Big Chief Gas, San Ysidro, NM

© Rob Atkins 2013

Every time I drive route 550 up to the Four Corners through Zia Pueblo, I stop at the Big Chief gas station in San Ysidro to make some pictures. It closed a few years ago, and is in a further state of desuetude with each visit. This photograph was made in 2011.

One day I'll drive by and there will be only an empty lot remaining. I might not even notice it.

Quote: Raghu Rai

“The photographer’s job is to cut a frame-sized slice out of the world around him, so faithfully and honestly that if he were to put it back again, life and the world would begin to move again without a stumble.”

An inspiring quote by a Magnum photographer. A look at Rai's work, also, provides a well of inspiration.

 Copyright © Raghu Rai. All rights reserved. 

Carleton Watkins on Mars

This image of the Eldorado dune field on Mars appeared in The New York Times recently. It was made in 2006 by NASA's Spirit rover.

Looking at the image, I can't help but wonder what the 19th century landscape photographer Carleton Watkins would make of it. The photograph was made, quite literally, worlds away, as strange to us now as the American West was to others a hundred and fifty years ago.

April Showers

Last evening I was finishing the latest book by Craig Childs, Apocalyptic Planet, when I looked out our living room window to see some rain falling as the sun was about to set. I quickly got my 70-200 and shot a few frames from the front steps.

© Rob Atkins 2013

At one point in his great book, Childs writes about the stillness that preceded a rain shower, "as if the world held its breath for one of the most amazing, essential features of this planet, fresh water falling from the sky."

Physical Graffiti

© Rob Atkins 2013

From a walk in my neighborhood yesterday, waiting at a crosswalk with the 50/1.4 on my shoulder.

Rainy Day Wandering

© Rob Atkins 2013

A couple of images from a trip out yesterday. The challenge was to get out of the studio for a while, and make some pictures despite the rain. These were shot through the window of my car.

© Rob Atkins 2013

The Prius and the Donut

© Rob Atkins 2013

There is a variation of this image on my Website. Some other new images there also; please stop by for a visit!

A Lens Worthy of Herakles

Nikon announced a spectacular new lens this week: the 800mm/5.6 Nikkor. The longest focal length in the Nikon lineup, the lens is supplied with a dedicated 1.25X teleconverter, bringing the overall focal length to 1000mm. 

The lens has a list price of $17,899.95, but I found it on Amazon for a discounted price...three bucks off. 

It's a lens worthy of the greatest of all ancient Greek mythic heroes, Herakles, son of Zeus. I'll bet he wouldn't even use a monopod with this monster.

José Saragamo

We walked into the Book Soup store on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood last week, and there it was: the new novel from Nobel Prize-winning author José Saragamo. I was delighted to see one of my images used on the cover.

The photo in a Polaroid transfer image I made some time ago. The tree was photographed in the Alentejo region of Portugal, an area I dream of returning to one day.

Website Update

© Rob Atkins 2012

My new Website is up. Please stop by for a visit if you have a moment.