Combining tilt shift processing with low level aerial photographic views of the desert

Flew back across the bootheel to Playas Valley this morning for some more photography. Below are several images of drainages in Playas Valley processed with tilt shift software. Most of the photographs were taken at an altitude between 50' and 100' AGL. This technique works quite well with low level images and is recommended it to anyone photographing the landscape.

Of course the Border Patrol was there as usual as backup.

Click image to enlarge


Inverted tilt shift modified desert drainage. Inverting the photograph gives the appearance the drainage's rise out of the desert floor.


Desert tilt shift


Draining the Desert

Ring around the Mountains - The Return

At about 8:30 AM I heard the engines as the 3 returning aircraft entered the pattern at Amigos del Cielo Airpark. They reported bumpy conditions over the Chiricahua Mountains and strong crosswinds prevented a landing at Tombstone so they pressed on to Bisbee for 2 nights. Since conditions prevented landing in Tombstone they drove over from Bisbee for a visit. With the extra night in Bisbee the group had plenty of time for sight seeing. Retuning photos are below.

When Charles Lindbergh Came to Town (Lordsburg)

La Marca, Jeanne. 2007. Lindbergh, Lordsburg, and Airports. Bootheel Magazine. pg 12.

The closest “city” to Rodeo is Lordsburg about 35 miles northeast (it is closer than Douglas). It is home to New Mexico’s oldest airport and was also a stop on Charles Lindbergh’s goodwill tour in 1927. On September 24th 1927, about 5 months after his Trans-Atlantic flight the Daniel Guggenheim Fund sponsored Lindbergh’s good will tour of America. Lindbergh circled the country landing in all lower 48 states and stopping at 92 cities including Lordsburg. His visit to Lordsburg was short, about half an hour but remembered.

The Lordsburg flying field was opened to aircraft on December 18th 1924 and official airport opening ceremonies were held on Labor Day 1926. Activities included an air race from Lordsburg to Hachita and back.