Added on by John Sturr.
Silverton Colorado, a mountain town of fomer precious metal mining fame allowed some creative experimentation with the Nikon 85mm f1.4.  I am still learning how to control this lens as it is either in focus or not -- and the results are mixed.  I'm still hesitant to shoot at f1.4 as I don't want to miss the shot.

Flowers black white

Added on by John Sturr.

While walking the neighborhood I came upon this group of flowers near one of the main sidewalks.  I decided to frame as much as possible and later realized this may look good as a B/W conversion.

Its been a while

Added on by John Sturr.

Since the Iphone-4 purchase I've been having a bunch of fun with the camera - hence the lapse of photos on the blog -- fight fire with fire -- so I'm using some Iphone photos on the blog for the first time.

the Gothic room

Added on by John Sturr.

This was a pass thru area toward the Gothic Room of the Salt Lake City Mason's Temple.

Weeks ago the doors opened to visitors as a part of their annual open house activities.

Sun in Front

Added on by John Sturr.

Captured on a whim while walking the neighborhood - and it turned out well. This is a stretch of my creativity as I try to push my limits.

Very little post processing as the sensor is really pushed to the limit.

Captured with Nikon D3s, 85mm f1.4 D lens, and processed in Adobe LightRoom usingwww.lifeindigitalfilm.com and www.X-Equals preset "Kodachrome 25 Curve" 

Memorial Day 2007

Added on by John Sturr.

 

I was asked to speak at the Pentwater Michigan Memorial Day Celebration in 2007.
*******************************************************************************************

 

The battles of

Gettys burg        Vicksburg            Antietam                            

Antwerp             Pearl Harbor       the Bulge             

Pusan                 Inchon                  Saigon  

Grenada             Panama                Somalia

Operation Enduring Freedom     Operation Iraqi Freedom  
           
Officially proclaimed Memorial Day, on 5 May 1868 by General John A. Logan, today is a sad day, as we honor the fallen.

My name is John Sturr, #5 son, to Thomas and Dolores and although my recent combat tour in Iraq is interesting and compelling today's memorial is about those which have given their lives in service to this great country.

I represent the Gulf War Veterans, as asked by the VFW Eldon L Chadwick Post, and I am humbled  by the personal historical accounts past and present of today Veterans.   Today I ask you to take a moment to visualize the scope of service these men and women provided.  They were Cold, hungry, thirsty, with heavy gear, walking, hot, away from home, with no days off, with the constant reminder that life is precious and gone in an instant…

They assaulted the beaches of Normandy –
scaling the cliffs of point-Du-Hoc – They froze in the German cold - negotiated the jungles and waded rice paddies of Vietnam - were on ships protecting our seas - They fought through the hot mountainess islands of the pacific.

Men and women of all services in distant lands, both known and un-known, are carrying on the same service, facing the same fears, and remembering the dead – of which we are doing today.

Words cannot offer condolence to the Mother, Father, Son or Daughter of the lost Airman – Sailor – Soldier – or Marine – and I wish I could specifically memorialize all actions and all warriors, but I can't, yet in honor of all of the fallen I offer the names of the warriors I hold close :

SSG Thomas Vitagliano KIA Iraq,
Sgt. Jay Blessing KIA Afghanistan,  
SSG. Robert Hernandez KIA Iraq.

The sacrifices made by the men and  women we honor here today – has shaped the freedoms of which we take for granted of tomorrow.  

Buss to the Left

Added on by John Sturr.

The combination of the buss' colored panels, the light -- and the contrast of the 85m f1.4 D really makes this stand out - and combined with www.lifeindigitalfilm.com 's preset "Fuij Velvia Curve" -- the colors pop even more.

I just can't say enough about how I love those presets.

Captured with Nikon D3s, 85mm f1.4 D lens, and processed in Adobe LightRoom using www.lifeindigitalfilm.com and www.X-Equals preset "Fuij Velvia Curve"

Frustrated

Added on by John Sturr.

I've been frustrated lately -- as I haven't taken much time to photograph... photograph anything.  Last night I decided to walk around the block and see what I could find.  I mssed the "golden hour" being distracted by a Netflix movie, so timing put me at about 9 PM.  This D3s was hardly challenged though, as the exposures make it appear to be much earlier.

For the first time in a while I've been experiementing with panning and longer shutter speeds.

Captured with Nikon D3s, 85mm f1.4 D lens, and processed in Adobe LightRoom using www.lifeindigitalfilm.com and www.X-Equals preset "Polaroid 669 Warm Curve"

Orchids in Front

Added on by John Sturr.

The NY Times posted a request for a photo taken exactly at 9am and then submitted to their site.  This was all I came up with.

Shrimp more then three

Added on by John Sturr.

The in-law's were up down from Idaho -- and while celebrating M's birthday we ate like it was the Last Supper in-between. . . Tonight was the Pinnacle.

The band plays on

Added on by John Sturr.

Last Saturday I was asked by Brandon Hansen to photograph his band which played at a local venue here in Salt Lake; Bert's Tiki Lounge.  The photos turned out well --

Soccer

Added on by John Sturr.

This last weekend I had the chance to photograph my Niece's Soccer game -- hit the photo for a  link to the gallery.

Easter - 2010

Added on by John Sturr.

Here are some pics from this last weekend's Easter celebration with the in-law's in Idaho.
Good times -- with good people.

March 28 - 2006

Added on by John Sturr.

I'm in truck 1 today as a scout - we prepped for our Habinaya mission at 0800 and proceeded to leave the IZ -- when our truck get's t-boned by a civilian force protection team in a traffic circle in the IZ. 

Just bangs and bruises -- the truck is totalled.

The frame was bent so much the driver side passenger door flew open and ejected SSG Cameron.  I was on the passenger side back seat and took the brunt of the impact.  All are fine, just banged up.

We switched trucks --- and proceeded on with the mission to escort 1star Bolger - a 6'4" thin faced 60'ish cold hearted bastard.

After leaving the Fallugia area on approach to Habinaya -- about 1hr20min trip -- truck 3 takes an IED blast.. all is well.. no injuries and we drive on and deliver Gen. Bolger.

We travel to return at 1430ish from Habinaya... in the same area -- the same area... truck two takes a blast full force on the drivers side.  Rear drivers side door blown off, rear passenger ejected, bolth legs in shreds below the knee.  We used a poncho to carry him from his impact site about 40 yards off the road to the road. Turniquets on both legs below the knee. 

The medic was God today -- Medivac unavailable -- no air at Fallugia -- no stable comms from our position -- Blue Force Tracker in use but not much help --- no cell reception. 

Gunner may lose a leg -- driver takes shrap to back and should make a full recovery - TC has hole in cheek and may have piecies loged in skull somewhere.

One gun truck and Gen.Bolgers truck make trip back to Habinaya on their own for QRF and Ambulance!!  Site is secured at 1615 -- wrecker arrives to recover humvee and we move out at 1700 - and arrive at IZ at 1830.

Ejected SSG Hernandez dies enroute.

SSG Hallberg (gunner) may loose a leg and is enroute to Germany

SGT Wilkerson TC - is critical to some extent as they access -- don't know where he is at (hospital)

SSG Bell (driver) shrapmetal to back - should make full recover - don't know where he is at (hospital)

We don't mark our contacts on blue force because we don't run secure -- that's why you don't see any of our stuff reported.

Jesus -- man.....

Everyone is in shock - after all of these months we are at war in an instant.

Everytime we travel to Habanaiya we get hit -- all because a 1 star doesnt' like to fly... hopefully that will change.. 

Zack Arias

Added on by John Sturr.

Arias was the featured speaker at Photocamp Utah 2010. 

It is a photographic event hosted by an all volunteer crew, created from a vision of a few, intended to
serve many.  This last Saturday Jermy Hall and volunteers set out to host the second Photocamp Utah and it was a hugh success.  The tickets to this even sold out in about 6 hours from what I understand.