Howard Paley Is In Love With The Old Pueblo

Art & Culture
October 2014
Artist Profile:
Howard Paley Is In Love With The Old Pueblo
Local nature photographer, Howard Paley, is in love
with Tucson. What else could possibly describe his
passion for the Old Pueblo? You can sense it in his
magnificent photographs—in the brilliance of his
sunrises and sunsets, the intensity of a monsoon
storm, and in the majesty of the mountains, canyons
and giant saguaros captured in many of his images.
photographs in this show served as an inspiration
for a recent painting by local artist, Diana Madaras,
which she affectionately named, Howard’s Sunset.
The largest installation of Paley’s work can be found
hanging in the VA Hospitals of Tucson, Safford, and
Albuquerque, which is an accomplishment that
Howard finds most gratifying—knowing that his
photographs help to bring the light and beauty of
nature into these facilities, and enabling those seeking
care “to leave the room, without leaving the building.”
This New York transplant arrived in Tucson in the
mid-1970s and never looked back. He studied Range
Management at the University of Arizona, which is
why his artistry is so deeply rooted in the bio-diversity
of the Sonoran Desert and the cultural history of the
desert southwest. Perhaps this also explains what
drives him to photograph the charm of Tucson’s
colorful barrio doorways and the wonder of the
ancient Hohokam petroglyphs that dot many rock
faces across the desert floor.
A solo exhibition of Paley’s work debuted at the
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s (ASDM) Baldwin
Education Center in January 2013. This exhibition
showcased selected images from his second journal
of fine art photography, First Impressions – Landscapes,
that reflect the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert.
“The beauty, light, and depth of his landscapes are
definitely a true inspiration. We’re so excited to have
Howard’s work displayed here,” said Holly Swangstu,
Director of the Art Institute at ASDM.
Howard Paley
For Paley, the camera has become more than just a
focusing device (pun intended). For nearly 40 years,
it has immersed him in nature where he feels most
composed and at peace. A second exhibition of his
work recently debuted in the Mayor’s Gallery at the
top of City Hall this past year. The photographs chosen
for this opening also highlighted the natural splendor
and iconic beauty of the desert southwest. One of the
Paley’s photographs can be purchased through The
Art & Framing Company in Tucson, the Desert
Legacy Gallery in Sonoita, Arizona and in the gift
shop of Kief Joshua Vineyard in Elgin, Arizona. His
photographs are now featured on eframe.com a
nationally syndicated website for custom framing and
fine art photography.
Howard has placed a gallery of the images featured in
this article online at www.hpaley.com. Click “Portfolio”
and then click, “Tucson Happenings Magazine.” To
inquire about the purchase of any image that you may
view on his website or Facebook page, send an e-mail
to [email protected]. You are also welcome to call him
at (520) 419-4816.
“He studied Range Management at the University of Arizona, which is why his artistry is so deeply rooted in
the bio-diversity of the Sonoran Desert and the cultural history of the desert southwest. “
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Late afternoon sun on saguaro cactus in Sabino Canyon with Catherdral Rock in the background.
Barrio doorway ... downtown Tucson.
Bear Wallow Autumn
Fall color in Bear Wallow on Mt. Lemmon in Tucson, Arizona.
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Standing Ovation
Saguaro Silhouette at Sunset in Sabino Canyon, Tucson, Arizona.
Anatomy of a Storm
Monsoon storm at sunset against the Santa Catalina Mts. in Tucson, Arizona.
Luna Bella
Super moon rising over Molino Canyon with saguaro in silhouette, Mt. Lemmon, Tucson, Arizona.
Life in Balance
Reflection on Agua Caliente Pond at dawn.
Sky Island
Thimble Point jutting through clouds above Sabino Canyon at dawn, from Mt. Lemmon, Tucson, Arizona.
HooDoo Sunrise
HooDoo silhouette from Geology Vista on Mt. Lemmon at dawn, Tucson, Arizona.
Fire in the Sky
A fiery sunset above Thimble Point on Mt. Lemmon, Tucson, Arizona.
Monuments of Time
Ancient Hohokam Petroglyph at Signal Hill in Saguaro National Monument West
with the Tucson Mts. in the background.
Spirit in the Sky
San Xavier Mission at sunset, Tucson, Arizona
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