4th of July

DEVILS CAST OUT

"Springville's Jarell Nicholes sits against a wall with his hand over his face after losing to Highland High School 

in the 4A state semi-finals Friday, Nov. 12, 2010 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City."

TV is for the birds... so let's see if it will fly!

"12 students, known as the Rocky Mountain Dream Team, of Rocky Mountain Elementary roll a TV off the school's 

roof in front of the entire student body Monday, Nov. 8, 2010 in Lindon.

Rocky Mountain Elementary kicked off Family Week on Monday encouraging their students to "drop" TV and 

other electronics and spend more time doing other activities with their families."

Voter's Day

SALT CITY 50

ACCEPTED:

REJECTED:

A Place To Call Home

"Jenalee Moreland, right, hugs Tera Riddle, the Moreland's family mentor from Habitat for Humanity, after receiving the the keys to their brand new home Monday, Sept. 27, 2010, in Springville."

"The Moreland's new home was built in under two weeks as part of the Builders Blitz project sponsored by Habitat for Humanity and the Utah Valley Home Builders Association."

"Jonathan Moreland reacts as he discovers toys in his new bedroom  Monday, Sept. 27, 2010, in Springville."

You're NOT on the list!

When I asked him if I could jump on the trampoline he promptly responded, "You're not on the list."

Friends In Need Stampede/5K Eagle Mountain, Utah

Camp Williams, Utah: Utah National Guard

Fotoperiodismo: Una collección de imágenes

POWELL, Lake

(above photo by Marissa Van Wagenen)

Festival's Balloons Remain Grounded

"Participants in the Provo Balloon Festival deflate and pack up their balloons for another day.  High winds kept the balloons from taking flight Friday morning in Provo."

Thomas is on the scene!

"Arthur Van Wagenen holds his brand new baby boy, Thomas, the morning of his birth while his wife, Jasmine, recovers from the days exhausting events.  Thomas Van Wagenen was born Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 in Salt Lake City, Utah."

My brother Arthur and his wife Jasmine welcomed a new baby boy into their family last week.  This is just a preview of Thomas' birth story.  I hope to get some more photos up soon of this miraculous event.  Congrats Arthur and Jasmine!

Memorial Day

"Lt. Col. David F. Gunn, retired after serving 40 years in the army, says Memorial Day is for reflection and gratitude."

"Lt. Col. David F. Gunn displays several of the medals he has acquired after serving 40 years in the army. During Memorial Day Gunn spends time thinking of friends who died while serving their country."

I sat in with the reporter while he interviewed Lt. Col. David F. Gunn and was surprised by the difference in importance regarding memorial day that separated the two generations. During the epochs of WWII and Vietnam everyone, I feel, was affected on a much more intimate level.  Most had a dad, brother, cousin, uncle or best friend that fought in these wars, and sadly, fought and died.  The draft itself had widespread influence because every young man had the possibility of being called to war.  

Now, there is no draft.  Soldiers enlist themselves. Some go to war, some don't.  But in WWII and Vietnam so many were sent to fight and so many never made it home that establishing a day of remembrance for those soldiers was absolutely necessary.  

I can think of two, maybe 3, friends who are serving in ROTC right now.  The odds of them being sent off to war are unlikely.  Its no wonder this day has become synonymous with barbecuing and picnics.  

Listening to Lt. Col. Gunn speak of his friends who were killed in battle added new perspective to why we celebrate Memorial Day.  Gunn said it was a day for reflection and gratitude.  I guess what I'm grateful for most is the fact that these tragic affects of war are no longer persistent in the younger generation, yet at the same time this generation should use this celebrated day as a time to remember those who have been harshly affected.  

Utah's Indian Winter

 "BYU grounds crew uses rakes to shake heavy snow off of tree branches around campus Monday, May 24, 2010."




 "BYU students tread through the snow heading to class  south of campus Monday morning, May 24, 2010."



I'm not sure whether to complain or go skiing.

Provo Balloon Festival

Probably one of my worst responsibilities as a photog with the university paper is digging up old file photos (this task often takes hours due to our abysmal archiving system).  The nice part is that I often come across some nice shots that have been overlooked or were just never published.  I was pulling some festival and celebration type photos for the Friday tab when I came across a few old ones that I liked.  The 4th of July Balloon Festival was a fun assignment, except they didn't launch any of the balloons due to forecasted stormy weather.  Of course it didn't rain at all that day.  However, due to Utah's indian winter this year we'll probably have snow on the 4th of July.  (May 24th, 2010, 2 inches of snow on the valley floor.)