Category: United States

My heart just isn’t into writing a blog post.  I can’t even imagine why you’re here, reading this.  Week after week of Arizona monsoon rain.  Hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoy making them.  I suspect a high percentage of readers only come for the photos anyway.  That’s OK by me.  Thanks.

I’ve come to the conclusion, that by hook or crook, I will NOT be on the ranch next year during July and August monsoon rain.  Wasn’t the original plan for this year, but shit happens.

I have almost seen a full year in Skull Valley.  So, I’m telling myself I was meant to be here for the heat, followed by monsoon, humidity, and storm energy.

I’ve had endless time to shoot video, time-lapse, and series photos of rapidly changing cloud patterns.

Instead of thinking lazy, it’s about learning at a slower pace.  Some days just move slower than others.  The storms are exciting.

I’ve tried to capture lightning with the camera set on tripod and timer but instead I caught cows.

And ended up with 70 images of the same view under a changing sky…

…then selected six at five minutes apart for a fun series almost like a time-lapse.  But no lightning.

Most of my recent photos are taken from inside because the bugs eat me up and I swell and itch something terrible.  They even get me in the house.  After a long day inside putting out a video about Watson Lake I ventured out for some panoramic shots that didn’t include the power pole or lines.  But not for long, as our tall damp grasses and weeds offer perfect breeding ground for those aggressive skeeters.

The sunset was magnificent and I took another series of shots this time on the phone over 35 minutes of dramatic change.

Should have taken time-lapse.

Now that I’ve figured it out, I’m hooked on time-lapse.  Once the camera is set up I can mostly ignore it and work on the computer.  So instead of gazing endlessly at the cumulus clouds billow and blow in a hypnotic dance, I watch later in accelerated time.  I’ll use those in a video about Arizona monsoon rain.

Downloaded a lightning tracker app that mimics the radar storm patterns that most frequently miss my valley and move over the mountains.

Monsoon rain makes for colorful sunsets.

I moved the trail cam thinking I’d catch the playful squirrel family on the wood pile jungle gym.  The woodpile is too busy of a pattern for background, and the squirrels are small, though entertaining to watch through a window.

West Brushy Mt

East Bradshaw Mts

Not all the rain misses me.  Sometimes I see lightning less than a mile or two away and I’ve felt the thunder right overhead.  I love that energy and am glad to be well grounded on rubber tires.

Recognize Brushy Mt?

I seem to experience the heaviest of monsoon rain on town days in Prescott.  The drive home showed some ominous skies.

I’d never seen Skull Valley wash flow let alone churn it’s muddy waves.  Made me wonder if my driveway wash would be passable.

Ran into a cow jam in the driveway as they helped themselves to my neighbors load of expensive hay for her horses.  Thankful to drive across my merely damp wash made it easier to unload the days spoils.

Those heavy clouds dropped only gentle rain and a streak of sunshine lit a brief gift to end the day.

Interesting shift in the typical summer monsoon rain pattern from the south/southwest.

Recent storms coming from the north hit hard in my valley.  I lost count of the lightning and thunder.  The noise and energy was palpable.

So I set the phone to video, pointed at a rather bleak gray view, and recorded the sound.  Wish I could capture the smell and energy vibrations of this monsoon rain.

Does this shift mean Autumn is on its way?

OK, I feel better now.  I hear rumbles coming and there’s currently no mosquitoes in the house.