I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Arizona. I’ve had some great times. I’ve seen some great stuff. But it’s certainly not one of my favorite places on earth. The dichotomy starts as soon I get off the plane – I have a love/hate relationship with the Phoenix airport. It was the final destination of my first flights (when I was 22) so it holds a special place in my heart. It’s where this crazy 7 year journey began. But it’s also very hot. I think they make the airport exceptionally hot so you realize you’re now in the desert. You will sweat through your clothes before you make it to baggage claim. It’s really not a nice experience.
I arrived to Arizona from Seattle. I had just spent three days surrounded by mountains, water, and flowering trees. And now I was in the desert. I was surrounded by sand, rocks, and plants you shouldn’t touch. I had two days of work in Mesa, but then I was staying on for a few more days on a mini-vacation. Shortly after my arrival, I was questioning my decision. I was excited to see and catch up with the friends I would be staying with, but I wasn’t sure about the climate.
Not to be outdone by the dazzle and redemption that Seattle offered earlier in the week, Arizona stepped up it’s game.
First of all a huge thank you to my host family, the Hills! Joshua and Andrew, thanks for your friendship 10-15 years ago that made this trip possible. Sarah and Kirk, thanks for spending the day with me. I can’t believe we’re all “adults” now! Joe and Phyllis, thank you for opening your home to me. And Phyllis, let me just say that I hope I am as awesome and adventurous as you when I’m a grandma! Thank you for everything.
Always up for adventure and exploration, I quickly agreed to a trip to Sedona when Phyllis offered. Option one was a cruise around town in a convertible. Option two was a climb up a rocky mountain pass in a 4-wheel drive Jeep.
I’m sure a ride around town would be nice, but the climb up Schnebly Hill was awesome! I still think Mr. Schnebly was a bit crazy to live on top of this mountain and work his way down a steep trail with his horses, but what a view…
Throughout the day I kept joking with Phyllis that she was my fixer. In the pro-photojournalism world it’s common to have a fixer local to the destination where you are traveling. Your fixer can be your guide, your driver, your bail bond agent, a person who knows the area and can efficiently and safely make everything happen. This was my first shoot with a fixer. I’m a solo traveler frequently and almost exclusively a solo shooter. I rarely find people willing to invest even a day in some crazy adventure I have in mind. Life is much easier if I’m not trying to navigate, drive, and photograph! Having a fixer let me shoot 300 frames in a few hours all around Sedona.
Clearly Arizona is not all flat, boring desert. I think I could explore Sedona for a week or more.
I feel a bit silly even showing you these pictures – much like I did with the Grand Canyon. There is simply no way any photograph can convey the beauty of these places. It may look like just a bunch of rock and trees. Some have told me it all looks the same. I disagree. It’s all so different and that’s what makes it beautiful. Desert becomes forest. Forest becomes rock formations. Red rock becomes white rock. Creeks and rivers carve their passages. Wind creates intricate designs. It’s like a movie set, a painting, a playground, and you get to be a part of it. See it! Explore it! Be inspired by it. Humbled by it. Changed by it.
You too have redeemed yourself Arizona! I’ll be back soon…
