Where desert and mountains meet

Where desert and mountains meet

burn, but can arise in warmth and get on with the job.

Even so, we have been immobilized for several days at a stretch in the trailer by wind, dust, rain and snow; then our immobility was physically comfortable though mentally trying. Even these advantages, however, do not eliminate the going-back problem. A case in point is the Monument Valley campfire scene in this issue.

We first conceived the idea of having a small fam-ily group in the shadow of the rim just as the sun spent its last light on one of the red butte formations in the background. This was four years ago. Thereafter, for three summers we spent a week in Monument Valley during which time there never was a single clear evening which allowed the late sun to shine on the butte. Last summer we decided to return to the valley in the fall when skies were more certain to be clear. We did, they were, and a picture resulted.

Most often asked is this photographic question: what kind of equipment should I have? There are prob-ably as many answers as there are users of different equipment. pment. Speaking for myself I would say the first consideration is-your use. If photography is your hobby and pleasure, keep your equipment small, light and portable. Your results will be more limited but you can obtain fine pictures or slides by taking the same pains one must take with big equipment and expensive sheet film.

For action pictures, the 4 x 5 press-type cameras are best. If you expect to sell your work professionally,

a 4 x 5 or 5 x 7 plate size is necessary as editors usually do not accept smaller film sizes. For our type of work we feel a view camera is essential because it allows many swing adjustments not possible with other cam-eras.

Is an exposure meter necessary? I would say-absolutely! No matter how much it costs it will be the cheapest item you ever buy in the long run. Many good photographers do not use them but I feel the risk of bad exposure is too costly to take the chance; why draw water from a well when you can enjoy the convenience of a spigot?

There are many meters which give excellent results -I prefer the Weston, perhaps because I started with it. Any meter is like an old friend; when you understand its idiosyncrasies and adapt yourself to them, you can work it perfectly though it may be like your old over-coat-only YOU can wear it! The real purpose of a meter is to give you an evaluation of the light to go on -something that you cannot trust your eyes to do.

If you live in a green valley, you can't be familiar with sea or snow brilliance; if you are used to the hazy days of eastern sunshine you can hardly gauge the bril liance of western landscapes. Meters may register too high or too low under certain conditions (snow, sea, pre-dawn and twilight); only experience with your meter will tell you what to do; keep a record of your trial ex-posures so that you can add or deduct according to your meter.

The numerous booklets and color film instruction