Nada's Creche

This is the creche of a friend of the family. I heard about it and decided to go and see it for myself. While I was there the sun was setting and broke through the high clouds. I thought that Nada was smiling from Heaven making sure I got a nice image. Thanks Nada!



Nada's Creche, 2009

Creche Where The Owner Thanked Me For Taking A Picture

Rarely do I speak with the homeowners where I photograph these creches. This man was working in his garage so I yelled at him. I asked him if I could take a picture of his Nativity Scene. He said of course and gave me a big thanks. The thanks is all mine.



Creche Where The Owner Thanked Me For Taking A Picture, 2009

Creche With Two Figures Of Mary

This creche is one I also shot a while ago (I'm running out of stock...). It has a figure of Mary standing behind the creche scene. I thought that was pretty cool.



Creche With Two Figures Of Mary, 2009

Creche With Upside-down Star

This is one I shot a while ago. I like it because it's one I haven't seen before, and it also has an upside-down star. I like the upside-down star...mostly because it has an ancient divine meaning, but also because I like the word upside-down.



Creche With Upside-down Star, 2009

Vandalized Creche

Clearly there are some people who could care less about what the true meaning of Christmas is. It's a shame really. What is also a shame is that the owners of the home haven't seen what's happened to it and set it up again. I think I'll swing by tomorrow and check again...



Vandalized Creche, 2009

Creche At Brigham City Tabernacle

My mom told me I had to photograph this one. On the way to Logan today I stopped and shot it.



Creche At Brigham City Tabernacle, 2009



Detail Of Creche At Brigham City Tabernacle, 2009

Creche On The Roof

Here is one of my favorites from this year. Such an odd space to place a Nativity Scene, but it seems like it was built for it.



Creche On The Roof, 2009

Kids Live Creche

The Morgans, Naegles and Cushings get together annually for a group family/friend Christmas party. Every year all of the kids perform a live Nativity Scene. I thought it was appropriate for Christmas Eve.



Kids Live Creche, 2009

High-Key Creche

This is one that is definitely unique. Ironically it also fits perfectly with an assignment that I like to give out shooting white on white.



High-Key Creche, 2009

Creche In Front Of White House

This is probably my favorite photograph so far.



Creche In Front Of White House, 2009

Creche With Donkeys and Mannikins

This creche is pretty impressive. It's in a field with real horses, donkeys and sheep. It also has mannikins, so there is a creepy factor that can't be ignored. I think I might re-shoot this one on some large sheet film.



Creche With Donkeys and Mannikins, 2009

Creche That Eric Found

Click on this image. It gets bigger. Then...click on it again, it'll zoom in even more. I suggest that so that you can see all of the hard work that the grandpa that made this set has done. Thanks for finding this one Eric!



Creche That Eric Found, 2009

Creche With Angels In The Window

I shot this creche last year and saw it again this year. I liked it a lot better this year.



Creche With Angels In The Window, 2009

Creche That Started Out As A Star Of David

This creche was made by Zsana's son Zachary. He was making it at the craft table at the Unitarian Church. The creche started out as a Star Of David, but somehow ended up as a Nativity Scene instead. I'm not sure why the Unitarian Church was making Star's Of David, but that really doesn't matter. What really matters is that you notice the sweet, sweet afro's on both Mary and Joseph.



Creche That Started Out As A Star Of David, 2009

Blue Plastic Creche

Here's one I have been holding on to for use when I didn't have time to go shooting. Tonight I didn't have time to go shooting...I was busy printing in the darkroom for 5 hours after school. Don't know what a darkroom is? Go ask your grandpa.



Blue Plastic Creche, 2009

Creche Made Of Clay

Every once-in-a-while I will bend my self-imposed rule of only showing outdoor Nativity Scenes. This is one of those times.

A few of Suzanne's students rose to the occasion and decided to make a creche out of clay. I thought it was pretty sweet.



Creche Made Of Clay, 2009

A New Kind Of Inflatable Creche

I didn't have my tripod. It's a problem when the exposures are long.



An Inflatable Creche Is Better Than No Creche At All, 2009

Creche By Suzanne's House

I was heading home from a party at Suzanne's house tonight and she told me to look for this creche. At this house was this creche, an inflatable creche, and a nativity flag hanging by the porch.



Creche By Suzanne's House, 2009

Creche I Knelt At Last Year And Again This Year

This creche is around the corner from the house. I was running short on time today, and this was one I knew I could shoot anytime. I used it last year when I needed a creche on short-notice, and it went up again this year too. Interestingly enough, part of the creche's roof is made out of a sign that they use to announce their Halloween Haunted House. I thought that was a fun touch.



Creche I Knelt At Last Year And Again This Year, 2009

Third Creche I Found When 'Mel' Got Me Lost

This is the last creche I found the night that my student 'Mel' got me lost with her terrible map. It was worth getting lost...it was the most productive night of the project so far.



Third Creche I Found When 'Mel' Got Me Lost, 2009

Second Creche I Found When 'Mel' Got Me Lost

This house is two houses down from the creche I saw last night. In the yard next to me was a white pit-bull that would sooner have me dead than not.



Second Creche I Found When 'Mel' Got Me Lost, 2009

Creche I Found When 'Mel' Got Me Lost

Today a couple of my students tried to help me find a creche near the school. The first girl...let's call her 'Mel' and her friend, um...we'll call her 'Zemma' tried their best to draw me a map to lead me to this mysterious mannequin creche. I followed the directions for a while, but ended up having better luck when I put the map down and just started driving around. In fact, I found three creche's this afternoon when I decided to give up on the originally intended creche and just cruised.



Creche I Found When 'Mel' Got Me Lost, 2009

Creche I Shot While There Was Still Light

I was able to get away from school tonight while there was still some light. I headed home and cruised some of the older neighborhoods looking for a creche. This is a specimine I hadn't seen before. I did see a second creche tonight, but it only had the Three Wisemen. No Jesus, Joseph or Mary. I'll have to go back and see if the group gets larger.



Creche I Shot While There Was Still Light, 2009

Creche On 126th

I was heading home late tonight and knew I could get this one as it is close to the house. It's on 126th south just west of the post office.



Creche On 126th, 2009

Creche Where The Star Has Rainbow Colored Rays

Rainbow lights seem to be all the rage. This is the second creche I saw last night.



Creche Where The Star Has Rainbow Colored Rays, 2009

Creche Where Jesus Needs A Pillow

I went looking for a creche on the way up to the school tonight, but the one I found didn't have it's lights turned on. After I was done at the school I cruised a couple of neighborhoods and found two different ones. This was the first.



Creche Where Jesus Needs A Pillow, 2009

Creche For Sale At Lowes

We were doing some shopping today and I knew I'd see a creche at Lowe's. I'd seen it around Halloween and knew I could go back and get it anytime. Today was the day.



Creche For Sale At Lowes, 2009

Creche I Found In Orem

I was in Orem on my way to buy a Trinitron monitor for the digital lab when I saw this one. I was relieved...I didn't want to go into the 'vault' just quite yet.



Creche I Found In Orem, 2009

Two-Dimensional Creche Made Of Plywood

I was heading to shoot a creche I had been told about when I saw this one on the way. This is a totally home-made creche, made out of plywood, with an actual three-dimensional manger complete with straw and Baby Jesus doll. After shooting this creche and the creche I was tipped-off to, I actually saw yet another creche on the very same street. I turned around to go shoot the third one and when I got close I saw that Jesus hadn't been placed yet. I will return.



Two-Dimensional Creche Made Of Plywood, 2009

Creche Where Joseph Is Distracted

This is a revisit to a creche I photographed last year. I have been watching this house all year hoping to go back and re-photograph it for this year's blog. I noticed that the figures were put up about a week ago, but decided to shoot it tonight since I was kind of running out of daylight and I needed a 'sure thing'. Here is the post from last year.



Creche Where Joseph Is Distracted, 2009

Ironically this year, just like last year, Joseph has been placed on the opposite side of Mary and Baby Jesus. Just like last year Joseph is pointing away from them. Just like last year he hasn't learned his lesson. When, Joseph...when will you learn? Is this the reason why we don't hear much about you in the New Testament? Is this the reason why you dissappear? You seem to be slowly moving away from Mary and Jesus...a little more each year. Were you distracted?

Creche In Reflecting Pond With Temple

First creche of the year. Ironically taken exactly one year after the first creche shot of last year was taken. It is interesting that this is the first vertical panorama I've shot for this project.



Creche In Reflecting Pond With Temple, 2009

Click on the image to make it larger.

If you haven't been on my 'Creche-a-Day' blog before, you might want to go back to the beginning and read just why it is that I'm doing this project. Off and on all year I've thought about doing it again, and I am actually a little nervous about it this year. I will have to look harder for new creches to photograph, although I am very interested to return to several that I can remember from last year and see how they have changed. I also want to try to photograph someone setting up their creche, perhaps even taking it down when the time comes.

In any case, if you are in the northern Utah area and find a creche that I haven't photographed, I'd LOVE you to drop me an e-mail. You can reach me at: sladephoto@yahoo.com