1st Digital Photo Project - Superstition Chapel

My first digital photography project.
Learning to See: Documenting A Place

• Take Photos at least 3 different times of the day.
• A variety of lighting conditions
• Variety of focal lengths
• include detail shots
• wide shots that reveal some of the surroundings
• a variety of points of view
• should express your personal vision of the place you chose

During the 2nd round / time of day shots Eric came with me and posed for me a little. It has to be his idea to take pictures for him to cooperate :).

Here is my handsome prince....
Of course me too...

Here is where the fun begins... (These are in reverse order from when I took them.)

Notice the different color casts that are created by the sun in different locations in the sky.

Sunset (Sun almost - below horizon)

Sunset (Sun still above horizon) 6:10pm

Late afternoon 5:20pm

Midday 11:30am

Here is my typed description of my photographic process. I haven't written a paper for school in many many years so format was not observed.

Location: Superstition Mountain Museum – The White Chapel

What I now know is called the Elvis Presley Memorial Chapel sits along Hwy 88 or Apache Trail on the way to my favorite Superstition Mnt hike and Canyon Lake. I would pass by this chapel many times admiring it before and after my many adventures in the Mountains. Knowing a little about the background of the area's Lost Dutchman history made the little white chapel much more appealing. I have longed for the opportunity to photograph it. My boyfriend wouldn't have the patience for me to photograph the Chapel in such detail and various lighting had it not been for this assignment.

I had previously only seen the Chapel driving by, slowing down to get a better glance. I have to admit I did not want to know the story behind the Chapel before I photographed it and I am glad I did not know. Knowing the real story and name would have altered the way I looked at and possibly photographed it.

I did discover that in front of the Church, guarding it from the road was a forest of Cholla or jumping cactus. It was visable from the road the whole time but I never paid attention to it until it at first seemed in my way of the perfect photos. Instead I used it to show how it was a wall protecting the White Chapel from harm.

The photos that were the most successful were those with the Superstitions behind the steeple. The White Chapel appears majestic against the red rock back drop and deep blue sky. The PM shots had the richest and most vibrant lighting. My favorite lighting was the later Sunset as the sun was almost all the way down. The Chapel and surroundings look quiet and peaceful as the cooler colors seep into the picture.

If I were to reshoot the assignment I would try some early morning shots with the sun coming up from behind the mountain. I would love to see what lighting that would create on the mountains. The church could almost be a silhouette in the sunrise.

There were 4 external challenges I faced during this photo shoot. The distance was the biggest obstacle. It is a good 30-40 minute drive from my house. During the day people at the museum wondering into my picture were quite a challenge. As night approached so did the bugs. They were swarming everywhere from the warm air and new plant blooms. They followed me around buzzing in my ear and eyes. The wind was probably the biggest challenge in the first visit around 11am. It was so windy that I could not keep the camera steady. Higher shutter speeds for certain shots against the wind were necessary. I had a few blurred and out of focus images as a result of the wind pushing me.

Stimulate the Economy not Government

$800,000,000,000 is what our elected officials want to use to "Stimulate our Economy"
Here is a list of how they want to spend the money. Most of the items below are great things to be addressed at a later date. REMEMBER though this is an ECONOMIC STIMULUS bill.

If the goal is to stimulate the economy then do it. If the goal is to push your political agenda or grow government then just say it and call it that. Don't lie to us and disguise a bill for increase your political power from the Pork!

Some of these items may help the economy but they won't even take effect for many months if not years waiting for government grants to be approved and all the red tape.
Another point to make is Government does not produce, it consumes. So creating more government jobs will give people work but it won't help the economy. Government jobs don't put money into the economy like a private business or corporation would. Helping to create jobs in the private sector is what we need, not more government jobs. Most of these items below will also take time for plans to be developed and executed. It is not a quick fix like the economy needs.

This is my favorite:
• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

Hybrid cars are more expensive than a comparable non-hybrid vehicle. Obama says why wouldn't we spend the money now to burn cleaner fuel and use less gas which would save the people money. The savings in gas over the life of the vehicle would never come close to adding up to the expense of buying an expensive brand new hybrid. Hybrids don't save enough gas to monetarily make them a worthy purchase because of the upfront expense.

A stimulus bill is supposed to help the economy TODAY!

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.
• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.
• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.
• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).
• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.
• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.
• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.
• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.
• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.
• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.
• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.
• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."
• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges
• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.
• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.
• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.
• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.
• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.
• $500 million for state and local fire stations.
• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.
• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.
• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.
• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.
• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.
• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.
• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.
• $850 million for Amtrak.
• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.
• $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.
• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.
• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.

Here is a plan I heard from Dave Ramsey that would Stimulate the economy NOW!
I have 1 addition at position #1

1. My Addition is make the Bush tax cuts permament. At least rewrite the tax cuts, keep the same and call it the Obama tax cuts. He can take credit as long as I don't have to pay more.
2. Obama wants 3,000,000 people to have jobs.
Give a tax credit of $20,000 to any employer who hires and keeps on payroll in 2009, for 12 months in surplus to the current employers. Meaning they cannot layoff employees to hire new ones.
3. Give a $20,000 tax credit to anyone who buys a home in 2009 regardless if 1st time buyer or not.
This would give more than 3,000,000 people jobs because the housing industry would be jumpstarted again.
The cost of this only $120,000,000,000!!! This is 87% savings and the government would see more money coming in for taxes to help supplement this cost. It will partially pay for itself.
This would never happen though because there is no way to pass a bill like this without our elected officials throwing in some pork for their state or for their political interests. They need to have the pork to turn to us and say.... "Look what I did for you guys. I helped you by buying furniture for Homeland Security Headquarters and gave money to Hollywood Producers! Now relect me so I can waste more of your hard earned money."
This is bogus guys!!! Why did we vote these fools in office!! (I can proudly say I did not)

FIRE THEM!!!!

We need to elect

2009 the Best YEAR!! Cards to Super Bowl & Elder Bednar!

The real thrill of the weekend was seeing Elder Bednar Saturday night at a YSA fireside. He had a question and answer session with people roaming around with microphones so anyone could ask questions. It was amazing and the spirit was very strong.

At the end he taught us that we don't need an apostle in our city to answer our questions. That we can find the answers ourselves.

To top it off he gave us an apostolic blessing by way of hymn. The closing song was How Firm a Foundation. He told us to pay specail attention to the words as we sing. The 7th verse usually isn't sung but he wanted us to sing it twice!

I walked out there wanting to be a better person and wanting to be so good.

I am going to study the words to this song and engrain them in my heart...

1. How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!

What more can he say than to you he hath said,

Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior,

Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

2. In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health,

In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,

At home or abroad, on the land or the sea—

As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,

As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.

3. Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.

I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,

Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose

I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

Hikes, Dogs and the moistest Turkey ever!

HIKE

New Year's Day I really wanted to go fishing but I didn't get paid til the next day so I couldn't buy a license. We settled for hiking my typical place to hike. The 1st - 2nd Water Trail in the Superstitions. It was an absolutely perfect and beautiful day.

We stopped by the Goldfield Ghost Town for some Mango Habenero Salsa.

Come to find out that company went out of business that made it. We were stuck with straight Habenero Salsa which I am not that fond of. It drowns out the flavor of the other good stuff in it.

http://www.goldfieldghosttown.com/

or

http://www.gidyup.com/

On the way back from the hike Eric found this Man cactus. Had to get a pict of it. I didn't bring my good camera cuz I just wanted to enjoy the time with Eric which I did!! But I still missed some good shots.

I love the Superstition Mountains!!!

On the way back home we passed by this house! It was grotesquely covered with mostly stuffed animals! The guy that owned it came outside as turned around to take a pict. It looks like a roadside shop but it isn't. They are there just for decoration!! OMGosh!!!

DOGS

On the way to church these 3 dogs by Eric's house were just chillin on this lawn at the edge. I thought it was odd that they were just sitting there at the edge. By the way it was raining and sprinkling off and on too.

Ok. On the way back to Eric's from church the dogs were still there so I snapped some pictures. It was like they were guarding the house. I really don't think they live there. They just pulled up a piece of grass to rest on.
I made dinner and afterward we went for a walk and the dogs were still there!!!
We were wearing hoodies cuz of the sprinkles and as we got close they all got up and took off.
We kept our route around the mile block but as we got to the cross-section road we ventured to the middle where the dogs went down out of curiosity. There they were down our same street about to turn the corner. They basically were going in a circle and now headed back toward the house we first saw them at. We didn't follow them though.

When we got back to Eric's my curiousity was exploding and I got in my car and drove to see what they were doing. The little dog separated from the big dogs seeming a little confused and possibly looking for them. The big dogs I found on the corner heading back around in the same circle they went before! Perhaps now they were looking for the little guy.

I thought this was the one of the funniest and most curious things I have seen. 3 completely different dogs traveling in a pack. I have no idea where they live but they seem like they belong in the area although very lost.





MOIST TURKEY

I ventured out to cook a moister turkey then previously done. Most turkeys come out dry and hard. I knew there must be another way. I found this website which I decided to give a shot.

http://www.howtocookathanksgivingturkey.com/

I am sooo glad I did. The turkey was so moist, the meat fell right off the bones and it tasted wonderful. I put the turkey in a reynolds bag though which I usually do.

I have tons of leftovers for Turkey Enchiladas, Turkey Casserole with mushroom soup and rice! Turkey sandwiches!! It is well worth the trouble. YUM!