Utah State Capitol

On the hill above Salt Lake City resides the Utah State Capitol Building. It is surrounded by history, city, and the beauties of the Salt Lake Valley and the Wasatch Mountain Range. Being elevated above the valley floor one can see for miles. From the state capitol building you can also see Salt Lake City's namesake, the Great Salt Lake. another notable structure is the Salt Lake Temple of the LDS church.

4 photo panorama - Utah State Capitol Building

Beehive - Brass on Door.You will see the symbol of the beehive throughout the Utah State Capitol Building and throughout the state. It is a symbol of Industry like the industrious honeybee. the symbol is also less well known for perseverance, thrift, stability, and self-reliance. However, industry is the state motto.

18 photo panorama - Utah State Capitol Building

7 photo panorama - Rotunda - Utah State Capitol Building

16 photo panorama - Rotunda ceiling - Utah State Capitol Building

Stone work in archway around the rotunda - Utah State Capitol Building

2 photo panorama - Rotunda looking West to the House Chambers - Utah State Capitol Building

Stone stair railing pillars - Utah State Capitol Building

Rotunda looking West towards the House Chambers - Utah State Capitol Building

Stone ceiling and arch work - Utah State Capitol Building

Stone pillar, ceiling, and arch work - Utah State Capitol Building

East entrance of Utah State Capitol Building

Utah State Capitol Building

International Peace Gardens - Salt Lake City

The International Peace Gardens is a hidden gem of Salt Lake City. There are individual gardens for a variety of countries. Some of the popular ones are the Switzerland, Japan, China, and Denmark gardens. There are plenty of benches, and a path through the Gardens. There is some architecture from around the world as well as plants and gardening styles. There is even a little Matterhorn.

At the bottom of this post there is an image and link of the map of the garden.

3 photo panorama - Hedges in the International Peace Gardens - Salt Lake City, UT

5 Photo panorama - Stone monument in the International Peace Gardens - Salt Lake City, UT

Map - International Peace Gardens

Salt Lake Valley Panorama

This is a 32 photo panorama of the Salt Lake Valley in Utah. It is taken from the bench of the mountain  east of Red Butte Gardens. It was quite the view and It was no a long hike to get to this point. Lovely.

Salt Lake City and Salt Lake Valley from Wasatch Front looking West. Taken near Red Butte Gardens. In the distance the Great Salt Lake Can be see as well as the Oquirrh Mountains. This panorama is a composite of 32 photos.

I was up taking a little hike after a day at work and The view was quite nice. The clouds were beautiful and you could not ask for better weather. The only down side is that I found the only little cactus on the mountain while I was trying to get into position to get this shot. I found it in my leg and shoe. Cactus in not fun to take our of your flesh. But the good news is I was able to take this panorama!

So when you go out hiking remember to be prepared with water, good shoes, bug spray, etc... and pants unless you have the guts to pull barbs out of your flesh when they do not want to come out.

Solar Eclipse, 2012 May 20

Solar Eclipse near its highest point in Salt Lake City May 20, 2012.

A solar eclipse is an awe-inspiring thing to witness. For those of you who don't know it is when the moon passes between the earth and the sun. The moon casts its shadow on the earth and if you are in the right place with the right conditions you can see and amazing thing. The sun will appear first as a crescent and then as a "ring of fire" if you are in the right spot at the right time. 

When the solar eclipse happened Sunday I was a four to five hour drive from where the Ring of Fire could be seen. I was unable to go witness the Ring of Fire but I got to see the moon cover about 90% of the sun. It was spectacular! I did have to travel about 10 - 15 miles though because a giant cloud obscured my view of the event. 

The following images are photos I took of the eclipse over about an hour period. Some are seen through clouds and others are not. Some I adjusted the white balance too to make them a little more interesting. The lens flares are the way they were taken. The only think I might have adjusted are contrast and white balance. Enjoy the view I had.

Beginning of Solar Eclipse

Blue Crystal Solar Eclipse - with lens flare

Crystal Solar Eclipse - with lens flare

Solar Eclipse

Solar Eclipse in Purple

Tron Solar Eclipse... It just reminds me of "Tron" - with lens flare

Crystal Cheshire Solar Eclipse - with lens flare

A "Wicked" Solar Eclipse.

Solar Eclipse

Solar Eclipse

Lens flare of a Solar Eclipse

Solar Eclipse with some lens flare

Solar Eclipse with lens flare

Solar Eclipse through some light cloud cover.

Solar Eclipse with some could

Solar Eclipse and bird among high thin clouds

Blown out Solar Eclipse with light cloud cover

Solar Eclipse that could be used by DreamWorks

Solar Eclipse

 

Temple Square - Salt Lake Temple, Tabernacle, Conference Center, Downtown Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a unique place. It has the Headquarters for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). It also has one of the biggest and most iconic temples of the LDS church. 

The Salt Lake Temple is made from solid granite which was quarried from the canyon about 20 miles away. It took 40 years to build and it was done all by hand. It is also the central point for the entire road system of the Salt Lake Valley, which is based on a grid system. 

4 photo panorama - Salt Lake Temple, Gray Sky (Taken Oct. 3, 2011)

The Salt Lake Temple is not the only thing to see in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. There is the entire Temple Square (including the Tabernacle, Assembly Hall and well known Christus Statue in one of the Temple Square visitor centers), Conference Center, other LDS buildings, the Cathedral of the Madeleine, the First Presbyterian Church, Saint Marks Episcopal Cathedral, and other churches. There are also malls like the Gateway and the new City Creek Center, theatres, museums, libraries, restaurants, Washington Square (and the Salt Lake City and County Building), and parks... Just to name a few.

LDS Salt Lake Temple after General Conference (October 2, 2011), Salt Lake City, Utah

LDS Conference Center after General Conference (October 2, 2011), Salt Lake City, Utah

Flowers at Temple Square (October 2, 2011), Salt Lake City, Utah

Flowers at Temple Square (October 2, 2011), Salt Lake City, Utah

LDS Conference Center Spire from atop the Conference Center (October 3, 2011), Slat Lake City, Utah

LDS Conference Center Spire from atop the Conference Center (October 3, 2011), Slat Lake City, Utah

The remainder of these photos were taken on April 11, 2012 

Flowers and LDS Church Office Building, Salt Lake City, Utah

Tulip and Flowers, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah

Leaves through window and the Beehive House, Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah

Utah State Capitol Building - Salt Lake City, Utah

8 photo panorama - Salt Lake City and University of Utah

11 photo panorama - Utah State Capitol Building, Salt Lake City, Utah

13 photo panorama - Temple Square (Salt Lake Temple, Tabernacle, Conference Center) Salt Lake City, Utah

3 photo panorama - Salt Lake Temple and Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah

Window and glass fixture indie LDS Conference Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

Inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Conference Center

7 photo panorama - LDS Conference Center interior

8 photo panorama - Salt Lake Temple view from atop Conference Center

8 photo panorama - Salt Lake Temple view from atop Conference Center