FEATURED SERIES
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PHOTO OF THE MONTH
February Sunlit Walls of Canyon Lake Click here for past Photos of the Month
OBSCURE ORATIONS
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FEBRUARY 2012
February - the month of Valentines and love potions, and presidents' birthdays, and more winter. And then there is the ground hog . . . do you think he will see his shadow this month? The campaign is gearing up, and the primaries are starting. We have a lot of ballyhoo and hot air to listen to in the next few months. Maybe it will melt some of that snow. On a quieter note I am going to present you with photos of some of Arizona's lakes, taken on a recent, very quiet drive from Canyon Lake to Apache Lake to Roosevelt Lake. It is winter, but the desert still has a certain appeal and beauty. It's a little desolate, and it was cloudy that day, but the Navajo sandstone still showed its colors and gave some pretty shots. And next to mountain scenery, there is just nothing more photographic than a lake. Happy winter. Happy Valentine's Day. Peace from the desert . . . Karen
JANUARY 2012
Happy New Year! The old year has been shoved aside - almost a dim memory. The new year lies bright ahead. Whatever your resolutions, make the most of all the new year has to offer. Good health, plentiful food, a wealth of family and friends and an end to financial difficulties are wished for you. This month's Photo of the Month and Featured Series highlight Alaska and some of the beautiful mountain scenes of snowy Alaska. The glacier's blue ice is the absence of color absorption - it is so dense that blue is the only color it reflects. Our Photo of the Month is Mt. McKinley (Denali). A different view of that beautiful, 20,000 foot peak - cloudless. A rare sight! Enjoy! Peace from the desert . . . Karen
DECEMBER 2011
Winding down to the end of this year, winding up for Christmas shopping and spinning my wheels on what to get for whom. It suddenly occurred to me that I should get moving since it is now December!! The end of another year; the last month before we kiss 2011 good-bye; approaching the 12th year of the Millennium and we are still here. With all the hubbub, I couldn't get too wound up in snow or scenes of the season; so I went back through my files and found some great reflections to share this month. They should inspire your thoughts of spring and help you forget the winter blahs. All were taken at different lakes but exhibit the beauty of reflections in water. I hope you enjoy them. And in the true spirit of the season, may you have a blessed Christmas, a wonderful Holiday season, and a fresh start for the New Year! See you in 2012! Peace from the desert . . . Karen
NOVEMBER 2011
Is fall really upon us? It was cool here in the metropolitan Phoenix area today, and we actually had a light snow at Snow Bowl. Colorado got their first of the season the last couple of days. Hopefully, fall is here and Halloween will not be 100 for the little trick or treaters. I decided not to show photos from Chicago this month. Since we were up hunting in the high country, where fall actually arrived, I thought I would give you a view of one of the prettier areas near Strawberry. The trees were turning and there were many places where I just had to stop and take a picture. Some of those will follow. This month please enjoy the Strawberry Field series. You may also check my blog periodically for additional pictures. That link is http://obscure-observations.blogspot.com I hope you enjoyed the Little Ballet Girl portraits through the surprise link for September and October. Our surprise link for November and December is to Arches National Park. Utah is some of the most beautiful country in the world. Hope you enjoy this series. Peace from the desert . . . Karen
OCTOBER 2011
Heat go away! October has arrived and Arizona is still hotter than blazes! The weatherman promises it will cool off soon . . . we can only hope he is right!! We have had Halloweens that were 100 degrees. Hoping this is not another of those years! The gremlins and goblins will melt. As promised, the photos this month feature more Chicago shots. The statue of Marilyn Monroe is a real hit there - she is a circulating display which will be shown 8 to 9 months and then be moved to another city and replaced in Chicago by something else. The day we arrived in Chicago it rained; the news that evening showed people standing under the statue using her skirt as an umbrella. Well, she's big enough to protect several people at once. Fun downtown stops on the Trolley included Marilyn, well-known scrapers, and the Rain Forest Cafe. It has to be the largest frog in town. But then, everything in Chicago is big. Maybe next month, we'll feature some fall color from Arizona! Peace from the desert . . . Karen
SEPTEMBER 2011
Here we are in September - how did it arrive so fast?? Having just returned from nearly three weeks on the road, I guess that accounts for why it is suddenly September. It was barely mid-August when I left. This was definitely a reunion tour as I visited many near & dear "old" friends from Colorado to Illinois. I did not photograph the corn fields in Nebraska and Iowa or Southern Illinois. And I hope not to see another corn field for a very long time. I did photograph Chicago and some of the surrounding area. I played tourist and did a boat tour down the Chicago River, visited Navy Pier and other sites of interest, and then took a day-long trolley tour on which I was able to get on and off at will, and photograph what I chose to visit. It was hectic, but fun. I'll be posting some photos of the "Windy City" soon. Wishing you a great beginning to a balmy fall. Late September Update: As you can see, I have posted some photos from Chicago. The series called "Towers of Reflection" shows reflections of other buildings in the windows of the opposite skyscraper. With all the scrapers in Chicago, there are many reflections to be seen. I will post other Chicago shots for October. Have you heard that Marilyn Monroe is on display there? Delve deeper into Obscure Observations' sites! Periodically, we will feature a surprise link to photos you may not have discovered yet. See Little Ballet Girl. Peace from the desert . . . Karen
AUGUST 2011
August is here! Where has summer flown? To be sure, it is not over yet; there are the dog days of summer to face and the heat wave in the Midwest and on the East Coast does not appear to be lessening. The heat this year is unbearable in most of the USA, even surpassing those 100 plus days we have here in Arizona. Arizona sends its condolences to the rest of the country! I considered giving you a snow scene to cool you off, but decided to post some of the beautiful flowers I photographed in New Orleans and along the Gulf in Mobile, AL. So enjoy - think spring, not summer. The roses were bountiful, the hydrangea delightful, the magnolia magnificent, and the hibiscus were brilliant. A fun note from Wikipedia: A 2008 USDA study shows consuming hibiscus tea lowers blood pressure in a group of pre-hypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. Three cups of tea daily resulted in an average drop of 8.1 point in their systolic blood pressure, compared to a 1.3 point drop in the volunteers who drank the placebo beverage. Study participants with higher blood pressure readings (129 or above) had a greater response to hibiscus tea: their systolic blood pressure went down by 13.2 points. These data support the idea that drinking hibiscus tea in an amount readily incorporated into the diet may play a role in controlling blood pressure, although more research is required. Peace from the desert . . . Karen
JULY 2011
Happy 4th! Celebrate our independence and your freedom wisely. It is something never to be taken for granted! Be careful with fireworks - our forests are ablaze now and don't need any more sparks to start another fire! Our featured photos are from New Orleans again this month. They are all photos of street musicians on Bourbon Street mid-day. The NOPD closes Bourbon Street and allows them to entertain. Catch the expressions on the faces in our Photo of the Month. This was a completely candid shot. Enjoy! Peace from the desert . . . Karen
JUNE 2011
I don't deal in politics, but I do deal in patriotism. In view of the events of the past month and the death of Osama Bin Laden, I am rerunning a photograph taken after 9/11 when the planes first started flying again. You will remember they had been grounded for several days after the destruction of the Towers and partial destruction of the Pentagon. When I saw this plane flying above the three crosses of a church I was photographing, I was filled with emotion and had to capture that flight! How fitting that it was flying above the crosses!!! It seemed symbolic that the United States would rise again. I named this photo "Out of the Ashes." Many years have passed until this terrorist was brought down, but it brought out a rebirth of patriotism for which I am very proud. This weekend celebrate Memorial Day as a day of freedom and patriotism and revel in the glory of the grand old flag which continues to signify the United States of America. Remember Flag Day is June 14th, and then of course, we really celebrate our freedom on July 4th. Celebrate with pride! I didn't forget - as promised, the Featured Series this month is the beginning of the New Orleans trip in April. More to follow. Peace from the desert . . . Karen
MAY 2011
Happy Spring! Happy blooms! Happy beautiful days! Happy Mother's Day! The Earth abounds with blossom and bloom; the daffodils have faded and are replaced with Palo Verde in beautiful yellow array; Mesquite in their furry yellow, but oh so sweet smelling puffs; Hedgehog Cacti burst in a variety of pinks; Ganzania of all shades are raising their heads; yellow and orange Desert Poppies are plentiful! What can one say but Happy Spring?!!? We are featuring some of our beautiful trees in blossom this month. Hope you enjoy the explosion of yellow Palo Verde and that you can almost smell the pungent aroma of the Mesquite. Next month we will feature pictures from our just finished tour of New Orleans and surrounding areas. Peace from the desert . . . Karen
APRIL 2011
April showers bring May flowers, so they say. But sometimes April blooms on its own. Even in the colder parts of the country, the daffodils and jonquils are blooming, and perhaps a grape hyacinth or two. The trees are budding - my cherry and apple trees are blooming (even at 6000 feet and not very warm temps). 'Tis the season of joy and rebirth in all creation, so celebrate, renew, reinvigorate, reclaim your life and burst forth as the buds on the trees or a butterfly from its cocoon. Rejoice in the spirit of Spring and enjoy Easter (if you celebrate) and its promise of life. Peace from the (blooming) desert . . . Karen
MARCH 2011
We are featuring Monument Valley this month in our Picture of the Month, and Featured Series. Most of Monument Valley is in Arizona, but parts of that park do cross the border into Utah. Mystery Valley, which is only seen by guided tour with a member of the Navajo Nation, is largely on the Utah side. As well as eroded rocks, this area also has ancient cave and cliff dwellings, natural arches and petroglyphs, all generally away from the Valley Drive at more isolated locations and viewable only as part of guided tours. This month we are featuring the Right Mitten as the Picture Of The Month, and Skull Rock (mostly seen on tour), Gray Whiskers and Setting Hen as our Featured Series. I never get enough of "red rocks" - the Southwest is brimming with them, and the more I see the happier I am. Enjoy our tour with these four photos, and next month we will again feature Monument Valley with less well-known formations. Peace from the desert . . . Karen
FEBRUARY 2011
February - the month of Love. The month of cold, snow, wind and sleet everywhere! Even Arizona is getting its share of snow in the mountains. Cool temps remain in the Valley but our winter visitors think it's great! As compared to their hometowns, it is. We have two sets of notecards featuring cacti from Arizona and a variety of Cereus now available on the website. You can purchase them through the website with PayPal. They are also on sale at Tillie's Attic, a local gift shop with lots of things to browse through. Check out the cards at the Pavilion Shopping Center, 1941 W. Guadalupe, Mesa, AZ. Obscure Observations Photography has also connected with the Lost Our Home Pet Foundation which places pets found in foreclosed or abandoned homes in foster homes until the owner or a new owner can be found. LOHPF has some of the dogs at PetsMart in Desert Ridge every other Sunday where they may be viewed and an application filled out for adopting or fostering the animal. The next events will be February 6th and 19th. We are offering a gift certificate to anyone signing up to foster which includes a family shoot (with pets) and a free 5x7 photo of the chosen pose. As always, the photos on the rights managed website are available for purchase for promotional items, websites, brochures and ads. Those are one-time usage. The photos on the Royalty-Free site are available for purchase and once purchased no additional royalties are charged. Our portrait page shows samples of the types of photos we can take. Check them out and call for your portrait sitting today! Peace from the desert . . . Karen
JANUARY 2011
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! With most of the country under winter storms, it is definitely a cool beginning to the new year. Even Arizona has had plenty of snow the last few days and the ski resorts are loving it. There has been over an inch of rain in the Valley and there was a severe frost last night. There are a lot of ghostly figures in front yards where people have covered their bushes! Obscure Observations Photography wishes everyone a very Happy New Year; may it be profitable, may you have good health, and hopefully, it will be better for everyone than 2010. Keep warm! Peace from the desert . . . Karen
DECEMBER 2010
A skift of snow! A blast of cool breeze! A gray cloud gatherng to snowmass. Winter came to the high country in Arizona early! It's December, not January. The trees had all lost thier golden leaves and bare branches forked skyward. We felt like Christmas was really coming. The stockings will be hung . . . Whatever your holiday celebration this December, celebrate it with thanks, laughter and love. Best wishes are extended for the New Year; may it be bountiful, profitable and blessed. Peace from the desert . . . Karen
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NOVEMBER 2010
Fall is really here. Its beauty can be found in the changing leaves and the cooler air. There may be snow in some places. The darkness comes early but is now expected. October's changing moods and transition into the early darkness are gone. November is a month of celebration . . . Veteran's Day, the Marine Corps Birthday and Thanksgiving being the foremost celebrations. There are other things to celebrate including Deviled Egg Day and Sadie Hawkins Day. And of course, Christmas and holiday shopping begin. Hope you all have a great November, enjoy the celebrations and keep sane while shopping, fighting the crowds for bargains and early mailing of packages. Peace from the desert . . . Karen
OCTOBER 2010
Aye, 'tis October. What kin ye say aboot October? My Scottish is risin' and I have nuttin' to write aboot, Laddie. 'Tis the season of turning leaves, chilly weather (well, in most places, not necessarily Arizona!), early darkness (the part I hate the most), late sunrise, the approaching ghosts and goblins, All Hallows Eve and Halloween festivities. Surely there is something good to write about in that list. The leaves haven't turned yet here in AZ - it will be another month before they do; I heard they were turning already in Colorado. Well, 'tis cooler there. It is to cool down here this week, and following torrential rains the last few days, it is definitely cooler here. Maybe fall is in the air. The cool down I mentioned in September's orations did not continue, and September became the hottest in several years. It's time now - let's have those temps that everyone comes to AZ for! Anyway, here's wishing you a great fall, a great Double 10 day (Chinese), a wonderful All Hallows Eve and Happy Halloween. Peace from the desert . . . Karen
SEPTEMBER 2010
Happy Labor Day! Considered the end of summer in many places, it has also cooled in Arizona. We will be below 100 this week. Ahh! Fall! Besides school getting underway for those who haven't already done so, September is not an exciting month! Well, football begins and baseball comes to its lazy close. And those can be exciting times for many! Love to watch both. But since the passion here is photography, and I promised you shots of the vacation in July, I will feature shots of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The canyon is 2,270 feet deep and 48 miles long . . . not a Grand Canyon but one to be admired in its own right. There is little hiking in this canyon because the cliffs are so sheer, and camping only in certain spots, near the Gunnison River which flows through it. The near black rocks lend credence to the name, and in some places the "painted" rock with other shades of granite running through it is truly beautiful. If you haven't been, you should go there sometime. I added it to my list of awesome places to visit. But all of the Colorado mountains area is on my AWESOME list; you can't beat the fourteeners (peaks over 14,000 feet) and Colorado has an abundance of them. Lest I rave on, I will wish you a gorgeous September, with perfect weather. Peace from the desert - Karen
AUGUST 2010
Red rocks abound!! This is God's country! From Colorado through Utah and New Mexico you can't find more spectacular scenery. I know I promised scenes from my recent trip to Colorado which took me through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and to the Great Sand Dunes, but I was looking for a particular shot for a customer this week, and fell in love all over again with the beautiful red rocks in these three states. I am featuring Utah this month in my Photo of the Month - Totem and Spirit Sisters from Monument Valley. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison was beautiful, and absolutely spectacular in its own right. Froze my nose and my toes a couple of mornings coming out of my sleeping bag on a 50 degree dawn. That's not cold unless you've lived in Arizona for several years and your blood has thinned. Never saw such a pile of sand in my life as the Great San Dunes. The highest dune is over 900 feet. What's even more breathtaking are the Sangre de Christo Mountains which are right behind the dunes and present an ever-changing display of shadows and light! Those will follow once I'm over being awestruck with Utah again! Stay tuned . . . Peace from the desert - Karen
JULY 2010
Happy 4th of July!! Happy really hot summer days - at least here in Arizona. We had a beautiful May and early June, but the last half of the month we were whacked with 100+ temperatures. July promises to continue in that vein. However, it looks like our monsoon season is starting. Big "thunder-boomers" were building to the east on July 1st, and there was some rain in the mountains. Let it rain!! We'll be on vacation in the Colorado mountains, and hopefully will not get rained out up there. I plan to bring back some great shots of the beautiful Rockies for you to enjoy next month! This month we are featuring some of our shots of previous monsoon seasons. Enjoy! Peace from the desert - Karen
JUNE 2010
This month is Dad's month - don't forget to thank him for all that he has done! The dad who took you fishing, for walks in the woods, for play days at the park, for fun days at the fair, for hunting when you got older, for sage advice and not so sage advice, for caring and sharing, for the pride he showed when you graduated from kindergarten and then middle school to high school, and from high school to college. Thank him for the financial help he gave in getting you a car, teaching you the value of a dollar, for being there with an open wallet when you needed money, and for investment advice. Thank him for giving you the means to be a good parent yourself. And think of having a portrait taken during the month of June to celebrate him. Have one done of the family with him, or of him alone. If he is an aging parent, it is time to get that portrait done. You won't regret it later. We are offering 20% off existing portrait prices for the month of June. Book that sitting now! Our Featured Series this month highlights a new line of macro photography. I hope you enjoy the blossoms from my apricot and peach trees. There will be more to come! Peace from the desert - Karen
MAY 2010
May flowers. Mother's Day. Memorial Day. And so we float through May, enjoying the beautiful weather and the bountiful flowers and trees in bloom. Bring some of those flowers to your Mom for Mother's Day, she deserves some special recognition. And don't forget to visit the cemetery and leave some there on Memorial Day. Attend a parade in honor of our military and count your blessings that you live in America, free and proud because of those military men and women who fought and died for your country. Peace from the desert - Karen
APRIL 2010
April thoughts: tulips, daffodils, cherry blossoms, desert poppies, daisies, bunnies, chicks, happy children, April fool, Easter joy, Passover celebrations, and here's one I'll bet you didn't know about: Dyngus Day. It is also spelled Dingus Day, and is a Polish Holiday. It is very popular in Poland, and in Polish communities in America. After the long Lenten holiday, Dyngus Day is a day of fun, and it is always celebrated on the Monday after Easter. (Look it up!) There are a lot of weird days to celebrate in April [some people just have too much time on their hands] such as rubber eraser day, pet owners independence day, Sorry Charlie day, ex-spouse day, and national Eggs Benedict day. Do you mind if I just celebrate spring? Spring is such a tumultuous season - flowers bursting forth amid high winds and snow storms, birds returning to build nests and lay eggs, broods hatching, sunny days and windy days as the season changes and Mother Nature struggles to get the beauty of spring in place. I plan to be out more - shooting spring - breathing in fresh, clean, rain-washed air, before the heat moves into the desert, and shooting those flowers that fade so quickly when the heat arrives. I also plan to shoot more children's portraits this spring and capture them in their own beauty for they are truly God's flowers. Is your child having a birthday? Don't forget Mother's Day is coming - how about a portrait of the children for her? I shoot inside with backdrops - outside with Nature's backdrops, formal portraits or fun poses. If you need a portrait, or a special shoot, please contact me. Happy Spring! Peace from the desert - Karen
MARCH 2010
Well sure and begorra! St. Patty's day is upon us. The wearin' o' the green will be comin' round soon. Along with that, here are some other things to celebrate during the month of March: - Irish American Month - Music in Our Schools Month - National Craft Month - National Frozen Food Month - National Irish American Heritage Month - National Nutrition Month - National Peanut Month - National Women's History Month - Poetry Month - Red Cross Month - Social Workers Month Visit our portrait page and watch our royalty free pages for new offerings. Peace from the desert - Karen
FEBRUARY 2010
February is traditionally the month of LOVE. Red symbolizes love and abounds on candy boxes, in Valentine cards and gifts, roses, in romantic things of all sorts, and in the cherries in that traditional pie. The following are also celebrated: American Heart Month, An Affair to Remember Month, Black History Month, Canned Food Month, Creative Romance Month, Great American Pie Month, and National Cherry Month. I charge you to find love, celebrate it with an affair to remember, do something creatively romantic, make a cherry pie, have your heart check-up, and study your history. Along with learning Black History, you can study two of our great presidents: George Washington and Abe Lincoln, both of whom had birthdays this month. Quite a month, isn't it? Our featured photos this month show another love that many of us have - that of our pets. Treat them well, for they give you nothing but love in return. Peace from the desert - Karen
JANUARY 2010
Happy New Year!! A new decade! A new year! New beginnings! May each of you revel in the spirit of the New Year, and receive good fortune that lasts throughout the year. Obscure Observations is beginning a new era as well. We will continue to furnish stock photography for those publishing needs, adding new pictures periodically to the inventory; more royalty-free stock will be added; we will continue to provide fine art selections for purchase, both framed and unframed, to enhance your office or home. The lend-lease program gives you an opportunity to try it out for a month before purchase; or you may continue to lease a photo at a nominal fee; you may change photographs when you are ready for a new scene. New for 2010: We are adding portraiture - fun family portraits (think outside the box) and natural lighting portraits; corporate portraiture; corporate events and employee functions; birthdays (preferably for those celebrating a milestone, i.e. 45, 55, 65, 70, 100); graduations, family reunions; school reunions. Call us immediately to book your dates for 2010. Advanced planning is never wrong. Get your photographer lined up early and relax while Obscure Observations handles your photography needs. Packages are available at very reasonable prices. Call 602-558-5503. We come to you - have tripod, will travel. Peace from the desert - Karen

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