Grand Canyon Overlook

Here's a few more photos I initially ignored, taken in March of 2018, but rethinking that they deserve a little love, if only to remember one of our RZR (ATV) trips last year. We rode from St. George to this remote Grand Canyon overlook. I don't remember if it had a name, but we were in Whitmore Canyon.

Sunset on Timp

I've been organizing photos from 2018 and came across this one that I had previously ignored. Maybe because I took so many photos of beautiful fall scenes this past year, this one just got overlooked, or maybe because now that all the leaves and color are gone, I needed a reminder of how much I love Utah where I can drive down a country lane 5 minutes from home, and enjoy an autumn sunset like this! (PS, I edited to crop and correct exposure, but did not increase color saturation.)

Twilight at Sand Hollow State Park

The soft light, soft shadows and soft muted colors of early twilight create a peaceful winter scene at Sand Hollow State Park in southern Utah.

Salt Lake Temple at Christmas

One last photo to say goodbye to Christmas 2018.

Merry Christmas 2018

Watchman Peak from Canyon Junction Bridge

Watchman Peak

Zion National Park, Utah

I know, you've seen this iconic scene a million times, but I just couldn't help myself!! Sometimes the 'photo fairies' work their magic for me! Jeff and I took a day trip yesterday and made a loop to Cedar City, then up in the mountains passed Navajo Lake and Duck Creek, then down through Red Canyon, and we ended at Bryce. I took a few photos, we ate lunch at Ruby's and then headed back via Mt. Carmel and through Zion. By then the sun was really low and by the time we started through the tunnels, the sun was setting. But when we came to the bridge, and I looked out toward this familiar scene, (that has been photographed a gazillion times), this is what I saw. I had no intention of taking a photo here, but I just couldn't resist. Jeff quickly turned off the road, I grabbed my camera, jumped out of the car, and ran across the street. I knew I didn't have time to set up my tripod, or for that matter, fiddle with my camera settings. Luckily there was a spot among all the photographers where I could set my camera on a bridge pillar. I clicked the shutter about 3 times, and then the color was gone. Luckily my camera is almost always set to take 3 different exposures with every shutter click. I combined two of these exposures and this is the result.

Sand Hollow State Park

Sand Hollow State Park, Utah

I anticipated there would be a beautiful sunset tonight, and I was right. The sky was also beautiful in the opposite direction from the sunset. This was taken at Sand Hollow State Park, about 20 minutes from our southern Utah home. (Just in case you are wondering, I combined a photo of the sky, taken with a 200mm lens, (that's why the moon is large), with a photo of the rest of the scene, taken with a 22mm lens. The colors are accurate to what I saw.)

St. George, Utah Visitor's Center

St. George LDS Visitor's Center in front of the St. George Temple.

Salt Lake Temple - Colorful

Another colorful photo before the sky turned dark.

Tree of Life, Draper, Utah

Tree of Life

I try never to pass up a photo opportunity!  There was someone just out of my frame, operating a drone and taking photos of this man playing bagpipes. He had a light on the ground shining up at him. I was walking by to find my own composition of the tree and decided I'd take a few shots of him as well.

Number 14!!!

Our beautiful 14th grandchild.  He weighed in at 9 lbs. 10 oz., 22 ins. long.

Temple Square Christmas -1

Temple Square Christmas - 2018

I love to take photos of Christmas lights early in the evening when there is a deep blue sky to add even more color.

Draper Temple Inversion

Draper Temple

We've had a week of gloomy winter days where the atmosphere is a mixture of fog and smug trapped in what we call an inversion. Bad air quality all the way around, but makes for some pretty moody photos.

Mt Timpanogos Temple

Taken yesterday on my travels. 

 It seems like Autumn is not quite willing to accept the inevitable and surrender to Winter!

First Snow of the 2018-19 Season

Good Morning.  Welcome to My World!

Taken from my bedroom window today.

Images for 2019 Calendar

Here are some of my favorite places, favorite memories and favorite 2018 posts that I'm making into a 2019 calendar.

Utah Lake

The Warm Before the Storm!

I'm going to miss scenes like this for the next few months as winter rapidly approaches!  Sigh!

Provo Canyon, Utah

Provo Canyon, Utah at Sunset

NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:  Beautiful, warm sunset light opposite the actual sunset, and dark storm clouds, can make even average landscapes look inviting!  Take your camera out to shoot right after stormy weather for beautiful skies and light!

Red Fish Lake, Idaho

Red Fish Lake, Idaho at Sunset

NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:  When photographing a landscape with a large expanse of water taking up a large portion of the scene, look for a composition that includes a foreground object or objects in the water, (rocks, boat, clump of reeds, etc.), to add interest and show depth of field.

Thanksgiving 2018

 Happy Thanksgiving

Today, if you can gather around a table with those people you love the most, and enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving feast served with laughter, memories, love and respect for each other, then you are truly blessed and have much to be thankful for! I am and I hope you are too!

NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:  
No matter what type of photographer you are, it is important to spend some time using your skill and talent to help others or to provide a service.  Maybe a family you know cannot afford a family portrait, maybe you could turn your nature images into greeting cards and use as gifts, maybe you could print and frame a meaningful image to donate to a good cause, maybe you could teach a beginning photography class to children, or maybe you could create an image along with thoughtful words to inspire or comfort others.  The ways to use photography are many and additionally, you will grow in skill and character.