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I captured this photo while on an early morning bike ride through Brown’s Desert Ranch (a hiking/biking area in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, in Scottsdale Arizona). Brown's Desert Ranch is not only vast but it's beautiful. The trails meander through lush desert cacti and saguaros while a variety of mountainscapes flank the edges. On this day, I chose to cycle the trails. I store the bike in the back of my Jeep (which I tow behind my RV). I often chuckle, "If I can't drive my RV to a location, then I drive my Jeep. If I can't drive my Jeep to a location, then I ride my bike. If I can't ride my bike, then I have my feet." I love, and am thankful for, that freedom. It was quite some time before the sun rose however, I thoroughly enjoyed the solitude while I cycled and scoped out this location. You can see by the colors in the clouds and the angle of the shadows that this photo was taken right after sunrise (my favorite time of the day, in all regards). The mountain in the background is called, "Pinnacle Peak", a well-known local landmark.
It occurred to me the other day, that I am a "weather chaser" (lol... just like storm chasers but I chase the "weather"). More specifically, I chase after the unique weather because it adds drama (and/or a mood) to my photographs. The downside of weather chasing IS the weather (lol); the cold, rain, snow and wind (along with early mornings and late evenings). When I get a shot like this one however, I reap the rewards! As I approached my destination for the day (Picacho Peak State Park, between Phoenix and Tuscan), I noticed a huge storm building and filling the valley in front of me. The storm was a sight to see, complete with lightning, rain bursts, rainbows and the sun was mixed in there too. It was so spectacular; I wished I was in the thick of it! By the time I stopped at the state park, all that remained of the storm was the rain. My decision to stop here was a last minute (weather) decision so I arrived without campsite reservation. Fortunately however they just had a cancellation (Yay!). I was set (and hoped the "weather" to return). As I detached my Jeep from my RV it occurred to me that park wraps around Picacho Peak (to the west) and that maybe there would be some "weather" on that side. So, with that in mind, off I went. I parked at the Sunset Vista Trailhead and noted a beautiful sunset forming (something I couldn't see from my campsite). With my camera backpack and my tripod in hand I ventured onto the muddy trail. The clouds still lingered behind me as I hiked and then suddenly a beautiful rainbow suddenly appeared. I was so tempted to turn my attention but because time was of the essence, I stayed focused on this composition. I love this photo's composition (it's one of my favorite compositions). The lay of the land, the greenery, sun, highlights, darks and clouds all help lead your eye into, through and out the photo. I also like the warm tones (the setting sun created), the lush colors of the foliage and rocks (thanks to the rain), and the strong vertical lines of the saguaro trees (in contrast to everything else). Although it's been chilly, windy and raining I feel so blessed to be here with my camera on this winter day!
