PHOTO FOR THE DAY

I wanted sunset photos without power lines streaking across the image, so I headed down from the bridge and maneuvered the truck into a good spot, which became even better once I hopped up on the roof. Now we're talking. 

SUNSETS, TRAINS AND BATS - THE TUCSON I KNOW

Yesterday Tucson had not only clouds, but a smattering of rain! The weather people are saying the monsoons have arrived. Though it's a month early, and we haven't had our traditional 2 weeks of pure hell as we wait for there to be enough moisture to gather so it can actually rain. I've lived here a long time and yesterday's rains actually caught me by surprise.

And along with the monsoons comes the spectacular sunsets Tucson is know for. So I grabbed the camera and decided to do a little sunset photography. I surprised myself by heading not towards the mountains, but away. I hit the very eastern edge of town and while driving over a bridge, noticed a bunch of crazy birds flying in erratic patterns. I almost came to a dead stop on the bridge when I realized they were not cracked-out birds, but bats leaving their roosts for their nightly forays. Ooooooo!

I quickly (and by that I do mean churning dirt) pulled off the to the access road leading below the bridge, but by the time I go there, the bats had finished their exodus. Devastated, I hung out for another 10 minutes before giving up and deciding to head out for the sunset shots I originally intended to get. I believe there was pouting involved, complete with lip dragging and dirt kicking. 

I realized the top of the bridge may be a good spot for photos and headed that way. And it was exceptional, except for the traffic. A lot of it. So those of you who drove by the crazy woman at the crest of the bridge yesterday, that was me, thanks for staying on the road.

I made it to the apex of the bridge just as a train was going under. Woot! Train photos! I was so engrossed with shooting the train and the sunset, it took me a minute to realize the dreaded dust spots in my viewfinder were, in truth, bats. Yay me! There were 4 more batches of bats that came out from under the bridge over the next 10 minutes. Not nearly as many as the first group I saw, but still impressive. What a sight! I even remembered to take a couple of photos. Enjoy!

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

I love the Arizona sunsets. 

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

Joshua Tree at sunset near Kingman, Arizona.

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

The biking path along the Rillito River (actually a dry wash most of the year) in Tucson during a monsoon storm.

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

End of day.

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

I'm a big sucker for a great sunset.

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

We are so close to getting rain. The clouds are building every day, there is humidity in the air - my hair is starting to curl, and the creosotes are starting to smell. There was even a rain curtain over the mountains yesterday evening. Soon.

PHOTO FOR THE DAY

Another remembrance of my trip to Flagstaff. As an Arizonan I am a bit obsessed with water, especially in large quantities. Can you tell?

SILVER LINING

Today has been a banner day for me in getting through a number of Backcountry Photography projects I have needed to do and haven’t found the time; including posting the greyhound cards, sending out a newsletter, getting ready for the Open Studio Tour, editing some of the blog posts and posting photos from the All Soul’s Procession. Whew. I guess there is a silver lining even when your car unexpectedly ends up in the shop and you're trapped at home after cancelling all the appointments you had scheduled for the day.

So, since I am on a roll and feeling motivated, I thought I would continue this unheard of spate of posts with another one that has been waiting patiently in the wings. Hee. My most recent set of fine art photos which include 5 new dragonfly images and an incredible sunset photo. I spend a fair amount of time watching sunsets (job hazard I guess) and this one stunned me. This is the first time I have seen the colors of the sunset reflecting off a rain curtain, lighting only certain parts of the sky on fire. As for the dragonflies – who knew they looked like a by-plane from the front and that sun coming through their wings cast a colored shadow.

The road taken.

Bi-plane


Naranja

Delicate shadows

The curve

Teasing

Each of these images can be produced as any of the products I carry: note cards and 4 x 6, 5 x 7, 8 x 10, 11 x 14, 16 x 20 or 20 x 30 prints. They are available as just the photo, mounted on foam core, matted or framed.

Impressions

Due to the rare occurrence of cloudy night skies over Tucson, the well developed plan to try my hand at photographing this year's much lauded Perseid meteor shower was thwarted. So, I am sorry to report, no fabulous (or otherwise) photos by me of shooting stars are available. Blast.

However, in an effort to quell your disappointment, I thought I would post some of the photos of my most recent meteorite hunting trips. The most successful portion of the recent Arizona trips has been the photography since the little (or big would be OK) black rocks have been elusive, as elusive as those Perseids. So, though the photos don’t contain any little (or big) black rocks, I’m still pleased with them; they remind me that lately I have visited portions of Arizona previously un-seen by me, talked with interesting people and shared their eyewitness accounts, and met people I am proud to already call friend.

weirdest moth ever

I love watching the trains

yet another beautiful Arizona sunset

standing proud

self-sufficient

The wildlife has been putting on a show for us: Cabaret possibly. With this little guy, however, there was no musical number. He just sat there; hoping that if he didn't move, I wouldn't see him. Apparently he has been talking to the meteorites.

too cute for words (well a lot of words)

The comment I get most is that I'm never in any of the photos I post. That's because I typically look like this when someone takes my picture -- a little disgusted to be on the other end of the viewfinder.

Oh no you didn't just press that button

Saguaro, king of the cactus

The first day in the field saw my sisters and me crammed in a pick up and driving through southern Arizona. My sisters thought it would be a great idea to stop in Elgin at the various wineries to look for any eyewitnesses. Conveniently there was wine tasting available.

little chapel in Elgin

I've decided meteorites should adopt the ways of the desert flowers: attract as much attention as possible with bright colors. I would be OK with a little standing up, waving of the hands, and even a possible "yoo hoo, I'm right down here" yodel.

distinct lack of camouflage

The most significant day spent in the field so far was the trip one of my hunting partners, Brad, and I took to the US-Mexico border trying to get an eyewitness account from a Border Patrol agent who saw the bolide. The agent wasn’t there, called away to some emergency or another.

Mexico

So there we are standing at The Fence; one side the United States and the other, Mexico.

It was a pretty small fence.

I thought it would be a bit more substantial. Possibly due to the times when I have crossed the border into Mexico it was big with the guards, questions, gates, tourists, vendors. Or maybe because it is such a large political, emotional and passionately debated topic in southern Arizona. But all that didn’t exist here. Here it was quiet, peaceful, haunting and incredibly beautiful.

dividing line

a slightly different view

And during all that nothing this is what I noticed: the land didn’t know. It didn’t know the importance of the barbed-wire fence; of the railroad tie barrier; of the difference in language, currency, traditions. There was no abrupt change indicating this should be another country. It was all one flowing continual panoramic vista. The geologic features; the rocks, soil, mountains and valleys, the flora; grasses and delicate flowers; the land, didn’t know. And I felt infinitesimally small.

the land doesn't know

It was a quieter ride back from the border to where I had parked my car. Brad humored me (“it would be a great photo”) and took a small detour to Parker Canyon Lake where we enjoyed the sight of water in the desert, birds nesting, and fish lurking in the reed-filled water.

unusual Arizona transportation

Mom protecting the nest

We were abruptly reminded of the importance we as territorial people have placed on that physically insubstantial fence just to the south when reading a sign that reminded us that this is an area of high drug and people trafficking and please use caution. I wanted to return to the spot on the border, have it all melt away to nothing and let the land take over.

These photos are available as either free desktops, fine art prints, or stock photography. Please email me if you are interested in any of them. These photos are not enhanced and in fact have been reduced in size and quality for posting on this blog.