Shutter Mike Photography

If you find yourself in Albuquerque, NM with a camera there is one spot you cannot afford to miss if you want the best sunset photographs.  That is Sandia Peak northeast of the city.   There is a tram that will take you the 2.7 miles to the top of the 10,378 foot Sandia Peak.  That will cost you $20 plus $1 to park, well worth it!  I went in December right at sunset.  That time of year requires keeping a few things in mind.  1) It is 20-30 degrees cooler at the top than at the base, and very windy.  So it was about 15-20 degrees.  2) The ski slopes close at 4 so there are very long waits for the tram back down the mountain, 2-3 hours if you go right at sunset when the slopes are emptying.  But still I say the spectacular sunsets make it well worth it.  I have not gone in the summer (yet), but it might be a bit easier (and warmer).

This photograph was taken about 10 minutes after sunset on Sandia Peak near Albuquerque, New Mexico.  I was photographing the sunset when I turned around and noticed these skis leaning up against a lamp post (that is not the moon behind them).  I loved the coloring and composition and how the lamp looked like the moon behind them.

The Tempe Town Lake was created by damming two ends of a dry river bed and filling it with water.  The point was to create a public space near Tempe’s downtown district.  There are often complaints, some valid, of wasting water on something like this in the Arizona desert.  But based on the number of people who use the lake and the surrounding parks the complaints aren’t too loud.  That is until the rubber dam that holds the water in the lake burst after baking in the Arizona sun for several years.  Millions of gallons of water rushed down the dry Salt River emptying the lake.  The dam was fixed, the water filled back up and the fish restocked.  And then a bridge was built over the dam to shade it from the brutal sun.  Whatever your position is on building a lake like this in the middle of the desert, the bridge is a very cool design (and functional) element crossing over the west end of the lake.

100 Years 100 Ranchers - Photograph by Scott Baxter

Art is everywhere and galleries seem to pop up in the most unexpected places.  Small galleries can be seen in the local coffee shop, the mall, bus and train stations, and even the airport.  I was heading to security in Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport (terminal 4) when I unexpectedly passed by the Phoenix Airport Museum.  Who knew there was a museum in the airport?  But even better, the museum is currently running a photography exhibit entitled 100 Years 100 Ranchers.  The exhibit showcases the work of Photographer Scott Baxter who, over a 10 year period, photographed 100 Arizona ranchers whose families have been ranching in Arizona for 100 years or more.  The exhibit coincides with the upcoming centennial celebrations for the state Arizona (which turns 100 on February 14, 2012) and runs through May 13, 2012.  So next time you are rushing through Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, stop and check out the art.  Or, if your travels don’t take you through Phoenix check out the museums and public works of art on display in these other airports.

San Fransisco International Airport Museum

Philadelphia International Airport

Indianapolis International Airport

Oakland International Airport

The “narrow” in this instance is in reference to the depth of field used in the photograph.  The part of the image that is in focus is a very small (narrow) portion while the rest of the image is blurred out.

The 4th and final part of the Crossings series has the details, detail shots of the bridges.  In case you missed them be sure to check out part one, part two and part three of the series.