Saturday, July 31, 2010

Arizona sky


Growing up in Washington, you don't realize how gorgeous the mountains can be. When you end up moving to Kansas where there are no mountains, you don't realize what you are missing. When you grow up, figure out your brain is intact and move to Phoenix, Arizona to nestle yourself into several little mountains (I live at the base of the McDowell Mountains)........ a solid love and appreciation for the scenery blossoms. But not just the scenery- the clouds that curl themselves into the ridges, the clouds that settle at the peaks, the clouds that build up like big fluffy pillows overstuffed with feathers waiting and wanting to be unleashed.....


It's the clouds.


At least for me it is. My love for the clouds and the sky began in August of 2007. I had come home from work and the sky was lit orange, pink, purple and red, the clouds building over the mountains, ready to bring us our monsoon, ready to release the rage of tears they hold, ready to lash out at the heat. I stood on the balcony outside my bedroom with my Sony camcorder in hand (it was the only means of digital camera I had at the time, mad kudos to my husband for buying me a wonderful digital camera a year later for Christmas). I watched the cloud race toward me, spouting the lightning flashes within, warning me that it held more power in it's gray and pink fluffiness than I could ever fathom.


I'm addicted.


It is during this time of year- monsoon season which lasts from June through about September- that I am the weird person running around my complex, trying to find the best spot to stand and get the shot, trying to get that shot of the sun's rays streaming through that dark gray cloud with the yellow, pink and orange hues shining in the distance. Me and my little Sony cybershot. I play with the ISO settings, the meter mode, the white balance...... all so I can create the dramatic effect of these masses of beauty and whisp.


I would someday like to take all these pictures and create calendars. Or artwork. I would need to take some photography classes and obtain a killer camera. The real mysteries lie higher up in the mountains and in the canyons.