Dobson Central Photography

Lone Chiracahua Spires

Mon, 14 May 2012 08:30 +0000

I was able to capture a few more photos before the sun peaked its head up over the horizon. This one I particularly liked due to mostly the clouds and the few long spires. The one problem with trying to get a photo at sunrise at the Chiracahua National Monument, is that the monument is down in a valley. So, when the sun actually peaks up above the hill, the sun is already harsh and it's like shooting at high noon. The light isn't flattering at all.

Chiracahua Dawn (Color)

Mon, 07 May 2012 07:00 +0000

As I mentioned last week, I really liked the way the early morning sun was just coming up over the horizon here at the Chiracahua National Monument. There is no mistaking it in this version with all the warm colors. As you can see, it just lights up the valley of spires in the foreground. As we watched the sunrise, the color in the sky reminded us of a fire headed our way.

Chiracahua Dawn (B&W)

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:00 +0000

I really liked the way the sun was just peaking over the horizon in this particular shot. The color is nice and warm in the original RAW photo, however in processing, I was drawn to create this in both color and a black and white version. Next week, will be the color version, which is definitely better. I still enjoy the black and white almost as much however.

Balanced Rock and Moon

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:00 +0000

Just after the sun peaked, we started venturing down into the Chiracahua National Park. It wasn't very long before I spotted this balanced rock and decided to try my hand at composing it with the moon. It was a very awkward way to get the shot, as I ended up semi-hanging off of the edge of a cliff, pointing the camera/tripod up to the sky. Muscle cramps and a back-ache quickly ensued, due to the odd position. In the end, I believe it was worth it.

Chiracahua Sunrise

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:00 +0000

Earlier this year, we took a trip down below Willcox, Arizona to see the Chiracahua National Monument. We arrived at the crack of dawn and while waiting for light, we captured the sunrise. This isn't the best sunrise I've ever taken by any means, but it was worth sharing. Had I thought about it, instead of trying to stay warm during the 17 degree weather, I should have taken the photo from a lower angle. This would have made the rest of the tree visible against the sunrise. Lesson learned.

Lightning: Tucson, Az (2011 #2)

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:00 +0000

After all the driving around and chasing storms in 2010, it was nice to stay close to home in 2011. My sister and I kept searching for decent areas in Tucson to capture lightning. In my search, I drove up to the top of a fairly well known area that has a high elevation over Tucson. The hardest part about capturing this photo, was protecting my gear in the rain. With an umbrella in one hand and a timer in the other, I somehow managed to keep from blowing away in the wind.

Lightning: Tucson, Az (2011 #1)

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:00 +0000

This photo was taken during monsoon season in Tucson last year. It's hard to believe that a couple of years went by before I was able to capture another lightning strike that was worthy of sharing. It certainly wasn't from lack of trying. I bet my sister and I probably each drove over five hundred miles in 2010 just chasing storms. With the price of gas, that got to be a little expensive. On top of that, I know I spent many hours in the middle of the night in some pretty remote (and creepy) areas in Arizona by myself, waiting for the storms to come. After many busts in 2010, I stayed close to home in 2011. I drove a lot less miles, saved a lot in gas and in the end, I ended up capturing a few decent lightning shots

Gateway Saguaro, Tucson

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 07:00 +0000

This saguaro neon sign is actually part of Tucson's public art sculptures designed by local artist Dirk Arnold back in 2010. This neon sculpture is called “Gateway Saguaro” and is 30 feet tall. Back in 1937, this stretch of road was Arizona's first divided highway. For me, it made for an interesting night photo with the traffic on Oracle road and Drachman street.

Tucson Hangar

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:00 +0000

While out chasing storms in Tucson this past monsoon season, I happened upon the back side of the Tucson Airport. There's nothing out here except commercial buildings, and apparently some very old aircraft hangers. These look like they are from the world war II era. With the storm coming in, and the rickety, run-down look of the hangars, I thought they would be a perfect candidate for an HDR photo. What are your thoughts?

California Dock in HDR

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:00 +0000

On our summer vacation, we took a trip down the California coast on Highway 1. It is, without a doubt, a gorgeous drive. After hours of driving, we pulled off to a beach somewhere that I don't recall and spent about an hour by the ocean. I went off in my own direction and took photos of this dock. In my own opinion, this is far from being a great photo, but I wanted to share it with you regardless. If you really want to see what Highway 1 has to offer, take a look at Mark Jansen's photo of the coast on Highway 1.