"Photo-News" from My

December Verde Valley Trip

If my last post on my Clarkdale trip made you curious to SEE more, this second post will satisfy some of that curiosity!

Here in this follow-up I also provide guidance on dawn photography.

I am a generalist, not a specialist. My trip to the Verde Valley (12-29 through 12-31) gave me an opportunity to photograph birds, streams, trees and small plants, and dawn clouds over the high desert landscape of Clarkdale Arizona.

I begin with the two dawn photos, of course!

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Hi there!

Pano of Dawn Clouds, 12-30-25, Clarkdale

This photo began life as a series of images which I shot while moving my camera from left to right, freezing and shooting every 20 degrees or so. Then I used Ligjhtroom Classic's "merge photos" function to turn them into the image you see here. Thank you, Jeff Goulden for teaching me this technique.

(Check out my Photography Techniques page!)

For a high resolution version of this photograph, visit this gallery: Northern Arizona: Desert Light and High-Country Horizons.

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Amazing dawn clouds, right?

How did I shoot this? My first answer? On a tripod. Second, there is no improving on the drama of these clouds. They speak for themselves.

But CATCHING the sunrise photographs I do requires planning. When is sunrise? When do I need to roll out of bed to start my day and and go wherever I am going and prepare.

Once the tripod is set in a place allowing me to maximize the shot, camera SETTINGS are next in line. You will need a long exposure, whether with Olympus "Live Composite" or cranking down your shutter speed manually.

(See my Long Exposure blog series with links at the bottom of the post.)

To savor a higher resolution copy of this photograph, visit my Northern Arizona gallery.

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Bald Eagle

This Bald Eagle appears to be giving me the side-eye, or looking quizzical. But what is the draw for this magnificent bird?

Water!

The photograph was taken at Dead Horse Ranch (one of Arizona's fine state parks). It is the lagoons in the park, linked to a stream that is linked to the Verde River, that attract eagles. Visit this gallery—Birds All: Raptors, Songbirds, and Shorebirds— to see higher resolution versions of this and similar photos.

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Great Blue Heron

Why have I placed this heron photo in my Northern Arizona gallery, a landscape page? It's the water!

The region is extremely dry. But mountain snow does flow down into streams like this— Oak Creek at its West Bend.

Want to see a higher resolution copy of the heron image? Visit the gallery Northern Arizona: Desert Light and High-Country Horizons.

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Fine-art Photography On the Trail

The West Fork of Oak Creek is not just water. It is a trail—one that is VERY popular with tourists, and home to beautiful trees, leaves, and smaller plants. This image reflects my broad interests in photography, and what gorgeous patterns nature shows us.

So mentioning "the West Fork" could mean the creek, the trail, or both!

And by the way, the trail passes over a bridge. When we crossed it, a kind person pointed to this photo-in-the making, because underneath the bridge was the heron!

Click here for information about the trail and creek, National Forest Service land.

If you want to see a higher resolution version of this photo, visit the gallery Shapes And Patterns: Nature's Geometry.

Read Photography Techniques page for tips and thoughts.

Long Exposure series

Introduction to Long Exposure Photography as a technique useful especially for fine-art photographers

Birds: Blurred Wings

Trains and Traffic

Before I wrap up

Visit my wordpress blog, "Outdoorswithcamera," and my Verde Valley "meta-post."

Writing on January 5, 2026, I offer belated new year's wishes. Let me know if the new year brings you to northern Arizona! You can use the linked contact form to get in touch.