{Almost December Photo Challenge} Phoenix, Arizona Photographer

“Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”
― Mary Oliver

Every year I embark on a 30 day photo challenge or selfie challenge or some other thingabob on Flickr. Inevitably I fail, lose time, pitter on facebook or my new obsession Pinterest. But not this time. I have been going through a rather challenging time and spent it wallowing. Well I am done with wallowing cause as stated above their are too many beauties in life to wallow. I am going to post a picture a day til the holidays of what I am blessed for. Below is a beautiful Arizona sunrise. Pretty much straight out of camera. I am blessed I could wake up, drink my coffee, endure the cold (yes my body took about 3 days to adapt to 50 degrees being cold...laugh away) to take and breathe in this beauty. The mountains. The golden and pink sunrise. The quiet of the desert.
In times of challenge solitude of the desert brings peace.

{Sit Down} Chandler, AZ Fine Art Photographer

“The purpose of life is to be defeated by greater and greater things.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke

{scrabble) Phoenix, AZ Fine Art Photography

Calvin: Ha! I've got a great word and it's on a "Double word score" box!
Hobbes: "ZQFMGB" isn't a word! It doesn't even have a vowel!
Calvin: It is so a word! It's a worm found in New Guinea! Everyone knows that!
Hobbes: I'm looking it up.
Calvin: You do, and I'll look up that 12-letter word you played with all the Xs and Js!
Hobbes: What's your score for ZQFMGB?
Calvin: 957."
— Bill Watterson (Scientific Progress Goes Boink)

{Kinship} Mesa, AZ Family Photographer..ok bff photographer...

"I sustain myself with the love of family."
— Maya Angelou

{Brothers} Gilbert, AZ Child Photography

"I've got nothing to do today but smile."
— Simon and Garfunkel

Two years ago I photographed this lovely, energetic family and had the pleasure to do so again last week while in Phoenix vacation. The boys have grown not only in height but fine character. They were full of fun, smiles, delight and silliness . This was a session that was one of those " I get paid to do this" type sessions. After this long winter, it was selfishly, just what I needed.

More pictures to come but the smiles on this one gave me pure delight while editing!

Additionally they also gave me the workout of a lifetime as we chased, climbed and flew around the park for a couple hours. Whew! At least it was 70:)

To all those moms out there to three boys (or children in general), props to you and your patience, energy etc...

and to Ms. Amy who is the graceful, calm and beautiful mother to these young men...

Thank you for inviting me back!

{Pals} Minneapolis, MN Pet Photographer

"It's just the most amazing thing to love a dog, isn't it? It makes our relationships with people seem as boring as a bowl of oatmeal."
— John Grogan

{Now Booking Phoenix, Arizona Portrait Sessions} Phoenix, AZ Lifestyle Photographer

I will be in Phoenix, AZ the Week of March 20th and available to book a limited amount of on location portrait sessions. For more information please email me at cordesphoto@gmail.com or browse my website with a link above which contains display of my work and style as well as basic pricing. I offer print and digital options.

Below are a few of my favorite pictures from a session, of great friends, from two years ago. Only a Phoenix boy can lean up again a cactus like that with such charm and only such beautiful ladies can embrace the way these two can. This locations was taken in downtown Mesa at the convention center area.

Hope to see and meet you soon!

{I Believe}

"We know that silence equals consent when atrocities are committed against innocent men, women and children. We know that indifference equals complicity when bigotry, hatred and intolerance are allowed to take root. And we know that education and hope are the most effective ways to combat ignorance and despair"
-U.S. Arizona Rep Gabrielle Giffords
(In 2010 speaking at the Holocaust memorial event)

{Running to Stand Still} Phoenix, Arizona Fine Art Photographer

We thought that we had the answers, it was the questions we had wrong.
-Bono