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Cash Keith's Photography & Adventures

Welcome to my online adventure journal.

TBOT 2018

tbot_logo_blackHappy Monday! I hope you had a terrific weekend, mine was fantastic. I spent the weekend camping out on a ranch and cooking for competitors from the Traditional Bowhunters of Texas (TBOT).

While visiting on Friday night with my fellow campers/cooks we figured that this was a twelfth year of coming to this event. Some of the kiddos running around helping us this year weren’t even born yet when we started!  It is always a great time (albeit a lot of work too) and I hope to continue for many years to come.

The organization changed venue locations a few years ago and now is literally on a ranch within a couple miles of Lost Maples SNA, so the terrain looks just the same as the park! After things settled down for the evening, I took a little hike up one of the course trails and took a couple shots. Hope you enjoy.

 

Proud to be a Hiker

Today was not unlike most any other Sunday, doing chores to prepare for the upcoming week and catching up on podcasts, however today I happened to stumble on one episode of The Dirtbag Diaries from their archives that touched me deeply and I felt it warranted a quick blog post to share it with you guys.

The episode originally aired on January 22, 2016, which does make it a little dated but the theme is one that is even older – mans calling and capacity for helping his fellow man and in my experience there is an abundance of this philosophy and ethos in the hiker community.

We got a call from Australia. M’Lynn’s husband, Paul, passed away this past July. He left behind three pairs of polished hiking boots and a backpack packed for his dream hike: the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail.

She had an idea for one final gift for her husband. “How good would it be,” she asked, “for his boots to make the journey even if Paul could not?” We want to make it happen.

The Dirtbag Diaries – Paul’s Boots : Episode 1

Be forewarned you might find the allergies flaring up as you listen to the episodes and watch the film (links to all three episodes and the REI hosted movie below), making the eyes water a bit but I am confident you will come away from the experience with a renewed sense of hope in mankind. And if you are a lover of the trail like me, you will be especially moved by our community and when asked next “what are you?” – you will proudly say “I’m a hiker!”.

The Dirtbag Diaries Episodes & Film:

Episode 1 – Paul’s Boots

Episode 2 – An Update from the Trail

Episode 3 – What’s Next?

REI Film – Paul’s Boots

New Boots & Old Trails

20180407-New_Boots-1During my trip last month to Big Bend my trusty old hiking boots of the past ten years walked their final mile.  They now have their eternal resting place along the foothills to Mule Ears Peak (video of services shared at the bottom of this post).  So with a new pair of boots to carry me on my adventures needed, I recenently cashed in my REI dividends and made the purchase.  Today was their first day to have a trail test and I couldn’t think of a better place than my favorite Texas state park, Lost Maples SNA.

It was unseasonably cold today, but with my new boots laced up I took on the West Loop Trail.  I am happy to report they performed quite well and I didn’t suffer any hot spots or uncomfortable pinches, creases, etc.  As ususal I had my camera with me and took some snaps throughout the day (highlights shared below) – hope you enjoy!

Lost Maples State Natural Area – West Trail Loop
Boot Funeral – Big Bend National Park

Just Do It

“if you want to take pictures – take pictures” and “if you want to write a blog – write”

To completely honest, this post is being written for me more than you or anyone else. It was once again a Sunday morning and I found myself sitting on the couch, watching my favorite YouTubers and longing for being “out there” on my own adventure and taking images. I’m not the first to say this (and it won’t be the last time I need to hear it I’m sure), but “if you want to take pictures – take pictures” and “if you want to write a blog – write”.

These words that I’ve heard so many times kept going through my head, so finally I grabbed my camera and took a stroll around the property and I had a fantastic time (few shots from my stroll at the bottom of this post)! Albeit I didn’t capture anything that deems updating my portfolio, I was able to practice composition and camera settings which will only serve to benefit me more the next time I’m out on a real shoot.

Lastly the matter of writing. For quite some time I have wanted to build up my blog – hence this post (“if you want to write a blog – write”). I won’t go into the whole #leavefacebook debate here but I was watching another of the Youtubers (Dave Morrow – How QUITTING SOCIAL MEDIA CHANGED MY LIFE & PHOTOGRAPHY | The Landscape Photography Journals E14) that I really enjoy and he went over his plight of leaving social media and spoke to how his departure allowed him to focus more on his website and the positive impact this has had on his content and traffic.  I can’t say I’m ready to drop the social media scene, but I do believe that I can choose where to focus my energy and attention.  This website has very few followers at this time, so I will need to keep the other accounts but perhaps I can change to using them more for an outlet to advertise the work published here.

So I’m taking here what I’ve heard and sincerely believe and – Just Doing It! What are your thoughts? Share in the comments section below.

Decaying cactus “trunk”
“New Growth” – oak tree branch
DYC (damn yellow composite)

Lost Maples SNA – Star Party

After capturing the Milky Way last weekend, I decided to take a stab at doing a star trail image around the North Star.  Hope you enjoy!

Last night we ventured back up to Lost Maples SNA for another Star Party.  The San Antonio Astronomical Association made it out this time and had many telescopes setup and shared their knowledge of the night sky with all who attended.  After capturing the Milky Way last weekend, I decided to take a stab at doing a star trail image around the North Star.  Hope you enjoy!

Peace,

Cash

Lost Maples SNA – Star Party

Last night we took a quick road trip up to Lost Maples State Natural Area to attend a star party, with the main event being the peak of this year’s Perseids Meteor Shower.

Last night we took a quick road trip up to Lost Maples State Natural Area to attend a star party, with the main event being the peak of this year’s Perseids Meteor Shower.  The park hosts were very accommodating and helpful, guiding everyone to a special viewing area up above the overflow parking.  The featured astronomy guests were unable to make it but nonetheless we still had a good time, observing several awing glowing streaks and trailing tails.

Despite many attempts to capture a meteor trail on my camera, I didn’t walk away empty handed.  I’m still learning the unique nuances of astro photography developing but hope you enjoy these two that I was pretty proud of.

Peace,

Cash