This is been a rough week. I have been spending a lot of time doing everything I can think of to get Grandpa's photo and story as visible as possible. The stress is taking its toll on me and I feel physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted.
I am shooting a wedding in Manti, UT in two weeks. I had never been there before, so before Grandpa went missing I had made plans to take a day trip with my dear friend and take a photowalk around the temple grounds at about the same time of day I will be shooting wedding photos. I wanted to get a feel for the temple grounds, lighting, and some ideas for how to set up some shots for the bride and groom. I was ready to cancel my plans and stay home to keep working on Grandpa's publicity and be around in case any new information became available, but my Dad really encouraged me to go ahead with my plans. He told me I needed a few hours away from the stress and obsessive googling I've been doing on Grandpa's behalf. I took his advice and went ahead with my plans for the day. Dad was right. It was just what I needed. Not only did I get a much needed break, but I also got some great shots of the temple grounds and some fun ideas for how to photograph the happy couple on their wedding day. Here are some of my favorite shots from yesterday's outing.
The first shot is a view from south of the temple. The hill in the foreground is where the popular "Mormon Miracle Pageant" is performed every year.
Pentax K100D, 28-80mm f/3.5-f/5.6 lens at 40mm, f.5.6, 1/1000 sec, ISO 200
There were several weddings there when as we explored the grounds. This little girl escaped from her parents and all the wedding festivities for just long enough to run as fast as she could down the cool grassy hill. I'm sure her pretty little dress suffered a few grass stains, but I'm also sure it was worth it. I love the minimalism of this shot. Yesterday I felt just like this little girl, letting the momentum of the day help me run away, just for a short time, from the burdens of my life.
Pentax K100D, 28-80mm f/3.5-f/5.6 lens at 28mm, f/3.5, 1/1000 sec, ISO 200
A lot of the grounds to the east of the temple are much less groomed, but it gave me some great subjects for fun macro shots of the dry August grass. *sigh* I am so in love with the bokeh on my "Nifty Fifty" 50 mm lens.
Pentax K100D, 50mm f/1.4 lens at f/1.4, 1/3000 sec, ISO 200
Standing at the northwest corner of the temple, the angles in the architecture are really stunning. In this shot I was experimenting with capturing some lens flare from the sunlight. I recently read that the smaller the aperture (the bigger the f/stop number) you use, the more distinct the flare. Looks like it worked. I love the little rainbow splash of color that was thrown across the side of the building.
Pentax K100D, 28-80mm f/3.5-f/5.6 lens at 28mm, f/22, 1/90 sec, ISO 200
Finally, I have a dear place in my heart for any Bishops' Storehouse. The LDS Church Welfare system is an inspiring organization of volunteers, and the shelves inside this building are stocked with the fruits of so much of that compassionate service. They provide a lot of food for a lot of good people that desperately need it.
I also love old buildings, so I had to have a shot of this very old Bishop's Storehouse in Manti, UT. I wish I had been about 2 inches further to the right to get this exactly symmetrical. (I'm not obscessive, am I?)
Pentax K100D, 28-80mm f/3.5-f/5.6 lens at 28mm, f/4.5, 1/350 sec, ISO 200
