Something Sunday --- Fireworks

Okay Okay this gives you an idea of how far behind I am on these photos.  Yes this is the July 4th celebration in Davis County.  Thanks to my friend L we were able to at least see some fireworks that night!

Okay I will tell you all the secret to shooting fireworks.  Here you go you ready...

First off your camera has got to be on a tripod.  I practice shooting free hand a lot and my longest exposure that is decently sharp and clear has been 3.2 seconds and I got really lucky and was using a railing as a brace but I digress.  Camera on tripod.  Use the lens of your choose I have used wide angle and zoom both to great effectiveness but the following must be adhered to (well we always break the rules but you get my drift) set F/Stop to F/11 ISO to 100 and expose for 4-7 seconds.  That is it basically.  Now I also manual focus that way I can press the shutter at anytime and do not have to worry about it locking on a point of light.  That is up to you.

Here are some of my favorites that night.  I normally do not post process fireworks no need to but since I got my new LR 4 program thought I would try and see what happens I liked these the best!

There you go got to love any opportunity you get to take photos like this!!!!  Hope yall had a very good July 4th!

Something Sunday --- July Gallery Walk

Okay if you have been following my blog you know my goal is to enter at least 2 photos into every Gallery walk held in Logan Utah.  This months was actually a contest based on classic cars.  Every year Logan hold what is called the Classic Car Cruise IN (I think that is what I called it anyway) There were hundreds maybe even thousands of cars there.  The assignment should we choose to accept it was to photograph the cars and present it for a contest at the gallery walk.  I decided to step out of the norm and see if that changed anything for me...  Here are the photos.

Ah once again a lot of fun and challenge to capture not my everyday run of the mill shot.  A special thanks to L for her assistance this night.  IT was greatly appreciated!

Something Sunday --- More Arizona

Well as long as I am on the topic.  I must confess one my favorite pictures from Arizona will not be seen by the public.  It was a gift to a very special person, but here are some other ones that I really enjoyed capturing while I was in Arizona.

This is kissing rocks in Sedona, AZ please note the peeping tom (Flintstone) head message me if you can't find it!  Truly amazing country there.

Wow what more can you say...

Now I must admit I really enjoy capturing photos while i was in Arizona some beautiful country and hot wow.  Not to be outdone though I have gotten some great captures of Utah canyons.  I am working on these photos and hope to be posting them soon.   Yes I know my projects are always on the back burner.

Something Sunday --- Arizona

Wow I am always a day behind it seems like.  I have a lot of projects that I am working on in lieu of paying jobs.  This is not necessarily a bad thing it just seems like I never have to time to get them all done.  You see these are my photos and I figure I will get around to them not like a clients with deadlines...  Well I am still behind that should tell you something right there.

I recently went on a trip to Arizona for business.  I found out one of my co-workers had a 7D the same as mine and we arranged to go get some shots.  Well we went up in the Superstition Mountains and this is what we found!

The cacti were in bloom for sure. 

It just so happened that these birds were flying around catching the updrafts from the mountains.  This one was heading into the sunset when I took lighting the back of his wings and tail.

Welcome to Tortilla Flats at about 9:30 pm.  Here we are doing some light painting and having some fun.

I really liked the Indian statue in this photo but the other parts I painted add to the picture immensely!

Abel thought I was crazy as this is full on dark here. Result though I am pleased with.

A special thanks to Abel Hernandez for assisting me in taking the night photos.  I did discover that night it is a lot easier to light paint if you have help.  We had a great time even if late!  There are a lot more to this one and I am working on them.  J do not worry your is finished.

July 4 2012

You know I am not one to usually weigh in publicly on political issues.  But lately I have been doing some thinking on things.  You see America is going a direction I am not sure I want it to go.  I know a lot of folks do not agree with me, but it has a feeling as if hope is lost.  While speaking to a local in my home town he told me this story about the Borgstrom Brothers.  It is this communities very own "Private Ryan Scenario".  I have not frequented downtown very often but he informed me the square had a memorial to them.  Well while driving home last night I thought I would check it out.  This is the image I captured.

The plaques that is to the left in the photo tells their story.   Between March and August 1944 they lost 4 of their sons Clyde was killed March 17 1944 on Guadalcanal.  Leroy was killed on Anzio Beachhead June 22 1944.  Rolon was shot down over Germany August 8 1944.  Rulon his twin was killed August 25 1944 in the D-Day offensive.  Boyd the fifth brother was furloughed out of harms way and the sixth brother was too young to be drafted.  But these following words give me the hope I need.  His father was heard to say "When his country needs him he will go"  As the plaque says "Here was the personification of Americanism"

If a family can suffer this kind of loss and still be willing to sacrifice more for this great country then there is hope.  I thank all veterans living and dead for their willingness to sacrifice that I may enjoy the freedoms I have today.  Happy fourth of July all.

Something Sunday --- Tetons

Ha yes you know it.  Sometimes you got to get out in nature and just enjoy life.  You know it no cell phones, laptops, facebook just you and the camera!  I had an opportunity to do this a while back and was able to get some awesome shots and relax at the same time.  Here you go!

Sun setting in the Tetons!  I love sunsets.

See my true self is coming out.  This is at about 1 am at the shore of Jenny lake.  The lighting was perfect for a long exposure.  This was the result.  I like very much.

This is the whole reason why I went to the Tetons.  I saw some reflection shots.  This is not one of the clearest but I like the way the water comes over the dam thingy.  Way cool.

If you look real close you can see the duck that just had to be swimming at this point! 

Had a great time and enjoyed meeting fellow photographers relaxing and getting some images like these. There are more but for another post maybe...