Summer 2015:
I am writing these notes about a year after I went on this trip, so they won't be nearly as detailed, I don't think. Partially because the photos I take now take much longer to process, as is the nature of long exposure and night photos, and partially because I really don't enjoy the lengthy process of making websites when I can just post them on Facebook and even Wordpress, I don't do this as much any more.

This and the next photo are just to whet your appetite for some of what is coming next.

The Grand Canyon with a summer storm at night in this long exposure photo taken probably 45 minutes after the sun went down.

People are always remarking on how lucky I was to capture a couple of lightning strikes. And that's true. But what was really lucky was having the storm in front of my camera, and clear skies in back. The clear skies allowed the full moon to illuminate the canyon below beautifully, enabling me to get both the storm, but without a really dark foreground.

One of the reasons I came to Arizona was to photograph Bedrock City, a kitschy roadside Americana tourist trap, built many years ago when America was embracing its highways. Bedrock City still exists, although they are in danger of losing their property to developers.

Bedrock City is a roadside attraction on the way to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Roadside attractions were built as "tourist traps" with gift shops and things to do for kids, a place where a family could rest after a long drive on the way to somewhere. Built in 1972, Bedrock City was modeled after "The Flintstones" cartoon from the 1960s. And Bedrock City still survives. For now. Owner Linda Speckels is selling it for $2 million to someone who will keep Bedrock City operating. Bedrock City has a Fredmobile train ride looping through Mt. St. Wilma (a volcano). The Bedrock Theater plays Flintstones cartoons with the audio broadcast over loudspeakers. There's a campsite, diner, convenience store, and a large gift shop. And of course, there is Bedrock City, built to resemble the stone age town of Bedrock from the cartoon "The Flintstones". Will it be here in a year? Who knows.

This is a long exposure night photo. I use a tripod to keep the camera still, and then leave the shutter open for a long period of time. All the illumination and colored lights are done while the camera shutter is open. I illuminate the structure as well as the interior. This sort of long exposure photography is almost like a performance, and is extremely fun, and rather addicting to do. The streaks in the sky are the stars appearing to move. This is due to the rotation of the earth while the camera shutter is open.

With a nod of gratitude to Troy Paiva and Lance Keimig, pioneers of this sort of light painting photography.

Bedrock City, Arizona, located on the way to the Grand Canyon.

This is a long exposure night photo. I use a tripod to keep the camera still, and then leave the shutter open for a long period of time. All the illumination and colored lights are done while the camera shutter is open. I illuminate the structure as well as the interior. This sort of long exposure photography is almost like a performance, and is extremely fun, and rather addicting to do. The streaks in the sky are the stars appearing to move. This is due to the rotation of the earth while the camera shutter is open.

Bedrock City, Arizona, located on the way to the Grand Canyon.

This is a long exposure night photo. I use a tripod to keep the camera still, and then leave the shutter open for a long period of time. All the illumination and colored lights are done while the camera shutter is open. I illuminate the structure as well as the interior. This sort of long exposure photography is almost like a performance, and is extremely fun, and rather addicting to do. The streaks in the sky are the stars appearing to move. This is due to the rotation of the earth while the camera shutter is open.

Bedrock City, Arizona, located on the way to the Grand Canyon.

This is a long exposure night photo. I use a tripod to keep the camera still, and then leave the shutter open for a long period of time. All the illumination and colored lights are done while the camera shutter is open. I illuminate the structure as well as the interior. This sort of long exposure photography is almost like a performance, and is extremely fun, and rather addicting to do. The streaks in the sky are the stars appearing to move. This is due to the rotation of the earth while the camera shutter is open.

Bedrock City, Arizona, located on the way to the Grand Canyon.

This is a long exposure night photo. I use a tripod to keep the camera still, and then leave the shutter open for a long period of time. All the illumination and colored lights are done while the camera shutter is open. I illuminate the structure as well as the interior. This sort of long exposure photography is almost like a performance, and is extremely fun, and rather addicting to do. The streaks in the sky are the stars appearing to move. This is due to the rotation of the earth while the camera shutter is open.

Bedrock City, Arizona, located on the way to the Grand Canyon.

This is a long exposure night photo. I use a tripod to keep the camera still, and then leave the shutter open for a long period of time. All the illumination and colored lights are done while the camera shutter is open. I illuminate the structure as well as the interior. This sort of long exposure photography is almost like a performance, and is extremely fun, and rather addicting to do. The streaks in the sky are the stars appearing to move. This is due to the rotation of the earth while the camera shutter is open.

The Desert Tower with an electrical storm in the distance, Grand Canyon, Arizona.

This is a long exposure night photo. I use a tripod to keep the camera still, and then leave the shutter open for a long period of time. All the illumination and colored lights are done while the camera shutter is open. I illuminate the structure as well as the interior. This sort of long exposure photography is almost like a performance, and is extremely fun, and rather addicting to do. The streaks in the sky are the stars appearing to move. This is due to the rotation of the earth while the camera shutter is open.

I returned the next night to photograph Bedrock City again.

This is a long exposure night photo. I use a tripod to keep the camera still, and then leave the shutter open for a long period of time. All the illumination and colored lights are done while the camera shutter is open. I illuminate the structure as well as the interior. This sort of long exposure photography is almost like a performance, and is extremely fun, and rather addicting to do. The streaks in the sky are the stars appearing to move. This is due to the rotation of the earth while the camera shutter is open.

Ken's photos of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as photos of Peru, Burma, India, Morocco, China, Thailand, Ghana, Ecuador, and elsewhere, have appeared in many books, magazines, websites, and galleries.  Visit the Ken Lee Photography Website. Some of Ken's select photos may be purchased through his Imagekind Store.

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