in partnership with the Tejon Ranch Conservancy

Photos and notes by Patric Hedlund, TME

Skies were overcast Saturday morning March 5 as we bumped down a dusty dirt trail in the Western Antelope Valley for the first Mountain Youth Photo Safari, compliments of the Tejon Ranch Conservancy.

Restless clouds piled into extravagant whipped towers, then dissolved into dense vapor that tumbled to the ground to glide through the canyons.

The foothills in the distance disappeared, then reappeared as misty waves.

Our caravan of vehicles rendezvoused at the 300th Street West gate to Tejon Ranch at 9 a.m.

Gusty winds tugged at our hair. The forecast warned of rain. But this crowd was here for the adventure. We only noticed that the light was soft as cream. It was a day with no shadows.

“Yes, that is the tree where Taylor Swift sang with a lion for her newest music video,” our Conservancy representative, Scot Pipkin, said. “This part of Tejon Ranch was…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Go to www.tejonconservancy.org/calendar.htm to sign up for wildflower viewing and hikes.

Photo captions:

Gabe and Caty Smith look for the wide views as they hike to every hilltop

Victor Ayala explores the magic he can create with his phone camera

Reema Hammad passes out photo tips.

Ayala explored the symmetry in Joshua Tree blades and blooms.

Right, top: Ben Miseroy, a FMHS robotics team member, came equipped with a monopod, two cameras and a pack of gear to tackle every overlook. Below: Abbie Duhm, a dancer, followed the challenge from photography mentors Victoria Martin and Scot Pipkin to experiment with composition in the lens
by moving our bodies, left, right, up and down—to our knees and on our bellies to discover new ways to see the world and new ways to frame our photos.

Left: Mountain Youth Photo Safari participants (l-r) Gabriel Ayala, Nohemi Ayala, Scot Pipkin, Victor Ayala, Caty Smith, Zack Crum, Victoria Martin, Chris Gardner, Michelle and Tyler Raisbeck, Ron Sogge, Victor Ayala (dad), Laci White, Abbie Duhm, Bryce Prichard, Ben Miseroy, Leonardo Ayala, Aaron Prichard, Patric Hedlund, Gabe Smith, Reema Hammad (not shown: Elan Prichard)

Above and right: At four years old, Laci White’s first camera was a gift from her grandparents. Last Christmas, at age 11, her uncle Nick and aunt gave her this new Canon with adjustable lenses. “She has always loved photography,” Laci’s mom, Sara White, said.

Above: Bryce Prichard and mentor Victoria Martin spot pronghorn antelope. Below, left: Scot Pipkin points out Taylor Swift’s music video ‘lion tree.’

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This is part of the March 11, 2016 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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