Merry Christmas...

It's 3am Christmas morning, and I just finished getting everything in order.
I find myself in a quite house with soft Christmas music (Dan Fogelberg's Another old Lang Syne currently) and the only light comes from the tree.

It's been a hectic day, one full of family, and last minute stuff.
One that had you asked me not an hour ago, I would have told you
that I would NOT do it again.
But I would.
I will.


I feel...

Calm
Content
Grateful
and loved.

I wish you all the same.

The Provo Tabernacle

We lost one of the most beautiful buildings in Provo last Friday to a fire. Although I have been hearing about it on the news, and most conversations eventually touch on the topic- I was not prepared for the emotion I felt when I drove past the Provo Tabernacle for the first time today. There is a shell of the building standing, but it is a sad site. You can see the blackened brick from the side, and from the front it is a mess of wood and glass making its way out of what was once the front double doors. All of that beautiful stained glass is gone.
I realize that in so many other places a building that has been standing for a century is not really note worthy. But it's about as old as we get here, and it makes me sad that it will not be there anymore.

This was a panoramic picture I took for a class last March. I wish I would have gone back and taken another one in the spring when the trees were in bloom, and the lighting was beautiful. However- I am happy I took one at all- right?

Picture Picture

Remember when you were a kid (or last week- whatever- I don't judge), and Mr. Rogers would walk over to the wall and you just knew you were going to get a little peek into the Crayola factory, or see how Mr. Bernini from the little shop down the street makes a violin??



Exciting- right?

I KNOW!

In honor of Fred (who would love to be YOUR neighbor too!), I am going to give you a "picture picture" post for your viewing pleasure every now and again. (I am trying to be better at keeping up with my posts...one blog at a time)
You'll never know what it's going to be about- but it WILL be amazing!...or at least better than sitting there at your computer staring at the screen saver.... :)

So, sit back, imagine Mr. Rogers in your mind's eye walking over to that magical gold picture frame on the wall...

ENJOY!! :)

Elder Williams

As some of you know, our very own Tracy had a son leave for a mission a couple of weeks ago. She was kind enough to let me snag a few missionary pictures of him lookin' all spiffy in his new suit before it was off to the MTC.
Riley is a good kid who is going to do great on his mission!
Don't worry, Tracy- he'll be home before you know it!

Canyon Reds

I.
LOVE.
FALL!

Finding that I had a few minutes tonight I decided to run up the canyon and snap a few shots. The trees are not quite at that point that just screams FALL IS HERE!!! However, there are some changing, and it IS amazingly beautiful.
I hope you all get a chance to make it up the canyon this fall- don't let the season pass without seeing it! :)

Until then...
here's a little preview of what you can expect.
Enjoy! :)

Introducing Annistyn LuPreal

My friend Allyson has the cutest kids! Seriously. Her two boys are adorable, and just so that I would have a cute baby girl to take fun pictures of- she had another! Thanks Allyson! :)
Okay. Maybe it didn't actually happen like that but...
bottom line- she had another cutest kid, and I got to take fun pics.
CONGRATS! :)

Madison Drew Allen

Can you believe how many wonderful people were born this month?? :)
I have to say that although I have many fun memories of Lil' miss Madison, my favorite would be the first day I met her. She got out of the car, looked up at me, and said,
"I'm a princess."
No hello.
No nice to meet you.
No shyness.
Just straight to the point.
And I get it... I do
I knew at that moment that I adored this lil' gal!

Happy Birthday Madie!!! It makes me happy to be your aunt, and I'm hope you ALWAYS remember that you ARE a princess!!! :)

40 Ways To Improve Your Photography

Hello all! I just read a blog post that I really enjoyed. If you "photographize" too- you may enjoy it as well...
The article is by Andrea Thompson, and called "40 Ways to Improve Your Photography".
It has smoe great tips that I wouldn't have thought of, as well as some tips (unfortunally) I learned the hard way.

Happy reading! :)

Corb

It is so hard to believe that this kid is turning 4 today! I look at pictures of him when he was his little brother's age, and it seems not so long ago.
He always makes me laugh- and is the best at smiling for the camera.
In fact- when he was little he used to pick up anything he thought could possibly be a camera. Corb would then hand it to the nearest person and say "CHEESE!"
How do you not love that?
This was his first year in the mutten bust at the Cedar Fort rodeo. Although it may not have gone exactly as planed- he did a good job.
He adores his older brother, and follows Hunter around all the time.
I am so excited to see him pay t-ball this year, and to see what the next year holds for him!!!
Happy Birthday Corbin!!! Love you!

Perfection

When I woke up this morning it was with a rush of "I have SO much to do today!"
However, what actually happened was amazing.

A short ride through Midway and Heber turned into a five hour photo op, and one of the most relaxing days I have had in a long time.

The air was clean, and the weather was perfect.
One of those days when it's not warm
but not yet cold enough to want a jacket.
There was a slight breeze that carried a lingering smell of fresh cut grass
and in the background the sound of water.
Irrigation water to be exact.
It was the kind of moment that makes me

love

remember

and miss
my grandpa Stock.
...and it lasted for hours...

So- although I didn't get to check anything off of my "to do" list, it was very, very worth it.

The Good The Bad and The Ugly...

The Good:
*Mocking Jay- I know, I know. But it IS a good book, and a great series.
*Back-Button AF-I just found out that I have a back-button auto focus on my camera. Shut-up! How did I miss the fabulous feature???
*Modern Family: All sortsa awards! I seriously love love love this show!

The Bad:
*Inception:I saw Inception again (amazing show) thinking (foolishly) that it would help...NOPE. My friends, I walked outa that theater with MORE questions and no real answers...


The Ugly:
*CON-STRUCT-ION!!!! -nuff said
*My mad art skills: I decided to take an intro to visual arts class this semester (I do love the class, but there is an art project every week....let me just say that I will never be an artist! LOL

I met with Lincoln, Yvonne, and their family on a Monday morning. I was so excited to be able to shoot their family pictures. Yvonne's parent's were in town visiting and they wanted to document their visit.
Because they were only here for a couple of weeks, and I still have a real job on the 4th (cuz a girls gotta pay her dues before she makes it big the the photo world-right?)that keeps me hostage during those buttery hours of evening that were CREATED for photographers....we had to shoot in the morning.



I learned A LOT on this shoot.
1)There truly is a reason that photographers do not shoot between 10 and 2. The lighting is just wrong. Too harsh. Too many shadows. Too hot (lighting look not temp necessarily).
2)I don't think I'm a tri-pod girl. I know that most "professionals" use tripods to get those tack sharp photos, but I feel like it only hampers my ability to shoot from where I want. I understand that this decision will equate to my practicing the art of holding a firm stance, but it will be well worth the effort.
3)Kids are so much fun to shoot. Their energy and laughter make the session fun, unpredictable, and challenging (in a good way).
4)Don't be afraid to direct people. Let them be their natural self, but show them where to go. They don't see the whole "picture" the way I do through my lens.
and the most important lesson.....
always
always
ALWAYS
check your ISO.

That's right folks, I shot out in the harsh sunlight rockin an 800 ISO because I forgot to change it from my niece's birthday party two days earlier.
It makes me sick to know that although I am okay with the pictures I caught, they could have been so much better.
I know that the whole reason I am doing my "come one, come all" free shoots is to learn, learn, learn. But that doesn't make it any less painful when you hand a disc to someone knowing that you dropped the proverbial ball.

Lincoln and Yvonne-
Next time your wonderful parents are here to visit- call me. I will make the time to shoot your amazingly adorable family in the best time of the evening, I will meticulously check my settings, and the photos you receive will be so much better. Thank you so much for being willing to be guinea pigs in this little adventure of mine. You have no idea how much I appreciate it!

Lucky for me there is really no way to get a bad shot of such a cute family!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Payton Drew Allen

It's Payton's birthday today! She is such a fun girl who brings smiles and laughter into our family! We are SO lucky to have you!
I remember the first day I met this cute girl. She was only about 5, and we all went to the pumpkin patch/corn maze in Lake Shore for our fall party.
She got out of the car and held her arms out. "You can hold me." :) I loved it! Between Denise, Stacey, and I- I'm pretty sure she didn't walk much of that maze at all! ;) She was so much fun to be around, and her smile was contageous.

Happy birthday Payton! You are such a belssing for our family. You have a kind heart that is open and warm. You make everyone feel included, and comfortable. You have the cutest laugh and such an easy going way about you!
love you!
-Aunt Dawney

92%

I'm 92% sure that I'm ready to rejoin the living
I'm 92% sure that my i-pod came home with me from Yellowstone
I'm 92% sure that my glasses didn't
I'm 92% sure that I didn't cross the road in Yellowstone with one of the escaped convicts...twice
I'm 92% sure that if I don't do laundry soon the Santa socks and old PJ's are going to become my new outfit that I always wear- just like one of the Simpsons.

Destination: Yellowstone

My parents were kind enough to take us all to Yellowstone this past weekend- thanks Parentals!! :)
We have learned that with this group- a casual, go at your own pace- is the best way to go. So- We started the trip off with one simple instruction:
Meet at the Three Bears Lodge Sunday.
That's it.
No time.
No plan to leave with everyone.
No thoughts on meeting anywhere along the way.
No meeting place for dinner that night.
Boy..do our parents know us! :)
It works out so well this way. With cell phones, we pretty much know where everyone is, if we are close, where people are stopping along the way... etc.
Nice.

Sunday afternoon was all about getting settled in, shopping, and chit-chattin it up.
Monday morning we were off to the park.
We started off at some of the hot springs, and made our way up to Old Faithful.
(who isn't so much faithful, as hopeful these days)
On our way to the big ol water spout we meet Ranger Rick. Let me tell you-- this man takes his job VERY seriously.
us-"I see that it just went off. When will the next time be?"
Ranger Rick-"It will spout again at 3:10 give or take 10 minutes."
If you could see his face and hear his tone...LOL.
Dude- you're a park ranger. Maybe you could chill it a bit. It's a national park, not national security.

Now if you know us, you know that we are directly related to Brother Noah. We could have made a lot of money as Rain Makers back in the day... It didn't just sprinkle- it was a deluge.

But everyone manged not to melt :) Unfortunately it was raining so hard that we had to leave the park early.
We picked up where we left off the next day though- don't worry.

What an amazing place Yellowstone is! I have been there once before when I was about 10, and I have to say that my perspective is so much different this time around.

Then: I remember feeding the squirrels nuts out of my hand, and how much I NEEDED that stuffed black bear from the gift shop.

Now: I am so amazed at nature. How beautiful and powerful it can be. We live in such an amazingly beautiful world. The water falls that made me dizzy to look down on, the buffalo that seemed they couldn't care less that they stopped traffic for at least a mile in both directions, the hot springs made beautiful(and stinky) by the minerals , and the stupid bears that didn't want to come out of hiding for me to see. (the stuffed bears were still at the gift shop btw!)

Tuesday we all meet again in Pocatello. The kids swam and swam and swam (in fact Drew had the great idea of next time just getting a hotel room in Lehi and letting the kids swim the whole time :) )... and then Wednesday morning it was breakfast before we all headed for home.

I had such a great time. I love my family, and although I didn't get to spend as much time with everyone as I would have liked (I wasn't feeling well most of the trip:/ ) it was nice to get together.

I can't wait to go on our next trip! :)