A special visitor.

One of the sublime pleasures of the eight month long summer in southern Arizona is the opportunity it affords to sit out late at night on the patio, wiling away the hours with a favorite movie or two.

Such was my state of repose last night when I felt something brush against my right arm. Looking down, this is what I saw:

You can read more about this exquisite insect here. And if you thought the human eye was sophisticated, check what that piece has to say about the eye of the mantis.

Always carry a camera …. err, iPhone.

iPhone 7 snap with flash, much enlarged.

Donut special.

Riding the old two wheeler on a deserted road connecting two major north-south arterials in Scottsdale the other day, I pulled over to snap this severe Lutheran church set in the middle of nowhere. Beautiful architecture.

As I approached the church I noticed two cops hiding in the bushes, along with their vehicle, with seemingly nothing better to do than ticket speeding motorists on a mostly unused road. Hey, it was the end of the month and these feeders at the public purse probably needed to refresh the donut supply.

How deserted you ask? Take a look:

Maybe one car passes here every 30 minutes.

Anyway, I waved to the pigs and got on my way before they could arrest me for something or other.

iPhone 7 snaps.

Downtown SF.

Panny G1, kit zoom.

Downtown SF.

Panny G1, kit zoom.

In the Mission District, SF.

Panny G1, kit lens.