Kurt Buzard MD, Author at Travel To Eat

June 15, 2017 by Kurt Buzard MD Leave a Comment

Washington DC

National Law Enforcement Memorial, A Lion Protecting it’s Cubs. Raymond Kaskey

Since I visited Washington DC a couple of years ago, I collected a number of photographs of iconic Washington buildings and memorials. While my collection might not be the typical sights, I thought I would share them here. I would hope in this time of deep divisions in the country, these images of Washington DC will remind us of our common heritage. I am aware that many important memorials are not recognized and recorded, these are my memories of our country’s capital.

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June 11, 2017 by Kurt Buzard MD Leave a Comment

White Pocket Page Arizona

If you’re looking for a remote location with amazing rock colors and formations and little foot traffic, then White Pocket is the perfect place. Now this place isn’t for the unprepared. You will need to have a 4WD vehicle, preferably with high clearance. You’ll be driving through deep sandy roads for at least an hour and a half off the main House Rock Valley Road. Be sure to check the current conditions of the road at the BLM Office located at 745 East Highway 89. This is a great trip to do in conjunction with the Wave or Buckskin Gulch. Honestly, it was a cloudy day, not the best to bring out the colors of the location but as a photographer, you take what you get.

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June 5, 2017 by Kurt Buzard MD Leave a Comment

Lower Antelope Canyon Page Arizona

Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon located on Navajo land east of Page, Arizona. Antelope Canyon includes two separate, scenic slot canyon sections, referred to individually as “Upper Antelope Canyon” or “The Crack”; and “Antelope Canyon” or “The Corkscrew”. The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tsé bighánílíní, which means “the place where water runs through rocks”. Lower Antelope Canyon is Hazdistazí (advertised as “Hasdestwazi” by the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department), or “spiral rock arches”. Both are located within the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation. Both canyons are photographic icons, recorded by countless photographers, both for their beauty and the constantly changing light and colors.

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May 28, 2017 by Kurt Buzard MD Leave a Comment

Focus Stacking on the Lumix GX8

Lemon Daylily (Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus) Shot in the Early Evening with Soft Light and Focus Stacking

Since photography is a large part of this website I thought I would write some posts on the equipment and techniques I use to create these photos. Getting photos in sharp focus is one of the most important aspects of photography. Unfortunately, the laws of physics do not always allow all parts of the image to be in focus at the same time. This is especially true in close up (macro) photography in which we take photos of small objects like insects or flowers. Focus stacking is a technique to get the whole photograph in focus. This technique is capable of producing remarkable images, like the one above, that could not have been created in any other way. It is another valuable tool for photographers striving to create that “perfect” image.

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May 13, 2017 by Kurt Buzard MD Leave a Comment

Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve California

Since this was a wet spring in California, we decided to visit the poppy reserve in Antelope Valley. The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve is a state-protected reserve of California, USA, harboring the most consistent blooms of California poppies, the state flower. The reserve is located in the rural westside of Antelope Valley in northern Los Angeles County, 15 miles (24 km) west of Lancaster and about 35 miles from Santa Clarita. The reserve is at an elevation ranging from 2,600 to 3,000 feet (790 to 910 m) above sea level in the Mojave Desert climate zone. The intense blooming season for the California poppy falls usually within late winter to early spring, during the months of mid-February through mid-May. Blooming seasons are dependent on the amount of rainfall during the winter to early spring seasons. Within the reserve, there are 7 miles (11 km) of trails, including a paved section for wheelchair access, which traverse through the poppy fields.

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May 5, 2017 by Kurt Buzard MD Leave a Comment

Wildflowers in Angeles National Forest

Brittlebush and Yucca Flower Spires in Santa Clarita. Wildflowers in Angeles National Forest

Since we were in Santa Clarita for the past two weeks, caring for our grandson, we decided to visit the Angeles National Forest to see the wildflowers. The Angeles National Forest (ANF) of the U.S. Forest Service is located in the San Gabriel Mountains and Sierra Pelona Mountains, primarily within Los Angeles County in southern California. The ANF manages a majority of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The San Gabriel Forest Reserve was established on December 20, 1892, the San Bernardino Forest Reserve on February 25, 1893, and the Santa Barbara Forest Reserve on December 22, 1903. They became National Forests on March 4, 1907, and they were combined on July 1, 1908, with all of the San Bernardino forest and portions of San Gabriel forest and Santa Barbara forest composing the new Angeles National Forest. On September 30, 1925, portions of the Angeles National Forest and the Cleveland National Forest were detached to re-establish the San Bernardino National Forest. Angeles National Forest is registered as California Historical Landmark, for being the first National Forest in the state.

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April 15, 2017 by Kurt Buzard MD Leave a Comment

Around the World Sunsets

Horseshoe Bend. Page Arizona

Every photographer loves the golden hour, that special time between dusk and dark. Sunsets can be spectacular, unusual and surreal. Since I just got back from Page Arizona to photograph the natural beauty of the area, including of course Horseshoe Bend at sunset, I have decided to collect a few of my favorite sunsets from around the world. Not all sunsets depend on color to make them spectacular, although Horseshoe Bend might be the exception. Often it is the subtle interplay of light and dark, the delicate colors rather than flashy vibrance and it is always about that soft light that fills our senses as the embers of the day play out.

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April 8, 2017 by Kurt Buzard MD Leave a Comment

Reflections and Big Sky at Lake Powell Arizona

Antelope Marina with Tower Butte Rising to 5282 feet above Sea Level. Lake Powell Arizona

We decided to rent a motorboat from the Antelope Marina. Lake Powell was created by the flooding of Glen Canyon by the Glen Canyon Dam, which also led to the creation of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, a popular summer destination. The reservoir is named for explorer John Wesley Powell, a one-armed American Civil War veteran who explored the river via three wooden boats in 1869. Glen Canyon was carved by differential erosion from the Colorado River over an estimated 5 million years. The Colorado Plateau, through which the canyon cuts, arose some 11 million years ago. Within that plateau lie layers of rock from over 300 million years ago to the relatively recent volcanic activity. Once the sea drained, windblown sand invaded the area, creating what is known as Wingate Sandstone.

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April 4, 2017 by Kurt Buzard MD Leave a Comment

Easy Super Tender Roast Chicken

As always, Lisa and I are constantly looking for easy recipes for dinner. Obviously, chicken is a prime candidate due to its lower calories. Finding a special chicken recipe is not easy however, thousands of recipes tout ease of preparation with astonishing taste. Nonetheless, she has finally found a recipe that is both easy to make and creates the most tender and juicy chicken we have ever eaten. We make it at least once a week and we love the results.

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April 1, 2017 by Kurt Buzard MD Leave a Comment

Petroglyphs Near Goodsprings Nevada

Petroglyphs near Goodsprings Nevada

Literally hundreds of petroglyph sites exist in Southern Nevada, and many are only known by expert archaeologists out of concern of thieves. However, because petroglyphs are carved into enormous rock formations, it is extremely difficult to pilfer them. Some petroglyphs are located in dangerous places, like cliff edges, and near boulders. While we cannot really decipher their meaning, many people most notably LaVaun Martineau, have made significant progress in deciphering their meaning. Martineau actually lived with the Paiute Indians and used his experience with cryptography obtained during WWII as a starting point for his analysis. This post is focused on a set of petroglyphs near Goodsprings Nevada.

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Washington DC

White Pocket Page Arizona

Lower Antelope Canyon Page Arizona

Focus Stacking on the Lumix GX8

Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve California

Wildflowers in Angeles National Forest

Around the World Sunsets

Reflections and Big Sky at Lake Powell Arizona

Easy Super Tender Roast Chicken

Petroglyphs Near Goodsprings Nevada

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