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.

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.)