Spectacular Sunset

One of the things that I love about the desert: vividly colorful sunsets.

Evening Comes to Phoenix, AZ

Evening comes to downtown Phoenix in subtle shades of lavender.

Random Scenes of Seattle, WA

Pike Place Public Market, Seattle, WA

Confession: I am not good with structure, including self-imposed hiatuses from my blog when I have something to share. Here are some select scenes from my recent trip to Seattle.  If Seattle is not America's most beautiful city, then it is definitely ranked among the top five. This was only my second trip to Seattle, the first in ten years, but I am still in love with this city.

Above is a classic shot: the neon sign of the famous Pike Place Public Market lighting up the evening dark. Pike Market is a wonderful open market featuring everything from fresh produce and fish to arts and crafts.  More Pike Market photos to come.

Hazy Moon Over Seattle, WA

I couldn't resist taking a photograph of this. I've been wanting to take a good evening photograph for a while, and this opportunity just offered itself.

Fiery Sunset Above the Mountains, Seattle, WA

Earlier on the exact same evening, a fiery sunset that just grabbed my attention. This was taken just one block over from Pike Market.

Camelback Mountain in Sunset

Camelback Mountain from a different angle during sunset over the weekend. The closer you get to Camelback Mountain, the more surreal it seems. It is one of the iconic features of Phoenix. Flying back to Phoenix, I can always tell I'm getting closer to home when I see Camelback Mountain off in the distance.

Fiery Desert Sunset

My plans to go to Sedona and take a Jeep tour were derailed by the gray, gloomy weather threatening rain. But late in the evening, the clouds broke apart enough to allow a fiery sunset to preside over the sky. This is one of the things I love about living in the desert, the sunrises and sunsets are spectacular. In the distance, I saw a beautiful rose glow cast upon Camelback Mountain, but I didn't enjoy a clear, uncluttered view to capture a photograph of it. This week, I read in the newspaper that downtown Phoenix is considering construction of an observation tower similar in conception to Seattle's Space Needle. I would love that and hope that they build it. The sunsets here are extraordinary, and I would love opportunities to photograph it with a bird's eye view of the city, capturing the distant desert in the process. Besides, downtown Phoenix could use a piece of iconic architecture that would attract tourism and help to build a strong urban identity. The observation tower would also have a restaurant and space to reserve for events. What a great tradition that could be started here in Phoenix, with people bringing their out-of-town friends to the observation tower to enjoy the beauty of the city, or reserving space to host some of their most special events. Let's continue to build a vibrant downtown Phoenix!

Sunset Silhouette

Sunset, Phoenix, AZ

Nothing unusual about this photo, just the beauty of the everyday: another sunset in Phoenix, the background trees and houses darkened almost completely black by the dimming of the day. Sometimes it takes an appreciative eye to notice the beauty of something we routinely overlook.

Sunset in Phoenix

Sunset in Phoenix, AZ

Don't let this colorful cloud formation fool you. This was a brief oasis of sunlight and blue sky this evening, set between periods of gray gloom. We are expecting storms tonight, but this clearing, however short, was rewarding. I look forward to the week's end, as warm, sunny weather is predicted, just perfect for picture-taking. Have a good evening.

Sunset in Phoenix, AZ

San Diego Sunset

Sunset at the beach, San Diego, CA

I had been wanting to post this photo for a while. I took this several years ago, when I visited San Diego. I believe this beach is located in an area called Mission Bay. I love San Diego. What a fantastic city! 

Nothing invites calm reflection more than the blushed beauty of a sunset, especially when combined with the beauty of the ocean and the soothing sounds of the surf. This is one of my favorite photographs.