If you’re living in Ireland, you’ve no doubt noticed that this summer hasn’t been great. Actually, I haven’t. I work at home and looking out my little window at the rest of the world is some days the closest I get to the outside world (almost!) Well anyway, this is to console you if you’re…

As Biosphere 2 is a self contained and airtight structure the air inside would expand and contract on warm and cold days which could cause the building to explode or implode! Two lungs were built to cope with this effect. One of them is pictured above. As the air in the building warmed up the…

Biosphere 2 lies in the dusty hot desert in Arizona. It was originally designed as a self contained “world” where scientists stayed for an extended period of time. After going through the tour, there’s no way I’d volunteer to spend my time inside. It must have been very difficult being cooped up in one building….

I shot this through the window of our car while driving back to the ranch after Automattic’s trip to Biosphere 2 in Arizona a few months ago. I love how the foreground blurs but the background and the sky remain motionless and static. Love the movement.

Another cactus shot from Arizona. I’m sure this is as boring as the flower pics everyone else posts for people who live in the desert but it’s all new to me! Black vignetting caused by a polarizer!

Cacti are probably an everyday sight for people living in desert regions, but I look out the window of my office and all I see are lush green trees, an overcast sky and the threat of another shower of rain. They’re an exotic plant for me to see out growing in the open. They also…

At Biosphere 2 in Arizona the land around the main building was sold to developers to fund the experiment and for maintenance. Unfortunately all the houses there looked very empty, but maybe that was because it was in January and in the off season.

Fire burns brightly in a bonfire lit at the ranch in Arizona. I ruined my coat by standing downwind of the fire. The smell of smoke was impossible to get out! Still, got a few nice shots!

When I’d look out on the desert landscape and watch the sun soak away as night fell I was always reminded of Terry Pratchett’s description of sunrise on Discworld where the sunlight slowly filled in all the dark parts of the landscape.

Wind chimes swayed gently in the almost breeze at the ranch in Arizona. Actually, I’m not sure if they’re wind chimes or bells but I suppose there’s not much difference.

Margi is an artist and business woman living in Oracle, Arizona in the US. She makes beautiful handmade jewelry and glass beads from this small building near an iron smith in the town. I bought a few items for my wife and she loves them. If you’re near Oracle, call in and say hi. She’s…

A decorative bench and wheel on the ranch in Arizona. I took so many shots of the place I’m still struggling to catch up and mark the ones I want to work on but I will eventually get to them. I suspect some may not see the light of day until next year though!