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Garaleen Is a Utah native having been born in Delta and raised in Snowville, Utah. Her life long love of art has been influenced by the many talents she possesses. Set decoration, painting in several disciplines, dressmaking and now photography are but a few. Her eye for subtle touches with make-up, posture and light make her an invaluable assistant. She thinks San Diego is pretty close to paradise. Go figure! Owning A Business together is a dream come true for the couple. Even though Garaleen's serious efforts with commercial photography are recent, she does very well with it. James' first serious attempt at photography was done as an Army pilot in South Viet Nam during the late 1960's. Regarding the experience, James writes,
Two Books that remain touchstones even today for James' experiences there, especially now as a professional photographer, are "Requiem" by Random House and "Offerings From The Wall" by Turner Publishing Company. Find samplings from both books here. It Has Only been since James relocated to Utah, however, that photography has become a passion. He explains, "Utah provides such a diverse palette of people, places, and scenery that a shooter never need cross a state line to find photographic opportunity any time of year. We have it all right here ........ sport, both indoor and outdoor. Four distinct seasons, each having unique color and mood. Industry, architecture, sunsets ........ you name it and it is here!"
The Trek to Promontory Point and the Golden Spike National Historic Site is a sought after pastime. James feels linked to the past at this special place and when he listens carefully out in the sagebrush, voices still rise up to be heard, and the shrill whistle of Jupiter remains a part of the barren landscape. James is most honored to have one of his signed and numbered photos on display in the visitor center lobby, very near to photographic prints of the original May 10th ceremonies to which the monument gives homage. Since 1966, the photographer's camera of choice is Pentax™. Their new 14th Street studio is all digital with a new Pentax™ *isd Digital SLR, 6.1 mega pixel outfit at the heart of it all. James and Garaleen Parks and Victorian House Photography have many photos archived of Northern Utah, including historical venues, world class cutter horse racing, the Olympic Torch Relay through Ogden, and the overall richness of life and places here in Utah. For additional information, please click on links below.
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Copyright 1997 - 2007 Victorian House Photography .....
Ogden, Utah |
James Calls himself a baby boomer having been born in San Diego near the
end of World War II. He has been a resident of Utah since 1982, choosing the Ogden
area in large part due to his love of clean air, a real autumn , and railroads, both past
and present. Many ask him why he ever left a place like San Diego. The answer
is everywhere around him . . . Northern Utah is paradise! 
"In Contrast,
almost every day these tranquil scenes were shattered by the reality of the war that we
were not allowed to win. The stench of fire and death were everywhere, as were the
faces ........ the faces of fallen solders and unwanted children. I wanted to record
some of these images and take them home with me as a reminder of how lucky I was, how
fragile life is, and most of all, to stop and smell the roses as day to day life back in
the real world may become oppressive. This Photograph, entitled simply
"Faces" was taken by a very young Army aviator in a very strange country.
These faces, however, were universally familiar. This orphanage was located just
outside Phu Loi, Republic of South Viet Nam. As a grandfather, I stop and ponder
the fate of these children every time that I look at this photograph."
James Enjoys railroad photography in any
setting. The photo to the left of a mammoth "Challenger" steam locomotive is one
of his personal favorites, and has sold several times. This state of the art steam
locomotive was built specifically to pull a mile of train up grades like those cut through
Weber Canyon. Its four sets of driving pistons produced massive horse power equal to the
task. The sound of an engineer's quill can still be heard in the Ogden area if luck is on
your side. From time to time, the Union Pacific Railroad offers passage on vintage cars
pulled by this magnificent steam locomotive.