Wedding Cupcake

I have been to a lot of weddings and wedding receptions over the years and seen a lot of different wedding cakes.  However, this is a first--a tower of wedding cupcakes.  No these are not for refreshments, they are the "wedding cake."  Now that is an original idea, one easy to pull off for the cake maker/baker and certainly gets rid of the cake cutting ceremony.  Now it's just a cupcake paper removal ceremony before the bride and groom smash the frosting laden cup cakes into each other's faces...

Wedding cupcake

Details:
iPhone 5S, Native Camera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


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Original Image 

Angel Moroni--the Mormon temple topper

After attending a family wedding at the Draper, Utah temple I captured this image of the gold plated statue of Angel Moroni--the statue that tops off so many Mormon temples around the world.  As you notice when comparing the final image to the original image I did have to crop quite a bit since my vantage point was clear down on the sidewalk.

Interesting fact about the Angel Moroni statue that adorns so many Mormon temples--The original idea to use the prophet from the Book of Mormon to top the temple came from sculptor Cyrus Dallin, who was not a member of the LDS faith. Dallin was asked by LDS Church President Wilford Woodruff to create something for the central spire of the Salt Lake Temple.  It was Dallin who decided to sculpt Moroni.  The rest is history.  Well it's all history.  Who knew?

Angel Moroni--the Mormon temple topper

Details:
iPhone 5S, vividHDR, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


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Original Image

Post wedding ceremony pictures

After every Mormon temple wedding ceremony there are the obligatory family picture posing moments.  All of the family, friends and relatives of the couple gather together outside in front of the temple (where the ceremony took place) and pose--rain, snow or sunshine--and pose for pictures that make it into every couple's wedding photo book or scrapbook.  This wedding took place at the Draper, Utah temple.  And yes, I was part of the group that "had" to gather for the family photos.  Tradition....

The obligatory Mormon post wedding ceremony family group picture posing

Details:
iPhone 5S, vividHDR, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


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HIdden Getaway

Took a group of teenage girls off the grid for some girl's camp time.  "Camping" is a bit of a misnomer since we actually had them stay in a very nice cabin deep in the Uinta National Forest.  Driving down the highway I would have never guessed that this gorgeous place even existed at this location.  But once off the highway and in some five miles and then down a dirt road a bit and the most gorgeous place opens up.  Beautiful hidden getaway for a few days.

Hidden Getaway

Details:
iPhone 5S, vividHDR (Dramatic mode), Snapseed, PhotoStudio


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Down in the valley

Down in the valley, valley so low.... Isn't there a song like that?  This is a view of the greater Salt Lake City valley from the South--from the Suncrest development right above Draper.  I took this picture using the vividHDR camera app on a nice summer afternoon.  

Down in the valley

Details:
iPhone 5S, vividHDR (Dramatic mode), Snapseed, PhotoStudio


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Get Down!

Oh, to be kids again.  No worries about what others may think or say.  When they see something interesting they get down close and check it out, even in public places--because they are more curious than socially conditioned.  When was the last time you spied something interesting in the middle of the mall, got down on your hands and knees for a closer look and stuck your face right down to the ground in wonder?  Oh, to be kids again...

Get Down!

iPhone 5S, Native Camera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


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Original Image

Wind Blown

Blowing gently in the wind--makes for a perfect time to use the SlowCam app with a 5 second exposure. Enough to blur the moving parts for just the right effect.

Wind Blown

Details:
iPhone 5S, SlowCam, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


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Shopping again? Still?

At the mall again, in his stroller, along for the ride, my grandson shows his enthusiasm for the trip.  That's a boy with my genes.  At least he gets to sit and ride....

Shopping again?  Still?

Details:
iPhone 5S, Native Camera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


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Reflected Sunset

Turning around again I saw the painted sunset sky and clouds reflected in the windows of my car (yes I did wash it earlier in the day).  A different perspective of the gorgeous sunset.

Reflected Sunset

Details:
iPhone 5S, Native Camera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


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Painted Sky

We were in a local frozen yogurt shop treating the grandkids to a treat when I heard one of the clerks exclaim, "The sky looks like a dream?"  I turned around to see the gorgeous sunset painted sky and clouds, grabbed the camera that is always with me, and ran outside.  Opening up the vividHDR app (it takes 3 photos and then combines them into one HDR image) and choosing the Dramatic mode, I took a few pictures.

Painted Sky

Details:
iPhone 5S, vividHDR, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image