Meet Arizona Jones | Adventurer | Photographer | Filmmaker | History Buff | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Arizona Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Arizona, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
When I first started Arizona Jones, my focus was simple: to share my work (photography and video). I didn’t aim for anything greater, because I didn’t know I could.

As I’ve grown in my work, however, my goals have evolved—the most important, perhaps, to teach and inspire the next generation. To see children excited to learn about our state and its history, and beyond, is highly rewarding.

A clear example would be our most recent event that took place at South Mountain, in Phoenix—a Petroglyph Scavenger Hunt. Children, and their parents, came out to learn about the ancient Hohokam Culture, here in Arizona, and hunt for the Rock Art they left behind. Teaching them about these treasures of the past, watching them explore, the smiles, was worth all the effort.

Most adults, even, are ignorant to the vast history surrounding us—Ancient Ruins, Dinosaur Tracks and Fossils, Ghost Towns, etc—I want people to share in my excitement. The world is a wondrous place, filled with infinite discovery. It’s amazing what a little adventure can do for your psyche. I’ve watched people who follow my work, old and young, find a new sense of purpose in exploration, where many thought they no longer could. It encourages me to keep going.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Without a doubt, there are better photographers and filmmakers out there, but I believe in my work, and its quality.

With every photo, there is a story. The story is, in many ways, more interesting than the photo. The photo, however, helps tell the story. I like to bring these together in interesting articles and other media, to teach people, and teach myself.

Of the places I visit and capture, most people will never see apart from my work—much of my audience is at an age where they are not as mobile as they used to be, and these places can be dangerous—I’ve had some near-death experiences. Additionally, in order to protect these places, many in the adventure community are tight-lipped, rightly so—my work is a window that many will only look through.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Day 1: The Superstition Wilderness.

There’s so much out here, it could easily take the whole week, but with limited time, a day will do. It also depends on the season. Not only are the Superstitions full of interesting history and legends, but there are a number of impressive waterfalls and caves.

2: Superior.

I hope I’ve established my love for history—there’s a lot in the area to cover. I would insist he see the grave of Mattie Earp, common law wife of the famous Wild West lawman, Wyatt Earp.

I would take him to see the abandoned stretch of the 60, and tell him its history, and the to the cross of Santa Anna, that overlooks the town.

With enough time, I would take him to find fossils, Apache Tears, Ruins, and Wagon Wheel tracks, as well as the Ghost Town of Pinal, nearby.

We would finish the day at the Silver King Smokehouse & Saloon—they cook one of the best burgers I’ve ever had.

3: South Mountain.

There’s much to see at South Mountain, but seeking the many ancient Hohokam Petroglyphs in the park would take the entire day. It would be more than worth the time, as finding them is quite fun, and many are in great condition.

4 and 5: Sedona.

There’s so much to discover in Sedona, it really needs more time, but there’s much to see within 2 days. There’s the tourists spots, yes, and those are worth seeing, but there’s so much more than that. Sedona has hundreds of ancient sites, and other historical points of interest. Even bootleggers operated in the canyons of Sedona. You can even find dinosaur prints.

6: Two Guns.

Arizona has many Ghost Towns, but one of the most interesting and easy to access is Two Guns. Knowing the area pretty intimately, as well as its history, makes for a better experience. This includes the famous Apache Death Cave, found in Two Guns. There is another ghost town to the north, and to the Northwest, Grand Falls (chocolate falls), a truly majestic waterfall that everyone should see!

7: Grand Canyon.

It truly amazes me how many of my friends, having lived here their entire lives, have not seen this big hole in the ground. You can’t come to Arizona, and not see the Grand Canyon.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Four years ago my wife left me for someone else. The pain was devastating. For a whole year I was in perpetual turmoil, with no outlet. Nearing the end of that first year, I decided I should date again.

With a transition to online dating in recent years, I needed some decent photos for online profiles, and I thought hiking photos would make me look more interesting. The problem was, I had no camera, and no friends to help. So I bought a decent camera phone and a tripod, I went into the wilderness and got my photos.

I came away with more than that, however. I learned that day a few things: 1) I enjoyed the photography/video, 2) there are amazing things out there I never knew, and 3) the wilderness brought with it a sense of peace—while out there, I didn’t feel the constant pain of everything life had thrown at me.

Website: www.theazjones.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/theazjones

Facebook: www.facebook.com/theazjones

Youtube: www.youtube.com/adamthew