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

Creche That Is On The Porch This Year

This nativity scene has been on the lawn with a custom manger in the past. This year it is on the porch. Personally I like it better on the lawn.



Creche That Is On The Porch This Year, 2011

Creche With Wooden Cutouts

Daybreak doesn't have that many nativity scenes, but this one I have returned to for the second time. It's a home-made pattern, which I enjoy because the owner had to do some thinking. A for effort on this one.



Creche With Wooden Cutouts, 2011

Creche That Says Merry Christmas

I like the sign.



Creche That Says Merry Christmas, 2011

Creche Where I Turned On The Lights

I broke one of my self-imposed rules tonight and I turned on the lights of this creche. I don't know why it's a rule, maybe there's something about not altering the scene or some such nonsense.

So tonight I sat in the car, listened to some music, napped a bit and waited to see if the homeowner would come home and turn on the lights. After 20 minutes of waiting, I decided I would go ahead and plug them in. I unplugged them after I was done.

This is a nativity that my friend Tiffany sent me to. I went and looked at it earlier this month and made a photograph, but decided to come back to it again later in the day.

I appreciate all of my 'spotters'. I am trying to get to all of their suggested locations.



Creche Where I Turned On The Lights, 2011

Creche That Cast A Neat Shadow

I have seen this set of figures three times so far this year. I have not seen them before, so I am very curious where they are being sold. Starting in October, I started looking at various retailers to see who would be selling Nativity figures for outdoor display. I have to admit I haven't seen that many, so I am curious just where people are buying their sets.

I love this one because of the great shadow it casts on the wall of this neat home.



Creche That Cast A Neat Shadow, 2011

Creche In Front Of A White House

I love how the nativity figures that are lit from inside throw a nice soft glow on the objects that are around them. Unfortunately we haven't had a bit of snow this winter, so I am not able to see the snow lit up by them. Instead I get to look at how it lights up the home and the trees that are nearby. I like this one quite a bit.



Creche In Front Of A White House, 2011

Creche In A Grove Of Trees

I found this one last night when I got lost cruising around. I love the trees. I also hadn't seen this particular version of the figures before. I was pretty happy about this one.



Creche In A Grove Of Trees, 2011

Creche By The Garage

This one I found last night and I was VERY excited after driving around not seeing anything for quite a while.



Creche By The Garage, 2011

Creche I Will Re-shoot

I went out this afternoon and drove and drove and drove and couldn't find anything. I was getting frustrated then found three that were totally awesome. This one was my favorite, so much that I'm going to re-shoot it tomorrow when the light is sweet.



Creche I Will Re-shoot, 2011

Creche Across From Lehi High School

I photographed this creche last year and was hoping that the lights on it would be turned on when I set out to shoot it tonight. The lady of the house was in the kitchen working, talking on the phone and saw me outside standing there with my tripod. I gave her a wave, she waved back. I was hoping she'd at least turn on the figures. She didn't.



Creche Across From Lehi High School, 2011

Creche That Dylan Led Me To

I have various 'creche-spotters' spread all through the valley. I appreciate their efforts. This creche is one I happened to find while on my way to a location that was suggested to me. I'm not sure if I ever found the one Dylan told me about.



Creche That Dylan Led Me To, 2011

Creche By The Mortuary

Here's a creche that a few students pointed me to. They drive by it twice a day and tonight I had some time to swing by and get it. The figures are quite impressive and are life-size. Baby Jesus had a hand-knit afghan. It was pretty sweet.



Creche By The Mortuary, 2011

Emergency Creche

I haven't have the chance to head out and cruise for creches the way I like to. I had to run down the street this evening to grab this one I'd been saving for such a day.



Emergency Creche, 2011

Creche That Got Turned Off

I went out late tonight and was worried that people would start turning off their lights. I photographed this creche at 10:30 and while I was finishing, it got turned off. This was a little too close for comfort.



Creche That Got Turned Off, 2011

Creche That I Said "Bingo!" When I Saw It

I went out last night with a dead battery, so I couldn't photograph a neat creche that I'd found. I went home disappointed and slightly angry at myself.

Tonight I went out later than I wanted to and had to cruise for quite a while. I passed-by several creches that I just wasn't feeling very good about, when I saw this one as I rounded the corner. I was so excited I yelled out "Bingo!" and I knew I'd found my subject for tonight.



Creche That I Said "Bingo!" When I Saw It, 2011

Creche That Wasn't Level

This house was on a hill and the nativity was facing in a weird direction. I was shooting looking downhill and I hate making excuses but I'm not sure I'm very happy with this image. I went out hunting tonight, found a sweet one, but realized my camera had no battery in it. Shoot!



Creche That Wasn't Level, 2011

Creche In Front Of A Yellow House

Here is a creche in front of a yellow house.



Creche In Front Of A Yellow House, 2011

Santa Kneels at the Creche

I don't see too many of these...



Santa Kneels at the Creche, 2011

Creche Where The Window Is Open

I found this creche right when the light was sweet. There is this balance between the ambient sky and the brightness of the lights that I really like. The kitchen window was open and I saw the lady of the house wandering about. I don't think she even saw me. I gave her a wave just in case.



Creche Where The Window Is Open, 2011

Creche That Wasn't There Last Year

I photographed this creche two years ago in the snow and had a shot I really liked. Last year they didn't put out their creche, and I was kind of disappointed. This year they put it up again, so I thought I'd shoot it before the sun went down.



Creche That Wasn't There Last Year, 2011

Creche Where The Cops Drove By

I was shooting this creche tonight when the police drove by with their lights flashing. It was a little disconcerting. I was hoping that no one called the cops on me. They drove by and I redoubled my efforts.



Creche Where The Cops Drove By, 2011

Creche That The Utes Like

One of my students said that he really liked the creches when they were illuminated. As I have looked back at the collection I realize that less than half of them are photographed with the lights on. I am going to try to remedy that.

Connor needed some driving hours for his license, so I told him he was going to drive me around creche hunting tonight. This is one we found pretty early. He got a full hour of driving in after we got this one photographed.



Creche That The Utes Like, 2011

Creche Where The Camel Had Fallen Down

Yesterday I went out hoping to find at least one creche to photograph. I knew I'd had an early 'sighting report' from some friends, so I went to find it. While out creche-hunting I found this one only about 20 minutes into my search. I was so excited! I have been thinking about not doing the project again this year, but there has been some renewed interest. Also, I'm not sure I've said everything I want to say photographically speaking, so I will press on...



Creche Where The Camel Had Fallen Down, 2011