Could it be? Are we finally done with Winter’s icy grip? I sure hope so because I am very much looking forward to the warmer weather and blooming colors of Spring!
Category Archives: Nature
Flagstaff & Sedona AZ
I went to college in Flagstaff, Arizona, and I really wish my penchant for photography had blossomed when I was there. I developed a curiosity for it during my Black and White Photography class (pun intended!), but that was in my Sophomore year and was back in the day before digital cameras.
Now that I have a strong passion for photography, I really want to go back! Most of these were shot with my Ricoh, the SLR my mom bought me for my photography class, and scanned in, so the quality is not anywhere near what I wish it were. Which is why I want to go back ;-) That and I miss the west side.
This is a shot from my dorm room window my freshman year. Miss those mountains!
Snowbowl – Yes, it snows in Arizona. Campus was around 7k ft up and I think Snowbowl, at the top, was around 11k.
Lake Mary
Lots of Aspen trees in Flagstaff.
Sedona is about an hour south of Flagstaff. I spent many Saturdays driving down there and enjoying the scenery. It has the most amazing colors you will ever find in nature. These pictures in no way shape or form do it any justice. MUST GO BACK!
Bell Rock – probably the most recognizable formation in Sedona. This is maybe the only shot I have that actually comes close to the awesomeness that is Sedona.
Slide Rock – exactly like it sounds, a free, natural water park ;-)
Grasshopper Point – a popular place to go cliff diving. That was one of my roommates jumping. It’s exhilarating, to say the least!
Also nearby Flagstaff is the Grand Canyon. I would have gone more often, but the $20 entrance fee was a little steep for a poor college student. Again, NEED TO GO BACK AND TAKE BETTER PICTURES!
I went back to Arizona a couple of years after I graduated to go to a college roommates wedding (the jumper!) and a classmates’ baby shower. Even after living there for four years, I never made it to Lake Powell or Antelope Canyon, places I ended up driving to on a whim while I was back in town. WHY DIDN’T I SPEND MORE TIME EXPLORING WHEN I LIVED THERE?!?!
They are right on the border of Utah.
I’ve never seen a lake that color before.
There is an upper and a lower canyon. I don’t remember which I went to, but I do know it was the less popular of the two. The other one has the famous light streaming through it into a cave. Not.the.one.I.went.to! But the one I hiked was amazingly beautiful. Broken record; I neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed to go back!
College would have been super boring had it not been for the beauty of Arizona.
Snowy days
We’ve had two snow storms in two weeks (update 2/13/14 – a third storm has hit!). I hope this is not a sign for the rest of the winter. I like snow, it’s pretty, but I don’t necessarily want to live in it. I’m a so-cal girl, through and through, and had only seen snow up in the mountains, after driving for hours to get there. I didn’t even own a COAT until I moved away to college in Northern Arizona (yes, it does snow in Arizona).
But, now, here I am, living in a state where it snows just about every winter. And never on the weekends. Always during the week. And usually not enough to close our office. Sure, schools will close for a week for 2 inches (yes, I swear on my life, 2 INCHES!), but adults aren’t as important as the kids are. It snows just enough to keep the side-streets slippery, yet juuuuuuust barely passable for work.
Ok, ok, I’ll stop complaining. I can’t deny that it is really pretty when you can actually stop and enjoy it :) Here are some of my favorite snaps throughout the years.
March 2, 2009
The year the cherry blossoms came out really early, and were evilly tricked by mother nature.
My first ever snowman!
December 26, 2010
February 19, 2012
I like taking pictures as it’s snowing, I like to watch the flakes coming down. It looks particularly glittery and sparkly at night too.
January 18, 2013
Was playing with the selective color trait on my new camera.
January 25, 2013
Footsteps in the snow.
My neighbors like to rev up their 4-wheelers and take the kids for a spin.
March 23, 2013
These were taken at my parent’s house as the snow started to fall. I must have gotten home safely as I actually didn’t remember being at their house in the snow before I started reviewing my snow pictures for this post!
March 24, 2013
I appreciate the snow more when it sticks to things other than the street. This was a particularly good snow day.
Stark contrast!
January 29, 2014
Not a ton of Kodak moments, but the snow was extremely fluffy! It reminded me of the fake snow you buy to sprinkle on your Christmas tree or snowy village collection.
Lots of little critters left their prints in the snow.
Ironic?
Road leading out of my neighborhood.
Quaint little farm houses.
Puppy dogs checking things out.
January 30, 2014
*Updated 2/13/14*
We had yet ANOTHER snow storm come through! While this snow is very wet and already melting, we’re expecting another round, and additional inches, of snow later this afternoon. So…OFFICIAL SNOW DAY!
I finally had a chance to walk around the neighborhood and take pictures, but it still isn’t “pretty” snow.
No one was out playing in the snow, not even the kids!
Kitty cat who didn’t want to venture out either.
But the birds don’t mind the snow! A house a couple of streets away has a ton of feeders in the front yard.
Hopefully, they just forgot to take this down in October…I really hope that’s the case…
Miscellaneous observations around the ‘hood.
I wonder what tomorrow will look like…
GardenFest of Lights 2013
Lewis Ginter is a rotating bucket of natural fun!
Each year, they deck the grounds in lights and stay open after dark so that folks can stroll around and Ooh and Aah at the sparkling splendor. I haven’t been in several years but thought this year was as good as any to head over and snap some festive light shots.
I arrived early so I could scope the place out before it got crowded and ended up catching the sunset. But I’m getting a little ahead of myself.
I checked out the conservatory first. One wing was decorated with cute little woodland creatures (and some cactus, an odd combination, but I’m not complaining).
And another had train tracks set up with little miniatures (and a big, gorgeous tree!)
After the conservatory, I started meandering around the grounds, catching the last bright rays of the sun.
Once the sun went down, the lights started to come on. I played with the settings on my camera for a bit waiting for it to get a bit darker.
Finally, it got dark enough to really start seeing some contrast. The next three sets are comparing right after the sunset to about 20 minutes later.
And now…the lights!
anyonecantakeapicture 