Mr. DeSoto

The Counter Intuitive Thinker

[themrdesoto]

Meet | Albert & Nana

This post will be brief. On my way to work depending on traffic I sometimes get off the 51 on Indian School. One day while driving with my son we saw this beautiful little guy riding his bike in an empty parking lot.  My curiosity always gets the best of me, I had to make sure there was an adult close by. Thats when I met Nana. 

We just so happened to have a bag from our friend Wayne that was made for the needy, it contained some personal hygiene stuff as well as some very personal items that would most certainly bless a person in need. 

I asked Nana if she would like a bag and she started crying and said yes. This was our first visit. 

I have stopped and checked on her and Albert several times, on this occasion I asked Albert where his parents were. He said" they are in prison, I heard bullets boom boom, now I live with Nana". 

Please keep this little guy and Nana,  in your prayers. He's not only an awesome little man, he gives big strong hugs! 

[themrdesoto]

Meet | Albert & Nana

This post will be brief. On my way to work depending on traffic I sometimes get off the 51 on Indian School. One day while driving with my son we saw this beautiful little guy riding his bike in an empty parking lot.  My curiosity always gets the best of me, I had to make sure there was an adult close by. Thats when I met Nana. 

We just so happened to have a bag from our friend Wayne that was made for the needy, it contained some personal hygiene stuff as well as some very personal items that would most certainly bless a person in need. 

I asked Nana if she would like a bag and she started crying and said yes. This was our first visit. 

I have stopped and checked on her and Albert several times, on this occasion I asked Albert where his parents were. He said" they are in prison, I heard bullets boom boom, now I live with Nana. 

Please keep this little guy and Nana,  in your prayers. He's not only an awesome little man, he gives big strong hugs! 

[themrdesoto]

Hobo Joe in house!

Well its a long story and I won't get into it here but... I had to drive to Buckeye PD to pick up a report. I never travel without my camera bag. Ever since brain surgery it has become a part of my daily life. I can't tell you if it was the surgery physically or if it was the appreciation of making it through that surgery that has given me a visual appreciation for things around me that I did not have before. 

Buckeye is an old city and a part of Arizona's roots. The police dept is tiny, the town is tiny and theres a ton of things to view while your there that most people may take for granted. After getting the report I asked a few people where the most interesting things were in town and sadly they really didn't have a good answer. I took it upon myself to do some driving and found a few pretty interesting shots. 

"The statue was sculpted in clay by my father, Jim Casey, in Culver City, California, around 1967. Molds were taken from it and he made casts of it in fiberglass in Scottsdale, Arizona, after which it was painted by his girlfriend, Elaine Polley. I believe only two or three of these 27-foot-tall versions were ever erected. The character is an urbane hobo: he wears a phi beta kapa key, and there's a Wall Street Journal in his pocket. He was originally holding a cigar on a toothpick, but it's missing now. I've attached a 1971 photo of Dad, Elaine, and a friend with numerous casts of the 5-foot-tall version of the statue and his dog, which stood outside each Hobo Joe restaurant. These were produced at my father's studio in Venice, California."  -- [Kevin Casey, 06/29/2012]

I also found an old house that the City of Buckeye moved to an empty field. and an awesome hay tractor ( I think ) . 

Thanks for stopping by, please share your thoughts! 

[themrdesoto]

REX Devil Dog Style

HD wallpaper is 1600x1200 and screen with a screen ratio of 16:9 

HD wallpaper is 1600x1200 and screen with a screen ratio of 16:9 

[themrdesoto]

Sammy

HD wallpaper have 1600x1200 and screen ratio of 16:9 with an instant download. 

HD wallpaper have 1600x1200 and screen ratio of 16:9 with an instant download. 

[themrdesoto]

Sammy

You can therefore use the image in several projects without having to purchase any additional licenses. RF licenses can not be given on an exclusive basis.

*Zip includes raw file and processed ( finished file at full size ) 

You can therefore use the image in several projects without having to purchase any additional licenses. RF licenses can not be given on an exclusive basis.

*Zip includes raw file and processed ( finished file at full size ) 

[themrdesoto]

Home to Dave | Former Marine

I have seen this abandoned church on my way to the office a hundred times. The view last week was different. I noticed that the front door was opened, ah! The door being opened caused a desire in me which I cannot seem to let go of, which was to go take a look see and potentially be able to photograph the inside. 

I decided that this morning would be the perfect opportunity to take a walk around the property and possibly discovering a breach. While walking around the exterior I noticed that a portion of the fence was dismantled, re assembled and wire used to secure it. This was done very well, my time spent serving my country led me to believe that this was handled by a vet but I wasn't putting to much thought into it. That is until I walked into the front door. 

I met Dave. he is 65 and has been homeless for the last 20 plus years. He became homeless due to a gambling addiction that cost him everything, including his family. As he gave me the tour of the property the one thing that stood out was his "quarters" as you can see in the picture, it is perfectly squared away and in order. Dave was not up to having his picture taken but I promised to tell his story to the world. Keep Dave in your prayers as he is physically ill and not doing well. I offered to take him to the VA but he refused. He told me he's not ready to give up and the Devil Dog in him was alive and well... 

Semper Fi Dave

​

[themrdesoto]

The Kitten

HD wallpaper have 1600x1200 and screen ratio of 16:9 with an instant download. 

HD wallpaper have 1600x1200 and screen ratio of 16:9 with an instant download. 

[themrdesoto]

Meet Daniel and Jeff 1

HD wallpaper have 1600x1200 and screen ratio of 16:9 with an instant download. 

HD wallpaper have 1600x1200 and screen ratio of 16:9 with an instant download. 

[themrdesoto]

Meet Daniel

   v

 HD wallpaper have 1600x1200 and screen ratio of 16:9 with an instant download. 

[themrdesoto]

Well we're movin on up.. Yeah Baby..

This morning I got up early, just couldn't sleep for some reason. I headed to the office around 4:45. It's a drive from my place to the shop and sometimes I venture through downtown as a visual stimulant to help get my creative juices going. This morning was special. I saw a lot of things that ... well I have seen before but just had not noticed like I did today. 

The sky, the air and the temperature brought it all together for me and I hope it does the same for you.. 

I hope you enjoy. 

[themrdesoto]

Phoenix Trotting Park - Round 2

Well, maybe it's because I'm stubborn but on my first round I did not get all the shots that I needed to complete my project on this magnificent structure. Round 2 has granted me the ability to see many parts that I was unable to on the first one as well as gain a better understanding of the dreams and hopes that the Rovey family once had to with this marvel. 

The building was engineered in such a manner that if built today it would stand out as futuristic and ahead of its time.. 

Enoy.. 

[themrdesoto]

Phoenix Trotting Park - Round 2

Well, maybe it's because I'm stubborn but on my first round I did not get all the shots that I needed to complete my project on this magnificent structure. Round 2 has granted me the ability to see many parts that I was unable to on the first one as well as gain a better understanding of the dreams and hopes that the Rovey family once had to with this marvel. 

The building was engineered in such a manner that if built today it would stand out as futuristic and ahead of its time.. 

Enoy.. 

[producteev-blog]

You can now create a new workspace without retyping all of your tasks and labels!

This new and highly requested feature will let you create template workspaces.

You can start a template with pre existing tasks from another workspace to make your life easier. This is especially...

[themrdesoto]

I can't find workspaces, anyone else having this issue??

[themrdesoto]

The Funk Family has left the building...

1982 was the last year The Black Canyon Greyhound Park was open. Built in the 60's by the funk family when I-17 was being developed, it gave Phoenicians a place to go hang out, probably make some money betting on dogs and a chance to escape the city. 

The property was used as a swap meet and a variety of other things until it was just left to its own accord. When visiting up there its pretty interesting to say the least. Its only about a half mile off the freeway, old furniture is scattered about and several items have for whatever reason been left where they appear to have been caught in time. 

This property is huge. With very little standing still my son and I walked and photographed the entire property in about 2 hours, for a sense of time imagine less than 1 minute per photo. Honestly this property is one of the coolest I have ever explored because of the items left in their places. 

Share you thoughts with us!! 

  View the rest of the photos by clicking the image below. 

[themrdesoto]

Thoughts?

[themrdesoto]

Calle Lejos | home to lives and property lost.

photos on www.mrdesoto.com

There is not much on the internet regarding the truth surrounding this 1.2 Million dollar homes abandonment and decrepit state. However, speak with any teenager in the area and they all have the same story. A father had murdered his children, his wife and then committed suicide.

Some may say that photographing this site is uncalled for and in itself disrespectful. To which I completely understand. I did it because I frequently document the abandoned and felt that a proper capturing of the state of this beautiful property consisting of someones dreams and hopes be shown for what it is today.

I also spent a moment praying for the family, that they are at peace in the house of the man upstairs now. Many have destroyed the inner quarters, the portals and anything else you can imagine, the beauty of this property is damaged on so many levels. It is quite heartbreaking to be quite honest. 

When photographing an abandoned building I always take a step back and visualize what it was like at the inception. A dream, a beautiful dream in a home that most of us will never be able to afford has been lost. When put into perspective. Money has no merit here. The worst possible thing happened in a mansion of sorts. Its amazing how the core of life cares nothing about your possessions. 

Calle Lejos | a dream that has been lost