Hotel San Carlos, Downtown Phoenix, AZ
f/4.5 – 1/20 sec – ISO 400 – Focal Length 26 mm
The Hotel San Carlos opened in 1928 and still operates as a hotel in downtown Phoenix. At the time it was built it was one of Phoenix’s most modern buildings. It was the first high-rise with elevators and air conditioning. Today it is a landmark in downtown Phoenix and a popular boutique hotel.
Duck on the pond at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve
August 2009, 6 AM
f/7.1 – 1/15 sec – ISO 100 – Focal Length 300 mm
I took this photograph at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve back in August at about 6 in the morning. It is an example of why I save all but the most obviously bad and unrepairable photos that I take (a large external hard drive helps). I often go back through my images for these photo of the day posts and something that did not strike me at the time I initially did my downloading and sorting will stand out in an image.
This image is rather monochromatic, but the detail in the duck, including the drop of water coming off his beak, and the reflection of the early morning sun in the water make it an image worth a second look. So my advice is to invest in a 500 GB hard drive (they are relatively inexpensive now) and save all your photographs. You never know what a second (or third and fourth) look will reveal.
Monarch Butterfly at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden
f/5.6 – 1/125 sec – ISO 100 – Focal Length 70 mm
The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix has a Monarch butterfly display every year. The enclosure houses hundreds of Monarchs and allows visitors to learn about the life cycle, migration patterns, environmental threats, and conservation efforts of this butterfly. But from the photographer’s point of view, it is an excellent opportunity to get up close to these very colorful subjects. It is a great chance to practice some macro photography and capture a subject that might be more challenging in the “wild.”
Going Up
Staircase at the Mesa Arts Center
f/7.1 – 0.4 sec – ISO 400 – Focal Length 26 mm
For more photos of the Mesa Arts Center check out some of my past posts such as this one (one of my favorites), or this one or even this group.
Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens
f/6.3 – 1/250 sec – ISO 100 – Focal Length 150 mm
Continuing with this week’s “theme” of color this image represents analogous colors on the color wheel. That is two or more colors that are next to or adjacent on the color wheel. It also shows how the composition of a photo can be played with. The gut reaction to photographing a cactus such as this would be to either fill the frame with all cactus or step back and get it along with its surroundings. But by just capturing a small portion of the cactus against the sky I got an almost abstract image.
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Catrina
Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens
f/13 – 1/100 sec – ISO 100 – Focal Length 300 mm
Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico and by some in the US on November 2nd. Its origins go back to the native Mexican people. Today the traditions have evolved to include some Christian beliefs as well. The day is used to remember and celebrate the lives of relatives that have died. The Catrina pictured here is a modern Dia de los Muertos symbol.
Hotel San Carlos, Downtown Phoenix, AZ
