Nature Photography: Xeriscapes and a Prickly Pear Cactus Sunrise
May 30th, 2008Good landscape planning and design is one of those things that a lot of us talk about, and some of us even do it.
But, here’s Martha from Reality-ville: I didn’t plan the design of my yard. I just made it up as I went along. And my forary into water harvesting was motivated more by a desire to save money on the water bill than anything else.
Be that as it may, I do have a xeriscape going out there. And it kinda-sorta follows the notion of dividing one’s yard into xeriscape zones:
- The Oasis is the zone that sits closest to the house. This is where you put the plants that really like the water. I have my lantanas in the Oasis. And, for low-tech water harvesters who are schlepping buckets of graywater from the bathtub, this is a good thing. It means that you won’t very have as far to schlep with those heavy buckets.
- The Transition Zone is a good place to put plants that need occasional watering. My trailing rosemary falls into this category.
- The Arid Zone is a fabulous place for cactus and other native species that can get by on rainwater only. However, there’s nothing that says that you can’t plant "security cactus" right next to your house. A lot of people do this to deter burglars. That’s what this stand of prickly pear cactus is doing…
Tip: You can view more nature photography in my portfolio.
Related Posts
- Nature Photography: Prickly Pear and Mesquite
- Construction Photography: Tear Down the Wall
- Nature Photography: Spring in Tucson – Cactus Bud
- Nature Photography: Land of the Frozen Cactus
- Event Photography: Watershed Management Group Earth Month
Nature Photography: Bird with a Large Beak
May 28th, 2008
Okay, ornithology buffs, this one’s for you. I spotted this bird at Wildlife World (near Phoenix) in late 2006. Anyone care to identify him or her?
Tip: You can view more nature photography in my portfolio.
Related Posts
- Nature Photography: Desert Botanical Garden and Wildlife World
- Nature Photography: Agaves
- Nature Photography: Springtime in Phoenix
- Nature Photography: Goldfish Pond
- Nature Photography: Winter Rains Bring Spring Weeds
Event Photography: Phoenix Mars Lander Scores a Touchdown
May 26th, 2008Yesterday afternoon was a tense time on the University of Arizona campus. The UA-led Phoenix Mars mission was nearing a significant milestone: The end of its 10-month journey to the Red Planet.
I was among the hundreds of people who converged on the UA Mall to watch NASA TV coverage of the landing on the Martian surface…
Some of us were old enough to remember previous space flights gone horribly wrong — like the near-loss of Apoll0 13 back in 1970, the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986, and the Mars Polar Lander’s crash-landing and destruction in 1999. We hoped that nothing like that would happen this time.
And so we waited…
Then came the news: Phoenix had touched down on Mars and had established radio contact!
Many people left right after the landing, but I decided to stay around to catch a glimpse of the sun through a telescope outside the UA Science Center. This scope was a popular family attraction…
After Phoenix landed, it deployed its solar panels and got down to the business of recording its surroundings. Phoenix’s study of the northern Martian polar region will last about three months. Its robotic digging arm will collect soil samples that will help researchers determine whether Phoenix’s surroundings once been habitable.
Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio and on this blog. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. I specialize in concerts, festivals, parades, political rallies, and sporting events. To check availability and to request a proposal, please e-mail me or call 520-690-1888.
Related Posts
- Event Photography: Mars Lander Open House
- Travel Photography: Visiting the Phoenix Zoo
- Event Photography: Giffords Goes to Rehab
- Event Photography: Crowd Control
- Travel Photography: 1-10 Under Phoenix
Stained Glass and Shadows
May 23rd, 2008
Stained glass window, Catholic Newman Center, Tucson, Arizona
Related Posts
- Bike-tography 103
- Construction Photography: Replacing Windows
- Architectural Photography: Marist College
- Construction Photography: Window Upgrade
- Event Photography: Election Day 2008
Bike-tography 108: A Two-Wheeled Scholarship
May 22nd, 2008
Back in February, I blogged about one of my Tucson cycling heroes, Lee Rombach.
Following his death at the age of 93, his friends decided to offer his much-used (and much-beloved) bicycle as a transportation scholarship for foreign students at Arizona State University. Many of them come to this country with little more than the clothes on their backs, so free wheels to and from campus will be very helpful.
Tip: You can view more bicycle photography in my portfolio.
Related Posts
- Bike-tography 106: Bicycles As Art
- Bike-tography 103
- Bike-tography 110: Criterium Racing
- Bike-tography 109: Shadow Rider
- Bike-tography 111: Used Bicycle Parts Gate
Nature Photography: You know it’s summer in Tucson when…
May 20th, 2008…your prickly pear cactus swoons.
Tip: You can view more nature photography in my portfolio.
Related Posts
- Nature Photography: Greening Up for Summer
- Nature Photography: Rain in Tucson
- Nature Photography: Spring in Tucson – Chuparosa Blooming, Cactus Budding
- Nature Photography: Green at Last
- Nature Photography: Land of the Frozen Cactus
Bike-tography 107: Weary Push-Pedal Bikers
May 19th, 2008Came across this mailbox when I was bicycling across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in 1980…
Since the day was still young and I had many more miles to cover, I didn’t take Mr. Bishop up on his offer. But his sign typified the generous hospitality I found throughout rural America.
Tip: You can view more bicycle photography in my portfolio.
Related Posts
- Bike-tography 105: Signs Along the Way
- Bike-tography 108: A Two-Wheeled Scholarship
- Bike-tography 106: Bicycles As Art
- Bike-tography 109: Shadow Rider
- Bike-tography 111: Used Bicycle Parts Gate
Graphic Design: Out From Here
May 16th, 2008This is a concept illustration for a CD cover…
Perfect for some of extra-spacey ambient music. Or maybe some downtempo chill.
Tip: You can view more graphic design projects in my portfolio.
Related Posts
- Graphic Design: Hurdles Happen
- Graphic Design: Just a Cog
- Graphic Design: Dot
- Graphic Design: Butterfly Trio
- Graphic Design: No Bike Bans
Graphic Design: Hurdles Happen
May 15th, 2008Ever been to a cyclocross race? This one happened in Tucson’s Himmel Park in early 1998. (Hard to believe it’s been that long!) Part of the fun is watching the riders jump over things while holding on to their bikes. Perfect theme for a postcard…
Tip: You can view more graphic design projects in my portfolio.
Related Posts
- Graphic Design: Win The Race
- Graphic Design: Tucson Travel Card
- Graphic Design: Butterfly Trio
- Graphic Design: Solo Butterfly
- Graphic Design Using My Stock Photography
Construction Photography: Women Building with Habitat for Humanity
May 14th, 2008This past Saturday, Habitat for Humanity Tucson started construction of its eighth Women Build home. The event drew approximately 100 women volunteers to the Habitat build site at Corazon del Pueblo. Once there, they got down to work with hammers…
and saws…
Then they put all the pieces together and raised the walls…
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.
Related Posts
- Construction Photography: Building Freedom Day
- Event Photography: Habitat for Humanity House Dedication
- Construction Photography: Creating a Greenlot
- Construction Photography: House Painting Time!
- Construction Photography: Reflected Barricades
