Construction Photography: Solar Exterior Lighting
July 31st, 2009Although I’m a big fan of renewable energy, I’m not thrilled with the price tag. Take solar power, for example. The equipment and installation costs of a household photovoltaic system can run well into the five figures. Or higher. Yes, I know that there are rebates and tax credits, but you still have to front the money.
But my imperfect memory got me thinking about solar in a different way. I’m in the habit of turning my porch light on to give the front of this place some illumination. And sometimes I forget to turn it off in the morning. Which benefits the electric company.
So, I thought, why not let the Tucson’s abundant sunshine do the remembering for me? Enter the solar-powered exterior light, which is perched on the edge of the carport. Cost: $250.99 including shipping from Solar Illuminations.
This light’s on duty from dusk to dawn…
The unpainted spot is where my flagpole bracket used to be. I wanted that bracket lower to the ground so that I can fly Old Glory without having to scale a ladder.
Since my exterior lighting’s going off the grid, it’s time to lose that old porch light. Electrician Bryan Olson of O’Bryan Electric handles the removal…
Since the flagpole bracket’s more accessible, it’s time to celebrate Energy Indepence Day…
Note: The gray cap is where the porch light used to be.
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.
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Construction Photography: Replacing a Water Line
May 27th, 2009I live and run my studio in a house that’s 53 years old. Like most houses its age, it has issues. (Translation: It’s an emotionally needy house.)
Earlier this spring, I was repairing the plumbing in the shower. When I went outside to shut off the house water, I noticed that the water line was leaking.
Uh-oh. Time for a water line replacement.
After interviewing four companies, I chose Al Coronado Plumbing as the contractor for this job. Here’s one of the final stages of installing the new line…
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.
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Event Photography: Meet Me at Maynards Social Run and Walk
April 14th, 2009Downtown Tucson has been under revitalization (read: construction) for many, many moons.
Despite all of the dust and detours, things are happening Downtown. One of the newest and most promising is the Meet Me at Maynards social run and walk. The inaugural version happened last night, and it attracted 184 participants.
The three-mile course featured the inevitable Downtown construction…
After the walking and running was done, participants gathered in the patio at Maynards Market and Kitchen. Some enjoyed the free refreshments…
And others hoped that someone would share the refreshments. (Aw, please, just one treat for me…)
Buy Meet Me at Maynards photos
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.
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Construction Photography: Hillside Restoration
March 10th, 2009When you live on an eroding hillside, you’ve got a problem. Whenever it rains, valuable topsoil is being carried away.
This past Sunday, members of the Watershed Management Group’s co-op program were hard at work, restoring a homeowner’s hillside. The goal is to prevent erosion and stabilize the hillside so that native plants can grow on it. The plants were installed by WMG co-opers, and they will help shade and cool the property.
Like other WMG projects, this one involved a lot of gravel shoveling…
We also had to sort our big rock pile into smaller wheelbarrow loads, then take those loads to where they were needed…
Then the rocks were set into place on the hillside…
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.
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Construction Photography: Window Upgrade
March 3rd, 2009Been doing a window upgrade on my house for the past four years. The old casement windows are of the single pane variety. And they leak like a sieve.
Last Friday, I cleared out my design studio and let the window replacement crew move their gear in.
Then it was time to bid two more of my old windows goodbye. And they didn’t go down without a fight. The replacement crew had to use this, that, and the other tool to remove them…
I now have a quieter studio with more energy efficient windows. The living room windows are next.
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.
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Travel Photography: Ever been a tourist in your hometown?
February 25th, 2009Ever been a tourist in your hometown? I decided to take that idea for a little test-ride this past weekend. My itinerary included the Pima Community College West Campus, Sentinel Peak (aka A Mountain), and Tucson’s oldest tree. This eucalyptus hangs in there at the edge of Congress Road, just west of Downtown…
Then there was the Interstate 10 obstacle course…
I’ve heard that this multi-year construction project is almost over, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
Tip: You can view more travel photography in my portfolio.
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Construction Photography: Basin Finishing Touches
February 19th, 2009Who says that University of Arizona students won’t get up bright and early on a Saturday morning? Especially if that Saturday happens to coincide with Valentine’s Day?
This past Saturday, I worked with UA water harvesting students in the Rincon Heights neighborhood, which is just south of the campus. The students were joined by a group of Peace Corps alumni, and together we put the finishing touches on some planting basins…
This project is being run by Tucson’s Watershed Management Group. The goal is to prevent flooding in the Rincon Heights neighborhood.
Tip: You can view more construction 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.
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Construction Photography: Putting Greywater to Work
February 10th, 2009This past weekend, I worked with the Watershed Management Group on a greywater harvesting project. This project will take washing machine water and redirect it to plants outside the laundry room. These guys are dry-fitting the ABS pipes that are part of the greywater drainage…
After they were finished with the pipe-fitting, we filled trenches and planted plants.
Tip: You can view more construction 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.
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Construction Photography: More on Water Harvesting for Commercial Properties
January 29th, 2009This past November, I wrote a post on Tucson’s new ordinance that requires water harvesting for commercial developments. To show how this can be done, the Ward 1 City Council Office is creating a public demonstration site.
Work on the Ward 1 site is now being completed. On Saturday, January 24, Watershed Management Group volunteers gathered to put the finishing touches on the landscaping and the cistern’s plumbing…
Tip: You can view more construction 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.
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Nature Photography: Extreme Weather
January 15th, 2009My recent trip to Pennsylvania featured just about every kind of weather imaginable. Most of my time there was snow-free. But not fog-free...
And certainly not wind-free. Gusts of 40 mph and higher were recorded on New Year's Eve. This had predictable effects on local trees and powerlines...
Tip: You can view more nature photography in my portfolio.
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