The vast beauty and richness of the desert can be easily seen in
one place in Tucson, Arizona. Known as the Arizona Sonora Desert
Museum [“Desert Museum”], this gorgeous and convenient site is
host to a cornucopia of plants, birds and animals native to the
desert. Home to more than 300 animal species and 1200 plants in
natural settings, it is a photographer's paradise.
Located in
the Tucson Mountain Park just a few miles outside of Tucson, the
Desert Museum was founded in 1952. The private, nonprofit
organization, dedicated to the conservation of the Sonoran
Desert, offers a zoological park, a botanical garden, an art
gallery and a geology museum. The Desert Museum is a 15 minute
drive from the heart of Tucson and is open every day of the
year. Hours are from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. from October through
February, and 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. from March through
September. The entrance fee is $9 for adults.
While this is in fact a “museum,” don't be confused by the
name. The facility is out in the open and feels more like a zoo
or a park. It includes almost two miles of paved and dirt paths
through 21 acres of desert.
WHAT YOU CAN PHOTOGRAPH THERE
The hardest thing about this location is deciding what to
photograph. Should you spend your time shooting in the cactus
garden or the hummingbird aviary? Do you first go through the
pollination garden filled with bees, butterflies and moths, or
visit the several exhibits of mammals, including black bears,
mountain lions, bighorn sheep, wolves, bob cat, fox and coyote?
It will take several visits to take in all of this.
Docents - trained volunteers - wear white shirts and are
available throughout the Museum to answer your questions and to
give demonstrations. One docent enthusiastically shared his
Mexican Boa snake with me, while another held a screech owl and
explained the differences between the many species of owls.
While there is much to photograph, don't become so enamored with
the various subjects that you forget about making your best
images. Backgrounds and people will be your biggest challenges.
Tripods are allowed everywhere, but signs advise photographers
to be mindful of the other visitors. Put your lens right up to
the birdcages so that the cages are so out of focus they can't
be seen in your final photo. Avoid photographing the animals in
dappled or spotty light (where parts of the animal are in shade
and other parts in light). Like many zoos, the animals often are
sleeping around corners where they are difficult to photograph
so talk with trainers, docents and museum staff to see when they
feed the animals. This is when they will be most active.
TIPS FOR SHOOTING THERE
You also have to practice your technique. For example, the
hummingbirds move fast as lightening, so it's impossible to
follow them to shoot. Instead, look where they roost or feed,
set up your shot for the best background, and then patiently
wait for the hummingbirds to return - they will. While the light
is best both morning and afternoon, the animals are more active
early in the day. Be careful to avoid the bright background
where the mountain lion likes to perch. Note that the Desert
Loop Trail, home to the javelina and coyote, is a relatively
steep and hot trail.
You'll want a long telephoto lens in the range of 300-400 mm
to frame the wildlife. An extension tube or telephoto/macro will
allow for close focusing of the hummingbirds. For the full
compliment of images, add a wide-angle lens for the few
landscape shots and a macro lens for the cactus garden. In
addition to the birds and mammals, the Desert Museum has
excellent reptile, invertebrates and underwater exhibits, as
well as a mineral display. The light in these areas is
inadequate for photography, however.
The heat of the desert makes it a difficult visit to the
Desert Museum in summer. In October during my visit, the noonday
heat was tolerable with a hat and sunglasses, but the
temperatures were more comfortable during the early morning and
late afternoon. One docent advised that April is the best time
to visit for desert flowers, but she tells her friends to visit
in March when it's cooler.
DIRECTIONS
For more information, check the website at
www.desertmuseum.org, or call 520-883-1380. The address is 2021
N. Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ. To get there, take I-10 to the
Speedway Boulevard exit and go west for about 10 miles. Note
that Speedway Boulevard turns into Gates Pass Road along the
way, and be sure to stop at the two scenic view turnouts there.
Turn right at the dead end onto Kinney Road, and drive for three
miles. The Desert Museum will be on your left. If you arrive via
the Tucson airport, signs will direct you to the Desert Museum
by way of Highway 86. I found this to be the longer and less
efficient approach, but you see more of the beautiful Tucson
Mountain Park this way. Also use this route if you are carrying
a trailer, because the Gates Pass Road is steep and winding as
it travels over a mountain pass. The Desert Museum provides a
tremendous abundance of wonderful photographic and educational
opportunities in one place, and is worth many visits.
MISCELLANEOUS
Food: There are four food facilities on the Desert Museum
property, ranging from a snack bar to casual fine-dining. No
picnicking is allowed inside the property due to the presence of
animals, but a small picnic area is available just outside the
entrance. Additional large picnic areas are located throughout
the Tucson Mountain Park, including the San Juan Carlos picnic
area adjacent to the Desert Museum on Kinney Road.
Lodging: Since the Desert Museum is close to downtown Tucson,
there are lots of places to rent a hotel room. Convenient hotels
include the Four Points Sheraton Hotel (800-843-8052), the
Marriott University Park Hotel (520-792-4100), and the Red Roof
Inn (520-744-8199). The Gilbert Ray Campground (RV friendly) is
located on Kinney Road about two miles southeast from the Desert
Museum (take a right turn when leaving the Museum).
Other Necessities: Restrooms, shaded rest areas and water
fountains are scattered conveniently throughout the Museum,
including on the relatively long, hot Desert Loop Trail. The
Museum has two gift shops stocked with a supply of batteries,
film and other necessities. Bring a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen
and comfortable, sturdy shoes. Pants will keep the cactus
needles at bay, especially if you venture into the desert for
that sunset shot. The closest gas station and convenience mart
are located four miles southeast (a right turn from the Desert
Museum exit) on Kinney Road.
Caution: The sun can be harsh and the air is dry. Drink lots
of fluids. Also note that pets are not allowed in the park
because of the wildlife, but do not leave them unattended in
your car. Wildlife, including snakes, lizards and coyotes, can
roam throughout the Museum's grounds.
Other Local Areas of Interest: The Saguaro National Park
(http://www.nps.gov/sagu/), another significant member of the
Sonora Desert, borders the Tucson Mountain Park. Famous for its
giant saguaro cacti that sometime reach heights of 50 feet, the
Park offers several hiking trails and scenic drives that provide
access to great photo opportunities. The Old Tucson Studio,
where many cowboy movies have been shot, is just southwest of
the intersection of Gates Pass Road and Kinney Road. On your way
to the Desert Museum via Speedway Boulevard, you will pass The
Wildlife Museum, full of stuffed animals from around the world.
A couple of visitors to the Desert Museum told me that the
Colossal Cave located in Vail, Arizona (about an hour drive from
Tucson), which is on the National Register of Historic Places,
is a must see. www.colossalcave.com
Copyright 2005 Carolyn E. Wright
--- ABOUT THE AUTHOR ---
Carolyn Wright is a professional photographer with an active
portrait, event and nature photography business. Shooting for 25
years, her award-winning images have been used in books and
corporate marketing materials. Her wildlife photos will be
included in the upcoming book, "Captivating Wildlife - Images
from the Top Ten Emerging Wildlife Photographers" by Scott
Bourne and David Middleton. She also is working with Scott
Bourne on "Wolfscapes," a photo book documenting the beauty and
strength of wolves. Her wildlife images can be viewed at
http://www.vividwildlife.com.. On the faculty of Olympic
Mountain School of Photography, Carolyn’s passion is enhanced
when teaching photography. She enjoys writing and speaking on
the subject, as well, and is a regular columnist for PhotoFocus,
an online magazine for serious photographers.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_Wright
