MORONI

I was fortunate enought to get "back-stage" to the installation of the Angel Moroni at the job site of the Brigham City Temple. FFKR is the project Architect and Big-D Construction is the General Contractor.

My day job as a draftsman at FFKR Architects affords me certain access to projects.

This isn't meant to be an advertisment, just some backstory into why I was at this event and allowed better than public access.

The event drew a crowd and of course I took my gear.  I mostly used the 80-200mm with a smattering of 17-35mm.  And the technical challenges were absent - other than the rain which moved in for a few hours.

On a side note - I complain about the price of Nikon's lenses upon puchase, because I'm sensitive to how much stuff costs - but upon use and viewing the final images I'm always really, really blown away and happy I made the economic sacrifice. 

If I can emphasise anything to a new and up-and-coming creative - buy the pro lenses - they will catapult you to a different level. 

And the only thing people see -- are your images, and nothing else.

THE WAY HOME...

The trip was one of the best - a reunion of 5 brothers and two wonderful parents, and I chose the cookies instead of the pretzels.

CRIPPLED BY TECHNOLOGY

Plane ticket to Michigan $350, Bag full of lenses $5000, Nikon D3s with forgotten battery on battery charger in Utah - worthless.

I guess it happens to the best of us - sooner or later and times like these remind me I'm human, but what a pain in the ass it can be - as I pulled my gear out of my carry on bag at my parent's and my heart sank as nooooooo....

There's no battery... For the love.

I Made some calls - brother in GR picked up a BL-4 battery cover and I'm going to scalp a battery from a shelved D2h - all is ok.

Pretzels ?? Really...

The pretzels on Delta flights are getting smaller -- yet -- there is a food stylist/designer some where smitten with the final result.

GRILLING

Family events are always difficult - as sometimes it's difficlult to get interesting viewpoints.  And sometimes that's like pulling teeth.  I decided to get a bit lower with the 50mm opened up wide and force something.

And the result turned out really well - I think this could even make a magazine product shot.  I particullary like the pose of "R" looking to the left in the back -- really nice.

Also -- note the video -- there are some who say 720p is not true video - I disagree - it's just fine.

Summertime

3d focus tracking with the 80-200mm af-s

DON'T POKE THE BEAR

Summertime -- ain't it great -- until Aunt Jen gets the double barrell SuperSoaker and unleashes the fury on poor Levi.  Don't poke the bear....

From a distance - 80-200mm AF-s f2.8 with 3d focus tracking

SETTING ON COKE

A glimpse thru the screen door -- setting sun to the west and golden rays on the new Coke billboard at the intersection of 1300 E 700 S.

D3s - 85mm f1.4 AF-d @ f4.0

GETTING CREATIVE

Every once in a while it's fun to get outside the box.  Driving to New Mexico to a wedding on a long stretch of Highway, the dashboard of a Chevy Impala and a D80.  Now what ??  Slap it up there -- set the timer, crank it to f8.0 to get it in focus and hope for the best.

Looking for the Train

Earlier this Spring - out looking for as much interesting street subject as possible.  Although SLC is big - it's actually quite small.

This was a grab shot - as most street is, and I re-descovered it in my photo library.

FFKR - INSIDE LOOKING OUT

The Iphone-4 with with the Hipstamatic process.  It emulates the old skool 2-1/4 x 2-1/4.

BIKE MEETS CAR

I wanted to get out a bit earlier - yet I take what I can get.  Just as before - more 3D focus tracking but with better composition.  Bike meets car - almost perfect as it could be just a bit sharper in focus.  Although this lens is really performing - be it 10 year old technology built for, I beleive the F5 - it may be a bit long in the tooth for this type of work.

80-200 f2.8 af-s @ 1/200 - Shutter Priority

3D FOCUS TRACKING

Yesterday I wanted to finally figure out the 3D focus tracking on the D3s.  Since the D2h I've been using the single point with continuous servo - emphasis on "single point".

So last night I sat on the front street steps with the manual and got to it - as traffic would pass I chose my subjects.  First a truck - some cars and then two Long Borders rode against traffic to the South - and the 3D tracking is a game changer.

The focus point jumps around and moves with the subject as you track - whoa!!  I'm embarrassed I haven't been using this before.

Single point or 3D is easily available with the flip of a switch on the back of the camera.  So I can easily switch between the two.

The point of all this - every once in a while break out the manual and learn more skills of your craft.

ANI DIFRANCO - RED BUTTE GARDENS

Ani DiFranco played to a dedicated crowd braving the off and on rain and cooler than normal temperatures Sunday night at Red Butte Gardens.

Although I was a bit unfamiliar with her set, a mix of old and new, describing her own work, she exhibited familiar riffs and that un-mistakable command of guitar.

Some technical difficulties with her speaker monitors caused her to apologize to the crowd - yet she never seemed to miss a chord and I heard no foul.

The music was excellent - classic DiFranco - the crowd subduded - and the weather held off for all to enjoy.

BRIGHAM CITY

A site visit of the Brigham City Temple with a view from the lower stair.  

No decent camera but Iphone-4 in hand processed with PictureShow.

Area-51 SLC

Sunday night M and I went to local event at an club known as Area-51.  This reminded me of the days of the Reptile House in G.R., in the mid 90's without  the cage dancers -- but I digress.

A fashion show of sorts was to take place and M was going to model - so I brought my gear.  Once again I went light because I didn't want to look like a gear freak and I was confident I could just "make it work".

Since it was a "club" I figured the light was going mixed, if any at all -- and I had no room for a flash and frankly I didn't want a flash - as the conditions were right for the look an feel as I would learn anyway.

D3s and the 80-200 f2.8 af-s performed incredibly - and as I tweeted - it was like cheating with the D3s as it sees in the dark.  My zoom was maxed most of the time and that meant at least a 1/200 second shutter speed.  Why -- sutter speed matches the focal length to maintain sharpness.  Since the shutter speed was driving the exercise - that meant Shutter Priority.  I set the shutter and the D3s drives the rest.

Since I was basically in complete darkness -- well -- I figured I would be wide open at f2.8 and an ASA somewhere around 9000-12,000.  Yes -- those numbers are not typos; 12,000 asa and they are better than my D2h at 400 ASA.

I burned about 400 frames -- shooting continuous at 9 frames and it was a blast.  Frame, compose and shoot -- frame, compose and shoot.

Every once in a while the camera would choke -- I may have a bad memory card - that happened at the Race in Salmon -- I hit the release and I would pulling about 3 frames a second, not 9... I may have to send it in.

Here's something else -- there were some other photographers in the crowd - and I was really surprised at their actions upon taking a picture - they would instantly chimp.  Frame, chimp, frame, chimp -- it was painful... I don't get it...

So -- the set is really good -- and in this case - the gear made the shoot - I wouldn't have been able to get these photos with anything else..

A few weeks ago Scott Bourne said on TWIP that if he's not getting paid then he's not shooting.  

Well I tend to disagre as I've come to love shooting - and sometimes that means shooting for free.

I attended the wedding of my good friend M.S. - we were at 2/75 Ranger together - and although he had hired a photographer for the event I made it clear I was going to be in the "shadows" taking picitures.
I have the gear which allows me to go beyond the typical point and shoot and the skills to operate it - and for a good friend I would have felt empty not to do so.

Although everything about this struggling business has been geared toward the business side - website, cards, and pricing etc - I still love the freedom of no deadlines and the liberation of non responsibile shooting.

When it's non paid I can be purely creative - I can fail - I can quit - I can take a break - I can keep shooting or I can stop...

So - I had a few choices to make as I was with my wife, meaning I really had to scale back my intensity.  For me that meant a body and a 80-200mm f2.8 af-s lens, no bag and no flash.  I was able to enjoy the moments with my wife and at the same time I could "snipe" photos from a distance.  The hired photographer was going to do the heavy lifting and I would just shoot what I wanted to shoot.

The ceremony was against the sun and we were seating in a fixed position so movement wasn't possible and I did gather some ghosting and flare as the the event progressed but the photo which wins is below.

Interestingly enough -- the chairs were seatcovered in white -- and it acted like a big reflector.  As the couple walked down the aisle - all the natural light filled in the shadows and made both "pop".

Memorial Day 2011

Fort Douglas, Salt Lake City - a Soldier Salutes the Colors

Flava Flav would be Proud

But -- the I'm sure the cat is ashamed...

2011 AIA Sustainable Design Honor Award

FFKR Architects - Bogue Building

2011 Utah Chapter of the American Institute of Architects
Excellence in Sustainable Design Honor Award.