Event Photography: Tucson Festival of Books 2010

March 16th, 2010

Care to share your love of reading with thousands of your best friends? Well, the Tucson Festival of Books is your kind of place. Now in its second year, the festival drew bibliophiles of all ages to the University of Arizona Mall.

While there were plenty of booths filled with the latest books from all manner of publishers, used book seekers weren't left out. They flocked to the abundant offerings at Habitat for Humanity Tucson's Habistore...

Event Photography - used book shoppers at Tucson Festival of Books 2010

Since this was such a large event, blades were one of the best ways to get around and see everything...

Event Photography - bladers at Tucson Festival of Books 2010

How about some tunes to go with all of those words? Gertie and the TO Boys brought plenty of waila and chicken-scratch music from the Tohono O'odham Nation...

Event Photography - Gertie and the TO Boys in concert at Tucson Festival of Books 2010

Don't feel like walking back to your car? Ttaking the pedicab...

Event Photography - Pedicab at Tucson Festival of Books 2010

Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. To check availability and to request a proposal, please contact me.

Nature Photography: Winter Rains Bring Spring Weeds

March 5th, 2010

 It's been a very rainy winter here in Tucson. More than three inches of the wet stuff has fallen on my house and yard since January. We're supposed to get more rain this weekend.

In addition to bringing forth spring flowers like the ones on this front yard primrose...

Nature Photography - blooming primrose in Tucson, Arizona

...the rains have also given rise to a bumper crop of weeds...

Nature Photography - pulling weeds by the fistful in Tucson, Arizona

Which leads me to coin a new slogan: Weed-pullers of the world unite!

Tip: You can view more nature photography in my portfolio.

Event Photography: Fords on Fourth 2010

February 25th, 2010

This past Sunday, the clouds threatened a repeat of the rain we had on Saturday. But that didn't keep the Fords and their admirers from returning to Tucson's Fourth Avenue. The occasion was the 2010 edition of Fords on Fourth, an all-Ford car show.

Whether you're into hot rods or classic pickups, this show offers plenty of eye candy...

Event Photography - Fords on Fourth 2010

Event Photography - Fords on Fourth 2010

Not only was there plenty of horsepower under the hood, it also was on the roof...

Event Photography - Fords on Fourth 2010

For hardcore car enthusiasts, keeping the ride looking good requires all sorts of specialized products. Which this guy is happy to demonstrate and sell...

Event Photography - Fords on Fourth 2010

Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. To check availability and to request a proposal, please contact me.

Event Photography: Tucson Carnaval 2010

February 16th, 2010

Now in its third year, Tucson Carnaval celebrates spring, life, the arts, and community connections. This event featured concerts by many local bands, including Spirit Familia.

Here's Spirit Familia's band leader, Jomo Alan, who lives a block away from me. He practices the flute while bicycling along our street...

Event photography - Spirit Familia band leader Jomo plays flute at Tucson Carnaval 2010

Richard Rivera adds guitar and vocals to the Spirit Familia mix of African, Latin, Reggae, and Funk rhythms...

Event photography - Spirit Familia guitarist Richard Rivera plays at Tucson Carnaval 2010

And what would a Brazilian-influenced festival be without Batucaxe?

Event photography - Batucaxe at Tucson Carnaval 2010

Or how about those fun-loving Carnivaleros, who don't just get the crowd dancing, they join in!

Event photography - Carnivaleros playing at Tucson Carnaval 2010

Event photography - Carnivaleros playing and dancing at Tucson Carnaval 2010

Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. To check availability and to request a proposal, please contact me.

Construction Photography: Replacing Windows

February 9th, 2010

Five years ago, I decided to replace my house's drafty metal casement windows. I'm pleased to report that this home improvement project has finally come to an end. Earlier today, the Open Enclose crew came and installed two new windows in the living room.

But the old windows didn't go down without a fight. The guys had to use quite an array of hand and power tools to remove all vestiges of them...

Construction photography - removing metal casement picture window

Construction photography - removing metal casement picture window

Construction photography - removing metal casement picture window

Once the old windows were out, it was time to install the replacements...

Construction photography - sealing around edges of replacement window

Tip: You can view more construction photography in my portfolio. I am also available for construction photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. To check availability and to request a proposal, please contact me.

Bicycle Photography: UA Criterium 2010

February 3rd, 2010

This past Saturday, hundreds of bicycle racers and fans converged on the University of Arizona. The draw was the all-day UA Criterium, which wound its way around the campus. This one's from a men's race that took place during the afternoon...

Bicycle photography - Speeding bicycle racers during the 2010 UA Criterium on the University of Arizona-Tucson campus

Tip: This photo has just been added to my Bicycle Stock Images site.

Website Design: UNI PSM Degree Programs

January 29th, 2010

Late last year, I was asked to design a website for the Professional Science Master's Degree Programs at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Rapids.

UNI is one of nearly 90 institutions offering the PSM Degree. It's a graduate degree that allows students to pursue advanced training in science or mathematics, while simultaneously developing workplace skills highly valued by employers.

UNI offers PSMs in the following five areas:

  1.   Applied Chemistry & Biochemistry
  2.   Applied Physics
  3.   Biotechnology
  4.   Ecosystem Management
  5.   Industrial Mathematics

Website design - University of Northern Iowa PSM Programs

Tip: You can view more website design projects in my portfolio.

Bicycle Photography: Afternoon Wheel Shadow

January 28th, 2010

My previous post on Dillinger Days was mostly about cars. Well, I'm here to tell you that a lot of people rode their bikes to Dillinger Days, so it's time to give some equal time to the two-wheelers. Like this one, which casts an interesting shadow on the Toole Avenue sidewalk ...

Bicycle photography - Wheel casting shadow on Toole Avenue sidewalk, Downtown Tucson, Arizona

Tip: This photo has just been added to my Bicycle Stock Images site.

Event Photography: Dillinger Days and Downtown Tucson Construction

January 26th, 2010

This past weekend, I attended the annual Dillinger Days celebration in Downtown Tucson. This event commemorates the 1934 capture of "Public Enemy Number One," bank robber John Dillinger. The festivities centered around the Hotel Congress, where Dillinger and his gang of outlaws stayed when they first hit town.

The hotel boiler caught fire, forcing the evacuation of the hotel. The Dillinger gang got out safely, then they realized that they'd left a couple of suitcases full of guns, ammunition, and money inside. They asked a fireman to retrieve the suitcases, and, just to make the trip worthwhile, the gang gave the fireman a hefty tip. Then they found other places to stay.

After the firemen returned to their station, they spotted a photo of John Dillinger in True Detective magazine. Time for Tucson's Bravest to pick up the phone and alert Tucson's Finest. Who arrested Dillinger and his gang a few days later.

The 2010 edition of Dillinger Days happened right after a major rainstorm hit Tucson. Same storm left a lot of snow on the Santa Catalina mountains, which are "jailed" behind the Union Pacific railroad fence that's just north of the Hotel Congress...

Nature photography - snow-covered Santa Catalina Mountains

If you're into antique cars, Dillinger Days was the place to be. Talk about fun for the whole family...

Event photography - Family admiring antique car at Dillinger Days in Downtown Tucson, Arizona

I was very impressed by the amount of work that went into the restoration and upkeep of these cars...

Event photography - Antique cars at Dillinger Days in Downtown Tucson, Arizona

What's even more impressive is the fact that most of them are still working automobiles. And, as you can see, they are much loved by their owners...

Event photography - Antique Ford at Dillinger Days in Downtown Tucson, Arizona

On the other hand, some of them still need work. This 1939 Chevy Sedan Bus was used to transport University of Arizona athletes during the 1940s. That was its heyday. Its current owners acquired the bus after it had been left to rot in the desert for more than 30 years...

Event photography - Antique Chevy Sedan Bus at Dillinger Days in Downtown Tucson, Arizona

The highlight of Dillinger Days is the re-enactment of the gang's stay at the Hotel Congress. Abundant seating is set up outside the hotel, and here are some smart people who arrived early...

Event photography - Mostly empty seating at Dillinger Days in Downtown Tucson, Arizona

I didn't show up in time to get a seat. Hence, no re-enactment photos in this post.

One final point: Even though there's still a lot of construction Downtown, a lot of things are open for business. Take, for example, Maynards Market and Kitchen, which is across Toole Avenue from Hotel Congress...

Architectural photography - Exterior of Maynards Market and Kitchen in Downtown Tucson, Arizona

I've done a lot of blogging about the weekly Meet Me at Maynards social run/walk around Downtown, and you can read those posts here.

Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. To check availability and to request a proposal, please contact me.

Abstract Photography: Sidewalk Footprint

January 21st, 2010

Came across this "set in concrete" footprint at a restaurant near the University of Arizona campus. The pebble was a nice added touch...

Abstract photography - sidewalk footprint in Tucson, Arizona

Tip: You can view more abstract photography in my portfolio.