Lavender Fields

Lavender Fields

Young Family Farm

Mona, Utah

At this time of year, one can see these beautiful fields right from the freeway.  A few years ago, when I took this photo, it was possible to wander through the fields for free, but now you have to pay a fee.

Color Clash!

COLOR CLASH!

(Kinda hurts my eyes!)

Beauty Hiding in Plain Sight!

Beauty Hiding in Plain Sight

Taken at an exotic tropical island??? Actually, a motel parking lot near Disneyland! Another example of finding beauty hidden in plain sight. Bird of Paradise flowers were everywhere, but I happened to notice a shaft of soft morning light spotlighting this one flower, turning it into something beautiful.

Poppies and Snow

Poppies and Snow

NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:
It is interesting for me as a photographer, to note that our eyes take in so many details when we look at a scene.  From side to side and top to bottom, there is usally a lot to look at and process.  Sometimes a scene is glorious everywhere I look.  Often, however, I see both pleasent and distracting objects in a scene that all vie for my attention.  But when I look through the lens of a camera, point it in one direction or another, zoom in or out, I can narrow down to what I really want to focus on and enjoy looking at, without distraction.  In this case, I can ignore the trampled poppies next to me, (not caused by me!), the bikes laying on the ground just out of the frame to the right, the painter and his easel to the left, and the new houses being built on the hill that would be in my photo if I had pointed my camera in a different direction.

Sometimes we have to readjust our viewpoint in some way, to really see the beauty hiding in plain sight!

Poppies in Alpine

 Poppy Field in Alpine

NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS.  Learn to be flexible!  Expectations can change when you are 'in the field', (in this case, literally)!  I left early to capture soft morning light, but by the time I found this location the sun was above the mountain and the light was harsh.  Plus, there were already photographers, painters, hikers and bikers roaming around this small area.  I was not going to leave without a few shots, so I opted to shoot into the sun to back light the poppies and create an interesting sunflare.  I had to take my shots in between people walking into the scene and in front of my camera!

Kayenta Spring

Kayenta

Ivins, Utah

I took this just a few minutes before 9:00 pm.  Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE living in Utah, I LOVE spring in the desert, and I LOVE daylight savings time!!!  (It is about 5 minutes away from home.)

Gunlock Reservoir - Spring 2019

Gunlock Reservoir

NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Color is critical in landscape and nature photography if your goal is to capture what you really see.  One of many ways to make your photos more interesting with color in mind, is to find scenes that attract attention because they are "color coordinated".  In other words, find compositions that have similar color shades and tones in different elements and positions in the frame.

Salt Lake Temple - The Blue Hour

Salt Lake Temple - The Blue Hour

This photo of the Salt Lake Temple was taken during what is known as the 'blue hour', or twilight, occurring just before sunrise (or after sunset). The dots in the water reflections are coins.)

 

Argentine Cactus

Giant Argentine Cactus

One of the largest and most beautiful cactus blossoms I've photographed.

Spring Blossoms

Dreamy Spring Blossoms