Summer Beauties

I love flowers! 

And I love to find interesting ways to photograph and present them to show off their beauty, color and unique qualities. This time of year I have to get my 'flower fix' in before they disappear until next year.....at least in my little corner of the world.

In My Garden

In My Garden

BUG and BOKEH

BUG and BOKEH

Bokeh: In photography, bokeh is the aesthetic quality, size, shape, and intensity, of the blur in out-of-focus parts of an image, that is produced by the lens hitting a light source. Bokeh has been defined as "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light". Avoiding compositions that will include bokeh, or looking for compositions that will purposely create bokeh, depends on the personal preference of the photographer.

Cedar Breaks Wildflowers - 2

Cedar Breaks, Utah

I'm sure landscape and nature photography lowers my blood pressure, as well as being a respite from the desert heat, in this case! Another image taken at Cedar Breaks, Utah.

Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah

Yesterday I needed a break from the desert heat of summer, and I knew just where to go. When we left St. George, the temperature was 105 degrees, (elevation around 2800 feet), and we ended up in Cedar Breaks National Monument where the temperature was 65 degrees (elevation over 10,000 feet). A 40 degree temperature change in a little over an hour's drive! Plus I get to see beautiful scenes like this! I love this little corner of Utah!!

Modern cameras and sophisticated editing programs make it possible to take photos in harsh, afternoon sunshine like this. Soft focus, contrast and shadows adjustments needed on these bright, backlit flowers.

Hibiscus Memory

My mom loved flowers and our backyard in California was always overflowing with many varieties of them. Usually Mom liked to keep flowers alive and growing outside, with one exception. At dinnertime, when we would always sit down and eat together as a family, she would pick one flower, usually a hibiscus, camellia or gardenia, and float it in a small bowl of water for a simple, yet lovely, table decoration. Sometimes the little things a mother does become a wonderful family memory!

Sunshine & Sunflowers

Sunshine & Sunflowers

Seriously, will anyone admit they don't like sunflowers!!

Sego Lily

Utah Sego Lily

The sego lily was chosen as the official state flower of Utah because of its natural beauty and historic significance. The soft, bulbous root was collected and eaten in the mid 1800's by early Mormon pioneers during a crop-devouring plague of crickets.

4th of July, 2019

Happy 4th of July From Tuacahn Utah

For those not familiar with Tuacahn, it is an outside amphitheater tucked in this beautiful canyon where they present live performances all summer.  Tonight's production was 'The Little Mermaid'

"And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up next to you
And defend Her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt
I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.
--Lee Greenwood

Finding Beauty in Simple Things

Finding Beauty in Simple Things ....

like wild rhubarb surrounded by a sea of delicate desert wildflowers

Nature/landscape photographers are always searching for that knock-your-socks-off epic scene with stunning sunsets, towering cliffs or magnificent waterfalls. I am too! Images like that attract lots of attention, especially on social media. But I also try hard not to lose my personal perspective and the joy I feel in appreciating the beauty of the small and less dramatic vignettes in nature that I look for and often find.

Lavender Fields

Lavender Fields

Young Family Farm

Mona, Utah

At this time of year, one can see these beautiful fields right from the freeway.  A few years ago, when I took this photo, it was possible to wander through the fields for free, but now you have to pay a fee.

Color Clash!

COLOR CLASH!

(Kinda hurts my eyes!)

Beauty Hiding in Plain Sight!

Beauty Hiding in Plain Sight

Taken at an exotic tropical island??? Actually, a motel parking lot near Disneyland! Another example of finding beauty hidden in plain sight. Bird of Paradise flowers were everywhere, but I happened to notice a shaft of soft morning light spotlighting this one flower, turning it into something beautiful.

Poppies and Snow

Poppies and Snow

NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:
It is interesting for me as a photographer, to note that our eyes take in so many details when we look at a scene.  From side to side and top to bottom, there is usally a lot to look at and process.  Sometimes a scene is glorious everywhere I look.  Often, however, I see both pleasent and distracting objects in a scene that all vie for my attention.  But when I look through the lens of a camera, point it in one direction or another, zoom in or out, I can narrow down to what I really want to focus on and enjoy looking at, without distraction.  In this case, I can ignore the trampled poppies next to me, (not caused by me!), the bikes laying on the ground just out of the frame to the right, the painter and his easel to the left, and the new houses being built on the hill that would be in my photo if I had pointed my camera in a different direction.

Sometimes we have to readjust our viewpoint in some way, to really see the beauty hiding in plain sight!

Poppies in Alpine

 Poppy Field in Alpine

NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS.  Learn to be flexible!  Expectations can change when you are 'in the field', (in this case, literally)!  I left early to capture soft morning light, but by the time I found this location the sun was above the mountain and the light was harsh.  Plus, there were already photographers, painters, hikers and bikers roaming around this small area.  I was not going to leave without a few shots, so I opted to shoot into the sun to back light the poppies and create an interesting sunflare.  I had to take my shots in between people walking into the scene and in front of my camera!

Kayenta Spring

Kayenta

Ivins, Utah

I took this just a few minutes before 9:00 pm.  Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE living in Utah, I LOVE spring in the desert, and I LOVE daylight savings time!!!  (It is about 5 minutes away from home.)

Gunlock Reservoir - Spring 2019

Gunlock Reservoir

NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Color is critical in landscape and nature photography if your goal is to capture what you really see.  One of many ways to make your photos more interesting with color in mind, is to find scenes that attract attention because they are "color coordinated".  In other words, find compositions that have similar color shades and tones in different elements and positions in the frame.

Salt Lake Temple - The Blue Hour

Salt Lake Temple - The Blue Hour

This photo of the Salt Lake Temple was taken during what is known as the 'blue hour', or twilight, occurring just before sunrise (or after sunset). The dots in the water reflections are coins.)

 

Argentine Cactus

Giant Argentine Cactus

One of the largest and most beautiful cactus blossoms I've photographed.

Spring Blossoms

Dreamy Spring Blossoms