Cory's Question

So a friend called me with a question about the last post...too long of a question for a comment, I'll summarise: Look at the chain-link fence on the left of the spillway. In the 'close-up' (color) picture the fence is much shorter than the monochrome, which seems to be taken from farther back. I hadn't noticed this at all, but after Cory drew my attention to it, I was amazed. I looked back into the metadata to see what focal length I shot them at...this solved it. The 'close-up' or color image was actually shot from much farther away and at 145mm, whereas the monochromatic was shot from closer to the structure and at 50mm. From farther away the fence was foreshortened and more background was visible (look at the power lines on the right!). But when I moved in closer to the structure, and shot at a wider angle, the power lines were not visible and the fence appears to get longer. Thanks Cory that was fun!

On other notes, I was in Jackson most all of this week again. We made progress too! It felt so good to get something standing! This is an image of the first elevation we got standing. I shot this with my camera phone and stitched it together...roughly. It is kind of hard to see...you know black aluminum frame on black iron structure...and hey, it was shot with a camera phone! I'm taking my 10D up next week to get some better photos. It feels really good to be making progress!

The new guy (newer than me) grinding off studs

Teton Dam Spillway

Saturday, Theo & I went out photographing. Friday he got a GMC Yukon, and wanted to give it a shake-down run...you know test out the off-road capabilities. He also wanted to get to the Teton Dam spillway, on the NW side of the Dam. We had a fun time finding it, driving through a field and through a few drifts, not too bad, but we didn't know exactly where to go. We did find it and got a few good images. Do you like the color or monochrome better?

Once we got there, we weren't quite sure how to get down into the spillway...we found a better way out, but this is how we got down.

On another note...Friday I found out that I am not getting paid what we agreed on! I am getting paid $1.50 more! Yea...so it was a good job move. I guess they have been happy with my work

Teton Park Visitor Center

So I've been working a lot in Jackson the past 2 weeks. Jenkins Glass has a pretty big job there, the new Grand Teton National Park Visitor Center at Moose. It is a really wierd building! Right after I started, we began work on the main curtain wall (really big window framing system). It has strange angles all over (the building mimics the teton ridge) and the entire system leans into the building at 9 digrees. However it is nice to have the whole area tented off so that we can work in 40-50 digree conditions. This is an inside view in the main area...this will look out directly to the Grand Tetons...it will be a beautiful view! The black vertical posts are the steel structure that we will attach our aluminum structure to, that will have the glass in it...our windows. It is pretty tough just getting the base, head and wind-load clips (attached to the steel) ready and in the right place. The posts are not plumb...well yea they tip in 9 digrees, but they are suposed to be plumb left to right, but our aluminum must be.

You can see our wind load clips and our base here...as well as the tenting that keeps it a nice 45 inside the building.

Anyway so I have been pullng long days working on this and a little bit of stuff here in town. We have only spent 3 or 4 days in a row in Jackson so far, but those were 10 hr days...so most of tomarrow will be overtime $$$. I haven't had much ti me to photograph lately, but I did make some images of the Tetons that I plan to put together in a mosiac/collage...we'll see how that turns out.

Weekends sure have taken on a new meaning for me and the family. It is spent finding ways to have fun with the kids and spending quality time with them and Jess. So far we have done good by going out on dates together too. It has been tough to be away for much of the week. But the pay is already helping pay off some bills and start saving more.

New Job

So I started the new job this week. It is sure different to start over after being with one company for so long. I did have kind of a cool surprise, I got to work on the entry doors for the IF Temple. We changed out the frames and doors and put in leaded glass. Very beautiful. It will also be nice for elderly and handicapped patrons, there are now automatic doors...Not like at a grocery store, but push button operated. I worked on that most of the week, in and out of the shop. I'll snap some shots and post them soon.

On the cover of a magazine!

So I have been working out a lot lately. In fact Runner's World magazine asked me to model for them....Ok so that is total BS. Duh!! A guy in my ward asked me to put his face on this picture and it turned out really cool. Jess wanted me to do it with my face too. What do you think? I think it just makes me look like a shirtless pedophile! Good for a laugh!

Unemployed

Toph at Starlight Skating

Well, I’m unemployed…until Monday that is. After 5 years at Cherry Glass I decided it was time to move on. I didn’t see myself earning enough there to get into a house. They just weren’t willing to pay me what I need. So Monday I start working for Jenkins Glass. They do only commercial work, and some euro shower doors. It will help to have a little more $, and It will be interesting to try out something new. What I am excited for is that they are doing the windows in the Rexburg Temple. The glass and frames will be here around the end of February. That will be great to be a part of that. I am also looking into other, more long-term, jobs. I just need to find something that will help me meet my goal of getting a house this year—wish us luck.

Creedance had a lot of fun.

We have been out playing with the kids. We went ice skating and roller skating. I think they liked the roller skating more…a bit easier and a lot warmer.

Jess also had a project for me in the kids’ closet. She wanted to have some shelves to put their toys in. There always seemed to be a big pile of toys there. Here's the kids testing the structural integrity of them.

It has been a few crazy weeks.

More Christmas Photos

Looking North towards West Yellowstone from Lion's Head

So here are the photos from Jessica's new camera...pretty nice. I am not too pleased with how it does in low light (indoors/night), but that's what you get with point & shoot I guess. Other than the long delay to take a picture with a flash, it is not too bad. It will take come getting used to...but it isn't for me anyway.

Jess and Creedance sledding on Christmas Eve

Playing in the snow with TJ. It was so much fun to be a kid with mine.

Christmas in Island Park

We spent Christmas at my in-law's cabin in Island Park this year. We go up there as much as possible (especially in the winter), but this has been the first time I have been there on Christmas. It was a lot of fun! We went up on Christmas Eve and had a very nice Ham dinner (Thanks Jessica!). Sam & Emily went up a day earlier and cut down a tree, so after dinner, we popped pop-corn and decorated the tree.

Nate & Kim stringing popcorn

Chris read Luke 2, Becky recited "The night before Christmas," and Sam read a poem about a Grandma's first Christmas after passing away...it was very touching as Jessica's grandma passed this year.

Sam & Emily (Jake & Dave too) working on Popcorn too

The kids had so much fun! I think they would live up there year-round if they could...Hey I would too!

Dave and his popcorn string

Today we played outside. Sledding, jumping in the snow and a quick snow-mobille ride. I loved sledding with Toph & Creedance...and TJ even made a few runs. The hill was FAST!!! Toph is getting very brave, and Creedance loved going fast...the snow spray in the face didn't bother her too much....TJ didn't like it too much when he fell face-first into a drift (from sitting)!

Rachel made some sweet ornamants

I had to come home a day early to get to work tomarrow, so after Jess gets home with her (new) camera, I'll have more snapshots to post.

I hated to come home after only one day...but I am thankful for the time I could spend with my family and children...I can't wait for next Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Yes I am still alive! The monts of November and December have been very wild and crazy...and I'm not quite sure why. A few weeks ago we went to Island Park to get our Christmas Tree, and while there we made a nice family photograph for the Christmas Card. In this Photo, Creedance is 2 1/2 years, Christopher is 4 years, TJ is 7 months, and...well that's all the ages you need to know. Not much snow up there yet, hopefully we will have more for this weekend. We will be spending Christmas there, we are looking forward to it. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone!!

The Wong House and Windmills

"Two Chairs" The Wong House--Teton Village, WY

Friday I worked in Jackson, finishing up a couple jobs and measuring a couple more. One job--the Wong house, is really cool. I am very pleased with it and how it turned out. Here is one of the shower doors we did.

This one took us about 4 hours to do. It is 3/8" thick glass and fit very snug. The door has no frame around it and we were drilling into GLASS tile. Kind of nerve wracking. I really like the whole house, and after fixing a few little things there on Friday I took pictures of all the showers we did and these 2 chairs that I thought looked cool. The decorating was very cool. Very retro-70's mixed with some ultra-modern.

Darren and Brian came up to Jackson with their BFA students on Friday too. They wanted to see some of the galleries. I met them for lunch...we at at the Brew-Pub...very good! We went to the Art Center and saw an interesting exhibit called "The Apron Chronicles." It is a large collection of aprons with stories and photos of people wearing aprons...It was OK, I see the validity of the overlaying concept...but it didn't speak to me a great deal...not quite my cup of tea. It was a nice treat that the writer/collector of the aprons and the photographer were both there and we got to talk to them and ask questions. The opening reception was Friday night. If you are up that way, check it out...I wouldn't drive up there just to see it, but I'd stop by if there. We also went to the Oswald...my favorate! It was a fun afternoon to goof off from work. Thanks Brian! Thanks Darren!

Saturday afternoon, after installing windows in a house for a little Christmas money, Theo and I drove out to the Windmills to make some photographs. I think we were cutting it a little close on the light. But I had fun, and I think we got some good images. Theo also got to have fun pushing the limits of his new Subaru. We almost didn't make it up one sloppy hill. Definately need to go back after we get a little more snow.

Why glaziers don't wear rings

Today I had a little lesson as to why glaziers (and really all construction workers) should not wear rings...yep! You guessed it. You may or may not want to see these pictures.

We were installing a little glass corner to enclose part of a shower in a house in Victor, ID. I was standing on the little corner seat in the shower, holding the metal frame with my left hand, while running a screw into the frame with my right. After running the screw in, I stepped down, but my wedding ring caught the edge of the frame I was installing. OUCH!!! Among a few other words came out of my mouth. I filleted my finger quite bad...just layers of skin though. It swelled up quickly....I wish I would have pulled my ring off, but that flapper was in the way.

By the time we got to Jackson...by the way I did this at 8am today, and we still had a VERY full day of work to do in Jackson Hole! Anyway, by the time we got to Jackson, I was about ready to cut my ring off for fear of the swelling getting too tight. But it seemed to loose enough that I didn't need to worry. If the swelling comes back (I don't think it will), the cutters are coming out and the ring is coming off.

As soon as it heals up...or at least until the swelling goes down enough...the ring is coming off. I do like to wear it, but I like to have a finger to wear it on.

Can you see how much it has swelled?

Pretty nasty eh?

Finally--more photos!

So Blogger is working for me now! Here's the images from last weekend that aren't just snapshots. Give me some feedback of what you think!

Who needs a Safari Rack?!

The Sampson Cabin...well chimney, slab, beds and stove.

We found this at the West end of Hebgen Lake...I think it is a crawfish.

Quake Lake.

I got the film from this trip developed today too. I hope to get it scanned in a week or two. I even shot some Holga stuff. The negs look pretty good.

Island park Photo Trip

It has been long enough since my last photographing extursion. Theo and I were planning on making a day trip to the City of Rocks to photograph, but circumstances convinced us to stay closer to home. Plus, a day to photograph in the city is simply not enough time. We still covered quite a bit of ground on our day trip of photographing. We caught the morning light at Monkey Falls (near Newdale, ID). It was a bit brisk there, glad I had several layers of warm cloths. I also thought it would be fun to hit Mesa Falls. I have to find a way to get to the north side of the river to photograph the upper and lower falls...there has got to be a way.

Theo checking his phone reception at Mesa Falls...cool! I caught a little rainbow!

During the noon light we walked around Island Park Scout Camp (where I spent every summer growing up). I was amazed at the transformation the COPE course has made. Not one of the orignal poles of the High course are still there... OK, so stumps of them are there, but that is it. I was very impressed! The lake was really cool too. There was a thin (1/8") sheet of Ice on part of the lake, and when we walked on the docks, you could hear the watter ripple crackle under the ice. The scout camp looks really good! There has been a lot of good things done there in the last few years.

OK so I'm not too far off the ground, and it is a HUGE pole...AND there is not any COPE staff or spotters, waaah!

Just north of the camp there is a chimney and concrete slab that is the remnence of a cabin that burnt down...The owner was/is Ken Sampson, he taught ath IF High School. Anyway, I always thought it was a really cool place, and yet I have never photographed there. I just wanted to show Theo, but I pulled out the view camera and made a few exposures from the top of my car. I hope the negs turn out nice. Theo also shot a little with my 10D. His shots were really cool.

We also went to see the distruction caused by the 1959 Hebgen Lake Earthquake. There are remnence of houses at the West end of Hebgen that fell into that Lake, and a few miles farther West there is a lake that was created by the Earthquake...aptly named Quake Lake. Theo was toatly amazed by Quake Lake. There are dead pine trees still sticking out from the surface of the lake. Stark white against the dark blue water, we had to make as many images as the setting sun would allow.

It was a great chance to get out and photograph. Thanks Theo! Now I just need to go through the Digital images and get around to processing the film. I don't envy Theo...I think he has twice as many sheets of film to run.

OK, so there are a few more images, but for some reason they won't upload...I'll post them soon though.

Year Realization

A couple days ago I was going through the files on the computer... you know sorting, deleting, just cleaning house. I came accros a file that made me a little sad "2005_11_10 Last day with the Bus." It was the photos we took the day we sold my VW Bus. It is just about a year ago now that we found another home for my '72 Kombi, another guy that fell in love with her just had to have her. We came to a point in our lives that we needed something better for Jessica to drive. You see days that I went to school I drove her little Prizm, and she was left with the Bus. She didn't mind it too much except for in the winter, when it was colder than a witches teet, and the fine German engineering failed to make it to the heating system. With our third child on the way ( see previous post), we really needed something with a much better heating system that would not make you sick with exhaust fumes. Wait! German engineering...enclosed space...gas fumes...It is all coming together. WWII was over when the Bus was developed, and yet they still held on to those old ways! But I digress. Our 'Type II" was a wonderful vehicle to have. Great for camping trips and just as cool to cruze around town in. We always got the smiles and laughs (mostly at my 'push to operate' and '0-55 in 11 minutes' bumper stickers) as well as the peace signs. I really do miss my ol' girl, but as the winter months are approaching I really do enjoy a heated van (with AWD!) for my family to get around in.

Here's a picture Creedance doing one of their favorate things...just playing in the bus...on the day we sold it. They cried for almost a half an hour after it drove away. One day I will have another VW...I think I'll get a Bug next.

Portrait of TJ at 6 Months

Today after work, I made some photographs of TJ (my youngest kid). I noticed that the light coming in our bedroom window was quite nice. I am not sure about this 'coloring' however. I intended to use a chanel mixer layer to convert to b&w, but forgot about another layer above it and ended up with this subtle color. I like it, but worry that it is a bit cliché. Does it look subtle or colorized? Here's a rough b&w to compare.

Does it seem more in line with my other Children Portraits? Now bear in mind that the portraits on my website were made with a 4x5 view camera and this is with a digital SLR...so the depth of field (among other factors) will be vastly different. Obviously there is a difference because color is introduced, but is it an effective difference or just cute and sappy?

Jack-O-Lanterns!

We carved and painted pumpkins tonight with the kids. It was fun. I really like how Jessica's turned out. It makes me laugh. Hers is on the left.


Theo and I are going to the City of Rocks tomarrow to photograph and freeze our butts off. Should be fun. I hope some of the 4x5 images turn out really well. I want to make some kick-a silver prints of them to hang (and sell--I hope).

We thought we were going to be in Salt Lake for TJ's operation on Halloween, because some doh-head in scheduling at Shriner's called and set us up for the 31st, when we aren't suposed to go in for about 6 more months...we thought it was a little early and we were. Kinda ticks us off...but mistakes happen.

Paramount

Friday after work I went climbing with a couple in my ward. It was a lot of fun. When I only climb about once a year, you could imagine what I climb like. But I did lead one (Fly by night 5.8) and top-rope another (Mr Rogers Neighborhood 5.9) at Paramount. It was wierd that when I was leading Fly by night, I got realy scared at the top. This is a climb that I have done many times, both on top rope and on lead. What was my deal. So when we were setting up on Mr Rogers Neighborhood, I didn't feel that I had it in me to take the sharp end. Especially when I saw the 12'-15' run-out. Spencer was great on lead. He flew up the first 2/3 of it, then looked down and said, "Wow! This is really high!" I think it suprised him how fast he got up there. It was a great climb! When I was on it, I could see a couple of thin spots that I would have really puckered if on lead. I'm glad Spencer took it on. It was a blast to get out and get a few climbs in. I need to get out more...wait...snow is about to fly! Spring I guess.

Photos to come as soon as I can get them from Spencer.

Island Park Weekend

Friday night we went to Island Park for the weekend. My in-laws have a cabin up there that is very nice to go to for the weekend. We like to go there General Conference weekend every 6 months. They have satelite tv, so we are able to watch the 4 regular sessions, then go into west Yellowstone (about 10 minutes away) for the Priesthood Session. Jessica's mom likes to go into West Yellowstone and get a room at the Days Inn, just so that they can play at the pool indoor pool and water slide. Usually no one stays in the room, we just swim. That is a lot of fun for the kids (especially in the winter), and isn't too bad of a price during the off season.

The talks given during the sessions were wonderfull...ok, so the ones that I heard. I really enjoyed Saturday and Sunday Afternoon, and especially the priesthood session. They are very inspiring.


In between the conference sessions, we get out and enjoy what is around. Island Park is one of my favorate places to photograph. I love the quaking aspens, how some will be so large and tall, and grow strait, while others will bend and curve. Saturday was beautiful! Sunday however wasn't so much. After the snow flies, I am able to get into some of the backcountry on snow-machine and make some cool images too.

This is just 2 miles from the in-laws' cabin. No, their cabin is not one of these 'modern cabins' advertised by the Sunset Cafe sign. This is at the base of an old ski hill. There are several little one room cabins, a cafe/bar, a shop and the old ski lift. It is all for sale, I thought I heard for $3 million...but that includes the hill!

Another one of my favorate places in IP to photograph. This is the foundation of some building (a little ranch house I would assume, It has been some time sence it had walls and a roof.

Trip to Salt Lake

Last Wednesday we went with TJ to Salt Lake City, TJ had a check-up at Shriner's Hospital. He is still doing well, and we will be going down for his surgery in early spring...just before he turns one. They want to begin before he starts to walk.

It was a lot of fun. We stayed at a much nicer place this time, they even had a pool, so we went for a swim with TJ, he liked it. He even started falling asleep while we swam. After his check-up we went to the LDS art and history museum...very nice, too bad they are in between exhibits, their perminent displays were still up though. We also looked around at a few stores, then came home Thrusday night.

Bank Job

The last 3 days I have been working in Jackson Hole...that was a very long 3 days. We are doing a curtain-wall system in a new bank there. I can't remember if it is the 1st bank of Jackson or Jackson State Bank...or something like that...there's a lot of banks in Jackson, must be a lot of money there. But we got it all closed in, and should only have another day (or maybe 2) of flashing and punch-list stuff. We stayed at the Verginian Motel...crappy beds, thin walls and doors that don't seal tight, didn't sleep very well. Anyway, here's a few pictures, I am very tired and must sleep...after all it isn't Friday yet.