The Loft

I discovered this interesting building in downtown Phoenix.  It is tall enough to have two floors but, there are no windows in it.  A sign on the other side of the building says it houses Community Legal Services.

Hair & Hare

As I stepped out of the hair salon I ran into this little fellow.  I thought it was a bit ironic that this little hare was living at the hair salon.

Setting the table

Place settings all lined up and waiting to be placed on the restaurant tables.

Reflection

I noticed this reflection of some of the mid-town office buildings while waiting at a traffic light on my drive home from work.  The camera was handy so I took the shot.

How many birds….

.....can sit on one palm leaf?

Phoenix College

In November of 2008 (link), I featured a photo of this building with the sun glinting off of the glass.  I’m revisiting here to show you how looks lit up at night. 

Menorah

I serve on a citizen’s advisory board that meets once a month in a room that is graced by this lovely stained glass window.  At one time the building served as a synagogue.  Now it’s part of the Phoenix College campus.

Relaxed

I took this photo of Nude Man, a ceramic piece by artist Viola Frey on that rainy day we had over the holidays but, I failed to make a note of the artist at that time.  So I went back last weekend to get the artist’s name and discovered that they had moved him to a new location.

Now he can sit and admire his reflection in the glass all day.

Handmade

This row of colorful handmade aprons perfect for young cooks were on sale at the Farmer’s Market.

Blooming

Here is a bloom on an aloe plant commonly called a soap aloe. 

The Art of Shopping

If you stop in at the Phoenix Art Museum (featured yesterday) be sure to stop at the gift shop before you leave.  There are all kinds of artistic treasures inside.

Phoenix Art Museum

Almost a year ago, I published this photo just inside the lobby of the Phoenix Art Museum.  I said that one day I’d go by and photograph the museum at night and I finally made it.  Here are two views of the front of the Phoenix Art Museum at night.

The Grind

There is a new hamburger place in town and it’s called The Grind.  I have to admit when I saw the sign going up I thought it was another coffee house but, no it’s a gourmet hamburger restaurant and judging from the burger I had, they have reason to brag.  It was very creative and quite yummy.  The restaurant is long and narrow with booths on one side and the long bar you see above on the other. 

Chamber of Commerce Weather

This last weekend we experienced some wonderful weather with lots of sunshine and temperatures hovering around 76º (24C).  This was the scene at Biltmore Fashion Square late Saturday afternoon. Lots of people were out enjoying the sunshine.

Song Bird

This little song bird was hanging just outside a small shop and he was singing a cheery tune.

Empty

I featured this set of condos back in September of 2009 but I drove by on Friday night and noticed that one of them was completely empty but will all the lights on.  So, I stopped to take a photo.

Grand Entrance

The entrance to a men's clothing store.

Lonely

Doesn’t she look lonely all by herself?  Another shot from the Phoenix Art Museum.

Illusion

When I was at the Phoenix Art Museum over the holidays, I noticed they were working on one of the changing exhibit rooms.  While I was looking at the construction I notice an unusual shadow on the wall.  I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from so I went to the doorway near the shadow and looked around the corner to discover that it is an art installation.  I couldn’t get in the room to find out more about the piece so I can’t tell you the artist. 

I’ve decided I like the piece simply because it got me thinking and made me do some investigating.

Shaded Walkway

A walkway at the Arizona Center, a shopping and dining complex in downtown Phoenix is shaded by fan like structures.  The lights at night give them an interesting look.

An Arizona Sunset

Just another Arizona sunset

Interesting Inhabitants of Planet Orange

My good friend Janet took me with her to another Phoenix Suns game Friday night.  Planet Orange is what Sun's fans think of as Sun's territory.  This name is based on the team's colors of orange and purple.  So for this post I'm showing you some of the people who inhabit Planet Orange.  This pair is decked out in orange and purple including body paint.

This fellow has orange jump suit and purple briefs, hat and shoes.

The fellow on the bottom was quite conservative with only his Planet Orange cap to show is team spirit!

I enjoyed spotting all these colorful fans.  The game was a little less entertaining because the New York Nicks beat us by quite a wide margin. 

Go Suns!  Time to get out of that slump.

Senseless Tragedy

By now, I would guess that most of my readers have heard about the horrible shooting in Tucson Arizona that critically wounded Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and killed 6 other people including a well respected judge and a 9 year old child.  I have met Ms. Giffords on several occasions and found her to be an intelligent, gracious, and down to earth person; someone you instantly like.  As I write this, we still don’t know the motives of the young shooter only that he did have some anti-government views. 

When I think about senseless things like this I wonder how anyone so young could be filled with such hatred that he commits such a horrific act of violence.  I certainly don’t have the answer but I will say that I do think we Americans have to tone down the inflammatory rhetoric and revive the art of civil debate with respect for each other’s opinions. 

I took a drive down to the State Capitol this afternoon after the Governor ordered the flags to be flown at half staff.  The photo above is of the capitol building. 

The smaller photo is of the line of news trucks that have gathered in front where a candlelight vigil is going to take place in the evening.

Bioscience High School

The Bioscience High School was opened in downtown Phoenix in 2006.  The school is designed to prepare tomorrow’s scientists, engineers, and medical professionals in a unique educational environment.  It works in collaboration with the academic and scientific organizations located in downtown Phoenix,

The Blob

One of the more humorous exhibits at the Phoenix Art Museum is Blob by artist Tony Oursler.  It is a sort of video display of a face with a few missing features and eyes that are out of sync with each other.  There is a seat in front of it so you can watch it for a while.  It sits there in a corner speaking to whoever might stop by.

The Birds

I had visions of the old Alfred Hitchcock movie “The Birds” when I saw these birds gathered in a tree across the street from my house. 

They gave me a bit of a start when they started to fly right toward me while I was taking pictures.

Jailed

Not really.  He was just on the other side of the fence watching me take photos.

Water’s Edge

One more photo from the park Arizona Falls.  I call this one Water’s Edge.  As you can tell from this one and yesterday’s photo, I was doing some photographic experimentation.

Arizona Falls

Last April I featured two photos from Arizona Falls, a park on the east side of Phoenix that features a small hydroelectric plant.  You can see them here and here.  Recently, I visited there again to take some photos of the waterfalls and to play with different exposures.  Using a slower shutter speed produced this one that I quite like.

Holiday Palm Trees

One more holiday decorations shot.  This one was taken in downtown Phoenix in front of the new Sheraton Hotel.  All of the palm trees along the street have been decked out in hundreds of tiny lights.

Theme Day - Photo of the Year 2010

I orginally posted this photo in March of 2010 and it became a favorite of mine .  I even have an enlargment of it in my house.  It was taken at the Desert Botanical Garden in the spring butterfly pavilion.  It is a Malachite Butterfly.

Happy New Year Everyone!

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