Every so often I see something in Utah that I would never have seen in Scotland like

Bike police that carry guns

People unashamedly showing off their new nose complete with support strapping

Not every photograph I take gets the result that I intended but I usually know what I've done wrong if it doesn't. If the picture was taken outdoors sometimes it may be the case that the sun is brighter than I realised. Or It might be duller than I realised and I just haven't adjusted as I should have. Sometimes its just a case of being lazy I may have forgotten to check and adjust the settings as necessary from one picture to another. But in most cases I recognise the mistake afterwards, learn the lesson through experience and just delete the picture. The joys of digital.

Today however I took a picture that just looks downright weird and I have no idea what happened and so cannot explain it.My initial thought was that something was on the lens and I hadn't cleaned it properly, but then it wasn't on the next shot. And I don't think it can't be a sunspot because the mark is off the centre and shape is just kind of odd. So answers in a postcard please.

Anyway here are some more detail shots in keeping with the earlier pictures taken yesterday.

Not a great shot either, but was the best shot I could get at the time with all the passing cyclists scaring this little guy behind the rocks every couple of seconds.

Long before I was a photographer I was a garden designer so its perhaps no surprise that Spring the season where everything in nature begins anew is also the season I turn into an old hippy. I get excited over the details, the different shades of green, the new born sheep in the fields, buds opening and the tree blossom. The fascination and delight started when I was young, it seems I'm too old to change now.

It might have taken a couple of weeks longer for the trees to blossom and start to turn green compared to my homeland but damn it feels just as good to see Winter on the retreat.
Not all of the pictures above are pin sharp, due to the lightest of breezes, but I still like 'em. Maybe I'm just easily satisfied.

And anyway it sure feels good to go for a walk with the woman on such a gorgeous day.

2 Posts in one day - when did that last happen?

Listening to: The Eels - Goddamn Right It's A Beautiful Day

Damn That Muffin Was Nice!

This is what it looked like in the mountains around Salt Lake City just 8 days ago.

Today it's 22 degrees Celsius, which would be a pleasant summers day in Scotland. It's gorgeous. By Wednesday, the temperature in these parts is going to be around the level where the humidity in the air in Scotland would start making working outside uncomfortable without ample levels of Irn Bru refreshments. It is not as humid in Utah but I can't help thinking that come the Summer I will be wishing that the 7 kids we had over did this weekend took pity on me by doing their job properly and finished me off. 

 

In the meantime though I am going to enjoy this Spring and treat it like the chocolate muffin I just ate. 

The Long Good Friday

It's probably not advisable to have just 45 minutes sleep before spending the next 14 hours photographing an important public event that is to include Mayor's, Senator's and NFL stars. But somechileanwoman apparently doesn't stop talking when she is excited. It's just as well I love that woman or I could have been a grouch and very bad company all day. 

Anyway here are some sneak peeks of some of the photographs I have been busy editing all weekend from the SALT (Stand A Little Taller) Fundraising event that took place in Salt Lake City on Friday.

The Mayor

The Senator

Chris Kemoeatu (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Maake Kemoeatu (Carolina Panthers)

Got To Love Chancers

If you have read my last post you will aware that I have just moved from Scotland to Utah. As a result of this move I am currently looking for work, in an ideal situation I would like to start up my own photography business so although I have been looking online at any job adverts that I thought I might be able to do I have been especially keeping my eye out for any photography work so that I can build my reputation in the area.  Which led me to clicking on this advert today

Photogragher (Salt Lake city, UT)

Hello everyone I am looking for a photographer for a Premium Street Wear Clothing Company Shoot, We will be using exotic and luxury cars in the shoot, also good looking models, Men and women. 

Location-Mountains, Outside Atmosphere, Cabin, Lake,etc 

Overlooking the fact that the person who posted the advert couldn't spellcheck photographer in the headline or give the city in Salt Lake City a capital it seemed like a good interesting job, that was until I read on a little further.

I am looking for a photographer that would like to (TFCD) Trade for CD, It will build up your portfolio, and your resume. 

If interested please contact me ASAP, The photo shoot will be May 25, 2009 
The shoot could be a two day event, subject to change. 

Thank you 
Hope to here from you soon... 

Compensation: (Trade for cd) TFCD

Apparently this 'premium' clothing company is willing to shell out for luxury cars and models but expects to get the photography work for free. Two days may not sound like a lot of work but a conservative estimate of one days shooting for that type of event would be around 800 photos. So if you were to double that for the two day shoot anybody contemplating applying for this wonderful resume enhancing opportunity would have about 2 weeks worth of work just editing a job that they had done for free.

 

Don't get me wrong photographers will often work for free when they are starting out and will work with new bands that need shots for their Myspace page or inexperienced models for portfolio purposes but a typical shoot would be around 25 or so images and maybe take around an hour to complete. But this joker wants the equivalent work of two wedding shoots which conservatively would cost around $1600 but wants full rights of the images for free. Nice! The sad thing is I suspect that some poor sod will actually be naive enough to apply and be taken for a ride.

Now as it happens I am going to do some photography work for free this coming Friday but all for a good cause and perhaps as a result I might even be able to get a few contacts from it. Unlike the advertisement shown above.