First Friday Phoenix

That mindless droning of the downtown business hub transforms into an eclectic mix of art, crafts, music, dancing, drinking, eating, incense, hedonism, religion and the "warm smell of colitas rising up through the air" 

Lowepro Backpack Review

Ihad the opportunity to review Lowepro’s Flipside 400 AW backpack last year.  That backpack survived some intense hikes, including Angel's Landing and the Narrows in Zion National Park. To this day, The Flipside bag still remains one my favorite.

Multi-day treks with camping gear in tow mingling in the same cargo space as expensive camera gear create numerous concerns.  The added weight could compromise stability on rugged trails. Conventional backpacks aren't set up to secure delicate lenses and cameras. Good thing Lowepro specializes in just that. 

 The idea is to carry as much photography gear needed to capture the landscape but still have room for other essentials such as clothing layers, food, water, and first aid and accessories. 

A Photographer's Love Letter: The American Southwest

Romancing The American Southwest
Valerie Millett

T

his mysterious land of enchantment—the American Southwest—is a siren song seducing many an explorer, writer, poet, artist and even those seeking healing of the metaphysical kind. It’s an indescribable allure that promises those of a curious nature to provide endless fascination. For those suffering the ills of industrialized urbanization, the open road and vast empty spaces have long inspired romantic notions, uplifted spirits, encouraged self-discovery and delivered an unabashed sense of freedom. You’re entering a realm imbued with a magical charm and a tangible presence of ancient people.

Published In National Geographic 2019

Representing February 2019

Spring In The Sonoran Desert

San Juan Capistrano

 I remember these places even as a kid, it's so Southern California. Quaint little eats tucked into old beachside neighborhoods. It's these iconic images of a place I loved so much as a child and a culture that still resides deep in my psyche that are so enjoyable to photograph. 

Lowepro Flipside 400 AW Backpack Review

I had the chance to try Lowepro's Flipside 400 AW camera backpack on my recent trip to photograph a few hikes in Zion National Park. This camera backpack is a high capacity backpack built for the outdoor shooter.  

Laguna Beach, California

For some reason, I've had this scene in my head for some time and it became a quest to find the vantage point on this trip. Hard to tell but a storm had just cleared and the sun was out with no clouds(a landscape photographers nightmare) but it gave me a chance to get out and tinker around the beach.

The Lone Cypress

Classic West Fork 2018

I've put to thought often,
how it is that
certain locations just resonate so brilliantly
with your own psyche.
When I look at my own images, it's the first thing I see or I don't see. 

This place 
is always full of magic. 

Arizona Highways 2019 Scenic Calendar

The Month of January 2019 for Arizona Highways Magazine

The Sonoran Desert: My Backyard

A desert storm is something to be experienced, over and over again. I love the storm seasons, especially the warm monsoons.  Beautiful dramatic backdrops, the sand travels in waves, the lightning strikes, the thunder cracks and rolls  all mixed with fragrant sage, acacias and mesquite for a unique desert bouquet.

#GetOutside

Our monsoon season has arrived right on schedule with the Fourth Of July. 

 It's been raining on  and off now for a few days and this morning, I packed my camera backpack in the SUV and just headed out. I wanted to see the Dells saturated and subdued and this morning, under a broody monsoon haze we spied some kayakers.  As always the Dells are spellbinding. One could easily meander around these formations for days. Several years ago, I came here on a "date" to kayak around the Dells and it was a blast but I could've killed for my camera!

Go Halo! You are my girl! 
Canon 5D MarkIV Tamron 150-600mm @ 600mm

Facebook Unplugged

   AP PHOTO/PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS

After almost 10 years on Facebook, I unplugged. 

Published by National Geographic 2019

Several years ago, I wrote a story about my first hiking trip into the Narrows of Zion.  On this particular trip I was fortunate enough to have the hike all to myself in the wee hours of a warm May morning.  It was a rich experience the felt entrancing and humbling to be in a place of such intense beauty.  At times, I'm bathed in the soft canyon bounce light and got lost in the sounds of the Virgin River rambling on by as my legs, my whole body sways with it's rhythm. 

The echos of the canyon wrens keep me company and I just can't stop looking up. 

Autumn's Grand Tapestry

Sonoran Shade

Desert Oasis

Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. 

This is another paradox: what is soft is strong_Lao-Tzu

Desert Landscapes Rock

“A plant needs to do more than stretch its leaves toward the sun. 
It also needs to send down roots deep into the ground. 
They hold on tightly in the dark,
 out of sight where it is easy to forget about them. 

But it is the fact that a plant can do these two things at once, 
anchoring itself to the earth even as it reaches for the sky, that makes it strong.” 
― Cameron Dokey

Sunrise on the desert landscapes at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum 
This place could easily be addicting!