Poppy on Temple Square

Poppy on Temple Square

I always look for interesting backgrounds for floral photos. I liked this bright yellow poppy isolated in front of the large fountain on Temple Square.

Sunbeams and Blossoms

Sunbeams and Blossoms on Temple Square

Sunbeams and Blossoms! Temple Square is now filled with hundreds of varieties of spring blossoms and flowering trees. It is unbelievably beautiful. There is color everywhere. I really believe it is not possible to take a bad picture at this time in this place! (Well, maybe there is an exception or two!) The mixture of the scent of hyacinths and the other flowers is heavenly. There is nothing more peaceful, inspiring, or rejuvenating than strolling slowing among this beauty early in the morning and drinking it all in. It is natural to focus one's attention downward at the flowerbeds, but looking heavenward reveals new scenes of beauty as well.

Double Vision

Double Vision

Tack sharp exposure? Double vision? Blurred? Out of focus? In flower photography, anything is acceptable. One can purposely choose to create a 'soft focus' presentation..... or create an 'artistic' look to make the most out of of a bad exposure....or be pleasantly surprised when a shot just turns out weird!! All in the eye of the photographer.

Spring on Temple Square

Wish this was my Spring garden!

Spring on Temple Square

Spring on Temple Square

Every spring I spend at least one morning in this beautiful, sacred place, and today was a perfect day!  The temperature was perfect, the flowers were perfect, the sky was perfect!  What a perfect way to start a Saturday!!

Bleeding Hearts

Beautiful Bleeding Hearts in my Garden

These dainty and lovely early spring blooms are only around for a short time, and not as showy as some of the other spring flowers, but they are high up on my favorite flower list.

Dreamy Daffodils

 Dreamy Daffys

I was surprised to see these cream colored daffys in my garden......I don't remember planting any cream colored ones.  I thought they were all a standard yellow variety.  Can daffodils change color from year to year??  I photographed these daffodils in front of a neutral background to create a mono color look.

Magnolia in my Yard

Spring Magnolia Blossoms

Spring blooms have come to northern Utah.  It is always striking to see the lovely rebirth of delicate flowers against still winter-like backgrounds of somber browns and grays. This magnolia bush is in my front yard and is just bursting with blooms. 

Valley of Fire State Park

I wonder if Valley of Fire State Park was named by someone who saw how the beautiful red cliffs actually looked like they were burning from within during colorful sunsets! I took this shot a few minutes after my last post.

Valley of Fire Sunset

Valley of Fire Sunset

So last week when I was in Valley of Fire State Park, it was a beautiful day with lots of blue sky and a few puffy clouds. But by late afternoon the sky had totally clouded over and my hopes for some great sunset photos were gone. I finally decided to leave for home. I was just about out of the Park when I glanced at the western sky and saw just a sliver of blue, and I thought what the heck, why not stay a little longer and see what happens. Within just a short time, just before sunset, the sky cleared, and the sunset was amazing and lasted long enough for me to take my photos. I've taken lots of photos of cactus blooms and lots of photos of sunsets, but I think this is my favorite photo of cactus blooms and a sunset in the same scene!

Easter Lily

An Easter Lily and a wish for a lovely Easter Sunday

Valley of Fire Spring Blooms

 Beavertail Cactus in various stages of blooming.

 

Evening Primrose found about a foot away from the road.

Valley of Fire, Nevada

Spring Wildflowers, Red Rock Cliffs, Blue Sky, Perfect Weather......

I'm in my Happy Place!

Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

A View Without the Feet!

Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

A Rare Selfie

On the way home from a weekend car show in Las Vegas with the family, I took a detour to spend a late afternoon and evening in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada.  The weather was perfect and this is just a few miles off the freeway.  Pretty nice place to relax and enjoy the view for a few minutes!

Beautiful Blossoms in Snow Canyon

Snow Canyon Blossoms

I typically take pictures of red cliffs, wildflowers or cactus blooms in Snow Canyon, but when I was there a couple of days ago, I saw this one lone tree next to a parking lot that was just bursting with beautiful blossoms.  Hundreds of bees had found the tree as well, and I risked being stung getting this close for a macro shot.  I soon learned that they were much too busy with their work, (busy as bee!), to bother with me.

Wildflowers in Snow Canyon

Wildflowers in Snow Canyon

Yesterday I shot these tiny wildflowers, measuring about 1/4 inch across, on a sunny day in Snow Canyon, about 10 minutes from our home. I'm always looking for interesting backgrounds for macro shots. I liked the contrast of these bright flowers in front of a large, black volcanic rock spotted with yellow and orange lichen.  I have a photographer friend who knows the name of every flower I have ever asked him about, and he tells me this is called Woolly Daisy, AKA, Wallace's Woolly Daisy.  I'll take his word since he's an expert in naming western wild flowers!

Wildflowers in Death Valley National Park

A Carpet of Yellow in Death Valley National Park

One last image of spring in Death Valley.

Cholla in Snow Canyon, Utah

Cholla Basking in Sunlight

Snow Canyon

Varieties of the cholla cactus are common in the southern Utah desert. While I don't usually consider them spectacular subjects for photography, there is one condition where they shine and take over the spotlight. And that is in late afternoon when the plant is backlit by the sun and highlights the needles or spines. As a bonus, positioning my camera in just the right place will create some beautiful bokeh and sunflare, highlighting the cactus even more. I use these techniques with many varieties of cactus to help turn what would otherwise be a drab and ordinary scene into something more interesting.

Zion National Park

Zion National Park

Caught between Winter and Spring

I took this photo a few days ago.  In many areas of the park the cottonwoods and other trees are just beginning to leaf out.  At this spot on the Virgin River, there is just a slight green tinge visible on the treetops.  Come on Spring!!