Sunrise in Wyoming

Last week I travelled up 1-80 through Wyoming and up to an historic site called Martins Cove. Martins Cove is the site where in 1856, Mormon pioneers emigrating to Salt Lake City, were caught in an early winter storm. Rescuers made their way from Salt Lake to help bring the emigrants to Salt Lake City.

This picture was taken early morning as the sun began to rise using a Leica D-Lux 4. You can see the reflection on the hood of the car.

Images from Oaks Christian

The team takes the field

The team captains taking the field. These guys look pretty imposing.

Malcolm Jones, one of the top 30 recruits in the country.

Nick Montana, Quarterback for Oaks Christian

I had the good fortune to be invited to attend a football game at Oaks Christian in Westlake Village in California. The High School team is ranked 9th in the nation and has some recognizable names on the roster. Nick Montana, son of Joe Montana is the quarterback and his backup is Trevor Gretzky, son of Wayne Gretzky. Also on the team is Trey Smith, son of the actor Will Smith. The image above was captured with a wide angle lens of 14mm. While you can see almost everything, you cannot make out the players.

We were able to roam the sidelines and capture images of the game.

Night games can be a challenge as the best shots are taken with really long lenses (200mm to 600mm) and those lenses typically don't let in a lot of light (Aperature) unless you spend a fortune.

So one way to get the job done is to set your ISO (Sensitivity) to as high as you can get and still get a nice non-grainy image. Then, in order to catch the action (reduce the amount of blur in the action) you'll need to set the camera to "S" and set the shutter speed somewhere greater than 1/250 of a second. That way you'll capture all but the fastest of action without a blur. If there is enough light, set the shutter speed higher but remember, the "wider" the aperature (lower the number) the less depth of field you'll have.

That means you have to pay attention to keeping the image in focus.

First mobile post

Birthday Party for Vanessa

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Last fall we celebrated the 14th birthday of our daughter Vanessa. As you can see by the birthday cake, she chose an outdoor theme for her birthday.

Years ago I developed a strategy for using images to tell a story. That strategy involved scripting out the different shots that would help me tell a story with my camera.

For a birthday party this involves taking a number of shots that once done, makes it easy to create a DVD Movie or Photo Book. Following are a list of shots you might want to consider when taking pictures at a birthday party:

1. Creating the invitations
2. Delivering the invitations
3. Each of the guests as they arrive with presents in their hands
4. The decorations in a wide shot
5. The table setting in a close up shot
6. The cake (before you cut it)
7. Lighting the candles
8. The presents (before they are opened)
9. The guests as they celebrate of play games
10. The parents, family and other special guests
11. Blowing out the candles
12. Opening the presents
13. Pictures of individual birthday cards
14. The birthday boy or girl holding standing with the present and person who gave it to them
15. Cutting the cake
16. Eating the cake and ice cream
17. The party "mess" with wrapping paper and food
18. Saying goodbye as the guests leave the party
19. The tired/sleepy birthday boy/girl

You could easily take 40 to 50 interesting pictures during a party. That way, you'll have plenty of option for making great photo books and other cool personalized photo products that you will cherish for years and years.

Argentina Summer of 2008

Another of the families we visited in Argentina last summer showed what we're capable of when we have little in the way of personal possessions. These children were part of a three generation household where sisters, their husbands and children lived in a small house with grandma just off of a dirt road.

This family was well off compared to some of the others we met. While we were there, they had a watermelon cooking on the stove top filling the room with a wonderful aroma.

Thin walls separated the families, sometimes made up of a blanket. The parents and children typically wore what we'd call "sweat suits" or "warm ups" since they keep you warm in the cold and relatively cool in the summer.

Where ever we went, houses were neat and clean as were the people. Most houses were open to the outside and it was easy for dust and dirt to be blown into the house ever time the wind blew.

What amazed me was their ability to adapt to their circumstance. The lack of possessions and the need to conserve brought families closer together. The small space caused them to interact constantly with each other by playing, reading or just enjoying mate socially.

Desert in the Morning

Last week I flew to Las Vegas and then on to Los Angeles to interview a couple of candidates for an Executive Sales Position at our company. I stayed overnight in Los Angeles and then took the early morning flight out of LAX back to Salt Lake City. Usually when you fly out of LAX, the plane takes off over the ocean and then circles back as it gains altitude.

The only camera I typically have in my pocket is my iPhone. I love to look out of the window and see the patterns formed by nature. As we approached the desert between Death Valley and Las Vegas. This was the view as the sun rose in the early morning.

It's a real challenge trying to capture images out of a streaked and scratched plastic window, but if the sun is just right and you put the lens close to the window, you can minimize most of the problems taking the image through plastic or glass.

If You Follow A Cat Long Enough

We have three cats. Tofu, the oldest, a male Siamese. Sia, a female Siamese and her half sister Nara.

My daughters Laura and Vanessa like to grab the camera and follow the cats or dog around. They take a whole bunch of pictures and occasionally when they follow long enough, they'll get an interesting picture. That's Sia who is yawning and Nara who is on the grass.

Since I now have about 500 pictures of the cats everywhere, I'll work with the Laura or Vanessa to reduce those to the best and most interesting. Then I'll delete the rest to save space and the headache in the future of organizing them.

They Just Grow Up Too Fast

Our youngest daughter Laura was in her first concert recital last week. This year, her first in middle school, she decided that she wanted to play in the band and wouldn't you know it, she picked the oboe!

Bands today sound a lot better than I remember when I played the trumpet, baritone and trombone in middle school. We were all very pleased and proud of Laura's performance.

I guess she can pay attention when she wants to.

Photo Tip: Use focus to center attention. You can create a center of attention by using you lens wide open (lower numbers like 2.8, 2.0 etc) The lower the number, the more control you will have over what is in focus and what is not.

Spring City, Utah

This weekend I travelled to Spring City, Utah for the funeral of Kathleen, a great aunt, one of my grandfathers younger sisters.

Spring City was originally settled in 1852 by James Allred and his sons. The Wakara War caused the settlers to leave for Manti and they later returned in 1859 to resettle the area and call it Spring City.

Spring City is about 100 miles south of Salt Lake City and is now considered an artistic haven with lots of local art galleries and small private museums.

The stone church above was built in 1902 and the influence of the early Danish settlers can be seen in the architecture. The church faces almost due east and so the early morning sun provides beautiful natural light. The annex to the right is a later addition to the buildings original structure.

I used a wide angle lens and framed the church with tree branches. You can see early buds emerging on the trees. Based on your personal belief, the emerging "buds" could represent a "re-birth".

Mother in Law

This past week, my Mother in Law passed away after a year long battle with cancer. Bette was raised by her grandmother, married and raised seven wonderful children.

During the last week of her life, as she lay in bed, the family gathered around her where we all shared memories of her great life. We had collected pictures from all of the family members and were able to create a video presentation and photo books.

The day that she passed on, we brought the photographs into the room and using a video projector, showed the images on the wall. As each image appeared, members of the family shared their stories telling us the story "behind" the picture. There was laughter and tears as old family memories were recalled.

Sharing these moments while Bette was still alive brought a spirit into the room that each person felt. It was undeniable that Bette not only heard the stories, but approved of the gathering. Each child had their own confirmation of this special moment. In the past, I had always considered these images and stories something that helped us recall and remember a special life after the person had passed on.

If you ever have the chance, be sure to share these special moments with the person you love while they are still here. The comfort you receive will be unforgettable and help bring comfort during a time normally reserved for grieving.

I chose the pictures above from hundreds available because I felt that they each told a special story. Bette as a young child sitting on her grandmothers porch. Then thirteen years old, in her prime. On the Bonneville Salt Flats during her "hip" period and finally, with her grandchildren, being the life of the party.

Also From Las Vegas

While walking from my hotel to the convention center, I noticed a little sideshow in the parking lot. Three or four motorcycle riders were jumping over the Boost vehicle from a ramp set up on the right. I stopped where the palm trees framed the rider in mid air (a little hard to see because of the lack of resolution on the iPhone). Also, I had to click the camera shutter when the rider was lined up with the palm tree on the right in order to get him in the middle. Cheaper cameras often have a delay between when you push the button and when the image is captured. You have to practice a little and then try a couple of times to get it right. I got lucky and got this on the first try.

Pics from the Road (literally)

This week I was on my way to Las Vegas for the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) show. Somewhere around the city of Nephi, in Utah, the sun rose lighting the sky. I quickly grabbed my iPhone and rolling down the window while going 75 miles per hour, snapped the image above. The air was clear and you can see the remants of three old hanging glaciers on the mountain.

Armenia

In Armenia they still make their bread daily. These women are making a thin flat bread called "lavash". My daughter took this picture with a point and shoot camera. The image captures a key part of the Armenian culture.

Longing for Summer

I've always had a fascination with closeup images. It seems to me that in life, we typically keep our distances, not wanting to encroach on anyone or anything. By getting closer, we can observe a whole new world of sights and sounds. Getting closer is not all that easy. First, you have to change your perspective. You need to find the level of your subject. Then you need to get close. Focus becomes key and that means paying attention. Putting the main subject infocus while allowing the background to "blur" signals your attention to detail.

Last summer, when I got out my old 85mm lens and decided to look around the yard for things to take pictures of and found this flower in a large vase on the deck. I tried a few hand held shots and then got out a tripod to make it more steady. The lighting is natural as the deck is on the north side of the house and like all north light, it is usually pretty good. I tried stopping down the lense to get just the right exposure and focus.

Airplane Windows

"There is an art, or rather a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."

Douglas Adams, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

I fly alot in my job and everyonce in a while, I'll pick up the iPhone and take a shot out the window. The top image was taken enroute to Las Vegas while the bottom image was shot coming back to Salt Lake City.

New York City

Took a quick trip to New York City and stayed at the Marriott Marquis in Time Square. This image was shot out the window using my iPhone.

The iPhone does pretty well in a pinch, but with no focus or lighting control, you get just what you expect.

While the images are not really "print" quality, they work well in a DVD production or streaming video because those technologies have a lower resolution requirement. It has to do with the difference between printing with ink (dots) and illuminating pixels (light). An image that is very small or even low quality can often look pretty good on a TV or Monitor.

Try taking an image with your camera phone and then printing it out and viewing it on your monitor. You will see the difference. Don't delete those images! You never know when you might need them.

Argentina

This past summer we had the once in a lifetime opportunity to take a trip to Argentina. Our daughter Liz was just ending her 18 month LDS mission where she had been teaching and living with the people in Salta and Tucuman.

During our stay there, we got to meet many of the people that she had gotten to know. This three generation family lived in a small home that you entered by going in through the garage. In the garage, there were two cars, up on blocks having their engine overhauled.

We all sat around a big table and talked. Grandpa sent one of older children out to a nearby store and they came back with soda and sweet treats. After the treat, we all shared "mate" which is a social drink made of yerba mate leaves steeped in hot water.

He showed us some beef from his freezer offering to cook it for us on the spot. If the Argentinians are proud of one thing, it is their beef.

I asked if I would take some pictures by the blue door (I loved the color). Grandpa nodded and added in Spanish that the door was made of "real wood". He was very proud of the door.

Views from Snow Canyon

After the rain yesterday, we decided to go up to Snow Canyon and hike around. The rain made the sand a deep red color and the skys remained overcast for most of the day. Got hit by a couple or rain drops on the way out.

I captured a lot of images and liked the ones that go low to the ground the best.

Snow Canyon Utah

Rained last night. The sun came out this morning. Looking north toward Snow Canyon from Entrada. Entrada is where they filmed High School Musical 2.