Finally got down to the Rio Grande/Bravo river at sunrise, after a year of procrastinating (too hot, too cold, too tired), and wanted to share these pictures, which look west into Mexico from Texas. You'd hardly imagine that 2.5 million people live within 25 miles of this spot. Hope you enjoy them, and comments are more than welcome (except comments about my crappy PowerShot camera, still working on a camera with better resolution). The first picture was PS'd to improve levels, and cropped. The second was merely cropped.

The first one looks cool. The second one has too much empty sky.

That second shot is a beauty.

Excellent job with that powershot, thanks for sharing these. I've seen this are a few times in my life but I forget how beautiful it is.
Al

Lovely desert mountain scenes, I really like the second. Great view!
2 1/2 million people Wow. One would never know!

Barry

Hi, Dan (?)

These are very good - even more so considering the lower resolution of the camera. I like the first one with the river leading away from the viewer and round the bend and then the distant mountain range taking over and moving the eye in the opposite direction. No two works in the portrait aspect and the way the scattered weeds lead into the picture down the river. It is a completely different take on the same scene, because of the portrait aspect and the tall sky. I hope you do manage to upgrade soon as you will fing your possibilities extended immensely!

Thanks for all comments. I appreciate them as a beginner and am happy to consider all feedback. I took the pictures more out of guilt than anything... I've crossed it for about a year each day, early, and finally got the time to do something about it. The river is dammed these days (actually for a long, long time due to flooding problems in the distant past in El Paso and environs) and recent rains in New Mexico caused the release of water southwards. It's really a beautiful spot, though most of the trees you see are not native to this desert -- all imports beginning in the 1800s.

Martin, you're too kind. Haven't got a 10 megapixel spare lying around, have you?

bshamilton, yes, that many people and you wouldn't believe how ugly it can get a few miles from here. Perhaps I'll put some photos on the City, Still Life & Abstract Forum!!

amgolds, the Chihuahuan Desert is an underrated part of the US, isn't it?

milanissimo, yeah, as an amateur I have problems capturing how magnificent the sky is in the US Southwest, especially when there are no clouds! I guess by looking at it all the time I think it's magnificent all the time!

Thanks for the pictures.
I'm heading to Big Bend next weekend for a week. Looking forward to the mountains and desert, never been there.It will be my first trip mainly for photography,but also a needed vacation
jim