Mirror Lake, Utah

Mirror Lake, Utah

No mirror reflections on Mirror Lake when I was there a few days ago. It was too windy, but still a lovely place to spend the day, escape the summer heat, and maybe go for a canoe ride or catch a fish!

Provo River Falls

Provo River Falls, Utah

This picture will remind me of yesterday's little day trip. (I will also remember that delicious strawberry milk shake in Heber on the way home!) Enjoying landscape photography as I do, I feel so fortunate to live within a few hours drive of such a diversity of beautiful scenery from lush alpine forests to desert red rock country.

NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Patience really pays off in landscape photography.  I quickly found my composition for this shot, set up my tripod, adjusted my camera settings and was ready to go.  Unfortunately the light was horrible with glare and hot spots mixed with deep shadows.  So I made myself comfortable on a hard rock and waited about 45 minutes for the sun to dip behind the trees, creating more even light, with a bit of glow shinning on the waterfall.  I think I was the only photographer who was there at the same time I showed up, who waited for better light.

Albion Basin -5

Albion Basin, Utah

Another shot taken along the path to Cecret Lake in Albion Basin, Utah. 

 (I love when I find scenes and compositions that are color coordinated!!)

Albion Basin - 4

Albion Basin, Utah

Some of my most interesting photos are the ones I take from at least 4 feet above or 4 feet below where I would normally hold my camera!  For this shot I held my camera about a foot off the ground in order to capture the sun rays and back light the flowers.

Albion Basin - 3

Albion Basin, Utah

After the beautiful sky in my last post faded, I had a few minutes to find a spot to watch the sun make its appearance. What an inspiring way to spend the morning! 

"How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains." ~ John Muir

Albion Basin - 2

Albion Basin, Utah 

Before Sunrise

I had to give Albion Basin one more try this year, so I drug myself out of bed a little before 5 am to be there before sunrise. Looking at the clouds on the way, I knew there was the potential for some color. I was rewarded for my efforts with this beautiful pre sunrise sky which only lasted a minute, but made the early morning outing so worth while!

(Note to Myself and Other Photographers:  If you want to be a good landscape photographer, you better be a 'morning' person, or force yourself to be one, at least part of the time!  Taking beautiful photos is SO much easier when the light is beautiful!!)

Albion Basin-1

Albion Basin After Sunset

I decided to drive up to this beautiful mountain oasis to take photos at sunset. Unfortunately I miscalculated how long it would take me to get there. I arrived at the parking lot after the sun had set and most of the mountain and wildflowers were in deep shadow. I realized I didn’t have time to hike to where I planned on taking photos. I ended up taking about 4 shots and then it was dark. 

NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS: Sometimes the image I end up with is not what I planned. As soon as I parked, I jumped out of my car, grabbed my gear and took off to my preplanned place. Several other photographers were there as well, and we knew we were racing against time. They all took off running, but I stopped when I realized I would be completely out of daylight in just a few minutes. So I looked around to see if there was something worth shooting right there. The sunset was gone, but when I looked behind me I saw this beautiful sky and one little patch of flowers lit by the remaining light. To get this shot I was standing next to the restroom in the parking lot just a few feet away from my car. Sometimes it pays to be aware of your surroundings and shooting situation, then be willing to change plans and look for new and different photo ops.

Wildflower Beauty

My favorite flowers are not the showy ones, cultivated, nurtured and growing in flower beds. More often they are modest little gems living humbly among the untamed flora of nature.

 "I will not be another flower, picked for my beauty and left to die. I will be wild, difficult to find, and impossible to forget."
 ~Erin Van Vuren

Lavender Fields

 Young Family Lavender Farm

 

Driving on I-15 between Nephi and Provo, Utah at this time of year, you can see beautiful lavender fields in an otherwise bland landscape. This is the Young Lavender Farm. It is now a large, commercial, touristy enterprise and one must pay to go into the fields to take photos. But when I took this photo several years ago, visitors could just stop by the roadside near the fields, (not I-15!), and wander, enjoy and photograph. It is a favorite place for bridal and wedding photography. On the day I was there, several couples were posing for their photographers. This was such a lovely scene that I took a few shots from a long distance with a telephoto lens, removing the photographer from the composition.

Red Fish Lake, Idaho

Red Fish Lake, Idaho

I was packed up and walking back to the car, thinking the sunset was over, when this happened. I dropped everything and frantically pulled out my camera and tripod to catch this scene from right where I was standing. A couple of shots and then it was gone!

Mount Timpanogos Temple

Mount Timpanogos Temple at Sunrise

"In the midst of darkness, light persists." 

 ~Mahatma Gandhi 

The Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple is the closest to where I live, but taking a photo of it that I really like has alluded me...until a couple of days ago. I finally found a new vantage point, and on this morning, the sky was beautiful as the sun peaked over the mountain to light up the temple with a beautiful glow.

Sunrise Alpenglow Over Utah Lake

Alpenglow Over Utah Lake

“How sweet the morning air is! See how that one little cloud floats like a pink feather from some gigantic flamingo......"

                                           ~Arthur Conan Doyle

I woke up early, grabbed my camera and drove 10 minutes to enjoy the sunrise on Utah Lake. I was rewarded for my efforts, however, this shot was taken facing west, just minutes before the sun rose to my back. It looks more like a sunset to me but it's not!! (For those interested, I used a tripod and set my camera to a slow shutter speed to create the soft dreamy look of the water.)

Most landscape photographers have heard the term 'alpenglow'.  This is when the sun is below the horizon either at sunrise or sunset and its rays are not directly shining on the landscape but are reflected off airborne precipitation or particulates in the atmosphere, creating a beautiful magenta color. 

Draper Utah Temple

Draper Utah Temple

"When you've seen beyond yourself, then you may find, peace of mind is waiting there."

 ~  George Harrison

Can You See Me Now?

Can You See Me Now?

Sometimes patience is the difference between a good photo and a better one. This ladybug spent a long time crawling all over the stem and around this thistle where I couldn’t get a shot of him (or her?). Finally he crawled to the perfect place and decided it was time to rest, just long enough for me to take his picture.

Sunrise on the Provo River

Sunrise on the Provo River

I am not a morning person, but when I do drag myself out of bed early and go exploring with my camera, I am always filled with gratitude, peace and happy thoughts for the day. 

“There's a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they're absolutely free. Don't miss so many of them.”
                     ― Jo Walton

Simple and Beautiful

"I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn't photograph them."

~ Diane Arbus

A photographer learns to see the finished image in his mind before composing the photo in the camera, and often transforms ordinary subjects into something beautiful.

Tegenungan Waterfall, Bali

Although there were many tourists hiking near the falls for the short time we were there, somehow I managed to get this composition with only one person taking in the beauty of this place. And he wore the perfect color shirt to stand out against the background!

Niche or No Niche!

NICHE or NO NICHE!

(pronounced either neesh or nitch....both are acceptable)

As a serious photographer, or dedicated hobbyist, have you found your niche? 

Have you discovered a subject you love to photograph above everything else?  If you can answer that question with a confident “yes”, then stop reading and go spend this time photographing more puppies, mushrooms, brides or whatever your passion is!

But if you are inclined to answer that question with a hesitant “maybe” or a frustrated “no”, then continue reading to get my perspective on how to find your niche, or more importantly, how to decide if you really need to have a niche!

If you travel in photography circles, you no doubt have run across discussions that give advice about narrowing down your subject matter to what you truly love to photograph, and then concentrating on honing your skills in that specific area or genre. 

Usually these discussions end with something like, “Don’t worry if you haven’t found your niche, or discovered your signature style, just keep on shooting and it will come.”  And many times it does!   Your niche often evolves and will bring a certain level of comfort and encouragement to help you move forward in a specific direction. 

But I have discovered that many photographers, even many who have been shooting for years, (or decades like me), still haven’t found their niche!!  Why not!  For me, limiting the genre of photography I enjoy, or the subjects I like to shoot, or the styles I like to experiment with, feels too boring, too restrictive, too confining, like being in a photographic prison!  (Okay, that last part may be a bit dramatic!)

For years I thought about this and worried about it.  If I continued to photograph everything I saw that was interesting to me, I probably would never be skillful at shooting anything, (you know, to paraphrase the saying, “A Jack (or Jill) of all trades is a master of none”).  But I knew if I had to limit or curtail what I photographed, the joy I find in photography would be greatly diminished.

But today, after decades of shooting, I can proudly say I am still ‘niche free’, (and worry free), and at the same time have continued to maintain my love for photography!  With some critical and honest contemplation, here is the most important question I had to answer to help me embrace being ‘niche-less’:

What is my foremost reason for wanting to be a photographer? 

Here is a short list of some possibilities for you to consider:

·      I want to use photography as a career.  This will be a business and I must do what it takes to develop a customer base and earn money.

·      I want to have a usable skill to help my family and community.  I would like to be the official photographer at family weddings, birthdays, sports games and community events.

·      I want to be able to take great pictures documenting all the places where I travel, so I can make quality photo books.

·      I want to take photos of my children’s milestones and family growth through the years.

·      I want to develop a solid presence on social media.  It gives my self esteem a boost when others enjoy my photography and say I’m a good photographer.

·      I want to use photography as a stress reliever and a pleasant diversion from my everyday work and routine.

·      I want to use my photos as the starting point for my art projects.  I love the creativity of using editing software to transform a photo into something from my imagination.

I’m sure you can think of more reasons, and most of us probably have several reasons, but once you nail down your primary motivation for being a photographer, you can decide if identifying a niche will be an important part of your success and contentment, or not.  Here are some examples: 

If you are looking to earn money, branding yourself and advertising your area of expertise, (your niche), will help funnel potential customers down to the ones who are actually looking for your particular photographic skills.

If you are looking to build a large presence on social media, posting images of one genre or style, (your niche), will attract a larger group of dedicated followers who have your same interests.

If your motivation is more internal, meaning you take pictures primarily because it brings you joy, (no niche), then you are not as concerned with earning money, gathering followers or being motivated by other outside influences.  You may have little or no incentive to narrow down your subject matter or define a shooting style.  This leaves you free to explore, experiment, change, evolve, discover, learn, and grow in many directions. 

Of course I’m not suggesting that by having a specific purpose or niche means you won’t find happiness or joy in your photography.  In fact, if you have chosen a niche you love and are attaining your goals, (i.e. earning money, becoming popular on social media, or improving your skills, for example), you will also love being a photographer.

But if you get bored easily, or just enjoy variety, I would like to offer an alternative to developing a specific niche.  And that is to simply photograph whatever you enjoy with no qualms or qualifying ‘ifs, ands or buts’!  Your interests may change from year to year, season to season, or even day to day.  But you will make connections with, and learn from a diverse group of photographers who will help enrich your photography experiences and expand your creativity.  And yes, your skills and talents as a photographer will still continue to increase and expand, even if you are a Jack or Jill of many genres and styles of photography.

In practical terms for me, this means, shooting flowers in spring, and landscapes in the summer and fall months.   Winter will probably mean concentrating on still life and food photography indoors. At the beginning of the school year I’ll be shooting portraits of my grandkids, and in December I’ll probably be shooting Christmas lights.  Last month I was shooting Hindu temples in Bali and real estate photos for a friend selling her house.  And inbetween there is street photography, black & white, high key, macro photography, and the list goes on and on!  The expectation of what I might be shooting next and what my finished image will be, is invigorating and exciting!

To sum up, developing a niche or not, depends on whichever decision leads you closer to your goals as a photographer, and at the same time adds the most to your enthusiasm for taking pictures.  Imogen Cunningham said,  “Which of my photographs is my favorite?  The one I’m going to take tomorrow.”  Me too!

Peonies in Shade

Peonies in Shade

These peonies were drooping almost to the ground and were in deep shadow, creating a dark and moody photo which I emphasized with soft focus and some creative editing.

Bold & Beautiful!

Bold & Beautiful

If you like bold, beautiful, colorful flowers, blue sky and lots of sunshine like I do, then this one's for you!! Perfect to cheer up a Monday!

Sweet Sunday!

Sweet Sunday!

Hope yours is peaceful, and we all take time to remember the important things in life that speak peace to the soul.

Provo Utah Temple

Provo Utah Temple

Look what I've been missing!  I only live a short distance from this temple and cannot believe I haven't been there when these beautiful roses are in bloom.  They are magnificent and the possible photo compositions seemed endless.  

Because the lighting was very 'contrasty' with lots of dark shadows, I combined 3 separate exposures to even it out.  This was my favorite composition including lots of roses shown in a diagonal line leading the eye into the frame toward the temple.

Spotlight Please!

Spotlight Please!

Spotlight Please! When I'm shooting garden flowers on a sunny day, I look for single flowers lit by the sun with a background that is in the shade. This adds drama to the subject and composition, and makes even common flowers look special. I also try to include a hint of the foliage in the background for additional interest so the viewer knows this was taken in a garden and not in a studio using a black backdrop.

The Lensbaby Look

Selecting a narrow point of focus plus the dreamy look created by a Lensbaby lens, (specialty lens), turns an ordinary photo into something a bit more artistic. (BTW, who says you can't take photos in the middle of a bright sunny day!)

Uluwati, Bali

 Uluwatu Coastline, Bali

This is the view from Pura Luhur Uluwatu, claimed to be one of the most holy temples in Bali. It is perched on the edge of a cliff with beautiful ocean views in all directions, at the very southern edge of the island. We managed to be visiting at the perfect time to take photos.

CONGRATULATIONS Taylor!

CONGRATULATIONS TAYLOR!

Congratulations to our oldest grandson Taylor. I usually don't post family photos but once in a while I can't help myself! Taylor is a young man of honor and integrity, plus he is humble and kind to everyone. And he was one of the top 30 students in his graduating class of around 800 I think! (Only a grandma can get away with bragging like this! He never would, and I'm going to be in trouble if he sees this!!)

Home is Beautiful!

Woodland Hills, Utah

There is beauty everywhere!  I sometimes forget there is beauty close to home, not just in faraway places.  When life gets too busy, I forget to look for it, but when I do, often something beautiful jumps right out at me, even in a vacant lot next to the road.  I hope you look for something beautiful during your travels today!

About this photo:  no, a new type of large Utah sunflower is not in bloom! These wildflowers are a little bit bigger than an Oreo cookie on a plant that is about a foot tall. And no, there was no Photoshop trickery involved in this image. Unique and different compositions can be created by choosing the right scene, the right lens, the right camera settings and the right perspective or point of view. Here I used a wide angle lens, a small aperture (f/20), placed my camera just a few inches away from the flowers and focused about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way into the scene.  I was in a hurry because behind me were black rain clouds that were moving quickly and dumped just minutes after I took this shot. If I had had more time, and wanted a technically better image, (sharper), I would have put my camera on a tripod, taken numerous shots using different focal points from foreground to background, then combined them in PS or another software program. (For you Utah County photographers, I recently posted a similar shot that I had taken several years ago, and said it was taken in the Elk Ridge area. I went back to find this place again, and it is on the main road into Woodland Hills and the flowers are blooming right now.)

Traveling Salesman - Bali

Traveling Salesman....perhaps???

I can't imagine what a balancing act this must be, especially turning corners! Necessity really is the mother of invention!  (I'm going to think of this photo the next time I hop in my car and drive the two blocks to Costco!)

Traveler and Toiler

Traveler and Toiler

In Bali, like many countries, the local residents who need to work hard most days, have learned to coexist with the tourists who come to relax and sight see.

A Moment in Time - Bali

A peaceful moment in time...or so it seems. 

We only spent one day on the beach in Bali, and were there along with about a hundred of our closest friends. The day was hot and humid, the midday sun was bright and moving across a cloudless sky, bleaching out most colors. Not good conditions for landscape photography, but I knew I had to come away with at least one beach photo. I noticed this pergola with hanging lanterns and draped in matching fabric. I thought this might add some color and interest to an otherwise boring and 'high key' like scene. It was a miracle there were no people directly in front of me, (they were everywhere else on the beach). Just as I was quickly composing my shot, using the pergola as a 'frame', this lady strolled into my picture and stopped long enough for me to use her as my subject of interest! She almost looks like a model purposefully posing for the camera, but she had no idea I was taking her picture! (I did do a bit of editing to lighten and even out the color to enhance a high key look.)

Water Lily - Bali

Water Lily - Bali

Dinner Entertainment - Bali

The Welcoming Committee and Dinner Entertainment

The Greeter!!

The 'Greeter'

Welcome, I'm so glad you're here!!!! This was our greeting as we entered the Monkey Sanctuary in Bali! The country is filled with ferocious looking statues, (among more friendly ones), which is so contradictory to the nature of the Balinese people we met. Mostly, these people were soft spoken, respectful, modest, friendly, helpful, etc.

Spring on Temple Square - Predawn

Salt Lake Temple

Predawn when the light was dim and warm and cast a soft dreamy glow on the Salt Lake temple. Each year as the trees grow larger in front of the temple it gets increasing hard to compose an image that includes both the temple and the flower beds from this vantage point. I used a tripod and slow shutter speed to capture the light and still had to edit to increase the exposure. (This was the first shot I took on the same morning as my two previous posts.)

Salt Lake Temple - Spring 2018

Temple Square - Spring 2018

Whenever I point my camera at the sun, I am usually surprised at the result.  Often the result is a blown out mess, but sometimes I end up with interesting sun flares or colorful bokeh, (soft light circles), that make for unique images.  This one may not be everyone's 'cup of tea' but it certainly meets my criteria of trying to find different and original compositions and lighting effects that I haven't seen before in any of the photos I've taken of the Salt Lake Temple over the years (see last post).  P.S.  I did a fair amount of editing to make this a presentable image by toning down the exposure on the highlights and lightening the midtones and darks.

Spring on Temple Square - 2018

Temple Square - Spring 2018

This morning I made my yearly spring pilgrimage to Temple Square to photograph flowers.  It is always a challenge for me to get different or unique compositions because I have done this for so many years, plus today the sky did not cooperate and was pretty boring.  Nevertheless, it's always a beautiful day on Temple Square!!

Bali - 4

Long Tail Macaques

Monkey Forest Sanctuary

Monkeys live in various places in Bali. We visited the Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud. The monkeys there are called long tail macaques. They have lost their fear of humans and many were within a foot or two of where we were walking. Our guide told us there are two kinds of monkeys......mischievous, and naughty, depending on where they live. The mischievous ones might steal your glasses and jewelry or unzip or steal purses and backpacks looking for food. Or they might sit on your shoulder or your head and not get off until you give them something to eat. The naughty monkeys will become aggressive, attack or even bite if they perceive you have food and are not giving it to them, or if you offer food then withdraw it. Someone told us a story about a monkey opening a waist pack, (I have learned that the term fanny pack is offensive in some cultures), pulling out a wad of paper money, then scrambling up a tree and throwing it away. I have to say, I was a bit nervous being so near to them, but as we had no food or other enticing objects with us, they left us alone.

Bali-3

 Pura Ulun Danu Bratan

I see this temple printed on many of the travel brochures for Bali.   It is Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, (sometimes called the floating temple), built on a tiny island and dedicated to the goddess of the lake, Dewi Danu. I was disappointed because it was a dark and cloudy day when we visited, my camera batteries were dying as quickly as I changed them, and my lenses were fogging up because of the 100% humidity. I took tons of photos that ultimately ended up in the 'trash bin', but there were a few seconds when the clouds gave way to a couple of blue patches that lit up the temple. I snapped this photo quickly even though there was person's head in the bottom of the frame. I cropped her out!

Bali - 2

Beautiful doors everywhere we traveled in Bali.

Bali - 1

 Pura Taman Saraswati

After traveling half way around the world, (30+ hours in airports/airplanes with 3 layovers), and then having a limited number of days and daylight hours, it is hard to narrow down photo opportunities when visiting such a beautiful, culturally rich and interesting place as Bali. But having to do just that, I opted to concentrate on the history, culture and people rather than the landscapes, beach scenes and sunsets. (After all, a beautiful sunset over the ocean occurs in many places!) Most Balinese are Hindu, and their religious practices and rituals permeate their every day lives. They say there are at least 200,000 temples and monuments on this small island, some dating back to the 10th century. This is Pura Taman Saraswati, built in honor of Saraswati, the deity of learning and the arts.

Tucson, Arizona LDS Temple

Tucson, Arizona LDS Temple

During our recent visit to Arizona, I was able to photograph the Tucson LDS (Mormon)Temple, (in addition to the Gilbert, AZ temple shown in a previous post). It is the 157 of 159 operating temples around the world and opened in 2017. When I first set out with my camera, I was disappointed that I just couldn't seen to find a good angle or composition, at least from ground level. I was not happy with any of my photos from that day. But it was good luck that the motel we had chosen was just a short drive from the temple so I was able to go back several times both at sunrise and sunset, and was finally rewarded with a beautiful sunrise. I ended up taking this shot from across a busy street and had to time my shots in between the cars passing right in front of me.

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.