Brittany and Chris' Engagement Session, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ

Brittany and Chris, who will be married out of state this fall, wanted their Engagement Session to be in a natural Arizona locale with a organic feel to it. Sedona was a bit too far given time constraints, so the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix seemed like a perfect choice. We had photographed weddings there before, but never an Engagement Session, and were excited to give it a shot without the schedule of a busy wedding day. The late March weather, abundance of wildflowers, and textural elements of cactus and even Dale Chihuly glass sculptures provided the perfect backdrop for these two soon-to-be-marrieds. We wish them the best!

How We Spent the "Apocalypse"

Not surprisingly, the world didn't end on May 21 as Harold Camping had predicted on Family Radio. Amanda and I happened to be camping on that day at Colcord Ridge on the Mogollon Rim, between Payson and Heber. It was a great time to disconnect and immerse ourselves in the natural rhythm of the world.

Canyon Creek

Horsetail along Canyon Creek

Nelson's Larkspur near Valentine Ridge Campground

Rocky Mountain Iris

Rocky Mountain Iris

Silver-spotted Skipper

A Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake that slithered across the highway as we drove south of Young. It brings to mind a helpful rhyme I learned in my scouting days, to distinguish between the very deadly coral snake, and this non-venomous kingsnake: "Red touches yellow, kills a fellow. Red touches black, friend of Jack." Either way, I wasn't about to pick this guy up!

The view overlooking Roosevelt Lake from the east, with some blooming Ocotillo.

The view overlooking Roosevelt Lake toward Four Peaks, with blooming Prickly Pear.

What camping trip would be complete without chili dogs!

What? Is There Something in my Hair?

Amanda and I seem to have a knack for finding these little guys at the tops of mountain peaks every summer. The ladybugs swarm all over tree trunks, branches, and even radio towers. We found this particular group after a mile hike to the top of Madera Peak, in the Pinal Mountains just outside Globe. I love the way they tucked themselves into the bark of alligator juniper trees.

So Long 4x5"

The time finally came to sell our large format 4x5" film camera. I remember when we first got the camera in college and couldn't wait to try it out. We had set up an elaborate shot of broken glass and cut flowers on the bed in my dorm room. We had a light meter to tell us what exposure was needed, but no lights! After much calculation, we determined that it would take about 40 flashes from a regular 35mm handheld flash while the shutter on the camera was left open for around 3 minutes. Those were the days!

I thought it would be fun to share a couple of images we shot on this amazing piece of equipment. The 4x5" took large sheets of film (only 10 sheets to a $50 box), that were several times larger than a 35mm negative, and thus allowed us to create images that could be blown up with great clarity. When composing an image, the scene was reflected backward and upside down on a ground glass screen. The only way to see the image on the ground glass in bright daylight was under a dark cloth draped over the back of the camera. We used a magnifying loupe to check the focus and details of the composition, and then proofed the scene using black and white polaroid film! Taking photos with the 4x5" was a very meditative process, allowing us to really immerse ourselves in the landscape, as a typical image would take an hour or more to create.

Nelson Reservoir, White Mountains, Arizona


San Francisco Peaks, Arizona