Wednesday, September 30, 2009

La Canada Exhibit

ALMOST NIGHT
WREN
FEEDING TIME
DARK SKIES
CLOUDY
GATHERING STORM
BLUE SKIES
BRILLIANT
MEADOW
MONSOON RAIN
GOLDEN GATE
STRIKE



BRIGHT SPOT

I was very gratified by the response to my photographs that were exhibited at La Canada Care Center where I am employed as the Director of Engineering. Residents, staff and visitors all enjoyed the photos and were more than generous with their praise.

Sedona

I'll be taking a trip to photograph Sedona sometime in October. It is such a beautiful place with many opportunities for great shots.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Windy Point at Sunset

We headed up the mountain at about 4 PM hoping for a nice sunset.
We went past Windy Point almost to Summerhaven because sunset was still a ways off.
I am always fascinated by the dead trees left in the wake of the Aspen fire.


Approaching Windy Point from above on the Catalina Highway.
Duck Rock also known as Nixon Head Rock.
Windy Point!
Approaching storm from the northeast.
Southeast.


Beginnings of a rainbow that lasted at least an hour.


Almost set in the west




View northwest.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Coming Soon


I have been absent from posting for quite a while because I have been preparing a photography exhibit that will run for two days Sept. 29th and 30th at La Canada Care Center. After the showing I will be taking the framed (18x24) photos to Rex Allen Days in Wilcox, Az for a three day sale. I am very happy with the results of more than 3 months of chasing sunsets, sunrises, and bad weather.
I have really enjoyed being alone on Mt. Lemmon at 4 A.M. and out during thunderstorms. Of course the desert is exquisite at sunset and sunrise. As soon as the show is ready I will post the pictures here.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Natures Bounty on Mt. Lemmon

It was really kinda of warm on the mountain today but we were determined to get out and see what it had to offer in the way of wildlife and to get a little exercise in the process.
This is a rather ragged Spicebush Swallowtail that happened by while we were having lunch.
We saw approximately a dozen different Turkey Vultures, all of them soaring, looking for carrion.
This is a female Rufous Hummingbird which is a migrating species that breeds in the Northwest USA and winters in Mexico. We have seen quite a few of these including several that are hanging around our feeders at our home in Tucson. They have been at the house for 3 weeks and don't seem to be in a hurry to move on to their final wintering spot.
This is a very delicate looking flower that is prevelent along the roadways and paths on the mountain. It is Penstemon barbatus or Beardlip.
I don't have any idea about this one but I loved the colors and thought you would like to see it even if I didn't identify it.

This Cooper's Hawk was perched along the road over looking a vast canyon in search of food.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Butterflies


We took a hike up on the mountain and saw quite a few butterflies including these two.
I haven't been able to identify the smaller one but I believe the larger one is a Pipevine Swallowtail.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Upcoming Photo Sales

Starting this fall I will be making available for sale some of the photos that I like best. They will come in two forms which include mounted, matted and framed using archival materials or mounted on archival mounting board ready for framing.
Most sales will be here locally in the Tucson area at craft shows but I will also offer sales online as well. I will show all works for sale here at the Sonoran Connection as they come available.
The photo shown here is "Feeding Time" a 13"x 19" photo in a 18"x 24" frame. $229.00 plus shipping.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Rufous Hummingbirds

There are 5 different Rufous Hummingbirds that have been here at my feeders in Tucson for the last 5 days.


Female Rufous Hummingbird. She spends most of her time being chased by "Rusty" the male Rufous who is king of the feeder closest to the house.



I'm not sure who this one is of the 5 Rufous that frequent the feeders. We also have several Costa's, a few Black Chinned, and an occasional visit from a Magnificent and one as yet unidentified. There is constant motion outside the window.



Rusty is outside the window protecting more nectar than he could consume in a life time but he's not one to share although others do get past him. He has been very elusive when I have the camera as he is constantly chasing someone.


This is "Rocky" a Costa's who was king until Rusty moved in and took over. Rocky still chases other hummers and does battle but more often than not just waits until Rusty is otherwise engaged before feeding.