Magnolia

"Softer Than a Summer Night" 

That phrase just popped into my head when I was looking at this image. Who remembers what song this line is from??

Pink Cosmos

The humble cosmos looks lovely when surrounded by a beautiful summer garden.

Salt Lake Temple

Salt Lake Temple

Backlit by Hot August Sun

I'm always looking for unique compositions of the Salt Lake Temple, and if it includes some sun flare, that's icing on the cake. Love how Angel Moroni looks like he's floating. Took this today while I was on Temple Square late this afternoon.

Another Beautiful Summer Garden

Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point

It's hard to get excited about putting in the work and expense of cultivating my own garden when I can drive 5 minutes away and enjoy scenes like this!!!

P.S.  I have had several people ask if I add saturation to this image.  Here is a comment I made on facebook where I have lots more viewers than here on my blog:

Several people have asked if I 'photoshopped' my last post to make the colors so......well, colorful??? This is probably the most common question landscape and nature photographers get asked regularly! Read on to find out my answer..... Many die hard traditionalists feel that anything done to a photograph outside of the camera is cheating, (even though we know that early photographers also regularly manipulated their images, even the great Ansel Adams). But what if the manipulation comes in the camera before the shot is taken, such as using special filters or lenses or camera settings to create unique 'looks' that are not what the eye would normally see?? In the days before digital, even the film a photographer used would change the look of an image. Portrait and wedding photogs would often use Provia film which produced neutral, soft colors that would enhance skin tones, whereas landscape photographers would use Velvia film which produced vivid, saturated, bright colors. My current digital camera love, a mirrorless Fuji xt-1 has settings that simulate the 'look and feel' of those most popular films. So when I shoot colorful scenes, like the one here, I often set my camera to the Velvia setting to bring out the colors. So for you traditionalists out there, is this in-camera selection of a specific setting to achieve a specific look, cheating? Of course photography has always been about combining art and science into personal interpretation, (I'm not talking about journalistic photography in its strictest form). But today, because of modern technology, the lines between photography, graphic art, paintings, drawings, and other art forms continue to blend and overlap, and the traditionalists who try to keep those boundaries separate and apart are in a losing battle. For them, it sometimes becomes more important to base their opinion of the value of an image on how it was created, rather than whether the image itself is beautiful, meaningful, uplifting, informative, evocative, etc. I wonder how many people who love the work of Monet thought to ask what type of brushes he used, or the brand of paint he preferred!! (For those who missed my photo in question, here it is again.) P.S. I do have to say, when I compare my photos on my computer with how they appear here on FB, they often look more saturated. Not sure if this is a FB thing!

Summer!

This is why I LOVE summer!

My Grandson Finn!

My Adorable Grandson Finn!

I usually don't post family photos here, (I have a different blog for that), but sometimes I just can't help myself!!!

A 'behind the scenes' shot with Finn's father blowing bubbles.  We had so much FUN!

Golden Hour at Lilly Lake, Utah

Lilly Lake, Utah

This is why photographers call the time of day just before sunset, the "Golden Hour'. This is Lilly Lake in Utah's high Uintas. A beautiful time to be out fishing in a little red canoe, or on the shore enjoying the view with a camera!

Provo River Falls, Utah (2)

Near Provo River Falls

Here is another beautiful spot near the main falls.  I sat on this rock and enjoyed the view until it starting getting dark.

Provo River Falls, Utah

Provo River Falls

For you non photographers..... the soft, dreamy look in the water is created by using a tripod and slowing down the shutter speed in camera. Is that cheating or artistic impression?

Provo River, High Uintas, Utah

Provo River Falls

Twilight in the high Uintas. I took this last night in between vertical 'drops' of the Provo River Falls.

Rudbeckia - Black eyed Susans

Rudbeckia

Often my 'happy place' is right in my own backyard!!!

Old McPolin Farm

Old McPolin Farm

The tractor from the last post sits on the other side of this barn and farmhouse and is a familiar landmark on the drive from Salt Lake City to the ski resort of Park City. The homestead dates back to 1886 and is of historical significance in Utah and is a popular site for both wedding and landscape photographers. I took this photo after the one in the last post. The sun was lower in the sky but still adds to the feel and mood of mid summer heat.

HOT Seat

HOT Seat

I took this photo on a day when the temperature was hovering around 100 degrees (F). It is a good thing this tractor and its owner are retired and not out on a day like this! (Come to think of it, why was I out on a day like this?)

Is it Photography or Photoshop!!

Is it Photography or Photoshop??

I was sitting on a bench on Park City's main street and snapped a 'point n shoot' photo of the street scene below:

But in my 'mind' eye' I saw something more artistic. It was dusk and the little lights in the background tree had just come on. I waited until it was darker and the lights were brighter and cast a warm glow. I set my camera to the largest aperture my lens would allow, f/4, and adjusted other settings for low light. I positioned my camera as close to the flowers as possible and zoomed in. This created a soft dreamy look, blurring the background and rendering the tree lights as big round light globes called 'bokeh'. The above photo is the result. Photography may or may not involve using Photoshop to enhance a photo, but it is always about using the variables of lighting, composition and camera settings to create a photo!

Wild Daisies

Wild Daisies

There is something so carefree and lighthearted about wildflowers growing where ever they choose with no apparent order and no concern that their closest neighbors are weeds!    I found these wild daisies near Sundance Ski Resort which is a short ride from my home.  (My grandmother cultivated this 'look' in her own flower garden and my Dad used to call it 'studied carelessness'.)

Cascade Springs, Utah

Cascade Springs, Utah

This beautiful little area is just a short drive from my home.  I feel so blessed to find beautiful scenes to photograph close by.