Exploring South Mountain Park

Which geologic landmark in Arizona attracts more than 3 million visitors every year, but many Arizona residents have never been there? You may be surprised to learn that it's not the Grand Canyon! I'm talking about South Mountain Park and Preserve.

Located directly south of downtown Phoenix, South Mountain is the largest municipal park in the world. There are more than 50 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails on over 16,000 acres of land.

Like many Phoenix residents, I have driven past South Mountain countless times but never taken the time to check it out up close. That was the case until earlier this year, when I decided to head up there on a whim on Memorial Day. What I found greatly exceeded my expectations!

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Calling All Artists! Submissions Needed

As an amateur photographer, I know how hard it can be for an up-and-coming artist to get their foot in the door. To succeed, you have got to get your name and your work out there to as many people as possible. One great way to do this is by entering juried shows and exhibitions.

How do you find such events? Well, I'm glad you asked because I have heard about four different shows in just the past month! Check them out: 

Sunnyslope Art Walk
Submission Deadline: September 10, 2010
Accepted Media: Original works of art
Submission Fee: $20 before August 20th, $25 after August 20th
Event Dates: Saturday, October 9th, 2010, 5:00-9:00pm
*All work must be for sale*
Website: https://www.facebook.com/sunnyslopeartwalk

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Observing the Perseid Meteor Shower 2010

If you pay attention to the news headlines, you may have heard about the Perseid Meteor Shower this past week. This meteor shower is the result of debris from a comet burning up as it enters Earth's atmosphere. The burning chunks of space rocks leave streaks across the night sky, which are also called falling stars or shooting stars. They appear to originate in the sky near the constellation Perseus, which is where the name comes from.

The shower is visible nightly from July 23rd to August 24th, with the peak viewing hours taking place on Thursday, August 12th between midnight and dawn. Because astronomy and photography are two of my favorite hobbies, and I decided to make a serious attempt to view this year's show.

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