Three Sisters Cascade

Purely a full-frame of one of my Instagram snaps. Out with a couple of good buddies, we went for a bit of a jaunt in the woods. That's one of the fantastic bits of living in Utah, five minutes by car and, bam, you're in the mountains. I love it.

Textured Clay Medium

This one, too, looses so much if subjected to Instagram format; therefore, I've put it here. I was wandering through the Harris Fine Arts Center on the campus of Brigham Young University. I say wandering, but, seeing as I work there, I can't honestly say my discovery was completely unintentional. This is a macro from one of the BFA Senior Art Shows that get featured in the main gallery of the HFAC. It comes from a number of shots I took that day, and I chose it entirely for its unique texture.

This artist used clay to make large hoops and loops. Suspended in the air, positioned on the floor, or lying in fragmented piles on the floor, these clay rings provide a truly unique viewing experience. As far as this particular snap goes, I really like the contrast between the light and dark, the warm and the cool.

A Lunar Afternoon

On a sunny Monday, I snapped this one from a neighborhood parking lot. It fits into the "Instagram 1x1 Crop Sucks" category. Lunar exploration is something that's always fascinated me, so, now that I've gotten my hands on a telephoto lens (score!), there may be a number portraits of the Man in the Moon featured here.

Things I like about this snap include the translucent nature of the lunar seas. The blue on blue of a day-time moonshine is a pretty neat effect. I also like the balance created by the foliage on the left and the telephone pole on the right. Though artfully out of focus, the highlights on the foreground create a playful frame for the sky-hung moon.

Idaho Falls

This lovely picture is more to me than a vibrant photograph of a lovely building. As many of you know, and as a few may not yet know, I'm a Mormon, meaning that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I believe in Jesus Christ, that He is the Savior of the world, and that families are to be together forever. It's awesome stuff, and I share this so that y'all can understand where I'm coming from. I don't intent anything I do to be a religious lecture or sermon, but I very much hope that my belief in God and Christ is reflected in the artistic work I do. One of the tenants of our faith reads, in part, "if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." That's really what I'm gunning for.

This is one of the Mormon Temples, found in Idaho Falls. I went on an expedition with my family to visit this building. My grandparents were sealed, or married for both time and eternity, in this temple. They came with us, so it was a great experience, 45 years later, for them to re-visit this sacred place with a branch of their less-than-immediate family.

Aesthetically, the building is beautiful. I like the picture, and I think it speaks for itself. Enjoy!

Saltgrass Stanchions

This one comes from the Island in the Salt. Memorial Day 2014, my photographing family embarked on a photo trip to Antelope Island, located smack in the middle of The Great Salt Lake. Competitive as always, the paterfamilias, my dad, suggested a friendly family photography competition.

We scoured the island, Nikon cameras in tow, searching for angles, contrasts, unique takes, and plenty of macro work. Towards the end of the afternoon, I found myself laying on my back, camera upside-down, shooting into the sky. The result of my valiant efforts, seen here, was my entry.

I love the auroras that envelop each fuzzy stalk-tip. I also enjoy how the motion of the wind is preserved in the shot. The lens-flare, too is a nice touch. Green and blue always look good together, and you find yourself instinctively squinting at the sun.

For all those curious regarding the results of our family competition, I won.

The StoneWalk

I was walking one sunny morning, headed to the train station. I suppose it was more of a meander, since I was looking for my next big picture. I came across an older home, complete with semi-circle pathway and excellent ground cover.

The light filtered in playful patterns through the leaves above, creating the textured pattern of light and darkness that falls across the cement walkway. Uneven stones line the geometric path, leading up to smooth, rocky stairs.

I particularly like the subtle contrasts in this photo. The light and shadows, the green and grey, the man-made and the natural. I think it stands as a testament to the fact that beauty can be found in the every-day details. Breathtaking sunsets have their place, and will probably be featured a time or two here, but there is something magnificent in daily grandeur.