BJ Starr – September 22 2013
So Randy, BJ, and I wanted to take some pictures outside. We were at BJ’s pink house. He owns the empty lot next to his house. His plan was to build his dream house on the empty lot, then raise the pink house. He felt like he could get the city of Phoenix to change the zoning enough so that he could have a helicopter landing pad behind his house. All of the neighbors were on board with this plan. He had just purchased his Canon 5D Mark II. I shot this image with my Canon 30D, you can see South Mountain behind Billy. I re-added the image into the lens on his camera. BJ really liked this image. Its one of my favorites of him from the last 5-6 years of our friedship. I’m sure there are pictures of him in his police uniform, and in his helicopter. This is how I want to remember BJ, vibrant, and so full of life. I spent an hour with BJ and Mike today after work. Billy is on a different medication, and was tired, and not too coherent while I was there. He had been up earlier when the hospice nurse came by to see him. I let him know I would stop by again tomorrow after work. I always tell him I’m thinking about him, and praying for him. He always answers I appreciate that.
Date taken 3/20/2009 Canon 30D, ISO-100, F8, 100mm, 1/100 sec. The Canon EF 100mm F2.8 lens is a “macro” lens for taking close up pictures. Its wide aperture, F2.8 is good for a shallow depth of field, and a blown out background, so its also a good portrait lens.
BJ Starr – September 21, 2013
BJ as an unwilling model. I bought a used projector and we rigged a screen, (white sheet) and projected a photo onto the screen, which is the background for this image. Shot 5/08/2009, in the “white house” studio.
Base of South Mountain, 1/4 mile behind BJ’s house. BJ’s new tripod. Shot on my birthday 10/24/2009.
I’ve talked about my friend and photographer buddy BJ Starr in a several posts this year. I alluded to BJ early on when I started this blog by saying I was dedicating my blog to my pastor and a very good friend who are both dealing with severe illnesses. BJ is fighting a losing battle with cancer. There I said it. I hate what cancer has done to my friend, and everyone else whose lives it effects every single day. I spent a couple of hours with him last night after work. A couple of his neighbors and friends were with him as well. Dave and Rita and Mike. I like their stories. I like BJ’s stories. Over the last couple of years as he’s been battling with cancer we’ve shared lots of conversations, and stories. I treasure them all. When I could’nt stop by after work, I’ld call and talk during my 30-45 minute drive home. He had hearing issues for a couple of months, which were very frustrating for everyone, but that passed. He is most always coherent, and a real pleasure to be around. Photography, cars, woman, airplanes, we talk about everything, and have lots of things in common. He is a pilot, and flight instructor for fixed wing, (airplane), and helicoptor. He flew helicopter for the City of Phoenix police department for years. I hate losing a friend to cancer. He is not eating and has lost 60-80 pounds from when the above pictures were taken. I pray for a miracle, but I feel thats the only he will survive this. God may need him more than his family and friends.
BJ Starr – September 20, 2013
I really like this picture of BJ. I shot this while we were working a Christmas party together. Shooting pictures, then printing on site, and selling the prints. I really miss shooting with BJ. Shot December 3, 2011. BJ was in relative good health then. He seems to get weaker every day I go and see him. If I remember correctly, he has a birthday coming up this month. I hope and pray he can beat this. Canon 30D, ISO-100, F5.6, 40mm, 1/100 sec, Canon Speedlight 580EX camera mounted.
My Girls – September 19, 2013
Sheri Lynn, Lucy, and Jazmin. Sheri Lynn needed a photograph, so I took a couple of head shots. Lucy and Jazmin were curious and wanted their picture taken as well. I’m a very lucky man to have them in my life. Not so much the cats…….. Canon 5D Mark II, ISO100, 105mm F4, 1/125 sec, Canon Speedlight 580 EX II, bounced of the ceiling.
Go Daddy’s New Tempe Call Center – September 18, 2013
Went by on my way home from work. Looks like they are getting ready to get the drainage pipes into the ground soon. Still waiting for the next big cement pour.
If you click on this image, it will allow you to click on it again to see it full size. You can see the forms look like they are all in place for the next big slab. You can see the detail in all of the infrastructure comming up from underground. Water, sewer, electrial, etc. Canon 5D Mark II.
More Clouds – September 17, 2013
OK, same scenario as yesterday. Driving home after work after spending some time with Billy, the sky was incredible, so I stopped and shot a couple of pictures. I know, its hard to believe. I love the light and dark blue areas around the clouds, like they are casting shadows. Canon 5D Mark II, ISO-100, F18, 24mm, 1/400 sec. Minimal processing in LightRoom.
Estrella Mountains – September 16, 2013
So as I was driving home from visiting my friend BJ Starr, I stopped off at 91st Avenue and Baseline Road. Looking west into the sun, with the cloud cover produced a very nice landscape. The sky was very cool. Our skys are always clear and blue, its nice to have the weather we have had over the last 6 weeks or so. Shot with the Canon 5D Mark II, EF 24-105 F4 IS L lens, at 24mm, ISO-50, F8, 1/400 sec. Post production Lightroom only to darken the sky, and add a little saturation.
Big Sky – September 15, 2013
Driving home from BJ’s house I drive through the desert, and farm land. Friday the 13th produced a big sky, lots of big cloud formations to the east. Dust storm / thunder storm warnings and all. I drive by this field 3 or 4 times a week. I went past, and looked in the rear view mirror, and really liked what I saw. I thought about using the EF 17-40 F4 L lens at 17mm to accentuate the sky, but settled for the 24-105.
Go Daddy’s new Tempe Call Center – September 14, 2013
This image was shot on my way into work on Friday the 13th! Approx 5:15 AM. Several cement trucks were on site pouring some slabs.
Shot Friday on my way home from work, approx 2:30pm. So it looks like these slabs were poured, almost a “free form” maybe as part of driveways? Then finished, and cut for expansion/seams. As you can see the next phase was not poured. I have not talked to Vince the last couple of times I’ve been out to the site to take pictures. I’m sure he started VERY early today. Canon 5D Mark II, EF 24-105 F4 IS L lens, top shot ISO-400, F4, 1/25 sec. All others ISO-50, F8, 1/400 sec.
Go Daddy’s new Tempe Call Center – Friday the 13th
Went by the site today on my way into work – they are pouring concrete – multiple cement trucks are on site now. I will take some more pictures after work and get them posted this weekend.
I took lots of pictures after work, but ran out of time to get them processed, and posted. I will add more over the weekend. Looks like the vapor barrier (yellow plastic) is down and ready to get covered with new concrete. It also looks like the foundation/stem wall forms are in place for the existing slab, Phase one, that was poured 10-14 days ago. It would not surprise me to see concrete poured on Friday, or Monday. Lots of standing water / mud in places on site. Main work areas were already to grade, so they appear to be much dryer / less muddy. I took pictures of the drainage pipes that will go into the ground, and help moving water away from the structures and parking areas.
Canon 5D Mark II, EF 24-105 F4 IS L lens, ISO-50, F8, 1/400 sec.
911 remembered – September 12, 2013
This image was uploaded full sized. You can see the detail in the image if you click on it. This is across Tempe Town Lake, looking at their 911 memorial. A flag for every life that was lost.
Tempe has put this memorial together for several years now. It makes you think about each of the American lives that were lost in a single day, as you walk through the thousands of flags. Pattison is not a common name. Walking through the flags, I realised they were put up in alphabetical order, and I was approaching the P’s……
Canon 5D Mark II, ISO-50, EF 17-40 F4 L lens, most images at 17mm, 1/500 sec.
Another Rainy Day – September 11, 2013
I envisioned this landscape as black and white as I took it. Driving home from visiting my buddy BJ Starr. I get very emotional when I leave. I try to be strong while I’m spending time with BJ, but the truth is he is getting weaker every day. He is not eating much, and has little to no energy. I will miss him more than I can every say. Jerita and I talked for 30-45 minutes after I left. I can’t even imagine what Deborah and Jerita are going through. God give them the strength they will need to get through this.
GoDaddy’s new Tempe Call Center – September 4, 2013
Drove by the new site on my way home. Looks like forms are in place to pour a lot more concrete.
Sunset – September 2, 2013
Sheri Lynn shot this thru the windsheild, dropping down into Camp Verde on the way home Sunday night. The picture does not do the extreme reds justice. It was AMAZING. Canon 5D Mark II, ISO-200, 80mm, F8, 1/250 sec.
Jeff and Alyson’s cabin – September 1, 2013
We went up to the cabin for the day on Sunday. I walked around for a couple of hours with my camera in tow …. it was a beautiful day, 71 degrees, while the Phoenix area was 100+ degrees. A light sprinkle every so often. Lots of flowers in bloom, and lots of bugs. The bottom image is just a full sized crop of the top image. Canon 5D Mark II, ISO-200, EF 24-105 F4 IS L glass, at F4 and 105mm, 1/1600 sec shutter speed.
Slab Poured – August 30, 2013
OK. I could have named this post Go Daddy’s new Tempe Call Center. This is a tribute to Ryan Companies, and all of the contractors, and trades that are building our new call center. I recieved an email from Vince letting me know that they placed the slab on grade for phase one. An amazing 539 cubic yards of concrete covering 43,000 sq. ft. on Wednesday. When I went by, lots of the crews were still working the concrete, and getting other things done. I did some figuring, and I may be W A Y off, but here goes. A standard cement truck holds 10 cubic yards of concrete. A cubic yard of concrete weights an average of 3500 pounds. So 54 cement truck loads arrived on the job site on Wednesday, each carrying 35,000 pounds of concrete, for a total of 1,890,000 pounds of concrete. Let me rephrase that. ONE MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED AND NINETY THOUSAND POUNDS! Like I stated, I may be way off, I’m wondering how much the “poured in place” walls will weigh. All images shot with my Canon 5D Mark II, ISO-100, EF 24-105 F4 IS L glass, varing focal lengths, most images shot at F8.
Appologies to Ryan Companies for continuing to “tag” their equipment with GoDaddy logos.
View from the right of the water tank. In the distance you can see the slab.
Zoomed in at 105mm you can see a little more of whats going on.
Looking to the far right from the water tank, concrete has gone into the footer for the fence, or retaining wall.
This is probably the underground contractors, maybe tying into the main, or adding a valve, I did not get close, in fact this was shot from the airconditioned comfort of my Avalon.
This is the far north edge of the jobsite, right by the storage area, and job trailer, zoomed in to 105mm.
These were shot just to the left of the RYAN green and yellow trailer, looking south, south west.
The 3 images above are looking north from Warner road. I cant wait to see the aerial shots now that the slab is in.
This is the view from the south east corner, looking north west. Zoomed in 105mm. The water tank would be to the left, and the job trailer would be off to the right.
OK. I could have named this post Go Daddy’s new Tempe Call Center. This is a tribute to Ryan Companies, and all of the contractors, and trades that are building our new call center. I recieved an email from Vince letting me know that they placed the slab on grade for phase one. An amazing 539 cubic yards of concrete covering 43,000 sq. ft. on Wednesday. When I went by, lots of the crews were still working the concrete, and getting other things done. I did some figuring, and I may be W A Y off, but here goes. A standard cement truck holds 10 cubic yards of concrete. A cubic yard of concrete weights an average of 3500 pounds. So 54 cement truck loads arrived on the job site on Wednesday, each carrying 35,000 pounds of concrete, for a total of 1,890,000 pounds of concrete. Let me rephrase that. ONE MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED AND NINETY THOUSAND POUNDS! Like I stated, I may be way off, I’m wondering how much the “poured in place” walls will weigh. All images shot with my Canon 5D Mark II, ISO-100, EF 24-105 F4 IS L glass, varing focal lengths, most images shot at F8.
Same mountains different storm – August 29, 2013
I spent some time with BJ today after work. He was not feeling well. We talked about what he had eaten so far today…. some grits and a sausage patty. It was 3 p.m. He’s not eating, and food does not taste good. It’s hard seeing a good friend in this state. I’ll continue to spend as much time with BJ as possible. Driving home God blessed me with another storm rolling over the top of the Estrella Mountains. I spent more than an hour watching, and driving down roads, most unpaved trying to get closer. The sky was magnificent! Today was the first time, in a long time that I wished I had the EF 17-40 lens with me. I love the EF 24-105, but I would have liked having the wider angle for the sky. Canon 5D Mark II, ISO-200, EF 24-105 F4 IS L glass, at 24mm, and 85mm, F8, 1-160 sec.
Flags – August 28, 2013
Josiah and I went out after work and shot some photographs. I always enjoy spending time with friends, especially if we’re walking around shooting. The flag, its reflection, the reflection of the building, and sky cloud combination make for an interesting photo. Canon 5D Mark II, ISO-100, EF 24-105 F4 IS L lens at 68mm, F8, 1/360 sec.
Estrella Mountain Range – August 27, 2013
Went and spent some time with my friend BJ Starr after work today. I hpoe and pray he can start gaining some weight, and get his strength back. His illness seems to be taking its toll. I was talking to his sister on my way home, when I stopped and took this picture. Somewhere between 75th and 83rd Avenues, heading west on Baseline Road, looking south to the Estrella Mountains. The clouds, shadows on the mountains, and the crystal clear blue sky caught my attention. Canon 5D Mark II, ISO-100, EF 24-105 F4 IS L lens at 24mm, F8, 1/250 sec. Saturation bumped a little bit in LightRoom.
GoDaddy’s new Tempe Call Center – August 26, 2013
Picture taken to the right of the water tower. Lots of new trenches, etc. Dirt work continues.
View from the left of the water tower. More contractors are on the job, more storage trailers, containers, and equipment.
View to the right of the water tower, just inside the fence. Probably footers for a wall? Pure conjecture on my part.
In last weeks post, I mentioned DIP and the fact that it is wrapped, or put into a sleeve so alkaline soils don’t deteriorate the pipe. This is a better image to see the pipe in the ground waiting to be burried.
The storage area outside the job trailer is much larger, with new pallets of materials waiting to be used.
View from the same area, zoomed in to the area where the concrete was poured today? for the main slab, or slabs. All of the foundation/slabs are covered with yellow plastic to help cure the concrete, and to keep rain out. Correction: The yellow plastic is actually a vapor barrier below the slab. Vince with Ryan Companies let me know that on 8/28/2013 they placed the slab on grade for phase 1. 530 cubic yards of concrete covering 43,000 sq. ft.
View from the 101 to the left of the green and yellow “Ryan” trailer, as I drive around the perimeter of the site taking these pictures, I realize how big the site really is.
View from the 101 closer to warner, as are most of the rest of this series of pictures. The foundation/slab area is easy to see from this angle.
I tagged this piece of equipment with the GoDaddy logo’s and the GoDaddy Dude.
101 close to the corner of Warner, again you can see the new footers/foundation/slab. Correction: The yellow plastic is actually a vapor barrier below the slab. Vince with Ryan Companies let me know that on 8/28/2013 they placed the slab on grade for phase 1. 530 cubic yards of concrete covering 43,000 sq. ft.
Possible footer for a wall, or fence???? This angle would be facing Warner and the 101.
Looking back from this corner area trying to convey the size of the area where the concrete was poured. Correction: The yellow plastic is actually a vapor barrier below the slab. Vince with Ryan Companies let me know that on 8/28/2013 they placed the slab on grade for phase 1. 530 cubic yards of concrete covering 43,000 sq. ft.
Again this may be a footer for a fence?? This wall would be facing Warner.
Again zoomed in looking back from the corner area trying to give you a sense of the size of the building.
This is a 2 image panorama, again trying to give you a sense of the size of the building. Click here to see the panorama full size. Once the site opens up, click on the image, then click on the “O” for original, at 20.8 mb it will take a minute or two to load. All images show with the Canon 5D Mark II, Ef 24-105 F4 IS L lens, ISO-100, F8, 1/500 sec, hand held. Correction: The yellow plastic is actually a vapor barrier below the slab. Vince with Ryan Companies let me know that on 8/28/2013 they placed the slab on grade for phase 1. 530 cubic yards of concrete covering 43,000 sq. ft.
1999 Toyota Camery – August 24, 2013
I currently drive a 2000 Toyota Avalon. It replaced my 1999 Camery. I was rear ended on I-10 West bound at just about 27th Avenue. This happened August 24, 2006. I bought the Avalon when the odometer had just turned 70,000 miles. It now has over 230,000. I would like a new car. The Avalon is paid for… it has a decent stereo…. ICE cold air, a must have in Arizona…….. and did I mention its paid for? Canon Rebel XT, ISO-200, 18mm, F16, 1/80 sec.
GoDaddy’s new Tempe Call Center – August 20, 2013
Wide angle view from the right of the water tower.
Wide angle view from the left of the water tower.
Trenches with wrapped DIP (ductile iron pipe) water line for pottable water and to feed fire hydrants, and fire sprinker systems.
Another open trench with DIP. The trench will be back filled with dirt once it passes inspection. The pipe is incased in a plastic sleeve which helps the DIP last longer, corode less in alkaline soil. If I remember correctly, clorine tablets are put in each section of the DIP, so once water in introduced it will disinfect all the pipe, and attached water lines.
Lots of equipment on the job site today. The rights tool for the right job! Go Daddy Guy added in post production.
You can see the rebar poking up from some footers. SAFETY FIRST. You can tell all the rebar has plastic caps or 2×4 studs to help eliminate anyone getting impaled on them.
All of the plastic (white) pipes are for water, or they are grey for electrical conduit. Basically “Infrastructure”. I’m sure they are color coded.
Storage by the job trailers.
This shot was taken from the area by the green and yellow Ryan trailer, over the fence off the access road for the 101.
This shot was taken from the area by the green and yellow Ryan trailer, over the fence off the access road for the 101, closer to the corner of Warner.
This is the best photo to see the “abc” or gravel which will sit under the slabs, or foundation. Probably 1-2 weeks away from pouring the slabs. It looks a lot different in just one week. All images shot with the Canon 5D Mark II, EF 24-105 F4 IS L lens, ISO-50, F8, 1/200 sec, various focal lengths.
Arizona Diamondbacks Birthday Cake – August 17, 2013
Another cake from JazCakes.com. Arizona Diamondbacks baseball. The cake is a double layer white cake with fresh strawberry filling, covered in home made fondant. Top 2 images shot using bounced flash, and the bottom 2 are using direct flash, and are slightly bluer. Canon 5D Mark II, EF 24-105 F4 IS L lens, ISO-100, F8, 1/60 sec, with the 580EXII camera mounted.
Old Farm House – August 16, 2013
This image was shot August 2012. This farm house was probable used by migrant workers. You can see the building is falling off the foundation. The bricks are cracked and shifted all around the building. Canon 5D Mark II, EF 17-40 F4 Lens at F8, ISO-100, 1/250 sec.