Missing Guatemala

   Now that New Year's is here, my wife and I find ourselves missing Guatemala.  We started this year in Guatemala as we were on a 2 month visit and we now sit here in the cold, snowy city of Logan wishing we were out on the streets of Guatemala, watching fireworks go off in a 360 degree panorama for 45+ minutes at midnight.

We have been blessed for all that we were able to do this year, from Guatemala and Chile to Jackson Hole, WY and now being stable in Logan, UT.   This has been a crazy year in terms of changing our lives around and it has been a fun adventure that luckily brought us closer together.  As we say goodbye to this year and welcome the next, I wanted to post up just a few pictures to remember where we have been and what we have done this past year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year!!!

 

Reflections Challenge

Katrina from time to time gives me challenges.  The challenge that I had earlier this summer was "Reflection" and I wanted to do something really cool.  I had an idea that I hadn't really seen before (so it was totally original, though I am more than sure that I am not the first one to do this).

Here are my 3 pictures that I chose as my finals for this challenge.  They can also be found on my facebook page - www.facebook.com/fotosbymendi

The original concept

A few hours later I had a giant window (practically a mirror) so I didn't want to pass up the chance to do this again!

My wife's sister decided she wanted in on this challenge too.  Her picture looks like it was taken from a horror flick.  She looks left and the reflection gives her a death stare back..

Hope you enjoyed these.  Let me know what you think in the comments below.

The Olivia Act

   For my friends in Mass, please read below something awesome that a friend of mine is doing. She is an awesome photographer and this would make an awesome gift for a family you know. Also, if you know anyone in Utah, you can send me an email at Fotosbymendi@gmail.com and I will contribute to the Olivia Act for a family here in Utah! 

 

Nicole Schwalm Photography (on Facebook) wrote:

 

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

The Olivia Act, named after one of the children killed in Newtown, was started by a photographer who wishes to be anonymous. Olivia’s family had pictures taken a short time before she was killed. Those pictures are now priceless to them. Upon hearing this, one photographer was moved to give away a 30 minute family photo shoot and has challenged other photographers to do the same. We go about our daily lives and sometimes we don’t take the time or have the resources to have family photos taken. What an honor to be able to give that gift to a family that would truly appreciate it at this point in their lives.

I will be taking nominations for a family in Massachusetts who you think would appreciate this gift. The session will take place sometime after the New Year and will be completely FREE to the family being nominated – free session, free digital images on CD, full printing rights. Please inbox or e-mail their name, contact information, address, and a brief summary of why you chose them to nicoleschwalmphotography@gmail.com. Kindly notify the family that you will be nominating them. Please put "THE OLIVIA ACT NOMINATION" in the subject line. Please DO NOT post their information here for privacy reasons. I will take nominations until January 7, 2013. The winner will be chosen and contacted soon after. Please share this status. Thank you. ♥

Fellow Photographers, please consider taking part in The Olivia Act!

 

 

 This is such a great idea and I have already shared it on my facebook pages, my personal one and Fotos by Mendi.  I will also be taking nominations until January 7th.

 

Please be sure to follow my Blog and sign up to be a follower on the right pane --->  so that you can be updated on posts like this and my photography as soon as they are posted.

Scenery and Wildlife from Jackon Hole 2012 Part 1

    Jackson Hole is a very special place.  Not many people from back East talk about it so I never really knew where it was or what it had in store.  Katrina on the other hand, had spent a few summers in Jackson as a river guide on the Snake river.  She loved it there and the endless outdoor activities that could be found there.
  
    When we first arrived it was the end of May and it was 28-34 degrees out and we were living and sleeping outside in canvas tents!  Not a very good start for me since I was new to all this and it was freakin' cold!  Well, it did warm up...eventually.

    Once the summer got going, I really enjoyed photographing out there.  Though I had a job taking pictures of paragliders and mountain bikers, it was the few chances I got to take pictures of the scenery and nature that really got me hooked on Jackson Hole.  

    Below are some examples of pictures that I am proud to have been able to take and hope the rest of you enjoy these as well.

The Landscape shots

Normally you end with the best, but I decided to start with my favorite landscape shot

The amazing Teton mountain range!



A view from Teton Whitewater's Scenic Float Trip

Another shot taken on the river.

This was taken at Jenny Lake in the Teton National Park

For those of you that like flowers, here are 4 pictures...

 

Love the center details on this flower



Sammi Lewis who worked with us at Teton Whitewater took this shot on our photo walk



Loved the details in this flower and the fly on the upper right corner of the flower



The famous town square arches of Jackson Hole, WY

 

Now we move onto the Wildlife of Jackson Hole!

Bald Eagles

 

The famous and always majestic, Bald Eagles!

 



2 baby eagles at a large eagle's nest



Such contrast makes them easy to spot

 

Katrina and I went on a VERY risky adventure to get this close to an eagle and get this shot!

 

Now onto more wildlife on the river



The well-known Osprey



Osprey flying above

The river pelicans were so cool to see

Group gathering



Afternoon exercise

 

Absolutely LOVE this shot!



Now for some land animals... 

 

Starting off with the cutest :)

Elk are seen quite often in Jackson



This was a treat to see

 

Don't worry, I was at a safe spot but SOOO glad to be this close to a Bull Moose

Don't you just hate those hard to reach places

  

Caught this guy having a late afternoon snack





 

Saving the BIGGEST for last, the following 3 pictures of Buffalo were taken when I went on a personal mission to drive around and find Buffalo....mission successful!!!

This guys was staring me down, but I held my ground :)

As long as I kept a safe distance, these Buffalo were pretty calm

This guy had a killer fro!  I mean, you can tell that he knows how to party!

  

 I leave you with a gorgeous view of the Snake River in the heart of the Teton range!

 

Hope you enjoyed seeing these as much as I enjoyed taking these pictures that will be long lasting memories of an amazing place and our many amazing adventures there!  Let me know what you thought in the comments below.

  

Max - our Little Reindeer

 

 

'Twas the day of our fake Spanish Christmas,

And all through the house,

Not a sound from the masses,

Not even a mouse.

 

We are all settled in after breakfast,

When growling we heard,

Thinking our breathes would be our last,

We looked towards what we heard.

 

Opening our eyes preparing for doom,

A black little reindeer,

Sitting in our living room,

Growling not of anger but to fill us with cheer.

 

Merry Christmas he barked,

As his little tail wagged,

Though his hair is dark,

With his love, our hearts were tagged.

 

 

Merry Christmas from Max, our little Reindeer.

 

Christmas 2012

     Thank you for stopping by my page.  It's a busy time of year and so I appreciate that you took a few seconds out of your busy day to see what's new.  If you have time, you can visit my FB Page to see more projects.  www.facebook.com/fotosbymendi

      This post is of a picture idea that Katrina saw online and she wanted us to try it.  After a few tries and getting quite tangled up, I think the final product came out pretty good!  She loves the color one but I also just love how Christmas lights look in Black and White so I have added both versions of the picture below.

       Let us know in the comments section below what you think.