![<span id="date">_12/22/10_</span> <span id="title">First Church Tower</span>
This is the tower of the <a href="http://www.firstchurchtucson.org/">First United Methodist Church</a> across from the UA campus. I caught this stormy/sunset view as we exited a parking garage on our way to see the Wildcats dominate Robert Morris, 82-56. Bear Down!
In related trivia, my mom's parents got married at this church in 1944, neat!
In other news, my mom-in-law got knee replacement surgery today and is doing great, yay!
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#747913451_Fep4f">[last year]</a> <em>drip, drip...</em>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-pRTGsjb/2/b375ccd9/L/2010-12-22%20First%20Church%20Tower-L.jpg)
_12/22/10_ First Church Tower This is the tower of the First United Methodist Church across from the UA campus. I caught this stormy/sunset view as we exited a parking garage on our way to see the Wildcats dominate Robert Morris, 82-56. Bear Down! In related trivia, my mom's parents got married at this church in 1944, neat! In other news, my mom-in-law got knee replacement surgery today and is doing great, yay! [last year] drip, drip...
![<span id="date">_12/30/10_</span> <span id="title">Desert Snow</span>
One heck of a winter storm blew through Tucson last night and this morning and dumped lots of snow on the mountains. These are the Rincons, with Spud Rock being the prominent point on the upper right. I hiked the Pink Hill trail in Saguaro National Park East, starting at the end of Broadway Boulevard. I like this shot because of the sunset colors and how well the saguaros stand out against the mountain.
The storm had cleared by the early afternoon, which means it's gonna be crazy cold tonight. It was about 40 degrees when I took this shot and it's about freezing as I type this. It's supposed to get into the low 20s by the time the sun comes up again. Crazy.
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#753558507_K229T">[last year]</a> <em>rest in peace, John...</em>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-Qf2MgZ3/2/4b7d963d/Ti/2010-12-30%20Desert%20Snow-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/29/10_</span> <span id="title">Molina's Midway</span>
Tonight I had dinner with my family at our favorite Mexican joint. I was a little disappointed because they seem to have changed their salsa recipe, but otherwise it was good.
I took this shot with my S95 before we braved the rain to go inside. Luckily it wasn't raining hard at the time, and as you may have guessed, we parked near the entrance, since this is their sign.
I hope to get an interesting cold-themed photo for tomorrow - the storm that brought this rain is supposed to give us lows well below freezing tomorrow night.
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#752678930_S7L4n">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-R8h2kbr/2/49187a7a/Ti/2010-12-29%20Molina%27s%20Midway-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/28/10_</span> <span id="title">Nana's Flowers</span>
Today we took a lovely 150 mile drive from the Southeast side of Tucson to the Northwest side of Phoenix where my grandmother lives. We took her out to lunch and then back to her apartment before driving back. I'm pretty done with driving for today.
This giant bouquet was a Christmas gift from my parents. Unfortunately we forgot our gift in Tucson and will have to mail it. Nana is the lady in purple. Any questions? OK!
In other news, I posted a small gallery of <a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Misc/2010/Sedona/15240272_8L6AX">Sedona photos</a>! Check em out.
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#752077825_ebmg2">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-n2QQZqS/2/d1ca8f0c/Ti/2010-12-28%20Nana%27s%20Flowers-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/27/10_</span> <span id="title">Curved Saw</span>
Want some oranges? I spent my afternoon picking 4 cubic feet of oranges from my mom-in-law's tree. If that strikes you as an odd way to measure quantity of oranges, it's because I filled up four 1'x1'x1' boxes. When I was done picking I decided to start trimming the tree with the saw pictured here. There's still work to be done, but at least none of the branches are growing into the house.
It felt good doing some hard labor, plus I got to climb around in a tree. Now I'm sore, but it's a good kind of sore.
In other news, Thursday's daily has gone up in the rankings! <a href="http://products.wolframalpha.com/holidayspikey/gallery/view.jsp?id=504">Please vote for me</a> and help it get even higher! Only takes a few seconds.
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#751302581_SLgQc">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-jGgnWPW/2/5b6bc163/Ti/2010-12-27%20Curved%20Saw-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/26/10_</span> <span id="title">Pretty in Pink</span>
Today mostly consisted of lunch with friends and a movie with family, not much photography. I got this colorful shot a few minutes after sunset.
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#750462664_oNXgf">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-BV6VSb4/2/2e51263f/Ti/2010-12-26%20Pretty%20in%20Pink-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/25/10_</span> <span id="title">Kokopelli Candle</span>
Merry Christmas! And thanks to all the nice comments on yesterday's photo!
My wife and I picked up this candle from the <a href="http://www.globalcandlegallery.com/">Sedona Candle Company</a> last week. The store is really neat and the employees are cool, I highly recommend stopping by to see them in action.
For this shot, I placed the lit candle on a shiny wood table that was next to my parents' Christmas tree. I set my S95 to manual mode at ISO 80, f/8 (the lowest and smallest) and played with the shutter speed to get the right exposure, which ended up being 2.5 seconds.
By the way, did I mention you can get a free shirt just for <a href="http://products.wolframalpha.com/holidayspikey/gallery/view.jsp?id=504">voting for me</a>?
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#749706929_dhxr2">[last year]</a> <em>swirly...</em>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-DNVnshZ/2/b9992224/Ti/2010-12-25%20Kokopelli%20Candle-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/24/10_</span> <span id="title">Saguaro Santa</span>
Festive, no? Stuff like this makes me feel at home in Tucson.
This saguaro and many like it can be found at Tucson Medical Center, where my wife and I have spent the majority of our time the last three days. My mother-in-law had knee replacement surgery, and we finally got to take her home today! She's been doing great and we're all excited to see her recover and walk without pain.
To those that celebrate and read this tomorrow - Merry Christmas!
By the way, thanks for the comments on <a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year3/11272102_ACXDJ#1135721408_muQrq">yesterday's photo</a>. I'd love to share the link so you can vote on it, but it's not working. Maybe the computers took an early holiday.
<strong>UPDATE:</strong> It's working! Click <a href="http://products.wolframalpha.com/holidayspikey/gallery/view.jsp?id=504">here</a> to vote!
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#749113464_xb6oq">[last year]</a> <em>my dear sister...</em>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-Nj25kcN/2/7617a408/Ti/2010-12-24%20Saguaro%20Santa-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/23/10_</span> <span id="title">Rhombic Hexecontahedron</span>
AKA 'Spikey' - the <a href="http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=wolframalpha+logo">Wolfram|Alpha logo</a>. It's part of a contest the website is doing - they mail you a Spikey, you assemble it, then take a photo and upload it. This one is stuck in an ocotillo bush, because, well, they're both spikey. Get it?
Please click <a href="http://products.wolframalpha.com/holidayspikey/gallery/view.jsp?id=504">here</a> and vote for me!
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#748525540_W5jxD">[last year]</a> <em>fun day, still need to upload other photos from it...</em>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-QRbxPxP/2/7c67aae1/Ti/2010-12-23%20Rhombic%20Hexecontahedron-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/22/10_</span> <span id="title">First Church Tower</span>
This is the tower of the <a href="http://www.firstchurchtucson.org/">First United Methodist Church</a> across from the UA campus. I caught this stormy/sunset view as we exited a parking garage on our way to see the Wildcats dominate Robert Morris, 82-56. Bear Down!
In related trivia, my mom's parents got married at this church in 1944, neat!
In other news, my mom-in-law got knee replacement surgery today and is doing great, yay!
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#747913451_Fep4f">[last year]</a> <em>drip, drip...</em>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-pRTGsjb/2/b375ccd9/Ti/2010-12-22%20First%20Church%20Tower-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/21/10_</span> <span id="title">Angels</span>
These handmade angels were a joint effort - my grandmother created the angels and my grandfather made the star that all 33 angels hang from. They've lived at my parents house for quite a while now and are part of our Christmas tradition. I like this shot because the angel looks like he/she is beckoning to come join the swirling angel party.
I got this shot by putting my S95 in full manual mode with the flash on at f/8 and .6 seconds. I'm still learning how to use it, but I'm pretty impressed with the manual abilities of this camera.
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#747141710_YyKAo">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-s8kwzMS/2/8fa9a0de/Ti/2010-12-21%20Angels-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/20/10_</span> <span id="title">Cliff Castle</span>
Today we left Sedona and headed South to Tucson. Along the way, we stopped at Montezuma Well and Montezuma Castle, about 10 miles apart. Both are misnomers, named by early settlers that thought they were Aztec when, in fact, the Aztecs never made it this far North. They were built by the Sinagua people, who vanished from the area 500-600 years ago for reasons unknown.
This is obviously the 'castle', not the well. It's 100 feet off the ground and would have had ladders to get to it when it was in use. Other ruins are nearby, but none as spectacular as these - 4 levels built straight into the cliff.
I'll post more photos in a separate gallery, but in case you're wondering what the well is - it's a sinkhole that's fed by underground springs, so there's constant water at the bottom. Sinagua ruins are all around the rim, as well as inside the well. Both stops are just minutes from I-17 and they're well worth the stop.
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Misc/2010/Sedona/15240272_8L6AX">More photos!</a>
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#746015794_t6zyp">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-MNFfGK4/2/fe303792/Ti/2010-12-20%20Cliff%20Castle-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/19/10_</span> <span id="title">Red Rock Reflection</span>
Or RRR, for short. This spectacular view presented itself along the Shnelby Hill Road in Sedona. It was a 5 mile, very steep drive up a very bumpy and muddy dirt road, but the view from the top was well worth it. This view wasn't quite at the top, but about a mile down. The sun is reflecting off of the puddles on the famously red rocks.
Sedona was awesome, and I have many other photos to show, look for a gallery soon...
UPDATE: photos are posted, check them out - <a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Misc/2010/Sedona/15240272_8L6AX">Sedona</a>
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#745285598_V9ve2">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-SfKRG49/2/cbb530a1/Ti/2010-12-19%20Red%20Rock%20Reflection-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/18/10_</span> <span id="title">Stormy Road</span>
Slow-ish shutter speed while driving down I-40. Despite rain, fog, wind and snow, we made it from Los Angeles to Oak Creek Canyon. We're spending two nights in Manzanita campground, a few miles North of Sedona, before heading to Tucson for the holidays.
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#744421094_5dYeQ">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-gSLM72j/2/e7936c55/Ti/2010-12-18%20Stormy%20Road-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/17/10_</span> <span id="title">Don't Call it Happy Hour</span>
Why? Because apparently the term 'happy hour' is banned in Westwood, so they have to call it 'drink specials.' Dance clubs are also banned. It's like Footloose, but in the 2nd largest city in the US, right next to the biggest university in Southern California. It's kind of strange.
Anyhoo, these glasses with snazzy aqua straws were drunk by myself and some work buddies at Barney's Beanery that recently opened up. Today was the last day of work for 2 weeks, and it was also a send-off for one of my bosses whose last day was today.
Stay tuned for ~2 weeks of daily photos from Arizona, mostly Tucson. Cheers!
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#743682812_9qpcw">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-7DMgfSc/2/980ed6fc/Ti/2010-12-17%20Happy%20Hour-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/16/10_</span> <span id="title">Downward Spiral</span>
Although I love how quiet campus is after finals, it comes at a price. I had to wait nearly 5 minutes for someone to walk by on the lower level of this building. Daily photos are hard work!
I've actually photographed this staircase before, but from below, back on <a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#790331724_GkuTv">2/16/10</a>. This time I burned a few calories and walked up to the top. I set my Canon S95 to 1/125 of a second so I could capture the shape of someone walking without it being too blurry. There's a bit of noise in the photo, but I don't think it really takes away from it. There was very little color to begin with, so I converted to B&W.
Hey, speaking of the S95, why don't you check out my latest blog post? <a href="http://blog.jawsnap.net/2010/12/day-1-with-the-canon-s95/">Day 1 with the Canon S95</a>
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#742931994_RMk5Q">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-kxkZG77/2/8833fdf1/Ti/2010-12-16%20Downward%20Spiral-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/15/10_</span> <span id="title">Condensation</span>
It rained today. Sort of. Not really - it was just really misty. After eating lunch in the very chilly botanical gardens I set out to find a photo of the day and focused on these plants that just seemed to attract water. The bush next to it had no water on it's leaves, but as you can see, this one had lots.
By the way, I shot this with my new Canon S95! Would you like to know more about my experiences with it? Super! I wrote a blog post - <a href="http://blog.jawsnap.net/2010/12/day-1-with-the-canon-s95/">Day 1 with the Canon S95</a>. Includes 36 lovely full-color photographs!
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#742193771_F3cZK">[last year]</a> <em>zooooom! ...</em>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-TMzHDL9/3/34b59b49/Ti/2010-12-15%20Condensation-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/14/10_</span> <span id="title">Scraggly</span>
This unshaven palm tree was near downtown Santa Monica. We had the afternoon off (sort of) and spent most of the afternoon there. One highlight included a free pair of pants! Dockers was doing a marketing campaign where a guy purposely tipped over his cart to see if random people would help him pick up his stuff. We did, so we got some free pants! It's part of their 'Chivalry is not Dead' campaign. Apparently 35 people <em>didn't</em> help the guy before we did. I guess chivalry <em>is</em> dead for them.
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#741140373_BmXyU">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-NHbrGrL/2/1ac6bec0/Ti/2010-12-15%20Scraggly-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/13/10_</span> <span id="title">Aquatic</span>
Got a shot of these little aquatic plants in the botanical gardens during my lunch. I've been playing around with the S95 since I got it last Friday and I've taken about 200 shots. I would have taken more today, but apparently 200 is enough to drain the battery. I suppose that's why I bought an extra, but of course I didn't bring it with me to work. Such is life.
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#740101736_6p9qA">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-LfHb4fN/2/4e58d2c8/Ti/2010-12-14%20Aquatic-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/12/10_</span> <span id="title">Three Pines</span>
Purposely overexposed to capture the pine needles backlit by the setting sun. Taken on a walk around the neighborhood - it was a pretty unexciting day for photography. Still playing with the S95 though! Hopefully I'll get some better inspired shots with it next week.
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#738852857_vnFhW">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-xHTJRCJ/2/574cf39a/Ti/2010-12-13%20Three%20Pines-Ti.jpg)
![<span id="date">_12/11/10_</span> <span id="title">Dates in a Blanket</span>
The blanket is made of pig!
These delicious appetizers were photographed right out of the oven, before being dipped in a honey-balsamic reduction. We made them for a little party we had tonight - it was fun, and we're happy to have finally had some people over to our house after living here for 1.5 years.
This shot taken with my brand new S95! I like it a lot - it's pretty awesome for a compact camera. I'll try and post some more shots with it tomorrow - stay tuned.
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#738514756_e2Kxc">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Daily/Year3/i-WX3nTGM/2/4588f537/Ti/2010-12-11%20Dates%20in%20a%20Blanket-Ti.jpg)
sharkbayte
on December 24, 2010awesome sky and shot!
dakotacowboy
on December 23, 2010excellent light contrasts