2017 calendars

it's been a while since i posted on here - and my hope is i will be more inspired to write about my experiences, as it hasn't been for a lack of trips. Speaking of trips, i take off to the Big Island of Hawai'i on Tuesday for 8 days. The lava is flowing right now, as it started back up into the ocean for the first time in 3 years back in July.

anyways, i am getting ready to put together my 2017 calendars, and once again i am using http://www.printingcenterusa.com for the 4th year in a row.  I know this may sound like an "ad", but they really do phenomenal work! I had used a place called "never late printing" or something for my first calendar, as my buddy had used them several times previously; but when i got them, the quality wasn't that great. Even the staples they used on the calendars came out easily.

The next year I was searching online, and by chance i found these guys. I was designing a calendar for my buddy, and their prices were CHEAPER than the other place i used before (this was in 2012 or 2013). I talked to them, and they were great - but i was blown away by the quality! The paper grade they use is fantastic and thick, but not too thick. The saddle stitching they use is superb as well, and have not had one come apart yet!

I have no plans to change printing places. They also do a TON of other projects/products, and they run specials from time to time.  If interested in making your own calendars, here is a link to the calendar info http://www.printingcenterusa.com/cheap-calendar-printing. First time users i think get 15% off. Again, i don't easily recommend companies, but this place is superb!!

In any case, my 2017 calendars should be available in late November for $20 shipped, if interested.

tetons in winter

this past weekend, my wife and i went xc-skiing up in grand teton national park. we had never been there before, and it did not disappoint! plus i had never been skiing before, so now i will have to get a pair since we live in salt lake city.

having never been there before, i had really no clue where anything was. especially in winter, where a lot of the roads are closed. most of the view points are of the same vantage, albeit a few miles apart. i didn't visit the barns, or didn't get down to oxbow bend or on the banks of the snake river. it was a birthday getaway, not a photo trip after all. just all the reason to head back up there. 

on the last morning, i stopped at snake river overlook. not really my favorite vantage point - but still i wanted to check it out. if i had more time, i would've skipped this altogether and skied or snow shoed into somewhere. 

after being here for the "blue hour", and right when the alpenglow was starting to show, a car pulled up and they sat in the car for maybe 10 minutes; maybe having second thoughts? well, it ended up being a workshop of 3. at least it wasn't an instructor with 5+ people - which in my opinion is strictly a money grab at that point. 

so the sunrise was uneventful in terms of photography, but i still enjoyed just sitting there and breathing it all in. as i was doing nothing, i saw these sweet patterns in the snow. the wind had created these patterns the night before, and it was pristine! as the workshop was so lost in the viewfinder of their cameras, i was capturing the small scenes. 

it seems that more and more nowadays, people are getting lost behind the camera that they actually miss out on the big picture; being out in nature and slowing down to enjoy it. most sunrises, i just sit there and enjoy it. i mean what is the whole point of being out there when you can't appreciate it?