Shutter Mike Photography

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This was my second photo trip to the San Xavier Del Bac Misison in Tucson, AZ.  The last time was in 2004 with the first digital camera I bought, a Canon Power Shot.  This time I had my Sony Alpha 100 SLR.  I also did a little experimenting with the camera settings and a polarizer filter.

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The next two pictures are part of my filter experiment.  The one on the left was taken without the polarizing filter.  The one on the right had a the filter used.  In color photography a polarizing filter darkens blue areas.  In the case of the mission photographs the contrast between the white of the mission and the darker blue sky is accentuated with the filter.

No filter used Polarizing filter used

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This last picture was taken using the black and white setting on the camera versus altering it after the fact in Photoshop.

Here are 10 of my favorite spots in Tucson to photograph.  Like the Phoenix 10 spots post, these are in no particular order either.

1. DeGrazia Studios – Swan, North of Sunrise

The DeGrazia Studio is in North Tucson and is made up of a gallery, a chapel and DeGrazia’s home.  I especially like photographing the chapel but the whole property is great.

2. Pima Air and Space Museum – South of Tucson on Valencia

This is one of the largest air and space museums in the country.  Even if you are not into airplanes, there are some great photograph opportunities here.  My recent trip was the first time I had been and I think I got some good shots.

3. San Xavier Mission del Bac – South of Tucson

Know as The White Dove of the Desert the mission was built by Father Kino in the late 1700s.  I have not been there since I got my first digital camera several years ago.  Now that they are done with some recent rennovations of the exterior I have to get down there.

4. Arizona Inn – Campbell and Speedway

This is a historic inn near the U of A.  The adobe walls are painted bright colors and there are a lot of interesting features to photograph around the inn’s grounds.

5. Barrio Historico – South of Downtown

The Barrio is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Tucson and had been the center of the Mexican and Spanish community for over a century.  The architecture is very representative of the Southwest.  The colors and architectural elements in the barrio make for some great shots.

6. University of Arizona

The U of A campus is really a beautiful campus.  And I am not just saying that because I went there.  The palm trees and cacti set against the red brick buildings make it a great place to wander around and photograph.  There are buildings dating back 100 years mixed in with some very modern architecture.

7. 4th Ave

Fourth Avenue is one of my favorite places in Tucson.  The atmosphere is very eclectic which makes for a lot of photograph opportunities.  There is color, architectural interest, a vast mix of people and much more to try your camera out on.

8. St. Philips in the Hills Church – River Rd. and Campbell

This is a 70+ year old church on River Rd.  The church campus has a lot to offer a photographer.  It is worth a trip to wander around and see what you can come up with to shoot.

9. Downtown Tucson

Like Downtown Phoenix, I could probably split this into its own post of ten spots.  From the Fox and Rialto Theaters to Hotel Congress to La Placita Plaza, there is so much to photograph in these few city blocks.

10. Saguaro National Park – Either West or East of Tucson

The parks that bookend the city of Tucson to the East and West are ideal for taking some great desert photography.   If you are lucky enough to go in spring after a wet winter the wild flowers are amazing.  But you really can’t go wrong anytime of year.

Barrio Historico (aka Barrio Libre or Barrio Viejo) is one of the oldest parts of Tucson, AZ.  Located South of downtown between Interstate 10 and Stone Ave and Cushing and 17th Street, it is a historic neighborhood with a very distinct old-world Mexican flavor.  Many of the original buildings, dating back over 100 years, have been restored, yet some still sit with crumbling adobe walls.  The vibrant colors and history of this small area of Tucson make it a great place to photograph.

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There are several old roadside motels just north of downtown in Tucson, AZ.  Most of them are pretty run down now.  Many still operate as motels while some have been converted to apartments or sit empty.  Although the buildings themselves are generally not what they once were, I think the signs are iconic of the 50’s and 60’s and are a great photo subject.   I only shot a few on a recent trip, but I like how they turned out and will be  sure to go back soon to get some more pictures.

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The Pima Air and Space Museum is in Tucson, AZ.  It is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, and the largest non-government funded aviation museum.  There are five indoor hangars as well as several acres of planes outdoors.  John F. Kennedy’s Air Force One is among the collection.

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These are some of my older photos taken at San Xavier Mission near Tucson, AZ.  This is a great place to shoot.   I have not been in a while and definitely need to go back.  Especially after viewing these photos again.  I have very few shots of the interior and would like to see what I can get now.  Hopefully I will get down there in the next few months.

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