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Water Break

Our dog Bear stands beside his water bowl at the overlook on the Jane Rau Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 19, 2024. Original: _ZFC9205.NEF

Bear and I take a water break in a spot where perhaps neither human nor dog has ever set foot before. I so miss being able to take him hiking every day! We were back here yesterday, I didn’t think we’d have time for this short trail at the end but he charged around our favorite loop so fast that even after stopping to watch a herd of deer we still had plenty of time to come up here and take a water break before heading home.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: January 19, 2024

The Fallen

A fallen tree lies along Vickery Creek in Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Roswell, Georgia

I took the Christmas tree down today and post this picture of a fallen tree in memory of Emma & The Tree She Loved Too Much. Perhaps old age or disease or storm damage felled this one but I wouldn’t be too surprised if there’s a black panther haunting Vickery Creek that loved to sleep high in its branches and one night made it a little too top heavy for its base to support.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: February 2, 2024

New Horizons

Our dog Bear stands near saguaros on the Axle Grease Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 16, 2024. Original: _ZFC9192.NEF

During my time off I’ve loved taking Bear to trails I normally avoid as they are crowded on the weekends, stepping aside to let people past is the most common way he steps on something painful. Here we’re taking a water break at the junction of the Axle Grease and Rock Tank trails, it was a Tuesday so we only encountered a few people. I’m not sure he cares but I enjoy seeing him discover new places.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: January 16, 2024

Mixed Feelings

A great horned owl perches with its eyes closed in the last light of the day in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on December 27, 2023. Original: _A672991.ARW

I have photographed owls here with a variety of focal lengths over the past year, in December I lugged out my biggest telephoto for a close view. As the sun sank behind a mountain, my favorite moment as usual was when the last bit of soft light fell on the sleepy hunter. It was so lovely and peaceful but I had mixed feelings as locals have created two paths that look like they lead directly beneath the boulders. In a Phoenix park there’s a successful nest in a saguaro right next to an official trail, so perhaps these owls will also tolerate the human intrusion, just wish they didn’t have to.

📷: Sony A6700 | Canon 500mm | Canon 1.4X
🗓️: December 27, 2023