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A Beautiful Night, A Rant, and a Small Tutorial on Night Photography December 22, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Christmas, Church, My Handsome Husband, Princess Hannah, Utah , 5comments

This weekend, we pulled out our warmest coats, hats, and gloves and headed to Salt Lake to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square.

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We haven’t been in years, (and really, I mean like 10 years . . .) but it was just as beautiful and cold as I remember.

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Riding on TRAX was the highlight of Hannah’s night.  It ranked right up there with attending the Nutcracker ballet.  Who needs to ride on the “Polar Express” in Heber when you can take your kid on TRAX for free?  She kept telling us we were headed to the North Pole to see the “Mo-Tab” (which, is short for “Mormon Tabernacle Choir” to us Mormons) and David and I were like, “THE MO-TAB?”  How old is she?  Who taught her that?  Where do kids pick up on lingo like that?

When she wasn’t talking about the “Mo-Tab” she was asking when her hot chocolate was going to come.

Obviously, she thought we were on the Polar Express . . .

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See this get-up here?  Not one peep out of her saying she was cold.  Not one.  (Not pictured is her big winter parka.  The kid was WARM thank goodness.)

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I think 10,000 other people had the same idea we did on Sunday night, so I had to fight a few crowds to take some pictures.

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These floating votives were so beautiful in the water with steam surrounding them.

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I experienced something new last night.  Usually when I’m out photographing, I’m by myself, photographing something that is interesting to me. When I’m doing night shots, I’m by myself 99% of the time.  Last night, 1,000 of the 10,000 people at Temple Square had the same game plan I did to get some shots of “Christmas at Temple Square.”

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However, only a handful of “serious photographers”  (SLR peeps) had a tripod on them.

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I’m now going to interject and tell why it is totally pointless to photograph in a low-light situation without a tripod:  Because your images will be blurry.

End of story.

I’m going to be completely honest here, if you have a GREAT shot that is even slightly out of focus or has even a hint of camera shake . . . it’s crap.

Is that rude?  Gosh, that’s just how I feel.  And let me tell you, I’ve deleted hundreds of good shots that were slightly out of focus.  It’s a bummer, but who wants a great composition that isn’t tack sharp?  UGH.  Not me.

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So, back to my “new experience” story . . . every time I would set up my tripod and spend a few minutes moving it around to just the right spot, other photographers would surround me on both sides trying to get the same shot I was.

Now, I want  you to know that I wasn’t flattered.  I thought it was hilarious.  I mean, they’ve never seen my work, so how do they know if I know what I’m doing?  Just because you have an SLR and a tripod doesn’t mean you take great pictures.  (We all know cameras don’t read minds.  It’s our job is to speak “camera” and that is why the 12 inches behind the camera is the most important part.)

I think Ashton Kutcher could use this experiment on “Punk’d.”  What do you think?  Have someone go to an amusement park, pull out all of their gear and have them start taking pictures of the most ridiculous stuff!  Seriously!  I guarantee people would flock to the same area to take some pictures!

The moral of this story is: Follow your own style.  Be true to your vision.  How someone else see’s the world is their perspective, not yours.  Variety is what makes art so amazing.  The same place can be photographed a million times and look different in each image because each person has put a personal stamp on how they view the world.  Don’t assume other photographers know what they’re doing just because they have equipment.

Now, to help you with your vision, I’m going to mention a few tips about night photography:

Where am I going with this post?  My intention was to tell you about how beautiful temple square is and how we’ve missed going to see the lights year after year.

However, It sounds like I may have ranted and provided a small tutorial for night photography.

That’s about that.

Salt Lake Temple After Hours November 16, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Church, Photography, Utah , 2comments

This is the Salt Lake Temple.

It took 40 years to build back in the 1800’s.  It is so beautiful and large.

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It sits right in the heart of downtown.  In fact, every address in Salt Lake is based off the temple’s location.  For example, if you find yourself at 600 West and 400 South,  you are exactly six blocks west of the Salt Lake Temple and four blocks south.

Cool huh?

I’ll take pictures of this temple during daylight hours sometime, but for now, just know that it is super beautiful.

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There are six spires on the temple, (only three can be seen from this angle) and one day I’ll actually get a photograph of the temple from a bird’s eye view.

One day.  (Along with all the other things I plan to photograph in Utah while we’re here.)

Too Beautiful Not to Share November 10, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Church, Holidays, Photography, Utah , 6comments

This is what the Timpanogos Temple looked like on Halloween night.

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The moon was full.

The lights reflecting on Utah lake were beautiful.

As always, the temple looked amazing.

This night was too beautiful to keep to myself, so I thought I’d share.

Hello Utah Valley October 30, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Church, Photography, Utah , 3comments

Hello Utah Valley.

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I’m back.

I’ve missed your beautiful mountains.

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I’ve missed being near so many LDS temples.

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I’ve missed this view in particular from our neighborhood.

However, I don’t know how I’ll be able to continue to photograph at night with temperatures below zero.  I can only do so many jumping jacks in the middle of the road while I wait for the extended shutter to release.

My love for night photography might have to take a little break until March.

I’m just sayin’.

It Never Hurts to Ask October 5, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Church, New York, Photography , 6comments

Hours before we left New York, one of my secret readers (aka lurker) decided to comment telling me that her parents were serving a mission in Palmyra.

She wanted to know if I could take a picture of them.

You know what?  It never hurts to ask!  Two phone calls and 30 minutes later, I met and photographed them.

Then, I got a crazy idea.  I almost didn’t ask because it is so crazy.

But . . .

It never hurts to ask, right?

I asked this girl’s parents if they had access to the roof of the Historic Book of Mormon Print Shop.  I wanted to take a picture of the four large churches on the corner from a high vantage point.

They asked someone, who asked someone, who allowed permission and gave detailed instructions on how to get up on the roof and what to expect when up there.

After climbing the fire escape, walking from one rooftop to another, (praying I wouldn’t fall through the roofs!), and shimmying my way up to the pitch of my building, I took one deep breath (mostly so I wouldn’t freak out and fall off the building) and held it so the camera wouldn’t have any camera shake.  (I was told my tripod could not make the trip to the roof and after getting to the top, I agreed.)

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This is what the four churches look like from the roof of my building.  It was worth the adventure on the roof for this image.  :)

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I really, really, really tried not to look down, but I did.

After my rooftop adventure, I got down and photographed the churches up close.

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This is the Presbyterian Church

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I think this one is Catholic . . . but please don’t quote me on that.

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I have no idea which denomination this church is.  I can tell you it’s not the Methodist or Presbyterian.  Does that help any?

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All of these churches are so old.  The newest one was renovated in 1850.  Most of these were built in the 1700’s.

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This last picture is just for fun.  I had a great time shooting buildings during my last few hours in New York, and the Phelps General Store was one of them.

Apparently, this building is haunted.

I did not go inside.  :)

When God Closes One Door October 1, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Church, Daily Life, Family, Medical School , 7comments

When God closes one door . . .

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He opens another.

After much fasting, prayer, and pleading with the Lord, God has provided us a way to stay together as a family through this messy rotation thing.

Really, that was all we wanted.  We just wanted to stay together as a family.

Turns out, we will be able to spend the majority of the next seven months together.  We will also be surrounded by lots of family in Utah which is a rare treat for us.

It puts a smile on my face to sit back and watch the Lord move mountains.

He really does know each of us.

He really does care about each of us and our desires.  Regardless of how silly or small they may be.

Want to Peak Inside this Building? September 28, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Church, New York, Photography , 2comments

While following my nose last weekend at Canaltown Days in Palmyra, I found myself at a small art exhibit in the gym of this church.  After looking at the art, and inquiring how my work could be displayed and sold at that art show next year, I got a crazy idea.

I’ve wanted to see the inside of this church that I photographed a few weeks ago, but the only time the chapel is open is during the time I’m at my church.

However . . .

Everyone comes out for Canaltown Days.

EVERYONE.  EVEN PREACHERS.

With my camera gear on my back and tripod in one hand, I asked someone, who asked someone, who got me in touch with someone who opened the chapel doors JUST FOR ME.

I got a private tour of this church building while the street out front was filled with thousands of people enjoying the festivities.

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This is the what is looks like behind the front doors:

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It is the oldest church in Palmyra but also the newest building since it was somewhat reconstructed in the 1800’s.

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The workmanship was beautiful.  Apparently it was built in one year.  A record during that time period and I would say a record by today’s standards!

I think this is the Methodist Church.  I’m not sure.  I could probably go outside and find out for sure, but it’s kind of cold, and I’m all warm inside my house.  :)

I’m learning that a camera, tripod, and nice demeanor can get you into places you might otherwise not be able to see.

The Shortlist September 11, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Christmas, Church, Daily Life, Family, New York, Photography, Projects , 3comments

We have many adventures to share and many pictures to post.  (I know some of you are thinking, “How is that possible?  MORE Pictures?”  Well, it’s true.)

I have been anxiously engaged with school, being a mom, wife, dog lover, chef, and maid.  On top of all this, I am working on my website.

In just a few short days (or longer, who knows . . . I’m waiting on my logo) I will launch my photography website and business.

I will be offering my skills to photograph families.  I will have prints for purchase.

The fun part of putting my site together is complete (the good stuff like picture galleries) but I’m still working out some details which means: The very, very, boring, nitty gritty needs to be done.

This is the short list:

I have no pictures for this post.

Gasp.

I. KNOW.

But, I’m happy to share a couple of unrelated random images with you:

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This very public bathroom is in the vacant Masonic Temple upstairs in our building.  I’m sure it had walls around it once.  I mean, I hope it did.  I wake up from nightmares like this . . . needing to use the bathroom and every bathroom I find is very public toilet.

Trust me, it’s a nightmare.

And this:

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This alley is adjacent to a small patch of grass where I take Paris to the bathroom.  During daylight hours, this alley is friendly.  After the sun goes down, it’s a completely different story.  I try to avoid this spot and use another patch of grass in the parking lot, but sometimes I forget.

It freaks me out.

I’m not into Sci-Fi, and I certainly hated watching the X-Files, and this alley looks like something straight out of that show.

Go ahead and shiver.  I just did.

Have an exciting weekend!

Fall Leaves? September 10, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Church, New York, Photography , 3comments

We are only in Palmyra for couple of more weeks.

I don’t think the leaves are going to change in time for me to photograph the “fall leaves” out here.  :(

I took these pictures of the Sacred Grove a few days ago.

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This place is so beautiful, it makes me happy.

I could probably overlook the fact that the leaves aren’t changing fast enough to fit my schedule.

What She Prays About September 9, 2009

Posted by Emily in : Church, Daily Life, Kansas, New York, Parenthood, Princess Hannah , 2comments

Everyone should have a three year old.

Even, if only to hear them pray.

Oh my.  The things they pray for . . . so adorable.

In a recent prayer, Hannah thanked Heavenly Father for:

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We love to hear her pray. Often, David and I will find ourselves opening our eyes and looking at each other when she says something so cute, but sincere from her little heart.

So adorable.