Location: East Canyon and Little Dell Reservoirs

East Canyon Reservoir, Utah

The last few work days I've been able to get off early, and I've taken every advantage to go get some new imagery. I'm lucky to live in such a diverse area that I sometimes have trouble deciding which way to go. Recently I've been heading east of Salt Lake and checking out several of the surrounding reservoirs. A week or so ago I made it to East Canyon, but just as a low clouds started to envelop the scene and turn it grey. I was intrigued by what I saw so I decided to return. With the reservoir so low this time of year the inlets and outlets create a photographers dream: leading lines, cracked mud, bright green undergrowth. I was lucky enough to find some clean patches of the cracked mud below; most of the area was trampled by cattle. 

"Crack" (aptly named by my brother) at East Canyon Reservoir, Utah

East Canyon Reservoir, Utah

Little Dell Reservoir, Utah

Little Dell is just on the way to East Canyon and can be seen from the top of Emigration Canyon. It's a great little reservoir that I've been wanting to shoot for a while. Far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but close enough to feel like it's in my backyard. I'm hoping as it gets colder these reservoirs will freeze and produce some interesting imagery. I just have to figure out how to keep this early shift...

Little Dell Reservoir, Utah

Little Dell Reservoir, Utah

Little Dell Reservoir, Utah

As a side note, one of my Instagram photos was chosen as a finalist for the @igutah #utahwildlife contest. If you're on Instagram check it out!

Here's the photo and link

Composite Result: Vermillion Lakes

Final composite of the two images below. Vermillion Lakes Under the Stars, Banff, Canada. 

Long night exposure of the stars and glow from the Town of Banff.

Last bit of light on Mt. Rundle. Blended with the night shot above to bring out detail in foreground grass and create the top image. 

I promised in one of my Canada posts that I would share the night composite I did at Vermillion Lakes in Banff. I'm still learning Photoshop, and trying to figure out how I will implement it into my own photographic vision. I'm a big believer in getting the image as you see it in camera at the moment of capture (which is why I like using filters), but there are times when the camera cannot capture your intended vision in camera. After seeing a blog post by Sean Bagshaw on the Photo Cascadia blog, and communicating with Sean about his own process, I knew I wanted to try this technique of blending images in Photoshop. It takes a lot of patience and will, both during the shooting process and the post process, but it pays off in the end. Even if this image isn't the best night composite ever, now I know how it is done and I will be able to create images I never thought I could. That's just it about this whole photography thing: There is always something to learn! 

And The Winner Is....

Congratulations to Sarah! You won the free print! And yes, it is free, so don't even think about compensation... Thank you so much for your heartfelt comment, it really meant a lot. Please email me at lindsaydanielsphotography@gmail.com with a description of the photo you would like printed as well as an address to which I can send it to.

Thank you all for your support and kind words! I wish I could give you all a free print. I am very grateful to all of you who took the time to write a comment and express such encouraging words. I hope I'll be able to do more of these in the future so keep coming back to see what's up on the blog. I'll be done with the sprint triathlon this weekend, so I'll have a bit more time to focus on the blog and my photography in general. I am excited for what's to come! Thanks again, and I hope you enjoy your new print, Sarah!

*winner was chosen using random.org