Arizona on Kyle Anderson

Sedona Sky Drive

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 21:16:33 -0700


Project Meta Camera: Canon Rebel T2i Editor: Premiere Pro CS5

“Sedona Sky Drive” is a video that I recorded while driving from Sedona to Flagstaff, Ariz. on highway 89A. A rising trend on the internet is taking driving videos like this one and mirroring the top half of the frame on the bottom. This simple transformation eliminates the road, for the most part, and makes the visuals surreal beyond belief. The original inspiration for this video came from “Tokoyo Sky Drive”

Abandoned Route 66 Icons Point to New Future

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:02:11 -0700

Think of the modern American road trip. Where are people headed? Where do they stop along the way, and why? As US Highway 66 was developed and populated, midwesterners traveled the historic road from Chicago to Santa Monica, with many popular stops in the state of Arizona. But in many cases, unlike the road warriors of today, the highway itself was the destination, not a town or city.

That mentality seems to be all but gone now. With a faster and higher-capacity Interstate system in place, highway travel is seen more as an inconvenience than an experience.

Peter Dedeck wrote in his book, Hip To the Trip: A Cultural History of Route 66, “Route 66 fell victim to its own success.” That success is the highway’s efficient planning. 66 followed the contours of the terrain, whereas other US highways such as US 30 and 40 did not.

Such an efficient and speedy way to head west gained popularity, and by the time the Interstate system was being developed in the 1950s, a culture was bred around the highway. Gas stations were established, roadside attractions were built, and popular artists wrote songs and made films about the expressway to the west.

That culture was disbanded when the Interstate was constructed. Many sections of Route 66, the most efficient paths, were paved over by Interstate highways. Dedek writes, “In 1985, Route 66 existed existed only as a series of mostly disused strips of eroding pavement stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles.”

And as many of the sections of Route 66 disappeared, so did the businesses that thrived off of them.

According to Dedek, the “funeral” for Route 66 was held in Williams, Ariz. in 1984. Icons from the highway’s culture gathered on main street to say goodbye to America’s Main Street.

In that same region, two abandoned structures along Route 66 struck a particular interest: Pine Springs and Twin Arrows. One of them is leading the way in a redevelopment of that highway culture that was almost lost.

What led these businesses to fall? What is their future? Will the Route 66 culture be re-fostered and restored in a point-to-point travel society?

Abandoned Arizona - Route 66 from Kyle Anderson on Vimeo.

"Flag Lady" Continues 8th Year of Diamondbacks Support

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 20:57:39 -0700

Cindy McBride dances with pom-poms during the 3rd inning of the Diamondbacks v. Phillies game on April 23, 2010.

Baseball fans inundated by the half play, half advertisement that is a Diamondbacks game seem to lack the resonating fanaticism that used to define our national past time. But one D-Backs fan remains loyal, consistently showing her support for Arizona’s major league team, usually from the upper level seats.

“Some of them take 20, 30, 40 hours,” says Diamondbacks fan Cindy McBride. “Or some take 80 or 90.”

She’s talking about her Diamondback flags. There are stacks of them, each on a wooden pole and about as big as McBride herself.

“It’s a visual support of the players,” McBride says as she waves gold and maroon pom-poms to the beat of the music during the 3rd inning.

Each player has a personalized flag, made of red, black, and gold sheen.

Most of the flags are signed by the players themselves.

Flag Firefighter Laid to Rest After 28 Years Service

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:07:27 -0600

Fire Department honor guard and pallbearers prepare to move McNeal’s casket from fire engine to burial site at Flagstaff Citizen’s Cemetary. (Photo: Kyle Anderson/NAZ Today)

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today) - By: Kyle Anderson - Friday morning’s stormy weather only reflected the mood of the Flagstaff Fire Department as firefighter Mark McNeal was remembered in a funeral service at Christ’s Church of Flagstaff. But mother nature was wise; rains almost instantly paused for the procession of fire, police and personal vehicles between service and burial.

The memorial service at Christ’s Church was well attended by friends, family and members of the community as well as fire department color and honor guards dressed in formal uniform. McNeal’s casket was transported to its final resting place at Flagstaff Citizen’s Cemetary by fire engine.

“It was a great send-off for Mark,” said Flagstaff Fire Department captain Mark Johnson. “I felt like we honored him very well.”

Flagstaff Police Force Feather Clean-Up at Downtown Pillow Fight

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 23:20:11 -0600

Feathers fly into the air as the pillow fight in Heritage Square begins. (Photo: Kyle Anderson/NAZ Today)

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today) - An independently advertised pillow fight turned protest took place at Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. About 40 people participated.

The fight began as soon as a small group of people with a shopping cart modified with a loud stereo system, spray-painted cardboard and black flags arrived. Feathers exploded into the air several minutes into the fight, and Flagstaff police responded to a call to the scene moments later.