November 15, 2024 - Friday - Today I was back in the desert to see the new exhibit at the La Quinta Museum called "Abandoned Planes, Trains, and Automobiles." The exhibit displays the work of award winning photographer Ken Lee, which the museum describes as "a nocturnal journey through the hidden landscapes of California’s deserts." Unfortunately Judy has been suffering with a sore throat all week, so she decided to sit this one out since the exhibition ends tomorrow.
All of Ken Lee's photographs were taken at night, with a full moon. He uses portable lights to "fill in" the details which would have been in the shadows of the moonlight. All of the exposures are very long, so you'll see the Milky Way and streaks of stars moving across the sky on some of the pictures. There is a lot of glare and reflections since the photographs are mounted under glass.
Ken believes the tanker below is the actual one used in the "Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull" movie.
This is the remains of a Boeing 747 used by NASA.
This is an actual crash scene.
It took Ken Lee several years to complete this series, trekking through the dusty desert in the moonlight. Kudos to him!
After the museum I had lunch in nearby Indio at the Cafe at Shields.
I started out with a "Stuffed Date" which is a plump Medjool date stuffed with jalapeño, bleu cheese and proscuitto, wrapped in bacon and finished off with a shallot demi-glace and a balsamic reduction. They are impossible to resist.
I then had their "Walleye Fish Tacos," which are three fish tacos lightly breaded on corn tortillas, lime, cabbage and chipotle aioli. It's served with rice and beans.
I missed Judy on this adventure, but she was more comfortable at home.