Daniel Ruf

Color Addiction

"Lost-yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes.

No reward is offered, for they are gone forever.   Horace Mann

When the sky is right in Arizona the colors are blazing finishes on a day of hiking and photography. On this particular trip clouds were at a minimum, which means that the options for color in the morning and evening were few and far between. But this infrequency of dazzling color is also typical in Iowa. Not every day can be a rose, but one can only hope for a bouquet once in awhile.

But the eloquence of light is not limited to morning and evening. It can surprise a person throughout the day if conditions are right or the geology plays a part to cause the bending of light beams.

Just turning around and looking into the blinding light make the difference. And, as tourist and hikers pass questions are asked about what one is doing, seeing, or what? But I see a portrait....one tree, glistening light, and a tapestry background. It's a gift! They are all GIFTS! One just has to be prepared to open ones arms and embrace i

Thanks for visiting and Spring is getting even closer. Make sure your lenses are clean!

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center - lakesart.org 

Arts On Grand - artsongrand.org

 

Canyons And Cactus

    

"May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome,dangerous,leading to the most amazing view.  May your mountains rise into and above the clouds."

Edward Abbey

Recently my wife and I took a trip the the Southwest where I got to reconnect with Sabino Canyon, which is located near Tucson, AZ. While we were driving to Tucson the day before there was a snow storm in the area mountains which left enough snow in the high country for my morning hike the day after our arrival. It wasn't much, but just enough to give the blog image an added feature and remind me that things in Iowa were not as lovely.

The sunrise had just cleared the mountains to the right of this location and livened up the cactus that made a visual track to the Catalina Mountains in the background. I was thrilled that some snow was still clinging to the high country and thrilled to be back in the Southwest. Unfortunately this was one of the few days of our stay when clouds were out contesting the obnoxious plain blue sky.

When I'm hiking the areas around Tucson it seems the prose of Edward Abbey always come to mind. Ironically I became familiar with Abbey when I attended a photograph/writing seminar back in the late 70's given by Abbey and the famous photographer Philip Hyde. On arriving back in Iowa after the seminar I proceeded to read most of Abbey's books as well as enjoying more of Hyde's work. The seminar has always made the Southwest a little more important in my life.

Thanks for visiting

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center - lakesart.org 

Arts On Grand - artsongrand.org