Creche I Didn't Focus On

This Creche was between Hyrum and Paradise. It was DANG cold and the light was fading fast. I forgot to focus on the Creche...but I liked it enough to include it anyway. I guess the moral lesson is 'Don't forget to focus on the Creche'.



Creche I Didn't Focus On

Creche Near Geneva

I was driving near Geneva Steel today and saw this creche. They actually had two at their house. There was a deflated inflatable creche in the front yard and this one with figures and a star on the side of the house. Their neighbor came over and asked what I was doing. It told him about the project and asked if he would tell them 'thanks' for having a Nativity scene. He said he would.



Creche Near Geneva

Creche At Nielsen's Dairy

Up the street from where I grew up, on the road heading toward Hyrum is Nielsen's Dairy. I stopped there early in the morning to shoot their Creche. As I was setting up a woman coming from the milking barn with a fresh pitcher of milk stopped to talk. She told me that she took Jesus back in the house when it started to snow. "I couldn't bury Jesus!", she said. I completely agree.



Creche At Nielsen's Dairy

Creche Around The Corner From My Parent's House

I like the light in this one. The title explains the rest.



Creche Around The Corner From My Parent's House

Snow Creche

This is a Creche that was made entirely out of snow...hence the title Snow Creche. I am assuming that it looked a little better before another six inches of snow fell on it and obscured the features. My mother found it about four days ago. I was hoping it would still be standing when I got to Logan.



Snow Creche

Scheiss' Creche

Today I'm at my parent's home in Nibley. My dad took me around creche hunting and we found three. This one is at an old family friend's home. Their name is Scheiss. Prounounced 'shiss'. Two things about this creche that I like. First is that to say Scheiss' Creche is kind of a tongue-twister. Second is that Baby Jesus is tipped up on end.



Scheiss' Creche

Creche I Knelt At

This morning we had about 18 inches of snow. Definitely a White Christmas.

I have been eyeing this creche for quite some time, as it is in our neighborhood and is on the way home. I went out creche-hunting today after digging the cars and driveway out of the snow, but I came up empty handed. I knew I could go and shoot this one, so I did.

I had to wade through the snow to get close enough to see the figures, and noticed that the face of Jesus had been dug out. I had to kneel in the snow to get low enough to get the angle I wanted. For just a fraction of a second I realized that I was kneeling at the creche, and wondered what it would have been like... Then I realized that they were just plastic figures and I made the picture.



Creche I Knelt At, 2009

Creche On The Door

This Nativity scene is very interesting in that it is basically a door-sized poster. It is the first one of this type that I've seen to date.

This house is in my neighborhood and ever since we've moved here I've enjoyed their outdoor Nativity. Last month we saw the figures in the back of their truck with a bunch of other stuff destined for the landfill. I was hoping that they'd replace it with something good.



Creche On The Door

Last Creche At Wal-Mart

Yesterday Polla and I were out shopping at Wal-Mart. I wanted to go into the Christmas section to see if they had any Nativity stuff. They had this one figure left. Of course I didn't have my little camera with me, and all I had was my really terrible cell-phone camera. I think it's a .5 megapixel. I did a three-shot panorama hoping to increase the pixel-count. It didn't help much.

I think that this is the third time I have seen this figure. It's the small one in the back...behind the pony.



Last Creche At Wal-Mart

Creche That Aunt Gay Might Like

Here is one I think my Aunt Gay might like.



Creche That Aunt Gay Might Like

Creche With Angels In The Window

Some patterns are starting to appear:

1. The Pink Joseph and Blue Mary are a popular set. Apparently they were on sale last year at Wal-Mart.

2. Jesus is starting to be buried in the snow.

3. I have at least one other photo with Santa to the left of the Creche.

This one is unique in that the display is partially indoors and partially outdoors. There are three angels peeking out the front window.



Creche With Angels In The Window

Live Creche In Liberty Park

This morning during my creche research, I Googled 'Live Nativity Salt Lake City' and I found one that is going on at Liberty Park. It is called 'Echoes of Christmas' and is put on by volunteers. Basically it is a quasi-narration of the Nativity, with different 'stations' spread around the park.

There are shepherds which guide you around to the different stations, where you listen to various characters in the Nativity story sing a song or two. It's all original music, not too over-done, and, in my opinion, worth going to if you are in Salt Lake City. It will run on Monday and Tuesday again, then they hope to present it again next year. I am going to try to take my family on Monday. I want them to be able to pet a live camel. Yes, I did say 'pet a live camel'.



Live Creche In Liberty Park

Creche Convention

Ok, so I'm starting to take this a little more seriously, and this morning was doing some research on Creche's from around the world. I discovered that there is a group of people called 'Friends of the Creche' with about 400 members in the US and Canada. They are having their 2009 convention right here in Salt Lake City! How exciting! The dates are November 12-14 & optional 15th, 2009.



It's going to snow today...I'm thinking of trying a time-lapse for my official 'creche post'.

Creche Made Of Lights

This Creche is made out of lights. I like the star.



Creche Made Of Lights

Creche Between Two Trees

This creche is one I saw yesterday, but I got lost in another nieghborhood trying to get to it. I got to it a little earlier today, and the lights hadn't been turned on yet. I might try to shoot it again at the dusk-ish part of the day when the lights are turned on. For now, I kind of like it. It is interesting to find that compositionally the image below this post and this image are both shoe-horned between like objects.



Creche Between Two Trees

Creche With Two Snowmen

I was stuck in some pretty bad traffic this afternoon heading home, so I decided to take a detour. During my detour, I realized I was heading towards a very large Creche scene that I'd been told about by some friends. As I tried to cross the street to find a place to park, I got distracted by yet *another* nieghborhood. I found this Creche scene and shot it. I can go back and get the other one tomorrow.



Creche With Two Snowmen

Creche With Buried Jesus

It has snowed about 8 inches in different parts of the valley over the past few days. I went out this afternoon in search of this very creche I had seen last week. I didn't notice that Jesus was buried until I got home and looked at the images closer.

Comparing Creche's

This post is to settle any dispute about the similar nature of two Creche's and any earlier statements that have been made by myself and others.

These are the two figures in question. The one on the left is from the post 'Hidden Creche'. The one on the right is from the post 'Creche With Standing Figures'.



It does indeed appear that these are the same style of figures, but the colors are different. I wonder if the owners have painted one of the figures different from the way it came, or if they are sold with the intent that the owner will paint them. In either case, the two creche's are different colors.

Hopefully that settles any questions and/or disputes. (wink wink, nudge nudge)

Creche With Standing Figures

This is the same Nativity scene as in the Hidden Creche. Here's a chance to see it without all of the other stuff blocking it. I almost didn't recognize it, and thought that it was the first time I had seen this one. As I went back down through the blog I realized that I had photographed it before. 'Hidden Creche' turns out to be a pretty good name for that earlier post. It was so hidden that I didn't recognize the figures the second time I saw them. I'm sure there's a metaphor in there somewhere.



Creche With Standing Figures

Kids Live Creche

This morning we had an extended family holiday 'get-together'. The highlight for me was that all of the kids were part of a live nativity. It was pretty sweet. Baby Jesus didn't even cry.



Kids Live Creche

Dollar-Store Creche Figurine

I have been trying to only show outdoor Nativity scenes, and have several saved up that I haven't used yet. But...I went to a Christmas party at a friends house tonight and there was a 'White Elephant' gift exchange. This creche figurine was from the dollar-store and was won by someone else at the party. Fortunately I brought my camera to the party so I could get a shot. I did see a pretty good outdoor Nativity today, but didn't have my camera with me. I'll go back and nab it later.



Dollar-Store Creche Figurine

Creche With Clear Jesus

I have not been able to get out after school and go 'creche hunting' for a few days. I knew I was running a little low with shots I hadn't used, so I committed to go out and search this evening. I drove around for about 40 minutes and was feeling pretty discouraged, when I saw this really nice one. It is interesting in that Joseph, Mary and Jesus are made with clear plastic and the rest of the set is painted. Pretty unique. Just down the street two houses was another creche I hadn't seen before. Not a bad hunt.



Creche With Clear Jesus

Hidden Creche

I was lying in bed falling asleep when I remembered I hadn't posted a creche for today. I didn't see one today, but this is one I shot last week.

This creche is pretty well hidden by all of the other stuff.



Hidden Creche

Cut-out Creche

I like this one because it is unique. The owner came out and told me that his daughter in Arizona made it and mailed it to him.

Creche and Cherubs

When I was photographing this creche, the lady who lives in the house came out and said, "Are you from the City?!". I chuckled and had a nice conversation with her. She keeps the cherub's out there year-round.

Creche With Star

My jaw hit the floor when I drove by this place last week. This is a house that's on the way to the grocery store in our neighborhood. They have the most variety and quantity of any Nativity I've seen yet. The whole Star of David, angels proclaiming, the front yard is devoted to the creche...this place is pretty awesome. I can't say that it's any 'better' than other homes that have their Nativity scenes displayed, but it is pretty impressive. Santa definitely takes second billing to Jesus at this home.



Creche With Star

Inflatable Creche and Santa

Today I was running errands and when I was done I went 'creche hunting'. This project is making me carry my little camera with me everywhere. I had found one creche earlier today, but then this gem showed up. I head heard about alleged sightings of the mythical inflatable creche, but my doubts were erased when I saw this one.



Inflatable Creche and Santa

Creche on the Corner

Nathan told me about this creche up the street from Waterford. I drove right to it based on his 'loose' directions.

I think my favorite part of this creche is that there is nothing else in their yard.



Creche on the Corner

Creche With Frosty

Found this one today on 7th east and 85th south in Salt Lake. I like how Joseph and Mary are tied to the house, as are the other figures. Joseph has a 'noose' around his neck. It is interesting that this is the same set as is featured two posts below. I wonder how many duplicates I'll find. I can imagine Joseph, arm extended proclaiming, "Behold...Rudolph!".



Creche With Frosty

Creche With Red Jesus

This one I shot the other night on the way to Sunday dinner. It is actually one I've been saving for a day I didn't see one. Well, I didn't see one today.



Creche With Red Jesus

Creche #2

I didn't write down the address of this one. It's somewhere between work and home in some random neighborhood.



Creche #2

Creche on Temple Square

So, I think I'll get the 'obvious' one out of the way. This one was way too easy to shoot, and way too predictable. I should probably save it for a day that I am not able to find a creche on. In any case, I still like the image.

Taken on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah.



Creche on Temple Square

The Idea

So, I thought I'd try to find the real meaning of Christmas this year...you know...the meaning where Jesus has an actual part in all of the other crap that surrounds the anniversary/commemoration of His birth? Remember that part? Yeah, sometimes it gets hard to find.

I thought I'd see just how hard it is to find, so I had this idea. It kind of goes along with the whole photo-a-day thing that a lot of photographers have been doing lately. I thought I'd take it a step further, and see if I can photograph a creche per day. Some of you may be wondering just what the heck a 'creche' is. Well, in French it means 'crib'. It has taken a secondary meaning, that of a three-dimensional representation of the nativity scene of Christ's birth.

There's the idea. I already have some creche's that I shot yesterday and today. I'll start my first official 'creche-a-day' post starting tomorrow, since it will be the first of December.