Sandy, Utah Expo Center in a blizzard

Sandy, Utah Expo Center in a blizzard
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

I mentioned in one of the first postings about heading to the Utah Auto show and the blizzard. Well here is a picture I took while heading through the parking lot. While you can still see the planters with trees you could not see the curbs or which way the road went, it was kind of a guessing game.

Ogden Hourse Statue with John Wayne Image

Ogden Hourse Statue with John Wayne Image
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

As I have said before you never know what you make come across when you are out so it is so important to have your camera with you at all times. In this case I was with Photowalking Utah on their Ogden trip on August 16th. Ogden has a large number horse statues throughout the downtown area.

All of these statues have nice paint schemes on them but this one was especially nice with the image of John Wayne and the American Flag in the background.

It is amazing what you find when you get out of the car or in this case the Front Runner commuter train and start walking the streets.

TRAX train at speed

TRAX train at speed
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

Yesterday, I had to take my car in for its routine maintenance at Champion Ford on 9000 South. On the way I stopped at the TRAX crossing of 8680 South just a few hundred feet from where I used to live.

I tried with my previous digital camera to do some slow shutter speed shots in order to blur the motion of the TRAX trains, but that camera's settings were not good enough to get a good picture.

Now, armed with my new Nikon SLR, I took these pictures which came out substantially better than the previous ones I tried. I think the picture does a good job of conveying the speed at which the TRAX train is traveling.

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Egyptian Theater

Egyptian Theater
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

On August 16th I participated in in my second Photowalking Utah event, this one taking place in Ogden Utah.

After spending some time taking pictures around Union Station, we walked down 25th street. We then headed down Washington Blvd and headed back.

On Washington Blvd sits the Egyptian Theater which is a beautiful art deco style theater. There was a auction going on at the time but the woman in the lobby allowed us to come in and take some pictures of the lobby.

This photo looks at the ceiling in the lobby of the theater. I love classic architecture so having the opportunity to walk around this classic was truly a treat.

Atrium of the Downtown Salt Lake Library

Atrium of the Downtown Salt Lake Library in Salt Lake City, Utah
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

I attend a Toastmasters meeting every Wednesday night at the downtown Library which gives me time to take a snapshot or two of this unique library.

While the Spokane, Washington library may have a better view since it overlooks the Spokane River and Spokane Falls, the Spokane library is nothing but a basic box compared to the unique architecture of Salt Lake City main library.

This photo was taken from the 4th level which is the highest level to have cross over bridges that allow you to take photos like this.

Another unique feature of the library is one its regular guests who happens to be the real rain man. The gentleman that Dustin Hoffman's character from the movie is based on can often be seen reading books in one of the library's many sections.

Sometimes Pictures Surprise You

Utah Transit Authority Frontrunner Test Train
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

When I first posted this photo on Flickr, I didn't expect it to be one of the better performers. Yet in a short time it become my number one picture in the photo stream and only a couple of days ago got passed up by a picture of the inaugural Front Runner train taken at Layton.

Because the lighting was not good due to the cloud cover, I just didn't think many people would take a look at this picture but sometimes they can surprise you.

This picture was taken just north of Downtown Salt Lake City at 300 North.

Utah Senator's Orin Hatch and Bob Bennett

Utah Senator's Orin Hatch and Bob Bennett at Front Runner Ceremonies
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

Took this picture of Utah's two Senators during the grand opening ceremonies of the Utah Transit Authority's Front Runner service.

I took this from the photographers stand provided by the UTA. The platform was located on the north side of the crowd but should have been on the south side to provide better lighting.

You can see the nose of one of the UTA's new Front Runner locomotives sitting in the background.

Delta Airlines/Skywest CJ700 coming in for Landing at SLC

Delta Airlines/Skywest CJ700 coming in for Landing at SLC
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

Forms of transportation are probably my favorite things to photography. It could stem from the fact that I grew up along the main line of the Santa Fe railroad but I love to take pictures of trains, planes, buses, ships and automobiles. The only problem is, it is a little difficult to make a living photographing these things so I have to work on taking pictures of other things.

When I took this picture I didn't notice the three birds flying past the airplane. However, I thought they added a little interest to the shot that really enhanced it.

The only bad thing I find about taking pictures of planes or Amtrak trains is that I want to be getting on it to going somewhere...

Old Building on US Highway 160

Old Abandoned Buililding at Baby Rocks, Arizona
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

Yesterday when I blogged about the old gas station building I mentioned that there was also a stone building that was round sitting just west of the gas station.

Here is a picture of that stone building. Once again I would like to find out what purpose this building served. You can see there appears to be a guard stand or something in front of the main building.

Anybody know what this was?

Down the U.S. Highways...

Old Gas Station at Baby Rocks, Arizona
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

I just love traveling the US Highways. You see so many different things and meet so many different people which not possible when you drive down the Interstate.

Previously I mentioned my wife and I headed to Durango, Colorado for our anniversary in May. On the way back we headed down US Highway 160 past Four Corners and to Kayenta, Arizona before heading on US 163 back to Utah.

Out in the middle of nowhere we encountered this old abandoned gas station that set just below a beautiful red rock butte. A few hundred yards to the west their was also a round stone building. Both of them look so odd sitting out here in the middle of nowhere.

Does anyone now what the round stone building was used for?

Just one of the many things you might encounter while driving down the two lane black top of America.

Sunset Shot

Sunset near Del Mar, California
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

Took this photo just north of Del Mar, California while my wife and I were on vacation in November, 2006. We spent the day at the Wild Animal Park outside Escondido then drove west to Oceanside and south along old US Highway 101.

As we approached a bridge I saw that the sun was about the set so I parked our rental vehicle along the side of the road ran over to the edge of the road and took this picture.

I took dozens on sunset pictures with my film cameras when I lived in Lincoln City, Oregon in 2000, but this was one of the few sunset pictures I had taken since that time.

Always keep your eyes open...

Gopher pops head out near a Colorado Indian Casino
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

May 15th was my 10th Anniversary so my wife and I took a trip down to Durango, Colorado for the weekend. We had a good time including a ride on the spectacular Durango and Silverton Railroad. If you have not been on that trip I highly recommend it.

On our return to Salt Lake City we took a slight detour heading west to Cortez and then down into Arizona past four corners. 11 miles southwest of Cortez is an Indian Casino.

I stopped to take a picture of the Casino and the surrounding area. I was taking a picture when my wife pointed toward this little guy who was watching me. I changed to my zoom lens and took this photo. Just goes to prove you always need to keep your eyes open for (or in this case your wife's eyes!!) anything unusual.

Sometimes you get lucky...

Earlier this year I made plans to check out the 2008 Auto Show. My wife decided she didn't want to go so I went on Martin Luther King day which is a holiday that she does not get off.

It also happened to be a very snowy day in Salt Lake City. The snow actually started about the time I took my wife to work and was very heavy for a few hours.

The auto show was being held at the South Towne Expo center and as I pulled into the parking lot I could not see where I was going. They had not plowed any of the parking lot and the snow was high enough it covered up the location of the curbs. However, I was able to navigate my way to the parking area.

One of the benefits of the snow storm was there was not many people at the show. I hit the Ford area first and walked through the different manufacturer areas before coming to the Chevrolet display. They had one of the Camaro show cars on display and I was able to get this picture and it almost looks like the show was not opened yet as you cannot see any people in the area.

Sometimes you just get lucky and are able to take that great picture.

Photowalking in Ogden

Next Saturday the Photowalking Utah group will be making a trip up to Ogden to do some photography. I joined the photowalking group previously when they visited the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah but have not been able to make another one of their outings since then.

While I have only been on one photowalking excursion, it was an enjoyable experience to meet and spend time with other photographers. It was also an excellent opportunity to learn from photographers with even more experience and new ideas.

I plan on taking Utah Transit Authority's Front Runner service arriving about an hour before the meet up time in order to get something to eat.