I first saw the Draper Temple last August when it was still under construction. I've been looking forward to photographing it ever since. As I planned a recent trip to Utah I was excited to hear they were having lots of stormy, rainy weather. I was not so excited to find out that all the stormy weather left the state the day before I arrived.
     As you approach the Temple from the valley floor it looks great against the flanks of Lone Peak.


There's just one problem - you're looking at the back of the Temple. From the front there's pretty much just blue sky in the background, and blue sky is boring.
     I set up the big camera and tried to get a dusk image.


     I got my film back from the lab and wasn't happy with the results. The sky is a little too dark near the top and the different colored lights shining on the Temple would be hard to correct. I took some snapshots with my digital camera that actually looked a little better color-wise than the film images. I went back the next morning to check out the sunrise light and got a little better look.


     The fact that this Temple is so close to a big mountain means it doesn't get any warm, rich early morning light. By the time the sun comes over the mountain it's too harsh and contrasty. Obviously, late-in-the-day light won't do me any good either. I'll have to be there when the sky is stormy, with diffused light coming from the front.
     If you decide to visit the Draper Temple, take my word for it that the "Deer Crossing" signs are there for a good reason. I came within a few inches of sending a big, healthy doe to the great pasture in the sky and my van into the body shop. I guess deer are drawn to the Temple too.