Fall in Yellowstone

We had the opportunity to drive thru Yellowstone this last weekend, and for a while it sprinkled. We parked the car for a few minutes (read: 1 1/2 haha) and I hurried to get some cute fall colors saved. They were so beautiful. I love fall!! :D

Days of '47

Happy Pioneer Day! For the 24th of July, I volunteered to take photos for the Days fo '47 organization. It was pretty fun. I was a little nervous, as this was a bit out of my comfort zone. But I've been trying to do things with my photographs that are outside of MY norm. This was one.

I got up very early to take photos of the marathon. Unfortunately, I don't have the photos from that on this hard drive. They are saved elsewhere. So you will have to wait in suspense for those.

Shooting the Marathon was AMAZING. I had to push and pry a little to get a spot where I could get the runners really good, but after the 5k started to wind down I didn't have any trouble. When the guy who won (from Africa) came down the block EVERYONE - I mean everyone! - started cheering, and I felt tears pushing behind my eyes. It was so moving for me. One of my "do before I die" goals is run a marathon. I would have run this one, but I was lazy and did not train whatsoever. Joe and I made a pact together that next year, all things considered, we would run at least the 10k together.

The first two guys through the finish were from Africa, the 3rd from Vale Colorado and I believe the 4th was from Provo! Awesome to have a Utahn in the top 5. The first girl finisher was from SLC! Woot! And for those of you that care, the First Place-r finished in 2 hours 17 minutes. THAT IS UNHEARD OF!!! HOLY COW!!! Just awesome.

Then, after some grubbage - yeah Denny's! - we headed up the mountain to the mouth of Emigration Canyon to enter the "This is the Place" state fair park. They had a Days of '47 festival. Although, in retrospect, I don't think that SLC looked that way in '47. I imagine more like tents. But still, very accurate. :D

I took a million photos - and had to get model releases, which was challenging, and I was grateful for an assistant... Thanks Joe. :D

Here are a *few*. Ok, here are a LOT! Enjoy!






This guy, right here? He was AWESOME to visit with. He was from Rocklin Calif., where he is the head of the Pioneer History in his stake or even possibly his area. We talked to him for about 45 minutes just about how California and the pioneers are miscredited for the civilizations there now. We talked about the battalion (hence his dress) and the "Brooklyn," a boat carrying Mormons from NYC to San Francisco. He knew so much. And he lived in Ron's old stake. (Does he look familiar, Ron? I can get you his name if you want.)


This is Brigham Young and Maryann Young; Actors, of course, who are both VERY involved in this production.




They had replicas (I hope!) of guns similar to the time period, and they were loading blanks before the flag raising ceremony.

I love the look on this girls face. Almost AWE.



Again, Maryann Young; she made all the hats you see in my photos. Amazing.


This little boy did NOT like the guns. He started crying afterwards. Then got over it to be in the parade! :D

Photowalking, Bountiful... AGAIN!

The one problem with being a busy mom/employee/daughter/wife/friend/photography student, is that I don't have an hour to drive somewhere to walk around. I take walks when I can, armed with my camera, but it seems I only walk in two places: Sunset, and Bountiful. But the one thing I am learning is that things seem to have been unchanged, but if you look closely, they have changed a lot! Like these tomato plants below; they are just small now, but in a few weeks, will have buds, and in a few months will be heavy with fruit. You just have to change how you see it.

Still, I itch for new photowalks. :D We're headed to 25th street sometime this month for such a goal.

Enjoy!

Don't these weeds look so tall? Like the trail goes to places unknown? They were only knee high, I love the angle. Such mystery.

David...

...who shouldn't be driving :D In that first photo, look closely and you can see Joe and Brea in the mirror! Perfect accident!

Sunsets

Simple and Pure. *sigh*

Opportunistic: Success!

Remember that talk we had a few posts ago? :D About being oppurtunistic? Well, this time the sunset was amazing - it will probably rain - and I had my camera! And I actually convinced Joe to pull over. What do you think?

Painting with Light

This was in the car on the way to St George. No flash = Camera Shake. But that's ok. If you look in one of the pics there is a word written in the lights.

The Opportunistic Photographer

So often, I will lament to my husband "I wish I had my camera to take a picture of that!" Or I will be amazed by the sunset and will silently kick myself. I tell him - and he reminds me later - that I wish I carried my camera more often. I don't, for a number of reasons, one of the biggest ones being theft, and also the elements. My car gets COLD and I don't want to ruin it. And, am I supposed to carry my camera case into work with me so I can take pictures of the sunset on my way home?
But sometimes, you get JUST the right moment to take a shot, and you're - I mean, I am - prepared for that moment. The following photos are from a trip last summer, but as the snow was falling the other day, I was in the same boat. Actually, I had my camera. Without film. DANG IT!!!

P.S. Come see my Flickr Stream! I have so many more photos on there!!

www.flickr.com/photos/cherry-blossom-photography