My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
At sunset, Nature is painting for us… day after day… pictures of infinite beauty.
John Ruskin
This image was taken back in July after finishing some training. The sun was just starting to go down as I stepped off the aircraft. If you look just below the sun you can see an aircraft as it taxis for takeoff. As we all know the best camera to use is the one you have with you. In this case it was my iphone. I start another 4-day trip today. See ya when I get back.
I couldn’t help but notice a mother and her daughter enjoying a refreshing drink on a warm afternoon outside a local coffee shop. My photographers eye spotted the contrast in color of the daughters pink shoes and her blue pants. It’s been a while since I approached someone and asked for the opportunity to shoot an image. I was surprised at how nervous I was. I explained what I wanted to do with the image of her shoes and received permission from Chloe to take a couple of images. Thank you, Chloe!
My parents live in Gold Canyon, Arizona, which is just east of Apache Junction. It is almost all a 55 plus community and the perfect place for my parents at this time in their lives. Just behind their house, and over the boundary wall, is the Gold Canyon United Methodist Church. It follows along with the Southwestern decor that predominates the area. And just across the road on Kings Ranch Road is the famous Red Sage Restaurant. This restaurant is hopping during the winter season but quiet in the summer after 60% of the population heads to cooler climates. My parents have a group of friends who usually gather in Saturday mornings for breakfast, coffee and conversation. Anyway, I wanted to show more of the Southwest flavor.
I had the opportunity to pick up the far traveling Paul Lester at the train station in Denver yesterday morning. The man claimed to be hungry so the first needed was breakfast. This was accomplished a t a place called the Rand House Cafe on east Colfax. Paul and I both proved hunger was satisfied. Instead of driving to Mt, Evans we decided to wander the streets of Golden, CO. We picked the right day as they had the USA Pro Challenge bicycle race the day before so Sunday was quiet and peaceful. We stumbled into a yogurt place called Goozel Gourmet Yogurt. We all know the benefits of yogurt. It supplies us with a healthy amount of bacteria and as a dairy product we get a dose of animal protein. Paul and I went a step further and added the nutritional value of coconut, almonds, chocolate chips and any other toppings we could find. Adding a pink spoon for shoveling it in while sitting in a comfy lounge chair makes life seems pretty good. And as two photographers will do we took a few photographs.
We ran across this adobe styled hotel and both thought of Tom Dills and his architectural images that rock.
The streets of Golden were lined with bronze sculptures that added a different touch. We both took photos of this prospector showing off his find. Since this is the hometown for Coors brewery it was no surprise to see Coors written across the prospectors canteen.
Clear Creek runs through the center of town and was a pleasure garden for people. We found tubers, waders and fisherman. All along the banks we could find children of all ages dangling their feet in the refreshing water. We got Paul back to his hotel around 2:00 pm so he could rest after the long night of travel. His return flight was for 6:00 am in the morning so the time together was limited. Paul and I had met previously when Paul picked me up at my hotel in Charlotte and we met Earl Moore for dinner a few years ago. I enjoyed the time and it was good to meet up again.
This mornings sunrise was completely different than the day before. Clouds filled the sky and the stars were not to be seen. I arrived at a new location and was greeted with the same quiet as the previous morning. The quiet is amazing to experience, especially for us city dwellers. But before I knew it the desert awoke with the songs of cactus wrens breaking that silence. I would not see the sun rise over the horizon on this morning. Yet, nature gave me a small bit of pink to enjoy.
I should be picking up Paul Lester today and taking him up to Mount Evans, 14,000 feet. This way he can look to the east and see all of Nebraska he just drove through. We hope to meet up with John Strong for a bite to eat sometime in the afternoon or evening.
It was still pretty dark when I arrived along Peralta Trail and stars sparkling in the clear skies. After turning off the engine I was surrounded by an eerie quiet. All my senses were perked. Shortly before sunrise I was greeted with the yelping of coyotes and the songs of the cactus wren. The desert was awakening. I looked compositions that would show the rugged terrain along with the plant life of this desert region. Seems like my eyes were constantly roaming. I was not sure exactly where the sun would rise but had a good guess. I felt lucky to be where I was with the ocotillo and the saguaro as the sun began breaking the horizon. This was the reason I woke up early.
When I arrived at my parents house I noticed my tripod head had come apart and some of it was missing. So when this image was taken I was clamping my camera to the head with a c-clamp and watching it like a hawk. We found the missing part the next day as it had fallen off when I get out the car in my dads garage. All is better now. 🙂
I enjoyed my visit with my parents and felt a bit spoiled when I left. I must have eaten a dozen of my mother’s homemade cookies, forcibly I must add. The morning I left was nice and cool after receiving about a half inch of much needed rain. The three of us sat on the front porch and ate breakfast with the birds and a young coyote who wandered across the street. I was taken by the soft warm colors of the early sun against their neighbors garage door and took this image. I did get in a few early morning shots along the Peralta Trail and will post those soon.
Artists get better by sharpening their skills or by acquiring new ones; they get better by learning to work, and learning from their work.
Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland
After almost 2 years of sitting on the shelf I’m rereading the book Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland. This was one of those books where I highlighted all sorts of phrases. They still speak to me. I also found a couple of chapters that seem to have been added since the first time I read it. Have you noticed that?
I’ve always felt I’m in the process of learning from my photography. I figuring out how to take better images both technically with the tools I have and how I see this world. It’s the learning to work that seems to needs more development in my life. A boss, co-workers and a steady paycheck were the my motivations in corporate life. Working as an artist , whether as a professional or amateur, requires disciplines I’m working on. Now that I’m in this semi-retirement process I’m also learning how to work as an artist. I’m also in Phoenix visiting my parents so I’m also learning to relax.
Smoke from the Pacific Northwest as well as Idaho and Montana has been slowly drawn into Colorado this past week because of a ridge of high pressure. So our sunsets and sunrises have been a peach or orange color for most of the week. Fellow blogger John Strong mentioned in his post last week how the haze was affecting a project of his.
I leave for Phoenix today for a short visit with my parents and take in a bit of their August heat. I may be in for a pleasant trip as their forecast calls for temperatures in the high 90s and 30 % showers for the next few days. I’m also planning on seeking out a few sunrise shots along the Peralta Trail while I’m out there.
I thought I would show you with these images what a walk around my hotels provide for images. These 4 images were all taken at the same hotel on the same morning and all within about 45 minutes. I get in some exercise and look for images. The hole in the fence was what I saw. I took 4 images.