The Digital Shootout is a annual underwater photography workshop, usually held in the Caribbean in places like Bonaire for the last few years. This year it was in Little Cayman, and there were about 30 underwater photographers in attendance. Staff was onsite from Backscatter Photo, Canon, Light & Motion and Aquatica. Well-known underwater photographers Berkley [...]

Backscatter recently dove again with the Manthiri.  A refit has given the Manthiri a large and gracious air conditioned salon. Half of this salon is organized with couches into cozy islands where small groups of passengers may gather to visit, or seek privacy in their book. The other half of this comfortable salon serves as [...]

Some years the blooms erupt with a profound sense of purpose, sweeping across hillsides in endless waves. Right now, the color is spotty. It all depends on the amount of rain and the timing of rain. Chasing wildflowers isn’t always about finding mass groupings. Sometimes it’s in the discovery of unexpected delights. I rode to [...]

I just returned from  a week-long road trip which included Sedona, The Grand Canyon, Page, Monument Valley, Canyon De Chelly and Window Rock.  In Monument Valley I used Navajo Spirit Tours, and Tseyi’ Jeep Tour in Canyon De Chelly.  In both cases I drove my own car with them inside, which is called a “step-in” [...]

Scuba Specialties, 4139 West Bell Road Phoenix (602) 866-3636 is now featuring giclee gallery wrap fine art prints from The Main Event Imaging.  Since 1993 Scuba Specialties has been the premier dive shop in the Phoenix area offering diver training, dive travel and retail equipment sales. “We offer open-water training from a beginner scuba diver to [...]

The Four Peaks Mountains near Fountain Hills in Arizona look great when they get snow on them. The contrast between the desert sequaro cactus and the cold winter weather is music to my eyes.  When you use an infrared camera, things really start to rock & roll.  I wasn’t the only one up there yesterday, [...]

Shutterbugs meetings are on the first Wednesday of the month, N. 32nd Street, Phoenix, AZ at 7:00pm. The Elks Lodge has a Wednesday night Steak Cookout starting at 5:30 pm and we are invited to join in.  Cost: $9.  Come early and join us before the meeting at 7 pm.. All members are encouraged to [...]

The Oasis Sanctuary is a life-care facility for captive Exotic birds. In particular they are a refuge for parrots, cockatoos, macaws and other Psittacine birds. As a true sanctuary, they do not offer birds for adoption, however they work with and refer birds requiring re-homing to bona fide adoption programs around the country.  The Oasis [...]

Over $10,000 in Prizes we offered for the best images taken at the Shootout! The judging is over, and the votes are in to determine the winners of the 2009 Digital Shootout. The judges were asked to rank the photo entries primarily on the question, “Would I want this image on my wall?” Thus artistic [...]

The Grand Canyon is one of only seven natural wonders of the world. The other six are scattered across the globe, so visiting them will cost a bundle. Visiting Grand Canyon National Park is a bargain. Pay the $25 entrance fee – or flash an America the Beautiful pass – and don’t reach for your [...]