Aspen and Volcanic Rock

Aspen and Volcanic Rock

A common sight in Utah Mountains!

First Day of Autumn - 2017

Near Cedar Breaks National Monument

Utah

This is one of my favorite little spots for fall color near Cedar Breaks National Monument in southern Utah. It has most all of my favorite mountain elements....aspens, pines, and a peaceful little stream. I was so happy to discover that the huge wildfire that consumed over 50,000 acres in this area several months ago, came very close, but spared this beautiful area. I enjoyed a colorful first day of autumn here, even though it was cold and windy, at around 10,000 feet in elevation.

California Beach Girl

California Coast

While many are welcoming the beginning of autumn, I'm busy saying a sad farewell to the end of another glorious summer.... 
 I'm still that California beach girl at heart!!

McGown Peak, Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho

McGown Peak

Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho

Caterpillar

Well this is out of my comfort zone! Finally, a living creature that moves slow enough for me to take a picture!!  It almost looks fake.

McGown Peak, Sawtooth National Forrest, Idaho

McGown Peak 

Sawtooth National Forrest, Idaho

Sometimes it just takes moving the camera a few feet left, right, up or down to create a more attractive composition. I changed my perspective down a couple of feet to keep the tree from blocking the background, and I like how the shape of the branch nestles into the shape of the mountain.

Twin Falls Idaho Temple

Twin Falls, Idaho Temple

Hope your Sunday is a day of rest, peace and worship.

Monet Pond, Ashton Gardens, Utah

Ashton Gardens

Thanksgiving Point, Utah

Sunflowers show off their bright fall colors, complimented by a dreamy background of foliage and dappled light. Taken near the Monet Pond at Ashton Gardens. I think this kind of looks Monet...ish.

Ashton Gardens, Thanksgiving Point, Utah

Ashton Gardens

Thanksgving Point, Utah

This was one of those times where I combined two photos to make a more pleasing composition.  Both were taken the same day, at the same place, but from a different perspective.  I loved how the morning light was shining on this single water lily, but from the angle I wanted to shoot, there was nothing but boring, dark, murky water behind it.  (For those who know my photography well, you know I rarely take nature photos with a plain background.  In fact, I believe that an interesting background is one of the main parts of a composition that turns an average image into a great image.)  Anyway, first I knelt down and composed my shot of the lily so it would appear in the bottom left hand corner of the frame.  Then I stood up and composed an image of a patch of lilies that formed a diagonal and was a short distance behind my main subject lily.  I locked focus on the main lily, then recomposed on the background patch of lilies so that they would appear soft and out of focus.  I always shoot three bracketed shots; one set for a normal exposure, one set 1 stop over exposed and one set 1 stop underexposed.  (My camera then takes all three shots automatically with one click of the shutter.)  Camera settings were:  1/640 sec, f/6.4, 250 ISO and I was using a 200 mm lens handheld.  When viewing all the shots at home on my computer, I found I liked the underexposed shots the best for two reasons;  first and most important was that it made for a more dramatic and interesting image with the lily much lighter than the background, and second, it hid all the murky, ugly stuff under the surface of the water.  Editing was simple.  I combined the two in PS, cropped, sharpened, and added a bit of vibrance and contrast.

Alta, Utah

Alta, Utah

A beautiful summer morning near Alta Ski Resort. Can you almost feel the crisp mountain air and smell the pines!!

Disneyland

Happy 47th Anniversay to Us!

I think adults with grown up children fall into one of two categories......

those who say, "Thank heavens I never have to go to Disneyland again"........

or....... 

the other category!