Tim Messick Photography: Blog

Posted on April 18, 2020May 16, 2020 by Tim Messick

US-95: Coaldale

Coaldale, Nevada

Mid-way between Mina and Tonopah on US Highway 95 in west-central Nevada, there is (or was) Coaldale. A small seam of coal was mined near here a century ago, but the resource didn’t last. Situated near the junction with US Highway 6, a service station began operating here in the 1940s. By the 1980s, there was also a cafe, store, and motel. Leaking fuel tanks forced closure and abandonment in 1993. Today it’s empty — a playground for vandals and a crumbling canvas for graffiti artists.

Coaldale, Nevada

Just to prove that Coaldale rocks—Here’s a map of aftershock activity during the 36 hours following the Magnitude 6.5 earthquake just north of Coaldale at 4:03 am on 15 May 2020 (Source: USGS Latest Earthquakes):

Map of aftershocks near Coaldale

Posted on April 18, 2020April 18, 2020 by Tim Messick

US-95: Mina, Luning, and Walker Lake

Mina, Nevada

US Highway 95 is the main drag between Las Vegas and Reno (and points beyond) in western Nevada. It passes mostly through dry valleys in the western Basin and Range, with very few towns along the way. Many would call this landscape “barren” or “boring” and hurry on through to one or the other of those big cities as quickly as possible. Not me. I’m actually drawn to the open spaces out there.

I do recognize, however, that some of the places I find visually intriguing (between botany stops in the hills and valleys) may be less appealing to some who live there. These places are isolated, with few economic opportunities and few services. I may stop for a brief visit now and then, but no, I would not choose to settle there.

Mina, Nevada

Twice last year I drove portions of US-95 with a like-minded photo-friend and we made numerous stops, trying to capture the personality of some interesting places along the way. Here are some of the things I saw in Mina, Luning, and a campground overlooking Walker Lake.

Mina, Nevada

Luning, Nevada

Campground, Walker Lake

I would be out there again this month or next, but the Pandemic has shut down tourism for now, isolating these paces even more than usual.

Posted on April 6, 2020 by Tim Messick

Exhibiting (Virtually) at Viewpoint

A Problem at Bodie

A Problem at Bodie

This month (April 2020), Viewpoint Photographic Art Center in Sacramento is exhibiting a curated selection of 44 images from the alumni (past presenters) from 11 Open Show Sacramento events over the past 3 years. I have one image in the exhibit (above). In deference to the ongoing Pandemic event, however, there will be no huddling around images, friends, and eager buyers at gallery receptions the first weekend in April. In fact, the exhibit is hung in virtual space only, on the Viewpoint web site, rather than on the gallery’s physical walls.

View the Exhibit here or a Catalog on MagCloud here

Then in June, I’m scheduled to be exhibiting my Reflecting on Bodie project in the “Step Up Gallery” (the back room) at Viewpoint (details here). That may become a virtual exhibit too—we’ll see. It may be in the best interests of gallery visitors, docents, and the hanging crew to keep the gallery closed even into June. And if it helps keep everyone healthy, I’m fine with that! I’ll add a link here if the exhibit goes online.

Reflecting on Bodie

Reflecting on Bodie

Posted on April 2, 2020April 2, 2020 by Tim Messick

Looking Around Lee Vining (5)

Lee Vining, 2015

Scrolling through posts on this blog, you might get the impression that Lee Vining is one of my favorite places to visit and explore with a camera. That’s probably right. I hope to be there again later this year, when the pandemic subsides. Here are some previously un-shared views from a visit in 2015.

I like using the iPhone with Hipstamatic because it doesn’t feel like a “serious” camera. It encourages me to see less selectively and make less “serious” pictures.

Lee Vining, 2015