The Journey

It's not the destination, but the journey that matters.

We've all heard that phrase and it really is true.

Today was a beautiful sunny and 75F kind of day and we decided to head on up to Sadona for some random sightseeing... we did not count on a traffic jam on 17N. After crawling up the highway at an average of 3mph... for 90 minutes... we had had enough and jumped off on the very first exit. We had no idea where we were or where we were going. It didn't matter.

For three hour we basically just tooled around and when we found something we wanted to see, we just pulled over and went for it. Total freedom.

We really didn't get far out of Phoenix at all and eventually ended up at Lake Pleasant Regional Park. I had no idea there was a lake here in the desert. It's made we want to see it from other angles and find Waddel Damn. I hope to go on another one of these random adventures soon. Maybe next week?

We never made it to Sadona. I still want to because I know that it is a stunning place to see... Not to mention that I am dying to photograph there. My only worry is that it's too cliche, that everyone goes there to photograph the place... so we'll see.

Southwest Teaser

Hey everyone! Guess where your fave photog is right now!

Lilac Festival

It's amazing the difference that lighting can make.

Not to mention the way personal preferences can shape the way you see an image.

Below I played with only two different flower clusters, the images taken within minutes of each other, but just the shift in position and the change in the sun make all the difference.

In these two images, I like the elegance of the first one the way the sun is catching the petals...

but I am drawn to the second one more. For me, there is something about the soft sea of flowers, delicately kissed by the purple in their centers. I might drop in a little closer and truly flood the frame in flowers.

Again the same flower cluster in these two images.

The front lit image shows incredible detail and color, it's what drew me to this particular bush.

But it feels too sterile to me when I look at it now.

I moved around to capture this same flower with the sun now at its back. Everything about this image is more pleasing to me. The darker negative spaces, the halo glow on the flowers. The softness in the petals emulates the sweetness of the lilac itself.

This is my new desktop.

Lilac Festival

I shot over a hundred images at the festival, but for the moment, this one is my very favorite one.

Where the hell have I been?

Funny thing... I've been shooting all sorts of pics... for months.

But for some reason I haven't downloaded any of my material until tonight.

I guess this is what happens when you get a real job and have to put your art on hold.

Okay, okay... without further ado... I'm off to do some editing and get some fresh work posted.

Lunar Eclipse

If you have never had the joy of seeing a lunar eclipse first hand, it's incredible. I marvel at how the moon turns to a full red when eclipsed, I was assuming it would vanish in the sky, but instead it shifts to the most amazing hue.

If you have the means to watch one, I strongly encourage it, they are far more frequent than solar eclipses. The next one is June 15th 2011. See you there, yeah?

Total eclipse of the Moon.

A lunar eclipse is a truly beautiful thing to see,

I hope to post the full series of these pics by tonight...

a little Christmas present to my followers... and myself really.

{Blows kisses to everyone}