Brownie Starmite

My First Camera, Brownie Starmite

One of my earliest memories was of being in the kitchen after dark with dad as he developed pictures in the kitchen sink. I loved to watch the miracle of an image coming out of the white onto the page as he moved the paper slowly back and forth in the developer solution. It always amazed me and I think it really still does to this day even though I understand the mechanics behind it. It was of those moments and watching dad take pictures that made me want to be able to do the same. I don’t know why mom and dad gave me a camera when I was only around 7 years old but it was probably because of my curiosity in the kitchen or even just the fact that they wanted someone else in the family to like taking pictures too. Well whatever the reason it worked. I think I received the Brownie Starmite Outfit Camera on Christmas but I really don’t remember. It had to have been that since birthdays were reserved it seems for clothes and we didn’t receive gifts at any other time of the year including Easter. So the big purchases had to have been given for Christmas. I loved it though and started taking picture as soon as I could. I don’t remember how I bought film or even got it developed but I did have it most likely through the good graces of my parents. I remember taking pictures of the cats and dogs and things around the farm. I also took it on scout camps each summer when I got older. I still had the box for it years later and may even have it to this day somewhere stored with other trinkets of my youth. It was that camera that got me started into a lifelong love of photography coupled with an awe of amazement at the creations of Heavenly Father and Jesus and whom ever else (Michael for one) made all of these things for us to enjoy. I am sure mom had something to do with my being asked to be the yearbook photographer when I went into 9^th grade. I also think she knew that working with the schools SLR camera would probably spell danger for her years later in that I would most likely not be satisfied with the Brownie Starmite and another box camera that I was also using by then at home. I loved doing the yearbook pictures and developing them in the high school wherever we did them. I really can’t remember where we did them since I don’t recall a specific dark room in our high school. Most of them were probably sent off to a professional developing company. Anyway my love for photography only increased through the next 4 years as I continued to do most of the yearbooks photography even when I became the editor for my Junior and Senior years. It was most likely no surprise to mom when I asked for an SLR camera instead of a Senior Trip when I graduated from high school. That was when I got my Konica full/half frame camera.  I used it for several years and finally after pretty much wearing it out purchased my first Canon A-1 camera. I had found a 200 mm lens for a Canon at a garage sale for only $75.00 so it came first and finally the camera a few months later. I have probably taken now in my lifetime over 500,000 images and will just keep on doing it as long as I can.

Canon 10D

My Second Digital Camera - Canon 10 D-

  I am currently using a Canon EOS 7D Digital camera which a few years ago was not going to happen to me. I had purchased a small digital camera to help make taking pictures for Loren’s eagle project a little less costly and a lot faster. He was going to make a ward directory for our ward, the Mapleton 1^st Ward at that time and we needed to take pictures of every family in the ward. That would have used up a lot of film as we would have to either complete a roll with families all at one time or use film in the camera and that would use even more film. I knew that getting everyone at one time would be impossible so we opted to purchase the small camera. I was so frustrated after helping do some of the pictures that I decided I would never get a digital camera or never until they were at least a lot better in how they functioned. This small camera would not take a picture for at least  2 or 3 seconds after the shutter release was pressed. (Not a good thing for someone used to taking soccer action shots and depended on instant shutter release.) Plus the ability to enlarge those images past an 5 x 7 inch image was not practical. So I felt that getting a digital camera was pretty stupid, but, my mind was changed with one fateful event.

We had gone as the Mapleton 4^th ward on a trek in Wyoming. It was at Martin’s Cove and from the 6^th Water Crossing 14 miles to the end of the trek. I had used my Canon A-1 film camera and taken 40 rolls of film with 24 exposures each during that trek for the three days. I had a lot of good images and really enjoyed the event but carrying the film was a little bit of a problem and I always seemed to be having to change rolls when the best “Kodak moment” was occurring. I put together a slide show after I got back and had to scan all 40 rolls of negatives into my computer to make a power point presentation since I had used negatives not slides.

The following year Mapleton Stake planned a trek to the same locations and had asked me to take pictures on it as well. Another member of the stake, Derek Haynie, was going to do video for it as well. Derek and I met a couple of times to plan what we would do and he told me that he had a Canon D-60 camera (digital) that he wanted me to use since he couldn’t do both that and video. I finally accepted his offer but took my old camera as well with another supply of 40 rolls or so of film. He gave me the camera a few days before ythe trek so I could get used to it. Well as I looked through the view finder I was sure I wouldn’t like it since everything was blurry. Well when I looked at the picture after it came up on the screen on the camera it looked in focus so I guessed he just had a problem with the eye piece and I would have to trust the auto focus on the camera. We went on the trek and for the first day went to Martin’s Cove. I took a lot of pictures with my old camera and a few with his. Then the next day as we went on the now 17 mile trek at 6^th Water  Crossing I used both cameras again only this time I only shot about 14 rolls through my camera and took over 800 images using his. I often used it because I wouldn’t have to change film before I took the image. By the end of 17 miles I had loaded his memory card which we downloaded onto his computer that night at camp and then plugged in his battery to recharge it even though it still was OK for a while. I had used my camera but again had to change and carry the film. It was so easy to use his though that I pretty much depended on it for the rest of the trip. I had been able to take more images and get at least one image of each of the participants on the trek. It didn’t cost anything to get them into a digital format for the computer and I only had to change the card if I took over 800 images and that was almost as many as I had taken the year before with my A-1 and over 400 more than I had taken on this trip with my A-1. The camera would take the image as soon as I pressed the shutter and I didn’t have to advance the film before taking another image, in fact it would take three a second if I held the shutter release down. I was then convinced that I could live with a digital SLR camera and ordered one as soon after I got home as I could. I bought the newest camera then out made by Canon the 10D. I did have to buy new lenses since my old camera lenses would not fit the new camera but it didn’t take long to get one zoom lens at a fairly decent price and I was back to doing things as I had with the film cameras only a lot faster and at a lot less expense. (Now that I have had three of those cameras though I am not sure it is less since I spend a lot each time I upgrade to the newer, higher resolution, faster cameras. Canon puts out a new model each year but I was usually able to go three years before upgrading. I now have a Canon EOS 7D with a single zoom lens that will go from 28 mm to 300 mm. I can do everything I want with it and with my 32 gig memory card can shoot over 1000 images in Raw mode before having to change cards which is a lot quicker process than changing a roll of film.

I am glad I finally made the change but was also glad that I got to use one of the digital cameras before making the change since I then knew what was really out there and how good they had finally been manufactured. I have now in my lifetime taken over 500,000 images and a major amount of them since going digital.

True Champion

A True Champion

After I had been laid off from Provo Craft and not secured another job for nearly a year I went to UVU and was hired as a Temp employee there. I started working for the UCCU Center as an Usher with Scott and Marsha. I have had some interesting expe. The serve was short and then Skyview went on to win the ste 16-14riences while doing that job but last night I had an experience where I saw the true heart of a champion. I had been working the last two weekends ushering for the UHSAA (Utah High School Athletic Association) State Women’s Volleyball Championships. I had watched girls come off the floor after a well played game where they lost and be crying and also those who won be crying as well. It was hard to see some of them go through some of those emotions but they know someone has to win and someone has to lose. However during the 4A Championship match last night between Timpview and Skyview I witnessed a true champion play for her school. Her name was Meagan (I got that from what the crowd was yelling each time she came to serve or did a great play). At one point in the 3^rd set the coach got a real worried look on her face and called a timeout. She immediately began massaging Meagan’s legs. As the timeout ended they went back onto the court and it became obvious that Meagan was hurting. Then in the 5^th and final set she had jumped up at the net to block a spike and when she went down it was all the way to the floor. The Team Trainer went out and helped her to stretch her legs which were obviously in extreme pain. They carried her to the side and then after a few minutes she went back onto the floor. The set went to a 14 Timpview to 13 Skyview  score and all Timpview had to do was score one more  point to win the match and they were serving. The serve went short so Skyline got the serve and went on to win 16-14. Meagan however during those three points was jumping to stop the ball and setting and playing despite intense pain in her legs. I watched and my heart ached for her as she played her best until the last volley ended. Those last three volleys were not short but filled with excellent playing. She was a true champion as far as I could see. Skyview won the State Championship but Meagan won the respect of everyone in the crowd who had ever played a sport and knew the pain that she continued to play with until the very end. That respect to me was far more important than the state title when all is said and done.

Handcart Trek: Mapleton Stake

Handcart Trek: Mapleton Stake

The year following our 14^th ward trek to Wyoming  our Mapleton Stake decided to also do a trek there. I was asked to go along to photograph it and Marie was assigned to go as a member of the support team as well doing the cooking for the group. This time we went in a number of buses and also stopped along the way before getting there. We traveled to Martin’s Cove for the first night and then to Sixth Water and Rock Creek Hollow the second day. Loren had decided not to go this time so we only had Brittany from the family except for a future member of our family that was also there at which time we did not know she would be joining our family. Rachell Morey was there with our ward and would later find Loren at college and fall in love with him. The pictures I have from that trek are special since they included Rachelle.  

This trek was different from the year before but special none the less. When we went to Martin’s Cove this time we stopped just before going up the cove trail and had a fireside of sorts with President Collin Allan. There was also one of the missionaries who spoke to us there and explained the scared nature of this hallowed spot to the youth and leaders. It was very good and I learned more about the cove that I had not learned previously. We then went on to the top where the missionaries again spoke to us and showed us one of the tree stumps that had been mentioned in diaries of the time. It was near the top and had been cut down by the people suffering during that snow storm. We later also went through the Sweetwater River and again a water fight was enjoyed more than the winter crossing could have ever been for the pioneers. I suppose other pioneers who came across at different times might have enjoyed the crossing but not those with the Martin and Willie handcart groups.

We also went over to Sixth Water after Martin’s Cove but this time we had to walk 17 miles to get to Rock Creek. The year before the buses were allowed to drive right to Rocky Ridge but this time the state government had required the buses stop three miles further away and everyone was dropped off there. The trek then was 17 miles and not 14 as the year before. It was still very good and this time we had an event about 10 miles or so into the trek when one of the young ladies became very ill and the support team had to help get her out and down to Rock Creek Campground.

We enjoyed this trek as well and learned more again but did not have the experience with Loren that had made the previous one so memorable. He knew he didn’t want to tackle it a second time and thus had not decided to come with us.

I am thankful for the pioneers who came across the plains and although I am not aware of any that were in those two companies that suffered so much death I did have pioneer forefathers that came across the plains earlier with Brigham Young. To them I am very thankful as well and for the testimonies that they carried with them and have passed along down through to me. I am thankful for this gospel and especially for my Savior and the Atonement. I do not yet understand it fully but know fully that I could not do it for myself and thus without Him could not be looking forward to the times when I will get to meet my ancestors who passed their precious love of the Lord and Savior and of Heavenly Father and the gospel down to me.

More Stories: 14th Ward Handcart Trek

Handcart Trek: 14th Ward Rocky Ridge

A number of years ago when I was in the High Council of the stake our ward decided to go on a trek. This would be the second one that we have had in the ward or at least the wards we had been in for the last number of years. Our first one we went to Days Canyon across from Sheep Creek in Spanish Fork Canyon. Jeff was the young man over the trek and Linda Baird the young woman. It was quite an experience and I think that I have written about it before and in fact may have written about the other two as well. However I will not write about that one at this point on the second two. I did mention these as I wrote about my cameras so part of this is probably already done.

This trek was to Wyoming and we had a number of ward firesides in preparation for the trek. One of them was with a couple in the ward who were currently serving missions there during the months that they were open at Sixth Water, and Martin’s Cove. They talked about some of the special experiences and sacred experiences that occur there each year involving youth groups and other visitors. Some where children’s voices could be heard and after the people had reported it to the missionaries a couple of times the missionaries would explain that he happens and it is not something to worry about. The voices are having fun not in distress and they believe it could be some of the pioneer children. They also talked about the rattle snakes that are so plentiful there and the need to stay on the trails and use caution when walking along the trails. The state of Wyoming has forbidden the killing of the snakes. We later learned that his statements were quite true in the latter case for us at least.

We started by loading on buses early in the morning and traveling to Wyoming. It was a long ride but short compared to the distances the pioneers traveled by foot. We stopped at several places along the way and ate lunch at one of them. Loren and Brittany were both with Marie and I and so it was fun for us. We stopped at Sixth Water the first night and set up camp. We had supper that we cooked over fires and then had a fireside program that evening. The youth were all quite excited and getting to bed that night was not easy. In the morning after breakfast we went over to where the pioneers had actually crossed the river and where we could see the draw up which they pulled their carts. We then went back and got onto the buses and took what seemed like a very long ride up to the memorial at the top of the draw. We had to travel around the area and come in form the opposite side where we would find the carts ready for the loading of our gear. We had a short discussion at the monument after loading the carts and then began the 14 mile pull across Rocky Ridge to Rock Creek Hollow. The place where the pioneers had stopped in the Martin and Willie Handcart companies and buried a number of the families that had died while crossing that part in the cold winter storm. It was here at Rock Creek Hollow where we had a experience that made the trek so memorable to us.

It was that year that Loren had been diagnosed with Diabetes. As we were crossing that 14 miles we were told not to eat but we had fruit for Loren since his body would need the food. He refused to be different than any one else and refused to eat. When we got to Rock Creek we set up camp and then couldn’t find Loren. Marie, Sister Dahle , who had a child with diabetes and lots of experience dealing with it, and Bishop went with us to find him. When we did at the north end of the area we could tell from how he was talking that he was suffering from very low blood sugars, I tried to reason with him to come back to camp and get some food but all he wanted was to be left alone and. SIsiter Dahle knew we had to get some sugar into him and finally when all other efforts to get him to cooperate failed I tackled him and took him to the ground, well at least that was my intensions and they didn’t succeed until Bishop helped. He later told me he knew that was what needed to happen but didn’t want to make the move until I did and then he was right there with me. We forced Loren to eat some candy, Skittles, which we had to force into his mouth and which he kept spitting out but finally there was enough sugar into his system that he came around and began to be himself again.  

We were very careful to make sure he had sufficient food the remainder of the trip. After a very good fireside that night we went to bed again with some long suffering since the youth were still quite wound up.

The next morning we boarded the buses and traveled to Martin’s Cove. We loaded the carts again after a special fireside and instruction period conducted by the missionaries at the visitor’s center. We then pulled the carts over to the bottom of the cove and took the trek up around the cove. Marie and I and our children had been there years ago with a ward campout and it had really changed over the course of the years. We had gone at that time to the top of the ridge forming the cove and looked down into it before hiking down the hill to be in the cove. This time they had made a walking trail that was paved up around the point of the cove and out the other side. There was a place even at the top of the cove where they had made a seating area to talk about the pioneers. Marie and I had a special experience there on the way out as we caught up with Sister Kaen Long who was on the trek with us. As we talked about the events surrounding the cove and then did some casual conversation she turned and looked at us and said, “You have never really ever stopped being our home teacher have you.” I had been their families home teacher when Marie and I had first moved into the ward and yes I always had felt close to them even though we had been in different wards for a time in between then and this experience and were now back into the same ward. It was really special.

After we got back to the carts we then continued down to the camping area where we were to stay for that evening before leaving the next day. We went through the river where the saints had been carried across since so many of them were too weak to face another crossing in the cold. Three young men had carried many of them across and stories about them are a part of church history. Anyway our experience was so different form the pioneers since we were crossing in the summer and not the winter and in a time when the water was at a much lower flow. We had a water fight before proceeding on to the camp. It was along that trail after the water when we saw, and Loren was the one to spot it, a large Rattle Snake sunning on the top of a sage brush bush next to the trail. I photographed it when I got there but otherwise we left it alone. Later that day when the boys were taking the carts back to Martin’s Cove Visitor’s Center Loren again saw a snake in the middle of the trail. They had been running with the carts and apparently almost stepped on it before seeing it. It was not coiled so didn’t strike at them even though it could have. He had now seen two and been the one to spot it both times. After an evening around the campfire again we went to bed. It was a little easier that nigh tot get the youth to bed. The next morning we went to Devil’s Gate and Signature Rock before traveling home. When we got to each area we got out and were able to explore each of the areas. Devil’s gate was a narrow gorge near Martin’s cove and Signature rock is a famous rock sticking up out of the ground about 50 feet upon which many of the early pioneers and other traveling along the Oregon Trail would stop and sign their names on the rock. Loren again was the one who when climbing the rock found another Rattle Snake well up on the rock. He found all three of the snakes that we had seen during that trek experience. We enjoyed the rock and again Marie and I had been there during that ward family camp experience many years ago but it was still fascinating to see all of the signatures that had been scratched into the rock in so many places.

Our trip back was uneventful and long but we had really enjoyed the three days with the youth and for Marie and I learned some very important information for Loren.