Easter Thoughts

Death and Life

I was thinking about what to post for Easter and I initially thought about a photo of an Easter Lily.  But today, Saturday, while on a ride in our RZRs, I saw this scene and immediately knew this would be my Easter post.

 The day started out with perfect weather, deep blue skies, puffy white clouds and pretty scenery.  But by late afternoon, we were riding through acres and acres of dead and blackened trees, remnants from a previous forest fire.  To add to the scene, the sky had clouded over with dark and ominous looking clouds.  We drove on for several miles, then rounded a bend and came across this scene, where these beautiful spring flowers had popped up among the dead trees.  Death and Life. 

God reveals His divine plan for us in many ways if we just look, listen and feel.  We can read about it in His scriptures, we can ask about it through personal prayer and receive personal confirmation.  And, we can observe the workings of the world He created for us, which in many ways symbolizes death and rebirth.  We celebrate Easter in the spring, when the earth awakens and comes alive again after a long winter's sleep that represents death.  And even when forces of nature, such as fire, kills all living things, we know that eventually life will win over death, the grass will return, the flowers will return, and the trees will return.

God has given us the greatest gift of being born again, or being resurrected, and He sent His beloved son Jesus Christ to show us the way.  It doesn't matter if we die in the Spring of life, or in the winter of life, or some where in between.  It doesn't matter what our life's circumstances have been, whether we have led a charmed life, or a troubled life.  Eventually the ominous clouds will gather and we will die.   But because of the resurrection and atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we will all live again to meet our Redeemer and be reunited with our loved ones!!

'Oh what comfort this sweet sentence gives, 

"I know that my Redeemer lives!"'  

(I know That My Redeemer Lives) 

I hope you have a peaceful Easter Sunday.

P.S.  This photo was taken with my iphone.  I was sitting on the ground and had the phone resting on my foot for a low angle and to keep it steady.  I did a fair amount of post processing as well.

  

 

More Desert Beauty

Are you tired of cactus photos yet????  

The desert does not display it's spring treasures in a grand way.  In fact, sometimes one has to go on a 'treasure' hunt and look closely to find such beautiful and colorful blooms such as these.  I went on a little desert hike with a local photo club the other day, and the leader had already scouted out the route for the hike and lead us to some beautiful blooming cacti, some of which are rare in our immediate area.  I wish I could remember the names of all of them.

White Prickly Poppy

Two compositions of this desert flower.  Can't decide which I like the best.

Valley of Fire Bloom

Valley of Fire Challenge

On a recent trip home from a car show in Las Vegas, I took a detour through Valley of Fire State Park.  As is often the case when I can snatch some time for photography, it was in the middle of a bright, sunny, windy, hot, cloudless day.  So I didn't bother taking shots of all the red cliffs because the colors would be washed out, there would be deep shadows and the sky would be plain and boring.  So I found this scene with one lone bloom and used it as the focal point for my composition.  Because the flower was relatively small and not very colorful against the red sand, I used a wide angle lens and shot very close in order to exaggerate its size.

Lunar Eclipse

Lunar Light Show

I must be nuts to be posting this at 3:00 am, but I decided that I would try to photograph the eclipse and the full eclipse did not take place until around 1:30 am.  Then sleep eluded me, so here I am!  

This photo is a composite of two shots with two different lenses.  The moon was taken with a telephoto in manual: 300mm, 1 sec, f/11, ISO 2500.  The mountain was taken with a wide angle in manual:  16mm, 30 sec, f/11, ISO 1600.  I combined them in Photoshop.  In full resolution, there is quite a bit of noise.  I did not increase the saturation at all, but found it interesting that what I saw with my eyes was not nearly as orange as the color the camera captured. 

Desert In Bloom at Dusk

The spring desert at dusk turns a sharp, harsh landscape of midday into soft blue greens, dotted with brightly colored blooms.

Desert Scene at Sunset

Desert Beauty - Up Close & Personal

To truly appreciate the desert, I think one needs to take a close and intimate view.  While there are some quite large and 'showy' desert plants like the saguaro, joshua and ocatilla, many are seemingly not very impressive or even noticeable if you are looking out the window of a moving car.  At the end of our day of ATV riding, (when I took the last two posts), the light was almost gone after sunset and while Jeff was loading our RZRs on the trailer, I took a short walk out into the desert.  I was surprised at all I saw that I hadn't noticed from a few yards away.  I love this combination of the interesting, sharp spined barrel cactus, along with the delicate look of the tiny spring flowers.  I couldn't see any of this from the road.

So here are my thoughts for today.  Don't stand on the side of the road, or look outside your window and think that you are seeing all the beauty there is to see.  Take a stroll off 'the beaten path', or down the "road less traveled".  Take time to stop, listen, observe and look at the hidden beauty all around that most people don't see.  In other words, don't view nature as an outsider looking in.  Instead, be an actively, observant insider and you will not only increase you skills as a photographer, but even more importantly, you will gain greater reverence for our Creator who made this magnificent world we are privileged to live in and enjoy!

Cactus Blooms

Cactus Blooms

Some people, like some plants, grow to their full potential despite harsh conditions, and make the world a more beautiful place where ever they are rooted.

Cactus in the Spotlight

Cactus in the Spotlight

In the past, it seems photographers would avoid sun flare at all costs, thinking it ruined photos.  In recent years, however, many photographers are using sun flare creatively to add interest to all subjects including outdoor portraits, landscapes, nature shots, etc.  I wouldn't use sun flare purposefully in most of my photos, but sometimes it is fun and does make what might be a simple composition more interesting.  Since I recently posted several images using sun flare I thought I'd post this one I took yesterday.  Actually, the flare was an unexpected bonus as I wasn't planning on it.  This type of cactus, (can't remember the name), is beautiful when back light by the sun, creating fuzzy rims of light.  The sun was getting low in the horizon and I loved the way this cactus was highlighted while the surrounded area was not.  But I did not notice the sun flare until I downloaded to the computer.  A fun surprise.  I love the interesting streaks of light and how it lands on the cactus perfectly.  No skill here, just luck!

P.S. to Last Post

Jan's comment in my last post reminded me that I forgot to include an important bit of information.  To get the first shot of the temple I had to edit the heck out of it using different exposures.  The highlights were blown out and the shadows were very deep.  And of course I cropped and color corrected to the color I actually saw.  Here is the best of the original photos I took:

And here is my version, closer to what my eyes saw:

Tech Talk Tuesday....kind of

St. George Temple, St. George, Utah

I haven't done 'Tech Talk Tuesday' for a long time, but it's Tuesday and I have a few thoughts, (amazing isn't it), so here's how my photo shoot went yesterday:

Years ago I took some sunrise photos of this beautiful temple, and so I wanted to take some sunset photos.  I was there well before sunset to see where the sun would fall, where would be the best angles, and if there were enough flowers in bloom to make an interesting spring photo.  First of all I found that there were very few flowers at the front entrance which was also in deep shadow.  I moved around to this side and I was early enough to have plenty of time to get my camera gear out and ready.  I was thinking about what lenses and settings I'd use to get late sunset and twilight shots.  You know, the kind with the reds and oranges of sunset, and then the pinks, purples and magentas of twilight.

About that time I get a call from my husband saying we were having friends come over for the evening.  I had forgotten!  That meant I had about a half an hour to pull off some shots before I had to leave.  Well so much for my sunset plans.  Now I had the harsh, bright light of late afternoon.  What to do?

What would you do?  Well, my first thought was to pack it up and go another time.  But I had just said in my last post that there is always something to photograph despite the conditions so I figured I better take my own advice.  

One way to improve your photography skills, is to think of how to counteract the challenges you face.  I realized that a beautiful sunset/twilight sky was not going to be what would make my photos interesting today.  (Remember that the most important thing about your photos is that they should be interesting enough so that the viewer wants to stay and look.)  The photo above is a good representation of the flat, harsh lighting I had to work with.

Below are a couple of ways I choose to try and create an interesting photo despite the harsh lighting conditions, or even better, use the harsh lighting to my advantage:

  Here I chose a fisheye lens which created an unusual perspective, at a very low angle, and included the sun purposely to include flare.  I left out the boring sky.  I also used a polarizing filter on my lens to cut out some of the glare.

On this shot I used a wide aperture, (small number) and was very close to the flower.  This turned the water streams and splashes from the fountain into big beautiful soft bokeh.  I chose a flower in front of the fountain that was highlighted by the sun while the fountain was in shadow which created the contrast.

Here is another flower composition I found interesting.  I liked the white flower spotlighted in the sun set against the deep gray shadows of the building with the splash of color on the bottom.

Another group of flowers basking in the sun and in the spotlight of the sun flare.  

What do you think?  I don't think any of these are 'keepers' but I think I met the challenge of finding a couple of compositions, angles and lighting situations that were unique and interesting.  Would a viewer pause and take a second look at these before deciding if they liked them or not?  I don't know but I know it was a challenge for me to come up with anything worth keeping in the few minutes and in the conditions I had to work with.  I stretched and that means I'm improving my skills (I hope)!

Near Gunlock, Utah

Seek and Find!

One bonus of enjoying taking photos of many subjects, is that if one looks hard enough, or is observant enough, there is always something interesting to photograph.  If the weather or light is crappy for taking landscape photos, maybe you focus on insect or flower macros.  Or maybe you head into town and look for interesting characters, people at work, or interesting architecture.  

There is always SOMETHING to photograph, and every time I go out specifically to take photos I challenge myself to come home with at least one keeper.  This doesn't mean it will always be a show stopper, but working hard to find an interesting composition, even when you are sure there isn't one, will help you become a better photographer.  It's the 'practice, practice, practice' principle.

Today just before sunset I took a break and headed out to a very small community called Gunlock, about 15 minutes away. The light was not good, flat with mostly high filmy clouds that made the orange cliffs muted and pastel-ish, so I was thinking more about finding old barns, fences, and a composition that didn't include the sky.  By the time the sun was behind the mountains I still hadn't found anything too interesting, except for a small herd of donkeys that were strolling down the middle of the road!  I took a couple of snaps from my car, but knew I didn't have my 'keeper' for the day.  I was about ready to give up when I glimpsed something shiny right off the road, but mostly hidden by tall weeds.  I turned around, drove back, and found a place to pull off so I stopped and walked around the weeds about 3 yards and discovered this scene.  It was a very small pond with greenish water, probably from a spring, nestled at the foot of this orange rock.  And just then, as if on cue, the clouds parted to allow some blue sky to peek through.  I had found my photo op for the day!

Since the sun was down and it was getting dark, I knew the camera could not capture the color of the water that I saw.  It would record as almost black if I exposed for the sky.  And the reverse was true.  If I increased the exposure to show the color of the water, the sky would be blown out white.  So I put my camera on a tripod and took three different exposures and then blended them together in Lightroom.  I also increased the vibrancy a little because the light was so flat.  This is very close to how my eyes actually saw this scene.

Remember, 'PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!'

P.S.  Oh, and here is the very friendly donkey that walked up to my car in the middle of he road.  Luckily I was 'in the country' with no traffic so I could stop.  I took this shot out of my open window about a foot away from him.

Almost Time for Moab Fun!!

Here is what we do for fun in Moab:

Our son guiding his Dad down a steep cliff.

 Smooth sand makes for a fast and fun ride.

Nothing like splashing in the water on a hot day.

Here's what crazy people (IMHO) do in Moab:

 They go places that are impossible to go.

 They pop tires and break axles and fix them on the spot.

They thrive on challenges.  It is truly a contest between man and machine verses rock and boulder!

Johnson Arch, Snow Canyon, Utah

About a week ago I took a late afternoon walk to Johnson's Arch which is at the end of a box canyon about 10 minutes away from our casita.  The cottonwood trees that grow near the stream beds are beginning to show their spring greens, and to the left is the path I am walking along.

Well, of all the spectacular arches in red rock country, this certainly isn't one of them!  In fact I had to look a while to find it.  It is hard to spot because there is another cliff close behind it.  Can you see it??

By the time I walked back the sun was doing its thing to the ruddy red/orange landscape.  Spring in the desert is beautiful!

New Zealand Beachcomber

We have been home from New Zealand for a year and a half and I have yet to compile my landscape and nature photos into a coffee table book.  I'm determined to do this within the next month or two.  I've started reviewing and choosing which ones to include and as I do, I'm already longing to return to this magical place. 

Deer in Zion

Cautiously Friendly

The valley in Zion National Park is a great place to go if you are interested in photographing deer, especially in early morning or around dusk when they are active and often in abundance.  They have learned through the decades that here there is nothing to fear from the humans they encounter, and so you can often get quite close.

Bonus Photo!

When thinking about shooting landscapes, I'm usually looking up and out, searching for a grand vista that needs my attention.  Driving down the ruddy red road in the last post, I kept looking for a pleasing composition.  When I saw that view, I quickly pulled off the side of the road, where there was a very narrow space between the road and side brush.  I got out of the car to better look at the composition, the light, the line of the road, etc., and when I finally decided it was worth taking a few shots,  I reached back into the car to grab my camera, fumbled around to find my glasses so I could change the lens, blew my nose, etc.  When I finally had it all together, I moved back a few feet and slammed the car door.  Then I suddenly saw a tiny movement out of the corner of my eye, and about 3 feet away from my feet is this little guy who had been patiently staring at me despite the commotion I was making.  I stared back and expected him to scamper away immediately, but he just kept on staring at me.  Of course I had the wrong lens on my camera, so I quickly walked to the back of the car, opened the hatch where my camera bag was, and changed my lens again.  I walked back around to where he was perched, fully expecting him to be gone.  But there he was, waiting for me.  He posed patiently while I took several shots, and when he figured I had what I needed, he finally ran away. 

Reminder for me:  don't be so wrapped up trying to find the big picture that you miss seeing the little picture up close and personal!   

Color Coordinated!

I took this on the same evening as the previous POST.  A unique feature in Zion National Park is that the roads are paved in red to blend in with the rest of the scenery.  Makes for a visually striking composition of similar red, orange, coral and rust tones.

Winter Sunset - Zion National Park

Now Here's a Cabin With a View!!

Our little Casita is about a half hour drive to Zion National Park, one of my FAVORITE places of all time.  I've been anxiously waiting for spring to come when the brilliant green leaves of the cottonwood trees and grasses make such a striking contrast to the red cliffs.  But yesterday, I just couldn't wait. 

I discovered a back road that skirts around the edge of the park that I had not known existed and found some breathtakingly, majestic views.  I spent an hour or so at sunset watching these beautiful cliffs catch on fire as the sun moved closer to the horizon.  

I'm assuming the land in this valley is privately owned, and just outside the park, since there were several privately owned cabins.  What a view they have, even in winter!    

Flower Power