http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/tags/hillcountrycameraclub/ Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:00:29 -0800 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:00:29 -0800 http://www.flickr.com/ http://farm1.staticflickr.com/30/buddyicons/69614403@N00.jpg?1246303797#69614403@N00 http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/tags/hillcountrycameraclub/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8529496654/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8529496654/" title="Contrabando"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8375/8529496654_e1537e6b94_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Contrabando" /></a></p> <p>The River Road (a.k.a. FM 170) is one of the most spectacular drives in Texas. Running alongside the Rio Grande between Presidio and Lajitas, this is Far West Texas at its best. Among the many beautiful sites is the movie set Contrabando which has been used for several movies and a music video.</p> Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:00:29 -0800 2013-03-04T14:56:22-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8529496654 Contrabando <p>The River Road (a.k.a. FM 170) is one of the most spectacular drives in Texas. Running alongside the Rio Grande between Presidio and Lajitas, this is Far West Texas at its best. Among the many beautiful sites is the movie set Contrabando which has been used for several movies and a music video.</p> realworldracingphotog mountains abandoned church ruins texas riogrande riverroad contrabando bigbendranchstatepark fm170 farwesttexas hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8507921625/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8507921625/" title="Trailer in the Desert"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8529/8507921625_a9281aee5b_m.jpg" width="240" height="141" alt="Trailer in the Desert" /></a></p> <p>Toyahvale, Texas is a ghost town near Balmorhea in Far West Texas. Toyahvale's name is a portmanteau: its first half is a local Indian word for &quot;flowing water&quot;, combined with &quot;vale&quot;. Nearby is Phantom Springs Cave which was recently discovered to be the deepest underwater cave in the US. How 'bout that? Right there in the middle of the Chihuahuan desert!</p> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:36:27 -0800 2013-02-25T19:10:08-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8507921625 Trailer in the Desert <p>Toyahvale, Texas is a ghost town near Balmorhea in Far West Texas. Toyahvale's name is a portmanteau: its first half is a local Indian word for &quot;flowing water&quot;, combined with &quot;vale&quot;. Nearby is Phantom Springs Cave which was recently discovered to be the deepest underwater cave in the US. How 'bout that? Right there in the middle of the Chihuahuan desert!</p> realworldracingphotog texture landscape texas desert trailer distressed chihuahuandesert toyahvale hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8504687529/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8504687529/" title="Far West Texas"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8516/8504687529_614db05bd8_m.jpg" width="240" height="151" alt="Far West Texas" /></a></p> <p>Oh, how I love this place.</p> Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:19:30 -0800 2013-02-24T18:49:28-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8504687529 Far West Texas <p>Oh, how I love this place.</p> realworldracingphotog landscape blackwhite sawtoothmountain farwesttexas hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8348177812/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8348177812/" title="Winter"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8220/8348177812_0f5164171c_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Winter" /></a></p> <p>This is the 82-inch Otto Struve Telescope Dome at McDonald Observatory. Taken this morning from the catwalk of the 107-inch dome. We got 8-inches more snow last night. That makes 15-inches total in two days. Never got above freezing so it remained on the ground all day.</p> Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:10:52 -0800 2013-01-04T19:06:12-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8348177812 Winter <p>This is the 82-inch Otto Struve Telescope Dome at McDonald Observatory. Taken this morning from the catwalk of the 107-inch dome. We got 8-inches more snow last night. That makes 15-inches total in two days. Never got above freezing so it remained on the ground all day.</p> realworldracingphotog blue winter snow landscape mcdonaldobservatory harlanjsmith hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8346210881/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8346210881/" title="Above the Clouds"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8183/8346210881_04c9486fe3_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Above the Clouds" /></a></p> <p>From atop Mt. Locke looking down across Limpia Crossing this morning. The TXDOT snow plow got stuck trying to plow the mountain road this afternoon. They had to be pulled out then they turned around and gave up. (Whimps!) We managed to make to the top this morning at 8:00am thanks to The Beast (our F-350) and her snow chains.</p> Fri, 04 Jan 2013 11:54:01 -0800 2013-01-04T13:50:03-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8346210881 Above the Clouds <p>From atop Mt. Locke looking down across Limpia Crossing this morning. The TXDOT snow plow got stuck trying to plow the mountain road this afternoon. They had to be pulled out then they turned around and gave up. (Whimps!) We managed to make to the top this morning at 8:00am thanks to The Beast (our F-350) and her snow chains.</p> realworldracingphotog snow landscape mcdonaldobservatory hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8640399847/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8640399847/" title="Coyne loves his job!"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8522/8640399847_beed2fa2df_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Coyne loves his job!" /></a></p> <p>Here's Coyne on top of the 107-inch Harlan J. Smith Telescope helping do a &quot;cage change&quot;. That's where they change the front element/mirror on the telecope to get a different aperture. (I'm sure that is not the best technical explanation but it's the best I can do.)</p> Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:26:56 -0700 2013-04-11T15:56:31-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8640399847 Coyne loves his job! <p>Here's Coyne on top of the 107-inch Harlan J. Smith Telescope helping do a &quot;cage change&quot;. That's where they change the front element/mirror on the telecope to get a different aperture. (I'm sure that is not the best technical explanation but it's the best I can do.)</p> realworldracingphotog telescope mcdonaldobservatory harlanjsmith hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8505796192/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8505796192/" title="Kent Schoolhouse Ruins"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8240/8505796192_c98060a6be_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Kent Schoolhouse Ruins" /></a></p> <p>Kent was originally called Antelope when it was founded in the 1890s because of the large number of antelope found in the area. At some point the name was changed and a town sprang up to supply the needs of the Long X Cattle Company. Peak population was a whopping 65 people in the late 1960s. The school closed in 1961 and the children had to be bused 38 miles to Van Horn. Today, you will find a gas station, a post office, and not much else. Kent is just off I-10 between Van Horn (38 miles to the east) and Fort Stockton (81 miles to the west).</p> Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:19:27 -0800 2013-02-24T18:49:30-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8505796192 Kent Schoolhouse Ruins <p>Kent was originally called Antelope when it was founded in the 1890s because of the large number of antelope found in the area. At some point the name was changed and a town sprang up to supply the needs of the Long X Cattle Company. Peak population was a whopping 65 people in the late 1960s. The school closed in 1961 and the children had to be bused 38 miles to Van Horn. Today, you will find a gas station, a post office, and not much else. Kent is just off I-10 between Van Horn (38 miles to the east) and Fort Stockton (81 miles to the west).</p> realworldracingphotog school kent ruins schoolhouse culbersoncounty kenttexas kentpublicschool hillcountrycameraclub kentschoolruins http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8451363907/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8451363907/" title="Sunset"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8380/8451363907_8a794e0839_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Sunset" /></a></p> <p>That's the Hobby-Eberly Telescope at McDonald Observatory - shot from my backyard. I know... I got it good, don't I? ;-)</p> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:25:49 -0800 2013-02-06T20:21:19-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8451363907 Sunset <p>That's the Hobby-Eberly Telescope at McDonald Observatory - shot from my backyard. I know... I got it good, don't I? ;-)</p> realworldracingphotog sunset mcdonaldobservatory hobbyeberlytelescope hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8403504079/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8403504079/" title="Clouds Over McDonald Observatory"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8496/8403504079_2632b32984_m.jpg" width="240" height="153" alt="Clouds Over McDonald Observatory" /></a></p> <p>The Hobby-Ebery telescope on Mt. Folkes (left) and the Harlan J. Smith &amp; Otto Struve telescope domes on Mt. Locke (right).</p> Mon, 21 Jan 2013 19:48:09 -0800 2013-01-21T21:42:06-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8403504079 Clouds Over McDonald Observatory <p>The Hobby-Ebery telescope on Mt. Folkes (left) and the Harlan J. Smith &amp; Otto Struve telescope domes on Mt. Locke (right).</p> realworldracingphotog telescope mcdonaldobservatory hobbyeberlytelescope ottostruve harlanjsmith mountlocke hillcountrycameraclub mountfolkes http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8403296663/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8403296663/" title="Those eyes can melt your heart"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8509/8403296663_aa91423224_m.jpg" width="240" height="233" alt="Those eyes can melt your heart" /></a></p> <p>Day 3 with Lucky.</p> Mon, 21 Jan 2013 18:23:14 -0800 2013-01-21T20:21:48-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8403296663 Those eyes can melt your heart <p>Day 3 with Lucky.</p> realworldracingphotog dog hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8392409203/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8392409203/" title="Snowy Blue Mountain"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8392409203_e7369f0903_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Snowy Blue Mountain" /></a></p> <p>Taken on Jan 10, 2013. According to TXDOT we had 17-inches of snow that day. This is Blue Mountain in Far West Texas.</p> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:07:55 -0800 2013-01-18T15:01:32-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8392409203 Snowy Blue Mountain <p>Taken on Jan 10, 2013. According to TXDOT we had 17-inches of snow that day. This is Blue Mountain in Far West Texas.</p> realworldracingphotog snow cold landscape snowy bluemountain davismountains hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8354921273/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8354921273/" title="Coyne on the Catwalk"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8354921273_7d9199c399_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="Coyne on the Catwalk" /></a></p> <p>Great view from up there.</p> Sun, 06 Jan 2013 15:34:24 -0800 2013-01-06T17:32:23-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8354921273 Coyne on the Catwalk <p>Great view from up there.</p> realworldracingphotog telescope mcdonaldobservatory ottostruve hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8354701755/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8354701755/" title="Snowy Sunset"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8187/8354701755_052a1032b8_m.jpg" width="240" height="153" alt="Snowy Sunset" /></a></p> <p>Are you sick of my snow pictures yet? Hope not 'cause I've got lots more! <br /> <br /> This was taken from the catwalk of the Harlan J. Smith Telescope Dome. Pictured is the 82-inch Otto Struve Telescope Dome which was completed in 1938 and is still in regular use. According to McDonald Observatory, &quot;This telescope has made some important discoveries, including the discovery of Uranus’ fifth moon Miranda and Neptune’s moon second-largest moon, Nereid. It was used to discover carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Mars, and methane in the atmosphere of Saturn’s giant moon Titan.&quot;</p> Sun, 06 Jan 2013 14:36:47 -0800 2013-01-06T16:31:20-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8354701755 Snowy Sunset <p>Are you sick of my snow pictures yet? Hope not 'cause I've got lots more! <br /> <br /> This was taken from the catwalk of the Harlan J. Smith Telescope Dome. Pictured is the 82-inch Otto Struve Telescope Dome which was completed in 1938 and is still in regular use. According to McDonald Observatory, &quot;This telescope has made some important discoveries, including the discovery of Uranus’ fifth moon Miranda and Neptune’s moon second-largest moon, Nereid. It was used to discover carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Mars, and methane in the atmosphere of Saturn’s giant moon Titan.&quot;</p> realworldracingphotog snow snowy telescope dome land mcdonaldobservatory harlanjsmith hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8343240809/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8343240809/" title="Snow. Enough already."><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8221/8343240809_074431c753_m.jpg" width="240" height="167" alt="Snow. Enough already." /></a></p> <p>So says the bird (not me).</p> Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:27:27 -0800 2013-01-03T18:23:52-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8343240809 Snow. Enough already. <p>So says the bird (not me).</p> realworldracingphotog snow bird hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8343976442/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8343976442/" title="Snow bird"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8494/8343976442_a19137002b_m.jpg" width="240" height="181" alt="Snow bird" /></a></p> <p>Just foolin' around in Photoshop. I was trying to make it look like a vintage postcard. Hard to get a sharp picture because I am shooting through the sliding glass door. Can't open it up because the snow is blowing so hard and snow drifts are piled up against the glass!</p> Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:29:01 -0800 2013-01-03T16:28:55-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8343976442 Snow bird <p>Just foolin' around in Photoshop. I was trying to make it look like a vintage postcard. Hard to get a sharp picture because I am shooting through the sliding glass door. Can't open it up because the snow is blowing so hard and snow drifts are piled up against the glass!</p> realworldracingphotog snow bird vintage hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8342394137/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8342394137/" title="Snowy Scrub-Jay"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8221/8342394137_a6496922d4_m.jpg" width="240" height="169" alt="Snowy Scrub-Jay" /></a></p> Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:48:10 -0800 2013-01-03T13:45:58-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8342394137 Snowy Scrub-Jay realworldracingphotog blue snow bird jay scrubjay westernscrubjay aphelocomacalifornica hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8343115764/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8343115764/" title="Snow at the Observatory"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8343115764_f309c8a3d6_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Snow at the Observatory" /></a></p> <p>Our first snow since moving to the mountains. YAY! There's Coyne making his way up to the 82-inch dome with the snow shovel and deicer. 4-inches of snow and it's still coming down pretty hard. Expecting 8-inches or more before tomorrow.</p> Thu, 03 Jan 2013 10:09:28 -0800 2013-01-03T12:04:30-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8343115764 Snow at the Observatory <p>Our first snow since moving to the mountains. YAY! There's Coyne making his way up to the 82-inch dome with the snow shovel and deicer. 4-inches of snow and it's still coming down pretty hard. Expecting 8-inches or more before tomorrow.</p> realworldracingphotog snow observatory mcdonaldobservatory hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8338980526/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8338980526/" title="Pine Siskins"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8213/8338980526_72d3e52375_m.jpg" width="240" height="193" alt="Pine Siskins" /></a></p> <p>textures by Lenabem-Anna &amp; JoesSistah</p> Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:44:01 -0800 2013-01-02T11:40:25-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8338980526 Pine Siskins <p>textures by Lenabem-Anna &amp; JoesSistah</p> realworldracingphotog bird texture pinesiskin joessistah spinuspinus lenabemanna hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8338727160/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8338727160/" title="Angry Birds"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8219/8338727160_5081a73e1d_m.jpg" width="240" height="133" alt="Angry Birds" /></a></p> <p>Pine Siskins (Spinus pinus) arguing on the back deck this morning.</p> Wed, 02 Jan 2013 08:43:41 -0800 2013-01-02T10:26:57-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8338727160 Angry Birds <p>Pine Siskins (Spinus pinus) arguing on the back deck this morning.</p> realworldracingphotog bird pinesiskin angrybirds spinuspinus hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8272911638/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/vickigibson/">realworldracingphotog</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickigibson/8272911638/" title="Good Morning!"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8272911638_677f7c255e_m.jpg" width="240" height="222" alt="Good Morning!" /></a></p> <p>Every morning I open the blinds, walk out on the back deck and, I am greeted by this.</p> Fri, 14 Dec 2012 08:35:57 -0800 2012-12-14T10:32:41-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (realworldracingphotog) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8272911638 Good Morning! <p>Every morning I open the blinds, walk out on the back deck and, I am greeted by this.</p> realworldracingphotog javelina peccary collaredpeccary pecaritajacu hillcountrycameraclub http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en