Creche That Is Incredibly Awesome

Creche That Is Incredibly Awesome, 2012

I saw this creche while I was up in Ogden running some errands earlier this week. The light was terrible and I couldn't get the shot I really wanted, so I promised myself I would re-visit it again today.

On the way up to Logan I went and found it again and spent some time and made a few different views of it. The whole yard is dedicated to one single Nativity scene, so it was impossible to get it all without just actually being there in person.

The view I am showing now is just the center manger section of this Nativity. Even though I'm just showing a very small section of the entire display, this part alone is very impressive.

When I saw it the first time I just sat and stared at it for about five minutes. Today I got to spend about fifteen minutes making a few different exposures. It was pretty cool.

Creche From Two Years Ago

Live Creche At Morgan Farm from Michael Slade on Vimeo.

Creche From Two Years Ago, 2010

This is a video I produced two years ago. I still like it quite a bit.

Creche in Hyrum

Creche in Hyrum, 2012

This past week I had to go to Cache Valley to do some business. I swung through Hyrum to see if there were any Nativity scenes to photograph. This was right on the main road heading into town. I hadn't seen it before so I was actually pretty excited.

This is also the second creche that I have seen with this laid-back and all casual like dude with the brown pants. From this angle I can tell that he is indeed a sheep-herder. In the previous creche where this guy appeared he was turned away from the camera and I couldn't tell if he had a rabbit or a lamb with him. As it turns out, it was a lamb after all.

Creche With Reindeer

Creche With Reindeer, 2012

I have seen this creche a few years ago, but I don't think I ever got to photograph it last year. I was in the neighborhood and swung by to see if it was up, and I was very excited when I saw it all lit up.

Creche By A Bale Of Straw

Creche By A Bale Of Straw, 2012

I was cruising the other night and found several. I liked this one because of the bale of straw. It reminded me of my dad for some reason.

Creche At Wing Mortuary

Creche At Wing Mortuary, 2012

I shot this in the rain as it tried to change to snow. The streaks of light are cars driving by. It's a pretty cool Nativity. I also like the shadows on the building.

Creche Where Joseph Is Pointing The Wrong Direction

Creche Where Joseph Is Pointing The Wrong Direction, 2012

I have photographed this home nearly every year since I have started this project in 2008. It is interesting to see how it changes from year to year. It is also interesting to see just what doesn't change.

Each year the figures are tied to the home with electrical cords. Last year Joseph was pointing to something other than Jesus. This year he still hasn't figured out what is up.

Creche That Was By A Truck

Creche That Was By A Truck, 2012

This creche was one I saw tonight while frantically hunting for sets to make up for my 3-day drought.

I found five today, so I'll fill in the hole I've left for the past few days.

This set is unique and I have not seen it before. It is made out of the outdoor plastic which is called 'blow-mold', but the set isn't the same size as I normally see. It's like a downsized version of a larger set. I have to say I like it very much.

Creche That I Don't Have Much To Say About

Creche That I Don't Have Much To Say About, 2012

That's about it.

Creche That Was Very Understated

Creche That Was Very Understated, 2012

I went cruising around this afternoon because I had a few minutes while it was actually still daylight and so I took advantage of it.

After I picked up chicken feed and headed home I drove past a house that had twenty-odd inflatable Christmassy-thingies and I slowed down to see if they had a Nativity tucked in there somewhere. They did not.

As I was pulling away I glanced at the house next door. It was very understated and hardly had any lights or decoration on it at all.

What I did see was a very classy, subdued and tucked-away-in-the-corner-not-attracting-very-much-attention-to-itself figure of Joseph, Mary and Jesus. I had nice light and I couldn't pass it up. The juxtaposition and irony was too much to ignore.

Creche That Was Hidden In Plain Sight

Creche That Was Hidden In Plain Sight, 2012

This creche was very well hidden amongst the trees. I saw the lights, saw the star and then I saw the figures that were brown and looked somewhat like tree trunks.

Creche That Has A Strange Leaning Woodsman Figure

Creche That Has A Strange Leaning Woodsman Figure, 2012

I was cruising around tonight and saw this Nativity scene that had a funny figure in it I'd never seen before.

It's this woodsman-like figure with a shoulder bag who is casually leaning back against this log/stump/thing with a tiny rabbit by his feet. Ok, so maybe it's a lamb and not a rabbit. If it's a lamb then I totally get it. If it's a rabbit, then it makes no sense.

Other than that it's a pretty typical set. I am still trying to figure out how this figure who honestly reminds me of Johnny Appleseed, fits into the Nativity.

Creche That I Can Count On

Creche That I Can Count On, 2012

I had an amazing sky while I was driving home and hurried to try to get it while I could.

This is what the sky looked like after it looked amazing.

This Nativity scene is near my home and I enjoy seeing it go up every year. Not much has changed in the five years I have been photographing it. I may watch the skies again and replace this image, but overall I am content with it.

Creche On The Way Home From Harmons

Creche On The Way Home From Harmons, 2012

Had to run out to the store for a few things tonight. Swung through a neigborhood I hadn't cruised in a while and saw this set.

I like this set because it's one I am not sure I have seen before.

I am not sure if Jesus is not in the manger, or if he's covered by snow. 

Creche That Is On Temple Square

Creche That Is On Temple Square, 2012

I haven't photographed this creche for a few years, so tonight when we were downtown I thought I'd give it another go.

This time I shot it from the back side looking towards the crowd that comes to see the lights at Temple Square.

Creche Where Santa Is Kneeling

Creche Where Santa Is Kneeling, 2012

I have seen a wooden and painted cut-out like this only once before. This house actually had five Nativity scenes, but I only shot one.

Creche Where Santa Is A Wise Man

Creche Where Santa Is A Wise Man, 2012

This is a new set for me. I have not seen one where the Mary, Joseph and Jesus figure are molded into one piece, and the three wisemen are molded into another. Interesting thing is that one of the wise men looks JUST LIKE Santa Claus.

Creche That I Found With Naomi

Creche That I Found With Naomi, 2012

Last night after class one of my students desperately needed a ride home. How could I possibly turn down someone who forgot their bus pass and didn't have any money? That's right, I couldn't.

So, since I needed to go 'a-crechin', I drug Naomi along with me. She was a good sport and soon got the hang of it. I found two with her last night, the one from yesterday and the one from today.

I usually don't have any company on my creching-adventures, so thanks Naomi!

Creche That Was Blocked By Two Trucks

Creche That Was Blocked By Two Trucks, 2012

Went out tonight into an older neighborhood that has been lucky for Nativity sets in the past. This evening was no disappointment. Found this one tucked in behind two big pickup trucks. It was hard to see from the road, but once I stepped onto the sidewalk it revealed itself in all it's glory.

Creche in San Clemente

Creche in San Clemente, 2012

Over Thanksgiving we were in San Clemente. On the last day there this family put up their Creche. I was so happy!

Creche That Is Sold At Costco

Creche That Is Sold At Costco, 2012

I am very curious how many yards I will see this set in this year. I photographed this at Costco before Thanksgiving.

Creche In Front of the FedEx Guy's House

Creche In Front of the FedEx Guys House, 2012

So I normally don't ever meet the homeowner. Today, while I was shooting this one, the man of the house came home. We talked about his Nativity Scene quite a bit. He told me that it was his labor of love. He'll do it as long as his wife asks him to. It's because he loves her.

Thanks for making the wife happy FedEx Guy!

Last Creche Of 2011

Here's the last creche for 2011. It's been fun.



Last Creche Of 2011, 2011

Creche That Is A Banner

The other night when I was out and not having any luck, I parked the car in front of one home that had a Nativity Scene and as I got out I saw this one pictured below was located just down the street. It was very serendipitous.



Creche That Is A Banner, 2011

Creche That Defies Description

Polla and I went out tonight to an address that we had seen on the local news. It took a while to find, but once we did we were not disappointed. There were 3 Nativities in this yard. One very old vintage Nativity was stolen, along with the baby Jesus from another set, on Christmas Eve.

After I made my photograph we were invited up to see all of the unique figures that he's collected over the years. Some are very rare, some are very valuable. I am not using names and I will not divulge an address out of respect for his collection. It is impressive.

I asked him what the most unique figure he has is and he told me that one of his remaining vintage Nativity Scenes were the most precious to him. I was glad to hear that.



Creche That Defies Description, 2011

Creche That I Said "Thank You" When I Saw It

It's the 28th of December and we STILL haven't had any snow in Utah. In fact it was 44 degrees today and it's supposed to be in the 50's tomorrow.

The reason that I mention this is because it seems that people are actually taking DOWN their Nativity Scenes because the weather is so good and they know they won't want to once it snows. It makes it very hard for me to find them now that Christmas is over. In fact a friend asked me tonight if I was done 'Creche-Hunting' now that Christmas is done. I said that I don't quit looking until the 31st.

I had to drive quite a while tonight to find this one. I audibly said "Thank You" when I found it. I was beginning to get a little worried.



Creche That I Said "Thank You" When I Saw It, 2011

Creche Where I Had To Crank Up The ISO

So I have run across a series of creches that have not been turned on at night. When I go shooting after sundown I always use a tripod and a long exposure. Tonight I had the camera, had the tripod, but was missing the plate that let me mount the camera to the tripod. Without it I was forced to crank up the ISO to get a decent image. Quality suffers when you raise the ISO. I hate to apologize for my work but I feel like tonight's creche is a let-down.



Creche Where I Had To Crank Up The ISO, 2011

Creche That Is Hidden Behind Some Big Bushes

This is one Abigail saw last year while we were driving to Logan. This year it's away from the house and off to the side. I got a chance to put it in perspective with the rest of the yard.



Creche That Is Hidden Behind Some Big Bushes, 2011

Creche That I Barely Saw Driving By

Today we drove to Logan to see my parents for Christmas. As we were driving north I decided to head up through Willard to check on a few Nativity scenes I have photographed before.

I saw an old favorite, drove by two others I'd seen before then out of the corner of my eye I saw the flash of an old Joseph and Mary set that I haven't seen in a long time. I quickly turned the car around and caught the last of the sweet evening light.

This is an interesting outdoor creche. It seems that even though it is outside, the owners are not that concerned that it's displayed loudly or for everyone to see easily. I kind of like them when they're like that. Again, another metaphor.



Creche That I Barely Saw Driving By, 2011

Creche That Wasn't Turned On

I have been saving this particular creche for either an evening when it was snowing (and it has NOT snowed yet in Utah), or for Christmas Eve.

I was out delivering gifts tonight and ran over to the house where it was, fully expecting to have a glorious and spectacular chance to make a photograph. Instead I pulled up and the lights for the nativity set were not on.

I almost cried when I realized that all of the other lights on the house were bright and lit and the Nativity was not. I was tempted to walk and turn on the lights myself, but noticed there were people inside and I wasn't about to go up and knock and ask them to turn on the lights. Instead I decided to see just what kind of an image I'd get if I shot it as it appeared.

I kind of almost like it more like this. I mean, there was probably no neon signs pointing to the manger, no brightly colored lights heralding the Savior's birth (save the star...). Despite popular culture's depictions of the Baby Jesus, we can pretty much conclude that he did not act as his own light source and instead rested in a dark and poorly lit stable. It almost seems fitting then that this creche was not lit, that I actually had to look to find it and peer into the shadows to see the main players. The distraction of the bright lights of the city on the one side and the hustle and bustle of the busy road on the other. It seemed a fitting metaphor for the way the world general treats the celebration of Christmas.

As disappointed as I was initially when I pulled up, I have changed my attitude towards it not being lit. I am actually glad that I had to pay attention to see the Christ figure in the shadows. I find it very similar to how I have to live my life on a daily basis. Ironic, isn't it.



Creche That Wasn't Turned On, 2011