A festivalgoer crowd surfs as a band performs during the Holi Festival of Colors held Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork. An estimated 10,000 people from Utah and beyond attended the annual Hindu cultural celebration according to the assistant manager of the festival, Advaita Das.

Weather is warmer and days are longer as spring settles into Utah.

That means that more and more assignments take place outside and there's more natural light to work with, both allowing for more unique photo opportunities than many of winter's often indoor shoots. Winter sports also wrapped up at the start of March. Now, the academic school year has shifted into the latter half of its last semester – graduations and late-spring sports finals will be here before I know it.

March felt like quite a long month, possibly because of some stretches being unusually light on assignments and the last week being jam-packed. Most notably this past week, I got to brush off my food-photography skills for a few shoots for our quarterly food magazine (Taste of Utah Valley) and also photographed my first "color event", the Holi Festival of Colors (which my camera survived, after lots of pre-shoot preparations). Things felt more unpredictable than usual throughout March. However, the variety of assignments this past month was wonderful (features, news, sports, portraits, food and a photo story). 

On a different front, there's been changes developing at the Daily Herald (don't worry, nothing bad). As the month progressed I began spending more time preparing for these changes to take place. But, more on that next month.

American Fork's Isaac Johnson (33) tries to hold on to a pass in the paint while he's guarded by Davis forward Sam Arrington (13) and guard Trevan Leonhardt (10) during a semifinal game between the American Fork Cavemen and the Davis Darts in the UHSAA 6A Boys Basketball State Tournament held Friday, March 1, 2019, at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.

Attendees mill about before the Pillar of the Valley awards gala Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo.

Lillian O'Day, 12, of Provo, looks through a pair of glasses simulating what it's like to have glaucoma at the booth of optometrist Kristine Dunn during the Provo Girls Summit held Thursday, March 7, 2019, at the Provo City Library. Female professionals showed hundreds of girls what their futures can hold at the third-annual job fair.

A chocolate-chip "pizookie" is pictured Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at The Wash in Provo.

From left, former Hillcrest Elementary School students and current teachers Adam Ashton and Lisa Almberg look through a 1988-1989 yearbook with fellow current teachers Sherry Grover and Joy Edwards during an open house held Thursday, March 14, 2019, at Hillcrest Elementary School in Orem. The school will close and consolidate with another school at the end of this school year.

Brigham Young University infielder Carson Matthews (5) throws to first base for an out after fielding a ground ball during a game between the Brigham Young University Cougars and the Gonzaga University Bulldogs held Saturday, March 16, 2019, at Miller Park in Provo.

Brigham Young University pitcher Jack Sterner (21) jokes with his teammates before a game between the Brigham Young University Cougars and the Gonzaga University Bulldogs held Saturday, March 16, 2019, at Miller Park in Provo.

Keith Payne, chairman of the Utah Valley Trails Alliance, poses for a portrait at the Orem Bike Skills Trails Park located next to Mt. Timpanogos Park on Friday, March 29, 2019, in Provo Canyon. The Utah Valley Trails Alliance is aiming to help connect and maintain biking trails throughout Utah County.

Mohammad Altasan, of Orem, receives a flower as he leaves a prayer service during a community gathering held to support Muslims at the Utah Valley Islamic Center's Al Sahaba Mosque on Friday, March 15, 2019, in Orem. The gathering was organized by Lt. Governor Spencer J. Cox and Utah County Commissioner Tanner Ainge in light of the mass shooting at two mosques in New Zealand the same day.

American Fork's McKay Smith (2) reacts after a foul with 1.4 seconds left and a slim point differential during a semifinal game between the American Fork Cavemen and the Davis Darts in the UHSAA 6A Boys Basketball State Tournament held Friday, March 1, 2019, at the Dee Events Center in Ogden. The teams went on to play three overtime periods, with American Fork coming out on top.

A glass of boba milk tea is pictured Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at The Wash in Provo.

Tyler Richardson pays for an order using a digital self-order kiosk as he and Jess Holden, both of Provo, joke together Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at The Wash in Provo.

American Fork center Isaac Johnson (33) gestures to the crowd after the Cavemen defeated the Pleasant Grove Vikings 66-57 in the UHSAA 6A Boys Basketball State Championship game Saturday, March 2, 2019, at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.

Lehi Fire Department recruit Brian Van Blerkom uses a hydraulic rescue tool, also known as the "Jaws of Life", to make entry into a car during vehicle-extrication training Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at Lehi Block.

Community members, who declined to disclose their names, hug at the scene of an auto-pedestrian incident that killed a 6-year-old girl Wednesday, March 27, 2019, across the street from Vineyard Elementary School. Authorities later reported that the girl was Annie González, and that she had died at the scene from injuries sustained when she was playing on a scooter and collided with an SUV backing out of a driveway whose driver didn't see González.

Pleasant Grove guard Casey Brown (3) goes up for a shot while contested by Fremont's Ryken Nye (32) during a semifinal game between the Pleasant Grove Vikings and the Fremont Silver Wolves in the UHSAA 6A Boys Basketball State Tournament held Friday, March 1, 2019, at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.

Joseph Beltran, 17, of Provo, rides with fellow Independence High School junior Jaycee Doty, 17, during a snowboarding session held by Chill Salt Lake City on Monday, March 4, 2019, at Brighton Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Chill Salt Lake City is an after-school program that aims to improve the lives of at-risk youths both on and off the mountain, and has served over 1,000 Utah youths to date. Read more about this Monday Close-Up here: provodh.com/9gaku 

Joseph Beltran laughs as he jokes with Jason Beck, a volunteer mentor with Chill Salt Lake City, during a snowboarding session held by Chill SLC on Monday, March 4, 2019, at Brighton Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon. "I get to watch their self-esteem improve and see them start actually believing in themselves," said Lynny Anderson, Salt Lake City coordinator with the Chill Foundation. 

Joseph Beltran, left, laughs with fellow Independence High School junior Alan Espitia, 17, as they participate in an activity involving Oreos while they and other Chill Salt Lake City participants are bussed toward Brighton Resort for a snowboarding session Monday, March 4, 2019. Each week, different themes are introduced to Chill SLC participants on their way to and from snowboarding. This activity aimed to teach participants patience and persistence by tasking them with getting the cookie from their forehead to their mouths without touching it.

Pennants from various colleges and universities hang in the hallway as Independence High School junior Joseph Beltran walks to an environmental science class Friday, March 8, 2019, at Independence High School in Provo. When Beltran graduates from high school next year, he plans to be the first in his family to go to college and aims to attend Utah Valley University.

Joseph Beltran takes notes on a historical documentary during a U.S. history class Friday, March 8, 2019, at Independence High School in Provo. "At parent-teacher conferences, every single time we go they want to help," said Joseph's father, Alex Arellano, of Independence High School. "They want to do whatever it takes to get them to succeed. It just depends on the kid if they want it or not."

Joseph Beltran kicks up the skateboard of his little brother Damian, 15, as they leave their parent's Provo home Tuesday, March 12, 2019, to go skateboarding at the Provo Recreation Center Skate Park.

Joseph Beltran clears a gap as he skateboards Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at the Provo Recreation Center Skate Park. "I do change my mind a lot in what I want to do, but I know that whatever I do I want to be great at it," said Joseph.