Tucson, AZ trip coming up

Sage97 · 10-13-2013, 04:41 PM

Quick 3 night stay in Dove Mountain last weekend in October. I plan on experimenting with wide lenses and astrophotography but any tips on photo sites would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Last edited by Sage97; 10-13-2013 at 05:00 PM.

CP140 · 10-13-2013, 08:14 PM

Well... the drive out to the observatory at Kitt Peak is nice.
The Pima Air Museum is cool if you like airplanes and the Titan Missile Museum at Green Valley is very cool.
Saguaro National Park is quite fascinating for the all the cactus you can see... provided it's open what with the US government budget problem at present.
If you can, the visit to the "boneyard" at Davis Monthan AFB is fascinating.
There's an abandoned mission church at Tumacacori (just South of Tucson) that's quite photogenic.

Some shots from our last visit are here... Tucson - a set on Flickr

Have a good trip!

**PJ1** · 10-14-2013, 01:33 AM

Sabino Canyon - just on the edge of the city is a great walk at dusk or dawn. Mission San Xavier del Bac (The White Dove of the Desert) has some great photo opportunities (check it on the web). It is not far from the city. They sold great Navajo fry bread at a trailer outside when I was there (a looooong time ago). The old Presidio in the city may also be worth a look. But I can second Kitt Peak (you need a whole day for that) and Saguaro National Monument. Takes me back to my MX days when the only lenses I had were the M50/1.7 and a Takumar Bayonet 135/2.5.

Sage97 · 10-14-2013, 07:22 AM

Fantastic suggestions!

Kitt Peak is now top on my list especially for landscape astrophotography. I hope the sky will be clear next weekend. Mission San Xavier is number two and that boneyard at the AFB looks like its number three. My gf will definitely want to walk around so Sabino Canyon seems perfect.

I'm staying at the Ritz and from their site, the photo ops around that area seem awesome too.

Thanks CP140 and PJ1.

Sage97 · 10-14-2013, 07:25 AM

Originally posted by CP140

There's an abandoned mission church at Tumacacori (just South of Tucson) that's quite photogenic.

Is this the Mission San Xavier?

Awesome pics CP140 and thanks again!

nomadkng · 10-14-2013, 09:57 AM

don't miss catalina park and the giant sahuaro/saguaro

if you want a good hike, go up to romero canyon with pools and waterfall

CP140 · 10-14-2013, 11:54 AM

Originally posted by Sage97

Is this the Mission San Xavier?

Awesome pics CP140 and thanks again!

No that's Tumacacori... we were sheltering in a small outbuilding during a hail storm... I got bored waiting for the hail to stop, so I started taking photos through the "window"

**PJ1** · 10-14-2013, 02:18 PM

No, San Xavier del Bac is not Tumacacori. San Xavier is very close to Tucson and still in use (except only one of its two domes was never completed - in the Spanish days the churches didn't start paying taxes until they were complete, so they never used to finish the second dome!)

Sage97 · 10-14-2013, 03:05 PM

Originally posted by nomadkng

don't miss catalina park and the giant sahuaro/saguaro

if you want a good hike, go up to romero canyon with pools and waterfall

Yeah! That giant cactus looks very cool. I'll have to look at Catalina Park.

Originally posted by CP140

No that's Tumacacori... we were sheltering in a small outbuilding during a hail storm... I got bored waiting for the hail to stop, so I started taking photos through the "window"

Originally posted by PJ1

No, San Xavier del Bac is not Tumacacori. San Xavier is very close to Tucson and still in use (except only one of its two domes was never completed - in the Spanish days the churches didn't start paying taxes until they were complete, so they never used to finish the second dome!)

Very cool. I'll have to check on Tumacacori.

Guys, while you're at it, I'd appreciate some tips on where to go for some good food! Haha!

jpsassy1965 · 10-19-2013, 10:49 PM

Madera Canyon is super dark and away from the city. 20 min from my house and where I have taken some great Milky Way photo's.

Sage97 · 10-20-2013, 03:00 PM

Originally posted by jpsassy1965

Madera Canyon is super dark and away from the city. 20 min from my house and where I have taken some great Milky Way photo's.

Sounds fantastic. I sure would like to see some of your pics. Thank you very much.

jpsassy1965 · 10-21-2013, 02:28 PM

Originally posted by Sage97

Sounds fantastic. I sure would like to see some of your pics. Thank you very much.

Here are 3 of my Milky Way Photo's. Two were taken at Tucson Mountain park and the one with the telephone pole was taken at Madera Canyon.

**Miguel** · 10-21-2013, 02:41 PM

Make sure you visit the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona. It is remarkable. When I visited several years ago, they had on display a Matthew Brady photograph that was printed by Ansel Adams. So fine.

M

Sage97 · 10-21-2013, 05:28 PM

Originally posted by jpsassy1965

Here are 3 of my Milky Way Photo's. Two were taken at Tucson Mountain park and the one with the telephone pole was taken at Madera Canyon.

Great pics. PM sent.

Originally posted by Miguel

Make sure you visit the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona. It is remarkable. When I visited several years ago, they had on display a Matthew Brady photograph that was printed by Ansel Adams. So fine.

M

Will do. Great suggestion. Thanks Miguel.

Sage97 · 10-28-2013, 08:36 PM

Got back from Tucson and had a blast. Unfortunately, my photography skills were so lacking that all the astrolandscape pics I took are mostly trash. I have tons more to learn. Also, we couldn't do Kitt Peak as I had forgotten to reserve a spot in advance and the lady working there did not take kindly to my begging.

I did enjoy Saguaro Park, San Xavier (and the Indian style sopapillas) and the scenery surrounding The Ritz Carlton. We enjoyed just driving around. My gf enjoyed dining at this place called Feast. It was ok for me, a little too uppity for my personality. We meant to visit the AFB but quickly ran out of time.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful suggestions.

10-13-2013, 04:41 PM	#1
Sage97 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,238	Tucson, AZ trip coming up Quick 3 night stay in Dove Mountain last weekend in October. I plan on experimenting with wide lenses and astrophotography but any tips on photo sites would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance. Last edited by Sage97; 10-13-2013 at 05:00 PM.

10-21-2013, 02:28 PM	#12
jpsassy1965 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sahuarita, AZ Photos: Albums Posts: 63	Originally posted by Sage97 Sounds fantastic. I sure would like to see some of your pics. Thank you very much. Here are 3 of my Milky Way Photo's. Two were taken at Tucson Mountain park and the one with the telephone pole was taken at Madera Canyon. Attached Images

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10-13-2013, 08:14 PM	#2
CP140 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Greater Vancouver Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 190	Well... the drive out to the observatory at Kitt Peak is nice. The Pima Air Museum is cool if you like airplanes and the Titan Missile Museum at Green Valley is very cool. Saguaro National Park is quite fascinating for the all the cactus you can see... provided it's open what with the US government budget problem at present. If you can, the visit to the "boneyard" at Davis Monthan AFB is fascinating. There's an abandoned mission church at Tumacacori (just South of Tucson) that's quite photogenic. Some shots from our last visit are here... Tucson - a set on Flickr Have a good trip!

10-14-2013, 01:33 AM	#3
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,484	Sabino Canyon - just on the edge of the city is a great walk at dusk or dawn. Mission San Xavier del Bac (The White Dove of the Desert) has some great photo opportunities (check it on the web). It is not far from the city. They sold great Navajo fry bread at a trailer outside when I was there (a looooong time ago). The old Presidio in the city may also be worth a look. But I can second Kitt Peak (you need a whole day for that) and Saguaro National Monument. Takes me back to my MX days when the only lenses I had were the M50/1.7 and a Takumar Bayonet 135/2.5.

10-14-2013, 07:22 AM	#4
Sage97 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,238 Original Poster	Fantastic suggestions! Kitt Peak is now top on my list especially for landscape astrophotography. I hope the sky will be clear next weekend. Mission San Xavier is number two and that boneyard at the AFB looks like its number three. My gf will definitely want to walk around so Sabino Canyon seems perfect. I'm staying at the Ritz and from their site, the photo ops around that area seem awesome too. Thanks CP140 and PJ1.

10-14-2013, 07:25 AM	#5
Sage97 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,238 Original Poster	Originally posted by CP140 There's an *abandoned mission church* at Tumacacori (just South of Tucson) that's quite photogenic. Is this the Mission San Xavier? Awesome pics CP140 and thanks again!

10-14-2013, 09:57 AM	#6
nomadkng Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,448	don't miss catalina park and the giant sahuaro/saguaro if you want a good hike, go up to romero canyon with pools and waterfall

10-14-2013, 11:54 AM	#7
CP140 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Greater Vancouver Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 190	Originally posted by Sage97 Is this the Mission San Xavier? Awesome pics CP140 and thanks again! No that's Tumacacori... we were sheltering in a small outbuilding during a hail storm... I got bored waiting for the hail to stop, so I started taking photos through the "window"

10-14-2013, 02:18 PM	#8
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,484	No, San Xavier del Bac is not Tumacacori. San Xavier is very close to Tucson and still in use (except only one of its two domes was never completed - in the Spanish days the churches didn't start paying taxes until they were complete, so they never used to finish the second dome!)

10-14-2013, 03:05 PM	#9
Sage97 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,238 Original Poster	Originally posted by nomadkng don't miss catalina park and the giant sahuaro/saguaro if you want a good hike, go up to romero canyon with pools and waterfall Yeah! That giant cactus looks very cool. I'll have to look at Catalina Park. Originally posted by CP140 No that's Tumacacori... we were sheltering in a small outbuilding during a hail storm... I got bored waiting for the hail to stop, so I started taking photos through the "window" Originally posted by PJ1 No, San Xavier del Bac is not Tumacacori. San Xavier is very close to Tucson and still in use (except only one of its two domes was never completed - in the Spanish days the churches didn't start paying taxes until they were complete, so they never used to finish the second dome!) Very cool. I'll have to check on Tumacacori. Guys, while you're at it, I'd appreciate some tips on where to go for some good food! Haha!

10-19-2013, 10:49 PM	#10
jpsassy1965 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sahuarita, AZ Photos: Albums Posts: 63	Madera Canyon is super dark and away from the city. 20 min from my house and where I have taken some great Milky Way photo's.

10-20-2013, 03:00 PM	#11
Sage97 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,238 Original Poster	Originally posted by jpsassy1965 Madera Canyon is super dark and away from the city. 20 min from my house and where I have taken some great Milky Way photo's. Sounds fantastic. I sure would like to see some of your pics. Thank you very much.

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10-21-2013, 02:41 PM	#13
Miguel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Near Seattle Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,743	Make sure you visit the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona. It is remarkable. When I visited several years ago, they had on display a Matthew Brady photograph that was printed by Ansel Adams. So fine. M

10-21-2013, 05:28 PM	#14
Sage97 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,238 Original Poster	Originally posted by jpsassy1965 Here are 3 of my Milky Way Photo's. Two were taken at Tucson Mountain park and the one with the telephone pole was taken at Madera Canyon. Great pics. PM sent. Originally posted by Miguel Make sure you visit the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona. It is remarkable. When I visited several years ago, they had on display a Matthew Brady photograph that was printed by Ansel Adams. So fine. M Will do. Great suggestion. Thanks Miguel.

10-28-2013, 08:36 PM	#15
Sage97 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,238 Original Poster	Got back from Tucson and had a blast. Unfortunately, my photography skills were so lacking that all the astrolandscape pics I took are mostly trash. I have tons more to learn. Also, we couldn't do Kitt Peak as I had forgotten to reserve a spot in advance and the lady working there did not take kindly to my begging. I did enjoy Saguaro Park, San Xavier (and the Indian style sopapillas) and the scenery surrounding The Ritz Carlton. We enjoyed just driving around. My gf enjoyed dining at this place called Feast. It was ok for me, a little too uppity for my personality. We meant to visit the AFB but quickly ran out of time. Thanks everyone for the wonderful suggestions.