Splish, Spash

Looks like a perfect place for a nice bath!

Cozy

I found these two sitting in a cozy little nest for two.

Sculptor

Another photo from the Celebration of Fine Art.  This is Gedion Nyanhongo, a very talented sculptor.  Gedion was born in Zimbabwe and he uses Opal Stone, Springstone and Nyanga Stone to create his works of art.  To see more of his work, click here.

Backlight

The back light on this cholla cactus really lets you see all the thorns.

See the USA.....

....in your Chevrolet!

Remember that little jingle?  Isn't that the whitest white wall tire you've ever seen?

 Spotted at a display of some very nice classic cars!

Art in a Tent

Yesterday I told you about the Celebration of Fine Arts located in the big white tents in Scottsdale.  Today I'm showing a photo of one of the "rooms' in the tent.  Right there in front is the wonderful paintings of Sue Averell an artist from the San Francisco area.  In fact, I first met her there when I was working in the city.  She does incredible cityscapes on a large and small scale.  You can see more of Sue's work if you click here.  

The Art of Glass

Last Sunday I spent the afternoon at the Scottsdale Celebration of Fine Arts, an annual event that lasts from mid-January to the end of March.  Every year a large number of artists come to Arizona to spend two months working in the big white tents and selling their works of art.  It's a lot like going to an art museum to admire the work only in this case you get to talk to the artists and learn how they work.  I go every year and I usually come home with some treasure to call my own.

Pictured above is Kevin Powers a glass artist who had some very unique pieces.  If you would like to see some of his work, click here.  In the photo above, he was working very carefully on a piece that will become a beautiful flower.

I'll show you some more of the activities the show in the future.  If you live in the area, I highly recommend a visit.  The tents are located at the Loop 101 and Hayden Road.  Even if you don't buy anything, it is well worth the visit to see the beautiful objects so lovingly created.

Las Palmas

Just one block away from the crumbling Desert Inn Motel that I featured last week, is this old 1950's style motel that is still in business.  I'm betting that camel-rider made the place look a bit exotic in the motel's brighter days.

These days, it is still operating but, at bargain rates.

Prowling around...

I'm betting that most of you daily photo bloggers know about prowling around in search of photos.  I spotted this old window on the back of a building in downtown Phoenix when I turned down a little used alley.  I like the way the shutters have been braced open and I love the brick wall.

One or two doors down, I saw this patch of brick showing through the crumbling stucco.  Some people pay a lot of money to get this southwestern look on their buildings and fences.  This one came by it naturally.

Justice

The new Superior Court building was dedicated last week with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor presiding over the dedication ceremony.  I've shown you some of this building before when it was still under construction here and here.  It really is a beautiful building adding to the skyline of downtown Phoenix.

For those curious about the building location, click here.

Just Ducky

Behold the duck.

It does not cluck.

A cluck it lacks

It Quacks

It is specially fond

of a puddle or Pond.

When it dines or sups

It bottoms ups.                         

The Duck, Ogden Nash

Cool, Clear, Water

Just an arty shot of the water in a fountain in the courtyard of a high-rise building on Central Avenue.

Japanese Garden

Last weekend I made my very first trip to the Japanese Garden.  I'm embarrassed to say it is located very near where I live and this was the first time I'd visited.  It's a very beautiful little slice of land that makes you totally forget you are in the center of a desert.  They were having a display of ikibana floral arrangements made by students of a special class in the art of Japanese floral display.

I've added a photo of one of the arrangements I saw there.  I might post a few more in the days ahead.

Royal Gates

The gates of the this house on the side of Camelback Mountain have a royal touch!

Delicate Flowers

Isn't this a pretty little flower?  It is actually just a tiny piece of a much bigger bloom.  The whole picture is below.

This agave has a rather large and intricate bloom.

Arizona Celebrates!

I spotted this large heart above a jewelry store.  How appropriate!  But, today is not only Valentine's Day, it is also Arizona's Centennial!  The state of Arizona is 100 years old today!  I've added a photo of the Arizona State Capitol with a little vintage touch to celebrate the day!

Recycled Sign

Sometimes a business will use the same sign that was left on a building by the previous owner.  Anybody want to guess what this sign used to say?  The distinctive shape should be familiar to most Americans.

Out of Business

The Desert Inn Motel on the west side of downtown Phoenix has seen better days; much better days.  This place must have been a very nice place to stay about 40 years ago.  I'm not sure how long it's been abandoned but, it looks like it has been sitting empty for quite a while.

I saw this sign when I stopped to take some photos.  The sign didn't get the expected reaction from me.  I continued to walk around take more photos.

Toys!

All those little cars look like toys when you look down on them from the 24th floor!

Full Moon...setting

Wednesday morning when I left for work, I caught a glimpse of the full moon floating very low in the Western sky.  I drove into a parking lot wondering if I could catch a shot before it sank from view.  This would have been better with a different camera and a tripod but, it isn't bad.

Neighborhood Burgers

I was driving past this neighborhood hamburger restaurant and noticed the pleasing neon lights in their front window and decided to stop and take a shot.  When I was working from home about 3 years ago, I used stop in here for lunch once or twice a month.  It's the kind of place where you can build your hamburger just the way you want it and they were always good!  It's nice to have good places to eat so close to home.  That is one of the many things I love about living in central Phoenix.

Gargoyle

I found this one sitting on a gatepost, guarding a home in Scottsdale.  He's a little weathered but still on duty.

Bright Bromeliad

While I'm on the subject of bromeliads (see yesterday's post), I thought I'd show you another one.  I don't know the name of this one, I just know it's gorgeous.

Blue Tango

This is the bloom on a Blue Tango Bromeliad.  Bromeliads are a large family of tropical plants producing an amazing variety of blooms.  I learned that the pineapple is also a Bromeliad!

I've added a macro shot of one of the colorful blooms.

One Aloe Bloom

Two different backgrounds.

Patio Dining

I bet you are wondering what this is.  I took this on the patio of AZ88, a great Scottsdale restaurant/bar.  Those canoe-like structures hang over the top of the patio and are lit at night making them look a bit mysterious.  I was sitting at a table enjoying my glass of wine when I got to thinking that there might be an interesting picture here.  Thank goodness I carry that little point & shoot with me everywhere.  A little balancing on the table top and whallah....there you have it.

Living on the Edge

A house sitting on a cliff ledge on the north side of Camelback Mountain!

Art Show

Some of my photographs will be in an art show in downtown Phoenix beginning on Friday.  I've mentioned before that I belong to an "art challenge" group and we meet once a month during the summer months.  Each month we have a new challenge to create a piece of art based the subject that is given by one of the members, each in turn.  Last year, we had a showing of our work at the Shemer Art Gallery and this year we are showing the summer of 2011 work at First Studio, 631 N First Avenue in Phoenix.  If you are in the area, please stop by.  The show will be open this Friday (first Friday) from 6:00 to 9:00 and again on third Friday, February 17th.
In the photo above, you can see three of my pieces, the two roses and way to the left top, one that I actually had on my site last summer.  The fuel storage tank with the stairs going up and the great shadows.

One more of my pieces is in this photo, the lamp post with the sun behind it.

There are almost 100 pieces in the entire show and there are works from photographers, painters, sculptors, print makers, and more.

If you are in the area, I'd love to see you there.

Theme Day: Animals

How would like to see this guy peeking out from the branches of a tree?  I wasn't in any real danger.  I took this photo at the Phoenix Zoo with the telephoto lens.  Suddenly the tiger climbed a tree in his compound and starting looking down the people who were looking at him.  Do you think he was sizing us up for an afternoon snack?

To see more theme day photos, click below.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants