Cowboys watch as a charity auction takes place during the UHSRA finals Saturday, June 9, 2018, at the Wasatch County Event Complex in Heber. 

It's officially summertime, and for the most part things are slowing down in Utah County.

Sporting events have become much more scarce, school-related events are over, people are leaving for summer vacations and there hasn't been a boatload of news happening lately. Summertime at newspapers typically means photos generally revolve around the following things: hot-weather features, fairs, city celebrations, water fights and foam pits, summer camps, and with July upon us, American flags - lots of them. However, I've felt a yearning for a photographic change of pace during these summer months. Something about the hot days of summer in an area steeped in Americana make for fun assignments, and an opportunity to riff off of the visual tropes of summer.

Early June was busy, but steadily slowed down as the month progressed. I began the month finishing up my most recently Monday Close-Up on Nick Rios, a local woodworker who creates pens, pen boxes and cutting boards despite being blind. You can read more about Nick's story here: provodh.com/5uzrj. Despite assignments being fewer and further between, it seems many of them fall around the same time, so the challenge of getting between point A and B quickly has remained constant.

As we roll into the most patriotic month of the year in America, I look forward to enjoying the fruits of summer along the Wasatch. 

Nick Rios covers up a machine after finishing a day's work at his workshop Friday, June 1, 2018, at Provo Central Storage in Provo. Rios started his woodworking business, Blind Gorilla Business, with his girlfriend in January of this year and currently produces pens, pen boxes and cutting boards.

Nick Rios whittles down two blocks of wood into rounded cylindrical shapes to be used used for one of his pens as he works at his workshop in Provo. Rios' products incorporate several different kinds of woods, such as: redwood, oak, walnut, cedar, oak and poplar.

Nick Rios navigates his way away from his workshop at Provo Central Storage as he begins to walk home in Provo. Each day he works, Rios walks the mile back to his home at The Boulders alone.

Susana Fragoso looks on as her boyfriend, Nick Rios, gets an item from a cupboard as they prepare a meal at Rios' home in Provo. Nick generally prepares the meals for he and his girlfriend.

Susana Fragoso nudges her boyfriend, Nick Rios, as they laugh together while waiting for customers during the opening day of the Provo Farmers Market at Pioneer Park in Provo. Rios is currently working on creating a stockpile of products to sell and hopes to take their business door-to-door in the future.

Kiery Rask, 8, looks up as she eats a slice of pie while her cousin, Trey Parks, 8, both of Orem, looks over at her during the kids heat of the first-ever Village Inn Pie Eating Competition as part of Orem Summerfest on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at Orem City Center Park. Kids had 40 seconds to finish as much of a single slice of pie as possible, and later adults had one minute to finish as much as they could of one half of a pie. Rask finished third in the kids heat.

Emma Thurgood, 14, of Saratoga Springs, tries to avoid the foam during the Splash Bash Water Party as part of Saratoga Springs' Splash Days on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, at Sunrise Meadow Park in Saratoga Springs.

Pleasant Grove center forward Connor Ecalono poses for a portrait Friday, June 1, 2018, at Pleasant Grove High School. A senior, Ecalono has been chosen as the Daily Herald's 2018 Utah Valley Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

Orem Owlz second baseman Alvaro Rubalcaba (4) can't reel in the throw from the outfield allowing Ogden Raptors second baseman Jeremy Arocho (8) to safely make it to second base during a game between the Orem Owlz and the Ogden Raptors on Thursday, June 28, 2018, at UCCU Ballpark in Orem.

VIPS volunteer Dustin Manis talks with Vicki Lybbert, of American Fork, after retrieving her car keys from her locked vehicle during the Night Out Against Crime as part of the Cedar Hills Family Festival on Friday, June 8, 2018, at Heritage Park in Cedar Hills.

REO Speedwagon keyboardist Neal Doughty performs during Chicago and REO Speedwagon's "North American Summer Tour" on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at USANA Amphitheatre in West Valley City.

Shanna Ballard, of Highland and a volunteer with Team Up for Tibble Fork, cleans up trash near Tibble Fork Reservoir on Saturday, June 2, 2018, in American Fork Canyon. Only a handful of volunteers came out for the clean-up effort.

Amanda Butler, of the South Utah County rodeo club, competes in the barrel-racing event during the UHSRA finals Saturday, June 9, 2018, at the Wasatch County Event Complex in Heber.

Drake Weber, of Emery, watches as a charity auction takes place during the UHSRA finals Saturday, June 9, 2018, at the Wasatch County Event Complex in Heber.

Shayla Gourdin, of the Lehi Longhorn rodeo club, competes in the goat-tying event during the UHSRA finals Saturday, June 9, 2018, at the Wasatch County Event Complex in Heber.

Nedra Norton is presented with an American flag by a member of the American Legion Honor Guard for her late husband, Wallace H. Norton, a U.S. Army veteran from WWII, during a military funeral honors ceremony Saturday, June 16, 2018, at the Lindon City Cemetery. Nedra wore a sweatshirt despite temperatures at the time being in the mid 70's because it was Wallace's favorite shirt of hers.

Orem Owlz pitcher Jerryell Rivera (1) walks back to the dugout after giving up two runs and being subbed out for pitcher Anfernee Benitez (14) in the top of the first inning during a game between the Orem Owlz and the Ogden Raptors on Friday, June 29, 2018, at UCCU Ballpark in Orem.

Chelsea Peahl, of Spectrum Queer Student Alliance at UVU, speaks during a press conference held Thursday, June 14, 2018, in front of Provo City Center. The gathering was organized following the Freedom Festival's parade-entry denial of five LGBTQ groups.

Steelworker Pablo Gallegos welds Friday, June 15, 2018, at Clegg Steel in Orem. President Trump signed two proclamations on May 31issuing tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum. The president stated that steel and aluminum workers will see positives from the proclamations, but those working in the industry locally have yet to see the upside.

A Ferrari speeds along Eagle Mountain Boulevard during the Limitless Supercar Shoot-Out held Saturday, June 23, 2018, in Eagle Mountain. Proceeds from the closed-highway event benefitted Make-A-Wish Utah and Tyson Juber, a youth from Eagle Mountain.

Chris Hoskins, of Provo, sports a Donald Trump button during a watch party held for U.S. Senate candidate Mitt Romney as results come in from the primary elections Tuesday, June 26, 2018, outside of Romney's campaign headquarters in Orem.

Mitt Romney looks up as his grandson, Dane, 2, points out an airplane in the sky outside of Romney's campaign headquarters after it was announced that he had won the Republican nomination in Utah's U.S. Senate race during a watch party held for Romney as results come in from the primary elections Tuesday, June 26, 2018, in Orem.