Monday, July 30, 2018

Provo River Falls

Provo River Falls, Utah

This picture will remind me of yesterday's little day trip. (I will also remember that delicious strawberry milk shake in Heber on the way home!) Enjoying landscape photography as I do, I feel so fortunate to live within a few hours drive of such a diversity of beautiful scenery from lush alpine forests to desert red rock country.

NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Patience really pays off in landscape photography.  I quickly found my composition for this shot, set up my tripod, adjusted my camera settings and was ready to go.  Unfortunately the light was horrible with glare and hot spots mixed with deep shadows.  So I made myself comfortable on a hard rock and waited about 45 minutes for the sun to dip behind the trees, creating more even light, with a bit of glow shinning on the waterfall.  I think I was the only photographer who was there at the same time I showed up, who waited for better light.


Friday, July 27, 2018

Albion Basin -5

Albion Basin, Utah

Another shot taken along the path to Cecret Lake in Albion Basin, Utah. 
 (I love when I find scenes and compositions that are color coordinated!!)

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Albion Basin - 4

Albion Basin, Utah

Some of my most interesting photos are the ones I take from at least 4 feet above or 4 feet below where I would normally hold my camera!  For this shot I held my camera about a foot off the ground in order to capture the sun rays and back light the flowers.

Monday, July 23, 2018

Albion Basin - 3

Albion Basin, Utah

After the beautiful sky in my last post faded, I had a few minutes to find a spot to watch the sun make its appearance. What an inspiring way to spend the morning! 

"How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains." ~ John Muir

Saturday, July 21, 2018

Albion Basin - 2

Albion Basin, Utah 
Before Sunrise

I had to give Albion Basin one more try this year, so I drug myself out of bed a little before 5 am to be there before sunrise. Looking at the clouds on the way, I knew there was the potential for some color. I was rewarded for my efforts with this beautiful pre sunrise sky which only lasted a minute, but made the early morning outing so worth while!

(Note to Myself and Other Photographers:  If you want to be a good landscape photographer, you better be a 'morning' person, or force yourself to be one, at least part of the time!  Taking beautiful photos is SO much easier when the light is beautiful!!)

Friday, July 20, 2018

Albion Basin-1

Albion Basin After Sunset

I decided to drive up to this beautiful mountain oasis to take photos at sunset. Unfortunately I miscalculated how long it would take me to get there. I arrived at the parking lot after the sun had set and most of the mountain and wildflowers were in deep shadow. I realized I didn’t have time to hike to where I planned on taking photos. I ended up taking about 4 shots and then it was dark. 

NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS: Sometimes the image I end up with is not what I planned. As soon as I parked, I jumped out of my car, grabbed my gear and took off to my preplanned place. Several other photographers were there as well, and we knew we were racing against time. They all took off running, but I stopped when I realized I would be completely out of daylight in just a few minutes. So I looked around to see if there was something worth shooting right there. The sunset was gone, but when I looked behind me I saw this beautiful sky and one little patch of flowers lit by the remaining light. To get this shot I was standing next to the restroom in the parking lot just a few feet away from my car. Sometimes it pays to be aware of your surroundings and shooting situation, then be willing to change plans and look for new and different photo ops.

Saturday, July 14, 2018

Wildflower Beauty

My favorite flowers are not the showy ones, cultivated, nurtured and growing in flower beds. More often they are modest little gems living humbly among the untamed flora of nature.

 "I will not be another flower, picked for my beauty and left to die. I will be wild, difficult to find, and impossible to forget."
 ~Erin Van Vuren

Friday, July 13, 2018

Lavender Fields

 Young Family Lavender Farm
 
Driving on I-15 between Nephi and Provo, Utah at this time of year, you can see beautiful lavender fields in an otherwise bland landscape. This is the Young Lavender Farm. It is now a large, commercial, touristy enterprise and one must pay to go into the fields to take photos. But when I took this photo several years ago, visitors could just stop by the roadside near the fields, (not I-15!), and wander, enjoy and photograph. It is a favorite place for bridal and wedding photography. On the day I was there, several couples were posing for their photographers. This was such a lovely scene that I took a few shots from a long distance with a telephoto lens, removing the photographer from the composition.

Monday, July 9, 2018

Red Fish Lake, Idaho

Red Fish Lake, Idaho

I was packed up and walking back to the car, thinking the sunset was over, when this happened. I dropped everything and frantically pulled out my camera and tripod to catch this scene from right where I was standing. A couple of shots and then it was gone!

Thursday, July 5, 2018

Mount Timpanogos Temple

Mount Timpanogos Temple at Sunrise

"In the midst of darkness, light persists." 
 ~Mahatma Gandhi 


The Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple is the closest to where I live, but taking a photo of it that I really like has alluded me...until a couple of days ago. I finally found a new vantage point, and on this morning, the sky was beautiful as the sun peaked over the mountain to light up the temple with a beautiful glow.

Monday, July 2, 2018

Sunrise Alpenglow Over Utah Lake

Alpenglow Over Utah Lake

“How sweet the morning air is! See how that one little cloud floats like a pink feather from some gigantic flamingo......"
                                           ~Arthur Conan Doyle


I woke up early, grabbed my camera and drove 10 minutes to enjoy the sunrise on Utah Lake. I was rewarded for my efforts, however, this shot was taken facing west, just minutes before the sun rose to my back. It looks more like a sunset to me but it's not!! (For those interested, I used a tripod and set my camera to a slow shutter speed to create the soft dreamy look of the water.)

Most landscape photographers have heard the term 'alpenglow'.  This is when the sun is below the horizon either at sunrise or sunset and its rays are not directly shining on the landscape but are reflected off airborne precipitation or particulates in the atmosphere, creating a beautiful magenta color.