Something Sunday --- Golden Hour

Yes I know it is Christmas day and I have been getting some great shots that will need to be posted.  I have struggled this year to get into the Spirit so to speak, but it is a good time of the year.  So to all that read this have a very Merry safe fun enjoyable Christmas.

There is a brief moment in every day where the light is just spectacular.  It is called The Golden Hour and I have yet to take a bad picture during this time.  It is right as the sun in sinking below the horizon and then about 15 min afterwards as you have the largest diffuser in the world.  some of the captures be it people scenery nature are amazing.  So get out there and try to find the golden hour but always be ready before and after!!

Here are some shots of H during this time.  Yes I know I still hear here saying I am so cute!

Golden hour is a tremendous time to take pictures and if it starts getting too dark there is always Black and white!

Got try it you will see.

Something Sunday --- Gallery Walk (My first one)

Logan Utah is what I would call an artsy place.  The Summerfest is held during the summer months and I think that every 6 months a gallery walk is also held.  Now a gallery walk gives local artists a chance to display their pieces, get their name out, and hopefully sell some art pieces.  I have talked several times about putting some pieces in the photography exhibit at "The Mansion" but have never done it.  Well this year I thought I would try and see how it goes.  Following are the pieces I exhibited.

M suggested this shoot and I really liked the black and white version of downtown Brigham City.

I have had a vision of this one for a while but have not been able to find the tree I was looking for.  As I drove back from Iowa guess what.  Yes a wreck almost occured and had several semi trucks blow by and get in the picture but I got it!

Okay I must say this piece is very similar to the one I exhibited but not the original.  This is a 16 x 20 print and will only have one print hence the look alike on my blog.

Something Sunday --- Thanksgiving

Every once in a while you just have to do something that people tell you "I would not do that!"  Well this is one of those times.  I will warn you some of the photos taken on this were in some difficult places not the best quality but helps to understand why people would say "I would not do that!"

Now that the disclaimer is out of the way...  I had a blast during Thanksgiving.  In talking to H I found out she was going to be at college for a week during the Thanksgiving break all alone.  Well not acceptable so I made the decision to drive about 17 hours to spend some time with her during the holiday.  Yes you know me I am not one to pass up a "cute" model as H put it!!!

Enjoy these we had a blast making them.



Okay this is in the middle of I 84 yes I am stopped in the middle of the road I think anyway.  If you look to the left you can see the reflectors I lined up on to stay in the middle of the road.




I can still hear her saying I am so cute!




Cyclone power and pride here!




Inside the Aerospace building thing yes I am a sucker for the colors.




Night Flash work




I know I know but had to have proof I was there.





As near as I can tell this is about the same place on I84 in Wyoming as the first picture.  It was a lot faster and easier driving back!

I have more pictures of the occasion they will be coming eventually.



Something Sunday --- M & S

I have been asked to post some photos of this joyous occasion.  You see I am often confused on weddings.  I enjoy shooting them I really do even with all the stress but it is their even their memories I am capturing.  In other words their day so that being said shouldn't they be the ones to share and use their photos how they want...

The debate will rage on in my mind I am sure but some were just to good to pass up.

Okay for those of you wondering what this is all about.  This is 7:36 am on the day they were married.  Yes I got up early just for this and glad I did.

First Kiss

Okay enough already!!!



The posse hanging.



Ahh what a great day fun times had by all and oh the memories!!!!

Something Sunday --- Catch Up Time

Well the drawback to having a something Sunday was just learned by me this last week.  You see I had the great pleasure of driving to visit the daughter during the Thanksgiving break.  Loved it and just for the record eastern Wyoming and Nebraska should only be driven at night!!!  Just saying.  No this blog has nothing to do with my trip yet but it does have some photos I have been working on for a while now.  It was a difficult shoot as to me they are not the most beautiful thing around I am usually cursing them poisoning them or pulling them but hey I was asked and as a photographer I cannot avoid a challenge!  Let me know what you think. 

Well the dog went on a walk with me to get these photos and I think she believes I am crazy laying on the ground shooting these....  had a lot of fun and enjoyed it hope you do as well!

Something Sunday --- Kart Races

You know every once in a while I just flat get amazed by some things.  You see I have been in go-karts before at Toads and at Boondocks must say I am not impressed.  They are governed and you can not go super fast, but a friend of mine told me about the Utah Kart racing circuit and invited me to the last races they had.  Unfortunately I was not able to stay for the championships something about a wedding to shoot...  But here are some of the cool shots I got that day.



Just so you know this is in the 4 year old class.




This is what I think is the teen-age group not positive how they are broken out into divisions?



Well let me tell you what!  I have a whole new concept of kart racing now.  These carts can go upwards of 85-90 miles an hour.  Well and you know me the photographer I had clearance to be on the track even: it was amazing to have these cars whipping by me some about 5' away.  Truly awesome experience and fun day.

Something Sunday --- Scott Kelby World Wide Photo Walk

Okay so I have pretty much been out of it the last 2 1/2 months now.  I am slowly getting back the surgery went well and I am getting range of motion back.  It has been a long road and it amazes you how having only one shoulder can slow you down so much!  This photo walk was my first foray back to photography since my surgery.  It was a lot harder than I thought as I was shooting one handed.  But these are my favorites of the day!



This was the shirt our Walk Leader was wearing.  I thought I would take a picture and I liked the way it came out.




This couple was following us or we were following them...  I warned them several times they would end up in a picture so here is my version!




This is C a very good photographer but as you can see a model as well!  Reflections are the best but not easy to capture.




Inside the library.  I really enjoyed the colors reflecting from these suspended panels.




My final picture of the day.  By this time my right arm was killing me.  I even switched to my lightest lens and it did not help.  I thought the subject matter was perfect my arm was killing so do cigarettes kill!

What a great charitable opportunity we had that day.  The money that was raised for sale of T-Shirts and things went to an orphanage.  I also learned USU is an awesome place to take some pictures.  A lot of little cubby holes and places to set shots up just wished I would have been able to shoot more!

A Photographers Dream...

Wow what a weekend my good friends daughter got married.  I wish I could say this blog was about them but I am still developing the pictures (there is only about 550 to go through so it will be shortly).  They had their open house at the Holmgren Historical Farms and I tell you what a photographers dream.  You see it is a really cool place they have a pond for water shots.  There is an old fashioned gift shop and oh wow the barn.  I have been asked to post some of the pictures I took inside the barn and I think they are awesome.  Take a look and see what you think!

I thought it was an incredible place to hold the open house and a joy to shoot there.  I can't wait until I have the opportunity to go back and shoot some more there.

Something Sunday --- Photographers Eye

I often get asked about what I call my photography name and watermark.  I guess I was trying to be funny when I came up with I 4 Photography.  I mean to me it makes perfect sense.  Ever since I have started taking photos I am always being told I have an eye (I) for (4) photography.  I mean I sometimes see things that would just make an awesome picture and have to snap it.  Today while speaking to an expecting mother and her situation I see images in my head about how I want some of the pictures to look.  I mean capturing that special moment is incredible but to create that moment is even more special.

Here is an example of things I just saw in a persons home and had to snap away at them.  Hope you enjoy them as well.

Now granted she had some amazing decorating going on in her home and it made it easy to see things.  That is part of being a photographer to see things and then capture the images as you see them.  Tomorrow the next part of the magic will take place as we create the images and get to take them.  Does it get any better than that.  It is fun when I am asked to do a shoot the ideas planning and images come to mind.  That is the beauty of photography you can capture the moment as I did above or create the moment as I will tomorrow.

I guess what I am trying to say if you go into a shoot with a plan thought out no matter how big or small a shoot it may be (yes even your son or daughters birthday party) then your photos can and will improve tremendously!

Something Sunday --- On Monday Bees

Yep you guessed it...  Between not having use of my shoulder and now changing of the season with allergies/sickness/gambu as I have heard it put.  I have been wiped out this last week.  I have worked on a wedding open house and also at the Mark Miller Motorsports projects and am hoping I can post some of those soon. 

But in honor of an animal that if they were not here from what I am told the earth would not exist very long.  I am very thankful these little guys do the work they do.  Just hope I do not make them mad enough to HURT me!

Okay just a bit of advise when shooting bees.  You have to really get in close to capture them well so use your longest lens.  I was shooting at 300mm with these shots here.  Does a couple of things but most importantly keeps you safe.  The hard part is you have to hold steady.  These here are not as sharp as I wanted them to be but hey not too bad with a hurt shoulder.