Arizona Surprise

Happy Day After Super Bowl 51! Congratulations to the New England Patriots; possibly the greatest Super Bowl win ever and Tom Brady is most likely to be crowned the best to ever play the game.

I took the opportunity this past weekend to head back to Arizona to take part in my neice, Brandy Horak, 43^rd birthday celebration and to meet the newest addition to my sisters family, Greyson Paul Hayes, my great great nephew. My trip to Mesa was kept a surprise and to say the least the planning by her sister, Wendy, made the surprise birthday party a rousing success. As much as I would like to think my appearance was one of the highlights, I got the feeling that the 3 week old Greyson may have taken the limelight. I would have to admit I was even awe struck by the beautiful newborn. It is fun being an Uncle and even more fun getting to take credit for just being his uncle.

While visiting the area, I generally spend time and stay with one of my former assistants, Herb Stokes who has a successful photography business in Tempe and lives fairly close to my sister. Thanks to him I generally do not have to worry too much about getting round the city. On the one free night we had, we went down to Tempe Towne Lake and did what we enjoy the best, photographing! I have blogged many photographs from this area but I never tire of coming here to photograph the city, especially at sunset.

The area hosts a man made lake that reflects the shimmering lights of the “expanding” skyline of Tempe and the ASU campus in the water. The city is in the direct path of the Phoenix airport so in addition to the city lights we are treated to the continuing streaks of airplanes flying into the city at night. I would have to admit it is a city view I never tire of photographing. ENJOY!