Photos and comments from Arizona and around the world
Walking through the desert without getting stuck by cactus is an acquired ability. Mainly, it has to do with watching where you put your feet and how close you are to any plants. Some cactus, like this one in the photo, are easy to avoid. Others are more...
On those occasions when I have someone walking with me, I am often surprised at what they do and do not see. I am firmly convinced that seeing is a talent that comes from looking with understanding. You can look all day at the same scene and if you do...
When I started this blog, I began by talking about walking Arizona. Well, I am still walking. Whatever preconceived notions you had about Arizona, they were probably wrong. As I have said before, "It is my privilege to let you see things you would otherwise...
I don't think I have taken a picture of a sunset for quite a while. Usually when I see a spectacular sunset, I either don't have a camera or don't have an open view. I just happened to be walking around a lake and found this sky just as it got dark. This...
Some of the most brilliantly colored flowers in the world are from Euphorbia plants rather than cactus. Cactus is native to the American continents and there is only one species, probably a transport, that is native to Africa. On the other hand, Africa...
Some cactus are more spines than they are cactus. Just like some people are more prickly than others. Just like me, you probably know someone that this cactus reminds you of. I guess the best way to handle that situation is to stay outside of the reach...
Every once and while you run across something that seems very strange. The desert is no exception. These dark brown seed pods hang like ornaments on certain species of mesquite trees. When they fall off the tree, they litter the ground with their shapes...
There are two things about this photo, first there is evidence of a very recent rain storm. In the desert that small puddle on the rock will evaporate in a matter of hours at the most. Second, there is a face on the rock. I see faces all the time in patterns...
Some of the most amazing patterns come from objects and situations that are less than superficially attractive. You probably need to click on this image to see the detail, but there are an amazing number of things going on with this log in the stagnant...
Fall or autumn is a difficult concept here in the desert. Most of the leaves do not turn until close to the end of the year and some leaves only fall off the trees when they are replaced by new ones. The other part of the concept, of which I am reminded...
It is time locally for the Fall migration. I found this flock of geese busy eating their fill in a muddy field. They were so busy that they didn't even look up while I took their picture. There are two egrets visible in the distant background and a few...
Arizona and Utah Border, Colorado City, Arizona USA in Utah On Highway 386 in northern Arizona, right on the border with Utah, there are two small communities, Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah. This panorama shows the Arizona/Utah State line...
Barrel cactus are pretty strange. They have both flowers and ripe fruit (the yellow colored pods) at the same time. The flowers bloom in the middle of the plant and then the fruit develops from the seed pod and as they ripen, they progressively move to...
Shore birds are an anomaly in Arizona. We have very little "shore" for them to wade on. I guess scarcity is the attraction. Where we do have shore, we have lots of birds. I don't remember so many birds from when I was young, and then again how many would...
There is one part of Salt River Valley that is totally different than any other; the Gilbert Riparian Water Ranch. This is a premiere spot for bird watching and over 200 species have been observed. This young osprey is sitting on a nesting structure....
Aptly named, these mysterious creatures fly without apparent effort. They are my friends because they eat flies and mosquitoes. They are also my friends because they are such accomplished flyers. They are hard to photograph because they do not hold still...
Here is the ambiguity of the desert in a nutshell, a frog in a pond sitting, not on a water lily pad, but on a floating mass of algae. This is one of my favorite recent photos, mostly because it shows a lot about where I live and walk. I also like the...
Some time ago, I took these shots of a huge section of petrified wood. Since I was talking about abstract impressionism, I thought I would include these photos. It is hard to conceive how these rocks could have been formed. One of my basic questions is...
We're approaching the time of year when we can start to get back out into the desert for hikes and sightseeing. In the background of this picture is the famous Superstition Mountains Anvil as seen from most of the east side of the Salt River Valley. But...
This is a shot of the interior of the gun deck on the U.S.S. Constitution. I was trained as a tank commander and I could not even imagine what it would be like to have these guns firing while you tried to maneuver in this small space.
In our technological, highly mechanized world, I think we tend to forget our more natural beginnings. These are wild iris, I can sometimes find them growing in small clumps in northern Arizona. They are not a big and showy as their domesticated cousins,...
Herons are some of the largest birds we see in the desert Southwest. I occasionally see them flying over our neighborhood, but usually they are associated with water. Phoenix has a large, mostly dry, river running through it, but in spots there are ponds...
I am always impressed with pictures of fields of flowers, usually from places like the Netherlands or France. This abundance of color is dramatic but the desert is different. If there are flowers, they are usually small and hard to see. The individual...
When I was studying Art at the university, I did a drawing of a feather, one of the very few I ended up liking. I am fascinated with the detail of these marvelous structures. In this case, the structure adds beauty. This is definitely a photo you need...
The Lehigh Canal was constructed between 1827 and 1829 in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania to carry coal to Philadelphia. It was abandoned due to competition with the railroads and ultimately the road system. This segment of the canal is now a quiet...
