Lilacs by the Fence!

Lilacs by the Fence

I love to watch blooms awaken in my own backyard, and there is nothing that smells so heavenly during spring in northern Utah as the fragrance of lilacs! 

Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Mesa Arch

Canyonlands National Park, Utah

This is a very famous arch to visit for both tourists and photographers.  You can see why, as the direction of the arch sits so that the sunrise lights up the background scenery beautifully and bounces off the foreground rocks to create a brilliant glow on the underside of the arch.

Even though we go to Moab often, I have never taken the hour drive to Canyonlands to photograph this arch, but I was determined to do so this time.  Not knowing exactly how long it would take to get there and hike to the arch, I drug Jeff out of bed at 4 am.

It was pitch black when we arrived at the parking lot, and we stumbled along the path with only the aid of our cell phone flashlights and the stars.  Luckily, it is an easy and short hike.  When we arrived, there were already several photographers who had staked out their spots and had set up their tripods in the dark.  This is a rather small arch, and there is only a very small amount of prime 'real estate' area available where one can view the sunrise from under the arch.

Since I was traveling light as far as photography equipment, I carried only my small Fuji mirrorless camera, one lens and no tripod.  I 'staked' out my spot in between the row of tripods.  During the next hour or so waiting for sunrise, Jeff counted at least 75 other tourists and photographers who showed up, all trying to edge their way to a good vantage point. 

Since we arrived very early, I had chosen a prime place to stand, but I found others pressing in and trying to edge me away from my spot.  I received some irritated looks when I wouldn't budge or let aggressive photographers try to set up their tripods in front of me.  I'm sure they thought an old lady with what they perceived as a little 'point and shoot' camera, had no business taking up that space.

I found I wanted to justify myself by saying,  "You know, I have a big fancy camera, a ton of expensive lenses, a tripod and a backpack full of camera gadgets, too, but I'm traveling light this trip and left all my heavy gear at home because I'm testing out a new, lightweight compact mirrorless camera."  Of course, I did not say any of that, but I wanted to!!

Quickly my thoughts turned to enjoying this beautiful spring morning.  We all watched with anticipation as the sky gently lightened toward the east, followed by the first sun rays appearing on the horizon, and then finally, the full sun bursting into view and rewarding us with a spectacular sunrise!  What a joy it was to witness this beautiful scene.......along with 75 strangers, all crammed together like sardines!!

We may have been strangers but we all had something in common at that moment, a love and reverence for nature and this beautiful world we live in.  Why else would we all get up in the middle of the night, travel in the dark and gather in this remote area just to witness this scene!

All around me I heard shutters from expensive slr cameras, cheap point & shoot cameras, cell phones and tablets clicking, clicking, clicking, like an invasion of crickets.  I remember a 'story' told in photography circles where someone asked a photographer his opinion about which camera would take the best pictures, and the photographer replied, "the one you have in your hands"!  Well, this is my favorite image I took with the camera I had in my hands!           

Turret Arch & South Window

Turret Arch & South Window

Arches National Park, Utah

Another rare Selfie! Yes, I am tall, and yes, I do have long legs, but not like this. Actually, to get a good idea of the size of this arch, my shadow is about 2 times taller than I really am. This is Turret Arch framing South Window, in Arches National Park. The most famous view of Turret Arch is facing the other way, that is, looking at Turret Arch through North Window.

Happy Mother's Day!

Bubble Bath

Hey all you Moms, Mothers, Mamas and Mommys, let your loved ones pamper you today, and pamper yourself, too. How about a nice Bubble Bath!!

Moonrise Through North Window, Arches National Park

Moonrise Through North Window

Arches National Park, Utah

Moonrise Through North Window. I was standing in the 'window' with all the other photographers waiting for the moon to peek over the horizon for a great shot, but it turned out to be a pretty boring moonrise. Finally it got too dark to see well so I decided to call it a day. When I was only a few yards away from the car I came upon an elderly man waiting patiently by his tripod. My first thought was that he was not able to hike up to the 'window' because of age or health. Just as I stopped to say hello, he told me to turn around, and this was the scene I saw. This wise photographer knew where to be for the best shot that evening. It was the one time on this trip that I regretted not using a tripod. Handheld, my photo is not as sharp as it should be, but it will remind me that sometimes it pays to do the opposite of what all the other photographers are doing, and the best shot may be behind me!!

Balanced Rock at Sunrise

Good Morning Balanced Rock!

It was a glorious sunrise in Arches National Park. I was so lucky this trip to have a couple of beautiful sunrises and sunsets to photograph!!

Arches National Park & LaSal Mountains

Soft Shades of Twilight

This was taken in the same area as the last post, after the sun had slipped below the horizon.  I felt blessed to be in this beautiful place on a beautiful spring day!

Arches National Park & La Sal Mountains

Sunset Golden Hour with Moon in Arches National Park
(Caught Between Day and Night!)

When I finished taking the photo in my last post, and was walking back to the car, I looked east and saw this beautiful scene. The orange rocks and the La Sal Mountains in the background were brilliantly illuminated by the setting sun while the moon was announcing that nighttime was close at hand.

Skyline Arch - Arches National Park

Skyline Arch (I think)

Just before sunset is the perfect time to capture the intense color of the red and orange rocks and cliffs in southern Utah.  We spent a few fun days with our ATV group riding in Moab, and then a couple extra days to relax and take photos.  Moab, Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park are all within a short distance from each other, and we enjoyed spending some time in each area.  (Can you see the person who posed so nicely for my photo?)

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