Black and White Art Photos, South and South East Central Arizona.

All photos and text © 1997 Glenn E. Stewart. All rights reserved.

This page last modified 11 May, 1999

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This structure was used to support the hoisting equipment for lifting ore from the mine at the ghost town of Aravaipa. Desert vegetation is beginning to reclaim the land around the chute, and the ore cart tracks have had the earth washed out from under them by flooding of the creek which is IMMEDIATELY behind the camera! This was a tough shot to make, standing on the near-vertical creek bank. The mine produced lead, molybdenum, copper and silver. This structure was used to support the hoisting equipment for lifting ore from the mine at the ghost town of Aravaipa. Desert vegetation is beginning to reclaim the land around the chute, and the ore cart tracks have had the earth washed out from under them by flooding of the creek which is IMMEDIATELY behind the camera! This was a tough shot to make, standing on the near-vertical creek bank. The mine produced lead, molybdenum, copper and silver.(Mamiya C-330, 55mm F4.5 at F22, 1/15 Second, #25 red filter, T-MAX 100)

Arivaipa Creek area of central Arizona, between Globe and Safford, south of the San Carlos Apache Reservation. I finally got around to replacing this one with the full panorama, showing all three buttes. Aravaipa Creek area of central Arizona, between Globe and Safford, south of the San Carlos Apache Reservation. I finally got around to replacing this one with the full panorama, showing all three buttes.(Mamiya C-330, 55mm F4.5 at F16, 1/60 Second, #2 yellow, T-MAX 100)

At the eastern end of the Aravaipa Wilderness area, there is a At the eastern end of the Aravaipa Wilderness area, there is a "road" that cuts off to the south through Turkey Creek. About 200 yards down the road is this geological formation that looks to me like the Devil descending the canyon wall to intercept unwary travelers.(Mamiya C-330, 65mm F3.5 at F16, 1/15 Second, #2 yellow, T-MAX 100)

From Devil to Angels. Between Klondyke and the Arivaipa Wilderness area is The Salizar Family Church. During the mining era of the Aravaipa Creek area, this adobe building was a dance hall. The Salizars have reworked the interior and made a church from it. It used to be open all the time, but now has wrought iron doors, front and rear. Wouldn't it be nice if people could respect the property of others? From Devil to Angels. Between Klondyke and the Aravaipa Wilderness area is The Salizar Family Church. During the mining era of the Aravaipa Creek area, this adobe building was a dance hall. The Salizars have reworked the interior and made a church from it. It used to be open all the time, but now has wrought iron doors, front and rear. Wouldn't it be nice if people could respect the property of others?(Mamiya C-330, 65mm F3.5 at F16, 1/125 Second, #2 yellow, T-MAX 100)

While we're on the subject of respecting property, I thought I'd post this photo to make a point. Near the Aravaipa Creek area, there is another small valey that has, near the bottom, an old homestead that was destroyed by fire. I don't know when it occurred, but there are still some remains. A friend of mine is holding two small artifacts we found while examining the area. I've always wondered how the previous occupants got the china from Pensylvania to Arizona, (wagon train, or were they later travelers?), and what they might have kept in the melted mason jar. We left these pieces of someone else's life where we found them so that other explorers might have the chance to wonder the same or perhaps different things about the past. When you explore the West, please leave it as you found it. There isn't much of the past left. It has all been stolen. While we're on the subject of respecting property, I thought I'd post this photo to make a point. Near the Aravaipa Creek area, there is another small valley that has, near the bottom, an old homestead that was destroyed by fire. I don't know when it occurred, but there are still some remains. A friend of mine is holding two small artifacts we found while examining the area. I've always wondered how the previous occupants got the china from Pennsylvania to Arizona, (wagon train, or were they later travelers?), and what they might have kept in the melted mason jar. We left these pieces of someone else's life where we found them so that other explorers might have the chance to wonder the same or perhaps different things about the past. When you explore the West, please leave it as you found it. There isn't much of the past left. It has all been stolen.(Mamiya C-330, 80mm F2.8 at F16, 1/125 Second, no filter, T-MAX 100)

There are many photos of ghost town structures, but you don't often see them with snow on them, especially in Arizona. Aravaipa is at an elevation of about 4,500 feet. When the winter storms come, snow is not uncommon. This shot was even more of a challenge than the one at the top of the page. Now the near-vertical creek bank was snow-covered and very slippery. There are many photos of ghost town structures, but you don't often see them with snow on them, especially in Arizona. Aravaipa is at an elevation of about 4,500 feet. When the winter storms come, snow is not uncommon. This shot was even more of a challenge than the one at the top of the page. Now the near-vertical creek bank was snow-covered and very slippery.(Mamiya C-330, 55mm F4.5 at F22, 1/30 Second, #25 red, T-MAX 100)

About a half mile from Turkey Creek is this small side canyon. The texture of the sandstone walls, eroded over tens of thousands of years by wind and water, makes a wonderful black and white study. You'd be amazed at how ordinary these canyon walls look in color. About a half mile from Turkey Creek is this small side canyon. The texture of the sandstone walls, eroded over tens of thousands of years by wind and water, makes a wonderful black and white study. You'd be amazed at how ordinary these canyon walls look in color.(Mamiya C-330, 55mm F4.5 at F16, 1/15 Second, #21 orange filter, T-MAX 100)

This shot is included for my enjoyment. The overhanging branches with a few remaining oak leaves, reddish-brown in their death cycle, remind me of the clear, cool October days of my youth in Indiana. In the original print, they have an almost 3-D appearance against the clouds and sky in the background. The small rock formation in the center at the top of the cliff has a small 'window' in it, through which a small spot of bright blue sky peeks at passers by. This shot is included for my enjoyment. The overhanging branches with a few remaining oak leaves, reddish-brown in their death cycle, remind me of the clear, cool October days of my youth in Indiana. In the original print, they have an almost 3-D appearance against the clouds and sky in the background. The small rock formation in the center at the top of the cliff has a small 'window' in it, through which a small spot of bright blue sky peeks at passers by. (Mamiya C-330, 55mm F4.5 at F16, 1/15 Second, #21 orange filter, T-MAX 100)

Between Tucson and Nogales (no-GAL-es), Mexico, is Tumacacori (too-ma-CACK-uh-ree) National Monument. It is the remains of a 1700's Spanish mission. It has an American Indian name that means 'round rock', and was named for the mountain ridge to the west. Tumacacori was one of a string of missions of similar design that runs from a couple of hundres miles south of the US-MEXICO border up to Tucson. There isn't much to see there, but the bell tower of the church makes an interesting study. A color photo of this scene is shown on the Color Of Arizona page. Between Tucson and Nogales (no-GAL-es), Mexico, is Tumacacori (too-ma-CACK-uh-ree) National Monument. It is the remains of a 1700's Spanish mission. It has an American Indian name that means 'round rock', and was named for the mountain ridge to the west. Tumacacori was one of a string of missions of similar design that runs from a couple of hundreds miles south of the US-MEXICO border up to Tucson. There isn't much to see there, but the bell tower of the church makes an interesting study. A color photo of this scene is shown on the Color Of Arizona page. (Mamiya C-330, 250mm F6.3 at F32, 1/4 Second, #80B and polarizing filters stacked to enhance the bricks and sky, respectively, T-MAX 100)

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