Into the West
(to see the image larger or so it fits into your screen resolution, have a click-see)
It’s been awhile since I posted any images from our trip up to the abandoned ghost town of Two Guns, Arizona. First off, you gotta love a name like that. If there was ever a contest to name an old west town in Arizona…that has to be up at the top.
I will say, the structures left behind at Two Guns weren’t exactly what you’d picture seeing if you heard “ghost town”. Normally you’d think of old wooden saloons, stables, whatever. At least, that’s what floats into my head. But Two Guns was pretty much made up entirely of old stone walls and wooden support beams where they still existed. And only one or two places still had a roof up.
The windows became obvious culprits in framing some of our shots. My buddy Ken Peterson posted a photograph from a different spot last week. I liked this little lone tree-ish looking thing up on the cliff through the window in this room. I tried it with my 50mm at first, but it proved lacking. I dig how my wide angle brought in not only the window, but the lack of a roof.
Title of this post was taken from the soundtrack of Return of the King.
(exif: canon eos 5d mark ii, tamron 17-35mm 2.8, 17mm, iso 100, f/16)
On our way home from Monument Valley, we saw the sign for Two Guns and stopped in, took some great shots. I totally missed this spot – was a bit too into the graffiti I guess. Great composition!
This is damn cool Mike. The framing is just perfect. This could be a movie poster. Totally the best name possible for an old western town.
This is some superb framing! Love the comp and all the rocks. Great shot man.
Kristi…the area was pretty expansive and kind of hard to see. There was an old bridge, did you get to see that? I got a great shot from underneath it…been saving it ๐
I think the graffiti part was from the more modern Two Guns motorhome park ๐ I got some shots there too ๐
Thanks Jesse…if it’s even a movie poster, I’ll let you know. Glad you agree on the name ๐
well done, great framing Mike
Really digging the angle and processing
I didn’t even know where this place was until this weekend when we were driving back home down I-40. Wouldn’t have stopped if I hadn’t have heard them name from you. Awesome capture Mike, I just love it!
That is awesome framing, absolutely love this. Dig your processing choice too, nice and warm.
Love this…so well framed!
framing at its finest. Awesome work Mike!
Great capture Mike; I just imagine one guy with one of the ‘Two Guns’ in this building and the other beside the tree thingy shooting at each other. Pew Pew!
As a fan of ghost towns myself, I’m totally diggin this shot! You’ve composed it perfectly!
Is that a cactus in the window in the distance? What a totally emotional and dramatic piece you’ve created here Mike, really a great image!!
Lovely image – looks like a wild west hang out where there could well have been guys with Two Guns. – nice framing and processing. really like this one.
Superb framing on this one Mike and your choice to shoot at f16 is perfect. A great scene!
Awesome shot Mike, this is where an HDR really pays off.
Epic photo Mike, just an unbelievable find and of course you worked an incredible sky into the image ๐
Hi Mike, Great natural framing! really like this shot!
Thanks so much everyone for the kind words. Glad I’m not the only one who loves the town name ๐
Awesome shot Mike! Love the framing textures of the rock walls. That sky is pretty cool too!
Wow, this is just outstanding work Mike, I love the framing, and your processing is off the charts.