A Frontier Metropolis

Posted on September 27, 2013 by azgilstrap

View from Bainbridge Island Ferry

The American author Tom Robbins once described Seattle by saying, “To some extent,Seattle remains a frontier metropolis, a place where people can experiment with their lives, and change and grow and make things happen.”

Will

That, for the most part, fairly well summarizes why our son Will moved there this summer and started classes at the Academy of Interactive Entertainment. He is looking to change and grow and make things happen in his life. We are very proud of him.

In the process of checking out the school, it gave me a great opportunity to get a little photoremedy. I was very much impressed with all there is to be experienced there.

Port of Seattle and Mount Ranier

Seattle is a major coastal seaport city that features lots of opportunities to explore the surrounding area’s water, mountains, icons (like the Space Needle), and much more.

View of Downtown From Space Needle

Seattle Space Needle

We’ll be looking to return to Seattle often. It is always great to see Will, and we will of course throw in a few opportunities to shoot more photos.

Pike Place Market

Mary and Will wouldn’t let me drive to Seattle when we moved his items there. They both indicated they were concerned that a long car ride (they were averaging more than 10 hours a day) would put my back in bad shape.

View of Lake Union From Space Needle

So, I flew in and Mary and I took a leisurely (a few hours daily) drive back to Arizona. My back ‘issues’ require that we frequently stop for me to ‘walk it off.’ And, as often as possible, I reload the ice packs I need for both my cervical and lumbar regions. The leisurely approach worked perfectly. There was awesome photoremedy all along the way, and I was able to capture (what I think were) some of the best pictures I have taken to date. I’ll be sharing some of these in upcoming posts.

Near Bandon, Oregon

West Coast Signs

Posted on September 13, 2013 by azgilstrap

A drive through Washington, Oregon, and California can be as much a cultural experience as it is a breathtakingly beautiful journey. This is particularly true for those, like Mary and me, who have spent numerous years living in places like Kansas and Arizona. The Great American Northwest definitely features different landscapes than what we know best. A wide variety of photos featuring the magnificent scenery we experienced will be shared in upcoming posts.

Bainbridge Island, WA

Before we take a closer look at the scenery, however, we wanted to share a sampling of the signs, plaques, and even tee shirt graphics that we saw on our trip. Why? It helps illustrate that while a region may be different geologically and topographically, a sense of humor can often be a common bond. To Mary and me, the Northwest is very familiar in that it is a diverse, fun, free-thinking region. The signs of this were everywhere. Highlights from our journey included the:

Cute

Historic

Alcohol induced

Irreverent

Teens and technology oriented

Civic-minded

Thought provoking

We loved our Northwest journey and look forward to soon sharing more of the photoremedy we enjoyed. As always, we encourage our readers to directly receive our new posts. You can sign up for this by following our blog (directions are in the right hand column on photoremedy.me pages). If you want to know more about why we publish this crazy blog, check out the “Blog Background and Initial Post” link displayed at the top of the page on all our posts.

Beating the Heat

Posted on August 29, 2013 by azgilstrap

Arizona’s incredibly diverse climate and topography never cease to amaze. On any given day, it can be scorching in one part of the state while it is glacial in another. This is what happens when desert rather abruptly collides with mountains. According to USA Today, Arizona’s high and low temperatures since 1970 have ranged from a low of -40°F to +128°F. Wow!

Before doctors discovered that a lumbar fracture was causing my vertebrae column to dangerously tumble over my tailbone in 2008, I used to enjoy beating the heat by working up a sweat in the cool country. It’s just a couple of hour drive from Anthem to the base of the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort in Flagtaff, where you can climb more than 1,800 feet in elevation on a six mile road. It’s a lot of work, but it is an awesome experience for bike riders. Plus the adult beverages rarely taste better than at the base of the ski lift.

In late June, on a day that featured rapidly changing weather conditions, I traveled up to Snowbowl with my buddy Pete. It was the first time I made this trip since my three back surgeries.

While it is becoming increasing obvious there is little chance I’ll be riding a bike again in this lifetime, I didn’t have time to do anything other than enjoy the experience. While Pete was hustling up (and down, as shown above) the mountain on his bike, I was elevated in spirit with incredibly diverse mountain top photoremedy. And, at the end of the trail, Pete got his beer and I got my Bloody Mary. It was a remarkable day, and an extraordinary way to beat the desert heat.

All of the photos below, and the images that support the photo art, were taken during our June Snowbowl trip. Just click on one of the smaller individual photos below to view in slide show mode.

Summer’s Two Gifts

Posted on August 9, 2013 by azgilstrap

A wise woman once said that relatives give you two gifts when they come to visit. One when they arrive, and one when they leave.

I feel the same way about what I consider to be the Metro Phoenix area’s summer period – when temperatures consistently rise above 100 degrees up to the period when temperatures consistently fall below 90 degrees. Forget the dates; it’s all about the heat. I love the sun and the warmth it radiates, but it can wear me out when temperatures are consistently rising above 110 degrees. As a result, I usually can’t wait for Arizona’s summer to both arrive and depart.

Those who live in Arizona’s higher elevation areas, obviously, may not feel the same way. I’ll write about that in an upcoming post.

Interestingly enough, many of the flowers (both wild and of the garden variety) that color our desert landscape appear to react very similarly to me. They tend to thrive in the spring, and eventually wilt as the mercury rises.

A sample of some of the wild- and garden-related flower photos I’ve been able to capture this year is featured below. The garden photos come from my garden.

Special thanks to my buddy Dave and his very cool Polaris Razor Jagged X for helping me with the wild flower images. Dave and his high-performance off-road vehicle (I jokingly call it a jalopy) got me to beautiful back country to which few get the opportunity to travel. Just click on one of the smaller individual photos below to view in slide show mode.

: Purple Gazanias

Note: The photoremedy mission is to encourage those fighting chronic pain and other afflictions to consider using photography as a powerful tool to move their focus away from the pain. In the process, we strive to enhance readers’ ability to see beauty and experience elevated joy in their lives. There are many gifts that can accompany health challenges; one of the greatest offerings is it frequently forces sufferers to set better priorities for their lives and assists them in seeing the world in new and more meaningful ways.

Savannah (Georgia) On My Mind

Posted on July 13, 2013 by azgilstrap

A side trip to Savannah was one of the highlights of our 2013 trip to visit my sister Kelley, brother-in-law Chris, and nephew Griffin in South Carolina.

Stephen Henkin has been quoted as saying “General Sherman spared it from the torch, Clint Eastwood filmed in it, and tourists by the millions flock there. People just love Savannah’s classic Old South look.” Sound like a near-perfect photoremedy recipe? You be the judge. The photos below offer a Savannah region sample. The primary featured subjects are Savannah itself, the Azalea Inn & Gardens, the fabled Bonaventure Cemetery, and nearby Tybee Island. Just click on any of the images below to view in slide show mode.

Note: Photoremedy.me is published as a labor of love. Please feel free to share the site, or any of our posts, with others. Our Home Page always features an option for our readers to sign up to immediately receive new material as an email. We hope you will become a part of our photoremedy network.

Honoring Our Heroes

Posted on July 7, 2013 by azgilstrap

Today, thousands of Arizonans flocked to the streets, highways, and overpasses that lined the way home for the nineteen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshot Unit that lost their lives one week ago today near Yarnell, Arizona. They perished when a wicked wind suddenly changed directions, and ferociously fanned the flames of a massive wildfire. The way the wind changed was unprecedented; it left our home state heroes with no way out.

I cannot imagine a way that a community can repay such a sacrifice, but I was proud of my Grand Canyon State brothers and sisters. Many got out of their cars and endured 110+ degree temperatures.

Many cried, some waved flags, and others–like me–documented a scene they hope to never see again. The line of white hearses was just so incredibly long.

This blog highlights some of the ways that photography helps many move their minds away from focusing on chronic pain and other ailments. I was able to take pictures of today’s procession, but it offered no remedy. It simply provided an opportunity to reflect and to say ‘thank you’ to all Americans who selflessly dedicate themselves to efforts to protect others.

The Firefighter’s Pledge – “I promise concern for others. Willingness for those in need. I promise courage – courage to face and conquer my fears and courage to share and endure the ordeal of those who need me. I promise strength – strength of heart to bear whatever burdens might be placed upon me and strength of body to deliver safety to all those placed within my care. I promise the wisdom to lead, the compassion to comfort, and the love to serve unselfishly whenever I am called.” – Author unknown