A photographic celebration of the city of Tucson, AZ
Lately it seems that this is how often I post. I hope to do better in 2010, but to end 2009, and celebrate the second full moon of December, popularly known as a blue moon, that happens on December 31, 2009, I thought I’d post some of my favorite moon shots from the past several years.
1 A saguaro cactus is silhouetted by the rising moon in Saguaro National Park on the east side of Tucson, AZ.
Although there are no running rivers in Tucson anymore, we still have many bridges that span the dry riverbeds and the large washes that feed them. The expansion joints under these bridges provide an ideal habitat for several bat species that live here during the warmer months. Every evening, at sunset, thousands of bats emerge from under these bridges to eat their fill of insects throughout the night. Below are some images of one such emergence from the Broadway bridge over the Pantano wash.
1 Thousands of bats emerge from under the bridge near Broadway and Pantano on the east side of Tucson, AZ.
Summer in Tucson means monsoon rains. The heat creates a convective force creating thunderheads over the mountains, that then move through the city, dumping rain on its residents. These late afternoon storms often leave a canvas of clouds on which the beautiful sunsets Tucson has become famous for are painted. But the monsoon is not the only time we enjoy these amazing sites—our signature sunsets happen year round. Enjoy these sunsets.
1 Light poles at a park are silhouetted by the setting sun in Tucson, AZ.
The Independence Day Car Show has become a Saddlebrooke tradition, attracting automobile enthusiasts from all over southeastern Arizona. This year’s show featured cars from the 20s to the present day, including a 2006 Ferrari F430. Later that night they provided a fireworks show.
1 Spectators enjoy the Saddlebrooke car show on July 4, 2009, near Tucson, AZ
Fireworks are a highlight of Independence Day celebrations around the US, and Tucson, AZ is no different. We do have issues with the dry desert catching fire, which sometimes stops the city sponsored show. But smaller shows abound, like the one where these pictures were taken a few years ago. Each year the community of Saddlebrooke, just north of Tucson, hosts a small show that is visible from anywhere in the development. Residents set up chairs in their yards, turn out their lights and enjoy the show. A few years ago I brought my camera and a tripod and captured these images.
