Wickenburg Party in the Desert 13 March '22 and 25 March '23

Ben and Noel Haggard on 13 March 2022

The Flying E ranch in Wickenburg Arizona was host to two of the latest "Party in the Desert.

Neal McCoy on 13 March 2022

March 2022 they hosted a few country acts including Ben & Noel Haggard and Neal McCoy.  Neal McCoy has been a favorite of mine for years.  Neal doesn't work with a set lineup, so his backup band has to be ready for anything!

Party in the Desert in 2023 showcased House Whiskey, Chancey Williams, and Josh Turner

House Whiskey 25 March 2023

Chancey Williams and the AMAZING Brooke Latka 25 March 2023

Headliner Josh Turner 24 March 2023

My unexpected favorite was unknown to me, Chancey Williams.   

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

Images from Party in the Desert 2023 are located HERE

Images from Party in the Desert 2022 are located HERE

Buddy Jewell at Watson's Hat Shop in Cave Creek

Buddy Jewell, country music star and winner of Nashville Star in 2003 appeared at Watson’s Hat Shop in Cave Creek, Arizona Saturday 8 February 2002.   

This was a benefit for America’s Mighty Warriors, headquartered in Surprise, Arizona.  Debbie Lee heads the organization dedicated to helping veterans.   Her son Marc Lee was the first Navy SEAL killed in action in Iraq.   

Buddy has had an up and down career since winning on Nashville Star, beating out Miranda Lambert, who finished in third place that year.   

Buddy reminds me why I like country music so much and why I love photographing country artists.   They are nice people.   Buddy was so gracious at the meet and greet.   After a short chat, he seemed like an old pal.   And the country audiences, they’re nice too.   

I kept thinking… dang, where do I know that guy from?   Then he played some music and I thought where do I know that song from?  

In addition to being a great song stylist, he also carried on some banter between tunes, talking about how the Jewells and Cash family, as in Johnny Cash, grew up together in a little town in Arkansas.   

Here’s a sample of a patriotic song Buddy sang at the event.   And, he also performed a song about Willie giving up weed!

And the good news is Buddy will be back next year to do another benefit for America’s Mighty Warriors.   

Until My Next Adventure,

See You on Down the Road,

Jim Patterson

Here's a slideshow of all of my photos.... ENJOY!

Shari Rowe at Arizona Horseman’s Challenge and Expo 20 April 2019

Before watching, listening, and photographing Shari Rowe at the Arizona Horseman’s Challenge and Expo on 20 April 2019, we had time to watch some of the horse and horse trainer competition.  I'm used to rodeo, but these competitions for trainers take some eight hours over a few days.  

Then Shari and her band went into the arena and I got a close up and personal view of them, watching to make sure I didn't step in horse #%$#.  

I photographed Shari a few years ago (2016) at Country Thunder Arizona.  

My entire photography portfolio is on SmugMug.  And, here's my Instagram feed.

Until My Next Adventure,

See You On Down the Road!

Jim Patterson

... And here's a slideshow from my time with Shari Rowe.

.. And a few photos from the horse competition.

At the Roadrunner 13 April 2019

I've lived in north Phoenix for over 18 years.  I thought I knew interesting and great places to visit and photograph in my area.  And then I found the Roadrunner Saloon in New River, about 14 miles straight north of me, off the I-17.

What fun!

It's a large bar with a band stage and bull riding arena.  So I contacted them to make sure my camera would be welcome, too.  You never know nowadays.  

First off, the burgers are massive and good.  Next time, I think I will try it with their cole slaw.  There were just too my fries!  

Anyway, I walked over to the arena and they had the little people mutton busting (children riding sheep), then the novices or first timers rode very very tame bulls.  

Then Hollywood Yates and the Hitmen played.  

That was followed by the serious bull riders.  I was a wee bit surprised because these were serious bulls and serious riders.  The competition was better than I thought.  Sadly, the arena was full and I didn't get a chance to photograph from my usual perch on the top row.  That will be for another visit.

Special shout-out to Josh, the Roadrunner videographer, for coming over and saying hi.  





I've also posted photos on Flickr and on my portfolio site on SmugMug.

Until My Next Adventure,

See You On Down the Road!

Jim Patterson

... And here's a slideshow from my visit to the Roadrunner!

Neal McCoy in Wickenburg Arizona

A few years ago I saw Neal McCoy at Country Thunder.  I was so impressed.  He had a string of hits in the 90s so I knew his songs.  But he is also funny and did I say talented?

So we went to Wickenburg, Arizona on 4 March 2018 to see him.  I had never driven to Wickenburg, a town about an hour northwest of me.  It’s close enough to Phoenix and yet far enough away to keep it’s western ways.  

Neal and his band performed in the lovely Del Webb Center for Performing Arts on the campus of Wickenburg High School.  Marvelous facility!  As a side note, I bought a beer there for TWO DOLLARS.  

Neal has also done many USO shows for soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, and coasties.  

He sang his hits, but also sang old standards from the likes of Frank Sinatra, showing off his multi-talented skills.  Along with that, he sang the theme song of the Beverly Hillbillies television show RAP STYLE!  

During one song he notice there was an empty seat in the front row.  He stopped the show and asked the gentleman there why the seat was empty.  He said his wife.. was tired.  So Neal said “call her up and give me the phone.”  And he had a nice chat with her on the phone during the set!  It was hilarious.  

Neal's currently popular song is his reaction to NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem called "Take a Knee Kiss My Ass."  He got a standing ovation for that and I have the tee shirt!

I know Neal will be at Country Thunder Arizona coming up in April.  If you get a chance, go see him.  You will love it!   

Until My Next Adventure,

(The Parada del Sol Rodeo in Scottsdale!)

See You On Down the Road!

Jim Patterson

… and all the photos!

Miranda Lambert & Jon Pardi & Lucie Silvas in Phoenix

Miranda Lambert visited Phoenix on 17 February 2018 and brought along Lucie Silvas and Jon Pardi.  Lucie opened the show, followed by Jon.  Personally, I’m a huge Jon Pardi fan.  A few years ago, I went to another event in Phoenix and he played maybe two songs and then left.  I always suspected he got sick.  Then he had a few hits and I had wished he gave us more.  

We were in the far end of the Talking Stick Arena (where the Suns play), squared up with the stage.  Although further away, I like these “end zone” seats because it’s easier to photograph.  

Arena policies normally ban “professional cameras” if you don’t come in with a photographers pass.  Now, define “professional camera.”  These security people have no idea what it is.  So I was prepared.  The security guard looked at my Canon G3x and said “no professional cameras.”  I said, “look… one piece, no removable lens!”  And he told me yeah ok.. and passed me through the gate.  

Take a look at some of the shots I got.  The G3x non-removable lens as the equivalent of a 24-600mm lens!  And some of these photos I took with 10,000 ISO.  Not long ago 10,000 ISO would mean HEAVY GRAIN, but not now.  I also post processed the photos using Lightroom.  By the way, I love the new dehaze feature in Lightroom.  

Until My Next Adventure,

(Canon Photowalk at the Pima Air Museum in Tucson, courtesy of Tempe Camera!)

See You On Down the Road!

Jim Patterson

My New Canon 50mm Lens Shooting in a Club

Starting from Country Thunder, I’ve photographed Tom Wagner and his band several times.  Nothing new with that.

What IS new is that I photographed the boys with my new Canon f/1.4 50mm lens.  And just this lens.

If you are used to using a zoom lens, you typically don’t move closer or back.  With a 50mm prime lens, your feet are your zoom.  

It’s a new feeling and a great feeling.

My impression is I love the low light capabilities of this sharp lens.  I photographed from around 1600 to 2000 ISO, aperture priority, wide open at f/1.4.  If you like bokeh (the background out of focus), you will love this lens!

I highly recommend a prime like this for low light and club photography.  

One more thing...  I found another shot I took of Charlie on the fiddle.  I took this back in April at Country Thunder in Florence, Arizona. 

Until My Next Adventure,

See You On Down the Road!

Jim Patterson

Photos from Flickr ... and, here are all the keeper photos!

Tom Wagner at the Buffalo Chip on 27 May 2017

From the Cave Creek Balloon Festival, it was a short trek down the street for some country music.  This marks my third visit photographing Tom Wagner.  This time, it was at the Buffalo Chip in Cave Creek, where he has a regular gig.  

He’s a real personable guy and this photographer has to be ready because he often jumps off the stage into the crowd.

He’s a fan favorite there in Cave Creek, so I made sure I had some photographs of the lovers of his brand of country music.  That would include long time fan Dolly Kennedy.

One of the customers at “The Chip” asked me why I photographed him.  Easy.  I want to have photos before he gets the call up to Nashville!

This was a classic low light and horrible light situation.  I did not use flash for a reason: the band will HATE it!  I also on purpose used slower shutter speeds when I wanted to get a sense of motion in Tom.  

Until My Next Adventure,

See You On Down the Road!

Jim Patterson

Photos from Flickr ... and, here are all the keeper photos!

Tom Wagner at the Buffalo Chip

As a follow-up to meeting Tom at Country Thunder, he made the invitation to come to the Buffalo Chip in Cave Creek, Arizona to photograph him and his band.  

I used my Canon 5D Mark IV and chose the Canon 24-105mm f/4 II lens.  The right way to do a shoot like this is try to visit early and take some test shots, but I thought I was ok with this setup.  The only thing I would have done differently is probably also bring my Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens too.  

The indoor lighting was great for dancing and watching a band.  But it was low light for photography.  I found I was shooting wide open f/4 at over 10,000 ISO.  I also had to change my white balance in Lightroom to tungsten, but that probably took a few seconds to do. 

Tom and his band mates were personable and fun, as they were at Country Thunder. That makes photographing them fun.  The Buffalo Chip is a great venue with incredibly friendly people like Dottie, the manager, and the waitresses busy serving up burgers and beer (all was delicious.. the burger seemed to go on forever and I loved it!).

Until My Next Adventure,

See You On Down the Road!

Jim Patterson

Photos from Flickr ... and, here are all the keeper photos!

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