Snow Princess

One of my favorite brides decided to brave the weather and come down to Utah to take her bridals at the Midway Ice Castles.  I took her wedding in DC just before Christmas and I thought she looked just like a snow princess, and wished it had started to snow a little the day of her wedding.  So, to make up for the lack of snow on her day of bliss, we did our shoot at the ice castles and even got a few little flakes into the mix.

Her husband was there to help, but he had his fill when I asked him to make us some snowballs -- the poor man had not brought any gloves.  As soon as the snowballs had been constructed, he rushed off so I couldn't find some other chilly chore for him to do.  :-)

"Cinderella" Preview

Last week, I had the exciting new opportunity of shooting a ballet performance -- BYU's production of "Cinderella."  I'm used to taking ballroom dancers, but this was my first foray into the ballet world -- at least, as a photographer.  I have always loved ballet, and if I had stuck with it as a child, maybe I would have been a ballerina.  :-)

I've been processing like crazy and hope to have all the photos up soon, but for now, a little taster.  At the beginning of the first act, our favorite gal in rags dreams of dancing at the ball while she sweeps up after her stepsisters.

Ramona Falls

Last summer, I took my usual Pacific Northwest excursion and made it a point to see the beautiful and popular Ramona Falls.  I had a slight bone to pick with the author of A Waterfall Lover's Guide to the Pacific Northwest, who rated Ramona only three stars out of five -- I felt it was worth more than that, a gorgeous waterfall, tall and graceful, interesting and unique, all at the end of a lovely and enjoyable hike.

I am now doubly glad that I visited this particular falls, as now no one can get to it due to the storms they've had this winter.  The road was flooded and caused major damage to the area so that the trail will be closed off for quite some time.  I'll have to keep an eye out for when it does reopen, and I will be among the first to take that hike again!  For right now, I can only be grateful I got to see it when I did, and I can enjoy the photos I got that day.

Winter Magic

Brrrr, cold!  Now is the time of year I usually threaten to move to Bermuda.  But sometimes -- if only very occasionally -- the cold becomes worth it.  Case in point...The Midway Ice Castles.  A local fellow builds these amazing structures of ice that you can wander through.  It's a winter wonderland if ever I saw one.  And though my fingers were completely numb after five minutes, the experience was more than worth it.

And yes, the blue tint is naturally occurring.  :-)  It's part of what makes this place so incredible to view.

Angels of the Madeleine

It's one of my favorite features of a cathedral -- the stained glass.  The Cathedral of the Madeleine has incredibly detailed and richly colored stained glass.  I loved the various angels I saw depicted in them.  I think I especially liked the one with purple wings.  If I were an angel, I think I'd want purple wings.  :-)

Salt Lake City's cathedral

Everyone knows about famous Temple Square in Salt Lake City.  I go there all the time, it is one of the most stunningly beautiful places to visit.

But another of my favorite spots in Salt Lake is the cathedral just down the road a little bit.  The Cathedral of the Madeleine.

I introduced some friends of mine to this place today.  I am particularly a fan of the amazing stained glass.