Greetings,

Here we are heading into the warmer parts of our Arizona climate. So, what shooting I do will likely be up here at Bonita in the creek or around the cabin. It is nice to have an escape from the heat. I wish you all could do the same. Just keep the next airconditioned destination a short walk from your airconditioned vehicle.

Bonus for us this week! Our hummers are back! Exhausted from flying from Central America with those tiny wings, they are grouping up on our seemingly, to them, endless supply of sweet water. There is no counting these little guys and gals, but it’s probably 20 now and growing each day. I fully expect we’ll be back up to 100+ at the feeders by this time next month.

Did you know a hummingbird can visit as many as 2,000 flowers a day? And they can remember each one and return the next day to collect nectar. That is amazing since I can’t remember why I walked into a room. And the theory has it that my brain might be bigger. At least a large flock of these little guys seems to remember our feeders, and we are happy with that. The constant drone of little wings and beating hearts is as comforting as ocean surf. So natural.

It has been a busy week here with a few projects going on. I helped take an antenna off of a tower 25’ up and then took the antenna, 39’ x 18’ apart, and brought it up to Bonita to go on my tower. Whew! Physically exhausting and worries about things crashing down on us. But, we were careful. We switched to Starlink for our internet up here. The jury is still out on how well it works and specifically if it will continue to be a good answer. Keeping our old connection for a while just in case. I did get on the roof, like an idiot, and mounted the Starlink antenna. So stupid of me. And tomorrow morning the solar company is coming to check out the finished installation and teach us how to use it. Although, APS has yet to plug in the two meters to make it live. So, lots of non-art going on.

This issue will feature two ladies. One is a model from jolly old England that Colby and I shot back in September of 2018. The other is a good friend who I first shot probably 10 years ago. These are newer images than way back then, however. Both are exceedingly beautiful and full of justified confidence. And Nikole is in the video…speaking on confidence and beauty. Enjoy and let me know what you think.

I was just talking with an old photographer friend and the topic of cell phones not being able to trigger flashes came up. I had to tell him they actually can. And I have what I need to do exactly that. So, on the list of things I want to do now, is to do a full photoshoot using just my cell phone, with an external flash. I’m going to study the process and do some testing, and if all goes well, and that includes me remembering to do it, I’m going to show that it really isn’t our ‘great camera’ that gets a beautiful shot. Most people know it is a combination of not telling the subject to say ‘cheese’ and having a pose that doesn’t look like the subject should be holding booking numbers at their chest.

So, until next Wednesday, enjoy the art all around you!

Stay cool and happy!

Dave

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