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Walk like a Zombie

Faster than you can say “apocalypse sandwich” Jason and I can be ready to be rotten. Recently we, once again, coated our skin in grey, covered ourselves with foul lacerations and painted ourselves bruised for the annual SLC Zombie Walk. This event is kind of like a flash mob only, instead of dancing, the thousands of zombies just limp along a mile of downtown looking freakish and surreal. Jason and I, oddly enough, have much experience behaving undead and we are always happy to lend our decrepit savvy to these ragtag hobblers.

I may be naturally pale but no, I'm not typically this pasty.
I may be naturally pale but no, I’m not typically this pasty.
Jason's wrinkly rotting checks were made possible by cotton balls and latex.
Jason’s wrinkly rotting checks were made possible by cotton balls and latex.

My particular style of undead, not surprisingly, reflects my style of not-dead. Whenever I get into zombie character the same gait and facial expression emerge: a dragging right foot, limp unthought-of arms, a vacant eerie stare and a slightly open mouth. Doesn’t it seem logical that an often spacey person, such as myself, would make an absentminded reanimated corpse? It’s as natural as the unnatural gets.

We shuffled our decaying corpses through a mile of Salt Lake City's downtown.
We shuffled our decaying corpses through a mile of Salt Lake City’s downtown.
Who says zombies can't be upstanding citizens? We waited for the signal to cross the street just like all the good girls and boys.
Who says zombies can’t be upstanding citizens? We waited for the signal to cross the street just like all the good girls and boys.

Apparently, my reflexive zombie demeanor is quite convincing, however, it’s also quite slow. My unsymmetrical shuffle, according to Jason, makes a mile take a while. Unlike many at the walk, I never break character but this time I did do my best not to dawdle while still remaining authentic. It was a challenge but I think I pulled it off pretty well.

The sun got into character too. It was a menacing red hue that evening, probably due to a fire somewhere.
The sun got into character too. It was a menacing red hue that evening, probably due to a fire somewhere.
Wedding bells are going to whine?
Wedding bells are going to whine?

Many entertained watchers, enthusiastic picture-takers and confused bystanders lined the walk’s route this time, more than we’ve seen other years. Some onlookers even brought lawn chairs and camped out for the rank parade. I hope all you roadside snacks found our dripping corpses and malicious gazes disturbingly diverting. Jason and I are looking forward to painting the town grey with decay again next year.

Rachel September 3, 2013 No Comments

Picturing the Exotic Aquatic

There is an entire quartet of July birthdays in Jason’s family. This year it was wisely decided that they should all be celebrated in unison. With summer showing off in the mountains, taking the party uphill was practically a no-brainer.

A slow shutter speed transformed this stream of water into a delicate cascading fabric.
A slow shutter speed transformed this stream of water into a delicate cascading fabric.
The details of this water's path, forever immobilized by my quick shutter, are fascinating.
The details of this water’s path, forever immobilized by my quick shutter, are fascinating.
Carley wanted a picture of her new family and I was happy to accommodate.
Carley wanted a picture of her new family and I was happy to accommodate.

The clan met at the mouth of American Fork Canyon on a sunny afternoon ready to begin their vehicular ascent. We stopped for a lovely picnic lunch in the shade along our route before continuing on to our destination, Cascade Springs. For the two people in Utah that are unfamiliar with Cascade Springs, it’s an unexpected oasis of clear pools, lush vegetation and idyllic streams. Since peaceful water features aren’t too common in this desert, Cascade Springs attracts many gawkers and can get a bit crowded at times.

The sun was in the wrong place but this picture of Jason's parents and Aiden turned out alright.
The sun was in the wrong place but this picture of Jason’s parents and Aiden turned out alright.
Here I again captured a split-second of time and made movement motionless.
Here I again captured a split-second of time and made movement motionless.
Poor Jason gets suckered into being my subject material far too often but what a great subject he makes.
Poor Jason gets suckered into being my subject material far too often but what a great subject he makes.
Getting Sabins to behave for pictures is a photographer's worst nightmare. This is the best I could do with all of them wiggling.
Getting Sabins to behave for pictures is a photographer’s worst nightmare. This is the best I could do with all of them wiggling.

Those serene ponds and tumbling falls provided the perfect opportunity for me to practice my newfound photography skills. While not every picture I snapped turned out perfect thanks to the glaring sun, I got some pretty great shots of the scenery and the family.

Jason lurked like a troll under this bridge to vex the girls overhead.
Jason lurked like a troll under this bridge to vex the girls overhead.
You couldn't ask for a more beautiful backdrop than the one provided by these obliging aspens.
You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful backdrop than the one provided by these obliging aspens.
I love how my colorful shirt and trendy shades contrast with the natural setting in this picture.
I love how my colorful shirt and trendy shades contrast with the natural setting in this picture.

After the Sabins backtracked down the canyon, Jason and I lingered at the springs for some more picture taking and then headed to the Horse Flat Trail for some hiking. Along our secluded rambling route my camera, once again, found its way out. I captured everything from the graceful aspens to my stylish hubby. A little exercise and a lot of shooting make for a pleasant afternoon.

Happy birthday to me and the other July three!

Rachel August 27, 2013 2 Comments

Ready, Set, Glo!

What would happen if you combined your nightly workout, some over-the-top iridescent illumination and a dance party? The Glo Run, that’s what.

This crowd was glowing and ready to get going.
This crowd was glowing and ready to get going.

Jason and I, ever the ready participants of anything, signed up for The Glo Run, a 5K night race with bopping lasers and hopping DJs, a couple of months ago. This dash is all about the energy of the night, which is pretty fitting for the likes of me because when the sun goes down the Rachel comes up. You other night owls out there would dig it.

Jason wound as many glow sticks as he could around every appendage.
Jason wound as many glow sticks as he could around every appendage.

Jason and I donned at least a couple dozen glow sticks as we prepared to rock this run in brilliant style; we weren’t the only ones with that bright idea. The hundreds of other participants dressed to the nines in blinking, shimmering, flashing garb. When the race started they all moved like a gaudy fluorescent stream into Sugar House Park, which the course looped twice. That repeat circling meant we got to experience each of the run’s groove spots two times. Excellent!

This tunnel of lighted arches thumped to the music.
This tunnel of lighted arches thumped to the music.

I think the majority of participants envisioned this run as a party with a little exercise involved rather than exercise with a little party involved because there were practically more walkers than runners and some of the partakers were so tired near the end that when the DJ said “jump” they just sunk. But Jason and I were not among the tuckered out, thankfully. We boogied to the music and shimmied with the lights all along the route. We kept up our liveliness throughout and had all the energy of the night and then some.

This was my favorite hangout along the route. Between the black lights and the bubble makers it was pretty trippy.
This was my favorite hangout along the route. Between the black lights and the bubble makers it was pretty trippy.
I slowed down my shutter speed to reduce myself to a blur of light crossing the finish line.
I slowed down my shutter speed to reduce myself to a blur of light crossing the finish line.

It was a dazzling take on a summer standard. Let’s run and roll!

Rachel August 20, 2013 No Comments
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