Something Sunday --- Heber Cowboy Poetry

I love photography!  It is so fun to capture certain moments of time and be able to share them with my clients, friends and family.  But every once in a while sometime I take my camera to an event that I want to enjoy without a picture in mind.  This is one of those events that I speak of:  Heber Cowboy Poetry Gathering.  Such musical talent characters and fun packed into 3 days.  My friend J invited me to join them this year.  I of course accepted got tickets and took the camera along.  I was not expecting to get any shots but these I really like!  Enjoy and be safe this Christmas season!

Ernie rocks the house so to speak!

Premier poets spinning their yarns...

Many strings the first music I heard at a Cowboy Poetry gathering.  I have followed them a couple of years now enjoy their music and the fun they have.

Hello I'm Johnny Cash.

This entertainer did the Ultimate Tribute to Johnny Cash.  He was very good at it his concert was a lot of fun.  Makes me wish I had been able to see Cash perform in person!

I am often asked if I am staying out of trouble.  Well in case you do not know me well trouble follows me around for some reason.  Here is photographic proof!

I guess he thought you shoot me I will shoot back!!!

H Football

Every once in a while a purely lucky thing happens.  This is one of those things.  While taking pictures for a friend I happened upon a Church leader who happened to be a coach and his son was playing on the team.  When I found out I could not resist here are some of my captures of the day.

Coach and father does it get any better than that!

Lets get some yardage from this punt return.

Going down...???

Defensive player as well!

Something Sunday --- Favorite People Photos

It has been said that I do not photograph people.  Let me set the record straight.  I do photograph people and enjoy doing it in certain situations.  I am still learning a lot about how to capture the true emotion a person has and posing well we will not even go there...  My largest group so far has been 386 folks yes in one photo (got to love the church photo right).  The smallest has literally been a just born child now that was fun.

I was asked recently why I do not photograph people as I said and I was shocked.  Now I must admit on the blog and I think I may have said this before I usually do not post them for folks to see.  It is a moment in time between my clients and me and I do not have the right to post them that is up to the client as they see fit.  I have seen photos I have taken on Facebook and it just makes me smile that they thought enough of their pictures to share it to the world.  I have taken some fun ones lately and would like to share with their permission of course so enjoy.

This is the son of some great friends.  He recently was in the play Fiddler on The Roof.  Here is one I captured of "The Rabbi" that I liked

This is M when I heard it was going to be her birthday I think I set a post processing record to get this one done and it is posted first.

Sometimes in spite of my shortcomings natural beauty just makes the shot happen.

Here is A about as natural a smile as can be even though I think she was cursing me under her breath it was a little cold don't let the moon and sun fool you.

Here we have another A.  I wonder when I see where she is looking what plans they have for me...

Meet Dr T.  He told me a while back he was a rock climber and it always stuck.  With learning HDR and some other techniques I wanted to try something different for him.  I like it!

 

Something Sunday --- More Sports

Wow in an effort to become a better sports photographer I learned something new...  I know can you believe it.  I now know what a Jammer is and a Blocker or the Pack.  Yes I am speaking a foreign language but thanks to a great person I was invited to the Junction City Roller Derby match.  It was incredible as I did not know what to expect!  Here are some of my favorites of the evening.

This is C an amazing photographer he helped me understand what was going to happen and how to photograph this event

Keeping the other team from scoring!

Ref is not saying anything so that must be a legal play???

Lot of action going on in this shot nothing else needs be said.

Something Sunday --- Sports

Thank you Thank you Thank you that is for all the veterans past present and future, of which my father was one, that have sacrificed something if not all to protect the freedoms we have today!

I love certain sports playing volleyball for me is just down right fun!  I like watching basketball and have been known to be at a football game every once in a while.  So to take two things I like enjoy and put them together was just flat awesome.  A friend volunteered her children for me to do some football shots.  Thanks to S for letting me do it I walked 4.2 miles and got some awesome shots.  Here are a couple of my favorites.

Turning the corner!!!

Looks like he is going down right.  Not so ran on...  Please note the advertisement for Wilson help support my family just kidding.

About to get the party started on this one.

You are going down.

Great example of team tackling he was down.

Incredibly fun day.  Enjoyed and had a lot of fun shooting this day!

Something Sunday --- H

I know my best looking and willing model.  I do not see her as often as I would like to, but when she does visit we have a shoot! She has been asking for the photos from our last shoot while she was visiting.  I know I know I do not post a lot of people pictures but I do enjoy them and wish I could learn and do more!  Here is the beautiful H.

I can still hear her say my photos are good cause she is so beautiful...

She is probably right but we sure have fun spend time together and have the photos to prove it!

Experimenting with HDR

I have been working on HDR photography lately and learning a lot about it.  Here are some of my first attempts.



Sometimes being with friends have some advantages.  While out during a full moon (but of course)  I took this image it is a 30 second exposure.  In the original the ground just did not look right and I did not like it.  This is what I ended up with in HDR

This summer the fires were all around us and created some awesome affects on cloud cover sun etc.  I did not like the exposure of the sun in the original.  So here you go.

Last one finally uploaded!!!

I have a lot to learn about HDR so far but I am liking the effects you can get with it!!!

Something Sunday --- 2012 World Wide Photo Walk

It is that time of the year again.  The Scott Kelby World Wide Photo walk occurred last Saturday.  What an amazing time we had.  I got to hang out with my friend and fellow photog K and make images.  With all that has been going on I missed the opportunity to submit them to the contest so I want to know what you think?  Here are my two favorites!




The A table of Utah State University.  Rumor has it you are supposed to kiss on it at the stroke of midnight or something like that.

As I strolled along a noticed this one small mushroom at the base of a groomed tree.  I thought it was strange and this is what happened!

Something Sunday --- Fall

Well the plants outside are starting to get frosty in the mornings.  So much so my friend just gave me a full blown huge cherry tomato plant.  Yes I know can you believe not all my projects are photography!  I hardly run the air conditioner anymore and I photographed the last Little League football games to be played yesterday fun times, but with the coming of fall come the color changes.  Now this is unique and I still am amazed it I mean in Texas we had Green and then a lot of brown.  I went out in them der hills to get some pictures of the amazing colors and here are some of my favorites!

I know I know give me a full moon and some pine trees...

And this is what fall colors look like at 1:30 am.  I do really enjoy a nice full moon!

I know this is not great fall colors but I enjoyed sitting on the rock at this streams edge.  So peaceful and relaxing.

My last shot of the day well except for little league football.  As I walked out of the lodge this scene really caught my eye.  The clouds the colors the hill side just seemed to come together for me!

 

Sorry about the delay in posting.  My main computer is acting up again and giving me the error message again after I thought it had been resolved.  I still have more projects coming and plan to work on my secondary computer till I get it figured out!  Hope yall have been able to enjoy the fall we have had so far!

Something Sunday --- Variety

Well the good thing about being under doctors orders is it makes you slow down and rest.  Do not worry I am fine but I am getting caught up on some projects I have had on the burner for a long time.  The reason I am calling this one variety is there are pictures from several different aspects.  Hope you enjoy and comment away!

Well my photographer friends went to Tony's Grove last weekend and me being the jealous type wasn't going to be left out even though I was in Pocatello.  Here is one I captured.

Being a photographer you meet all kinds of artsy folks with a lot more talent and skill than I.  This is the work of my Pottery friend I love the leaves or grass on the pottery I think the last pitcher is my favorite.  Go to her website and see more of her work.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/SpicedEarthPottery .  It is incredible work check it out she might have some pieces you like!

 

Of course this is H.  She visited before heading back to college.  We did not have a lot of time but you know traditions...  This is a shoot we did up by the Salt Lake Temple.



You know being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I have been told I am not Christian.  This is the Christus statue in the visitor center of Temple Square in Salt Lake City Utah.  I would recommend visiting if you can.  It is not the best but was shot from about 100 ft away through a glass window.  I wish I had the skill to do Him justice but through Christ can all things be accomplished.  I will come back once I have more knowledge and skills to get a better photo.

Something Sunday --- September Gallery Walk

Woo hoo I am hoping the problem is resolved and we are back to posting.  I have so much to catch up with I might even start doing some mid-week stuff.  I know I know what am I thinking but I am being asked if I still am doing photography...  Well the answer is a definite yes!!!  I have been way busy for sure and shooting some scenic shots and some people.  I am hoping to get some of them posted soon, but in the mean time here is the latest I submitted for the September Logan Gallery Walk.  If you get a chance drop by Jacks Wood Fire Oven Pizza in Logan to check them out.  Better hurry though as after Oct. 13th they will no longer be there.

The theme this go around was summer.

Well this was one of my many summer trips this year "Kissing Rocks" in Sedona Arizona

While headed to work one day a summer storm was blowing in.  I went to my favorite over point as the rising sun was catching the rain just right!

Keep an eye out as I said I have some catching up to do and mid-week stuff is very much so an option.

Something Sunday --- Photos!!!

You know I look at pictures a lot of pictures.  I like it to be able to see other photographers interpretations of things.  I enjoy seeing the creative and fun things they create or capture.  There are a couple I would like to point out.  Levi Sim is a friend mentor and incredible photographer.  He recently had a new born shoot that wow I just really like it.  I am going to try link the photo here is the address I hope

http://www.sdesignsphotography.com/2012/08/harbinger.html

Awesome picture and to capture the emotion of a child id difficult to do!

The second one I would like to put out is Greg Fabricius he is an amazing photographer of landscapes.  He recently caught a photo of the blue moon that I think is amazing.  We had storms most of the night so I was not able to capture any but his wow.  Check it out!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=334629709963909&set=a.153798208047061.34774.136485096445039&type=1&theater


Thirdly is a fun photographer.  How she comes up with some of her shots I have no idea.  She says all she has is time but with a family children I do not see how this is true!  I really enjoyed this one she captured.  As she said it tells a story and you get to create it!  What story will you come up with...

http://amyljensenphotography.blogspot.com/2012/08/just-one-of-those-days.html

I am still unable to upload photos as my server is messed up.  I do not have a server if anyone has some suggestions I sure am willing to try them!

Something Sunday --- Photography Slump

I think I will equate it to writers block.  As I was speaking to my friend and fellow photog K it just seems that it is a struggle to take the photos I want to take.  Now do not get me wrong I am still taking pictures and practicing but it does beg what is the point.  I have travelled all over the State of Utah this year in search of the photos that I want for me.  Yes it is true most of my favorite photos do not make my blog.  I enjoy capturing what I want to capture so can a contest or a judge take that away... 

Then to top it off I am unable to upload pictures cause it says the server is unavailable.  I do not have a server got to love modern technology right...

I will get to posting more photos as soon as I figure this one out.

Something Sunday ---Cruisin 2012

Well for those of you that do not know every year after July 4th celebration they have thousands of old time cars that invade Cache Valley and show off.  This year was no exception My friend L and I went down to the fairgrounds and this is what we captured.  Of course you already saw my Desoto and the Thunderbird as they were on my blog a couple of weeks ago.  These are my next favorite ones.

These are just a few of the hundreds of photos I took.  I really must tell you GO to the one next year and enjoy some awesome vintage classics!!!