Halloween Costume

 

When you say or do something silly your friends and co-workers go to great lengths to make sure you don't forget it. It gets worse if there is a camera close at hand. On Halloween, however, if one is willing to let loose and be creative, we can be a source of joy and laughter. We usually dress up for Halloween at work. This year I was the old man from the movie UP. I don't look so bad with gray hair. My hope is to keep my hair even if it is gray.

To Funny Not To Share

Somethings are just to funny not to share. Like this picture taken by my co-worker Crystal. If you know me at all this picture is really funny. Besides being a Nikon guy, the other thing that makes this funny is that it was shot with the camera on her phone, not a Canon. This tomb stone was a part of the decorations out side of the store I work at. There were other cleaver sayings, but this one gave me a photo op I could not pass up. Thank you Crystal for your help.

Out Late

 Reflection from the evaporating ponds.

 

 Looking towards Grantsville.

 

 How do you light this thing?

 

 Spinning fire!

 

Morton salt plant, outside of Grantsville, Utah.

 

 

These pictures were shot with a Pentax MX1. An awesome point and shoot camera, with some incredible manual controls. I am very impressed. I am usually annoyed with point and shoot camera and there manual settings, they just can not do what an dslr can do. The Pentax MX1 is easy to adjust with a large aperture and good shutter speeds. It also has a HDR mode with three level of adjustments. If your looking for a new camera, give it a try.

State Fair Entries

 Entered under the category of "Humor".
Received an honorable mention for this one.
 

 Entered under the category "Utah State Fair".
Received a first place ribbon for this one.
 

Entered under the category "Sports".

Received a second place ribbon for this one.

 



If you get the chance to visit the Utah State Fair this year, look of these photo. For the first time ever, I have entered the State Fair. There are lots of great entries and fun pictures. Go check it out!

Wheeler Farms

Wheeler Farms is a beautiful place and I want to go again. I did not have a enough time during my visit. Here are a few shots that I captured while I was there.

Amusement Park At Night

 The Ferris Wheel, the Parachute (in movement), the Drag Strip and the Catapult rides are all at the north end of the amusement park.

 

 The next two pictures are of a new ride called Air Race. When I first saw it all I could think about was how awesome it would look at night as a long exposure shot. I scouted a few areas while my family was in line for a ride.

 

 Air Race, behind the control tower.

 

 I have giving up riding most of the rides. This one makes me sick just looking at it!

 

 Rock-O-Plane, before the spin!

 

 

 These three are of a rather exhilarating ride call the Sky Coaster. The top photo is of three young ladies whom I know. The pop up flash on the camera  was used to help stop their movement and emulate them. I was pleasantly surprised that I could time it so well. The bottom right picture helps show the scale of the ride. You get a four to five second free fall before swinging like Super Man through the air. I had more fun capturing pictures than I did riding rides. Crazy I know.



A Little HDR

The following pictures were taken with a Pentax MX-1. It is a retro looking digital point and shoot camera, at first glance I was not impressed with it. It is very different from what I typically use and I was more critical about it the first time I looked it over. Now, after having shot with it for a few hours, I find it to be a very good camera with some great features. Its not an DSLR but you can do some manual exposures as well as use all the easy auto features. In camera HDR (High Dynamic Range) was one feature I enjoyed and was impressed with. Here are seven pictures taken in HDR with only the text added. Let me know what you think.

 

 

 Shelter from the storm.

 

 

 White Rock Bay on Antelope Island.

 

 

 The marina at Antelope Island. Horizontal

 

The marina at Antelope Island. Vertical

 

 

 Looking West from the marina, Antelope Island.

 

 

 Sunset power.

 

 

Charged sky.

Long Exposures With Fireworks

Homage to "Charlie's Angels"

 



Freeze! Don't move.

 

Red flame

 

I didn't go to any firework shows this year for the fourth of July. I wish I had. I mentioned that to someone and before you know it I was called and invited to watch the display they were putting on. No great big bangs or displays but still lots of fun. Great fireworks shots don't have to be the big air displays, the local or at home in the street fireworks can provide an opportunity to capture some awesome family memories. Just turn on the creative side of the brain. I hope to get more as we celebrate pioneer days soon. I realize the last photo is not done with fireworks but when they ended we didn't want to stop. Thanks neighbors.



What Goes Bump In The Night?

 

 

Long exposures can be so much fun. I have a great time with my children and their friends, creating photos with lights and our imagination.  The kids often think of things to add of try. Some are successful others just don't work out. Adding the wings and creative lighting, create a spooky feel to these shots. This was a great success and came from an off hand comment about costumes. Thanks guys, be careful of the things that go bump in the night! Are the they angelic or devilish?

Water Halos

 

 

A different take on the water balloon idea. The angle of impact is from the back to give a "water halo" to the subject. As you can see the water was a little cold! You should give it a try with family or friends. I'm on the look out for my next victim, I mean subject.

Summer Time Fun

I do not often shoot 1/8000 of a second, but it is fun when I do! All of these shots are 1/8000 of a second, f/2.8 and ISO 800. Some edits where done too, but not much. My camera is "older" and I can see pixels, red, green, blue in the pictures. I took them out and did some levels adjustment.

I must say I have great neighbors, they will send there kids over for some water balloon smashing fun. The idea came from a video clip I was shown about a photographer who does "Water Wigs". He uses strobes, fashion models and a costly triggering system. Awesome stuff, I 'll bet you can google "Water Wigs" to find his work. I did my own low tech copy. Thanks to my kids and the neighbors for the great pics. I am willing to do it again if you are! Enjoy the summer time.

Antelope Island Activity 2013

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

We took a small group of photographers out to Antelope Island this last weekend. We did a few different things including some sunsets and long exposures. I hope everyone had a good time. I know I saw some good shots from the group. Special thanks to Larry for being our model and a good sport!

For Your Safety

 

Reading these signs make you think. As twisted as we are, photographers, we wanted to do something funny. Safety is no laughing matter.  Do not play on or around train tracks. No trains or humans were harmed during this photograph.

Go Black And White

 

These shots are taken in the city of Murray. I wanted to get some urban landscapes, so I made some arrangements to go shooting with some co-workers after work. One of the areas we wanted to go was not accessible. We found this spot and spent an hour capturing photos as the sun went down. I had not loaded my pictures or looked at them for several days. Rachel, co-worker, had already posted some to her facebook page and offered to show them to me. She had taken a few and converted them to black and white with a boost of contrast. They looked great! I knew I would have to go black and white. Thanks Rachel for the idea and the company. A big thanks to Kathy too, for the use of her tri-pod. These shots would not have been possible with out it! Ladies thanks for sharing your photos. Lets go again.

Defying Gravity

 Showing the young bucks how its done!

This table top, tops out at about 15 feet in the air! Who says old dogs can't learn new tricks!

 The top of the wall this young man is riding is about eight feet, may-be more. He makes it look so easy and effortless. I would freaked out, and be on my head! Can you say road rash!

The picture below is more my style.



Gravity takes HOLD!