Sunrise, Sunset.....Saguaro Country

Sunrise

Sunset

Gilbert Arizona LDS Temple

Gilbert Arizona LDS Temple

Even though the weather report looked boring, I drug myself out of bed well before dawn. We were visiting my son's family in Mesa several weeks ago, and I was determined to photograph the LDS (Mormon) temple located a short distance away in Gilbert Arizona. Even though it has been open since 2014, (the 142nd of 159 temples worldwide), I had not seen it during our previous visits. I pulled into the parking lot and found I was the only one there. As I waited in the dark, I was already convinced the sunrise would be boring as there wasn't a cloud in the sky, and since the temple faces directly east, to my back, I wouldn't even be able to get a sunburst for added interest. But as the darkness began to lift I noticed a few hazy clouds starting to form behind the temple. This looked promising. As time went on, they continued to grow in size and become more defined. Then to my delight, I detected a slight pink glow that increased in color with every passing second until they formed a beautiful backdrop. I started taking photos like crazy. But the best was yet to come. When the sun finally peeked over the horizon, its rays lit up the temple with an ethereal like glow. The scene was so beautiful and so peaceful that I only took a few pictures, then stopped just to enjoy this fleeting moment in time, and thank God for this lovely beginning to the day. (For a night owl, sometimes getting up early is so worth it!!)

Easter Sunday 2018

Wishing my fellow Christians around the world a joyous Easter Sunday, as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, Savior and Redeemer! 

(The Christus statue by Thorvaldsen, found on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.)

Saguaro Easter Bunny

Saguaros come in the most interesting shapes....

even a friendly bunny for Easter!  I think he's waving at me!!

Saguaro Silhouette

Desert sunsets rarely disappoint! 

When visiting the saguaros, one must get the iconic silhouette photo.

Saguaro Composition

If I have to photograph in the middle of the day when there is no dramatic lighting, I look for unusual or different compositions to make a photo interesting. This is pretty easy to do among the saguaros as they come in all sizes and shapes.

First Cactus Photo - 2018

This is the only true cactus that I found in bloom during our southern Arizona travels. Must be a bit too early in the season. These flowers were very tiny. 

 (The Ocotillos in my last post are not true cacti.)

Ocotillo Plants in Saguaro National Park

The Ocotillo plants are just beginning to bloom in Saguaro National Park located in southern Arizona.  

(Tip:  For those of you not familiar with this plant and the cactus this Park is famous for, the common pronunciation of Ocotillo is 'Okoteeo' and Saguaro is 'Sawaro'.  Might save you a bit of embarrassment if you ever get to visit this beautiful part of the Amercan south west.)

Blossom Time!

Blossom Time Again!  Woohoo!

Interesting People at Work - Photo No. 6

Bartender - Santa Fe, New Mexico

 Through the years I've had a photography project that I call, 'Interesting People at Work'. (Scroll back to see the previous 5 photos I've posted.) The first rule I follow is that I try to capture part of my subjects' work environment in the photo, and the second rule is that I have to interact, visit with, and get to know the people I'm photographing. This is a bit intimidating and challenging to speak to strangers, and gain their trust until they relax enough to be photographed. I have been posting some of the interesting people with interesting jobs that I've met over the years. This photo was taken in Santa Fe NM for an assignment we were given in a photography workshop I attended. (It was such a 'growing' experience and so rewarding that it became the beginning of this project.) We were to roam the streets, meet interesting people and photograph them. I don't think I have ever been in a stand alone bar either before or since taking this photo!! It had an open front so the inside was visible to people walking on the sidewalk. I glanced in and saw all of the interesting memorabilia on the walls and noticed that the bartender looked just like the photo on the wall behind him. I took a deep breath, went in, introduced myself, and asked him about all the photos on the wall. He told me his father was a great war hero and his bar was dedicated to keeping his dad's memory alive. After we visited, he gave me permission to take his picture. I told him to just go about his work, that I'd like to take a 'non posed' shot. I like that I caught him just as he was mimicking the pose in the photo of his dad.  (P.S.  I don't even think he was upset that I didn't buy anything!)

It's Daffodil Time Again!

It's Daffodil Time Again......Yippee!!

Yikes!

If I wasn't freaked out enough by Jeff holding a snake, this one of him making friends with a tarantula really did me in!

Interesting People At Work - Photo No. 5

Snake Handler from Costa Rica

This is a snake handler from Costa Rica. In addition to being a bit intimidating, taking environmental portraits of strangers, (who are really not strange), is very satisfying. Everyone has an interesting story to tell! I love to ask questions, listen, then try to capture a bit of their personality in my photos. (Five minutes after this shot, that snake was in my husband's arms....yikes!)

Interesting People At Work - Photo No. 4

You know what they used to say for a business venture to succeed.... 

Location-Location-Location! 

Oh, and have a friendly smile for potential investors! 

(Roaming the streets of Auckland, NZ.)

Daffodils in St. George

Spring Daffodils in St. George

"It might seem crazy what I'm 'bout to say
Sunshine she's here, you can take a break
I'm a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don't care baby by the way
Huh, because I'm happy......." Pharrell Williams

I had a chance meeting with a lovely friend yesterday and she said my photos made her ''happy". Well, that just made me happy! This photo's for you my friend. I hope it makes everyone a little bit happier on this beautiful Sunday!

Interesting People At Work - Photo No. 3

Artificial Limb Technician

'Interesting People at Work', Photo No. 3. Initially we were shocked when we walked into an old WWII army barracks in Fiji that was temporarily converted into a makeshift medical center. We saw a long hallway filled with people who were missing legs, sitting in wheelchairs, and lined up against the wall. We soon learned, however, that an organization from India had developed a way to create artificial limbs quickly and inexpensively and a group from this organization was traveling to less developed countries to teach local doctors and medical workers this process. (Many people in the countries they teach, lose limbs because of untreated diabetes.) This group has received world recognition for their accomplishments. During our visit we watched a patient be measured for a prosthetic leg, wait while it was made, receive instruction after it was attached, then walk without assistance, all in the same day! The conditions in which they worked were less than adequate if compared to many other medical facilities, but the results were amazing! Here is one of the technicians creating artificial legs.

Part of the medical team who was also a recipient of a leg demonstrating its flexibility and versitility.

 Technician describing the process.

 Patient walking on his new leg for the first time.

 Specialized oven donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Blossoms and Bees

Blossoms & Bees

Blossoms and bees in St. George today.  Spring is just around the corner in southern Utah!  Yippee!!!

Interesting People At Work - Photo No. 2

Fanning Island Dancer

'Interesting People At Work', Photo No. 2. (See previous post for explanation and Photo No. 1 of this series of photos). Fanning Island, (also known as Tabuaeran), is part of the Republic of Kiribati, (pronounced Keer-a-bus), and is one of the most remote places on earth. It is a very tiny atoll with an absolutely stunning lagoon. To my knowledge there is still no power grid, no indoor plumbing, no restaurants, or services of any kind. It is home to somewhere around 2500 islanders who are shy and friendly, who still live off the land and ocean, and take shelter in shacks made of coconut fronds and pandanus leaves. This dancer was part of a group that welcomed visitors to their island. (A very different kind of welcome than we received in Hawaii.) Visitors would give the islanders money to tip for the welcome, but until relatively recently, they didn't know what to do with the money they were given.

Interesting People At Work - Photo No. 1

Modern Day Cowboy and Custom Saddle Maker

Calico, Nevada

"Interesting People At Work', Photo No 1. Those of us who enjoy photographing different subjects often tend to post mostly landscape and nature images on social media, because those seem to be the most popular. A long time landscape photographer who switched to street photography once said he became bored with yet another beautiful sunset or mountain, and when he made the change he found for him, that photographing people was much more interesting, interactive and rewarding, plus it was challenging to try to capture personality, mood, and circumstances of the people he met around the world. And the bonus was he made new friends everywhere he went. Through the years I have had a little photography project that I call, 'Interesting People at Work'. The first rule I follow is that I try to capture part of their work environment in the photo, and the second rule I occasionally bend, is that I try to interact, visit with, and get to know the people I'm photographing. This is a bit intimidating and challenging for me to speak to strangers, and gain their trust until they relax enough to be photographed. So for the next little while, I will post some of the interesting people with interesting jobs that I have met over the years, and a few that I didn't meet but who knew and gave me a nod that I could photograph them. Here is a true modern cowboy and custom saddle maker from Calico, Nevada.

Cedar City, Utah Temple

Cedar City, Utah Temple

This is the Cedar City, Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the most recent of 159 temples world wide and opened in December 2017. Eleven more temples are currently under construction and 12 more have been announced. Temples are sacred places to worship and make sacred spiritual covenants for members of the Church and are different from chapels where weekly services are held, of which there are over 30,000. (Note: I removed some very distracting power lines that were glowing in the light of the setting sun.)

Winter at Gunlock Resevoir, Utah

Winter at Gunlock Resevoir, Utah

I took this last year at this same time when there was more snow on the mountains.

Roses From My Sweetheart

Roses From My Sweetheart

Taken with a Lensbaby Velvet 56 soft focus lens.

A Simple Photo, A Memory Forever

A Simple Photo, A Memory Forever!

A sweet memory and a different kind of post for today, inspired by an article I read by Skip Cohen. It was a reminder to me, (and I'm passing it on to you), that photography isn't just about capturing gorgeous landscapes or being an expert photographer/artist. It is for all of us to take the time to capture a feeling, an event, a moment, that at the time may not seem very important. A quote attributed to Dr. Seuss says, "“Sometimes you’ll never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” And photos keep those memories alive and close to the heart as the years pass. This had me thinking about photos I've taken that would never get a bunch of 'likes' or 'hearts' on social media, but I cherish just the same. I want to tell you about one such photo. Several years ago my husband and I were on an assignment for our church in New Caledonia. After our meetings we were enjoying visiting with these wonderful people. Out of the corner of my eye I saw this couple at the far end of the walkway coming toward where I was standing. I noticed how happy they looked, arms around each other, laughing and talking and enjoying being together in their own little world. They looked striking to me with their beautiful brown skin in contrast with their white clothes. As they walked towards me I snapped a bunch of photos, just so I could remember that happy moment. A few weeks later I received a call from our friend and colleague who was with us at the time. She reminded me of the photos I had taken of this couple and wanted my permission to enlarge this one to present to the wife, because just a few days earlier her husband had died suddenly with no warning. I had the impression they didn't have many photographs together and no recent ones. What a joy for me to think that this lovely lady has this happy photograph of the two of them. Just a simple moment became one of their last moments together, and a simple photo to help her remember forever!!

Far Away Places

 I Would Love to Return to Savaii, Samoa!

"Far away places with strange sounding names
 Far away over the sea

Those far away places with the strange sounding names are
 Calling, calling me"

(Sung by Bing Crosby in 1948)

                                 

Winter Twilight

Utah Lake in Winter Twilight and Soft Pastels

Sunshine & Frost

 Sunshine & Frost

I really can't complain about our weather in northern Utah. It has been a mild winter and we've even had some record breaking highs.

Wailua Falls, Kauai

Wailua Falls, Kauai

Winter is a time for me to organize photos and dream of visits to beautiful places.

Memories

On this gray winter afternoon I have soft misty memories that once upon a time I lived in the 'land of the long white cloud' and walked along beautiful pristine beaches collecting seashells.  

 

Sigh!

Cathdral Gorge at Sunset

One more image of Cathedral Gorge, Nevada bathed in warm sunset light.

Cathedral Gorge National Park, Nevada

Cathedral Gorge State Park is a hidden jewel of unusual land formations that would be entirely missed if driving by on the main road near Panaca, Nevada. For those just passing through, the scenery in the area is pretty boring and predictable, but turn on a cross road and drive a very short distance into the gorge and you might feel as if you were on another planet. In daylight the columns and spires are more yellow that red, but this is how they looked in the afterglow of sunset a couple of days ago.

 Snow Canyon Overlook

Here's what the sunrise looked like two days ago overlooking Snow Canyon in southern Utah. Our 'casita', (little winter home), is a few minutes away on the other side of the cliffs. P.S. No color saturation here in case you're wondering!

Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho

Dreaming of Spring while going through 2017 photos.

Mt. Timpanogos Wearing Snow

Mt. Timpanogos Wearing Snow

Here is something out of my comfort zone. Usually I like my landscapes to mimic the colors of the rainbow like our eyes naturally see. But I also try to express a mood or a feeling in my photos. B&W seemed perfect for how I'm currently viewing my world at home in northern Utah! 

Here's the color version.  Tell me if you have a preference.

Frozen Utah Lake

Standing on thin ice to get this composition of frozen Utah Lake. If the ice had given away I would have dropped a whooping 3 inches, so I was not worried!

The Gannets of Muriwai, New Zealand

The Gannets of Muriwai, New Zealand

Shortly after we arrived in New Zealand we were told that one of the sights we needed to see was the gannet colony at Muriwai.  As soon as we were able, I grabbed my camera equipment and we drove the short distance to Muriwai beach, only to find it void of any gannets.  I was disappointed and realized we were there at the wrong time of year.  Fast forward 9 or 10 months and we returned to see this amazing sight.  (Scroll down to see close up photos of these beautiful birds.)

The gannets of Muriwai live on the edge between land and sea where these cliffs provide a strong updraft for easy take off.  Here is where they mate and give birth.  About 15 weeks after birth, the chicks make a journey to Australia more than 1200 miles away.  There is no trial and error and no parents to show them the way.  They migrate on their own.  Those who survive the journey across the Tasman Sea will remain for several years.  Finally, instinct draws them back across the 'ditch', (as people in that part of the world call the waters between Australia and New Zealand), never to return to Australia again.  Amazingly, those who make the return trip successfully, will come to the same nest they left behind years ago, to have chicks of their own.

Twilight Glow

Warm Twilight Glow On a Cold Winter Day

Shot at American Fork Boat Harbor, Utah Lake

Last Sunset Photo for 2017

Last sunset photo of the year. 

I love how the light shines through the broken ice along the shore of Utah Lake.

Winter Sunset

Winter Sunset at Utah Lake

Winter or summer, a beautiful sunset can lift my spirits and warm my heart. 

I hope it does the same for you!

Winter View!

Frozen Utah Lake

My previous post is what I wish I had been looking at, but this is what I actually saw yesterday.