Strange, Surreal, and Fantastic Light in the Arizona Desert
I’m going to depart from the rust, mold and decay of the abandoned places I’ve been photographing this Fall and return to our Arizona trip in October. This post reflects my first morning in the Copper State.
Every now and then a photographer is blessed with an amazing sunrise or sunset. I had an experience in Arizona that went way beyond that. While staying with some friends in Scottsdale, Arizona, I paid a visit to McDowell Mountain Regional Park to photograph the sunrise.
The forecast called for mostly cloudy skies and rain. That forecast delivered some amazing and surreal light, rain, clouds, and even a rainbow in the course of about 3 hours. I could have kept going but didn’t want to hold everyone else’s day up waiting for me. Driving back, regretfully, I kept seeing wonderful changes in the light, but consoled myself by thinking that we hadn’t seen these friends in many years. Sometimes you just have to put the camera away.
Here are the photographs from that wonderful morning.
Rainy Sunrise in Arizona by Richard Lewis 2015
Rainy Sunrise in Arizona 2 by Richard Lewis 2015
Desert Rainbow by Richard Lewis
Fallen Cactus by Richard Lewis 2015
Morning Light in the Arizona Desert by Richard Lewis 2015
Morning Light in the Arizona Desert 2 by Richard Lewis
Morning Cacti by Richard Lewis 2015
Glowing Cacti by Richard Lewis 2015
I hope you enjoy this morning as much as I did.
Enjoy
Wonderful shots! If you’re ever back in Arizona, we should meet for drinks. Happy Monday!
Thank Karen. I would love to meet you next time we make it out there. You live in a beautiful area. It must be inspiring.
It’s inspiring here, but New Jersey (where I’m originally from) is inspiring in its own way too. At least you have four seasons and can easily reach the ocean without driving five or six hours. I miss the ocean!
BRAVO!
Thanks!
These are stunning! beautiful dawn light and the landscape is superb.
Thanks. It was one of those mornings with the most magical light and I was happy to be out there. Rain and all.
Thanks for sharing these. I did enjoy them. They are gorgeous.
Sent from Ina’s iPad. Desire sets our compass, real life steers our course.
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Thanks Ina. I love the quote.
Looks like you were blessed with incredible weather. Rain and a rainbow in the desert!
It was an amazing morning Pat. I didn’t even mind getting wet.
Another fantastic post and set of images. You sure do seem to time your outing just right for dramatic light and clouds… what’s your secret!?! YOU are a photographer’s photographer my friend! Kudos.
Thanks Denise. I’d love to share a secret with you but it’s just luck and checking the weather forecast. I’m going to work hard to live up to that compliment by the way.
That last shot brings this post home for me… light can be both my friend and a real pain in the ‘%$$’. I has blessed and cursed my shooting but has forced me to be a better photographer. I see you are also one with the light… ‘young Jedi’. 🙂
Thanks Mike. I can’t agree more with you about light. It tends to always layout a creative challenge. When it is good, you gotta work to make jaw dropping composition that takes advantage of it. When it’s bad, well, you just gotta work. Either way, “May the light be with you.”
Wow, what a morning. Beautiful work.