The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 182nd Annual General Conference

What: the largest congregation of Mormons in the world.
Where: LDS Conference Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.
When: every year, for the past 182 years.
Who: the Mormon elite, including LDS President Thomas S. Monson (a.k.a. the Mormon Pope).

Several weeks ago, I posted about how photography is an excellent way to check things off the old bucket list. While this event wasn't exactly at the top of of my list, the experience was a staggering example of how those different (yet similar) than yourself live their lives. The afternoon was a stressful and rewarding glance into a belief system other than my own. The event was something much greater than I could ever explain, so I will let the LDS Church explain it to you here.

Big thanks to the other Utah photographers and conference veterans who helped me maneuver through the madness in order to get the key shots. Enjoy the tongue of God, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, a gathering of 100,000 Mormons and a moment of divine prayer.

Thomas S. Monson, President of The Church of Latter-day Saints, address the crowd at the 182nd Annual General Conference Saturday, March 31, 2012, at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs between speakers at the 182nd Annual General Conference Saturday, March 31, 2012, at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Twenty-one thousand individuals packed in to attend each session of the 182nd Annual General Conference Saturday, March 31, 2012, at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Levi Manley, 29, center, sits in the middle of the sidewalk with his head bowed as the finals words of the 182nd Annual General Conference sounded from over the temple's loudspeaker Saturday, March 31, 2012, at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Manley recently returned from his two-year mission. He estimated having attended the conference six different years.

Utah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs | Action & Features

NBA experience number two is in the books. It felt great to get back to the EnergySolutions Arena with a little knowledge of the lay of the land this time around. In addition to game action, which can found on the Daily Herald's website, I took some time at the beginning of the game to make some features. Enjoy.

Utah Jazz mascot, Bear, encourages the crowd to make noise at the start of a game against the San Antonio Spurs Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.



Paul Millsap, left, of the Utah Jazz, body checks and cocks back to shoot over the arms of the San Antonio Spur's Matt Bonner, center, during the second half of a game Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Spurs won the game 106-102.

The Utah Jazz starting lineup takes a moment to huddle before the arena lights rose for the start of a game against the San Antonio Spurs Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Daily Herald staffer James Roh gets LASIK

The man has been waiting years for this moment. Thankfully, I drove the guy to and from his surgery, which gave me the chance to sweet-talk my way into the operating room for a couple pictures of this monumental event in the history of Roh's eyeballs. The experience brought me back to my seven-hour stint shooting a tummy tuck several years back... except this time, it didn't smell so barbecue-y. James is now referred to around the office (by me) as Eagle Eyes and/or Major Lazer.

Caution, one of the pictures below gets a tad graphic in a Clockwork Orange kind-of-way.

First NBA Experience | Jimmer Fredette Returns

Yesterday was a big day. My first-time-shooting-NBA kind of day.

Quick bit of backstory. Jimmer Fredette, formerly Brigham Young University's all-star player, returned to Utah for the first time since his epic college basketball career... this time playing as a Sacramento King. Fredette was picked tenth in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft.

Big ups to my editor, Mark Johnston, for letting me get up to Salt Lake City for this (stressful/rewarding) experience. Looking forward to keeping to my 2-foot by 2-foot square on the hardwood again.  Cheers to the cool photographers that shared the floor with me.  As always, enjoy.

Jimmer Fredette, center, of the Sacramento Kings, is encouraged by teammates in the huddle before a game against the Utah Jazz Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Utah's Derrick Favors, center, reaches for a rebound off of the backboard as Sacramento's Donte Greene, right, looks on in horor during a game Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.