Photo: Biking in Papago Park

The heat of summer is almost over so time to start planning for outdoor activities.

Here is a photo of an outdoor bicyclist on the rocky paths through Papago Park.

I took this photo near dusk so the sky and colors were interesting.

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Photo: Monsoon

Happy Monsoon Monday!

We are having amazing monsoons in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area.

You can see the rain cells coming down from the sky to the Earth with such great color.

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Photo: Moon and San Xavier Del Bac Mission

Happy Sunday. We had a storm last night and lost internet connection so I am late on my post.

Here is a photo of the San Xavier Del Bac mission in Tucson, Arizona.

I like the moon in the cool grey blue sky rising over the top of the Mission.

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Photo: The Boardroom on the 24th Floor

Here is a photo of the exquisite boardroom in our office.

This is the room that John Teets, who was Chairman and CEO of Greyhound Dial/Viad used for years when he built and designed the Viad Tower.

As part of the lease for our office, it has been maintained and it is a powerful room to step into.

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Photo: Chateaux on Central

Looking down from the 24th floor you can see these residential houses across the street from the Viad Tower and the light rail line in front that goes down the middle of Central.

These red new brownstones with copper turrets and roofing are very unique and not a style that is anywhere else in Arizona.

The zoning allows for professional business use of the first floor. They were designed so that architects, engineers, lawyers, and other professionals could work on the first floor and live on the two floors above. They each have an elevator.

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Photo: Front Entrance to Viad Tower

Here is a photo of the front entrance to the Viad Tower. Look at the reflection and what is across the street.

Tomorrow I will show you the cool looking building across the street but I will show it to you from the 24th floor so it will be an aerial view. it is very unique architecture.

The street our front is called Central and is the main street that runs through Phoenix and has light rail.

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Photo: Side View of Viad Tower

Here is a photo of the side of the 24-floor copper Viad Tower in downtown Phoenix.

I work on the 23rd floor of this side of the building so I have a west view and can watch the sunset each night.

Surrounding this skyscraper are residences in an old historic neighborhood. Of course, in Phoenix historic means houses built in the 1930s and before.

Remember, Arizona only became a state as part of the United States on February 14, 2012.

You can see the palm trees and residential street view of the building and it means we have great views from all window since there are no skyscrapers close by. The Viad Tower is located across the street from the Phoenix Art Museum and the Heard Museum so it is in a great location.

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Photo: Clock Tower at Viad

This is a photo of the clock tower and flower bed just outside the front entrance to the Viad Tower.

You can see the interesting skin on the cooper skyscraper and how reflective it is.

The grounds have bronze statues that keeps everyone entertained.

It is great to see art, landscaping and great Class A space and to work in such a fine building.

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Photo: Looking Upwards at My Office Building

Here is a photo looking straight upwards towards the sky of the office building I work in, which is called the Viad Tower and is located at Central and McDowell in Phoenix.

I like the reflections of the clouds on this sunny and blue sky day.

John Teets created this gorgeous place to work. He had a real eye for art and aesthetic appeal.

You can see the building from the air while traveling as the building stands out.

The shape of the top of the building resembles a bar of soap, Dial soap. Dial was part of Viad and were corporate cousins.

The Breck Girls Hall of Fame used to be located in the building.

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Photo: Viad Tower in Phoenix

Here is a photo of the building I work in each day. My office is on the 23rd floor.

This building is one of my favorite skyscrapers in Phoenix.

It is a beautiful facility with the brilliant copper look.

I will show a few more photos of it over the next few days.

Today is Sunday, so check our travel photos of the Scenes of India at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Pool Extraordinaire

It is hot in Scottsdale right now. Sizzling hot.

Most locals are doing "staycations," which applies in the hot summer.

It means locals take a break from their residences and drive to one of our many resorts and stay for the weekend with a special deal. Instead of going on vacation, they stay and take a vacation, which is called a staycation.

People hang at the pool and enjoy the amenities while tourists are out of town because of the summer heat.

As you can see from the photo, the Phoenician has a great pool to enjoy.

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Photo: Shadow of Red Flower with Red Gel Drip

Here is a rather interesting photo. You have to look closely or enlarge the photo.

First, there is the interesting shadow of the green center of the cactus flower captured on the vibrant red leaves of the flower.

Now you must look closely to see the red gel drip hanging from the center of the flower just about ready to fall onto the leaves.

What is in the center of the flower that causes it turn into a gel like consistency of red. I do not know. Bizarre, but a beautiful flower.

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Photo: Phoenix from Camelback Mountain

Here is a photo of Phoenix taken from Camelback Mountain at dusk over a gold course towards South Mountain.

The lights on the buildings and streets are just beginning to turn on.

The Phoenix metropolitan area is the lowest density big city in the United States.

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Photo: Par

Here is a photo of the Phoenician Resort golf course at sunset.

I like the long shadows that occur at this time of the day.

I took this photo while looking down from Camelback Mountain where I was hiking.

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Photo: Peach Faced Lovebird

Here is a colorful photo of a peach faced lovebird sitting in a tree in our neighborhood.

These wild birds are very colorful and we had over 30 of them hanging around on the tree and the grass below.

Pretty cool to see such brightly colored birds thrive in the southwest desert of Arizona.

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Photo: Candles for Our Lady of Guadalupe

Here is a photo of the candles lit before the Lady of Guadalupe in the Old Adobe Mission, which is located at First Street and Brown in Old Town Scottsdale.

When you come to Old Town Scottsdale, check out the Old Adobe Mission and light a candle.

The architect for the mission was RT Bob Evans, the same architect of Jokake Inn.

The Corral men, owners of Los Olivos restaurant, coordinated the making of 6,000 adobe bricks. Bernabe Herrera, a tin smith, made the stained glass windows.

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Photo: Our Lady of Guadalupe

Here is a photo of "Our Lady of Guadalupe," which is in the Old Adobe Mission in Old Town Scottsdale.

Growing up in the Southwest, most of us learn the story of Juan Diego and the Miracle of the Roses.

Locals re-enacted the play of the Miracle of the Roses and had fiestas until 1966.

Juan Diego comes back from the desert and tells a priest of the appearance of the Virgin, but the priests do not believe him.

Juan Diego leaves the church and goes back to the desert and tells the Virgin that no one believes him and requests a sign that will make people believe. She instructs him as to what to do and promises a miracle.

Juan Diego goes back to priests and unrolls his blanket and the image of the Virgin is created by roses in the blanket, which is called the Miracle of the Roses.

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Photo: Old Adobe Mission

Here is a photo of the Old Adobe Mission in Old Town Scottsdale.

The Mission is located at First Street and Brown.

The original church was called "Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish."

In 2000, Father Thomas Hever started a restoration of the mission and now it is open for tourists, or as a tranquil place to sit and rest from the hot sun.

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Photo: Sunset Reflection from Sanctuary

I went to dinner at the Elements restaurant at Sanctuary.

As I was sitting at dinner observing the beautiful glow of sunset on Camelback Mountain, I saw a large mirror on the wall.

The mirror was reflecting the sunset perfectly and actually at a better angle than I could see while sitting at the dinner table.

So, I took a photo of the large mirror on the wall and saw this wonderful image in it.

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Photo: Jade Bar at Sanctuary

Here is an artsy photo taken in the Jade Bar at Sanctuary resort, which is located on the side of Camelback Mountain.

What do you think this photo is?

It is a bar stool taken in front of the backlit bar with the knob sticking out from under the bar that is used as a place to hang a purse.

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Photo: Red, Strong Camelback Mountain

Here is an up close photo of Camelback Mountain taken from the west side at Sunset.

I like the shape and glow on the red rock.

The shape is somewhat sculptural. Can you see the lone saguaro cactus?

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Photo: Hummingbird on Ocotillo at Sunset

Here is a photo of a tiny hummingbird stretching his thin beak upwards at sunset.

The hummingbird is standing on the end of an Ocotillo cactus.

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Photo: Praying Monk on Camelback

This is a photo of a special landmark on Camelback Mountain called "Praying Monk."

I took it at sunset so you can see the glow on the rock, cactus, and palm tree.

I took it with a cool kelvin temperature for white balance and then did some post work to get this brilliant color and profile.

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Photo: Sliver of Moon Over Camelback Mountain

Here is a photo of a sliver of moon rising over Camelback Mountain just after dusk.

I liked the brilliant blue and the silhouette of the mountain.

I had to stand atop a ladder to get this photo.

Today is Sunday, which means new travel photos. Check out the stunning Papeete, Tahiti in French Polynesia at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Yellow Path

Here is a photo of the palm leaf taken at an angle and as though the yellow center is a path taking us somewhere.

I liked the textures in this image.

In fact, when you look closer, it almost looks like each leave was sewn or stitched onto the center yellow stem.

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Photo: Cartoon Sky with Palm

As I was finishing up my photos of the blue agave and documenting its life, I turned around one night and saw an interesting sky.

I was using my kelvin at 3600 and took this photo of the palm tree and blue sky.

The effect from the kelvin white balance feature made the sky almost look like a cartoon. I liked the contrast.

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Photo: Sunset Agave Cactus Bloom

Here is a photo of the blue agave cactus bloom during a brilliant sunset.

I took this image with a kelvin temperature of around 7000 and while on a tall ladder.

This is the end of my photo series of the blue agave plant. The plant and 20 foot center stalk have not yet fallen over yet, but will do so any day. It leans further and further each night when I get home from work.

I am glad I documented its life through these photos. I hope you enjoyed them

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Tiny Cactus Blooms Dropping to the Ground

Here is a photo of the cactus blooms falling to the ground.

Unfortunately, these blooms will not be able to grow. There is no dirt where they are falling.

I liked the look of these two tiny blooms laying on the ground.

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Monochromatic Agave Blooms

Here is a black and white photo of the delicate cluster of blooms on the blue agave stalk.

Each of these blooms can drop to the ground and grow cactus.

It takes many blooms because it is hard for a cactus to grow. There is the extreme heat in the desert and the ground is very hard so many seedlings do not make it.

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Agave Cactus Blooms At Sunset

Here is a photo of the center stalk with clusters of blooms against the colorful sunset.

I hope you are enjoying my series on the life of the Blue Agave.

I have tried to take these photos in a creative manner and hopefully to share the artistic manner in which this cactus provides elegance and style.

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Theme Day: Bright Colors

Today's theme day is bright colors. Here is a photo of a vibrant cactus flower.

I used my macro lens to capture this image.

The colors are natural as this is the way this cactus flower really looks in real life.

Truly amazing what a cactus can produce.

Today is Sunday so that means new travel photos. Check out gorgeous Burano, Italy at Viva la Voyage!

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