Worth a Thousand Words

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Created on Monday, 02 April 2012 09:50

Published on Tuesday, 29 November -0001 18:27

Written by Abe Connally

There are some views you just can't take in all at once. Like a dazzling sunset or breathtaking field of wildflowers—you just can't appreciate such beauty in the moment, a moment that is often over before you realize it, the forms and colors of that marvelous vista already fading in your memory. Perhaps it was with the goal of preserving such scenes that the first camera was invented, a goal that you may still share when you visit a place as beautiful as Big Bend and the surrounding area. Why not take a look through our new and improved photo galleries to see what amazing sights have been preserved by astounded visitors and appreciative locals? When you see the mountains, plains, flora, and fauna displayed in those images, you'll be glad the gallery contributors took their camera along.

When you go to the Visit Big Bend site—home of some of the best Big Bend visitor's information on the Web—allow your cursor to rest over the "Features" tab at the top, right-hand corner. Then click on the option that says "Photo Galleries." (Or just follow the link provided, if you like short cuts!) There, you will find a list of promising photo-viewing opportunities, the first of which being "Our Galleries," where some very nice photos are available for your viewing pleasure, photos that are hosted on the Visit Big Bend site itself.

The next option will introduce you to the Visit Big Bend Flickr Pool, a  collection of lovely photos from numerous Flickr contributors. You'll see mountains, valleys, rivers, flowers, and animals. There are black-and-white photos, colored images, pictures of stars and sunsets, or of cacti and trees. This collection is boundless and constantly growing, so you may want to check back to the pool often, just to see what new eye candy each week brings.

After years of visiting, talking about, and enjoying the Flickr pool for Visit Big Bend, we've noticed there are some photographers that share our love for this national park, a love that's evident by the numerous images they've posted that feature the area. So, we've selected an elite group to showcase on the site, shining a massive digital spotlight on their work. The Flickr Showcases can be browsed through the Galleries page. Some long-time faves, like Jeff Lynch, get their name in lights on our site, just for posting such great images of Big Bend area landscapes.

The last three options on the Galleries page show photo collections for Big Bend National Park, Big Bend State Park, and Big Bend Texas Area. Some of the best landscapes and interesting photos can be seen here, from a variety of contributors. With all these collections accessible from one place, you can take a complete virtual tour of the entire Big Bend area, all from your comfy chair!

The first camera was the size of a room, and "developing" a wall-sized image took countless hours. Now, digital cameras come on the backs of cell phones, and a memory chip the size of your pinky nail can hold thousands of high-quality images. Never before has the preserving and sharing of a beautiful sunset, a mysterious river bend, or a magnificent mountain peak been so easy to do. If you visit Big Bend, take pictures, and want to share, what can you do? Join the appropriate groups on Flickr, such as the Visit Big Bend Flickr Pool. Your picture may be chosen as a weekly favorite on our Twitter stream, and, if you post a whole collection of Big Bend pictures, you may one day find yourself showcased in our galleries as well! If a picture is indeed worth a thousand words, then our new and improved galleries are worth millions. Why not take a look?