Since my wife was having a sorority group over to our house today, I decided to escape for the duration. I decided I'd do something I have wanted to do for some time, now that I have a camera (Pentax K-3) that's up to the task of great landscapes.

So I ventured up into South Mountain Park, which is the largest municipal park in the U.S., hoping to get a good vantage point to photograph portions of the Phoenix area from high up.

As a side note, I found a new use for shooters' ear muffs. As I was trying to take pictures, I was surrounded by a swarm of nasty little desert gnats, each one determined to invade my ear canals. Luckily, since I was going shooting later, I had the muffs in my trunk, and used them to thwart the little ***s.

This is one of the shots I took today. You can see Phoenix's iconic Camelback Mountain to the left, and the sandstone rock formations in Papago Park to the right. Hope you enjoy this view of the Valley of the Sun!

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Beautiful area. I really enjoyed my last trip out there, Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale. We had ducks for dinner, Oregon ducks
War Eagle!

__________________
PTLAPTA!

Nice picture. But just one??
That's almost a tease.

__________________
Reg. Magnum wants/Rossi wallet

John, there are many beautiful spots around my home town but nothing like that.

__________________
Music/Sports/Beer fan

The view from South Mtn Park is spectacular! Are the red rock formations the ones on the South side of I-10 on the East side of Phoenix?

Didja see any Gila Monsters while on SMP? The one time I was there, it was crawling with them.

I've lived here for 20 years and love it. My only mistake was not moving here sooner!
Jim

Ther's a big indian rock art site in the South Mountains. I was there once, about 30 years ago now; doubt I could still find it.

What lens did you use?

__________________
Corripe Cervisiam

Wow, that's a great photo! Polarized filter?

Wish the air was that clear the last time I visited my brother and his wife (they live in Auwatukee). Gave the Denver Brown Cloud some serious competition lol.

I'll be down next November to visit them, we always hike Camelback and go to Flancer's in Mesa for lunch. Too hot for me now, that's why I left Tucson in '84.

I know that view, I lived for 20 years in the shadow of South Mountain, raised my kids trekking through the washes off Guadalupe.

We used to shoot in the park 40 years ago.

I'll be visiting there for Mothers Day.

__________________
SWCA #2817

Those red rock sandstone formations are riddled with caves, and one clear-through "hole in the rock". They constitute what is today known as Papago Park, located on the East side of Phoenix, right next to Tempe. The Phoenix Zoo is right there as well. This is well East of where I-10 runs.

No Gila Monsters.

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I used my most versatile lens, the Pentax SMC-DA 18-250 mm zoom. Using the crop factor of the sensor, it's equivalent to a 27 to 375mm zoom in the old 35mm film world.

EXIF data: f/13, 1/320 sec., ISO 100. It was shot manually at 47.5 mm (35mm film era equivalent to 71.25mm). A Digital HGX 62mm UV filter was employed, no polarizing filter. Shot in DNG RAW and processed to .JPG.

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I haven't processed all the shots yet, but here's a more clinical one of downtown Phoenix. The white building on the far right is Good Samaritan Hospital, where I was born. This was shot at 142mm.

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Spectacular! I think that the seguaro (?) cactus adds contrast and makes for perfect composition. You have a good eye John.

__________________
Real men love cats!