Out of Gas, January 2017

Year of Protest

On the way down State Street to another Sundance screening in January of 2017, I almost drove headlong into an anti-Trump protest in Salt Lake City that was marching to the capitol. Luckily I had my camera handy, so once I managed to get out of the way and park, I ran out to get a few shots of the march as they headed up the hill. In my rush, I didn't get all my settings right before I started shooting (most of the group had already passed by by the time I got out of my car), so one of my first images was this blurry thing. The next couple were actually in focus, but in a way, I kind of like this one. It gives the image some ambiguity, and frankly I think it's more interesting than seeing a bunch of people walking away from me.

Abandoned bus, Delle, Utah

View of the Rio Tinto Kennecott Smelter from near The Great Saltair, outside Magna, Utah

The Great Salt Lake at sunset, near the Great Saltair

Trapper's Loop, near Mountain Green, Utah

Weber State University campus, Ogden, Utah

Farmington Pond, Farmington, Utah

The Garden of Eden in Arches National Park, outside Moab, Utah

Window to a Sunset, 2017

During my Spring Break 2017 road trip through Moab I made my first visit to the Windows in Arches National Park. Though I came back the next morning to shoot the more traditional version of this image, which lights up the foreground with the sunrise while peering through at Turret Arch, I kind of prefer this version, which frames a handful of late afternoon visitors.

Hanging in the Balance, 2017

I was on my own for all of about ten minutes on a cold early March morning before other photographers began to arrive to shoot the Milky Way at Balanced Rock in Arches National Park. It made it a little more difficult to experiment with different light painting approaches, but on the plus side, I was able to take advantage of what some of the more experienced astrophotographer shooters were doing.

North of Monument Valley, Utah/Arizona

Sunrise in Monument Valley, Utah/Arizona

Trail to Horseshoe Bend, 2017

I am not a fan of heights. I was reminded of this in March of 2017 as I made my first visit to Horseshoe Bend, outside Page, Arizona. My plan was to stick around long enough to get some dramatic photos around sunset, but when I arrived and discovered a much more dramatic drop than anticipated (one that was swarming with people), I decided I didn't want to wait out the three hours. Instead, I wound up taking a few handheld mid-afternoon shots, which still look good simply because the view at Horseshoe Bend is so incredible. But the shot that really sticks with me from the experience is the one I got of the trail on the way there, absolutely swamped with tourist tracks.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, southeast of Zion National Park

Little Hollywood Land Museum, Kanab, Utah

Heaven in Zion, 2017

I caught this shot of Angel's Landing off the side of the main road in Zion National Park during my Spring Break road trip in March 2017. The little dots at the top are people. I actually made this hike when I was a 13-year-old Boy Scout, but nowadays, it's just heavenly to take this picture from the safety of a place that doesn't feature thousand-foot drops all around me.

My Davis County Childhood, 2017

On an uneventful night in the summer of 2017, I hiked up into the foothills above my hometown, lined up a shot at the top of Pages Lane, and took an image that includes the house I grew up in, the church I attended, my elementary school, junior high, and high school, not to mention the grocery store and the family farm where I had my first primary paying jobs. There's also a pretty island and a sunset in the distance.

East Canyon Reservoir, Utah

Windswept, 2017

Part of my justification for buying my first lens in five years in 2017 was that Canon's 100mm macro L-series lens was supposedly a good portrait lens as well. Thanks to this shot, I agree.

LDS Temple, Ogden, Utah

Red Butte Gardens, Salt Lake City, Utah

Hello, Mr. Fly, 2017

In the spring of 2017 I finally added a macro lens to my collection, and promptly took a spin up to Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City to try it out. This fly, surrounded by a gorgeous shade of green, was one of my favorite shots from the visit.