Phil Perkins Photography

Photo ⋅ Pictures ⋅ Poetry

Tag: Arizona

  • Throwback Thursday

    This vintage photograph from 1998 was taken at Saguaro Lake, Arizona, a reservoir along Salt River, and shows (left-to-right) me, my brother Mike and a friend, jumping from 20-feet above the water. Fun times!

  • Poem in Response

    Poem in Response

    After reading “Golden Pink Gone“, written by the talented and lovely Arizonian poetess, Michele Lee Sefton – wherein her happiness stems from an admiration of beauty and peacefulness (rather than the frivolous), sharing photographs of local sights – I was inspired to write this poem…

    The time you take to share
    With steady gait, to reminisce
    A beauty that’s alive
    Your town, in hues of golden bliss

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

    Transcendance by Santana (1977) – see lyrics here.

  • Poem in Response

    Poem in Response

    Having read “Superstition Mountain“, written by the talented and lovely Arizonian poetess, Michele Lee Sefton – wherein she draws spiritual nourishment, perspective and resolve in visiting majestic mountains near Phoenix – I was inspired to write this poem…

    At golden hour
    Above the sands
    Old spirits join in song

    From mountain tops
    Upon the wind
    As one, with you – stand strong

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

    Couldn’t Stand the Weather, by Stevie Ray Vaughan (1984) – see lyrics here.

  • Poem in Response

    Poem in Response

    After reading “My Inspired Blog Back Story“, written by the very talented and lovely Arizonian poetess, Michele Lee Sefton – wherein she elaborates upon her decision to pursue writing, discusses challenges, hard work and successes – I was inspired to write this poem…

    From an absence of light came a spark in the dark
   In a call from her dreams to connect with her heart
Inspiration brought joy with both truth and reward
   When she answered to make a creative fresh start

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

    Soul Searching by Average White Band (1976) – see lyrics here.

    NOTE: this poem uses the Preformatted Block, which allows for indentation of text exactly as pasted. However, in so doing, a monospace font is used.

  • Poem in Response

    Poem in Response

    After reading “Burn Brightly” by the talented and lovely Arizonian poetess, Michele Lee Sefton – wherein her inspirational poetic prose speaks to self-confidence, aspirations, and to make hay while the sun shines – I wrote this short poem…

    She arose, this desert rose
    As the sun in silhouette
    Bridging space with song, in dance
    Center stage, without regret

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

    “Listen to the Music” – by The Doobie Brothers (1972) / see lyrics

  • Shoutout to a Friend

    Shoutout to a Friend

    Creativity may be expressed in content which is cultivated, or that which is spontaneous, including through conversation…as follows.

    Flashback September 25, 2021

    I had just finished reading “Heart Beats on a City Street“, written by Michele Lee Sefton – a lovely author and poetess hailing from the Sonoran Desert of Arizona – when I saw a picture of her taking a photograph at night in the city.

    Having observed images posted on her site, Michele looks wonderful wearing blue jeans! I alluded to such in my comments responding to her cited writing, above, to which she noted, “Maybe Levi’s will endorse my site.”

    Her remark inspired me to write this storyline for a hypothetical Levi Strauss blue jeans commercial, subsequently pitched to the company:

    Imagine…it’s nighttime on a poorly lit street, with a steady pulse of background sounds from the city and steam wafting from manhole covers. The camera pans left, stopping to focus on the shadowy silhouette of a beautiful blonde woman wearing a cowgirl hat and boots, black top, and, yes, a pair of well-fitting Levi’s. She slowly saunters forward under a dim streetlight, when suddenly – the crashing sound of a metal trash can lid hitting the pavement! She makes a quick quarter-turn, drawing her DSLR camera as if it were a gun from a holster, and snaps a shot of a cat racing away with fish bones clenched in its teeth. The camera zooms in for a close-up scene of her face, as she remarks, “Here’s looking at you, cat”. She raises her camera, winks to the TV camera, and, resembling a gun having been fired, blows the smoke away from her lens. Then, Levi’s runs their slogan on-screen, perhaps in conjunction with the camera maker.

    © 2021 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photos from unsplash.com – jeans & street (Phoenix sidewalk at night).

  • Poem in Response

    Poem in Response

    There are times I feel I should refrain
    From the sounds that drum as rhyme
    Yet, your beauty shines through poetry
    Like your smile, your words sublime

    Having read “Twilight’s First Blush“, written by a lovely poetess and friend from the Valley of the Sun, Michele Lee Sefton – wherein she conveys a romantic recollection at dawn & shares her welcomed sense of humor – I was inspired to write this poem in response…

    On a late night cruise
    To a rendezvous
    Just seventeen miles or so

    It’s the magic hour
    When night fades to day
    And the cock begins to crow

    In romantic waves
    Rhythm fills the air
    Glances cast amorously

    Soon, a warm embrace
    On the edge of love
    Two hearts sing in rhapsody

    Til the morning draws
    Colors peach to blue
    As faint starlight blinks farewell

    Cheers, to drift once more
    On this desert sea
    Over sand and under spell

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

  • Poem for a Friend

    Poem for a Friend

    A lovely poetess and friend hailing from the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, Michele Lee Sefton has worked diligently over the past nineteen months authoring her first book – presently, being edited. I wrote this short poem in honor of her hard work, and I encourage you to visit her site to learn more!

    Waves riding the wind
    Wash her hair in the sun
    Words written with ink
    Drying now, almost done

    She’s a southwestern rock star
    A flowering desert rose
    With a tumbleweed spirit
    And a story line that flows

    So, purchase her book
    Coming soon, out for sale
    Sit back and enjoy
    Michele’s creative tale

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

  • Poem in Response

    Poem in Response

    Having read Feeling the Squeeze, poetic prose by the talented and often inspirational Arizonian poetess, Michele Lee Sefton – wherein she writes about regional economic history, homegrown citrus & making lemonade – I was inspired to write this poem in response…

    From gloves to weed
    And holes to seed
    To roots with shoots
    And dirty boots

    The work you’ve done
    Unfolds as fun
    At harvest time
    Your crops, sublime

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

  • Poem in Response

    Poem in Response

    Having read “Living Green and Dancing with Love” by Arizonian poetess, Michele Lee Sefton – in which she speaks about food, nurturing gardens and family – I was inspired to write this poem in response…

    Your stature as poet, inspirational
    Your beauty in dance, divine

    Your thumb in the garden, green
    A woman of talent, impressively fine.

    © 2021 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

  • Poem for a Friend

    Poem for a Friend

    Often a source of inspiration, I wrote this poem for a friend – Michele Lee Sefton. A proficient poetic storyteller, dancer and photographer, I encourage you to visit her site to read and enjoy her creative works!

    Donning overalls
    Without any shoes
    To a rhythm set by spoons

    In a sun-shower
    Dancing wet with rain
    Bringing thunder to monsoons

    Arizonian
    By the name Michele
    She’s creative from the heart

    Crafting poetry
    Taking photographs
    She’s both beautiful and smart

    Very down to earth
    And I’m down with that
    Though know that she’s spoken for

    Were it different
    With her interest
    I’d be knocking at her door

    On a dusty road
    She’s a tumbleweed
    Her words flow, her spirit free

    Writing on retreat
    Northwest to southeast
    At Her Cottage by the Sea

    © 2021 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

  • Poem In Response

    Poem In Response

    After reading “Feathered Fans” by poetess Michele Lee Sefton from the Valley of the Sun, I was inspired to write this short poem in response…

    In the nectar you prepare
    and the kindness that you share,
    your heart, dear Michele, is sweet.

    Birds need the cool, clear water,
    as temperatures grow hotter,
    in Sonoran Desert heat.

    © 2021 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

  • Plants of Blue And Green

    Plants of Blue And Green

    Enjoy this grunge-style macro digital rendition of succulent plants, based on a photo, with a saturated blue & turquoise color scheme.

    You can find products available for sale in the following shops:

    Here are a few samples you’ll discover when visiting…

  • Shoutout For A Friend

    Shoutout For A Friend

    Every so often, I like to take time and highlight a friend from WordPress. Today, I’d like to give a shoutout to an exceptionally talented and lovely lady from Arizona, an energetic woman with wonderful wit, dreams, optimism, friendly demeanor and a kind heart.

    Michele Lee Sefton

    In acknowledgment of gratitude for the enjoyment I’ve received through her creative works, including a friendly exchange of comments, I wrote the following short poem:

    Short stories painting pictures
    Photography on a roll
    Expressing freedom through dance
    Her poetry stirs ones soul

    I encourage guests to visit Michele’s web site ~ My Inspired Life ~ and follow her creative endeavors, which will entertain, uplift and inspire.

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

  • Reflections of The Southwest

    Water In The Desert

    Because the southwestern United States of America tends to be dry and very hot, I decided to introduce an uncommon element into this digital desert landscape – water! Find products here:

    Society 6 • Pixels • Redbubble