My Salt Lake Temple photograph on US Senate website & Wikipedia 

The image was released under a Creative Commons license, making it freely usable with attribution. That openness allowed the photograph to travel—quietly, organically, and on its own merit—into public, editorial, and civic contexts.

Why This Matters (To Me)

The Salt Lake Temple isn’t just an architectural landmark. It’s a structure layered with symbolism, history, belief, and permanence. Photographing it was about capturing the architectural style at the right time of the day, the twilight moment. That the same photograph works in both spaces of time and form was something I attempted to record in my first visit to the Salt Lake City. 

Photography That’s Meant to Be Trusted

Images used in Wikipedia or by public officials have a different bar:

• They must be accurate

• They must be neutral

• They must be technically clean

• They must withstand scrutiny

This is the kind of photography I enjoy doing, work that is calm, composed, and dependable. The camera becomes less about expression and more about what I wanted to convey of what’s in front of it.

Creative Commons as a Force Multiplier

Publishing under Creative Commons is a deliberate choice. I traded control for reach and relevance. When a photograph is useful, it will be reused. When it’s well-made, it will be reused correctly. Thats what I am learning. Seeing this image surface in places that value credibility over aesthetics alone reinforces why I should take photography beyond myself.

A Quiet Satisfaction

There was no notification from Wikipedia. No email from the Senator’s office. I discovered both usages later. Honestly, that’s the best part.The photograph didn’t need me in the room.

Reference URLs

1. Mike Lee Op-Ed : Make Federal Architecture Great Again - Mike Lee US Senator for Utah 

2. Wikipedia : Salt Lake Temple - Wikipedia