19 years and 9 months. The End!

Walking out for the last time! 19 years and 9 months.

This is my last post from the Tribune. I'm done! Photographer Ralph Freso took this picture Thursday December 18, 2008 as I walked out the front door for the last time. I look at this picture with mixed emotion. I don't know if I look tired or I just feel tired! Either way I'm glad it is finally over. The Tribunes business solutions are not mine and nether are the problems. I wish them well. I have given all I can and now I must move on and let go.

Ironically the name of my blog is Transformations. Wow! Who new it would be a word that describes my life. A terrifically talented man Andy Sawyer who is a former Tribune photographer himself used that word when describing some of my personal work. I loved the analogy and it stuck. Kudos to you Andy, I always new your a genius!

Moving forward! This part of my story hasn't been written yet. I am excited about my future. It is time to shed the old skin.

East Valley Tribune update

Things are winding down for me at the Tribune. I have passed the proverbial torch to Mr. Webb, now chief photographer. I am no longer going to work as an editor or manager. I am finishing out my time by taking my remaining vacation days until the transition date of January 2.

It is surreal to know it is finally over and the anxiety will wane away soon. Now the work begins for a new career and a renewed happiness.

Wow! This has been a long and hard thing to go through. I must say thank you to all my friends who have said incredibly nice things to me recently. I love you all and appreciate the friendship I have with you. I am truly a blessed man.

All kinds of parties and reunions this past week. It has been wonderful. I saw reporters and former friends that I worked with 20 years ago. Just amazing. We have this journalism thing in common that brings us together. What a resource we need to have gatherings more often. It felt good.

Enough for know I will be back soon.

Tempe Arts Festival

Jenn wearing a paper hat from the kids craft corner.


Passing through the light.


Cowboy shopper!


Bird in a hand.


Walking past the walking mural.


This Pitt Bull just stood there holding his collar in his mouth.


From Hooters Mill Ave and 5th Street.


The police and fire department bagpipe crew.

This is the most fun I have had in a long time photographing. Just shooting without a care one.

I spent the day in downtown Tempe with my wife and a friend enjoying the art, food, people and perfect weather.

Ironman last week

Back lit dirt during sunset created this saturated yellow scene.


These athletes have already swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles now they have
a 26.2 mile run ahead of them. It is a long grueling day for most of these athletes. Some won't finish until midnight.


A female Pro Imke Schiersh from Frankfurt, Germany passes by.
She finished in 9:53 for 9th place women pro division.


My wife Lorie passes by on her second loop of
the 26.2 mile run cource

Runner runs into shaft of light.


Lorie Armstrong looks good on the third loop of the bike course.


View of competitors on bike course Rio Salado Parkway near Mill Ave.


Cyclist leave the transition area entering the bike course.


Men professional triathletes finish the swim and run to the transition to bike.


Wetsuit strippers peel wetsuits off swimmers as they exit the water.


2,300 athletes begin the day with a deep water standing start.

It's for you

Sister in law on the phone Lake Havasu City.

The road to Havasu

pop


Kofa Cafe


wind mill

Understanding the sublime to the ridiculous

brothers


the hug


Mert and Herman act like they own the coach!


brothers and sisters tour the coach

Trying to understand what I am doing and why I'm doing it isn't crystal clear even in my own mind. While, I enter a new phase of my life, I am trying to develop a vision that reveals life as I see it.

This time my intent is to work intellectually without interruption from outside influences. It is creative independence. A liberation from institutional norms and burdens.

In a sense these are stand alone feature photographs. But, it is also anti-peak action. It is the dance of life in its transitional movements and moments. Perhaps it's quit rather than in you face. It may not be the quick read where a schooled photographer might say "nice".

I'm trying to develop a continued heightened sense for the sublime. I think, I have always been attracted to it, it's just difficult to identify and capture. To see it isn't an unintentional accident. It is a skill set that requires experience. Sometimes it takes maturity to evolve!

Does the image translate to the viewer? Is it a snap shot or an out take that is over looked? Is it misunderstood or is it just a bad photograph? Whether or not it translates in my work is a continuing challenge.

These are some recent pics from Thanksgiving in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

They are actually the motor coach tour and the event surrounding the actual departure of family.

Sublime: adjective: used to denote the extreme or unparalleled nature of a person's attitude or behavior / excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe