@rickcameron.bsky.social
Scratcher of heads, rubber of bellies
A black-and-white photo of our tuxedo cat Boo sprawled out in the light and shadow falling across our living room
The Light & The Dark
📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: October 24, 2025
A young tarantula starts to climb out of her burrow in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“It's Time to Leave the Capsule If You Dare”
I was delighted when a tiny tarantula dug an equally tiny burrow beside our patio. The hole was covered after a few days but she may have been molting as within a week or so she came back out and was a regular fixture each night.
Shadows of our dog Bear and I fall past words spray-painted in the street that say “Empty Conduit”
“Empty Conduit”
There's a street nearby known as The Oracle of Scottsdale because of the insightful if cryptic messages it offers to pilgrims who brave the journey. I've not been able to work out what it was trying to tell me, perhaps it was a message for Bear.
Our dog Ellie stands in front of blooming trees in the dog park of Irving Park in the Irvington neighborhood of Portland, Oregon
One of the last pictures I took of Ellie in the dog park at Irving Park before we had to leave my beloved if war-ravaged Portland. So thankful for our many years in that wonderful city and the Irvington neighborhood we called home.
📷: Sony A6500 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
🗓️: March 11, 2018
A harbor seal sticks its head out of the water at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area in Newport, Oregon
Friday thunderstorms moved through and we got drenched, with more steady rains on Saturday, and even a short shower this morning. You can hear the desert singing in the rain as the cacti soak up and store what they can, the washes fill and flow, and harbor seals come out to play.
28.09.2025 17:15 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Our dog Bear gleefully prepares to bite down on his alligator stuffed animal
Our dog Bear joyfully prepares to bite down on his alligator stuffed animal
Our dog Bear bites down on his alligator stuffed animal
“Me? A Scientist?”
I've been asked to join a citizen science group exploring the continued decline of the Sonoran alligator. I'm honored and happy to help but also confused, what can I possibly know about it?
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
🗓️: September 6, 2025
Our dog Bear swims in our pool
Our dog Bear walks after swimming in our pool
Our dog Bear sits on a ledge in our pool
“Charley Chuckles Goes Swimming”
Swimming season will soon come to a close as I prefer the water temperature to be just shy of boiling flesh from bone. Bear’s dog paddling is so effortless yet effective that I thought I'd try it myself. I've gone faster by treading water.
A canyon towhee perches near ocotillo blossoms at Brown’s Ranch in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona
“Canyon Colors (Redux)”
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm+1.4X
🗓️: May 26, 2024
A northern mockingbird with two green insects (tree crickets?) in its beak at Brown’s Ranch in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona
“Eat Your Greens”
A northern mockingbird near sunset with two green insects (tree crickets?) in its beak.
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm+1.4X
🗓️: May 26, 2024
A canyon towhee holds something in its mouth as it sits on a granite boulder on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona
Canyon Colors
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm+1.4X
🗓️: May 11, 2025
A close-up of the foot and tail of our black lab Bear and the body of our cat Boo, sleeping next to each other on my couch
Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!
📷: iPhone 14 Pro
🗓️: August 25, 2024
A seemingly proud Trixie sits on the kitchen counter, though both Trixie and I know that Trixie is not allowed on the kitchen counter.
A seemingly proud Trixie sits on the kitchen counter, though both Trixie and I know that Trixie is not allowed on the kitchen counter.
“Reject the Evidence of Your Eyes”
I know Trixie is not allowed on the kitchen counter. Trixie knows Trixie is not allowed on the kitchen counter. I can only conclude it was my eyes which were deceived.
It sure did look like she was on the counter though.
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
A black-and-white picture of our black-and-white cat Boo looking at me as he sleeps on my legs.
“Living in the Light”
In the years since Sam died, Boo has been my constant companion whenever I'm in my office. Usually he's curled up by my side or on my legs facing away (as he is now), so it's nice to have a camera nearby on the rare occasion he faces me.
A black-and-white picture of a northern mockingbird singing on the dried flower stalk of a soaptree yucca in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“Bony Fingers”
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm+1.4X
🗓️: April 12, 2025
A look from behind as our cat Trixie sits inside of the wooden shutters of the window in my office.
This spring I heard Trixie chattering from my window, upon investigation a recently fledged dove was sheltering under a nearby bush without so much as a by-your-leave from our small sentry.
📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: May 11, 2025
“This is New”
Our backyard saguaro while likely a bit older than me is still pretty young and has never flowered. Every spring I check for signs, we live in hope, and this year my faith was rewarded. Fruit is ripening now.
📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: May 11, 2025
Decay on a saguaro reminds me of Thanos while the upraised arms of it and the surrounding saguaros make it seem like they’re having a good time. And someone brought flowers. Taken in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“Desert Thanos Throws a Great Party”
His guests were kind enough to bring flowers.
📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: May 18, 2025
A look from behind as a canyon towhee stands at the edge of a large granite boulder and looks down. Taken in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona.
A canyon towhee perches on a large granite boulder in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Every spring I take a self-portrait as I try to convince myself the pool is warm enough for swimming.
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm+1.4X
🗓️: April 20, 2025
A close-up view of a western diamondback rattlesnake in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona
After passing by the diamondback I was able to get a shot showing off the lovely pattern of its scales and how well camouflaged it is for this environment.
23.05.2025 18:36 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
A ground level view of a western diamondback rattlesnake in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona
“How's About a Little Kiss?”
My first snake of the year was this small diamondback sitting beside a narrow trail leading back to the car park. If Bear had been with me I would have backtracked and taken a longer way but it was just hot enough that I didn't bring him.
A common side-blotched lizard perches on a boulder in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona
“Good Old Rock”
The mating strategy of common side-blotched lizards is referred to as rock-paper-scissors as, like the childhood game, each of the three strategies tends to win over one but is often defeated by the other. This one has chosen rock, which is good as rock always wins.
A great horned owl sits in a massive nest in a saguaro in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona
“Nature Abhors a Vacuum”
The owls didn't built this massive nest but the builders are living elsewhere this year, so …
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm+1.4X
🗓️: April 30, 2025
A black-and-white photo of our dog Bear lying in the sun on the carpet of our living room
“Solar Powered”
A desert dog needs his time in the sun to recharge.
📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: February 16, 2025
A Harris’ hawk perches on a saguaro on a cloudy spring afternoon on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona.
A week ago the temperature late in the day was predicted to be right on the border of where I won't take Bear hiking, so I took him for a long neighborhood walk in the morning and went out by myself in the afternoon.
20.04.2025 21:51 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Decay in a saguaro resembles the face of Thanos on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Desert Thanos
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm+1.4X
🗓️: April 13, 2025
A desert tortoise relaxes beside a trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“The Tortoise & The Bear”
I finally saw my first desert tortoise! I love seeing how Bear reacts to new species but he wasn't remotely interested in the blinking boulder, soaking up the warmth before the sun dipped behind the McDowells.
A female Gila woodpecker perches on saguaro flower buds that are about to bloom. Taken in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“Soon, Love, Soon”
Noticed some flower buds starting to grow on saguaros yesterday, won't be long now.
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm+1.4X
🗓️: May 29, 2024
A black-and-white shot of a distant Weaver’s Needle as shadows fall across the foothills. Taken in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona.
A telephoto snapshot of Weaver's Needle when I was teaching Bear to hike. I looked in my hiking journal to see if I had any notes about the day but there was a big gap, with the next entry coming a month later noting my regrets at not having written up the dog walks. From February 2023.
16.03.2025 17:56 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Our cat Trixie hides behind the fake leaves in a cat tree
“Wondering Where the Lions Are”
📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: June 22, 2024
A sequence of saguaro flower buds increase in size from left to right in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona
“The Birth of Hope”
📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 105mm Macro
🗓️: May 27, 2023
