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1) The Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza is situated in Old Town Scottsdale. The Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza is a Scottsdale park that displays a variety of flowers. It is also home to the Love Statue of the valley. Close by, there are several ponds and fountains which would make good backgrounds for pictures. The area gets crowded as the day progresses so the best time to take pictures here would be before nine oclock in the morning (before the crowds arrive).
2) Piestewa Peak Piestewa Peak, previously known as Squaw Peak, is located in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve. Piestewa Peak is at an elevation of 2,608 feet. From the top of the peak, you can get a wonderful view of the scenery below. The Summit Trail that is part of this area attracts as many as four thousand to ten thousand hikers each week, so if you dont like crowds, beware. In fact, this is among the heaviest used trails in the country. If you plan to bike your equipment or spend some time with your dog while you shoot, bicycles and dogs are prohibited along the Summit Trail.
3) Papago Park is located in Phoenix, close to Tempe. Similar to the beautiful red rock buttes found in Sedona, Papago Park offers a beautiful scenic view of the landscape all around. You can reach the area while driving from Galvin Parkway (Van Buren is just south of Galvin Parkway). On the way to Papago Park, you can also take great shots in the Desert Botanical Garden and the Phoenix Zoo.
4) The Apache Trail (for offroad drivers) is one of the most scenic and the most challenging trails that you can drive along. The trail starts around twenty five miles east of downtown Phoenix at Apache Junction. Starting there and ending at Roosevelt Lake some 46 miles away, you will find some of the most picturesque landscapes in the country. You can take photos of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam or the Lost Dutchman State Park. Additionally, you can stop to take a closer look at the Goldfield Ghost Town or the Tonto National Monument. There are some true photography "gems" here. Finally, the U.S. Forest Service has termed the Apache Trail a USFS Scenic Byway. While the trail is a great place to take wonderful pictures, you need to be careful while driving as the terrain is quite challenging.
5) Freestone Park is located between Elliot and Guadalupe in Gilbert. Freestone Park has a number of water features which are great for taking photos. Apart from the natural surroundings, you can also take artistic shots of the amusement park located inside Freestone Park. In addition, they also have a mini-train and a carousel for some great shots of the kids.
