Aspen Abstract

Aspen Abstract

Sometimes I find interesting compositions when I least expect it. Coming home over the Alpine Loop, most of the beautiful fall leaves had already disappeared and the aspens were barren and boring. But I rounded a bend and spotted this scene just as the late afternoon sun was filtering through this grove, creating beautiful highlights and low lights. The pop of color from the small aspen tree still retaining its leaves added some contrast to the scene. (I call this an abstract, because I did some post editing to give it a unique look.)

Mt. Timpamogos Temple in Fall

Color Coordinated!

Last of the yellow/gold leaves framing Angel Moroni on the Mt. Timpanogos Temple.

Fall Still Life...in my Kitchen!

Fall Still Life.....(in my kitchen!!)

It was rainy and windy yesterday, so I decided to have a little Photoshop fun, and decided to bring the outside in, and do a little photography and creativity without needing to wear a raincoat!!  Can you guess how I did this?  I won't keep you in suspense.......

Cookie tray on kitchen table.  Natural light from window.  Dangling leaves suspended from overhead chandelier.  Camera on tripod, set to timer and multiple bursts while I poured water through a sieve to add water and hint of falling rain.  (This is just one of multiple images I combined to make the final.) 

American Fork Canyon, Utah

A brilliant sunset paints a brown and barren landscape with beautiful golden color.

Deer Creek Reservoir, Utah

Deer Creek Reservoir, Utah

A beautiful fall afternoon at Deer Creek Reservoir in northern Utah. You can see the 'backside' of Mt. Timpanogos dusted with snow, in the background.

You'll be Scratchin' Like a Hound.....

"You're gonna need an ocean...."!!! My friend Rod tells me my last post was poison ivy!!! That post and this post were taken in a very popular little park in the middle of town. If this is so, there will be numerous kids, wedding photographers and family portrait photographers and clients who might be "scratchin' like a hound"!!!!

Behind the Red Bench......

Behind the red bench.....(see last post).....

there were still patches of fall color.

'All the Leaves Are Brown'.....(well almost)

'All the Leaves Are Brown....'  

(well almost!)

This was taken at a beautiful little park close to home.   It was a lovely place to enjoy a peaceful few minutes.....except for all the other photographers roaming around doing exactly what I was doing!

Moose Mistake!

Moose Mistake!

YES, you are seeing a blurry, out of focus picture, and NO, it is not your eyes. I was driving over the Alpine Loop early this evening, (very narrow, curvy, two lane road), and I glimpsed this dark shape out of the passenger side window. It was a huge moose walking several yards away from the road. My camera was on the passenger seat, still set for slow speed, bright sunlight. I slowed down, but had to keep moving because the moose was moving. I held the camera at arms length and shot through the closed window while making sure I didn't run off the road. (I know, stupid!) When I looked at the image on my computer, not even expecting to see the moose in the frame, I was surprised that I kind of liked it. Can you have an animal abstract? I don't know, but I loved the effect on the trees, and I could never duplicate this if I tried, because I don't know how it happened! (Of course I did crop and straighten it.) Which brings me to another point and a little secret that is not really a secret. I am grateful and so appreciative when my friends compliment me on my photography, but what you don't know is that for every photo I post, there are probably 200 that get deleted!! Stands to reason that the more photos I take, the chances are that a few will be good, some times it's just luck, and maybe once in a while, it might be talent or skill!!

Mt. Timpanogos Temple

Mt. Timpanogos Temple

I live about 10 minutes away from the beautiful Mt. Timpanogos temple. Just before sunset the front of the temple and background mountains are bathed in warm light that makes Angel Moroni on top of the spire and the blue stained glass window glow. An extra bonus today was this beautiful sky. NO extra color saturation needed. You'd think I'd have a ton of photos of this temple, living so close, but I don't. Problem is, that unless you are shooting in the winter when there are no leaves, the front on the temple is almost entirely obscured by trees. Many of the leaves have now fallen, so today I was able to find a vantage point that showed a bit more of the temple. (Just below where I've cropped the photo is a parking lot full of cars.)

Mt. Timpanogos - First Snow

Mt. Timpanogos - First Snow

Another photo I took a couple of weeks ago after an unusually early snow storm on Mt. Timpanogos. Fall in Utah doesn't get much better than this!

Evening Kayak Ride - Lake Powell

Halls Bay, Lake Powell

Two of my grandchildren enjoying an evening kayak ride.

Lake Powell Sunrise

Lake Powell Sunrise

I love getting up early, before the family chaos begins, to enjoy the beauty of sunrise at Lake Powell. I love how different each day begins, depending on the weather, the clouds, the time of year and the direction I point my camera. Yesterday my photo, (last post), was taken before sunrise, facing away from the sun, capturing a calm, peaceful scene. Today I turned my camera directly at the sun as it made a spectacular entrance that created vivid colors and contrasts between the sun rays and mottled shadows. (Many normal lenses like the one I used here, will create sunbursts, sunflares, and colorful bokeh when pointed at a bright light source.)

Lake Powell - 2016

Lake Powell Sunrise - 2016

I've just returned from spending ten glorious days 'off the grid', no cell phone, no internet, no email, living on a houseboat at Lake Powell for our annual family vacation. Ten days building family memories....wake boarding, jet skiing, kayaking, spear fishing, reading, relaxing, telling ghost stories around the camp fire, and eating enough junk food to last a year. I am so blessed to have children and grandchildren who all love each other, and enjoy being together. Oh, and did I mention being surrounded by beautiful southwestern scenery. This shot was taken from the houseboat, at sunrise. (And looks better when 'clicked' larger.)