This evening I got a bit restless, and my eyes were a little tired from reading, so I headed up Logan Canyon for a leisurely Sunday drive and to see what photographs could be made and I came up with these:
Photographing in Logan Canyon...and Blacksmith Fork Canyon yet again
Today I headed up Blacksmith Fork Canyon again to do some fishing, but I broke my leader as I was stretching the coils out of it, and I didn't have any spares, so I decided to head up Logan Canyon and up to Tony Grove to see if Tony Grove Lake was accessible yet or not. It turns out it isn't. There is still a lot of snow on the road about a mile below the lake. I turned the car around and headed back down the mountain. On the way back to the main highway, I saw a small stream from the runoff, and had to see if there were any photographs to be made, and I came away with these:
I'm not sure this is the best way to photograph this tree, but I thought this lone pine tree was rather interesting:
After almost two years I'm finally feeling comfortable with photographing the landscape here around Logan, specifically in Logan Canyon, which has felt somewhat visually claustrophobic to me. It's hard to single subjects out and isolate them the way I like to, but over the last few months I've found it easier to see good photographs.
After I got done photographing along the road to Tony Grove, I headed back down Logan Canyon, and took a detour up Right Hand Fork.
Lately I've really been drawn to photographing scenes with a stationary object that is a relatively minor element in the photograph, with the majority of the objects in the photograph in motion. Like in this photograph:
After I was done in Right Hand Fork, I came back to town, got a few new leaders for my fly line, and replaced the broken one. This evening I returned to Blacksmith Fork Canyon to photograph the dam some more:
Blacksmith Fork Reservoir
This week I heard through the grapevine that salmon flies were starting to come out up Blacksmith Fork Canyon, so I decided to head up there this evening after work to get in on the action. It turned out that I didn't see a single salmon fly, but there were tons of midges and mayflies hatching everywhere, so I tied a pale yellow size 18 F-Fly on, and started casting. It wasn't long until I had an 8" brown on, which I landed and released. A little ways further up the river I missed two strikes on the same fly. Then even further up I hooked into what felt like a pretty big fish, but he got away. Two casts later, same thing. I hooked into it, but he still managed to shake loose.
Overall, I'm pretty proud of myself, even if I only landed a small fry.
Afterwards, I went back down to the reservoir to make a few photographs that I'm pretty pleased with:
Blacksmith Fork Canyon
Blacksmith Fork
Today I went up fishing in Blacksmith Fork Canyon. I've only been up that canyon once, and it was a year ago, and I really had no idea what the fishing was going to be like. It turns out it was pretty good. I stopped at a few places near the mouth of the canyon to see what the water level looked like and if there were any fish holding anywhere. Eventually I found a nice looking stretch of water. I couldn't see any fish in the water nor did I see any fish rising to any of the small midge flies flying around, and there were some Blue Wing Olive Mayflies starting to come off. So I tied on an F-Fly, and headed upstream. I saw a few fish making their way past me upstream, so I knew there were plenty of fish about, but they didn't want anything to do with whatever I tried casting to them.
After walking and casting about 500 yards upstream I came to a nice bend with a deep undercut bank, and decided to change tactics. I put on a more or less original pattern I tied up this week. It's essentially a stimulator, or stonefly pattern, but instead of peacock herl for the body with a segment of floss, I used peacock ice dubbing for the whole body, with the usually elk hair tail and wing, and brown hackle. I also tied a Copper John to the stimulator to try to get to the fish that I was sure were under the bank.
After a few casts, I missed a hard strike at the stimulator. I made a few more casts without any more rises to the stimulator, and if there were any strikes at the Copper John, I totally missed them. I then took the Copper John off, and replaced it with a CDC Caddis I got at the Snake River Fly Tying Expo a few weeks ago. Two casts later I had a fish on the stimulator. I was surprised at how hard he fought, but I finally landed this nice Brown Trout:
On my way up the canyon, I passed this section of the river just above a dam, and had to make this photograph:
I Fish Because I love To
"I fish because I love to; because I love the environs where trout are found, which are invariably beautiful, and hate the environs where crowds of people are found, which are invariably ugly; because of all the television commercials, cocktail parties, and assorted social posturing I thus escape; because in a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate, my fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion; because trout do not lie or cheat and cannot be bought or bribed or impressed by power, but respond only to quietude and humility and endless patience; because I suspect that men are going along this way for the last time, and I for one don't want to waste the trip; because only in the woods can I find solitude without loneliness; because bourbon out of an old tin cup always tastes better out there; because maybe one day I will catch a mermaid; and, finally, not because I regard fishing as being so terribly important but because I supspect that so many of the other concerns of men are equally unimportant--and not nearly so much fun.
--Robert Traver (a.k.a. Judge John Voelker), Trout Madness
More Trout Food
Flies
Yesterday I went fishing up Logan Canyon again. Before I hit the river, I went to the local fly shop to get a few flies I was lacking material for to tie myself. Turns out the reason I've been having such bad luck is because I've been going too far up the canyon, and into Brook Trout territory, who, evidently, become quite lethargic and don't like to feed much this time of year. So, I took the advice of the guys at the fly shop and stayed much lower in the canyon where the Browns like to hang out. I went a little past Second Dam, and fished a while with no success, even though I could see the fish in the water. I tried a few different fly patterns, both dry and nymphs, but they still didn't want to bite. After fishing about 200 yards upstream, I went back to where I entered the river, and started fishing downstream. About 60 yards down, I a few hard rises, and after one bad cast, and then one well placed cast, I saw the fish rise. I set the hook, and I knew I had him. He (or she; I don't know how to tell the sex of the fish yet) turned out to be just a young 8 inch Brown, but after 2 weeks of no fish, I finally felt better. And I was even more happy since I'd caught it on one of my own flies. I haven't figured out how to photograph the fish I catch myself—at least the ones I don't keep—so I don't have any pictures of the fish, but at least here's a photograph of the fly I caught it on (size 18 Henry's Fork Hackle Midge):
And since I was already set up for that photograph, I decided to make another (this fly I didn't tie—it was one of the ones I bought yesterday):
Logan River
Lately I've been getting out fishing up on the Logan River after work and on the weekends, and with the change in daylight savings time, it's made fishing after work a lot more fun. Although I haven't been able to convince any of the fish to bite on the fur, feathers, and thread tied on a hook quite yet, it's still really enjoyable to be out on the river after not having fly fished in several years.
After I got done fishing this stretch of the river, I had to come back to photograph it.
Logan River 2nd Dam
This afternoon I headed up Logan Canyon to scout out some fishing holes and see if there were any bugs flying around. I managed to find a couple of pools that I should be able to hit without having to buy waders just yet. While I was out, I stopped at one of the three dams on the river to see if it was worth photographing, and came back with these:
Logan Canyon
New Photographs
Life...Don't talk to me about life.
So...It's been what, 6 months? Yeah, I've been blogging-lazy. Not much real new or exciting has been going on. Just work and coming home and being lazy. Well, until last week. I started camping at our job site that we've been at for about as long as I've been Blogging-AWOL. We've been there about six months and we're not even half way finished. At present, we're projected to be finished in the summer of 2008.
Last week when I camped up at the job site (the owner of the property had a yurt built there, and is gracious enough to let us stay in it), I brought my mountain bike and went for a ride Monday night, and Tuesday and Wednesday night I went for a couple of hikes and found a neat little stream and made a few photographs. Once I get a scanner I can finally start putting up all the TONS of new photographs I've made in the last year or so.
Last week when I camped up at the job site (the owner of the property had a yurt built there, and is gracious enough to let us stay in it), I brought my mountain bike and went for a ride Monday night, and Tuesday and Wednesday night I went for a couple of hikes and found a neat little stream and made a few photographs. Once I get a scanner I can finally start putting up all the TONS of new photographs I've made in the last year or so.
Blog Facelift
You'll notice I change the template on my blog somewhat often. I never really like the "stock" templates you're given by blogs, webpage developing software, etc... So I decided to try and make my own. Ok, I actually didn't make this exact one, I just...changed one that someone had already created. I had always wanted one of my OWN photographs at the top of the blog...now I have one.
Anyways, in my last post, I mentioned that I had gone down a dirt road and under the highway next to the Provo River. All this week I've been camping near there. It saves gas (it's only 20 minutes away from the job site instead of 50), and it get's me outside. So thursday I decided to take advantage of the situation and go photograph. Here's a (bad) photograph of the bridges of the highway that go over the Provo. I made a photograph with the 4x5, pretty much where Tex (that's what I've decided to name the Pathfinder) is, then hiked up a little bit to get a better angle with my crappy camera phone. At least it's something new, right?
Anyways, in my last post, I mentioned that I had gone down a dirt road and under the highway next to the Provo River. All this week I've been camping near there. It saves gas (it's only 20 minutes away from the job site instead of 50), and it get's me outside. So thursday I decided to take advantage of the situation and go photograph. Here's a (bad) photograph of the bridges of the highway that go over the Provo. I made a photograph with the 4x5, pretty much where Tex (that's what I've decided to name the Pathfinder) is, then hiked up a little bit to get a better angle with my crappy camera phone. At least it's something new, right?
....
I apologize (to anyone that happens to even look at this blog) for the lack of photography-relevant posts lately. And for the lack of any kind of posts at all, for that matter. I don't really have any kind of excuse, other than the fact that I've gotten blog-updating-lazy. Nothing really exciting has happened since the purchase of my Pathfinder. Except for me finding dirt roads all over the place north of Heber on the way to Park City. One of them takes you down off the highway (Highway 40, FYI) and parallels the Provo River and below the bridges of the highway that spans the river. I went exploring Monday, and ended up going down that road. I'm kind of certain that anyone who isn't Fish and Game or BLM isn't supposed to go there after looking/researching the area a bit more--it's all part of the Provo River Restoration Project. Despite the sentance in one of the posts about the Pathfinder, about me being an environment destroying SUV owner, after I realized just where I was, I got out of there. But I did manage to make a photograph of the bridges. I'm excited to see how it turns out...Just gotta get another batch of negatives developed...Ughh. I need a DLR.
Anyway, here a few kind of old, and really poor pictures I snapped with my camera phone a few weeks ago bouldering in Rock Canyon. Enjoy, or...whatever.
Anyway, here a few kind of old, and really poor pictures I snapped with my camera phone a few weeks ago bouldering in Rock Canyon. Enjoy, or...whatever.
Nissan Pathfinder part 2
I have officially joined the ranks of the environment-destroying SUV owners.
I got the Pathfinder last nite, and I couldn't be happier. It drives like a dream, and it'll be excellent when the snow hits, which is soon...like, tomorrow, soon. We got a little of the white stuff today, but only for about five minutes.
I got the Pathfinder last nite, and I couldn't be happier. It drives like a dream, and it'll be excellent when the snow hits, which is soon...like, tomorrow, soon. We got a little of the white stuff today, but only for about five minutes.
Nissan Pathfinder
I went out car shopping today and found a 98 Pathfinder. All the financing stuff should be finished on Monday or Tuesday. I'm real excited to get it. Going through Provo Canyon and up to Park City won't be so bad this winter.
Winter is pretty well on it's way, I think. All the mountains here got a pretty good dusting last night. I think Park City is high enough that it saw some of the dust as well, which might be bad news for us framers. We're about done with the roof of the house we're working on, and then we get to finish framing up the interior walls in the upstairs and finish out the basement, and finish the porch and deck (which are quite large). And then we have another house to start that will be ready in 2 or so weeks. This new company is really good. It has been a good switch. Except for the coming winter. We could do without the several feet of snow that will be on the ground soon.
Winter is pretty well on it's way, I think. All the mountains here got a pretty good dusting last night. I think Park City is high enough that it saw some of the dust as well, which might be bad news for us framers. We're about done with the roof of the house we're working on, and then we get to finish framing up the interior walls in the upstairs and finish out the basement, and finish the porch and deck (which are quite large). And then we have another house to start that will be ready in 2 or so weeks. This new company is really good. It has been a good switch. Except for the coming winter. We could do without the several feet of snow that will be on the ground soon.
New Job
So I start a new job on Monday. I'll still be framing, but I'll be building log cabins up in Park City for Custom Scandinavian. I can't wait. It'll be fun to learn some new skills, but it'll be an awefull commute. Oh well. Oh, and I got a new hammer. My old one started getting a crack in the handle, so I decided to replace it now.
Anyways, like Jon, I had neglected my camera for too long. WAY too long. This morning I was out running errands and drove by the BYU campus and there was a little "park" area that looked excellent, and decided to come back in the evening when the light was nice. So I loaded up my film holders and headed out. It turned out to be quite a nice little "park." Although with all the wedding bridal shoots in this one "park," I actually started to gag. Just kidding, but seriously, it was redicolous. Anyways, on with the photography stuff....I think I came away with some nice images. I almost didn't make one or two of the photographs because I wasn't too sure about them, but decided to make the photograph anyway. If they don't turn out well, no big deal. I won't have lost much. Well, anything at all really. All in all, it was a pretty satisfying date, er, evening with my camera. Now I just gotta work on gettin my negatives developed and scanned.
Anyways, like Jon, I had neglected my camera for too long. WAY too long. This morning I was out running errands and drove by the BYU campus and there was a little "park" area that looked excellent, and decided to come back in the evening when the light was nice. So I loaded up my film holders and headed out. It turned out to be quite a nice little "park." Although with all the wedding bridal shoots in this one "park," I actually started to gag. Just kidding, but seriously, it was redicolous. Anyways, on with the photography stuff....I think I came away with some nice images. I almost didn't make one or two of the photographs because I wasn't too sure about them, but decided to make the photograph anyway. If they don't turn out well, no big deal. I won't have lost much. Well, anything at all really. All in all, it was a pretty satisfying date, er, evening with my camera. Now I just gotta work on gettin my negatives developed and scanned.
New Apartment
So I'm in my new apartment. I got moved in a week ago, and I'm "borrowing" someone's wireless. (shh...don't tell). I'll have my own in a week though. I'm liking it so far...except for one thing: the walls are completely bare. All of my frames are still up in Idaho. And the way things are going, I won't be able to go back up to Idaho for 3-4 weeks. I may just go buy one or two frames to get something up. I really want to have my photos all over my walls here. Other than all that, things are still pretty much the same: work in the day, do whatever in the evening. Once I get all my developing trays down here I'm going to get to work with getting negatives developed. I mentioned in my last post that I have a lot of them. I still haven't figured out how I'm going to solve thescanner situation; it's going to be a while before I can afford my own, unless I want to max out a credit card. Maybe after I get my skill saw and nail gun paid off I'll do it...we'll see.
Here are a few more new/old photographs:
I printed this off, but I'm still not sure if I like it. The tree right in front looked better on the ground glass than I thought it would...I'm torn. By the way, that one is in Discovery Park in Seattle.
This next one is really old; I took it on the last trip Darren, Jon, and I took to the City of Rocks. I don't think many people have seen it, but I like it, especially after adjusting the contrast and levels. I almost think I could go a bit further though.
Here are a few more new/old photographs:
I printed this off, but I'm still not sure if I like it. The tree right in front looked better on the ground glass than I thought it would...I'm torn. By the way, that one is in Discovery Park in Seattle.This next one is really old; I took it on the last trip Darren, Jon, and I took to the City of Rocks. I don't think many people have seen it, but I like it, especially after adjusting the contrast and levels. I almost think I could go a bit further though.
It's Mine!
I just got the R2400 today, and just ran off my first print and it is gorgeous. Okay, it's my second print--I forgot to check a certain setting on the first one, and even it turned out beautifully. Anyways, I'm soooooo excited to be able to output my photographs again...it's been a long and painful year. I'm hoping that within a month or so to get a good scanner to import new images and get those printed.