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.
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.
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. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. To check availability and to request a proposal, please contact me.
Stained Glass and Shadows
May 23rd, 2008
Stained glass window, Catholic Newman Center, Tucson, Arizona
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
