Location Scout: Quiet Desert Swim Hole
I know this is a long shot but... I have dreams of shooting people in very calm water in the American Desert. I know some place like this must exist -- I want a natural desert background, but it could be associated with a cleanly designed in-ground pool (but the fencing would have to come down). But a natural rock formation with desert in the background would be ideal.
Yeah, naked people will be in the shot if that is a concern.
Basically I want really beautiful water that people can float on... not my lap pool ;-)
It also needs to be within a few hours of an airport, i.e. not 10 miles of hiking. Not that I wouldn't do it, but for the convenience of others.
I'd pay for the rental/fees/expenses of course. Thanks, Frank
Re: Location Scout: Quiet Desert Swim Hole
Go to Phoenix, Arizona. Rent a car and drive north to Lake Pleasant. Rent a boat from the pier and explore to your hearts content. You'll probably find enough naked people there that you don't have to bring a model. I think you'll find the desert scenery most pleasing as well. And if you get bored with naked women the striped bass fishing is pretty good, too.
Re: Location Scout: Quiet Desert Swim Hole
Isolated watering holes in the desert are usually pretty skanky from cattle, antelope, snakes and brackish water etc. Check out the previous National Geographic with Jack Dykingas spread on Big Bend. There is a site there that might work and since it is running water. It sould be more pleasent.
Re: Location Scout: Quiet Desert Swim Hole
fly into Albuquerque, and either head east to Santa Rosa where there is Blue Hole, along with Conchas Lake. You could also drive a couple of hours north to Abiquiu Dam. You would have Georgia O'Keeffe country as your back drop. The water can be glass there as well.
Todd
Re: Location Scout: Quiet Desert Swim Hole
Frank: there are loads of natural hot springs in the Eastern Sierra and Southwest that may fill your bill. Here's a couple of helpful books:
http://tinyurl.com/39qd6v
http://tinyurl.com/2va2pz
Re: Location Scout: Quiet Desert Swim Hole
Don't know if this is what you're looking for, but some of Richard Misrach's photos of Pyramid Lake in NV look pretty calm. Not exactly a waterhole, though...
Re: Location Scout: Quiet Desert Swim Hole
Frank,
near Phoenix there are a number of lakes that might work for you - they are not swimming holes per se, but man-made lakes. Lake Pleasant is certainly an option - you would have desert landscape with lots of Saguaros.
There is also a chain of three beautiful lakes in the middle of nowhere, that are reachable by car, along the Apache Trail - they are Canyon Lake, Roosevelt Lake and I forgot what the one in the middle is called. I think Canyon Lake would be really neat as a photoshoot location. Look at a map - you would go frm Phoenix to Apache Junction (that's a town) and pick up the Apache trail there. Easy to get to and a very scenic drive. Rent a boat and find yourself a little island, or just a deserted shore and you have you backdrop. Water is very blue!
Re: Location Scout: Quiet Desert Swim Hole
Balmorrhea Springs near Fort Davis, Texas. Huge swimming pool with constant 65-degree water. Crystal clear, spring fed pool. Great for snorkeling. Swim with the fishes. I've stopped there in the dead of winter to get cleansed of West Texas grit.
Re: Location Scout: Quiet Desert Swim Hole
bump - hey this is good stuff to know for planning - thanks for contributing
Re: Location Scout: Quiet Desert Swim Hole
Bartlett Lake northeast of Scottsdale/Carefree/Cave Creek. I'd let you use my pool but the wife wouldn't care for that and I can't take the fencing down.
There's also Watson Lake in Prescott... about 1.5 hours north of here, but really cold right now, as are all the deserts in winter.