These are just a few random abstract shots I took at our local 4th of July fireworks show. I decided to forgo my tripod for the evening and got some pretty interesting blurry and impressionistic images.

Yesterday morning I drove up to Prescott for the Frontier Days 4th of July Rodeo parade. This is the third year in a row that I have gone. I always have a good time and the atmosphere can’t be beat. If you like the charm of a small town parade and a cooler climate to watch it in, then I highly recommend you check it out! (Next year, of course.)

June 20th was the first day of summer and the temperature in Phoenix climbed to 116 degrees (which is slightly less than the predicted temperature of 120 degrees). Yes, it was pretty darned hot. The sunset that day seemed to reflect just how hot it truly was. I managed to capture its blazing intensity, and the accompanying waves of hot orange sky, just as the sun was beginning to disappear behind the mountains.

I made a quick stop-off downtown to checkout all the people coming and going near the Phoenix Convention Center. This weekend was the Phoenix Comicon. I didn’t have a lot of time to spend so I was only down there for an hour or so, but next time I’m buying tickets and I’m going to spend at least an entire day walking amongst the costumed attendees. It was truly fantastic and fun and I was only outside on the street. I can only imagine how wonderful it must be inside. Next time, absolutely!

A firefighter hangs a flag over the entrance to the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in honor of Memorial Day - May 30, 2016 - Cave Creek, AZ

I went to the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Cave Creek (AZ) last night. Things started out slowly but, once the sun started to set and the balloons started to fill, it became quite fantastic. The lighting was truly magical at dusk when combined with the glow of the hot air balloons. I had a blast walking around trying to capture some of the magic.

I was dropping off my car at the tire shop around 8 am on Saturday morning when I heard an explosion. I looked over to the south and saw smoke billowing in the distance about four blocks away. I grabbed the camera out of my bag and headed toward the commotion. As I made my way down the street I came upon a mobile home community surrounded by firetrucks and police cars. It turns out one of the mobile homes caught fire, or exploded actually, which then caused two more homes to catch fire. Unfortunately, an elderly couple living in the first home were critically injured in the explosion. 

I came upon these gentlemen this morning at the top of South Mountain. They had gathered for a small church service or prayer circle inside the small stone ramada up by Dobbins Lookout. After the service three of the men climbed on top of the giant stone compass that sits up there and pulled out these cool looking horns. They raised them high to the sky and made three or four quick blasts that sounded quite beautiful. I have no idea what it signified or what it meant ceremonially, but it was pretty cool to hear them echoing off the quiet hills of the early morning while the rest of the world was still asleep.

I woke up early this morning to pay a visit to my favorite tree. It sits just at the edge of a farmer’s field on Rainbow Valley Road in Goodyear, Arizona. I don’t know the history of it but it looks like it was burned by a fire sometime long ago. I visit it frequently, trying again and again to get a really nice photograph, but I’ve yet to be satisfied by my results. One day it will all come together, the sun will shine right, clouds will fill the vacant sky, and the perfect shot will be made. Until then, I will persist.