Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Curves

Scottsdale, Arizona.

This week, Tina Schell challenges us to “…pay some attention to curves  – in nature, in architecture, on our roads and in our lives … just about everywhere if you think about it.” You can read her entire challenge post here. It’s an opportune topic for me, with Barrett-Jackson’s Auto Auction in full swing this week in Scottsdale to capture some more curves, those curves of the classic automobile like this 1934 Duesenberg in the opening image. From the curvature of the green exhaust manifold to the long sweeping curve that runs from the front fender, along the running board to the rear fender, this classic car uses curves to accent it’s classic architecture.

Cellpic Sunday – 13 January 2019

Buckeye, Arizona.

In the pre-sunrise morning, I was on my way to meet with some of the members of our hiking club, all getting ready to complete one of our Thursday hikes. Just prior to the sun peeking above the eastern horizon, the sky turned a brilliant orange. With only my cellphone, I pulled over to the side of the road to capture a panoramic series of images. As is often the case, as the sun appeared on the horizon, the complexion of the skies quickly changed to its usual beautiful blue.

About the photo: The image was captured as three images in my Samsung S7 cell phone. It was still plenty dark so there was very little light in the foreground leaving the desert plants to appear quite dim and hazy. I suspect either my Sony or Nikon would have done a better job capturing the lowlight areas, but the camera you use is the one you have with you. I used Adobe Lightroom to join the images into a single panorama and to remove the vestiges of a wire fence that traversed part of the foreground. The rule for Cellpic Sunday is simple. The image must be captured on a mobile device.

John Steiner

Cellpic Sunday – 6 January 2019

Waddell, Arizona.

Last week, I featured a view of the Willow Canyon Trail in the White Tank Mountains Regional Park. This week features another shot captured by my cell phone on the hike. It was a relatively clear day in the Phoenix Metro. One of the reasons we chose a home on the western edge of the metro is that the inherent haze and smog of the city tends to stay in the valley.

Cellpic Sunday – 30 December 2018

Waddell, Arizona.

My favorite hike in my favorite park is the Mesquite Canyon Trail in the White Tank Mountains Regional Park. It’s not a long drive to get there either, only about 20 minutes or so. In the last few years, I’ve settled into a pattern of 4 miles (6.4 km) or so, not to exceed 5 miles.

Cellpic Sunday – 23 December 2018

Buckeye, Arizona.

As this is being written, it’s Friday night and we are leaving for Albuquerque early Saturday to spend family time for Christmas next week. We headed out to pick up some last-minute items. As we rounded the corner heading out of our neighborhood, we heard some Christmas music. Parked on the street was an SUV and trailer both decorated to the nines, music emanating from the trailer. I had to stop and capture a quick cellphone image. I used my Samsung S7 cell phone. The rule for Cellpic Sunday is simple, the image must be captured on a mobile device.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate the season!

John Steiner

Cellpic Sunday – 9 December 2018

Waddell, Arizona.

On a warm but cloudy day, we ventured out on our first Arizona hike of the 2018-19 season. In late November, I led a short 3.8 mile hike with our hiking club in Buckeye. It was fun to be back with the group again. In the last couple of years, we’ve added some far more experienced hike leaders than I to our group and I expect the group will have a wider variety of difficulty level and length than we’ve previously provided.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Happiness Is…

Sonoran Desert, Arizona.

This week, Ann-Christine asks us to use the photographer’s lens to show and share happiness. Less than a decade ago, I’d have had an entirely different response to this challenge. Then, by chance, I found myself considering the purchase of a house in Arizona strictly to get out of those cold North Dakota winters. In December 2011, I said good-bye to my friends and colleagues of over 30 years and in January 2012 my wife and I found ourselves spending the remaining days of that winter in an entirely new environment to us.