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What is a Triptych? Similar to a diptych, which is a photograph that uses two different or identical images side by side to form one single artistic statement, a Triptych uses ...

Index for Category – Tripytchs

 -This page last updated on 12/27/2017

Click A Title To View Wild Horses at Cold Creek - Triptych #1 Wild Horses at Cold Creek - Triptych #2 Wild Horses at Cold Creek - Triptych #3 Wild Horses at Cold Creek - Triptych #4 Greylag Goose Great Blue Heron Ruin at St. Thomas, Nevada Finding That Right Moment Buffalo Gourd Grand Canyon Railway Mosaic Marble Floors at the Bellagio Conservatory More Wild Horses of Cold Creek Wild Horses at Cold Creek

Wild Horses at Cold Creek - Triptych Number 4

On 04/11/2013, I visited Cold Creek with the rock-hounds from the Henderson Heritage Park Senior Facility for the fifth time in two years and captured some more great pictures of the wild horses that roam the area. Though our sightings seemed less than last year, we once again found several young foal walking with their ‘momma’. I grouped what I thought were three of the better pictures into this triptych.

The Carousel

The 2012 spring exhibit, titled Spring Celebration, at the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio Casino on the Las Vegas Strip showcased an 11-foot tall, fully operational replica of a 16th century carousel. Weighing more than 8,600 pounds, this carnival favorite is adorned with 330 clear bulbs and is topped with colorful acrylic balloons containing murals depicting Italian scenes. Its seven beautifully colored, hand painted horses, bobbed freely up-and-down, waiting to take the imagination of passersby on a fantasyland adventure. The term carousel comes from the French word carrousel and from the Italian word carosello, or merry-go-round. This amusement ride consists of a rotating circular platform with “seats” usually in the form of one or more rows of intricately carved, brightly painted wooden horses mounted on posts which are moved up and down to simulate galloping. Other popular names are the galloper, roundabout and flying horses.

Wild Horses at Cold Creek – Triptych Number III

On 04/19/2012, I visited Cold Creek with the rock-hounds from the Henderson Heritage Park Senior Facility for the fourth time in two years and got some more great pictures of the wild horses that roam the area. On this visit we were witness to sightings of more than 30 horses, three of which included sightings of young foal. I grouped what I thought were three of the better pictures from one of these sightings into this triptych. Markings on horses usually occur on the head and are distinctive white areas on an otherwise dark base coat color. Most horses have some type of markings that help to identify the horse as a unique individual. These markings are present at birth and do not change over the course of the horse's life. There are as many as a dozen common facial markings that are usually described by their shape and specific location. A white marking between or above the eyes is called a “Star”.

Greylag Goose

Great Blue Heron

Ruin at St. Thomas, Nevada

I used this triptych to help display a couple of pictures that I captured showing the remains of a home in the ghost town of a St. Thomas. Nevada. To view more pictures and learn more about this area, go to my daytrip post at  … Daytrip - St Thomas, Nevada.

Finding That Right Moment

(Click to Enlarge)

Last year, after wintering in New Mexico, my cousin John came by our way on his way back to New York for the summer months. He and I got to spend several enjoyable days visiting various Nevada locations doing what we both enjoy best, taking photographs. These were take at Grapevine Canyon, just north of Laughlin, Nevada. Click here to learn more about this unique area … Grapevine Canyon.

Pool Lights

While lounging by the pool at Harrah’s in Laughlin, I had a light pole located directly in front of where we were sitting. The more I stared at it the more I thought it might make an interesting black and white silhouette picture. After playing with and cropping several different shots, I finally changed it from black & white to sepia, which seemed to give it a “brighter” feel. I then selected two pictures to create the above Triptych.

Wild Horses of Cold Creek - Triptych Number II

On 09/19/2011 I visited Cold Creek with my wife Connie for the third time this year and got some more great pictures of the wild horses that roam the area. In addition to the pictures that I posted on the daytrip post for Cold Creek, I took what I thought were three of today's better shots and created this triptych.

Wild Horses at Cold Creek - Triptych Number I

On 09/01/2011 I visited Cold Creek for the second time this year and finally got pictures of some of the wild horses that roam the area. In addition to the pictures that I posted on the daytrip post for Cold Creek, I decided to take three of the better shots and create this triptych.

Rock Fossil

On 09/29/2011, while walking a wash along the western side of the access road up near Lovell Canyon, I found this rock specimen with several conical-like shells imbedded within it. (click to enlarge). Though several others in our group have found some rock specimens containing impressions of small shells and plants, I believe this is one of the largest specimens we've found. Fossilization is an exceptionally rare occurrence, because most components of formerly-living things tend to decompose relatively quickly following death. In order for an organism to be fossilized, the remains normally need to be covered by sediment as soon as possible. However there are exceptions to this, such as if an organism becomes frozen, desiccated, or comes to rest in an oxygen-free environment.

What is a fossil? Quite simply stated, a fossil is the remains or evidence of any creature or plant that once lived on the Earth. Most often it is the remains of a dead animal or plant or the imprint left from the remains of such. Though I certainly don’t know enough about this subject to know what classification this fossil would fall into, It appears that one of the more common finds, as in this case, is the hardened shell of some type of ancient invertebrate. If you take a careful look of a close-up on the right, you will notice two things. At the left edge you get to see the curvature of the outer portion of the shell, giving you a 3-D effect of what the shell was actually like. Looking at the center of the specimen  you can actually make out the inside “ribs’ of the shell.

Buffalo Gourd - Cucurbita foetidissima

My neighbor and I were out taking a “road trip” to the Joshua Tree Forest between Nipton, CA and Searchlight, NV when we found these growing on the side of the road.  I ended up taking one home and cutting into it out of curiosity. I then created this triptych.

Having never seen anything like them before, especially along the side of the road, we thought that maybe they started growing from something someone threw out of a car.However, after some research on the Internet, I found out that this is an amazing plant. Be sure to read the paragraph titled, USES found below. Side of the road between Nipton CA and Searchlight NV

Description: The Cucurbita foetidissima, also called “buffalo gourd”, “coyote ear”, “Stinking gourd”; or “calabazillo” (Little squash, masculine) and “chililcote”, in Spanish. It has gray-green leaves that give off a putrid smell, some say like bad underarm odor, when bruised. Its fruit is spherical, with green and light green stripes and grows on multi-branched vines up to 15 feet long. The fruit can grow to 4” in diameter and turns yellow when mature. The leaves are triangular, rough and hairy that can grow to as much as 12 inches wide. And it has an extensive tuber system that extends deep and wide from the base, sometimes as much as 20 feet and the tuber root has been found to weigh as much as 88 pounds. It is more common in Baja California Norte, however it has a wide distribution range, having been found as far north as Missouri and the Great Plains of the United States, and as far south as Baja California and Central Mexico in the higher elevations. Although the fruit is very bitter, it can be cooked and eaten when it is very young, like a squash. As it matures, it becomes bitter and contains a poisonous substance that only coyotes and wild burro seem to tolerate. The seeds of the Buffalo Gourd, like all coyote melons, have been traditionally harvested, ground into flour, used as a food thickener or eaten raw. Medicinally, the seed powder, used in a concentrated form, was taken as a purgative by the Baja natives, in order to expel the tapeworms or other parasites from the body. The seeds also are a very protein rich source of oil that traditionally was used for cooking, and skin ailments. Today, much research is being done on Buffalo Gourd oil, as it appears to be low in saturated fats, high in protein and linoleic acids, even higher than safflower, cotton seed, sesame, coconut, soy bean or sunflower oils. Experiments are underway today regarding the cultivation of this gourd for its seeds as an alternative source of consumable oil for both humans and livestock.

USES: Traditionally, poultices made of the roots, leaves and stems were made to treat saddle sores on horses, and many human skin ailments such as open wounds and ulcers. Infusions of the root or leaves were also used to calm menstrual cramps and soften birth contractions. In addition, the roots, the fruit and the fruit shell contain a highly concentrated saponin (soap) compound. The natives used to grind this plant material and rub it into dirty clothes to wash them. The roots also contain natural “bleach” which whitened the fabrics as well. Shampoo was also made from the root. The flowers of the Callabazillo, as with all Cucurbita flowers, are prized as a food, similar to today’s Mexican tradition of frying battered pumpkin flowers. The flowers are also boiled to produce yellow dye for fabrics and leather. And lastly, the dried gourds were mounted onto handles and used as rattles for babies and in ceremonial uses. Quite a useful little plant, our “Stinking Gourd”, I’d say

Grand Canyon Railway

On 03/10/2009 we road the Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Expecting it to be more like Las Vegas weather, we were surprised when we woke up to a snow squall and that it turned out to be a rather cold, windy and blustery day. Out our window, and from the viewing platform at the rear, we got to see a variety of different landscapes, from Ponderosa pine forests down to the open and dry high desert. The train then rose back into the forest as it got closer to the canyon. There is more than a 1,500 foot change in elevation along the way. In the grand tradition of elegance and extraordinary comfort, we road the most exclusive seats on the train - inside the Luxury Parlor Car. Thanks to lounge-style comforts including a private bar and access to the open-air rear platform the exclusive service in this car provides fresh fruit, pastries, coffee and juice during the morning, finger snacks on the return trip along with a champagne toast and drinks of your choice at any time. The 4-1/2 round trip train ride made for a very enjoyable day.

Description: the Grand Canyon Railway made its first journey to the South Rim in 1901, long before Arizona was dubbed the "Grand Canyon State." With the arrival of the train, people could get to the legendary canyon with ease and comfort. All supplies used in the construction of Grand Canyon Village came to Northern Arizona aboard the train. The train also brought all water to the Grand Canyon until 1926. Supplies were not the only things carried in trains. Ranching and lumber were the primary industries of the early 1900s. Ranchers and lumberjacks contracted with the Grand Canyon Railway to transport their stock. The Railway shared the countryside with its neighbors forming a unique bond. Cowboys, lumberjacks and shepherds alike felt a little better and closer to civilization just being able to hear the train or see its lights off in the distance.The train stopped running in 1968, giving way to the popularity of automobile travel. But like any legend it refused to die. As fate would have it, Grand Canyon Railway was reborn in 1989 when entrepreneurs brought the Grand Canyon's train back to life. Leaving from Williams Arizona, Grand Canyon Railway departs daily at 9:30 a.m. The train travels almost due north to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, arriving at 11:45 a.m.. The trip measures 65 miles and takes 2 hours and 15 minutes each way, 45 minutes faster than in 1901 when the train made its first trip. The train departs Grand Canyon Depot at 3:30 p.m. returning to Williams Depot at 5:45 p.m.