Spectacular Sunrise

I never get tired of the spectacular sunrises and sunsets here in the Valley. I took this photo this morning in the South Mountain area of Phoenix. Simply beautiful.

A Day of Sun and Rain

This was a day of rain intermingled with periods of blue sky. Above, the magenta of a sunrise increasingly obstructed by gathering storm clouds. There were a few episodes of light rain today, which ultimately ended with clearing and blue skies, even the faint traces of a rainbow, as seen below, on the right. I have yet to catch a rainbow for a photograph when it is vivid and bright. This rainbow, when I found it, started to strengthen its vibrancy, but then quickly faded away. Next time, as they always say, next time.

Two Morning Images

East on University Drive, Tempe, AZ

These are just two photos I took in Tempe this morning, as evening dark gave way to morning light. Above, this is a photo I took looking east on University Drive, while standing on the pedestrian overpass near the Tempe campus of ASU. Those mountains in the background of the remarkable Superstitions. Another day was dawning in the Valley.

Old Main, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Here is Old Main, one of the original buildings of ASU's Tempe Campus. So many of the campus' buildings are some form of modern architecture; this building provides a nice traditional counterpoint to so much modernity.

Can I tell you that it was freezing today? In the morning, the chill bit through my clothes, and the rest of the day was not much better. Who moves here to escape the frigid winters? Believe it or not, it can get cold here too, in the desert. But then, I love to enjoy a little bit of winter.

Morning Moon

Morning moon in Phoenix, AZ

Yes, I know. I have taken photos of this scene previously, but this was an opportunity to get a photo of the morning moon as sunrise slowly diminishes night. My new camera is excellent, with a high number of megapixels and a far more powerful zoom, but I think I would need a much more capable camera to capture any surface detail of the moon. Here, it is a shining disc hovering over the horizon, a bone-white glowing orb, and that's enough to instill a quality of magic to this morning scene. Enjoy the day!

Morning Views

Sunrise in South Mountain, Phoenix, AZ

My life lacks a lot of variety lately, and so I have chosen to slow down and appreciate the beauty I see before me everyday. First, this image of sunrise from this morning. I have given so much exposure to the sunset that I have neglected to give equal time to its morning counterpart. This morning's sunrise was a fiery glow that illuminated a blue sky still partially dark from the night before. I had been meaning to capture such morning beauty, and so here is one instance of early morning glory.

Mesa, AZ

This is the same lake that I captured in one of my posts from last week. I just decided to take photos from more detailed angles. I have been really impressed with the way the morning sun reflects upon the water and, maybe because I now live in the desert and see a lot of parched, naked earth, I find myself attracted to any patch of cool organic green.

Mesa, AZ

I still love the stately calm of palm trees standing in the distance. Their verticality helps to offset the vast horizontal spread of the lake.

Mesa, AZ

It might be obvious to some already, but I love trees. Dead trees, living trees, trees budding with small growths of green foliage, trees in bloom, trees ablaze in autumnal shades of scarlet and gold. And I love close-ups of trees, so the viewer cannot help but feel enveloped in their leafy spread.