Nurture the Creative Mind Party

Last week was the fundraiser and anniversary party for Nurture the Creative Mind, a local non-profit arts group that I've been working with recently. The event was essentially a carnival of arts with some of the most amazing folks in Ogden (though maybe I'm a bit biased.) Some photos from the evening are below, including a few experiments with open shutters when there were people dancing in low-light. Enjoy.

©Benjamin Zack, 2013

©Benjamin Zack, 2013

©Benjamin Zack, 2013

Logan Moonrise

I went snowshoeing in the Wellsville Mountains over the weekend and was disappointed when the weather forced me to turn around before reaching my planned photo spot. As if to make up for it, a full moon started to rise across the Cache Valley over Logan and I was able to get this photo.

©Benjamin Zack, 2013

Veterans Day

While shooting a video at the local Veterans Day Parade over the weekend, I took a brief break to capture this photo of the local Junior ROTC and wanted to share it today.

The Ogden High School Junior ROTC waits along 25th Street in downtown Ogden at the end of the Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013. Hundreds of veterans, active service members and supporters marched down Washington Ave. to downtown. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Release the Pheasants

Last week, I went out with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources as they released pheasants at Salt Creek WMA just before the start of the hunting season. This year, Utah is drastically increasing the number of birds being released. I also shot a video which you can find here, along with an article and more photos. Enjoy some of the selects below.

Mason Asay, center, releases a pheasant at Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area under the watch of Randy Berger, right, on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. Berger, the wetland manager, released over 300 pheasants the day before the start of hunting season. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Wetland Manager Randy Berger examines the beak of a captive-bred pheasant before its release at Salt Creek WMA on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. The bird was raised with blinders in order to keep it from attacking other pheasants. The blinders are an alternative to the old method of trimming beaks.  (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Dustin Mitchell releases pheasant sat Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. The release was the largest ever in the area. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)