Monsoon seems to be happening

It is raining! Now in some parts of the world that is a bad thing, but not here in Arizona. I wait to plan camp outs until I think there is a good chance of rain. It's hot in Arizona, kids! Our 4th of July fireworks got rained out so we will have them this Saturday. It will be better - less people. Of course that is if it isn't raining on Saturday. We can only hope. It would be alright by me if we were unable to do the fireworks until the end of August.
One of the things about rain in the desert is that many plants and not just the native plants will wait until monsoon to flower. It makes for better photography as well, because we get a soft overcast light that really allows for well saturated color.
I don't do much macro nor am I a big flower fan but these few shots are easy on the eyes.

Some new views

I haven't been very active in publishing to the blog. Things at work have been busy enough that I just haven't had time or energy. Several of my workers have been out sick and that tends to suck the creative energy right out of me.
I am involved in a critique group that uses a challenge match set up to 'win' if you will, the match. There is a theme or genre of photo that is posted in head to head matches and then the members offer critique on the posted shots and vote for the one photo they think is the better representation of the theme. The next theme is B&W Landscape. As I live in Arizona I have plenty of opportunity to get good landscape shots. The challenge for me is conversion to B&W. Digital does not offer the grain that makes B&W so appealing to many people. I have learned how to add grain but it is not always as true to the photo as it is in film.
These shots are recent conversions on some older work and I will post the newer stuff tomorrow - God love the long week-end!
Anyway take a look and see what you think. Drop me a note if the spirit moves you.

Tales of the road

I have to drive for my work. It's a big state. My truck isn't paid for yet and has 75,000 miles on it. That having been said I drive around in some very incredible scenery. The desert is a wonder for the people who know where to look. Those of us who are dwellers in the desert know where to find the subtle signs and changes that mean spring, our ears attuned to the first call of the dove echoing in the morning stillness of the canyon. We see the change with both joy and trepidation, as we know the mean summers heat is not far behind and our winter visitors will turn tale an run to milder seasons. Both man and animal. Desert life is not for just anyone. But I digress.
Along the road I often find strange beauty.

Swaptata

Today was a red letter day. Actually it was a photo letter day. I am active in several groups on the flickr site, one of which is UTATA. This group also has a great photoblog at www.UTATA.com (I think) . Swaptata is a photo exchange activity within the UTATA group. In the swaptata thread a group of people sign up and submit a mailing address to one email address. That person chooses 3 mailing addresses and emails them back to you. Everyone playing receives 3 random addresses and all participants send a different photo of their choice to each address. Once the photos are received in the mail the recipient takes a photo of the photo that was mailed to them and posts in the thread What a kick. I got these lovelies. My photos went to Sweden, Canada, and Maryland. I hit the jackpot as one of my contacts sent three lovely shots, and I am still awaiting the last of my photos. It was rather difficult to choose the photos for individuals I didn't even know. I didn't think to go to their photostreams. duh! Seems like the work I sent was well received. It still surprises me that I take photographs that others find engaging.

The first Iris

Now generally I think flower shots are trite except when they are mine. No, even when they are mine they are trite but some days trite works ya know! I have several varities of iris in my garden and they are just starting to bloom. As I am on the shady side of the canyon things bloom a bit late so the first iris is always a much awaited event. Everyone else is cutting them and bringing them into the house but I will settle for the photos. It was nip and tuck as to which one would be first. There is a lovely two toned true blue in the front garden but it was just not fast enough to beat this lovely which I think is called Margaret Wollencraft. Later today I will try for a true macro of this flower but for now - this early morning when I have little or no enthusiam for work it will have to do.

Well Easter has past and now we get down to some real Arizona weather. The temp here today was in the low 80's but that will change sooner rather than later I would guess. I say this because my old cooler may not make it through another summer, which means it will no doubt be hotter than a two dollar pistol at a jail break as my dad would say.
Now cooler technology is an interesting subject. In many areas of the country they don't use evaporative cooling. We call them swamp coolers around here. Basically it is a round blower fan that moves air over pads of aspen fiber that is kept moist by pumping water over the pad and keeping it all damp thus cooling the air. When the humidity is low they work like gang-busters but when the humidity goes up it is another story.
But back to Easter. Spent some time with my grandkids and tried to get good candid shots of each of them. Not easy to do with a toddler and an infant. Lighting conditions not the best either with bright sun that drove most of us into the shade. The wide range of light means I need to be very careful with my aperture setting and shutter speed as well as keep an eye on the background. I think this shot is the star of the day. His expression is very joyful and at that moment is time he was a happy camper. Its a grandma thing but it is also a good candid shot of a baby IMHO.

The new improved Bisbee-view

Here is something I can get into. If I want people to see through my eyes they need a place to find the view. I plan to post new work as I get things ready to print. Comments are as always welcome.
This is Bisbee from the point of view of a local bisbohemian, a canyon rat, still living in the canyon. Although with the way taxes and development seem to be going who knows how long that will last.
For now I will post some work that is not really current - more from about a month ago. Hope it pleases.

This is a shot of a door on a city building built as part of WPA projects in the old town. It really is that crooked. The miners around here built this to fit into the existing environment. If the floor is crooked one builds a threshold that is matched to the degree of the tilt. Or how do you make a canyon rat crazy? Put them in a room with square walls and a level floor!

I am looking at more than just the narrow confines of the old town. I am also looking at the larger environment in which I live. It is really some incredibly beautiful country, and I sometimes forget that the rest of the world drives to work without the breath-taking vistas I see all the time.

So kids if you like what you see there is more to look at on the flickr site. I publish most of my stuff there at regular intervals. Do a search on 'radiann' at the flicker site www.filckr.com and then see what others are posting as well. Very interesting spot for those who look for visual input.