Looking Back Fall 2011

Bend of the River ~ Pure Vision Studios ~ Teri Lee Niedrich ~ Sun Valley Idaho 

Winter days are the best time to edit.  Hot cup of coffee, wrap up in a sweater, turn up the tunes.  My office becomes a welcome cave.  My own little universe.  My dog hates it.  He can't understand why I don't want to go outside. He doesn't understand that I don't do 19 degrees unless I am snowboarding.

Winter days are also a good time for reflection.  The New Year forces me to pause and look back.  I am editing the photos from one of the most beautiful fall seasons that I have ever seen here in the Wood River Valley. I am thankful and happy to, in the midst of a colorless winter, look back and relish the brilliant colors of fall.  Arguably one of my top four favorite seasons.

Canadian Geese on Golden Sun Valley Pond ~ Pure Vision Studios ~ Teri Lee Niedrich

Canadian Geese on the Golden Sun Valley Pond

This is a great location to photograph all year round but especially when the golden trees are reflecting in the pond. 

So many times the best places to shoot are in your own back yard.  No doubt when I am traveling outside my comfort zone, the sheer excitement of a new location gives me the extra edge of enthusiasm.  In any new location, though, it takes time to learn the "golden hours" and light patterns.

I had been thinking about shooting in this location for a few weeks and when the first bit of snow graced Baldy surrounded by the golden trees....well foget about it...I was out the door and headed down the road before I was really conscious.

Sun Valley Idaho Fall from the Pond ~ Pure Vision Studios ~Teri Lee Niedrich

I love this valley.  30 years and I am still awestruck.  I hope that you enjoyed reflecting on the fall with me.  Next up an amazing location in magical Thousand Springs State Park.

Sun Valley's Golden Pond - Flippin Beautiful!  Pure Vision Studios ~ Teri Lee Niedrich

Thousand Springs Festival ~ Magical Places

Thousand Springs State Park is most certainly one of Idaho's most magical places.  The Thousand Springs Festival is held annually on Ritter Island within the park and recently welcomed 4,000 guests.  We had to skip this festival last year but were determined not to miss it again. We redesigned our booth and were anxious to try it out in one of our favorite shows.

 Pure Vision Studios Booth @ Thousand Springs Fest 2011

We had the most amazing time!  Despite the booth being a bit warm for temps in the 90's (who would have thought end of Sept??), we loved the dark curtain look of the new booth. We will have to smooth out the bugs for warmer shows but all in all it was a huge success.

Shows like this produce a high that is truly hard to describe! I spoke with children just learning to appreciate art (certainly my most important critics), tweens and teens who were aspiring photographers, fellow artists and photographers, and seniors who talked of the old days in Idaho.

We did well and I made a nice trade at the end of the show for a really cool hand carved Native American Flute.....(Next Story )    I confess that I have a bit o' the "Carni" and Gypsy in me and this could be my retirement plan.....loved it!  Already talking more shows ..please stay tuned.

Wagon Days 50th Anniversary

Wagon Days Echoes of the Past
The Big Hitch, Wagon Days, Sun Valley Idaho

The Budweiser Clydesdales in Sun Valley, Idaho

As celebrations go in Ketchum, Sun Valley, Idaho it doesn't get any bigger than Wagon Days.

The Big Hitch Parade is the highlight of the celebration. It has grown into the largest non-motorized parade in the West, displaying more than a hundred museum-quality buggies, carriages, tacks, carts, buckboards, and wagons of every variety in existence today. The Wagon Days Big Hitch, historic wagons used to haul ore from the area, are powered by an authentic 20-draft mule jerkline.

Adding spice to the parade is a lively assortment of authentically costumed individuals, numerous breeds of horses, from Arabs to Morgans to Pasos. Plus, professional and scholastic marching bands from around the state and the intermountain west.

This year was the 50th Anniversary of Wagon Days and the legendary celebration did not disappoint. The Budweiser Clydesdales were invited to join the parade along with the past Grand Marshalls of previous parades. The event was not only a great tribute to the history of Idaho, but also a tribute to this close knit community, the organizers and voluteers of Wagon Days who truly make this celebration a successful party.

I felt privileged to be be invited to photograph all of the activities of this event, including a ride in the lead ore wagon of the big hitch at the practice session. As I bounced around like a rag doll in the massive wagon trying to capture the moment, my mind raced back to history when these great wagons traveled much more treacherous paths through the mountains. I was in awe of the skill of Muleskinner Bobby Tanner and his amazing crew. The mules of his team were exceptional world class athletes by anyone's standards!

Check out Pure Vision Studios Events and Celebrations Gallery/Wagon Days 50th Anniversary and double click for the slide show. Here you can see the massive ore wagons, historic wagons and the beautiful horses, mules and donkeys who pull them. The classic colorful characters of the old west come alive to tell the tale of Wagon Days.

The Wells Fargo Stage, Wagon Days, Sun Valley, Idaho

The Blackjack Ketchum Shootout Gang Wagon Days Ketchum Idaho

Eh-Capa Rider, Wagon Days Parade 50th Anniversary,

Sun Valley, Idaho

Pure Vision Studios Contracted by Personal E-ssistant

Personal E-ssistant, an exciting new service also based out of Sun Valley, Idaho has contracted Pure Vision Studios to supply their clients with creative, cutting edge, photographic and digital imaging services. Personal E-ssistant creates and manages blogs, social networking, audio/visual postings and marketplace listings for businesses and professionals.

Pure Vision Studios is really charged about becoming a part of this new "state of the web" service. We know how much time is involved in really working the internet to its potential and are extremely aware of the value of being truly connected. We are certain Personal E-ssistant will become E- ssential to the success of many businesses and professionals both locally and world wide.

Isn't it great? It is like the old west baby! Trail Blazin'! Who knows where this trail goes to? We don't.. but we are having a really good time on this ride. We welcome Personal E-ssistant as our partners on the trail.

Visionary Portraits

We love nothing better than being asked to step outside the traditional when it comes to capturing the essence of a personality. These can sometimes be called "lifestyle portraits". Of course, we prefer to call them Visionary. Sometimes, actually most often, these ideas come in the middle of the night, after pondering the spirit you are trying to capture. There are no rules. At least not from our perspective.

See more portraits at Pure Vision Studios. Who's work do we love? Annie Leibovitz. See this NPR interview, New Leibovitz Collection Reveals Personal Side .

Also this link to her timeline and photos from temple.edu. The only photo in this series that I do NOT like is the one of the Trumps. Please...I would have loved to see one of him combing his hair in the mirror.

Who's portrait work do you love and why? Let us know. Send us comments and links (please, no photos) we will post the first 25. Here's looking at you.