Snow on Barrel Cactus, Tucson, AZ
The last time it snowed in the desert in Tucson was on the morning of February 22, 2019. I rarely use “the last time” in photo captions because they get out of date regularly. In this case, I’m not that worried. By noon, all evidence of snowfall had melted.
Of course, snow is never far away most winters. Tucson is the home of Ski Valley, the southernmost ski destination in the continental United States. The top elevation is 9,157 feet and it features 200 skiable acres with 21 runs. Some of them are even classified as difficult. It has three chair lifts and the longest run is 8,500 feet. Of course, the road to Ski Valley, the Catalina Highway, closes during bad weather.
Places That I Love
For the vast majority of my career, my own photography was an afterthought. Very soon after I started working professionally as a photojournalist, I became a full-time academic and for more than 40 years, my students came first. We traveled the world together, but my role was that of an editor and mentor, not a photographer. Rarely would I have time for my own work. Of course, that was of my choosing and it was a gift, not a burden.
Toward the end of my career, my teaching and advising focus shifted from undergraduate to graduate students, who were allowed to travel without a faculty escort. This allowed me time for some personal projects and assignments, and time to travel with family and friends, something I still do today.
This gallery has no thematic or geographic parameters, it’s just a grouping of photographs from places that I love, places that evoke special memories or moments that I enjoyed experiencing.
