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Sedona's Briar Patch Inn, September 2007

The Briar Patch Inn is up Oak Creek Canyon a few miles from Sedona. Harkening back to kinder and gentler days before Sedona was overdeveloped with chain hotels, time-shares, and condos. The Briar Patch remains quaint and personal, yet every detail has been thoughtfully considered. From the live semi-classical music on the patio forty or so feet above flowing waters of cool, clear Oak Creek, to the informal, buffet of quiche, granola, home-made breads and muffins as well all-fresh fruit salad (and more). The breakfast is primarily for guests, but others are welcome by reservation. You carry your food out to the free-form flagstone tables, shaded by restful British green umbrellas. During breaks in the music, you can hear Oak Creek gurgling over the rocks below, and native birds singing. Since this was a breakfast experience, not a photo shoot, I could take only a few photos. Still, it’s my pleasure to share them with you! Contact them at: (928) 282-2342.

Sep 5, 2007

Photos: 11

A dream come true, Bouchard Gardens

Friends and neighbors had been raving to me about Bouchard Gardens for years before I finally made the trip. They were actually prodding me to I make the trip (as though it was like a pilgrimage to Mecca). At long last I made it -- back in ‘94, and Bouchard did, absolutely, exceed the greatest of my expectations! Fortunately, a number of things came together to make these photographs possible. First, the third week in June was a great time for many flowers. Second, I was there early enough in the morning to avoid throngs of tourists. Third, the low but thin clouds added a perfect softness to the light. Finally, I had already been something of a nature photographer for years. Plus, I was glad to be taking the pictures (which can resemble hard work). Fortunately, I’d saved these images on CD so I could still find them. Note: I had used Fuji Velvia film, famous for rich natural colors. Suggestion – please consider leaving me a comment, a few good words do make a difference.

Nov 7, 2006

Photos: 29

A backyard for all seasons

For years I've found the moments in nature at the end of CBS's "Sunday Morning" program inspiring. So I set out to so something along that line, myself. Good thing I'm willing to drop everything to get the picture, most of the time. --- Anyway in over 17 years I've never seen a scorpion on the property, but I often see Black Widows. Fortunately, I've never been bitten by one, though I did get a bite from a Brown Recluse about ten years ago. It was under a bundle of shingles shipped up from Phoenix. Despite the fact that a couple kinds of spiders are poisonous, toxic pesticides are best avoided entirely. In the long run, most pesticides may prove far more dangerous than spiders. Other ways to control "bugs" include diatomaceous earth, boric acid, moving them to a remote corner of the yard, or, perhaps, swatting them with a fly swatter (heaven forbid). Become a friend of your backyard and your backyard will soon be a friend to you. And any time is a good time to stop and smell the roses!

Oct 28, 2006

Photos: 16

Sedona Wildfire - June 2006

On June 19, I saw the smoke from huge wildfire from my window. I grabbed my digital camera to take this series from Birch Blvd (the street in front of my house). Fortunately the prevailing winds pushed the wildfire away from town. Extreme drought made the fire almost unstoppable. It burned out of control for over a week until the hundreds of firefighters from all 'round the West finally controlled it just as reached highway 89A at the edge of the magnficent Oak Creek Canyon (at a cost of around $8 million, and well-worth it). Every morning the smoke was a thick as pea soup. It was miserable. I stayed close to home and hoped my favorite rustic resort, the Briar Patch didn't burn. Fortunately the fire was controlled in the nick of time about a 100 yds of that beloved Inn. Whew!

Oct 25, 2006

Photos: 9

Ramblin' Patrick's Sedona Photoblog

Back in April 2004 I started a photoblog using software by Movable Type, which was my first URL. I kept it working on it regularly for a year and a half, and then just let it go dormant. MovableType was just too limiting and complicated, while the site was "'hit" several thousand times a month, very few managed to contact me. With no money being generated and very little feedback, I had to find bigger and better things to do. That photojournal is still there and still gets many hits with no help from me. Since this Picasa setup has the opposite of MovableType. Picasa is a photo gallery, and MovableType does pretty good as a Journal, so I've linked them together, as best I could. Since then I've gone 100% digital, and my computer and software is so much more powerful and full of exciting features! I've selected a few shots from Ramblin' Patrick for you to enjoy here. You may visit and sift through the archives at: http://tinyurl.com/y42sp4

Oct 19, 2006

Photos: 10

Cathedral Rock and Bear Mountain

Many consider the Cathedral Rock Trail to be the greatest hike on the planet! Though that's a matter of opinion, I consider it to be spectacular, standing high above Sedona. Though short it makes up for it in steepness. The complete hike can done in a couple of hours. Cathedral Rock is one of the most photographed views in the U.S. if not the world taken from below on Oak Creek near Red Rock Crossing. Personally, though, the Bear Mountain has long been my favorite because it is rather remote, longer - going up to around 6,500'. I usually start at daybreak because the trail is on the south side and being long and steep, it is impossible not to work up quite a sweat. I didn't get many scenic shots that day because "controlled burns" had reduced visibility. Also I intended to photograph the Cerise Twining Snapdragon, which I've never seen grown anywhere else. Bear Mountain has an atmosphere of primal mystery which I find very revitalizing.

Oct 11, 2006

Photos: 16

Labor of love - Antique porcelain, glass, plus gold and sliver coins

Beauty is all around us if we take a moment to smell the roses. Though these roses were created in porcelain, quality digital cameras and lenses, along with powerful but filtered strobe lights truly bring out the beauty created by fine craftsmen/women. I've only recently restarted doing studio work mostly because a new market has emerged through the Internet, especially eBay. Especially for quality items for sale, studio lighting is fundamental to creating quality images because the light is exactly the color of sunlight at noon, shadows can be muted as desired, and colors reflecting from nearby objects are eliminated. Plenty of power also makes it possible to use a very small f-stop (aperature) giving the maximum depth of field. Also the cool light of the studio flash protects oil paintings and photographers from heat exposure. phickey@esedona.net

Oct 10, 2006

Photos: 22

Labor of love - Candids

At noon Friday, Oct. 6, 2006, I covered a visit to Sedona by Senatorial candidate Jim Pederson. This is not an endorsement, as I love doing candids of people, regardless of Party! Also I have on-going projects photographing antiques, gold and silver coins for sale through a friend's eBay site. As time allows I will include paintings and other two dimensional artwork for eBay sale or other web businesses. Living in the small town of Sedona, being versitile means always having plenty of options for the business side of photography -- though my passion for creating and/or recording the photographic image underlies all my photography and has since I finished my first roll of flim. My grandmother, Eva Hickey, took an Argus C3 filled with Kodachrome, on trips all 'round the West back in the '50s with my Grandfather, Harry. At every family get-to-gether, she'd have a slide show of their latest trips. I am deeply indepted to her! So welcome to the working side of my digital photography!

Oct 8, 2006

Photos: 8

About Patrick and his photography

An ongoing historical portfolio project beginning over forty years ago. We are the inviisible community who strive for truth, beauty and justice! Thank you for sharing in this celebration of nature's awesome mysteries! (inspired by Albert Einstein). P.S. Crested Butte, Colorado (population 1,000 - elevation 8,888') was my "hometown" from 1969 to 1989). Way back in the 1950s, since my family had a little cottage there, I was fortunate enough to spend many summers in Crested Butte. The mines had closed and the ski area had not yet been built. Many miners from the "old country", especially Yugoslavia and Italy, remained, keeping their warm sense of community and dedication to the simple life. Very few had indoor plumbing for instance, since the town had no treatment plant. I could see that there is more to a good life than just modern conveniences. The people, together are the heart of community! (Please double-click on each image to read my commentary). ©Patrick Hickey

Sep 29, 2006

Photos: 13

West Fork August, 2006

The West Fork of Oak Creek is only around ten miles from Sedona, Arizona, but the climate is similar to the Pacific Northwest. Giant Pondorosa Pines up there are hundreds of years old because it was too inaccessible to be logged. Only about a dozen miles from Sedona, temperatures are always around 20 degrees cooler there, and rainfall is more than twice Sedona's. This ecological "slot" canyon features a pure spring-fed stream, and is the home of many plants and insects unique to the West Fork. It is wonderful how the thunder echos through the narrow canyon on many summer afternoons. I used a Fuji S2 on a small Gitzo tripod with cable release because the steep canyon walls limit sunlight. I've hiked up about 11 miles, which required wading in the creek for the second half. That was a few years ago. Now I find five miles up and five back makes for a very full day, indeed! (Please double on each image to read my commentary). ©Patrick Hickey

Aug 31, 2006

Photos: 18

Summer 07 Apsley & Bancroft

Aug 1, 2006

Photos: 1

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