Meet my new friend

I really like photography. The funny thing is, about a two years ago, I knew nothing about photography and had no desire to really get into photography. As soon as I used a friend's dslr camera, I was hooked and could never go back to my point-and-shoot. So, I invested in a camera with a 50mm f/1.4 lens. I have had so much fun running around with this camera and have been beyond satisfied with it. Well, after some more saving, I now have a new friend to accompany my camera.

There she is! Isn't she beautiful? It's a 24-105mm L f/4 IS. Here are some pretty pictures that it took this evening of the sunset. 

I am in love with this lens and it takes some amazing pictures that are super razor sharp. I'm going to have a lot of fun with this one. 

I love to see the temple...

I have had the opportunity to travel around a little bit. Not to extravagant places, but rather to see and visit beautiful and peaceful places. The past month, I have visited several temples. Seven of them, to be exact. I have been to the Mt. Timpanogos, Salt Lake, Bountiful, Rexburg, Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, and Manti temples. I was only able to get pictures of four of these seven, but that's ok. It gives me reason to go back, though I already have plenty of reasons to go back.

Idaho Falls Temple

Rexburg Idaho Temple

Manti Temple

Salt Lake Temple

Temples are such wonderful and amazing buildings. They are such peaceful places. Not everyone can enter inside. These are special places that require a special recommend to enter. Whether you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or not, these buildings are worth visiting. They are wonderful for pondering and thinking about life. They clear the mind and help you forget about your worries and cares of the world. I love going to the temple, even just to be there to look at the building and walk the beautiful grounds. If you have a chance, go to a temple near you. I promise it will be worth your time.

Photo Shoot

I took my camera out for a little photo shoot the other day and just wanted to show you some of the amazing shots that I got. My model made it extremely easy to take really good pictures. It has been a long while since I have been out on a photo shoot. I had forgotten how much fun it is!

All images Copyright © 2011 Van Houten Photography

Stumped

Do you ever sit there and stare at your blog and wonder,

"what the heck am I going to write about?"

Well, that is currently me. It's not that I don't have anything to write about

—the exact opposite—

I have plenty going on in my life. I just can't get myself to form anything in my life 

into 

a 

blog 

post. 

Whatever. 

Maybe it'll pass and blog posts will ooze out of me uncontrollably.


So, beware readers. I've warned you.
Prepare for the blogging
                                     ooze that
                                                   is headed
                                                                your
                                                                     way.

Salt Lake City

Since school was really crazy this last semester, I didn't blog about anything. But now it's summertime and I'm back!

I love going up to Salt Lake. It's just a fun place to be. During the semester, I had the chance to spend to weekend up there for LDS Gerneral Conference. I had an amazing time with friends up there. We basically just spent our time listening to the general authorities give talks, eat food, and spend quality time talking and laughing.

I took my camera up with me, but didn't really get to take too many pictures. I have a couple that I'd like to share with everyone.

This one was taken from the apartment balcony where I was staying. We had a small view of the Salt Lake Temple and Conference Center. They are both such amazing and beautiful buildings.

This is one of my favorite pictures I took while there. It's really difficult to get any picture of the temple without other huge buildings intruding. So, to cut them out, I just took a picture of the upper half of one side with the angel Moroni perched up top. Since General Conference, which was the first week of April, I have had the chance to go through this temple twice since then, once just this last weekend. It is an amazing structure and it's beauty is hard to describe. The best part about this temple, or any temple for that matter, is how peaceful it is inside. It truly is a special place.