Last Creche Of 2010

I have a tradition where I try to go out photographing on the last day of the year, then the following day, on the first day of the year.

Today while I was heading out to shoot at the Great Salt Lake, I drove through the little town of Magna looking for a Nativity to shoot. They had just experienced several days of snow, much of it generated by lake-effect storms generated by Great Salt Lake.

I didn't see more than this Creche in Magna, but that was enough. I only needed one.

I am sad to see the project end for this year.



Last Creche Of 2010

40-year-old Creche

Polla and I went creche-hunting in Providence this week. I found myself in a part of town I hadn't searched before, and lo-and-behold, this one popped out of nowhere.

This Nativity was unique in that it was centered in the yard under some trees and the figures were all in a circle around the infant Jesus.

As I tried to figure out how to photograph the set, I realized that I would need to be smack-dab in the middle of the yard. Although I never ring on doorbells, I felt I needed to for this one. I was definitely going to be intruding on their property and felt I needed to introduce myself.

I rang the bell and a very nice lady came to the door. I introduced myself and she was thrilled to have me show interest in her decorations. She said they were over 40 years old and that each year they struggle if they ought to paint the figures or not. I begged her to never paint them, as I felt that's what gave them so much character.

Because I had such limited space to work in, and I didn't have a wide-angle lens, I needed to make a multi-image mosaic. I shot 23 images and put them together digitally to achieve the angle of view I wanted to get.

I especially like how Jesus is resting in an Easter basket. The melding of two Jesus-centered holidays never worked better.



40-year-old Creche, 2010

Creche That Was Hard To Shoot

This creche I found with my dad in Providence the other day. I love the shape of the house and the roof.

As I approached the house I could see that the metal structure on the corner of the porch was going to be problematic. I had to ask myself..."Self, do you want to block Joseph? No. Mary? No. Jesus? No. Ok, so who do you want to sacrifice? You are going to have to deal with that thing and it is going to create a problem for at least one member of the Holy Family. Ok, Joseph it is."

So, I blocked Joseph. I hope he sees it my way.



Creche That Was Hard To Shoot, 2010

Red Barn With Star And Creche

Heading back home from lunch in Logan this afternoon I took a wrong turn and passed this big red barn.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught that it had a creche just as we were whizzing by.



Red Barn With Star And Creche, 2010

Creche Framed By A Slide

My dad and I went out Creching today. We found several different ones in Millville and Providence. I especially liked this one.



Creche Framed By A Slide, 2010

Creche That Abigail Saw In Willard

Today the family headed to Logan for Christmas with my parents. On the way up I decided to take a last-minute detour through Willard 'just to see' if I could find any Nativity scenes.

Abigail spotted this one which was amazing because it was tucked back behind a bunch of thick juniper bushes at the edge of the property. We turned around and went back to shoot it.

I love this house. The longer I look at it the more reasons I have to love it.



Creche That Abigail Saw In Willard, 2010

Creche With A Chevy Truck

Yesterday while out hunting I was heading home and this creche caught my attention right as I was passing. I am surprised I saw it because it is way buried back behind a rail fence and some trees. I think in retrospect I saw it because I was admiring the Chevy truck so much as I passed.

I was thinking earlier that there is some kind of deep metaphorical meaning in the way that I found this creche...but I don't have the energy to develop that thought right now.

Merry Christmas!



Creche With A Chevy Truck, 2010

Creche At Garden Park Ward

One of Polla's friends goes to the church at Garden Park. She sent me up here to check it out. It is quite the location, and it was easy for me to become overwhelmed in trying to photograph the entire gardens, pond, waterfalls and rockwork while I was there today.

I made one panorama then decided it was too busy. I then moved in close and just did a nice detail shot of the figures. I thought it would be a nice Creche for Christmas Eve.



Creche At Garden Park Ward, 2010

Huge Creche Made Of Lights

Shannon Wright sent me the location for this creche.. It has been in this yard for at least twelve years according to her.

I think I remember seeing this Nativity Scene years ago, maybe even before I started my project. It is on a super-busy road, but a section of it that I do not travel down regularly. I am very glad that Shannon sent me to check it out.

I went there tonight as the light was starting to fade. I knew it would be fabulous with the lights on, but they were turned off when I got there. I have NEVER asked a homeowner to turn on their lights before, but I knew if I didn't that it just wouldn't be as good as it could be. I knocked on the door, a very nice woman answered, I introduced myself and she offered to turn on the lights. I thanked her and found my spot to shoot.

This image is uploaded very large so that you can see the detail in it. Click on the photo to make it larger, then if you click it again, it will open in it's full-resolution.



Huge Creche Made Of Lights, 2010

Creche Protected By ADT

Here is another one from the other day. I have been out hunting recently, but have not had much luck.

I love how Jesus is protected by ADT. ADT must be super powerful.



Creche Protected By ADT, 2010

Creche On The Corner

Here is one I shot yesterday while it was snowing.

I was setting up and the homeowner, Gus, came out wondering if I was with 'The City'...or if I wanted to buy his house.

I told him I was neither, and explained my project. He thought it was pretty cool and we chatted while his grand-daughter put tracks in the fresh snow.

So here is a very simple Creche, on the Winter Solstice.



Creche On The Corner, 2010

Creche In The Window

I was out 'Creche-Hunting' this afternoon and found four sweet ones. I caught this one literally out of the corner of my eye because it is on a super busy road and I was not able to drive as slowly as I like to when out hunting.

While I was shooting the neighbor lady came over and chatted for a bit, then the homeowners came home and a nice gentleman came out to say 'hi'.

We talked for a bit about my project, and he gave me a poem he had written.



Creche In The Window, 2010

Our Christmas Poem about Mary and Jesus Christ,
And Why We Celebrate Christmas
December 2010

Mary was a virgin, a young girl meant to be
The Mother of The Christchild, the Savior of you and me,
Whom God, our Heavenly Father, chose before His birth,
To be the Savior of the World, of great eternal worth.

The Angel of the Lord came down and appeared to Mary here,
And shared with her his message, in manner most sincere,
That she would be the mother of the very Son of God,
And He would be our Savior. At first she thought it odd.

But then she yielded her will, to Father up above,
And thus fulfilled the scriptures containing Father's love,
Recorded by the Prophets, so all the world would know,
That Jesus Christ had come to earth to let His lovelight show.

And Mary did rejoice that night when Jesus Christ was born,
And Joseph, her dear husband, never felt forelorn,
For he would love and serve her, and teacher her son to be
A carpenter just like he was, who lived life faithfully.

And Jesus, son of Mary, and Heavenly Father, too,
Went forth to be our Savior, who chose God's will to do,
And though he faced many trials and heartaches, grief and tears,
He kept the faith with His Father, through all His days and years.

And He has left a legacy of love for you and me,
To follow in His footsteps into eternity,
So when our lives are over, and all is said and done,
We may find eternal joy beyond the setting sun.

And sing our glad hosannas to Father, up above,
For sending forth the Christ-child, to share His precious love,
With us, His brothers and sister, who are God's children too,
Whom He has sent to dwell on earth, His noble work to do.

Jim and Betty Lee
-used with permission

Creche With Large Mannequins

This creche was spotted by my mother-in-law last week. The home is set back off of the street quite a way, so I had to shoot it in a way that I haven't done before.

They are using life-sized mannequins and even then they are kind of hard to see from the road.

I like all of the Nativity Scene's I have seen, but this one, I have to admit, creeps me out a little.



Creche With Large Mannequins, 2010

Creche That Abigail Found

Polla and Abigail were driving around the other day and found this one for me. Abigail and I went out and shot it last night.



Creche That Abigail Found, 2010

Creche That I Found Immediately

I was over at IKEA today buying some 'food-gifts' and headed into Draper to try to find a Nativity scene.

The very first street I turned down, at the very first house was this Creche. I was amazed.



Creche That I Found Immediately, 2010

Creche That I Can Always Rely On

I call this one the 'Creche That I Can Always Rely On' because it's one of the first Nativity Scenes that really caught my eye and made me want to start looking for more.

This house is very near my own, and I pass it all the time. I always look forward to when they put it up, and it seems that each year they add just a little bit more. I appreciate how they put the various pieces all over the yard. The star and angel placed up high on a pole really add a nice finishing touch.

I am a big fan of this Creche.



Creche That I Can Always Rely On, 2010

Handmade Creche In A Newer Neighborhood

In a recent blog post I mentioned that I have been seeing most of my Nativity Scenes in older neighborhoods. I even mentioned it to a reporter from a local newspaper. Since then I have seen many Creche displays in newer neighborhoods. Go figure.

This one was a nice hand-made display in a very new neighborhood on the west side of the valley.



Handmade Creche In A Newer Neighborhood, 2010

Creche That Kept Falling Down

So today I had to sneak out of my daughter's basketball game and head out to go Creche hunting while the light was still good. I ended up in Riverton in a pretty nice neighborhood and found four different displays. It seems my theory of older neighborhoods having the only Nativity Scenes is developing some cracks.

This man was trying to figure out how to keep his display from falling over in the wind. He was leaning toward tent stakes. I will try to go back and see what he figured out. He did say that they had just purchased this display about ten days earlier from Lowes.



Creche That Kept Falling Down, 2010

Creche On The House With A Flat Roof

This is a cool creche...one of my favorite actually. I think I might like the fact that it's way up on top of their roof. Speaking of the roof, maybe it's just the roof that I really love, because the pieces of the creche are really very common, but the placement is pretty extraordinary.

Anyway, it's in River Heights, and is on a road with about five other super sweet Nativity Scenes. Look for them in upcoming installments.



Creche On The House With A Flat Roof, 2010

Creche Down The Street From My House

Some friends down the street got a new Nativity Scene this year. I knew I would head down and shoot it when I got on short notice and didn't have one for the day. I like having these ones I can head to when I need to.



Creche Down The Street From My House, 2010

Creche By Lehi High School

A student of mine at UVU told me about this creche. I had never seen it before, but apparently it is up every year.

I especially like how one of the sheep is smiling. Click on the image to bring it up larger, then click it again to see it at full resolution.



Creche By Lehi High School, 2010

Creche At Oquirrh LDS Temple

Here is one I shot tonight. I am not very happy with it. I didn't get the image I thought I would. Maybe I'll go back and re-shoot it and replace this image.



Creche At Oquirrh LDS Temple, 2010

Creche At The Logan Tabernacle

I went to a concert performance at the Logan Tabernacle tonight. There is a pretty big creche in front of the building. Two birds...one stone.



Creche At The Logan Tabernacle, 2010

Creche Around The Corner From My Parent's Home

Here is a creche around the corner from my Parent's home. I shot this last night thinking it would come in handy if I had to use it at the last minute. Tonight is the night it will pay off.



Creche Around The Corner From My Parent's Home, 2010

Live Creche At Morgan Farm, Nibley

I went to this live nativity scene last night in my hometown of Nibley, Utah. This is a real working farm in the middle of Cache Valley. Put on by members of the local Latter-day Saint church, this creche was a bit corny, but overall I found it very touching and inspirational.

Live Creche At Morgan Farm from Michael Slade on Vimeo.

The music is 'Once In Royal David's City', sung by the choir from the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge, England.

Creche Covering All The Bases

Let's see, we have Tigger as a Snowman, a couple of Santa's, an upside-down puppy, a Christmas Tree, and an inflatable Creche.

Not bad.

I photographed this in Nibley on the way home from a live Nativity tonight.



Creche Covering All The Bases, 2010

2nd Creche Near Robert's House

I shot two on Friday, so today is the first day where I haven't shot one on the day I show it on the website.

Sunday's are pretty hectic, and this one was a little more so than normal. It's too bad I have a bunch of stuff to do and can't just cruise around in the beautiful fog we have today looking for things to photograph.

I have one in mind I will shoot in the early morning fog.

For now, here's another one. I shot one similar to this in Providence last year.



2nd Creche Near Robert's House, 2010

Wooden Creche in Provo

I found this creche while I was lost this afternoon in Provo. I had gotten a hot-dog at the Hot Dog King, and trying to avoid holiday traffic in the busiest part of town went into an older neighborhood trying to get back to the freeway.

As luck would have it, I stumbled upon this creche. I have decided that older neighborhoods have more of a likelihood to have Nativity Scenes than newer neighborhoods. I have some theories on that, but I will save that for later.

I had a good hot-dog, found a good creche, and eventually did make it to the freeway.



Wooden Creche in Provo, 2010

Creche Near Robert's House

I had to run to Lehi to borrow a lens for a commercial job I'm shooting. While I was waiting I cruised around the neighborhood behind Cabella's and found 3 creche displays. I was surprised and relieved. This is a set you see quite a bit, but the addition of Frosty brings to mind a scene from a Rankin-Bass special.



Creche Near Robert's House, 2010

Creche That's Empty

This is a creche I found in Hyrum tonight. I was desperate to find one as I was heading home from school. I was lucky I found this one as it was getting dark. I wonder if this is a live creche or if they haven't gotten around to putting in the figures.

One thing I am noticing this year is that there are not many Nativity Scene's put up yet. I wonder if it's still considered 'early' in the season.



Creche That's Empty, 2010

Creche With A Live Donkey

Last year I found this creche at the recommendation of a friend. I went back today, mainly out of the desire to make sure I got something I liked, but also because I wanted to see about making a video creche and how it would feel.

I like how it turned out.

Creche With A Live Donkey from Michael Slade on Vimeo.

2010 Creche-A-Day

So here we are again at December. I'm not sure what that means, except for two things. I'm running out of time to get my school work taken care of before Christmas break, and it's time to grab the camera and start looking.

I got a really neat little video camera this year, a Nikon D7000, so I will be posting some video-creche pieces from time to time.

Today has just begun, so I suppose I ought to start looking for some creche displays. I haven't seen many yet.