Postcard from Tucson – Desert Spring – Part 2

Spring is nearly over here in the Sonoran desert. But, l am here to tell you it was something to see, especially for me, a first-timer. I did a fair amount of touring looking for flowers and color. It turns out I did not have to go very far. The best and brightest part of the spring flowers were all in walking distance of my residence.

There is a very nice jogging and bicycling path right across the street from where I live. It is surrounded by natural desert. It was here that most of my best pictures were taken. As I daily walked these paths, I had a camera to record the flowers on the various types of cactus.

Almost daily, new flowers emerged that were not there the day before. I saw small cactus, no bigger than six inches high, yield flowers that were much large than the plant itself.

And the color…oh my gosh, the colors were just amazing…reds, yellows, purples, whites, and mixtures. Even some of the ugliest cactus bushes you have ever seen put forth beautiful spring flowers in abundance.

Here are three sample photos from my trips into the nearby desert. The best of them all are now on my website for you to enjoy. Just click on any of the small thumbnail photos and the larger version of it will be displayed. I hope you enjoy these photos of spring in the Sonoran desert as much as I did taking them.

Notes: Last week, I showed you a photo of a boat I took in Port Townsend, WA. FYI, I have put a few more photos from that visit up on my Website for your enjoyment.

This last weekend, I spent a couple of days visiting Bisbee, AZ and the Chiricahua National Monument. Both places were a photographer’s dream. You shall be seeing some of those pictures in the very near future. Tomorrow, I head out for a quick trip to Mexico, then Yuma, then on to visit my son in Blythe, CA. Then, who knows where. I will write when I can.

Postcard from Tucson – Desert Spring – Part 1

I live to see new things. I have never lived in a desert state before now, so, it was with some interest that I looked forward to my first Spring here in the Sonoran desert. And I was not disappointed.

Most of the Spring display of flowers is history now, and I took some beautiful photos, more of which I will share in the next blog. But, for this edition, I want to focus on the blooms of the giant Saguaro cactus that only grows naturally here in the Sonoran desert.

As I’ve mentioned before, these giant cactus can live for over two hundred years. They don’t even begin growing their arms until after 100 years. They store water better than the Hoover Dam, so even drought years don’t affect them. And now, they are in full bloom. It is something to see.

West of Tucson, where I live, the Saguaro grow thick as thieves, and almost all are blooming now. It is amazing to drive by and see them. As you can see in the photos, each cactus has more than one bloom…many more.

The first photo shows four arms of a single Saguaro cactus, all in bloom, so you know it is an older one. Most blooms are up very high on the plant, so photographing is difficult…but I found a little hill where I was able to photograph this cactus located further down the hill.

The flower from these cacti are the state flower of Arizona. The plants themselves are protected by state law and cannot be cut down or transplanted. The fruit of the Saguaro can be used to make jam and syrup, although it is not as common as the prickly pear cactus fruit.

My desire to see new things has been more than satisfied this Spring, here in the desert. The Saguaro cactus continue to inspire awe and wonder. In the next edition, I will show you the flowers of other amazing cactus that grow all around me.

PS – It might be a few days before the next blog as I am heading out tomorrow to see more new places…cameras-in-hand, of course.

Picture of the Day – A Photoshop Boat

I photographed this boat a couple of years ago up in Port Townsend, WA. It was an overcast day, as is often the case there, but the light was still good. And I just loved this small boat.

However, the original image wasn’t good enough for me. Using some of my on-board filters in Photoshop, I tweaked and played with the original image and came up with this version which I like much better. All the colors are still there and the original image isn’t changed all that much.

I just boosted the colors a little bit, added a glow, then for good measure, added a little fog in the background, even though there was none that day. It just seemed appropriate and it brought more emphasis to the boat. I hope you don’t mind…but at least I told the truth.

Picture of the Day – Hoodoos

Welcome to Bryce Canyon National Park, where you will find the highest concentration of hoodoos in the entire world. There are hundreds of them pictured in this photo.

What’s a hoodoo, you ask? Here is the geological definition from Wikipedia:

A hoodoo (also tent rock, fairy chimney, earth pyramid) is a tall thin spire of rock that protrudes from the bottom of an arid drainage basin or badland. Hoodoos are composed of soft sedimentary rock and are topped by a piece of harder, less easily-eroded stone that protects the column from the elements.

The photo you see here is an immense concentration of hoodoos…so thick you can hardly differentiate one from another. It was very difficult to develop in post processing, and only when I applied a few selected filters was I able to bring them out a bit more.

I decided to try a black and white image as the hoodoos themselves are mostly orange with a little white thrown in here and there. I liked the result enough that I wanted to share it with you.

Sadly, I am limited by the blog as to the size of the photo I can use. But, like all photos in my blogs, if you click on the photo, you can see a larger version.

Picture of the Day – Thru Mesa Arch

As is my custom lately, I find myself experimenting with different filters in Photoshop. I came across an interesting photo I took of Mesa Arch in the Canyonlands National Park. I like the composition very much, but the lighting was just terrible that day.

I could have used some very elaborate filters to make it look like the light was fabulous, but just didn’t want to fake it. Instead, I came across a filter I had never used before. It’s called the “Polaroid Transfer” filter. Below, is a quick explanation of the real Polaroid Transfer process. A small number of artists and photographers use it to create interesting images.

It is one of those techniques that gives a different result every time. So I tried it on this image and it produced the image you see here. I really like this image as it made the colors so much more vivid and added some interesting ghostly effects.

The only other thing I did was change the contrast ration slightly. I did not want to do more as the real Polaroid Transfer process is not changeable. You get what you get, which is what I wanted to do here. And frankly, I like what I got!

Will try this one again in the future.

A Summary of the Polaroid Transfer Process from Wikipedia

Using a camera, enlarger, slide printer or Day Lab expose Polaroid film. You need pull-apart type film, such as Polaroid 669 (now discontinued, or Fuji FP100c, which is readily available). Develop by pulling the film from the holder. Wait about 10-15 seconds and quickly pull the film apart, not letting the two sides (the picture and the negative) touch. Put the pulled apart negative face down on paper (or other material). Place pressure over negative and let sit for about 20 minutes. Then pour hot water over each side of the negative/paper sandwich. Gently peel the negative from the paper. Allow transfer to dry, face up.

Postcard from Fredericksburg – Rebs

A few years ago, on this very weekend, I was in Fredericksburg, Virginia, touring this town, its Civil War battlefield, and other nearby famous Civil War sites. As it was Memorial Day, there were many re-enactors out in full uniform representing both sides of that bloody conflict.

Pictured here are Confederate soldiers, camped just outside of town along the Rappahannock River (which can be seen in the background). Across the river was another encampment of Union soldiers.

Here, in December of 1862, Union troops under the command of General Ambrose Burnside, gathered to assault the town. General Lee, was caught off-guard by the Union movement and was forced to rush reinforcements into the area. He was helped by Burnside who refused to cross the river until a shipment of pontoon bridges arrived from Washington, even though there was a way to cross the river without bridges. The bridges were late in arriving, giving Lee extra time to bring in his troops.

After the bridges were put in place, and under heavy rebel fire, Federal troops crossed over and eventually took the town, looting as they went. Lee withdrew on purpose, to force the Federals to attack uphill at a place called Marye’s Heights. They did and were mowed down mercilessly by Confederate Fire. Still, Burnside kept sending wave after wave of troops, 16 in all, to assault the heights, all of whom suffered the same fate. Finally, Burnside called off the assault and retreated back across the river.

There were other parts of this battle too numerous to mention here, but suffice it to say it was a disaster for the Union. Burnside was shortly replaced by General Joseph Hooker, who himself suffered a major defeat a few months later at nearby Chancellorsville. Seven months later, these two massive armies would meet again in Pennsylvania at a place called Gettysburg.

Two days after taking this photo, I also went to Gettysburg to round out my very special Memorial Day weekend. These places will forever be burned into my memory.

Picture of the Day – Three Amigos

I shot this photo recently at the Saguaro National Park West. It looks like three people standing close having a chat…only it is cacti. Just something about it grabbed my imagination.

The cloudy sky was a bonus that day, although I remember that it became all clouds shortly after this photo was taken. I took the original image and first applied a correction filter that also put down a slight darkening effect in the corners (called a vignette).

Then I converted it to black and white, applying more adjustments. Finally used another filter called “glow” which gave me an effect that I really liked. Did a little more magic on it and….voila! You see the results before you.

One of the fun parts of digital photography is playing around with different filters to see what you might get…and believe me…I love to play.

Postcard from Las Vegas – A Different Kind of Wildlife

I am not a wildlife photographer. It is not in my nature. But, I could not help photographing some of the beautiful animals in the Wildlife Preserve at the Flamingo Hotel. There are different kinds of unusual animals here including several different species of birds. Obviously, there are many Flamingos. The beautiful fish in the man-made stream are also worth a look.

The photo here shows a Grey Crowned Crane, a native of the African Savannah, south of the Sahara Desert. It also happens to be the National Bird of Uganda (no Idi Amine jokes here please). I can tell you from experience, it loves to pose for cameras.

If you are ever in Vegas and want to do something different, stop by and take a look at all the animals and wander around the beautiful grounds. There is even a restaurant with large windows right next to the preserve so you can enjoy the view while eating (please don’t order fowl…it would be sacrilegious and scares the animals).

Picture of the Day – Clouds over Soap Lake

I can’t recall if I mentioned it here, but I have spent a fair amount of time lately reorganizing and cataloging my rather large photo collection. Not only did it need it, but some of my newest software makes it almost a necessity to redesign the directory structure to make it more accessible.

One of the bonuses of doing this is I have come across many pictures that I had nearly forgotten…including this one. This is north end of Soap Lake, WA. It was one of those rare days where great light and beautiful clouds happily coincided to make a good image. Having the lake be so calm also helped, although about a minute after I shot this photo, a boat came along and ruined the reflections.

Never-the-less, it is one of my better images of Grant County, which was my home until last year. It brings back good memories. It also reminds me of why I take photos…to capture these kind of rare moments.

Postcard from Tucson – A Simple Bench

I found this bench, and a few others like it, underneath the University of Arizona campus. Yes, there is an underground campus, a proverbial maze of classroom and auditoriums that lie several feet underground. You will also find occasional open areas like this one…open to the sky where one can sit and enjoy the light, the beauty of plants and play of shadows.

I was intrigued by the shape, the form, and depth of this bench…and by the simplicity of the scene. A color image distracts the eye. Simple black and white is the best way to see it.

Now, you can observe the unique shape of the bench, and the nearly parallel lines on the seat that lead your eye into the distance. And you see the light and shadows as they play on this stage.

It is simplicity itself. And beauty.

Beauty is a pretty face
Beauty is a brand new vase
Beauty is lovely hair
Beauty is an oak wooden chair
Beauty is a graceful smile
Beauty is a great sense of style
Chizom Okpara

Postcard from Ephrata – Remembering the Garden

I happened to be browsing some of the many photographs that I’ve taken of Spring flowers and I came across this lovely image. In looking at it and the other photos taken the same time, I realized it was in our garden at the house in Ephrata.

Now, I don’t think about those days very much anymore as I mostly look forward and not into the rear view mirror. But, gazing at this flower, I remember how Susan put so much time and effort into making this garden a reality. I also remember the little time I got to spend in it before moving on. It was a nice place to mellow out and enjoy the colors of Spring. Would have liked to have had just a few more days there.

Our lives are like chapters in a good book…nice when you are there, but always moving forward to the inevitable conclusion. I don’t look back in sadness, but rather in joy for the time I was part of this chapter.

Regardless of the memories, I do like this photo very much. I don’t know the flower variety, but the leaves underneath make me think it is some sort of tulip.

Now I live in Tucson where we have a whole different version of Spring. Very soon, I will be sharing some photos and memories of my first Spring in the desert.

Postcard from Tucson – University Terraces

Sometime ago I promised more interesting photos from the University of Arizona campus…and I have not done a good job of living up to that promise.

So today, here is a view I see almost every time I go to a concert or visit an art gallery on campus. It is one view of a series of terraces built on different levels near the College of Fine Arts. You can’t see all the terraces from this photo, but it gives you the idea. Many have tables with umbrellas so you can sit and have your coffee or lunch among all the flora.

The strange looking blue racks on the left, are for bicycles. I wish I could tell you the type of cactus is in the foreground, but I am no plant expert and have not been able to find out on the Web. Maybe someone could help me??

The U has a great many interesting architectural features and will try from time-to-time to show you more. Really...I promise.

Postcard from Silver Falls – Wet Wildflower

I came here to capture the waterfalls with my camera. But it rained that day, and I noticed this beautiful wildflower standing alone in a green field just after a shower ended. Such a lovely sight.

Silver Falls State Park is in Oregon, about 25 miles east of Salem. Inside its boundaries lie ten waterfalls of varying sizes. Some can be seen from the road, others can only be accessed on foot. Regardless, it is some of the most beautiful country in the western US. If memory serves, I have shared a photo or two of the major falls here in this blog.

But, a good photographer must always be aware of the small as well as the large when visiting a place like this. And so I was and caught this image. I am not sure of the flower’s name…perhaps it is a foxglove. But, it doesn’t really matter. It is beautiful without a formal name and makes one wonder if someone else who was there that day noticed it also.

Postcard from Las Vegas – The Dancing Fountain

After yesterday’s blog showing the colorful umbrellas and my description of the fountain with live statuary dancers, I had a couple of Emails from folks wanting to know if I had any pictures of the dancers.

Well, I didn’t think I did, but upon further review (NFL Talk), I found one that my daughter Elisa took. It is the only one, so I thought I would share it today. You can’t quite see it in the photo, but the three dancers all have water spigots attached to their arms, so they appear to be small fountains inside the larger one. Very clever, to say the least.

If you are ever in Sin City, be sure and stop by the Palacio Hotel and enjoy this free show.

Postcard from Las Vegas - Umbrellas

Where else but Las Vegas would you see such an interesting use for umbrellas. I like this photo very much…and actually took it with my daughter’s camera as I had left mine in the hotel room.

This is in the Palaccio Hotel, which is right next door to the Venetian Hotel. The umbrellas are natural illuminated by the skylight and hang over a fountain…but no ordinary fountain.

During the day, three women dancers made up to look like fountain statuary, complete with water coming out of their bodies, perform dances inside the real fountain to classical music, moving very slowly. It is all quite interesting to watch, even when the performance ends, they slowly and rhythmically remove the water spouts and leave the “stage.”

Only in Vegas, right?

Postcard from the Canyonlands – Cowboys and Indians

As you may have gathered from past blogs about the Southwest…or perhaps from your own experiences, the heritage of the Native American Peoples is richly celebrated across the states that make up this special part of America. Much of it occurs in our National Parks, like the Canyonlands.

And while the Native American culture stretches back hundreds of years, there is a small recent period of time where American settlers came out west to conquer the land, and in the process, destroy much of the Native American culture. As time goes by, the conquerors of this land are trying to restore and preserve what remains of this culture for future generations.

But, the white man’s western experience is also celebrated here, much of it in urban locales like Tombstone, Bisbee, and others. For it was the white settlers that created the western cities, small and large, that are the centers of our culture.

But in Canyonlands National Park, in Southern Utah, both cultures are recognized for what they brought to this land. The first photo shows Newspaper Rock, a petroglyph panel etched in sandstone that records roughly 2,000 years of human activity in the area. Etched into the desert varnish are symbols' representing the Fremont, Anasazi, Navajo and Anglo cultures. It is on the way into the Needles section of Canyonlands.

The second photo shows Cave Spring Camp, just as it was found inside the park. It is preserved as a historic monument to the forces that also shaped this land and offers a brief insight into cowboy life one hundred years ago…when cattle and sheep ranching were the most important industries here.

The camp was first established around the turn of the century, but after 1918 when the Indian Creek Cattle Company was formed it gained particular prominence. Within ten years the company had become the largest cattle operation in Utah, with its headquarters at the Dugout Ranch just 15 miles east of the national park.

Just down from this site are additional alcoves in the rocks that served as bunkhouses. You will also find another alcove that houses a natural spring that provided water for the people that used this land over the centuries. As all this is desert country, water is a scare commodity.

It is a wonderful thing that all peoples and cultures that shaped this land are preserved and recognized for what they were, good or bad. It is our history and our heritage.

Picture of the Day – Pearls

This is a photo I took at a wedding last summer. It is a very simple composition, obviously of the bride’ pearls. However, simple can often be the quite pleasing.

The color version was OK, but nothing spectacular. I decided it needed some special touches. I cleaned up any minor skin imperfections and converted the image digitally to monochrome by using a selenium tone…then turned down the contrast as low as I dare.

As it was a close-up, many of the pearls are slightly out of focus. To make that more acceptable, I used a white masked vignette and played with the opacity till I got what I wanted. That is what gives the outer edges of the photo a sort of misty look.

I think it turned out very nicely and far better than the original image.

Postcard from the Grand Canyon - Sunrise

While this picture is of sunrise in the Grand Canyon, it is not your usual shot. This was taken back in November of 2007…when the sun was just breaking over the horizon. Enough rays from the sun hit the smoke just right to give it this very special effect. It only last for a couple of minutes, but renders a somewhat breathtaking image.

Perhaps breathtaking is the operative word here. The smoke you see is not from campfires, or forest fires, or any kind of normal fires. In fact, it is not smoke at all. It is industrial haze, otherwise know as smog.

Sorry to ruin a good image with the truth.

The smog has three major sources: Las Vegas and Los Angeles to the west and a coal-fired power plant to the east, near Page. Pollution from Mexico also plays a role as do vehicle emissions from tourists.

The good news, at least for me, was that on my last visit there in late March, I saw no smog at all. But, fear not, it will be back with a vengeance. Just make sure you go there before sunrise to catch the best light hitting the industrial haze.

Postcard from Tucson – Browsing Through Bookmans

The era of my Tucson blogs began here. In this very back room, I wrote my first blogs about Tucson (and other places), browsed the Internet, worked on email, processed photos, and even watched a few TV shows. This is Bookmans Used Book Store out on Speedway Drive, the largest of their three stores in Tucson. They also have 2 stores in the Phoenix area and one in Flagstaff.

I first noticed Bookmans while scouting out Tucson as a possible new home back in January 2008…but never got inside. When I came back to Tucson to put down roots in December, I meandered in to this very store…and instantly fell in love. For various reasons, I couldn’t move into my apartment for 2 weeks after I signed on the dotted line. So I camped in the mountains not too far from here, then came down here to write and use the Internet.

For starters, this is the largest used book store I have ever seen! And as you may have figured out by now, I am an avid reader. This store can supply me reading materials at bargain prices for the rest of my life.

But, Bookmans goes beyond just books. There are books on Tape and CD’s movies, music CD’s and even dishes and other sundries. I addition, it is the most wonderful loosey-goosy operation I ever been privileged to be in. The only employee dress code appears to be “dress for fun.” There is no proper etiquette rules for announcements over the PA system…it is say what you want and again have fun.

And when you get to the checkout, you might just get an extra discount for no good reason at all. I once got one because I waited an extra minute for them to find a book. There are no scanning machines at the front door to see if you stole something. for Presently, I am in the Community Room, just off the main store. It has tables and chairs and is free for groups to use for their meetings, or like me, just to browse the net. I have even seen people playing cards back here. This is a community-based business that is something to relish and enjoy.

But its the inventory that will knock you sox off! There are thousands and thousands of books of all types here, and the inventory is always changing. I usually have a list of books I am looking for that I carry on my Blackberry. Sometimes I can’t find any of them. A few weeks ago, I came in with a list of 8 books and found 7 of them….three of them had been impossible to find. Now, that was a good day.

Sadly for me, this store is the farthest one from my home, but it it still worth the journey. Next to Bookmans is a wonderful bakery/sandwich store called “Beyond Bread.” Across the street is a Starbucks and one of my favorite grocery stores, Trader Joe’s. So when I come this way, I make the “Grand Tour” and hit them all.

Now, that wraps up this blog and I am now going to wander out with my list and look for more gems to add to my reading agenda. See ya.

Picture of the Day – Desert Flood

Subtitle this picture: “Playing Around on a Hot Day.” I shot this photo out at Saguaro National Park (West) about a week ago. It was a terrible day for photography, light-wise, but I was fascinated by the density of the cactus at this place.

As it is so hot here right now, I decided to play with this image…first enhancing the colors a bit…then adding some flood waters, similar to the “rocks” photos I showed a few weeks ago here. It all just made the desert seem a bit cooler, which is what the doctor ordered for this day.

Picture of the Day – Tide Pool

Another one of my “lost” photos that I mentioned the other day. I took this one on the Oregon Coast, somewhere near Newport. That day, the light was just about perfect, and directly behind me, thus giving the scene a harmonious balance of color.

Sometimes one gets lucky, being in the right place at the right time, as mentioned here before. The perfect light helps, but I still like the picture very much. It brings a kind of serenity that is difficult to find on a regular basis…especially since it may be some time before I can walk on a lonely beach again.

Postcard from the U of A – The Moveable Pen

I was recently reminded that a good writer should work occasionally from different locations besides his own desk. I knew that, of course, and have often done it, but not much lately. Today, I changed that.

This blog is being written on site in the photography library at the Center for Creative Photography, located on the campus of the University of Arizona. What better place for a photographer to write? This unique institution houses the archives of many famous photographers, including Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Garry Winogrand, Harry Callahan, and other great 20th century photographers. It is also a learning center for today’s budding photographers. The library, located directly across the hall from the main photo exhibition area, houses thousands of books, all related to photography. If you are in Tucson and are interested in photography, this center for the photographic arts deserves a visit.

From my desk here, I look out the large window and see other areas that make up the college of fine arts. I believe I have mentioned here before that the University wisely put related colleges and schools in the same location. To my left, I can see the school of music and the main concert hall, which I have visited on numerous occasions. Directly in front of me is the drama school and the large theater that houses many excellent plays (currently showing The Music Man). To the right are the art museums and school of fine art. Earlier today, I visited the main art museum and saw a newly hung painting by Renoir. Lovely.

This is a good place to feel creative and write a blog.

Another project I have worked on recently is the reorganization of all my photos into specific folders on the computer and cataloging them for post processing using Adobe’s Lightroom. It was amazing to find how many photos that I have taken over recent months had not imported into Lightroom…and how many forgotten gems now are available to me once again. Call it my lost photos, suddenly rediscovered.

Today’s photo was one of those lost ones…it comes from my October visit to Lassen National Park. This is the very lower end of Hat Lake, with Mt. Lassen in he background. The lake was created by beavers and makes for a nice end-of-autumn photo. Over the next few weeks, you will see more of my “lost photos” as I work my way through the archives. Stay tuned. Who knows where I will write the next blog?

Postcard from Tucson – Air Force One(s)

Recently I had occasion to re-watch the excellent film, “Thirteen Days,” which, if you have not seen it, is about the Kennedys and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Early in the film, President Kennedy flies to Connecticut for some event. You see him emerging from Air Force One waving to the assembled crowds.

I remembered that President Kennedy and Johnson’s Air Force One is here in Tucson at the Pima Air and Space Museum. I wondered if it was the same aircraft used in the film. After a little research, I discovered it was indeed the same plane. I also found out that although the film used this aircraft, it actually did not go into service until shortly after the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Never-the-less, it is an interesting airplane to tour…so very different than the luxurious Air Force One now in service. Cramped quarters, a small desk for the President, and some seats for his aids and the press. In the first photograph, you can see it right behind the smaller jet plane used to fly high ranking generals.

Also at Pima is another Air Force One, seen in the second photo. It is a Boeing 707, which, if memory serves, was used by President Nixon. This one was not available for touring at the time of my last visit.

If you ever head this way, be sure and visit this incredible museum, located right next to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. It is just filled with boy-toys.

Picture of the Day – The Painted Hills

My first significant destination after leaving Grant County back in October was the Painted Hills in Eastern Oregon. I wrote a blog about it and shared a couple of photos…but nothing since. I had occasion today to look at some of those pictures again and there are several spectacular photos that have not been seen by anyone.

So I went through the unpublished list and picked this one to share with you today. On my first day there, I had spectacular afternoon light along with fluffy clouds on a deep blue sky. What more could a photographer ask?

I hope you like this image and I will try to sneak in a few more here and there. For those of you who live in the Pacific Northwest, you should try and visit these amazing hills. Late afternoon is the best time to photograph.

PS: I was amazed on visiting the Painted Deserts of Arizona how similar they were to their Oregon cousins.

Postcard from Tucson – Photographing the U

I went to an awesome jazz concert Thursday night at the University of Arizona, and while walking back to the car, realized I had not shown you many images from here. I will begin to slowly rectify that.

The U is a very large campus with many very impressive architectural elements that have the makings for some compelling photos . This image is actually of a parking garage that I often use when I go to concerts, plays, art exhibits, and for the Center for Creative Photography. It isn’t very colorful so I went with black and white.

One of the nice things about the U is the way they center their various schools and colleges. The artistic schools, including galleries, theater, and concert halls are all in one place for easy access. Same with their sporting complexes and other similar academic programs.

This distinguished university plays a considerable part in my life. I am over there several times a week for concerts, lectures, art exhibitions, sporting events, and even just to walk around for daily exercise. It is only a few miles from home and their public events are numerous. It is special to learn more about things of interest and not have to worry about midterms, finals, or even doing homework! Can't beat that!

Picture of the Day – Bonus Photo

Ok, I already gave you one photo today, so consider this one a bonus. Actually, there is nothing very spectacular about this photo, so I didn’t want to waste a whole blog on it.

Actually, the only reason I am showing you this one is to ask you a simple question:

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

OK, go figure it out.

Picture of the Day – From Navajo Country

I found this interesting rock formation deep in the heart of the Navajo Nation in Northeastern Arizona. I was on my way to New Mexico, going over the Buffalo Pass Road, when I passed many interesting rock formations, all of the them just begging to be photographed.

I used a polarizing filter to darken the sky and give the rocks a little deeper red…handy tool that filter. Would not have minded a few white clouds, but it was not to be on this day.

I just loved the curvature of the rocks…one of nature’s incredible sculptures.

Postcard from Tucson – The End of Spring Training

Major League Spring training in Arizona is over. The teams have all headed to their respective cities to begin the regular season. For us folks down here in Tucson, it may be the last Spring Training games we ever see.

You see, there are only two teams now playing their games here…the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies. According to them, they need 3 or 4 teams to make Tucson a viable training facility. Last year, the Chicago White Sox left here for the Phoenix area. And according to the teams’ contracts, unless there are three teams here, they can break their lease and go elsewhere with no penalty. There are efforts to build a new stadium to attract more teams, but we shall see where that leads in this time of deep recession.

Be that as it may, I took advantage of their last week in Tucson to take in two games, one of which was the L.A. Dodgers. For that game I took my Nikon and, as it turned out, I got a great seat four rows behind the Dodger dugout….perfect for watching and photographing the game.

This was also my first visit to Tucson’s Electric Park. All my other Spring Training games where at nearby Hi Corbett Field. Frankly, I prefer Electric Park as their is no netting between me and the field, save for the usual behind home plate. It made watching and photographing the game much more enjoyable.

The Dodger game was the best of the entire Spring Training schedule, as it was tied going into the 9th inning. The Dodgers won it the old fashioned way with one run in the 9th…a walk, stolen base, errant throw and a sacrifice fly. Now that is baseball! It doesn’t mean anything in the standings and no one will remember it perhaps except me…but it was a baseball game that both teams tried to win.

And it may have been one of the last games ever played here in Tucson. That would be sad. As I said in a previous blog about baseball, I don’t follow Major League Baseball anymore…they lost me as a fan after the last labor strike. But, Spring Training games are just plain fun…tickets are very inexpensive, the weather is great, and the players are more relaxed here than the regular season.

The pictures here show Dodger manager and former Yankee great Joe Torre signing autographs before the game, the Diamondbacks mascot having fun with a Dodger fan, and my favorite, a home run swing by a D’Back player that I was just lucky enough to capture before the ball left the park.

I sincerely hope the teams come back here…but if not, thanks for the memories.

Picture of the Day – Cactus Flower

The good news is that some of the cactus here in the Tucson area are now beginning to flower. The bad news is that the wildflowers that normally pop up in the desert about this time are in short supply. Not enough rain this year for a good explosion of color.

I visited the Saguaro National Park (east) yesterday to see what might be going on, wildflower-wise and was advised by park rangers of the bad news. But, I managed to get this close-up photo of a Hedgehog cactus flower. The flower itself is no more than 2” across and the cactus only comes out of the ground about 6”.

Took this with a new Canon point-and-shoot camera that I recently purchased so I could easily carry a small camera with me everywhere. My Nikon is just way to heavy and bulky to lug around everywhere.

I will have more photos of cactus flowers soon.

Picture of the Day – Reflections of Las Vegas

I photographed this image a few days ago, just before I left for home. It shows the brand new Fontainebleau Hotel and Resort Casino, now under construction on the northern part of the strip…next to the Riviera and across from Circus Circus.

The hotel portion of the of the new complex is the blue building that is nearing completion. The casino and other parts of it are in the lower part of the image and are a long way from being done. It is scheduled to open in late 2009.

The hotel reflected in the Fontainebleau is the Hilton, directly across Las Vegas Blvd.

Postcard from Las Vegas – On Fremont Street

It’s been many years since I visited old Las Vegas, where growth-through-gambling concept originally started…probably the last time was in the late 80‘s when I used to go every year to the annual Comdex show. So I decided to take a quick look to see what was going on. That quick look turned into half-a-day as the original Fremont Street has been turned into a sort of living museum.

By living, I mean there is still a great deal of gambling and other events going on there, but it is now taking place as part of “The Fremont Street Experience,” as the old road has been sealed off from traffic, repaved over with concrete walkways, kiosks, street vendors, and all covered with a towering archway that stretches for four blocks.

This is where Las Vegas got the name “Glitter Gulch.” Gambling was first legalized in Nevada in 1931 and Fremont Street was the site of the first casinos. Today, some of the old landmarks are still here like the giant cowboy over the Pioneer Club (now a gift shop), the giant cowgirl right across the street and other famous landmark cafes and casinos. At night, there is a free light and sound show that begins just after sunset.

Of course, the Las Vegas strip, about two miles down Las Vegas Blvd. gets most of the action these days. While much of The Strip was originally built by organized crime families, the original downtown casinos were mostly legitimate business operations and really came into their own from the mid ‘30 through World War Two, and into the 50’s.

One of the casinos on Fremont Street is Binions, which for many years hosted the World Series of Poker Championships. And although that event has been moved over to the Rio, somebody left behind $1 million dollars in cash…and for free, you can have your photo taken with all that cash. Which of course, explains the third picture as Elisa, Susan and I did just that.

I enjoyed this visit down memory lane and encourage all of you who visit Vegas to tear yourself away from the Strip and spend part of day or night on Fremont Street.

Postcard from Las Vegas – Elisa

Today, I write this in Las Vegas. I am here with my Italian daughter Elisa Bignante, who came to the US for the first time in 10 years to deliver a paper to American Geographer’s Association annual conference. You see, she has a PhD in Geography and a Masters in Economics. This is the same Elisa, some of you may remember, who lived with us for a year in Ephrata as an exchange student in high school.

Needless to say, I am very proud of her and her accomplishments, and unbelievably, she is the same effervescent, exciting and lovable young lady that she was all those years ago. She flew into Tucson last week and after a short stay there, we headed north, first for a day in the Grand Canyon, then on to Las Vegas for the conference. We are having a grand time together, catching up and filling in the holes for the last few years...even though we are both sick with sinus infections that we actually caught separately. Susan will be joining us on Thursday and will take Elisa back with her to Idaho for a few days before she flies back to Italy.

This is a special time to be with her and I was privileged to help her with some of the fine points of her presentation (cleaning up the English language just a little bit). Her subject was the integration of traditional and modern medicines in Tanzania for the Maasi and Mero people. Of course to undertake such a subject, she has to spend some time in Africa. In fact, she flew back to Italy from Africa only a few days before flying here.

I don’t think I have ever written about my children here in this blog, and it is perhaps long overdue as I am proud of them all: Eric, who serves in both the US Border Patrol and is a sergeant in the US Army Reserves (combat medicine); Kristen who works in an investment banking firm in Chicago; Aimee who is married with a 9-month old son and teaches vocal music in Pocatello; and, of course Elisa.

I once read that the most prestigious title that any man can ever lay claim to is “Dad.” I believe that now.

Picture of the Day – Spring Flowers

Spring is beginning to show itself all over these days, and it is most welcome. It is time to end the snow and rain of winter and bring forth sunshine and the flowers. I believe Spring officially begins in only a couple of days.

Here is Tucson, we have a head start on most of you. I photographed these colorful pansies on the University of Arizona campus this weekend while attending the two day Tucson Festival of Books. I also have some photos from that expo that I will be sharing with you soon.

But for now, sit back and enjoy the colors of this beautiful array of Spring flowers. And be aware, they are coming soon to a neighborhood near you!

Postcard from Tucson – Spring Training

Know right up front that I love the game of baseball. I grew up watching, playing, and loving the game. San Francisco was my home as a little boy, long before the Giants moved from New York. I was a fan of the old San Francisco Seals, and hated the rivals across the bay, the Oakland Oaks. Many teams came to town…the Sacramento Solons, the Hollywood Stars, the Portland Beavers, and the Seattle Rainiers.

Then, the Giants came west from New York in 1958…as did the Dodgers who moved to Los Angeles, and instantly became the object my scorn. I saw my first major league game that year when my father took me to see the Giants vs the Pittsburgh Pirates. That day, I saw Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Bob Friend, Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski, and other baseball legends. That day is burned into my memory.

Fast forward to 2009. Since my days watching the Giants in San Francisco, there have been eight labor disputes resulting in work stoppages, a missed season, a cancelled World Series, out-of-control salaries, and of course, steroid scandals. Consequently, I no longer follow the major leagues…they lost me some time ago as a fan. But as I said in my opening sentence, I still love the game. You will often find me watching NCAA baseball at the University of Arizona.

But, Tucson is also the spring home home to the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies. One hundred miles north in the Phoenix metropolis, several other teams, including the Giants, train from late February to the first week of April. And they all play each other in games that don’t count the least bit in the standings. It is a time when younger players get to show their stuff hoping to make the big leagues, while older experienced players get their bodies and minds ready for the long season.

The Rockies play in Hi Corbett Field, about 5 miles from my home. How could I resist not going to a few games when they are so close. And ticket prices are so cheap for these games…far cheaper than the hometown fans will pay this summer. But, more than that, there is an air of fun about these games…old time baseball. Most seats are close to the action and fans from all over travel down here for our weather and to see their teams. You are so close you can hear players and coaches talking and you can go out to the left field line to eat a hot dog right next to the players warming up.

So far, I have seen the Rockies play the White Sox, Dodgers, A’s and of course, the Giants. These men who wear the black and orange of the Giants are a far cry from those boys of summer I saw in 1958. Those days are gone forever. But, there is still some small secret pleasure to see a Giants uniform here in Tucson, so far from my city by the bay. San Francisco never leaves you.

Picture of the Day – Cactus at Saguaro National Park

Am off today and tomorrow for Tucson Festival of Books, a fantastic festival spread all over the University of Arizona campus with over 300 authors, bookstores and other vendors participating. There are lectures galore by authors taking place all over the campus. Sadly, some of the best ones for me conflict in their times, but I will do the best I can. Will have my camera with me, so expect a full report.

But, I didn’t want to leave you without a picture of the day. I took this image a couple of weeks ago on a beautiful day at the Saguaro National Park. There are actually two sites for the park, this one east of Tucson backed up against the Rincon Mountains, and another west of town near where I live. Oddly enough, I have not been to that one yet.

Obviously there are lots of cactus and other desert flora to photograph, but this was a nice location with the red rocks in the background. When you enter the park, it is an 8 mile drive through the desert with lots of stopping points. But the best time to visit the park will be in the next couple of weeks when the spring flowers start to bloom. Count on me being there.

Picture of the Day – Twisted Sunset

Here I am again playing with various filters inside Photoshop to create another twisted image. This was originally a post sunset photo I shot from my trailer site near Leavenworth, WA.

I was aiming up into the sky using the most wide angle lens I had, so the trees were out of skew anyway. But the colors in the sky were so wonderful, that it almost didn’t matter…and the colors you see here are real.

But since everything was a bit out of skew anyway, I decided to take it further with one of my “Flexify” filters. I hope you don’t mind.

Sorry I haven’t written more here lately, but Tucson has kept me very busy in the last couple of weeks. This is an amazing place, at least for me, and I will be sharing more about it in some upcoming blogs.