When we were in Yarnell with our friends, Joan and Rudy, Joan spotted a sign pointing to the Shrine of St. Joseph of the Mountains. We followed signs and came upon a beautiful, quiet path up and over a rocky hill which took you through the fourteen stations of the cross, with concrete statues created in 1939 set into the hillside. It was a deeply spiritual and moving experience to go around corners and come upon these beautiful works of art.
Some impressions:
These blinds have become favorite subjects of abstract photos over the years. I don’t like them as blinds, but there is something about the light and shadows that captures my attention and makes me grab my camera.
Tracks and Train Station in Skull Valley
Since retiring, I’ve been exploring photography and continuing my lifelong passion for family history. My friend Joan has gone an entirely different (and unexpected) direction; she has learned to play the ukulele! She plays in several groups, volunteers as a ukulele teacher for the blind- and who knows what else? I played the baritone ukulele in high school in my wannabe a folk musician days, and she is much, much better than I ever was. Bravo, Joan!
Rudy and I worked on multiple exposures, which he had never tried with his new Canon 5D Mark IV (the camera I was coveting because of its fabulous features for multiples). This is one I captured with my Nikon- but I had to fiddle some in Photoshop to get one of the windmills positioned right (you can do this in camera with his Canon. . .). It really doesn’t matter HOW you get the image, but there is something so fun about getting it right in camera.
When we visited Yarnell with Joan and Rudy last week, Rudy spent some time talking to and photographing this delightful gentleman outside a local eatery. I snapped a quick shot and went inside, because I was hungry. Rudy ended up with a wonderful portrait, and I got this candid shot.
Different windmill- same day.
Rudy suggested I slow down my shutter to capture the motion of the blades- I like the effect! This is something Tom (my photo teacher) says to do with helicopters and propellers. Why have I never made that connection?
There’s nothing I like better than a windmill, a silo, or a grain elevator as a photo subject!
Our longtime friends, Joan and Rudy have been here for a visit and to celebrate Joan and my birthdays. On Friday, we took a drive over to Skull Valley and Yarnell so that Rudy and I could do a little photography. You will see a few of my photos in the coming week.
A daisy with a heart in the center!
Over the weekend, we spent some time at ‘Tis, the gallery where my show took place. Yes, the Fourth Friday reception was wonderful, but the seemingly endless self-promotion part is finally done- so enough said about that! The main gallery had the annual Native American show- arguably the best show of the year- and it was phenomenal. On Sunday there was an exhibition of dances by an Apache family featuring their children, who are learning the hundreds of years old traditions of their people.
This image is a closeup of the dad playing one of several flutes he demonstrated .
iPhone image, edited in Photoshop and Topaz Impression
In honor of all our veterans
I’ve been so inactive the past 6 months, alas. But here is a bit of proof that I had to WALK to Red Rock Crossing- from the parking lot.
Another shot at Red Rock Crossing in Sedona- a little tranquil oasis.
It’s all about the reflection.
As Arizona newbies, we tried to get to the Red Rocks Crossing view of Cathedral Rock in Sedona several times over the last few years- always without a map, unfortunately. Once we even got to the trailhead, but it was almost sunset- too late to start out. So a couple years after our last attempt,we set out this weekend without any expectations (or map. . .) and drove to the trailhead in the middle of the afternoon. It was a fairly easy and short walk to the view above, and I got to sit with my feet in the water and look at nature (my happy place)! What this does NOT show is the huge, NOISY crowd of families- complete with boom boxes. The iconic shots of this spot never show that scene. I hope to return at a better time of day for photography and explore a little more of the area now that we know where it is.
melinda anderson photography 