Quick trip to Tucson

[Brian Gatien]

I am a relatively inexperienced B&W medium/large format user who likes images of older buildings. I am going to Tucson for 3, 4 March and looking for some good locations. I would appreciate any suggestions (including best times). I am staying at the El Conquistador and will have a vehicle. Thanks

 

[David Henderson]

I'm sure others will suggest this also, but from my limited experience in this area the outstanding candidate is the Mission San Xavier du Bac- photographed by all sorts of famous people but none the worse for it. Get there early.

http://emol.org/tucson/sanxavier/

 

[AZLF]

In Tucson the downtown area and about 10 miles around it would be the oldest part of the city. About 20 miles to the northeast of downtown will be Ft. Lowell and there are a few adobe buildings still standing from the original fort. However they are covered by ramadas to protect them from further erosion which makes them difficult to photograph. On the Uof A campus (Park and University ) stands "Old Main" which is the original building used for all classes when the school opened in 1885. But Tucson had already been around for a few hundred years at that time. Spanish missionaries arrived in 1692 to find S-tukson an already thriving indian village(Tohono Odam). The mission at San Xavier del bac began construction about 100 years later.

I'm not sure what you are looking for exactly but if you cruise around the downtown area and surround you will find what Tucson has to offer in the way of old buildings.

As a side note I used to live in one of Tucson's older buildings. In 1972 I left the military and started classes at a local community college. Friends invited me to stay with them near downtown (around 100 block of Main st.) in an old adobe building that had been divided into three (large) apartments. Only a few months later we were told that the building was actually the old "Fish Family" residence and was considered a historic site and we had to vacate. It sat empty for a few years (until a different city council was voted in) and then was leased out and became "jano's" a very high end eatery which it remains to this day. The place had 2' thick adobe walls and a beautiful walled courtyard.

 

[Jim Noel]

After visiting del Bac, continue south on the same highway to the Mission at Tucumcacori. It is a state park and the buildings are in a state of suspended aging. It usually is uncrowded and much easier to photograph than the popular del Bac.

By the way, if you are able to visit del Bac when there is no scaffolding around it you will be lucky. I have not seen it in that state in the 5 or 6 years I have been going there.

 

[copake_ham]

If you would like to get into some back country to shoot some B&W that is not too strenuous for carrying gear I would suggest the Hope Camp Trail in Suarago East NP.

We just did it yesterday.

As part time locals we have a NP pass - if you don't; stop at the main entrance to get one and a map - but the trail head is about 10 miles further down Old Spanish Trail (with a left turn onto Camino Loma Alta).

The hiking trail follows an old wagon road and there are no major climbs even though you will go experience a total of 1100' elevation gain.

The "treat" is that there are two old abandoned "line camps" on the trail; which, combined with some great landscape shooting ops, makes for a nice photo journey.

Good luck, enjoy Tucson.

And damn, I sure wish I didn't have to go back to the frozen Northeast US tomorrow!

 

[noseoil]

Try some areas just south of the civic center. South Meyer street (just south of the Cushing street bar) and some areas around there are older for houses. This would be for the older "barrio" neighborhoods. tim

 

[Brian Gatien]

Thank you all for your suggestions. My quick look at The Weather Channel says sunrise around 0650 and sunset around 1820 for the days we are there. We are arriving on Friday around 1700 and I have only parts of Saturday and Sunday (I do want to join my co-vivant in the spa since the trip is her birthday gift for me). So my plan would be to travel the City on Saturday morning and to the two Missions on Saturday afternoon. Sunday: tackle the National Park. While I like older buildings generally, I am keen on abandoned ones; the untellable stories they hold are intriguing.
I am still trying to get maps for Tucson and Arizona to get a better idea of distances and times.
Brian

 

[copake_ham]

Thank you all for your suggestions. My quick look at The Weather Channel says sunrise around 0650 and sunset around 1820 for the days we are there. We are arriving on Friday around 1700 and I have only parts of Saturday and Sunday (I do want to join my co-vivant in the spa since the trip is her birthday gift for me). So my plan would be to travel the City on Saturday morning and to the two Missions on Saturday afternoon. Sunday: tackle the National Park. While I like older buildings generally, I am keen on abandoned ones; the untellable stories they hold are intriguing.
I am still trying to get maps for Tucson and Arizona to get a better idea of distances and times.
Brian

Brian,

After you and your co-vivant return home - send me a PM and I will put you in touch with a good, honest realtor!

Nowadays, no one visits Tucson that then doesn't want to have a place there!

It happened to us from NYC; and now, after one visit, it's happening to our good friends from Edmonoton, AB!

Beware, to visit Tucson is a wonderful trap at this time of the year!

Have a great time!

 

[lee]

you might think of visiting the Center for Creative Photography over at Univ of Az. Great place.

lee\c