Photo of the Day

2021

Night sky over Mesa

Photo of the Day, December 27, 2021

Rain showers swept through the area this evening but we had dry cushions and were able to sit out and enjoy the fire table.  The clouds were dramatic against the night sky and I took out my Samsung phone for it’s night photography features.  I even caught a couple of stars from Orion’s belt in the upper right of the photo. The phone camera is amazing – to be able to capture this hand held.

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Photo of the Day, December 12, 2021

Sunrise overlooking Monument Valley.  It can get really cold out on the plateau, this morning the temperature was about 17 degrees.

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Photo of the Day, December 11, 2021

Several years ago we were first introduced to Monument Valley as we made our way back to Albuquerque from Zion National Park and a couple of days on a houseboat on Lake Powell. We were running out of time and were not able to totally enjoy the valley.  This time we stayed at the Inn that overlooks the monuments. It is a magical and eternal type of place.

VLA2021

Photo of the Day, December 3, 2021

For the second time in just under two years, we took a road trip back and forth to Albuquerque, passing through the area that is home to the Very Large Array.  The Array is located in the middle of New Mexico on U.S. highway 60, about 50 miles or so west of Succoro.  The array of radio telescopes can be spread out on three arms in the shape of a Y. Each arm of the track is 13 miles long and the telescopes can be spread out along them depending on the project.  Last time (see Photo of the Day, January 1, 2020)  they were all very close in to the center of the Y, this time they are spread out for about a mile or two on each arm.

Fire-Pit--1

Photo of the Day, November 8, 2021

I know it’s blurred but I decided to post an image as a placeholder for the great yard rehab project of 2021.  I’ll do a blog post of it all because that way we can do the before and after,  just so we have the memorialization of the project.

Lucy-fish-pond

Photo of the Day, October 17, 2021

Second weekend at the fish pond, with long lens in tow.  Because I had my granddaughter with me, it was impossible to cross the main road to get bird pics, so I grabbed a few images of her while she played in the park.

Kayaking on Saguaro Lake, AZ

Photo of the Day, October 10, 2021

Now that the lower Salt River levels have dropped, we decided to explore the options of using the bigger water in the lakes.  We learned a thing or two, first being stay off the water on the weekends. Second is that there is a lot of open water on Saguaro and it’s a pain to fight the wakes and the waves and the wind right in your face. Make sure you check the forecast before heading out. It may be nice and sunny, but it’s a fight unless you get out early in the morning. I did a blog post with more images here.

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Photo of the Day, October 2, 2021

Apex predator, on a power pole after a Saturday afternoon fish meal.  Well, maybe I should call it a Sushi fest.  I wrote about it and posted more images here.

view from Jerome overlook

Photo of the Day, September 18, 2021

Saturday road trip to northern Arizona, stopping first to watch a couple of soccer games in Flagstaff and then driving south through the Oak Creek Canyon and Sedna.  Crossed the valley and then went through Jerome and stopped at the overlook. View is almost due north overlooking the Red Rocks State Park and the rest of Sedona.
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Photo of the Day, September 04, 2021

Saturday morning and it’s time for another trip down the Salt.  This time since there are multiple images in competition for the photo of the day I am going to write one of my first blog posts of 2021.  The post can be found here.
dawn float lower salt river

Photo of the Day, August 28, 2021

First light departure down the Salt river for a great start to the weekend.  Full and fast flowing water made for a great Kayak trip.  Spouse and  I flipped one time when we were spun into an eddy that we need to avoid next trip.  All and all cooling soak in the water. 
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Photo of the Day, August 19, 2021

This riot of orange is brought to you by the 2021 Monsoon season in AZ.  This bush has certainly liked all the rain. The long range doesn’t seem to have a drop in sight however.  Perhaps we will luck out and have another wave in the next month.
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Photo of the Day, July 26, 2021

The monsoon season has been especially fruitful for this part of Arizona this year.  However, a side effect of downriver flooding is that they turn down the release from the dam for the upper part of the river.  I went out at dawn to check out the water levels and to see some of the flood damage at the lower part of the river at PhonD recreation area. Photo taken from Water Users recreation area on the Salt River
SGMoon621

Photo of the Day, June 21, 2021

I have been trying to get the moonrise over water and here in Arizona it’s pretty difficult because there is just not a whole lot of water to be found. I really wanted to get it rising over the Salt river but I am thinking it might work in January or February but not now. Shot with new Samsung 21 Ultra. 
Great Horned Owl

Photo of the Day, May 24, 2021

In the early evening my wife was sitting outside reading and was surprised by a significant amount of bird commotion just outside of the yard. She was surprised to see the owl and the chattering that it prompted from many small birds. After I got my camera out a roadrunner flew down from the top of another neighbor’s roof and started hopping through the tree to see what the fuss was about.
SaltriverDawn

Photo of the Day, Feb 21, 2021

Salt River at dawn, part of our exploration of the watershed. I have seen quite a few photos of the area that include wild horses and this was part of our trip to get out early and see them.  Phon D recreation area, Lower Salt River.

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ASoccer2-6

Photos of the Day, February 6, 2021

Soccer Weekend – Keaton Scores a goal on his kick and Ainsley kicks one in from the sideline.

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Photo of the Day, January 28, 2021

After the snow earlier in the week I went out to scout locations for more moon rise shots over the valley. This was taken  just before the sun disappeared behind the clouds for the rest of the evening.

Wolf Moon 2021

Photo of the Day, January 26, 2021

Wolf moon setting over Phoenix.  After an attempt to get the moonrise, a call from the spouse early in the morning alerted me to the dynamic setting moon.

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Jan-Snow2

Photo of the Day, January 25, 2021

Yes, that’s snow that’s falling into my pool and across the front yard.  Totally surreal.

TeaParty

Photo of the Day, January 24, 2021

Birthday tea for Ainsley, Mom and both grandmothers.

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