Updated the cover with a subtly adjusted image to reflect a journey to undo the negative thought process in my head. Where the stark contrast of right and wrong is extreme at times. Not everything is evil. Or wrong. We all are trying to figure this out in the shortest amount of time as possible to be successful in life. Maybe one day catch a wave in Hunnington Beach, CA with some friends.
I was out driving around as usual and saw the sliver of the moon setting right behind another beautiful sunset. The colors are enhanced, but they are there. We normally can’t see them, like Donald Trump’s spray on tan. It takes a minor adjustment to a 30 MegaPixel photo to expose fine gradients and subtle tones. Then It takes some painting and advance photo editing skills to make the comet.
The idea behind this I believe is through Bill Hicks. A little before my time, but Keenan Maynard and the Tool band honed in on it and wrote Ænema. If you listen to the lyrics I honestly feel that way being an adult that still has that little candle of naive innocence only to be crushed by shitty people.
I went to this thought as I tend to think about the big picture. So looking at that sunset I think about what was creating it. The refraction of light angled against our dirty atmosphere. Really dirty.
There are plenty of solutions. Some people think the solution is destruction and rebirth. Sure sounds good to me. So does changing the culture we’ve created.
Poetically philosophically the title is,
“The End was Beautiful. Arizona Bay had the Best View.”
This image is adjusted to show the polluted sky from the top of the tallest palm tree down. Taken downwind from Los Angeles to Phoenix.
A Theoretical Comet hurdles towards California creating Arizona Bay similar to the Gulf of Mexico. Inspired by Tool and personal feelings about the bullshit in this world.
I got a new lens filter for stubborn reflections that create glare. What I was looking for in the cover photo is what I saw through my polarized sunglasses. I was using a UV lens filter on the camera at the time, which filtered out the full spectrum of light colors on the evaporating whisps. It was pretty cool and something to remember. Clouds like these evaporate quickly in Phoenix even during January. So getting that shot again is possible. Today it literally disappeared.
The panorama of Camelback Mountain was taken from the Northeastern corner on the trail by the Arizona Canal Trail. I was looking for a better angle ending up at 56th St. and Indian School. Although shutting down 56th St. to get the view from the middle of the road was an idea.
The G.R. Herberger Park is the park many people pass on a daily basis and maybe say, “Huh?! I need to check that out sometime.”
And then it’s too late. Traffic is going 45 MPH in a 35 MPH School Zone and you’re trying to maintain your lane on an obscured curve with no where to pull off.
Well if you can manage to safely navigate your way there, here’s the grand entrance to SRP’s Arizona Falls on the Arizona Canal Trail. I was thinking my kid would have enjoyed seeing this.
Later on I think I would have wanted him wearing a toddler version of an orange arctic survival suit tethered to a boom. Like a toxic waste dump space walk.
Fog added in photoshop. Clearly not a place to take kids.
The trail and park lead to this carefully designed building to fit in with the affluent neighborhood. Not the one above. Scroll down.
This one. Along with some cool views of Camelback Mountain and safety features it’s a functional hydroelectric station and museum. This also might be a welcomed stop on a mid-summer run.
Circular Polarized Lens Filter Images
A few miles down on the Northwest corner of Goldwater and 5th Ave. is another parking area with a tunnel to avoid the crosswalk, which I found on my way back to the vehicle. The photos below are images that were taken with a Circular Polarized Lens Filter .
Not so bad once inside. No graffiti, clowns, weird smells, wraiths, trash,
Perpetuating Stereotypes?
The above shot is using a Polarized filter. It didn’t get the anti-glare effect I was hoping for. Notice the light coming in through the door towards the camera. This shot might be better at sunset with less direct sunlight and light coming from behind the camera. The angle of the shot matters.
Here’s a shot with the sun over my right shoulder. The right horse would have had the glare issues had it not been for the Polarized filter. The patina is hard to see during this time of day and angle, even with the naked eye glare washes out minute details. The middle horse did receive some extra Photoshop love.
And another photo that is hard to capture in all it’s detail. From this angle the structure never sees sunlight. Wait for the clouds and it loses luster. Nothing a tripod and patience can’t fix. I was traveling light taking advantage of a cool breezy day to do a little Urban Hiking on the AZ Canal. Next time! Because everytime is a scouting trip. The only difference is my knowledge and preparedness each adventure.
