A Shambles

Thursday. York. With Steve - (http://www.landscapesofyorkshire.com)

We set off quite early and it was a nice day. I was trying out this new app on my android phone and it was driving Steve mad. He was often telling me to put it away. I did for a while but got it out once again whilst he wasn't looking. Anyway, I have only been to York before for shopping. I had never walked around the other parts to see the sites. After what had seemed miles of walking, it finally started to get dark and I got to try out a few pictures. Some came out alright, some didn't. The one posted to flickr and here took a little bit of work in Photoshop. My patience was running thin when it came to noise and some of the plugins. I ended up spending quite a long time playing with sliders and adjustment layer masks to get somewhere I was happy with.

I also purchased a flickr pro account on Thursday. I had been resisting for a long long time. But the advantages finally caught up with me and the stats tool alone is worth the purchase. In the last few days alone I have had over 300 views on my flickr stream, mostly traffic originating from flickr, which I am pleased with.

People have asked me the past couple of weeks why I write a blog, via the blog, flickr and facebook. I don't actually write it for anyone else. I write it for myself mostly, I often use the word 'you'. But this isn't referring to anyone else but myself, but in a different form. A different personality if you please, one that is far more critical of my work. Even more so than normal. So there YOU have it.

New Year

It has been a while since I have posted, but those who know me personally, know alot of stuff has happened since I have returned from America.

I haven't had much motivation to look through and sort out my photographs for posting on flickr etc. There's many reasons, the main being I didn't think I had taken enough of a good enough standard. Plus I have had no internet so was unable to update my software or upload if I had processed some.

Well I downloaded the new software on Friday and spent 5 hours yesterday on a few photographs. They can be found in the usual place, my flickr... and they will be on my website soon enough, hopefully.

I have not really been out much to take new photos over the xmas period. I have photographed a few events. I went to Goit Stock in Harden whilst it was snowing but somehow managed to shoot in continuous auto focus, so the running water threw my camera way off and all the images managed to come out blurred. I have a few more things in the pipeline, hopefully starting this week. It is going to be the start of my portfolio.

Final week in America

I have been a bit lazy with my posting in the last week. I was due for another two posts before I returned home but I was distracted.

My final week in America was spent doing more social things rather than photography. I had a great time all the same, in fact I think I had a much better time than when I had been out taking photographs.

I am now home and it is bitterly cold, especially with no heating. I am working on a few photographs from America, but with other priorities, I think it will be a week or so before any images get posted. So keep a look out!

Arizona is an amazing state in America. Everyday is bright sunshine and low humidity, you cannot help but be happy. It really has made me realise that England is not the place I want to live, even though I have said all my life that I would never leave. Everything about Arizona is better, wider and cleaner streets, less traffic, fewer taxes and generally more cheerful people. Oh and everything is so much cheaper!

The rest of last week

Friday was time for Tombstone and Tucson (too-s-on). Tombstone is an old town in the south of Arizona, near the border with Mexico. It was a silver mining town and has alot of history! Too much to say so have a read here.

On the way we stopped at the Casa Grande National Monument. I was disappointed as it was hard to photograph. The position of the sun and the roof over the monument just made it almost impossible.

In Tombstone we went to watch a gun fight at the OK Corral. It was good but hard to photograph. The noise from the guns was very very loud and the drama was a little overdone. It was like watching kids in some parts. The rest of Tombstone was fun. Plenty of old shops with traditional items for sale.

Friday night was spent in Tucson and on Saturday morning we went to the Pima Air and Space Museum. There were tonnes of planes and the B-52 bombers were huge. Not as big as I thought they would be though. But anything that needs 8 jet engines must be heavy! The B-17G and the SR-71 blackbird were magnificent.

A long long long week...

I cannot believe it has been almost a week since I have posted. I have been busy but also lazy too.

Sunday was a quiet day, we went to Kristins sisters house for dinner and some drinks. It was fun.

On Monday I went to the cinema to see Jackass 3D, it was excellent. Could've been longer but then again if it had been longer, the huge cherry coke I had would've worked its way out somehow. After the cinema we went to the Botanical Gardens in Phoenix. They were good. Lots of different colours, smells and new plants I have never seen. It's amazing how many different types of cactus there are.

Tuesday was spent travelling upto a cabin in Prescott, Northern Arizona. We stayed in a log wooden cabin in the middle of a pine forest. I was a little worried at first because I have had so many warnings about bears and I know mountain lions are widespread here too. We used a log fire too which was so so warm.

After what seemed the longest, highest (6000ft) and most curved road in the world, we arrived in Jerome on Wednesday. It is a small mining town on the side of a mountain. We went to the Ghost Town section and it was good. Met real life 'hicks' There was a large scrapyard of old American trucks and other vehicles. Then lots of old original buildings. We then went to the modern Jerome where we had a famous haunted burger at the Haunted Hamburger. It was the biggest and best hamburger/cheeseburger I have ever had. We then walked around for a while before heading back on the travel sick highway.

Thursday was another drive along the curvy road on the way to Sedona. In Sedona we hiked to Devil's Bridge. It was a tricky hike because I am not used to the heat, altitude and sandy ground. Once we hit the shady trees, it was all ok. The bridge was quite spectacular and the view from the top was just as good.

I am having issues with software so that's why there's a lack of images.

Saturday at the Zoo

Saturday was time for the zoo. Arizona Zoo. We were due to go to the botanical gardens afterwards too. The zoo was great, lots of animals and lots of sun. I don't quite know how hot it was but it was nice. All the animals were amazing, the tiger and lion especially. Not to mention the extravagant people. We managed to spend most of the day at the zoo so there wasn't enough time to go to the botanical gardens, so we're saving that for Monday. Afterwards we went to Tempe centre and to the lake they have there. It was nice, we had frozen yogurt (no cream so it wasn't ice cream) and sat in the shade eating it. A few pictures beside the train tracks then it was time to head back to Surprise.

Frickin' Awesome Dude

So it has been a few days since I have last posted, but I have good reason. I have spent most of the last few days camping in northern Arizona and driving around quite a bit. On Tuesday we left for the three canyons (Walnut, Grand and Slot).

First up was the Walnut Canyon, it was big. The pictures I took don't really show it for how deep it was. It was really beautiful too. The walk was also good, at 6700 feet, you really get a good work out even though it is less than a mile. There were a few old houses in the side of the cliffs where people used to live a long time ago.

From the Walnut Canyon we drove to the Grand Canyon camp ground. I have not camped since I was young so I was a bit apprehensive about it, especially when I found out it was going to be close to -5°C at night. It was good though, the camping was a lot easier and more fun than I expected it to be. We spent the night under the stars, literally. The milky way was easily visable and I was quite taken aback. Marshmallows on the camp fire made it extra special. We managed to see the Grand Canyon before the night though and it was amazing. Photographs and video just do not look the same. It has to be seen with your own eyes.

The day after we drove to the Vermillion Cliffs/Paria to see the Slot Canyons. The camp ground was just as good, if not better, than the Grand Canyon. It was more secluded, wild and unique. The next morning we set out to the Slot Canyon. We got lost on the way and entered into the area for the Wave. The Wave was almost impossible to see, a lottery system was in place that allowed only 10 visitors per day. So after walking around in the baking heat for what appeared to be forever, we bumped into a ranger. He could've fined us each $500! But he let us off. We found our way to the Slots and they were amazing. Again photos just don't do it justice, well at least mine don't. From there we drove to Flagstaff and stayed the night.

In general, America is good. I could easily see myself living here. The people are super friendly and polite. The weather is amazing and the food choices are endless. There's so so much to see also, everywhere has something to offer.