and rain in April and May have watered the gardens of the desert and the cactus are the stars of the show.

I like to create compositions that tell a story about the life of the prickly pear cactus

By photographing with my macro lens (Nikon 60mm), I am able to get within a few inches of the subject
and by choosing a large aperture, like f2.8, the background blurs considerably.

Camping close the the subject

In the evening light, the blooms along the slick rock were singing. ©Kit Frost

One of the primary reasons I love camping is to be close to my subjects when the right light hits.  I knew I would only photograph for a few hours after breakfast and again before sunset. The BLM lands in Southern Utah make camping accessible and private. When I scouted the subjects a few weeks ago, the blooms were amazing; up to 50 flowers on each plant.  By the time I came back for a weekend, many of the bigger blossoms were finished.  But persistence pays off, and I found many plants still in full bloom.

In this image, I focused on the main, large, bloom.

Using my 60mm macro lens and manually focusing gives me choices.

I love the pink bud hanging out with the yellow flowers

And then, hit the river.

Needing to cool down after a hot morning in the sun, it was time to move camp to the San Juan River.  I love the Sand Island Campground near Bluff.  We had our pick of sites along the river because it was "past season" in Southern Utah.  But the river trippers "put-in" is at Sand Island so I sat, lounged and watched the river flow and the rafters and kayakers go by.  I occasionally sat right in the "eddie" to cool down.

Transition from Winter to Spring Camping in Utah

Ahh, Utah

Since winterizing my camper in November, I left it stored at the Cadillac Ranch RV Park in Bluff.  Each weekend, well most weekends, I drove out there and camped.  When the campground was not full, I was invited by Diana, the owner,  to leave it parked in a campsite, instead of moving it to storage.  Thanks Diana.  When I arrived at camp, all set up, I just hooked up the electric, turned on the propane and ran the heater to warm it up.  Dry camping, I am used to the system of water jugs and that worked quite well for me. The coldest night was 14 Degrees at sometime in December.  But my Sunline Saturn Travel Trailer was cozy and warm.  I wouldn't run the heater all night, but just before nodding out and then again in the morning.  Sweet.  And the days were warm so I cooked and made art on the picnic table.

Last week, after teaching a Photo Workshop in Monument Valley, I camped for a few days to chill and watch rocks grow old.  I de-winterized the trailer and tested all the systems.  Since I was the one to winterize, I knew what was in the pipes.  It was really hot, 90 degrees, so I also tested the AC, hooked up to the water and sewer and all is well.  Whew.

I added the chalkboard above my artspace/dinette/guest bed. 

Why Utah

I love Red rocks, I love Butler Wash, Comb Wash, Muley Point, the Moqui Dugway, the Valley of the Gods, Cedar Mesa, and the Night sky.

The drive from my home in Durango is less than 3 hours to all of the above.  

What I love to do while camping

1. Make Art
2. Cook Outside
3. Ride by Bike
4. Star watch
5. Fuss, build stuff
6. Sleep in my cozy bed
7. Sip Coffee and Tea
8. Go days without showering

Spring Camping in the Desert

My nephew visited me and I took him camping, and art making

He knows how to have fun with the Aunt Kit Show

This is what it looks like when the epic spring winds blow.  So glad for my camper
I've been tent camping in this kind of wind, and I prefer the camper.

I call this Camp Napoleon Blownapart.  Looking out of my dinette windows

When the wind mellowed, this is one of my favorite photo locations.

RVwest Magazine features a story about My Adventures and RV Lifestyle

RV West Magazine Article about Kit Frost

Kit Frost's Photographs and Camping Adventures Featured in RVwest Magazine 

My rig at the Watchman Campground in Zion National Park

I was thrilled to get a call from Jessica Kirby, a writer for RVwest Magazine.  What do you think of the story she wrote about me and my life of adventure?
Click here to read the story.

Dry Camping in the San Juan National Forest, near Durango, Colorado

Cameras and Camping at Bluff Hot Air Balloon Festival

Give a sense of place in your photos

Tell a story with your subjects.

Compression of space: a lesson in using longer lenses.

I teach Photography.  Most of the participants in my workshops have always wanted to learn photography.  Many students are retired and some want to learn a skill for a second career.  Many talk of being ready to devote the time, energy and commitment to their photo education.  On workshops and private lessons, we have a mix of beginners, intermediate and advanced photographers. What all students have in common is the desire to create beautiful images and to learn to use their digital cameras and lenses properly.

Balloon Photography Lessons:

• Choosing the right lens for the job, i.e. compression of space, wide view, details.
• Storytelling
• A sense of place.
• Proper exposure, shutter speed and ISO for moving subjects
• Proper choice of aperture for emphasis
• Working with the "star of the show" and the "supporting cast".
• Working with challenging light, sunrise, sunset, night photos
• Tripod or no, tethered or not.

Cameras and Camping

This past weekend we all met in Bluff, Utah for the Annual Bluff Balloon Festival.  I set up my travel trailer at the Cadillac Ranch RV Park in Bluff, it was full, as were all of the accommodations in Bluff. But Diana (Cadillac Ranch) made sure that folks could boondock if necessary so they were not without a site.  Students stayed in a nearby motel. The class arrived at my camper for pre-sunrise breakfast, and coffee.  At that time we gathered around my dinette and planned the day, discussing basic camera settings to get started.  We left camp at around 8am, as the balloons launch close to sunrise and sunset.

Later in the day, I taught the grand landscape and photographing in harsh light at Muley Point at the top of the Moqui Dugway on Hwy 163. At the end of the day, we also used my campsite to gather around the picnic table and talk about photography and the challenges of the day.

The light has been really harsh in the Southwest recently, so I composed this image by framing the distant Monument Valley and nearby boulders of Muley Point.

Great Ideas for Departing Camp

I ran into this link on www.thecampingjournal blog.  Although the blogger is no longer posting, having retired from his writing.  His information is still valid IMHO

It's a helpful list when packing up camp and leaving the campsite, when moving on.  I have forgotten a few things that didn't cause too much harm, like leaving the ceiling vents open.  But I must admit, I can be a bit rushed when leaving camp, so although I glued a list to my door, this checklist is a good idea.

What kind of list, items would you add, subtract from this list?

Rvs, Campers and Cameras- A Southwest Colorado Photo Workshop

Mineral Creek and Rolling Mountain

Rvs, Campers and Cameras
June 6-9, 2014
Silverton and Durango, Colorado
$650.
$250. deposit

Photography, RVs and camping in the San Juan National Forest, of Colorado.

Some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world surround you in the San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado.  Located between Ouray, Silverton and Durango.  Mountain peaks like Kendall Mountain, Engineer Mountain, Grizzly Peak, Whitehead and Pigeon and Turret Peaks, ranges like the Grenadiers and the West Needles.  Folks come from all over the world to explore and photograph these high altitude wonders.







Join us as Kit Frost teaches you and shares with you her very special method of teaching photography.  Bring along a tripod so she can look at your compositions and discuss improvements to your vision.  Or keep it simple with your handheld point and shoot camera.

Kit has been teaching photography for the past 40 years.  Learn Digital Photography, bring your film camera too.

Learn how to compose great digital images, learn how to use your camera, Kit will teach you the tips and tricks to improve your photography.

We meet at our campground along Mineral Creek in the San Juan National Forest where we review camera skills; YOUR individual camera will be reviewed.  Kit Frost will teach you how to capture great landscape and waterfall images with your digital camera. Feel free to request accommodations in Silverton, Colorado and we'll meet you at our campsite daily.

Don't miss this great adventure.  A combination of camping, short hikes, waterfalls, mountain photography, in Southern Colorado.  The Mineral Creek campground is a jumping off point to some of the most beautiful, inspiring, awesome, landscapes in Southern Colorado, in the Four Corners, in the USA.

After a introduction to camera skills, composition, and exposure, we will head out to locations each day, and then review and critique, Kit will offer suggestions for continued improvement.   Let Kit teach you her special techniques for capturing grand and intimate landscapes.  And at our nightly campfire we will continue the conversation and review your day.

Locations will include:

• Mineral Creek Waterfalls
• Big Views, Molas Pass and the Grenadier Range
• The Twilight Peaks
• Engineer Peak
• other special locations around Silverton.

Gear List will be sent to registered participants, bring your family.  Enjoy a few days on photo instruction and review in Colorado.  Tent camping, RVs, whatever suits you.  We'll save a campsite for you.

Use paypal to securely make a full or partial payment towards this amazing photo workshop.

Choose a Payment Option

Pay in Full $650.00 USD Deposit $250.00 USD

Mineral Creek Fall, Spring snow melt

Molas Pass, looking east to the Grenadier Range

Mineral Creek Fall, San Juan National Forest