One more Lake Powell Sunrise

One more Lake Powell sunrise. Every morning for 10 days there was another great photo op, and all I had to do was walk a few yards from the houseboat and point my camera in any direction!

Another Beautiful Lake Powell Sunrise

My grandson and I enjoying a beautiful sunrise walk. Every year we spend 10 days in the Halls Bay area of Lake Powell.

Magical Sky - Lake Powell

It is amazing that almost every day at Lake Powell we are treated to a beautiful sunrise or sunset, and often both. Each one is unique and magical and reminds me that where ever our earthly challenges are, no matter how severe or debilitating, we all share the same glorious sky. We can glimpse into the heavens and enjoy the beauty we see and we can ponder the limitless possibilities of eternity.

Lake Powell Flowers

Many people think of Lake Powell as a barren landscape of only red cliffs and blue water, like this first photo. But there is also desert vegetation and plants, and even a few tiny flowers still blooming in October like the two following photos:

Lake Powell Sunrise - 2017

Another Glorious Lake Powell Sunrise!

Mt. Timpanogos After Sunset

Mt. Timpanogos bathed in beautiful post sunset color, photographed from the American Fork Boat Harbor. I needed a little down time after wedding festivities and only had to drive about 10 minutes from home to enjoy this view.

DEAR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND PHOTOGRAPHY LOVERS!  I want to thank all of you who have encouraged and supported me in doing what I love to do....take pictures and share them with you!  Through the years this blog has also become my 'photo journal' where I can return and remember what I've enjoyed photographing in the past, and I will continue to post my photos and photo commentary here.  I also enjoy seeing the creative work of my fellow photographers, but I 'look' much more than I comment because of time restraints.  Maybe you are like me in this regard.  Several years ago I was urged to post my photos on Facebook (and Instagram), because I was told "this is where everyone is posting photos these days".  I finally did so, and was amazed and humbled at how many photography 'friends' I acquired in a short time.  So if you are among my blogger friends who are finding it easier and quicker to connect through other ways, here are additional places you can find me:  Facebook - Karen Lund Larsen    Instagram - Karen Larsen Photography   

tyler & Ashley - November 9, 2017

Tyler & Ashley

November 9, 2017

There are some amazing days that are so perfect, so beautiful, so uplifting, they will be etched in my memory forever. Yesterday was one of those days! Our wonderful son, (and youngest), married a remarkable young woman for time and eternity, (as we believe in our faith). They adore each other and are a perfect match in every way. Tyler describes Ashley as the sweetest and kindest girl he has every met. We are so happy for them!

Lake Powell Sunset 2017

Lake Powell 2017

Tucked away for the night in our own little corner of beautiful Lake Powell.

Bedroom View - Lake Powell

Bedroom View - Lake Powell

Here is one reason why I love Lake Powell. I get to wake up in the morning, look out my bedroom window, (in the houseboat), and see mornings like this!! (Taken a few weeks ago.)

Tyler & Ashley Engagement Photos

We are so thrilled that our youngest son will be getting married in a week.  He has found a lovely and sweet young woman and we love her already!

(I learned a long time ago at our oldest son's wedding that one cannot be the official photographer and the mother of the groom at the same time.  But taking photos before the wedding is fun.)

Lake Powell Sunset

Lake Powell Sunset

I took a photo of the birds before the moon rose, and then another after the moon peeked out from behind the mountain, then combined them.

Lake Powell Sunset - 2017

Lake Powell, Utah

Finally getting around to editing photos from Lake Powell taken at the beginning of the month. LP sunsets are the best!!! This tranquil, peaceful scene was taken from the back of the houseboat. You'd never guess that behind me, in the front of the houseboat, there was a noisy, happy, wonderful group of children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends creating memories to last a lifetime!

Golden Leaves

Lo! I am come to autumn,
When all the leaves are gold;
Grey hairs and golden leaves cry out
The year and I are old.
                                              --Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Golden Utah Aspens

When I have to shoot in the middle of the day, (which usually means unattractive harsh light for landscapes), I try to embrace the sun and all the interesting ways that various camera lenses and settings affect direct sunlight. Besides, in a few months we'll be anxious for more sun and warmth!

Mt. Timpanogos with Fall Colors

Mt. Timpanogos

For those not familiar with northern Utah, this is the northern side of this beautiful mountain, or what I call the 'backside'.  Usually my photos are of the south side which I think shows off its beauty better.  This backside view is reached by a beautiful winding road called the Alpine Loop.  It starts about 10 minutes from my home, and has an elevation of around 8000 ft, (Mt. Timpanogos itself is around 11,800 ft in elevation).  On the other side of the summit is Robert Redford's Sundance Ski Resort, and the Loop eventually ends in Provo Canyon.  Such a beautiful drive!

Beautiful Mt. Timpanogos, Utah

Beautiful Mt. Timpanogos, Utah

Seasons Collide!

I never get tired of seeing the beauty of this mountain in all the seasons.  I'm so lucky to live in its shadow!

American Fork Canyon in Fall

American Fork Canyon, Utah

After the snow, the sunshine came!

Fall Snow in American Fork Canyon, Utah

Fall Snow in American Fork Canyon Yesterday.

Aspen and Volcanic Rock

Aspen and Volcanic Rock

A common sight in Utah Mountains!

First Day of Autumn - 2017

Near Cedar Breaks National Monument

Utah

This is one of my favorite little spots for fall color near Cedar Breaks National Monument in southern Utah. It has most all of my favorite mountain elements....aspens, pines, and a peaceful little stream. I was so happy to discover that the huge wildfire that consumed over 50,000 acres in this area several months ago, came very close, but spared this beautiful area. I enjoyed a colorful first day of autumn here, even though it was cold and windy, at around 10,000 feet in elevation.

California Beach Girl

California Coast

While many are welcoming the beginning of autumn, I'm busy saying a sad farewell to the end of another glorious summer.... 
 I'm still that California beach girl at heart!!

McGown Peak, Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho

McGown Peak

Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho

Caterpillar

Well this is out of my comfort zone! Finally, a living creature that moves slow enough for me to take a picture!!  It almost looks fake.

McGown Peak, Sawtooth National Forrest, Idaho

McGown Peak 

Sawtooth National Forrest, Idaho

Sometimes it just takes moving the camera a few feet left, right, up or down to create a more attractive composition. I changed my perspective down a couple of feet to keep the tree from blocking the background, and I like how the shape of the branch nestles into the shape of the mountain.

Twin Falls Idaho Temple

Twin Falls, Idaho Temple

Hope your Sunday is a day of rest, peace and worship.

Monet Pond, Ashton Gardens, Utah

Ashton Gardens

Thanksgiving Point, Utah

Sunflowers show off their bright fall colors, complimented by a dreamy background of foliage and dappled light. Taken near the Monet Pond at Ashton Gardens. I think this kind of looks Monet...ish.

Ashton Gardens, Thanksgiving Point, Utah

Ashton Gardens

Thanksgving Point, Utah

This was one of those times where I combined two photos to make a more pleasing composition.  Both were taken the same day, at the same place, but from a different perspective.  I loved how the morning light was shining on this single water lily, but from the angle I wanted to shoot, there was nothing but boring, dark, murky water behind it.  (For those who know my photography well, you know I rarely take nature photos with a plain background.  In fact, I believe that an interesting background is one of the main parts of a composition that turns an average image into a great image.)  Anyway, first I knelt down and composed my shot of the lily so it would appear in the bottom left hand corner of the frame.  Then I stood up and composed an image of a patch of lilies that formed a diagonal and was a short distance behind my main subject lily.  I locked focus on the main lily, then recomposed on the background patch of lilies so that they would appear soft and out of focus.  I always shoot three bracketed shots; one set for a normal exposure, one set 1 stop over exposed and one set 1 stop underexposed.  (My camera then takes all three shots automatically with one click of the shutter.)  Camera settings were:  1/640 sec, f/6.4, 250 ISO and I was using a 200 mm lens handheld.  When viewing all the shots at home on my computer, I found I liked the underexposed shots the best for two reasons;  first and most important was that it made for a more dramatic and interesting image with the lily much lighter than the background, and second, it hid all the murky, ugly stuff under the surface of the water.  Editing was simple.  I combined the two in PS, cropped, sharpened, and added a bit of vibrance and contrast.

Alta, Utah

Alta, Utah

A beautiful summer morning near Alta Ski Resort. Can you almost feel the crisp mountain air and smell the pines!!

Disneyland

Happy 47th Anniversay to Us!

I think adults with grown up children fall into one of two categories......

those who say, "Thank heavens I never have to go to Disneyland again"........

or....... 

the other category!

Albion Basin, Utah

Albion Basin, Utah

Two more floral images from Albion Basin, Utah. I often find satisfaction in finding small glimpses of simple beauty that go unnoticed by passers by who are looking for something spectacular to photograph.

Cascade Springs, Utah

Cascade Springs, Utah

I took a quick trip up the canyon to enjoy the cool, refreshing water of a mountain stream when the temperatures were over 90F degrees in the valley!! (Taken at Cascade Springs in American Fork Canyon.)

Solar Eclipse 2017

Solar Eclipse 2017

I was not going to bother taking photos of the eclipse. I figured there would be a zillion photographers with ginormous telephoto lenses who would get far better shots than I would ever be able to get. But at the last minute, I just couldn't resist, so I drug Jeff out of bed around 3 am and we drove 5 hours...(well I drove and he slept), to about 40 miles east of Jackson, Wyoming. And despite all the hype, there was very little traffic along the way. We parked in a beautiful area of pine trees and wildflowers, along with just a few other eclipse watchers and waited for the big event. The time of totality was indeed an eerie event. The sky turned a weird color and was dark enough to see stars, and the temperature dropped dramatically. In the end, we were both glad we made the effort to witness this event.

P.S.  A friend made the following comment on my facebook post of this photo:  "What filter did you use? 10 stop ND would probably not be enough to protect your camera."  Here is my response:

I went to a class at Pictureline about photographing the eclipse. The instructor said you can buy an expensive filter or you can make one. He suggested buying a special solar optical film sheet and making your own. He showed examples of cutting out the bottom of paper cups that would fit over your lens and taping the film over the resulting hole. He stressed not to tape anything directly onto your lens because there could be the possibility of damaging the lens, but also because you would need to take it off quickly to photograph when the sun is in totality. I looked on line and saw all different ways of constructing DYI filters, all of which seemed too much of a bother. I didn't even know where to purchase that special film. Then a few days ago I was in Pictureline again and they had just received a shipment of squares of that film, specifically for the eclipse. I decided to buy a sheet and the clerk said I was lucky I showed up when I did as they would be sold out that day. When I got home I had the brilliant idea to just tape the film over my lens hood with painter's masking tape that could be removed easily. It was easily done, and I could quickly take the lens hood off and on the camera as needed. Took less than 10 minutes to cut a circle of the film and tape it on. I kept thinking this probably won't work, or else surely someone else would be talking about doing this. Anyway, it worked like a charm! Here is a picture:

  

Upper Mesa Falls, Idaho

Upper Mesa Falls, Idaho

"Rainbows introduce us to reflections of different beautiful possibilities so we never forget that pain and grief are not the final options in life."  -- Aberjhani

Red Fish Lake, Idaho

Red Fish Lake, Idaho

Another view of this beautiful lake, taken earlier in the day.

Red Fish Lake & Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho

Red Fish Lake & Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho

Idaho has some stunning scenery.  In my opinion, this area is every bit as spectacular as the more popular Tetons, which are not far from here.

Floral Fantasy at Albion Basin

Floral Fantasy at Albion Basin

Just the Two of Us!

Will you...........?

Don't know this couple or what they were discussing, but they only had eyes for each other and they certainly were not admiring the scenery, at least when I snapped this photo. (If it was a 'significant' time for them, it's too bad I can't send them this photo!)

Good Morning!

I'm Loving These Colors!!

Sunrise at Albion Basin

Sunrise at Albion Basin

Such a beautiful place!!

Shoshone Falls, Idaho - A Different View

Shoshone Falls, Idaho

(Different direction, different time of day, different light, than last post.)

Shoshone Falls, Idaho

Shoshone Falls, Idaho

What a surprise! I have traveled within a few miles of this beautiful place many times and never knew it was here! This is Shoshone Falls in Idaho and I took this photo just before sunset a few days ago. Hard to imagine that at times these falls completely dry up....according to the park ranger.