In Memory of Greg

In Memory of Greg, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

In Memory of Greg Smith Jr.
A few weeks ago I asked him if he'd gotten the photos of Patrick's services to the family. We joked a little - he told me how good they were and that he'd like me to shoot his memorial. Little did either of us know that the moment would be to soon. He died in his sleep last week.
http://www.transcriptbulletin.com/view/full_story/10054640/article-Gregory-Lee-Smith?instance=obituaries_list

When I found out of his passing I made arrangements to be at his services. I offered my condolences to the family and offered my lens. Little did I know his family found the un-delivered DVD of images.

This image posted is one of a mistake. I shoot with two cameras and how they hang the command dials takes a beating. The D-90's flipped to manual where my settings were for a night shoot I did a few days prior. I've made little adjustments to this image besides bring up the darks. I do think it represents the services well. The two boys on the right are nephews and the man on the left is an official in the LDS Church.

My condolences to the family and to the friends of Greg Smith Jr. He is a character may our memories of him last on long after the printed images fade.

70k plus screen shot

70k plus screen shot, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

Thanks to those who click and follow me to flicker. I do appricate your willingness to look at my images. I am in the process of updating my images, cleaning up my duplicates, and removing un-interesting images.

I'll start posting again shortly as I get things back in order and get caught up on processing hiking images from this year's "KodaChrome" (fall color) season. This year is amazing unfortunately due to work I'm not escaping the valley as often as I want. Work is good. I do enjoy the employment even though it takes away my enjoyment of working on the computer to put images into place.

Later

Alta Doe

Alta Doe, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

I recognize it's been a while since I last posted. I've finally got my computer back up and running. I took it down to update some software. Doing this didn't take much time, what's taken the time is bringing all my projects back onto it.

I do have Davis County Fair images in the works. Fall hiking images in the works. Wildlife images in the works.

This morning I got up to Alta to photo hunt some moose. I saw one after a couple of hours. Deer though were visible through out my time. This doe is just off the road past the neighborhood. The wildflowers of August are fading quickly around her and frost is already nipping in the air.

Flip of Life

Flip of Life, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

Beyond the protection of the helmet, this competitor of Pogopalooza 7 put on body armor. He used it too on his first attempt in the Best Trick set.

The sport of extreme pogo sticking is fairly new on the scene. According to the website it's come about within the last decade. Already I've seen in a fast search there's a dedicated following and a multi-million dollar industry building around it.

I shot from a sitting position most of the afternoon to give the impression that these guys were flying high. Indeed they are but I didn't get that impression with a few quick test shots from eye level.

More information about extreme pogo sticking can be found at

http://www.pogopalooza7.com/

Salty Zombies 2010

rdc-27-SaltyZombies2010.JPG, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

Salty Zombies walk downtown left many a camera in want. For a while I'd say the photographers out numbered the zombies. This camera thankfully was his not one of ours.
For more information on Zombie Walks in Salt Lake City UT
http://saltyzombies.ning.com/

For more information on the Salt Lake Camera Club see
http://slcphotoclub.shutterfly.com/

A Thousand and One Activities

Bella Star, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

It's weekends like this that keep things interesting...
Yesterday morning I awoke to the announcement of the Sandy City Hot Air Balloon Festival. I got there this morning.

I then turned around after watching the balloon crews inflate their bags and to the Midvale Harvest Parade. Like many of the local parades the politicians came out. No big deal, it's cool. I write about them later. I did get a few good hand shake shots. May be the next prezzy will come and do something besides a drive by 'Honk & Wave'.

Following the parade I received a call from the SL Photo Club. The organizer of today's hike isn't well. I was asked to lead the short hike to the water falls formerly known as Donut Falls up Big Cottoonwood Canyon. The hike is still on. I'll park at the main road and hike into the actual parking lot, about a mile. The feature that made Donut Falls what it's named for collapsed with the spring run off this year. It's not a disappointment though. I find it a great starter hike for the Wasatch Mountains.

Tomorrow is the 3rd Annual Zombie Walk This will be spooky good. I do recommend off camera flash to punch the costumes into extra creepy. The website says to meet at City Hall/Main Library at 7 pm.  This will give us photog's plenty of light to shoot.

Also on tap for the next two weeks are two local county fairs. The Salt Lake County Fair begins this week and Davis County Fair is the week following. There will be plenty of shooting opportunities of many kinds.

And don't forget the Salt Lake Photo Club's show on August 13th 6-9pm at The Utah Arts Alliance Main Street Gallery
127 S Main Street in SLC.

Happy Shooting.

Art Show

I've got two images hanging at an up comming art show with the Salt Lake Photo Club.  This will be my first 'big & public' event where I'll be able to hear your feed back on the images submitted.  I'd love to see a few folks there.  I'd love to know what you're interested in.

The show is on Friday, August 13th 6-9 pm at the Utah Arts Alliance Gallery on 127s Main. Please just don't mark your calendars,  come on out!

I know there will be other grand work to see and artist to chat with.  The Salt Lake Photo Club is full of talented photographers & artists of beginning to professional levels.

Mr Big Paddles - aka Fred

Mr Big Paddles - aka Fred, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

After days of studying for an exam for my next employer, I took a few hours of rest and relaxation.

Several of my photographer friends told me of a few moose up at Alta. I headed right there armed with my Nikon D 90 and 70-300mm lens. Within minutes of hitting the trail I saw this big fella lounging in the trees. About ready to move on I decided to relocate on the trail and wait out the bugs annoying me. A few minutes later he began to move. Soon enough a cow and two calves trotted by, another cow came into view, and a smaller bull also came along.

Talking with another hiker I found out the big bull moose of the area is known as Fred. A twin of several years ago, his brother Barney has since left the area.

I couldn't believe my luck. I did keep my distance from these big creatures. I love a long lens for that very reason, it gives me a safe reach.

While at Alta I headed up to Cecret Lake and enjoyed a share of wild flowers of the Albion Basin.

Froggie's Team Photo

Froggie's Team Photo, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

This was last day of contract work for several of us. My team leader wanted a group photo so I pulled out the camera. A hundred plus degrees in the parking lot this speckled shady spot provided only limited relief. I worked quickly one on camera flash and motor drive on the self timer. I personally wish we could have grabbed this image before the first round of lay offs from the Census Project.

The last three months of working for the Census was good. The project taught me a lot and did provide a positive out bound call center experience. To my team thanks. To my team leader thank you. To all at the Census Project thanks for keeping it light.

Carnival

_IGP2892.jpg, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

Not only is it backpacking season, it's also carnival season.
I headed to the local carnie last night for a little light creativity. The rides cost but,to get in, is free. Tonight will probably be packed so I took full advantage of the quite Thursday.
This particular image is of the 'kamikaze' ride. I used a little zoom action in the bulb setting. Ah, got to love the variety of lights and sounds of the carnival.
Also in the same area it the 4th of July Rodeo. I could hear the announcers from my place. I'll say this of West Jordan UT, it's a weird city built up around a small town that got trapped in urbanexpansionville. I'm still exploring the streets even after calling WJ home for 2 years. I still find the lost barn and horse trailer next to a $300k house.
Any how take time to explore this weekend both with the lights and sounds of the local carnival and hometown events.
Later.

Season Opener

Return Image, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

For most folks when they hear season opener they think their favorite team sport. I guess for me the season opener is part team and part game. My team includes the weather forecasters, the National Forest Service, and other hikers. Individually they have their parts, together the information exchanged leads to some awesome game. My game is seeing what is beyond the trail head.

This past weekend I garnered up my gear, some of it new, some of it dating back to when I first got into hiking. The image posted above does have flickr notes enabled which high light what I call important. Things like water and the map. I've already received word on why do I have a pair of shoes on my ruck. Easy, last year I took moccasins. Bad idea, when moccasins get wet they get heavy and take a long time to dry. These are croc's, they are 10 ounces, rubber, and comfortable for in camp and that short jaunt a little further out of camp, say to cast spinner into the lake.

This trip took me into the Kidney Lake area (Brown Duck Mountain) above Moon Lake Utah. I also headed to Clements Reservoir. My first night I slept a bit cold, so my second night I used the poncho as a sleeping bag sleeve on the outside of the hammock. I slept toasty, the sleeve I estimate added an extra 5 to 10 degrees of warmth. My sleeping bag is a Kelty -4C rated down. In a hammock a lot of warmth is lost to the underside due to compression. The sleeve added the lost air space back.

The trail itself is beautiful pines most of the way with nice clearings for ponds & streams. The surface varies from rocky to sandy to stream. There were plenty of rocks to hop along. The lakes are incredible with plenty of camp sites tucked away from others. Truly, one does not need to see someone else unless they want to see or be seen by them.

Things I am reconsidering already is this ruck is a medium torso size. It wasn't until day 3 that I found the right balance point for my 35lbs. I want to exchange this Go-lite for the next torso size up. I do have praises for the pack it does swallow what I put into it. I am minimalist but not an ultra-lightest. The difference is I like my comfort in camp as well as the ability to have the safety margin that an ultra-lightest removes. Most of my gear is double duty. My rain gear (gortex) is my evening wear when it starts getting chilly. The poncho is also a ground cover. The foam pad is a camp seat. The water bladder is a camp shower. I do have the 10 essentials held separately and do leave written word of my itinerary with family and in the car.

The first trip out every year is the shake down trip. Last year my pack weighed in at 45+ pounds, with food and water. This year the initial weigh in was 35 pounds. What changed? I changed my menu and swapped out some heavier gear pieces like a multi-tool for a pair of nail clippers and key chain knife. I trimmed the pad down to size, the holes allow body moisture to escape. I up graded the stove from a tablet and can to a canister Burton mini-stove, this move cut my cooking time in half and reduced my weight several ounces. I changed out hard bottles for water bladders and doubled my in camp water capacity while reducing weight. It does come down to exchanging ounces for ounces without adding up the dollars.

The season opener proved to be just that opening the season for something awesome.

Tree Climbers

Luckau_selected_DSC3497_1.JPG, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

Last Sunday morning I had the privilege to do a big family portrait session. I'm glad my friends showed up first to get me into the swing of things. I tried a few different poses with them. This tree climbing picture is one of my favorites of them.

Their clan began to filter in and for the next 2 - 3 hours I realized this is what I want to do. Take a look at the set and you will count over 30 individuals in the big family portrait. Yes, patience is a virtue. It can also be a fun curse. In the separate groupings the children were the most fun to work and create an image that incorporates each personality.

I learned a great deal in working with such a large group. The first is know the lighting. There is some speckling and shadows particularly with the big group set. Second, take more pictures then necessary. With such a large group not everyone will be looking at the camera. Third lesson is do not zoom in to closely. There are a few images where I chopped toes off.

As I processed the image I did include a wide white border know that some of the images will end up in picture frames. The white border will allow home printers not to use so much ink and will let them put the image into a frame without further chopping into the already close to frame images.

I know I am a beginner at family portraits. Each session or setting is a learning experience. I know that to become better I need to shoot more. I know that to shoot more I need people to focus on. As you are interested in getting an image taken please stop and see what I have to offer.

Thanks for stopping by.
Brian J

Trail Head A Head

Trailhead A Head, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

I thought snow shoeing season was over. I am wrong. At the last minute I grabbed the hard-decks out of storage and I am glad I took them. I headed up to the White Pine area as part of my spring trekking rituals go. I do not go all the way to White Pine Lake itself as part of the approach crosses avalanche territory. The snow literally conditions literally changed with each step.

The weather recently is a photographer's dream come true with the myriad of clouds passing over. As for the skiers they say differently, particularly those in search of sugar snow conditions. This image is taken upon return to the trail head which is but 200 yards a head.

GLSC Art Show

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is the church I grew up at.  I'm one of these characters who can tell you 'I remember when stories' about the place.  I wouldn't recognize the place if I didn't stick my head in there every so often to say hey and howdy the folks there.

One of the activities that is up and coming in less then a fortnight is the annual art show.  There are many talented people in and through out the church and who like me stay inter-connected with it.  The date of the Art Show is Saturday May 8th.

I will be showing a few of my images.  I am having a tricky time a deciding which ones I want to display.  If you would like to recommend a particular image you'd like to see me display please drop me a line.

Save this date:
May 8th, 2010 between the hours of 12 noon and 8pm.

Later

About An Hour Later

About An Hour Later, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

My lawn temporarily looked like this for a split moment this morning.

Welcome to spring time in Salt Lake City Utah.

Check out the other two images, the one before and the one after. These images were all taken within 4 hours of each other.

Earth Jam

100_1796.JPG, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

Earth Jam is more then a bunch of tree huggin' hippies getting together to have fun. It's about meeting people. It's about sharing ideas. It's about a lot of things. One could fill in their own blank here.

For me it's a chance to get outside on a gorgeous spring day to take random photographs of people in an unstructured environment. Along the way also meet new friends, reacquaint myself with old friends, and of course share an image or more of those I meet.

Seldom at the 'Love In's' like Earth Jam do I meet shy people who turn away at the first sight of a photographer. More often then not people want their picture taken. A free spirit doubled back on me after hearing the click. She quickly told me to take more pictures.

This lady I passed and seeing her style while walking her dog, I asked may I take your picture holding your dog? She let me. She is the first in a long string of people I asked throughout the afternoon and evening if I could take their photo.

I am wading through the 500 images this evening and will be on into tomorrow. I did give out a few business cards. I did mark a lot of photos after sharing them. I have not forgotten you I am wanting to make sure these images are mind blowing or at least above my own expectations when I post them for you. I am doing this for you.

If you read the post before this one on MS Utah, I wanted to post out of human interest factor not via the rules I shoot by. I like to shoot by the rules of composition, interest, exposure, and focus. Sometimes I bend them because I said I'd post a specific image and later see it does not meet my own criteria.

Before I close I do want to thank everyone whom my lens fell upon. I take away more then captured photons, I see a reflection of life. I return to you the aurora of yourself.

===
For the photo geeks like myself, I shot aperture priority with an SB-400 flash set to minus 2 out put as a fill in flash. I don't recall the shutter speed or ISO figures at this time. I do try to preserve my exif data, so take a look at the additional info on flickr. Some images are cropped and have minor adjustments.

I do use open source software. This does not mean that my images are free. At events like this I love to share openly so if you are in the image or know those who are then do get a copy. If you use the image please link back to PreyingJaws(dot)com and let me know where the image/link is being show. I enjoy seeing where my images go.

Later with the Best.

I Walk For My Wife

MSWalk-PreyingJaws-39.jpg, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

Can you tell who has MS by looking at them?
Honestly?
I couldn't. I'm not trained to spot who has or has not anything wrong with the. Quite frankly, I don't care what you have or have not. I enjoy taking pictures. I enjoy talking with others even more so. I like sharing a clip of life.

When I spotted this man's tag on his shirt I walked up to him and asked if I could take a photo of him and his lovely wife. I asked specifically for this pose. I personally think it shows what this event is about, loving on others and raising awareness about MS.

I've posted over 120 images. These images are of the event of random people I met and talked with. These are of random people I just took pictures of. Some folks are with children. Some folks are with dogs, several of these dogs are service companions. I honestly as I look back at the event surprised to see how many folks in motor scooters made the 3 mile journey from the Gateway Center to a park and back.

As for myself on that same journey I did about 1/3 walking backwards with only one mishap. I backed right into a parked pickup.
I did shoot a lot with a flash to fill in the shadows caused by the mid-day sun. I did shoot in aperture priority mode. My images are slightly processed through digiKam of the KDE Foundation, an open source project.

I do encourage you to look through the mass of images. Feel free to comment either here or on the page. These images are copyrighted by me. Please let me know where my images turn up. Sometimes it's really cool to see the various forms of non-commercial uses they show up as. FYI the MS Walk with Photo Walking Utah are released to the MS Utah for non-profit promotion under non-commercial license. If you see an image used other wise please contact that organization first and do let me know as well. The World Wide Web gets kinda sticky for artists in repostings. If you are in the image, please grab a copy to use. If on-line please link back to PreyingJaws.com

For more information about MS, the MS Walk, or how you can participate with the National MS Society please visit http://walkMSutah.org

Reflecting Me

ReflectingMe, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

She has a great smile. Everyone did today. It's beautiful outside, warm, a light breeze, and a few high wispy clouds.

I briefly walked backwards around her looking through the march of walking people of all kinds out to support friends, family, and others in the fight agains MS. Many of the folks I met where walking for a specific person.

I joined up with Photo Walking Utah to provide photography of this important awareness raising event. For more photos concerning this event please see Photo Walking Utah and the MS Walking photo pool. I will post my images within the next few days.

Photo Walking Utah
http://www.photowalkingutah.com/2010/03/save-date-photowalking-utah-walk-ms.html
Flickr MS Walk Utah
http://www.flickr.com/groups/walkmsutah2010/pool/

Changing Lanes

Changing Lanes, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

A quick check of the email and I was gone. The night before (Wednesday) a photo shoot encountered rain. Thursday evening much different with near clear skies and a bit of bitting wind from the north.

On tap for the next few days:
Photo Walking Utah is getting together on Saturday (tomorrow) for the MS Walk. The group is providing photographic coverage for the MS Walk event downtown. Street/Journalistic style of photography is one of my favorite styles and currently one of my least practiced.

Sunday is typically a hike day. I don't know where I'm going yet but I do want to get out for a few miles.

http://www.photowalkingutah.com/

Drivin' Moab

Drivin', originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

Miata Events, some folks will say it's about the cars, others will argue it's about the people. I must disagree with both of those. To me hangin' with the Miata Club of Utah is about the drivin.' Most folks we talked to as a group would exclaim, why Moab it's (insert off road here) territory. The general consensus reply, is have you driven the region, the roads are fun and the scenery amazing.

I took the opportunity recently to join my Dad for a preview/recon trip to Moab Utah. This quick trip was to double check the mileage, check on any detours, and make final arrangements for Miata's in Moab IV May 14-16, 2010.

For me and my Dad it's about hangin' out and hiking a few trails. We hit Delicate Arch during a busy time of day. We hiked into Corona Arch to check a few spots he thought may be of concern. And we joined in on the drivin.'

When you head south to Utah's Canyon Country, I'll tell ya up front there isn't any shade so watch yourself for exposure. Drink up on the water. I'm an avid hiker and this did catch me off guard even ridin' in a fun car.

Here's the links for the event which is rapidly approaching.
http://miatafun.net/MiataClubs/allstates/Utah/2010Events/MoabIV/MoabIV.htm
Here's the link for the Utah Miata Club
http://www.utahmiataclub.com/

Enjoy. Drive Safe. & Drink Up on the H2O.