Having a home in Phoenix that we can’t live in can be a burden sometimes, but at other times, it’s great. At the end of July I decided to pack the car and head out that way to enjoy the desert southwest for a few months. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking - who in their right mind would go to Phoenix during the summer? Really, it isn’t that bad. 110 degrees in a dry climate actually is more tolerable to me than 90 degrees in Miami humidity. Besides, we have a pool. The dogs came with me. Basil is from Phoenix, and he seemed to enjoy going back. He even learned to enjoy the pool - as long as Ma was swimming with him. Wallace didn’t like the heat so much, or the gravel that constitutes most of the lawn, and he never got used to the pool. Guess he’ll always be a northeast kinda dog. I wish Bailey could have been there. She was always the adventurous one, so she would have had a good time exploring.
Phoenix is a great location for concerts, and that was a big part of my motivation for going out there. I only wish I could have gone to more while I was there, but unfortunately, I still have to work for a living. Sky Metal is becoming a yearly thing near Albuquerque, NM, and I met some friends there for the event. We got to enjoy Gilby Clarke, Winger, Dokken and Cinderella. Three of the four shows were in daylight, which I had almost forgotten how to shoot in! Lynch Mob had to cancel, which was a big disappointment. Another disappointment was that the bands were staying back in Grants this time instead of at the hotel in Acoma. A big part of the attraction of the event was having access to the bands.
The American Carnage tour, featuring Testament, Megadeth and Slayer made a stop in Phoenix. While it isn’t the sort of music I normally listen to, it was fun to photograph something that is a little outside my comfort zone. Between the smoke machine and the weird lighting, I didn’t get the best shots in the world, but I did get useable ones. Call it a learning experience. The next event was near Salt Lake City, UT. Rockin’ Northern Utah was a celebrity golf tournament followed by a concert with the Frank Hannon Band and Slaughter. The LED lights during the Slaughter show made shooting miserable. The camera just doesn’t know how to handle them and they are so harsh! Unfortunately, the turnout was low, but it was an enjoyable day anyway. Stepping outside my comfort zone again, I photographed the folks playing golf. Didn’t do too bad for a rookie.
Besides enjoying some concerts and the pool, I took time to enjoy the area as well. The southwest is such a cool place. While in NM, I went to see my Godmother, who I haven’t seen in many years. It was a good visit. Hopefully, I can do it again next year. I also took trips to Tucson and Sedona. Outside Tucson is the Mission San Xavier. This is a beautiful old church, out in the middle of nowhere, but well worth the drive. It is in the process of being renovated, so part of it is brilliant white and part is more of a sand color. Definitely a photographic challenge, especially in the blistering sun. My timing was bad or I would have gotten some twilight shots. Sedona is always beautiful. The red rocks are amazing, and this time I was able to get a few twilight shots, but my hands were a bit too shaky at that point to have them turn out very good. The drive up thru Oak Creek Canyon provided some nice shots of the landscape and nature. Slide Rock was quite busy despite the fact that the water was downright cold. I managed a few good shots without people in them!
One of the highlights of the trip was experiencing Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. Celebrated by many cultures, this festival is not about celebrating death, but rather about celebrating the lives of those who have passed. In general, people in this country are a bit squeamish about death. While we love our horror movies, when it comes to dealing with the real thing, we have a hard time. One of the main features of Dia de los Muertos is the creation of alters to honor the dead. While these alters often have photos, skeletons are also a common way to depict the dearly departed. This is probably why some see the tradition as a form of devil worship, when it is really nothing of the sort. Children (and adults too) decorate skulls made of sugar. Shadowboxes are another way to honor the dead - putting in tokens of the things they loved in life. I found it interesting that many craft vendors had shadowboxes with the skeleton figures of departed musicians like John Lennon. My oldest dog, Bailey, who passed early this year, used to love to try and get the last drop out of a champagne or beer bottle. I was tickled when I found a small sculpture depicting a skeleton dog with what looks like a champagne bottle. It now sits on top of her shadowbox.
So, now I’m back in Pittsburgh, watching it snow - again. I don’t mind the cold so much, but I sure do miss the sun! I’m looking for good shows to go to - some bands are crazy enough to come here in the winter - and looking forward to another trip out west.
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