Fun Times Taking Pics at Riverton Park

 This was a fun day for taking pictures even though it was pretty cold and breezy outside. This awesome domed building is at Riverton city park. It is a recreation of an LDS meeting hall built at the turn of the 20th century. I love this building because of the dome. I love the sort of Byzantine feel I get when I look at it, and from certain angles you can see that Eastern influence there.

 Had fun with some strait lines and my wide angle lens. I cannot wait for spring time to hit this park, I can imagine what this would like when everything is in bloom.

 Another view of the Domed Meeting Hall, but from a distance. I really liked how the copper dome contrasts with the blue sky. Really a cool park to visit.

 Finally, my telephoto lens came in handy today. These are the Wasatch Mountains as viewed with a telephoto lens on a clear day from Riverton City Park. Pretty awesome looking.

 Another shot, it was too difficult for me to settle on just one, so I thought I would add several.

 The clear air really made it look so beautiful today! I love the contrasting white and blue; with whiffs of clouds in there as well.

 I really liked these trees, and I will certainly visit this park in a few months when the colors of spring and summer come out!

This is a shot from Jordan Landing, a bit down the street from the Riverton City Park, and those are the mountains I was using the telephoto lense on. Pretty day altogether.

Trying out the 24mm lens

 I have to admit, I have been trying to find excuses to shoot some pics with my new 24mm lens. I am doing everything I can to will spring into an early existence, so here are some shots with my 24mm. I like how it still delivers a sense of crisp detail and texture, not quite like the 50mm but what it loses in that detail, you gain in perspective by adding some width to your picture.

 I was impressed at how nice these flowers looked using this lens, despite the fact that they are fake. It gives great detail, you can see that the flowers have some threads coming out, but still very crisp and sharp.

I really enjoy this pic, the cowbell is old and rusty, the starfish is real, from SO CAL, and the paint on the wall has a lot of texture. It makes for a great pic with a lens that helps you see that texture. I look forward to doing some better shoots with this lens. I have a lot to learn about utilizing the rule of thirds, as well as finding worthwhile things to take pictures of.

Winter Strikes Back in West Jordan

Things had warmed up a little bit in late February, but as usual in Utah, winter struck back with its typical chill. I haven't had much experience taking photos in the snow before. I have to admit, snow has a way of making everything look clean and new again, but I had a hard time as well as limited time to try and capture that concept with my camera. I liked the sort of ominous feeling I have looking at this pic, being directly under the large pine.

 It was fun to take a close up. I know its an evergreen tree, but it was fun to close in on the green branches, covered in fresh snow. I am still learning how to use the focus, to try and bring everything in a crisp clean image. But what better way to learn than to go out and try?

This was a fun picture to take. I used my wide angle lens for this, because I liked the idea of peering through some shrubs across a large field and center in on some pines across the park. I guess this shows some odd tastes that I have.

Another close up, I really like how the 50mm lens makes everything have texture and look so crisp. I am still surprised by how it makes everything look. Probably my favorite lens to go out and about with right now.

Wandering Around Gardner Village

I have always loved going to Gardner Village; its a cool place with some fun and unique shops to spend some money in. Even though its still the dead of winter, I walked around quite a bit, taking pictures, and again trying to figure out how to use my T6i Canon. Today I also decided that I would be doing the focusing myself instead of relying on my camera to do all the work. I had taken many photos, but these three were the only ones I liked. I wish I had been here closer to dusk, with their lights on I bet it would have looked pretty awesome. I guess that is something I have to look forward to in a couple months!

 Since these three pics were all done at the same place, all very close to each other, I am not going to bother captioning them. It was all at Gardner Village in West Jordan, Utah. I think I have learned a lesson though. I need to pick maybe 2 lenses to go shooting with, and stick to a more specific theme. I believe these were done with my wide angle lens, but honestly I had switched so many times between the other lenses, that I am not one hundred percent sure. Its all about learning the new hobby, that is what is most important.

Discovering the Wide Angle Lens

Jordan River walk way

Walking bridge across the Jordan River, South Jordan, Utah

Tunnel under about 100th south, Jordan River, South Jordan, Utah

I have to admit, the wide angle lens has been tricky for me to figure out. There were many photos I took today and yesterday that seemed good at the time, but really didn't look so good once I got home (not that these are fan-freaking-tastic). I am still learning when and how to use this lens and I know that will probably take years which is just fine with me! My next plan will be to spend some time in downtown Salt Lake City and use this lens with the city skyline and some awesome buildings. However, I did like the way these pictures turned out. Its all part of the learning experience, I plan to post the best of what I take each time I go out, so that I can show myself my own growth and how I change with photography over time. I have to admit, I wish I had discovered photography years ago, but its never too late to pick up a new hobby. In the end though, the wide angle lens... yet to be discovered but I like these pics anyways.

Fun with the 50mm lens

50 mm lens pic of an Orchid

50 mm lens Orchid

 I took these pics using my new camera, and thought I would post them on this blog. Photography is very new to me, I felt I needed a new hobby, and decided to venture off and have some fun. I really had fun using this lens because of the textures it brings out, especially in plants.
I actually came across information about the 50mm by accident. Being completely new to photography I had hardly any knowledge of lenses, let alone a "prime lens".  My first thought was, why get something that has no zoom and is rather static with its abilities? I had no idea how wrong I was. It wasn't cheep, and perhaps wasn't wise either to pick up 3 lenses within a couple days of my first DSLR but, after reading up on the "nifty fifty" I had a gut feeling it would be a wise choice. And it was! In my first few days of shooting pics, I have taken by far more pics using the 50mm lens than all the others put together. It brings out textures, and creates a sense of depth by focusing your attention on the subject and blurring out the background making things like flower pedals jump out at you. I can't wait for spring to settle in on the Wasatch Front!!

50 mm lens

Lovely thistles that grows by the Jordan River, Utah

More stuff that grows by the Jordan River

Close up of a Pine tree in West Jordan, Utah