By Christopher Sopher
Valley of the Sun Press – Good Life News
Monday, November 24, 2025
It was like any other Saturday morning for Lola.
Just after 7 a.m., that perfect time when the desert finally cools in late November and walking your dog feels more like a pleasure than a chore. In the northeastern corner of Scottsdale, the crisp air had returned, the recent rain brought a softness to the landscape, and the sky filled with clouds that hinted something special was about to happen.
I was out walking my pug Daisy around the same time in North Phoenix. I noticed the clouds too—stunning shapes casting shadows across the mountains in ways I hadn’t seen before. The light had that rare, cinematic quality the desert pulls off only a few times a year.
For Scottsdale resident Ken Reinstein, the timing lined up even more perfectly. He and his dog Lola were on their usual weekend walk when the sky suddenly exploded into a fiery sunrise. Lola, with her warm golden coat, naturally mirrored the exact colors in the clouds behind her. It was the kind of once-in-a-lifetime alignment that only lasts seconds.
Ken didn’t hesitate. He quickly unclipped Lola’s leash for a brief moment—just long enough to grab the shot. And it paid off. The photo he captured wasn’t just good; it was exceptional. (Full size image below)
The next morning, while scrolling through the PHX/AZ Weather Enthusiasts group on Facebook, I stopped cold when Lola’s picture appeared on my feed. As an artist, I know when something is truly special—and this one grabbed me by the throat. The timing, the lighting, the composition, the expression on Lola’s face… nothing about it looked accidental.
I reached out to Ken to ask if I could share it and write a short story behind the moment. He was all for it. This is the kind of story I love publishing here at Valley of the Sun Press—simple, uplifting, and the kind of small moment that makes you smile without even realizing it.
Ken lives in Scottsdale, right along the Northeast Phoenix line, where the sunrise hit especially hard that morning. In his Facebook post he wrote, “Quite possibly one of the best pictures I’ve ever taken! Happy Saturday from Lola!” He also mentioned he had only about a minute before other dogs were walking toward them—just enough time to get the shot. He later offered to send me the original high-resolution version, but the photo he posted online was already stunning on its own.
