I had so much fun taking these pictures! Sometimes you're fighting for the light, but I think these turned out beautifully. If only the cloud cover had let some more of that golden light through.

Mr Snail - Be Spontaneous

“It’s about reacting to what you see, hopefully without preconception. You can find pictures anywhere. It’s simply a matter of noticing things and organizing them. You just have to care about what’s around you...” Elliott Erwitt

Nature is gorgeous! If you take a moment and open your eyes, you'll be surprised at the little things in life. Pictures can truly be found anywhere! I love having my phone on me because of the awesome camera it has. Granted it's not my nice Nikon, but in a pinch it works well.

Like Elliott Erwitt said, the key is noticing what's around, and caring about it. Take a moment to slow your busy life down and enjoy nature and people around you. I've often been told to slow down, that I need to take time to enjoy each day. Sometimes it's hard between work, school, and other responsibilities.

But, this year I've made a resolution. Life will get hectic with class and business, but I'm going to take time to smell the roses and snap pictures of the little things (as well as the big things) in life.

On my way home from class this past summer, I paused a moment to enjoy the birdsong and the babbling brook on the backside of campus. The sun was shining and it was cool in the shade of the overhanging trees. I usually hurry down the stairs, oblivious to everything else, as I rush to my next shift at work or towards my awaiting homework assignments.

That day I stopped. I didn't have to be anywhere to be, no pressing demands, so I took a moment for myself. Amid the other student's running up and down the stairs, I happened to look down. Meet Mr Snail. Calmly sitting in the corner to avoid being smashed in all the chaos, no one noticed him. I wouldn't have noticed him either had I been given the chance on any other day.

After everyone had cleared out, I hunkered down and took a picture as he continued about his day.

Sometimes the greatest moments are the ones you don't anticipate. So what is my resolution for this year? Be free to be spontaneous!

The sun was dropping fast and it was getting chilly, but we managed to snap a couple fun shots and have a bunch of laughs along the way. Sometimes you just have to make time to go out and have fun just to take your mind off the serious things in life.

My favorite picture from the shoot, because it captures his good looks and confidence.

He's a good sport even when I stick him next to a freezing cold pole.

Starting to get cold here, so we put the jacket on.

Staring off into the distance...or maybe at those geese sitting on the ice.

Jeremy's take on the cheesy "jump" pose. It looks pretty epic.

Jeremy showing off his moves :) It was cold but he still whipped them out!

On a recent trip to Vegas, I was able to stop and have a few moments to appreciate the beauty of the St George LDS temple. It was a clear, sunny day when I passed through and I just had to stop, I love the architecture of the older temples. I'm particularly drawn to both the Salt Lake and the St George temples because they have battlements which remind me of the castles in stories I grew up on. They truly are beautiful.

St George Temple Spire - January 2015

St George Temple - January 2015

St George Temple and Tree - January 2015

St George Temple Battlements - January 2015

The weather was a little chilly, but we had a great time taking these pictures! Almost graduated and he's ready to be done. It's so weird thinking that he's almost out of high school. Siblings grow up so fast!

I love Christmas! And with Christmas come the annual Christmas lights at Temple Square. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get many pictures I liked of the lights due to the jostling crowd of lightgoers. Sadly this may be the greatest disappointment as a photographer - sometimes the mojo just doesn't happen.