Gems & Hidden Histories on Route 66

[bluesun267]

Tim, I watched all the episodes and love it! I'm driving up that way (to Denver from Tucson) soon and you've inspired me, particularly with the Tucumcari episode, to take some extra time to wander Eastern NM along the way, instead of just sticking to I-25.


One thing I found myself wanting was to hear more about the photography since your pictures blend so seamlessly with the postcard aesthetic, it's easy to forget you're the man behind them!

-Tim

 

[Timmyjoe]

I really, really like both of these shots--for both color and composition!

Thank you Rob. I think one of the things that brings me back again and again to Route 66 is the colors. At night, especially when the neon is lit, it can be breathtaking. And what I love about the Southwest, is how crystal blue the sky can be. It's a color photographer's paradise.

One other thing, most of the color work in this series was shot with the Leica M9 with the original "Kodak" sensor. There is just a way that sensor captures colors, reminds me of the old Ektachrome I shot back in the 1980's & 90's.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Timmyjoe]

Tim, I watched all the episodes and love it! I'm driving up that way (to Denver from Tucson) soon and you've inspired me, particularly with the Tucumcari episode, to take some extra time to wander Eastern NM along the way, instead of just sticking to I-25.


One thing I found myself wanting was to hear more about the photography since your pictures blend so seamlessly with the postcard aesthetic, it's easy to forget you're the man behind them!

-Tim

Thanks for the kind words Tim. Here's a bit about my process. Most of the color work was shot with a Leica M9 (with the original "Kodak" sensor) and the following three lenses, a Mandler designed 28mm f2.8 Elmarit, a pre-Asph Mandler designed 50mm f1.4 Summilux, and a Mandler designed 90mm f2.8 Elmarit-M. A bit from Tucumcari was shot with an M6-TTL and the same lenses on Ektar IIRC.

There were times I wished I had something wider than the 28mm, but you shoot what you have. All the digital was shot RAW, all slightly underexposed. Some of the night stuff, particularly the neon, was greatly underexposed to keep the neon from burning out to white (it's funny, doesn't matter what color the tubes are, it burns so hot the sensor wants to render it all as blown out white). And just having the opportunity to spend time and keep revisiting places that I found interesting made a big difference.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I think it was some time in the early 2000s that I bought a Bronica S2a with a bunch of lenses. I was in the Navy at the time and traveled home on leave to go to the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. Part of that week I was home I spent walking from downtown Albuquerque up to Tramway along Rt. 66 to take photos of the neon signs at night. I used 50mm as well as 75mm lenses for that little project and exposed nothing but Velvia. It was a fantastic time (and dangerous walking along Central at night.) So much of that is now gone, unfortunately.

Phil Forrest

 

[Timmyjoe]

That's cool Phil. Any chance you might be able to post some of those images?

Best,
-Tim

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Tim,
I'll see if I can find the digitized versions. Of course, I still have the film, but my scanner is packed away for now, as we're moving (again 😡 ) in September.

Phil Forrest

 

[Timmyjoe]

Understood. Well, if you find them I'd love to see them.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Michael Markey]

It`s a lovely series Tim ...

 

[Timmyjoe]

Thank you Michael. Glad you're enjoying it.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Timmyjoe]

The latest episode of Gems & Hidden Histories on Route 66 has just been posted.

In this episode we travel from Gallup, New Mexico to Winslow, Arizona, and explore one of the last remaining Wigwam Village Motor Courts, check on a recently restored motel, and take in the glory of a beautifully restored Harvey House Hotel in Winslow, the breathtaking La Posada.

Gems & Hidden Histories on Route 66, Episode #14



I hope you enjoy.

Best,
-Tim

 

[charjohncarter]

Thanks, you are getting close to California. I can't wait.

 

[Doug]

Interesting! Thanks Tim.
Three years ago we visited Winslow. After viewing the nearby Meteor Crater, we stopped in the town and took some photos of Jay's Garage, which appears to be a failed truck stop/gas station/motel.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Thanks, you are getting close to California. I can't wait.

Good Morning John,

Next episode, CALIFORNIA!!!

Best,
-Tim

 

[Timmyjoe]

Interesting! Thanks Tim.
Three years ago we visited Winslow. After viewing the nearby Meteor Crater, we stopped in the town and took some photos of Jay's Garage, which appears to be a failed truck stop/gas station/motel.

Good Morning Doug,

Jay's Garage, that one I'm not familiar with. You ought to look up the history of that place, could be interesting.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Timmyjoe]

The final episode of Gems & Hidden Histories on Route 66 has just been posted.

In this episode we go from "Standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona" with the Eagles to the sun coming "up over Santa Monica Boulevard" with Sheryl Crow. Along the way we check out many historic locations including Twin Arrows, the Snow Cap Drive-In, another Harvey House Hotel and another Wigwam Village, and some Mojave Desert haunts, including Roy's in Amboy.

Gems & Hidden Histories on Route 66, Episode #15



I hope you enjoy.

Best,
-Tim

 

[charjohncarter]

Bagdad Cafe, Wigwam Motel (now owned by the Patel family), a pharmacy in Pasadena, I have my trip planned. Thanks for the series, it couldn't have been better, and I have a reference source while traveling.

 

[Rob-F]

Interesting!
Three years ago we visited Winslow. After viewing the nearby Meteor Crater. . .

That is a spectacular shot! I know that the crater will be much larger than the meteor; but even so, that must have been some meteor!

 

[Timmyjoe]

Bagdad Cafe, Wigwam Motel (now owned by the Patel family), a pharmacy in Pasadena, I have my trip planned. Thanks for the series, it couldn't have been better, and I have a reference source while traveling.

Thanks John, I was hoping you'd like those California locations.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Doug]

That is a spectacular shot! I know that the crater will be much larger than the meteor; but even so, that must have been some meteor!

Thanks, Rob... Must have been a sizable one (~160ft diameter of nickel-iron), moving fast (~29,000 mph), and came down ~50k yrs ago with a big Thud! (~10megatons TNT equiv), making a hole ~3900 ft dia and ~560ft deep. The meteor may have lost/vaporized about half its mass on the way down.

 

[Timmyjoe]

The camera I used for a large portion of the images in Gems & Hidden Histories on Route 66, a Leica ME (type 220). The way it renders colors, like the old Kodak Ektachrome, is really something to see.







Thanks for looking.

Best,
-Tim