Taking Birthdays to the Max

Frankly speaking, I believe I have the best husband in the world. As cheesy as that assertion may sound, I mean it with total sincerity. No one who has had the privilege of having Jason as a spouse would disagree, which is a good thing because, otherwise, I’d just be arguing with myself. Only the most fabulous of birthday celebrations could satisfactorily commemorate such a fabulous man. With that in mind, this year I decided to take his birthday to the max!

Max Zipline carts groups up to their zip point in a Polaris Ranger. Ours was crammed and crazy.
Max Zipline carts groups up to their zip point in a Polaris Ranger. Ours was crammed and crazy.
Our group was loud and probably more than a little obnoxious but we were also exuberant.
Our group was loud and probably more than a little obnoxious but we were also exuberant.
Jacob wore flip-flops forgetting that closed-toe shoes were required for this activity. Luckily, he had an emergency pair of Jedi boots in his trunk.
Jacob wore flip-flops forgetting that closed-toe shoes were required for this activity. Luckily, he had an emergency pair of Jedi boots in his trunk.
I've zipped a few times but it never gets old.
I’ve zipped a few times but it never gets old.

In lieu of a birthday party, I invited about a dozen friends to tarzan with Jason and me on a zipline tour of Provo Canyon’s leafy canopies. The gods of temperate temperatures magnanimously blessed our whooshful expedition; the day of our zipping was uncharacteristically cool with precipitation in the forecast but the threat of rain never materialized into more than a short-lived sprinkle making the weather ideal. Glory be!

Aimee had no problems zipping like a pro.
Aimee had no problems zipping like a pro.
Jason is an exemplary human being and husband so, as such he deserves an ideal birthday shindig.
Jason is an exemplary human being and husband so, as such, he deserves an ideal birthday shindig.
Kenny had a broken bone in his foot but naughtily removed his boot to zip with us.
Kenny had a broken bone in his foot but naughtily removed his boot to zip with us.

The fine guides at Max Zipline put up with a lot from our raucous group in way of teasing, harassing, ill-conceived maneuvering, blasting and even singing. Evidentially, our enthusiasm was as unparalleled as our volumes though; we were told that we were the most excited crowd they’d had all week. Thanks to our eagerness, those guides consented to show us how to hang upside-down and cast off with flips. Even I, with my lack of admiration for high places, tried a little inverted zipping. With all that topsy-turvy reversed riding, surprisingly, only one of us got our pants in a twist. That lucky individual was Adam and luckily Jason caught it all on film. Click here to see Adam’s pant mishap.

Though not quite as foolish as some members of our gang, Jason was certainly not timid.
Though not quite as foolish as some members of our gang, Jason was certainly not timid.
Lee gave his best faux frightened face as he prepared to whoosh down the longest line, a 1450-foot cable.
Lee gave his best faux frightened face as he prepared to whoosh down the longest line, a 1450-foot cable.
Adam's jean incident didn't frighten him out of trying other stunts.
Adam’s jean incident didn’t frighten him out of trying other stunts.

Although not everyone in our group was equally comfortable with heights, I’d say that the vast majority of us had a spectacular time. And, more importantly, I believe that fantastic man of mine enjoyed himself, which was the whole point of this little adventure. Soaring through lofty aspens and pines with nothing but fresh mountain air tickling your feet is quite the experience. Soaring through lofty aspens and pines with happy birthday choruses ringing out below your wind-tickled feet is probably an even better one but you’d have to ask Jason; he received just such an aerial birthday serenade as he whizzed down his last cable. I won’t lie, the singing didn’t sound so good but how often do you get to hear the hills alive with the sound of off-key music? Happy birthday to my best and favorite bubba!

Back to School

A few weeks ago I randomly heard from a high school buddy of mine, Missie, that I hadn’t talked to in almost a decade. She was traveling to Utah on some family business and wanted to get together. I was all for a little catch up. I decided to organize a meeting between not just the two of us but a couple of our other high school chums as well. While this arranging took a lot more calling and texting back and forth than I had anticipated, all that communication and miscommunication eventually ended with success and an overdue reunification.

While only a fraction of our "gang" was present, it was still great to catch up with old friends.
While only a fraction of our “gang” was present, it was still great to catch up with old friends.

Missie hadn’t changed much in the last ten years. She was still her cheery and direct self. As for the rest of us, we may have gained a few pounds, gray hairs and kids since high school but, under those accumulations, I’d say that we’re pretty much the same quirky individuals we’ve always been…plus or minus a little maturity. And, speaking of maturity, our togetherness seemed to revive a few of our discarded adolescent tendencies, which explains the many exaggerated expressions Cameron concocted for the camera that night.

The return of high school friends means the return of high school habits.
The return of high school friends means the return of high school habits.

It was great to see a friend from my youth that I’ve been disconnected from for quite a while. And although I hang out with Cam and Jim on a pretty regular basis, their conversation and antics completed the nostalgia and jollity of this reunion. I’m glad our wee group got to do some reminiscing and updating. Yeah for enduring friendships!

Oh Snap!

Those of you who have been around me for any extent of time understand that I am prone to excessive picture taking. I’ve always been a big fan of immortalizing life’s moments through photographs so when Jason bought me an SLR camera for Valentine’s Day this year I was thrilled. However, I didn’t want to be one of “those people.” You know, the people that get a fancy camera because it’s “fancy” but use it like a point-and-shoot because they have no idea how to operate it. Thus, to prevent wasting a wonderful piece of technology, I signed up for an SLR class this summer at a local university. I learned an unbelievable amount about using my SLR and about photography in general through just six short weeks of instruction. Picturific!

I’m quite comfortable with my big hunk of lens delight now but I find myself perpetually in the middle of a shooting dilemma. I can take much better pictures with my SLR, however, it’s bulky so do I lug that immense and inconvenient camera around or carry my compact and not so wonderful one? I have to resolve that inner conflict every time I cart a camera anywhere these days.

Below are some of my favorite pictures I took while experimenting for my class. None of them have undergone any editing whatsoever in Photoshop or any other shop. While their web versions don’t really do the originals justice, they’ll still give you a feel for the picture magic even a novice can create with a little knowhow.

I used a technique called panning to create this photo. Basically, you put your camera on a slow shutter speed and follow the movement of whatever is in motion. This makes everything else in the photo blurry except the moving object and produces the illusion of great speed.
I used a technique called panning to create this photo. Basically, you put your camera on a slow shutter speed and follow the movement of whatever is in motion. This makes everything else in the photo blurry except the moving object and produces the illusion of great speed.
These blooms may have been on their last leg but I still love the colors and details of this picture.
These blooms may have been on their last leg but I still love the colors and details of this picture.
Sunset is a fantastic time to shoot pictures because the light is much warmer and richer.
Sunset is a fantastic time to shoot pictures because the light is much warmer and richer.
Camera-2013-II-Rae
I didn’t actually take this picture since I am in it but I set everything up on the camera so all Jason had to do was push the button.
I created this ghostly photo of a fountain by slowing my shutter speed down to two seconds.
I created this ghostly photo of a fountain by slowing my shutter speed down to two seconds.
This is the exact same shot as the one above only I changed my shutter speed to a mere fraction of a second, thus freezing the motion of the water.
This is the exact same shot as the one above only I changed my shutter speed to a mere fraction of a second, thus freezing the motion of the water.
I may be a little biased but I think Jason + the Jordan RIver made for some fantastic pictures.
I may be a little biased but I think Jason + the Jordan River made for some fantastic pictures.
A slow shutter speed turned the motion of my running buddies with their glow sticks into a color trip.
A slow shutter speed turned the motion of my running buddies with their glow sticks into a color trip. Notice that they have no bodies.
My niece Abigail was happy to be the subject of some of aperture experiments.
My niece Abigail was happy to be the subject of some of my aperture experiments.
Although this is just a picture of a statue's hand, the textures, lighting and hues intrigue me.
Although this is just a picture of a statue’s hand, the textures, lighting and hues intrigue me.
The Reeds are some of my favorite ladies. I wanted to capture the girly energy of our night out and I think I succeeded.
The Reeds are some of my favorite ladies. I wanted to capture the girly energy of our night out and I think I succeeded.
I panned while taking this picture of my nephew running.
I panned while taking this picture of my nephew running.
Clearly, this was another instance where I setup the camera but did not click the button.
Clearly this was another instance where I setup the camera but did not click the button.
By tweaking the aperture, which is the pupil of the camera, you can make backgrounds fuzzy and put extra emphasis on your subject.
By tweaking the aperture, which is the pupil of the camera, you can make backgrounds fuzzy and put extra emphasis on your subject.

I can guess what some of you are thinking right now, specifically you cheap someones, and yes, I would be willing to take pictures of you or your family for your Christmas cards and whatnot. And no, I would not charge you for my services. (Assuming I like you enough.) Though I would expect excessive gratitude.

I plan on continuing my photo education with additional classes and more practice. I’m always ready to snap!