Alabama Hills, California

The next photo location after Bodie Ghost Town was Alabama Hills (Lone Pine), California. Alabama Hills has been made infamous by its use by Hollywood in the making of western movies. If you have seen a western where John Wayne or Kirk Douglas fights off the Indians as they shoot from huge boulders amidst a pink sky at sunset, then you have seen Alabama Hills.

After arriving early evening, scoping the locality for a sunset shot it was time to try and find something identifiable to eat for dinner. Although there was a huge box of dried food in the vehicle, a local town meant that perhaps something fresh could be discovered. After negotiating the main street several times Pizza seemed the only option. The cafe was decked out in movie posters personally signed by many of the movie greats - Kirk Douglas, Karl Moldan, John Wayne, Errol flynn et al. The pizza was surprising well made and tasted reasonable - but anything tastes reasonable after a few days eating freeze dried food!

Sunrise the following morning was cold with the temperature hovering around zero degrees Celsius. The sky was turning pink as the four wheel drive rocketed along the corrugated dirt road bound for a location called Mobius Arch. A short while later found myself surrounded by large granitic boulders, many the size of football fields amidst frozen vegetation, frost and snow. The rocks are an exposed batholith and many of the formations reminded me of an Australian location called Girraween in southern Queensland.

Mobius Arch is a hole that has been eroded in the rock and by positioning yourself to one side with a wide angle lens you can shot through the arch and toward the Sierra Ranges as the early morning sun baths the snow capped peaks. After obtaining the iconic image, it was time to spend a few hours exploring the mesa to determine locations for further photographs before heading to town in search of a late breakfast. I was lucky to see a small group of California Quail, California's state bird, along the access track. Whilst photographing the birds I came across a rock motif of a dinosaur face which I thought cute. The "rock art" was not within the protected area but was located within private property along the main road from Lone Pine.

A small cafe, with the insoiring name of "The Wagonwheel Cafe" was chosen which looked quite dubious from the outside, however, upon entering several locals were dining in what was obviously a 1960 - 1970's style eatery (or diner as the Americans call them). A waitress quickly ushered me towards a table, gave me a menu and offered to bring coffee and water. I ordered Oakley's Eggs (don't ask) and a large plate was soon delivered comprising a 3 egg omelet, various local vegetables and hash browns - along with a bottomless cup of coffee. The clientele was interesting as they were all local: two workers in ball caps, a Mexican family, and a rancher sporting a camo jacket, riding boots, and cowboy hat! They all drove rather large pickups (utes).

I would have liked to spend a further day or two at this location as the scope for early morning and late afternoon photography is excellent; the lines, s curves, shapes and textures of the rocks make excellent subjects. Although the day produces harsh lighting (it is a desert environment) the area avails itself to black and white photography which does not require soft golden lighting.