The past 4 months have been difficult for a street
photographer. Indeed, streets are mostly empty except for people walking their
dogs early in the morning. Then the summer heat takes over, and along with the
pandemic, keeps people inside.
I have 35mm cameras and medium format cameras loaded with film
but hardly have I clicked and rewound.
And while sunsets atop the mountain are breathtaking, I can hardly see
myself taking pictures of colourful sunsets with B&W film.
But the rainy season started in Arizona. It can go through
September and if rain is steady would give the desert fauna and flora the
moisture to survive the rest of the year.
Suddenly, the usual 8-10% humidity pushes up to 50%, and
amazing thunderstorms break the big skies. In the afternoon, heavy rain can
happen along with lightning and hail. The winds can gust to 40 miles an hour,
and dust storms called haboob would
turn the day into a dark night. Add to all this the flash flood and the monsoon
season in Arizona becomes one of the most amazing time for the desert to
metamorphose.
So, I decided to take a few photos of the first rain. There
are photographers who wait for this season and travel the state, including the
Grand Canyon to capture the spectacular lightning storms. My mechanical cameras
are not apt to capture these, so my appreciation is not imprinted on 60 ASA
film but my memory.
Still, the clouds and the rain let me use B&W film to
show the magic of a desert storm.
PS/ The above photo is posted in a large size so the tonal range of film can be appreciated with the various shades of light in the clouds. Please look at the photo full screen to appreciate why some of us still cling on to film!
July 22, 2020
© Vahé A. Kazandjian, 2020
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