Where Light Reigns

Tapes 'n Tapes

2011-03-06T23:51:00.003-07:00

Here's a slideshow of a concert I shot on Saturday at the Fox Theater in Boulder. Tapes 'n Tapes was the headlining band and the opener was Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Check 'em out!

Tapes and Tapes

2011-03-06T23:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a slideshow of a concert I shot on Saturday at the Fox Theater in Boulder. Tapes 'n Tapes was the headlining band and the opener was Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Check 'em out!

Ginga Video!

2011-02-26T18:59:00.003-07:00

Here is a video that I shot a while back of Ginga, a Boulder, Colorado-based samba group specializing in pagode-style samba - an inclusive, highly energized and vocally oriented version of traditional samba that came out the favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The group was founded several years ago by native Brazilian Francisco Marques (vocals, percussion, cavaquinho), Greg LaLiberte (vocals, percussion, woodwinds), Raoul Rossiter (vocals, percussion), Bill Kopper (vocals, 7-string guitar), Carl Dixon (vocals, percussion), and Ian Brighton (vocals, percussion, woodwinds). Initially playing to small crowds for intermittent gigs around the Boulder area, the group now plays to capacity rooms on nearly every gig. Brazilians, South Americans, and North Americans are all equally represented in an increasingly growing and loyal fan base. The group is known for its authenticity in presenting a style of music that is rarely heard outside the borders of Brazil, bringing to the States a live concert experience that used to be available only on recordings.

Check them out live yourself this coming Thursday (March 3) at the Laughing Goat in Boulder or on Saturday (March 5) at the Mercury Cafe in Denver!

Mitchell Wedding in Kauai

2011-02-10T11:57:00.001-07:00

I had the privilege of taking a little vacation to Hanalei Bay, Kauai over the holidays for my best friend's wedding. The lovely Brittany Rizza finally became Brittany Rizza Mitchell as she sealed the deal with the handsome Kevin Mitchell. The wedding was straight out of a magazine...with the bay in the background and the sun perfectly out for the first time in a week. We couldn't have asked for a more gorgeous setting.

Troubadours' Collective

2011-01-24T14:55:00.003-07:00

I've been populating the Laughing Goat's web gallery for some time now, which is fun because I get to shoot some great local artists. This particular night was an opening exhibit of art by Tom Roderick and music by the Troubadours' Collective. For over 5 years running, the Troubadours events have been a songwriter's showcase for both Boulder and Denver artists. Beginning at the Trilogy Wine Bar, the series continued at both the B.side Lounge, Fox Theater and now the Laughing Goat. Performances by: Donnie Mortimer, Dechen Hawk, Ramaya Soskin and Dana Raabe, Max Davies, and Clay Rose.

Wrestling

2011-01-24T14:26:00.002-07:00

I decided Mondays are my designated photography work days...so today I'm catching up on the blog and archiving the external hard-drive. Fun.

Here's a few shots from a wrestling match I shot for the Longmont Times-Call in December.

A Video: The Beginning of YAY! LiFE!

2010-11-23T23:21:00.001-07:00

My friend Amy and I have been working on this video for quite some time now. If you remember I did a little YAY! slideshow a few months ago. This is a video that tells the story of how YAY! LiFE! all began. I hope you enjoy it! We will be working with them on making more videos in the near future, so keep your eyes peeled and ready. The next projects will actually be more geared towards documenting individuals and their personal YAY!s. If you want to get involved, check out livintheyaylife.com and submit your own.

The Beginning of YAY! LiFE... from YAY! LiFE! on Vimeo.

Pigs Can Skate Too

2010-11-22T23:20:00.001-07:00

The Halloween Skate Competition at Scott Carpenter Park in Boulder this year featured all sorts of crazies...a pirate, a Jedi, a pig...even Jesus was there. My pirate friend, Ryan Weilert, may not have won the comp, but he won for largest fan club! Twas a fun day event before the night's Halloween festivites.

From Fear to Fabulous

2010-11-22T22:36:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of working with this inspiring young woman a few weeks ago. Erica wiglessly welcomed me into her house to take the second picture of her that would ever be published without her wig on. She shared with me her experience living with Alopecia Areata and how she had finally come to the decision to reveal herself in public for the first time.

Brave Erica stood up and gave a speech called "From Fear to Fabulous" at Front Range Community College last week in hopes to encourage other to be able to be real with who they really are. She believes that sharing this about herself has changed her world and can change others' as well.

Way to go Erica! I'm proud of you and encouraged by you.

Please read more of her story by Pam Mellskog at the Times-Call.

Circa Survive & Dredg @ Summit Music Hall

2010-11-15T15:52:00.001-07:00

Circa Survive came out with a bang of confetti to fill the sold-out Summit Music Hall Saturday night. Anthony Green's energy surpassed that of openers Dredg, Codeseven and Animals as Leaders, although Dredg dummer Dino Campanella played both the drums and keyboard at the same time, showing some mad skill. Overall, great performances by all four bands.

Check out more of my photos on Denver Post's Reverb Blog!

YAY! @ Boulder Farmer's Market

2010-09-27T23:49:00.000-06:00

I recently started doing some work for a company called Livin' the YAY! Life with my friend Amy. They have hired us to shoot some videos for them, but as a side job, a few weeks ago hired us to work a booth at the Boulder County Farmers Market. I thought I would make the most of our 8 hours amongst the farmers by putting together this little slideshow.

YAY! Life is focused on encouraging people in their passions...getting them in touch with the things they love. So, the options are pretty much endless! Check out their site and support a new local business!

PS. If you submit your YAY! you may be selected to be a subject in one of the videos we plan to shoot!

Built to Spill

2010-09-19T11:51:00.000-06:00

Built to Spill played at the Gothic Theatre in Denver last night, which happens to be my favorite venue in CO...Well, at least for watching a show. I would have to say that for shooting a show, Red Rocks still takes the cake.

Check out the good ol' Reverb Blog for the rest of my photos!

Purdy Outhouse

2010-09-15T11:28:00.002-06:00

Purdy Outhouse called his friends on the East Coast to tell them that he and his wife were having a baby. To their surprise, Outhouse was actually referring to “Baby Piney Apple,” which he has been growing for the past 22 months at his home in Firestone.

Yes, Purdy Outhouse is seriously this man's name. Sometime's I just don't even understand what goes through a person's mind when naming their child. His name is definitely unique, I must say...but I also know high school and junior high kids can be brutal with a name like that.

Anyway, I guess Purdy likes keeping it weird! He decided to grow a pineapple plant in Colorado, and has been doing so for almost two years now. I love how random, yet entertaining, photojournalism can be.

Click here to read the Times-Call story!

Rainbow

2010-09-08T19:21:00.003-06:00

A small rainstorm blew into town today, hopefully aiding the firefighters in their battle against the Fourmile Canyon Fire. The rain didn't last long, but gifted the community with a brilliant double rainbow that reached across the entire town...

"I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life." Genesis 9: 13-15

Fourmile Canyon Fire

2010-09-07T23:22:00.001-06:00

The Fourmile Canyon Fire has been raging for two full days now. Although I wasn't technically on the job, I managed to get a few photos of the smoke plume in the early stages of the fire. A few more frames can be seen on the Longmont Times-Call's photo gallery.

My sad attempt at a panoramic...

David Gray & Ray LaMontagne

2010-09-01T18:39:00.000-06:00

And here you have it: My first experience shooting at Red Rocks!

Unfortunately we weren't allowed up front during Ray's performance, which was a bit of a let down since that was my reason for going...oh well! Mr. LaMontagne had a flawless set and I'm pretty sure wooed almost every woman with his voice. On the other hand, I have to admit I only know one of David Gray's songs, although his high energy was quite entertaining.

Check out more photos on the Reverb Blog!

Shalom Israel! (Part 1)

2010-08-23T22:55:00.000-06:00

"The Modern Day Exodus"

Well, here it is, finally...the first post from my travels in Israel. Photos are by no means chronological. More to come as time permits! Enjoy.

The Lydia Finale: A Goodbye & Farewell Tour

2010-08-19T15:28:00.000-06:00

Only one original Lydia member, Leighton Antelman, appeared at the Marquis Tuesday night to play, what would be, Denver's last engagement with the Arizona indie rock outfit. Antleman, accompanied by Craig Taylor, drummer of four years, Matt Funderburk, bass, and Matt Keller, keyboard, created an ambiance that had the entire front row of ladies with stars in their eyes. Having been formed in 2003, "The Lydia Finale: A Goodbye & Farewell Tour" will sadly bring Lydia to an official conclusion in the next couple of weeks.

Antleman addresses the band's break-up on their myspace page by saying, "This has been something I’ve been thinking about for quite some time now and it’s just the right place and time for me to move on to other things and projects." He makes it clear that the decision had nothing to do with the band's musical output and that the new album "Assailants" is the best music the band ever has released.

Surprised at his admirer's familiarity with the lyrics, Antleman kicked it old school and performed many songs off of Lydia's first album "This December; It's One More and I'm Free." In addition to several tunes from "Illumiate," their second album, the four delivered their newest material from "Assailants" with fervor and bare feet.

Before exiting the stage, Antleman gave a farewell wave to Lydia's fans, a small, but sentimental moment. Some may even go as far as to say a single tear fell down his cheek...

Okay, I made that part up.

Anyway, goodbye Lydia! You've done us well.

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS CHECK OUT THE DENVER POST REVERB BLOG!

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

2010-08-13T17:36:00.001-06:00

I had the privilege of shooting Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros at the Ogden Theatre in Denver on Wednesday night, and it. was. AWESOME. This show was one of the most energetic and unique performances I have ever seen. If you get a chance to check them out, do it!

Here are some of my photos from the night, but please check out the Denver Post Reverb Blog where many more photos sit in a pretty little slideshow! Also, if you haven't heard of this band, take a gander at the link below...that be their hit song!

Home by EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS

AND, for the exclusive photo not found on the Reverb Blog...Busted...

Bonjourno Roma!

2010-08-03T17:06:00.000-06:00

I recently embarked on a two-week journey to the Holy Land...Israel. On the way there we had a short day and a half layover in Rome, which was the perfect break from flying...although the jet-lag had me up at 4 a.m. If I weren't a photographer I probably would have been upset about this, but since I am, I looked forward to seeing Rome before the tourists hit the streets. It is pretty rare to approach the Coliseum when nobody else is around...quite a treat actually.

Anyway, I have decided to break up the posts from this trip since I have so many photos from it. This little portion are my photos from Rome. Stay tuned for Israel!

Vy + Andy Wedding

2010-08-02T16:32:00.000-06:00

Vy and Andy were married in June. The families, coming from differing backgrounds (Vy: Vietnamese and Andy: American), split the ceremony and reception to accommodate both traditions. The ceremony was held in Vy's home and incorporated all Vietnamese wedding traditions. The reception took place at Christies of Genesee, where the Americans broke it down on the dance floor. Here's a little sample from the day.

If you know anyone who needs a wedding photographer, send them my way!!

A Cursive Memory

2010-06-24T17:25:00.003-06:00

"Colorful" - the first word of A Cursive Memory’s opener “Wondering,” could not have described what was to come any better. The Southern California alt-rock outfit played across the spectrum of their catalog for their Marquis Theatre attendees Wednesday night. While it was only the second show of their tour, Colin Baylen, Shaun Profeta, Mark Borst-Smith, and Dillan Wheeler dropped their chops like they have been touring for years. With new songs like “Summer Soul” and “Ciao Bella,” it became obvious that the quartet had bottled up a little sunshine for their trip to Denver before heading on east.

In reality, these guys are my friends from home...They came out and stayed with me in Boulder as their 2nd stop on tour this summer. Check out the video below (by me)...we like to call this version of ACM : A Cursive Memorizzle.

A Cursive Memorizzle from a cursive memory on Vimeo.

Teva Games

2010-06-11T21:27:00.000-06:00

I took a little day trip up to Vail for the Teva Games last weekend with a couple friends and shot some action for fun. Just can't seem to put the camera down these days!

They're Growing!

2010-06-03T13:35:00.002-06:00

32nd Annual Bolder Boulder 10K

2010-06-01T13:46:00.000-06:00

Memorial Day, a day for grilling, lounging in the sun and being with friends... well, except for when you are a photojournalist...then Memorial Day, at least in Boulder, is a 12-hour work day.
You see, every year the Bolder Boulder 10K takes places throughout the neighborhoods and main streets in Boulder. The town pretty much shuts down as thousands upon thousands of runners make their way to the finish line in Folsom Stadium. My day began with the first participants in the race and ended 10 minutes before I was supposed to be at a friend's BBQ. Phew.
Anyway, here are only two of my photos from the day...the rest are in a slideshow for the Longmont Times-Call. I would love if you would take a look. Hope you all had a Happy Memorial Day!

They've Hatched!

2010-05-30T13:37:00.005-06:00

A few weeks ago a little Robin laid 4 eggs in the nest she built right above our front door. Yesterday, I noticed one of the little blue eggs broken on the ground. Hoping for the best, I climbed up to take a look in the nest, and sure enough we had four new baby Robin friends! Yay! It's been cool watching mom fly back and forth from the yard with food for them.

Bulbs

2010-05-24T11:52:00.000-06:00

Just a couple frames from a store in Vegas that I really liked.

M&M Vegas Wedding

2010-05-24T10:40:00.002-06:00

M(elissa) & M(atthew) Weinberg finally made it official in Las Vegas on May 15. Since Melissa is my cousin, I took the opportunity to start building myself a little wedding portfolio in hopes to begin booking myself some weddings in the near future. The ceremony was extravagant, as was the reception...everything down to the cake was picture-perfect. Conragts Mr. and Mrs. Weinberg!!

Ginga Band!

2010-05-20T16:45:00.002-06:00

I have been spending some time taking photos for The Laughing Goat's online gallery for their new website. Sometimes, the coffee shop turns into a dance party at night, where local musicians come in a play their grooves. This night, however, the goat might have well been a night club. People were samba-dancing their pa-tooties off.

Ginga Band formed nearly six years ago in Boulder, Colorado, performing a wide variety of Brazilian styles of music. The quartet, comprised of Greg LaLiberte, Francisco Marques, Bill Kopper, and Raoul Rossiter has delved into choro, pagode, bossa nova, samba, Brazilian jazz, samba funk, and other styles. Everyone sings and everyone plays percussion. The topflight musicianship the band displays inspires people to dance, sing with the band, or sit and listen...although not many choose the latter.

Robin Blue

2010-05-20T11:44:00.002-06:00

One windy day in Boulder about a week ago, a little orange-bellied Robin began collecting twigs and twine from our yard and front porch. Merely hours later she had an entire nest created behind the light near our front door. Yesterday, I went outside to check to see if our little Robin friend had laid her eggs yet and sure enough, she had! We are expecting four new babies in about 2 weeks!

Holgariffic

2010-05-06T16:34:00.001-06:00

Here are some more Holga photos that are long over-due...Love the film, hate the scanner.

Frozen Dead Guy Days

2010-03-22T04:00:00.002-06:00

A few weeks ago I attended my first ever Frozen Dead Guy Days festival in Nederland, Colo. Although I missed most of the festivities, I still made it for some of the action. The festival celebrates Bredo Morstoel's 20th anniversary of being frozen and awaiting the day that technology will be able to re-animate him. Sound crazy? Well, it is...but that is a little bit of why Nederland is just so wonderful. To read more, check out http://frozendeadguy.com.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

2010-03-02T16:02:00.005-07:00

I finally got around to scanning in some film from the our summer's Home Run Derby...took me long enough! The rest are shots from fall in Gold Hill, CO. More to come!

Brand New at the Fillmore

2010-02-01T00:01:00.004-07:00

I've recently set out on a new adventure with concert photography. Through a friend that works at SPIN Magazine , I am able to shoot in exchange for publication and free admittance to the show. I know it's not necessarily revenue, but with my lack of income I don't have much of a budget for concerts, so it still turns out to be a win-win situation in my eyes!

Here are several frames from Saturday night's performance at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver. Brand New was opened for by Manchester Orchestra and Dusty Rhodes and the River Band. It was an awesome show. To see a couple more photos check out my post on SPIN Earth.

Judas Goat

2010-01-21T16:13:00.003-07:00

This is a Halloween "horror" short that I helped shoot and edit in 48 hours for a friend's Halloween party at The Laughing Goat in Boulder.

I know there has been a lack of updates on this blog, but there is good reason for that! I am learning how to shoot and edit video. I am also starting to get my hands dirty in web development. Thought I would expand my skills a bit...

So, hold tight! There will be more to come.

CU Hoops

2009-12-23T13:55:00.004-07:00

I was offered a freelance job for the Longmont Times-Call last night to shoot CU basketball. It was a double header, the men first played Cal State Northridge and then the women took on San Jose. Here are a few of my favorite frames from the night.

Holga Shots from Summer...

2009-12-01T23:32:00.002-07:00

I'm sorry that these are so long overdue! I finally got around to scanning the negatives from my trips to California and Oregon/Washington this summer. Enjoy!

How Many Ways Can You Shoot a Sandwich?

2009-10-14T17:03:00.003-06:00

The answer...more than you think. I'll spare you from having to look at them all.

Over the past few months I was the photo intern at 5280 Magazine in Denver, where I got all the food photography practice I could have ever dreamed of. Here are a few of my favorites...

Scallop Carpaccio at Colt and Gray, Denver

The Cherokee at Parsley and Bailey, Denver

Espresso Semifreddo at Lala's Wine Bar + Pizzeria, Denver

Cantaloupe Gazpacho at Mel's Bar and Grill, Denver

Demolition Derby

2009-08-02T22:51:00.002-06:00

What better way to spend your Saturday night than to go watch cars smash the you-know-what out of each other? I know the folks in Longmont sure would agree that Demolition Derby at the Boulder County Fair is not an event to be missed. With the grand stands packed, drivers and pit crews alike prepped their cars by pre-beating them with sledge hammers to get the metal away from the wheels... anything to keep that car moving. In my opinion, the volume of the event exceeded the suspense and action of the cars demolishing each other by far, but I was entertained none the less.

The 120mm Film Experiment

2009-07-27T00:48:00.005-06:00

Over the past couple of weeks I have decided to start my own collection of vintage cameras. First, I bought an Agfa Shur Shot, which are supposedly made sometime in the 1930s. This little box camera I stumbled upon at a sidewalk sale in Denver. Well, actually I first stumbled upon an extremely old enlarger, then after asking about it, the sidewalk-sale man disclosed to me that he had a vintage camera collection. Even though he wasn't planning on it, I talked him into selling me one...then he graciously gave me one of his two Brownie cameras because "everybody needs one in their collection."

About a week later, I decided to accompany my roomate on a road trip down to the southeast corner our U. S. of A. (Good ol' Athens, Georgia). The Agfa came along for its first real photo adventure, visiting the St. Louis Arch, a Braves game in Atlanta, and numerous places around Athens. While in Athens, the Agfa picked up a new friend... the Sears Tower camera, found at a lovely store in downtown Athens, the name of which I unfortunately can't remember. Not sure if the Tower was actually functioning, I gave it a try, and to my glad surprise, after having the film developed, beautiful little images made their homes on the negatives...very exciting.

As a photographer, I find myself needing to experiment from time to time. It keeps my creativity and excitement flowing about snapping pictures. Not only that, but I still really miss working with film. I found that I loved the mystery of not really knowing what type of photos these old cameras would produce. What would the colors look like? What imperfections would I find with the camera?

With the Agfa, I found out that the viewfinder does not exactly match the angle of the lens. Therefore, most of the photos taken with this camera are weighted heavily to the bottom of the frame although I composed the photo much higher. This I find interesting in some pictures and pretty irritating in others. I guess that is the fun of shooting with vintage cameras though...not really knowing what you're going to get.

I had one of the rolls of film cross processed for fun to see what would happen, hence the funky colors in a couple of these. For a few of those, I altered them in photoshop but the rest are untouched. Let me know if you have any old cameras sitting around that you would like to have taken off your hands!

Clear Creek Kayaking

2009-06-22T20:16:00.005-06:00

I took a trip to Golden, Colo. today to shoot some things for 5280 Magazine and while I was walking along Clear Creek I stumbled across a few guys kayaking in the rapids. I ran back to my car to get my long lens and hung out with them for a little while. I had never shot kayaking before and found it to be pretty entertaining. They were doing front and back flips into the rapid and spinning all crazy-like..Thankfully they stayed on the same wave the whole time, so I didn't have to jog up and down the creek.

Homeschool Reunion

2009-06-07T11:34:00.003-06:00

My friend Aubrea was a homeschool child. Well, a homeschool child, adolescent, and teenager. She didn't go to "real" school until college. This year would have been her 10-year High School reunion, but since she graduated from home, there was no reunion planning committee. In honor of her home-based education, we decided to throw a "Homeschool Reunion" just for her. This isn't exactly newsworthy, but I liked some of the characters that showed up, so I though I would share one of them.

Just For Fun

2009-04-28T21:58:00.003-06:00

The sun set incredibly behind the mountains tonight...so I was distracted from the soccer game I was shooting (during half-time, don't worry)and enjoyed it for a few minutes. Played with photoshop a little when I got back, thus creating this...

20th and Blake

2009-04-16T12:50:00.005-06:00

I went to the opening Rockies game at Coors Field last Friday with the plan of putting together this slideshow for the Times-Call...However, after I had shot all my photos, collected all my audio, made my way back to the press box for a prime rib sandwich, and sat down to begin my editing, I realized that in some way or another, ALL of my photo files had become corrupted. We headed back to the office with the hopes of using our card saver software to bring my photos back to life. No hope...

I left the office that day quite frustrated and upset, having given the card to Mr. Rick Hackett to work with some more, and treated myself to some friends and a margarita back in Boulder. Later that night, Hackett pulled through and saved the day! He recovered all of my photos...not a one went missing. (Thanks!) Even though it was far too late to have any work published the next day, I couldn't let all that work go to waste. So here I am, a week later, finally finished with "20th and Blake."

For you non-Colorado folks, 20th and Blake are the streets that intersect right in front of the main entrance to Coors Field. It's where you find all the pre-game action.

20th and Blake

A Conglomeration of Sports

2009-04-01T14:36:00.002-06:00

I got a lot of practice shooting sports this past month, even though (secretly) sports are my least favorite thing to shoot. I can't deny the fact, however, that the more I practice I get, the better my timing gets. So, regardless of the boredom of baseball, golf, and tennis, I appreciate the opportunity to improve the skillz.

Amy Hodgkinson, Mikayla Tatman, Gina Larson and Callie Hodgkinson, Skyline's top four golfers, return to the team after placing third at state last year.

Silver Creek's Scott Hoyte pitches to Skyline during a game at Silver Creek on Thursday, March 12, 2009.

Longmont Christian's Michael Charles slides safely into home plate as Lyons' Zach Brodie can't quite get a grip on the ball at Sandstone Ranch Park in Longmont, Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Longmont High School's Emily Revielle locks her eyes on the ball during a match against Niwot's Amanda Lee at Niwot, Thursday, March 5, 2009.

Skyline's Reilly Mau pitches to Silver Creek during a game on Thursday, March 12, 2009.

Longmont senior Jim Thompson hits a pitch thrown by sports reporter Ray Sobczyk to the third baseman on Wednesday, March 11, 2009.

Longmont Christian High School's catcher, Zach Sanders, talks with his coach in between innings at Sandstone Ranch Park in Longmont, Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

Wrestler of the Year

2009-03-09T16:51:00.000-06:00

Ryker Haddock, who won the Class 4A 189-pound title at the Pepsi Center, is the Times-Call wrestler of the year, Monday, March 9, 2009.

Run Like The Wind!

2009-03-05T17:37:00.003-07:00

This was a portrait I took a few days ago of Kelly King, one of Silver Creek's best runners. The story was about how Kelly has learned to have fun with the sport instead of it being strictly competitive. I was supposed to show that in her portrait somehow...

It was super windy that day and I figured I could try to use that to my advantage, so I made her let her hair down and told her not to worry about anything, but to just relax and have fun. The wind in her hair made her laugh, hence, this photo was born...

Five-Minute Foto

2009-02-16T22:03:00.002-07:00

Well, the photo itself didn't actually take 5 minutes...nor did the setting up for it, but it really felt like that's all the time I had to prepare for this one. The assignment got thrown on me last minute and and I had no idea what I was going to do. So, I grabbed my handy assistant, Paul Litman, for some of his lighting knowledge and skill and we threw this one together real quick. Paul had made the slitted black board to fit in the soft box sometime during college and somehow it made its way to the Times-Call mini-studio. It is mini. But it works. And I like it.

Ukrainian Orphans

2009-02-16T21:46:00.003-07:00

This is a story I have been somewhat working on since this past summer. For three weeks, a group of 8 orphans from Ukraine did a home stay between 4 families in and outside of Longmont. The kids were given the opportunity to experience America with these families and sadly had to return back to Ukraine. As the purpose of the trip was not to find the children homes, the families instead sought to bring awareness to the idea of adoption, but more specifically, the adoption of older children.

A few months later I was informed that two of these families were actually bringing children home from Ukraine to stay permanently, so we jumped back on the story. I was really excited because I really enjoyed the time I got to spend with the families the first time around. I met their new kids and they all hated my camera for a while, but their new mommies and daddies made them behave...

Here is the audio slideshow I put together all last Friday.
Mom, Dad, don't forget to press the little play button!

Another Wildfire

2009-01-22T12:04:00.002-07:00

This is the day of the mega-post, considering I have fallen quite behind on blogging in the past couple weeks...

This fire broke out north of Longmont and luckily did not damage any homes at all, although it came pretty close. A small barn was charred but the damage can hardly be seen at all. The firefighters did a really great job at containing this fire quickly and strategically as residents watched from their backyards.

National Western Stock Show

2009-01-22T11:53:00.002-07:00

My first-ever experience at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo was more than exciting... and exhausting. Being there all day, surrounded by thousands of cowboy hats and over-sized be-dazzled belt buckles, one could say the place is over stimulating, but for me, I got a kick out everything. I saw the biggest horses in my entire life, literally, and actually, for the first time, found alpacas to be pretty cute. Besides all of that, the rodeo was the most fun to watch and shoot.

Herman Johns

2009-01-22T09:59:00.002-07:00

Herman Johns, an old war vet, was shot numerous times in the Korean War, resulting in the loss of his right eye. Johns recieved two purple hearts for his services in the Second Infantry Division.

Cute 'N Fuzzy

2009-01-22T09:30:00.003-07:00

It's baby-blooming time at Sunflower Ranch in Longmont. Freshly produced goats and calfs make cute 'n fuzzy buddies for the children attending the SproutHouse program during the day. SproutHouse brings a small group of children together in a class-like environment to give them a sense of a rural farm life. The kids feed the animals, chase the animals, squeeze the animals...they basically do whatever they want on the farm, while getting an awesome education sin the constrictions of real civilization. The baby goats are one-day old and needed to be fed out of a bottle. Pretty darn cute 'n fuzzy.

Olde Stage Road Fire: Days 1 and 2

2009-01-07T18:41:00.010-07:00

Day 1

Caption: The Olde Stage Road Fire burns north of Boulder, Colo. Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. Firefighters were evacuating neighborhoods and battling three blazes in the area while intense winds fanned the flames.

Upon receiving a news tip from a good friend, I ditched my "Wind-damaged roof repair" assignment and headed west towards the huge cloud of smoke that hung north of Boulder. I first came upon a structure fire at a llama ranch called Rocky Mountain Llamas, where firefighters allowed me to walk right up next to the scene.

The wind was howling. Gusts were far over 60 m.p.h., which only fed the fires. The wind, combined with the smoke made it very difficult to focus on anything through the camera. I was getting tossed aside constantly. The house was completely engulfed in flames when I arrived and burnt to the ground in a matter of minutes. All that was left was three smoke stacks from the fireplace and an empty whole in the ground.

Once the llama ranch was under control I decided to head up to the big fire on the mountainside. All of the immediate roads were blocked off, so I took a few guesses on the back roads and actually found my way on the first try. Horses began emerging onto the road out of the smoke where trailers waited to take them to safety. I ran to take pictures of that, but when I got there, the trailers decided to drive up to the ranch where the remaining horses were and the fire was approaching quickly from behind. Impulsively, I asked to tag along, not really thinking about what I was getting myself into, but taking the advice of my press photo teacher in college (Kevin Moloney) who always encouraged us to get in cars with strangers...

The road up to the ranch was clouded in smoke and each driver of the five trailers was determined to bring the remaining horses down to safety.Up at Joder Arabian Ranch, volunteers, fireman, and animal rescue personnel worked together to hold the flames back and herd horses into trailers. The fire crept closer and I was told finally that I needed to leave (which I was secretly relieved about).

Firefighters from several districts battle the Olde Stage Road Fire at Rocky Mountain Llamas, 7202 45th St., Wednesday Jan. 7, 2009. Downed electrical wires, caused by high winds, were thought to have started the fire.

Due to a downed electrical wire, firefighters battle smoke and flames at Rocky Mountain Llamas on North 45th Street on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. The sparks apparently set the grass on fire, and the fire spread to a barn and a house, according to the scanner traffic.

A fireman from Mountain View Fire District takes a break while fighting the fire on the property of Rocky Mountain Llamas Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. The fire on the property may have started due to downed power lines.

Volunteers from Sombrero Ranch bring five trucks and horse trailers to help evacuate horses from Joder Arabian Ranch and other ranches in the area during the Olde Stage Road Fire Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009.

A volunteer drives a trailer up to Joder Arabian Ranch to help rescue about 50 horses from the Olde Stage Road Fire that broke out north of Boulder on Wednesday, Jan 7, 2009.

As the Olde Stage Road Fire approaches the west side of Joder Arabian Ranch, spooked horses run away as volunteers try to direct them into a horse trailer on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009.

A volunteer helps to rescue about 50 horses as the Olde Stage Road Fire approaches the Joder Arabian Ranch along U.S. Highway 36, north of Boulder, Colo., Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 7, 2009.

Firefighters at Joder Arabian Ranch, just north of Boulder, hold back flames from reaching the ranch during the Olde Stage Road Fire Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009.

Volunteers rescue about 50 horses as the Olde Stage Road Fire, fanned by high winds, approaches Joder Arabian Ranch along North Foothills Highway north of Boulder, Colo. Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009.

A horse, that was rescued from approaching wildfires at Joder Arabian Ranch, north of Boulder, peers through the side of a trailer during the Olde Stage Road Fire, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009.

Firefighters work to control a wildfire during the Olde Stage Road Fire at Joder Arabian Ranch on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009.

Smoke covers North Foothills Highway north of Boulder, Colo. Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009 as the Olde Stage Rod Fire burns out of control.

Day 2

Caption: A log smolders along U.S. Highway 36 north of Boulder on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.

After a long day Wednesday, I set out early Thursday morning to cover the aftermath of the fire. I returned to the Llama ranch to check in on the burned down house and to hopefully meet the owner. She showed up shortly there-after and was immediately swarmed by lenses and notepads. I thought to myself, "This is my least favorite part about this job. I would be the last person I would want to see if I were her." So I slid around quietly taking pictures and avoiding being pushy, waiting for my turn to be alone with this woman. I felt so bad for her. She had just lost literally everything she owned, memories from nearly 80 years of life, and her late husband's urn. It was cool to watch how her friends swept in to take care of her in every way imaginable. She was even offered a luxury trailer to live in until she had a new home.

The entire experience of this fire has been crazy. I realized back in the office that I have never had any sort of fire training...that I had literally no idea what I was doing out there. With timeliness though, I was filled in on some tips today, now that the fire has been put out.

Bobra Goldsmith recalls how quickly the fire engulfed her house yesterday at Rocky Mountain Llamas, 4500 Neva Rd., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.

Lynley Nichol keeps an arm around Bobra Goldsmith as they look over the remains of Goldsmith's house, which burned down yesterday by a downed electrical wire at the Rocky Mountain Llamas in Longmont Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.

Tony Gamberg of Boulder Fire Rescue puts out a few hot spots in the rubble of Bobra Goldsmith's house, which was burned down by a downed electrical wire yesterday at Rocky Mountain Llamas at 4500 Neva Road, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.

Kris Paige embraces Bobra Goldsmith as she arrives to Rocky Mountain Llamas, where Goldsmith's house caught on fire and burned to the ground by a downed electrical wire yesterday. Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.

Bobra Goldsmith walks around her burned-down house for the first time, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009. She regrets losing her artwork, grand piano, and her deceased husband's urn the most, she said.

L'illete Vasquez rounds up llamas and alpacas that escaped yesterday from Rocky Mountain Llamas at 4500 Neva Road after a fire broke out and burned down a home. When she arrived this morning, they were all out on their private road, she said. Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.

The Polar Plunge

2009-01-01T17:17:00.003-07:00

Happy New Years!

Every year at the Boulder Reservoir, hung-over and crazy New Year's Eve party-goers gather to dive into the freezing water. It was really entertaining watching everyone screeeeaaaam as they ran in and stumble to get back out as quickly as possible. Lunatics I tell ya...Here is the slideshow I put together for the Times-Call.

Beautiful Prospects

2008-12-19T16:45:00.002-07:00

Yet another Athlete of the Year assignment...
This time I was given some extra time to think about it and after looking for some ideas on the internet I came across a photo of an old woman sitting in a hair dryer at a salon. I stared at it for a minute and then thought to myself, "Hey! That kind of looks like a helmet!" So the idea unfolded. I found a salon in Longmont that would allow me to do this and decided not to tell the players what they would actually be doing, giving them no chance of turning me down. The shoot turned out to be super fun and the guys were actually pretty into it...I guess there was no reason they shouldn't be with two cute gals hanging on them.

Erie's Cees Doxsey, left, and Longmont's Jake Johnson are the 2008 Times-Call Football Players of the Year. Doxsey, a senior defensive tackle, had 133 total tackles this season and is the defensive player of the year. Johnson, a junior dual-threat quarterback, totaled 1,774 yards and 21 touchdowns this season and is the offensive player of the year.

When Buildings Freeze

2008-12-15T17:45:00.004-07:00

As I climbed into my car this morning at 6:30 a.m., the thermometer read -14 degrees. I could hardly touch the steering wheel and the condensation from my breath reached all the way to my windshield. It was worse than freezing. Walking across the street made my finders sting, and the worst part is, I don't think the temperature ever really broke into positive digits all day. All I have to say is thank God for seat heaters.

In honor of this arctic day, I was sent out to find the cold weather feature photo. I had some issues in doing so, because to document the cold I wanted to be outside. However, because of the cold, everyone else was inside. I drove around for a long time and eventually started looking for details instead of people. This building caught my eye...I think it looks like it should be in Alaska or something. So I pulled over, got out and started taking some photos of it. Of course, the only person to walk into the scene "kindly" decided to walk around me (I hate when they do that). However, even in her courtesy, she still made the picture.

The building is vacant, and I am assuming has been for quite some time. I think it froze so severely because it has been too long since it has been internally heated. The white marks on the walls are frost, not to be confused with graffiti.

From Blondes to Burros

2008-12-08T17:54:00.004-07:00

A good day's work at the good ol' Times-Call.
Yea, let's punch with the burros...

Brittany Wade: Times-Call athlete of the year for gymnastics.

From Hunt to Home

2008-11-24T17:15:00.003-07:00

My friend told me that his neighbor hunted elk and butchered it at home. I thought it would make a good photo essay so he called me when his neighbors came home with this year's hunt. I blew off all my Sunday plans and hung out with the butcher family all day. Then I decided to cover all bases of the story; writing and photos. It ran on the Sunday life page yesterday.
__________________________________________________________________________________

BOULDER — Once a year, Kelly Bacon, Bobby Hailey and Leon Palmer head to the mountains to hunt elk.

But once an elk is shot, it has to be processed.

“It always takes me a minute to put the knife in them the first time,” Bacon said.
“Pulling the trigger is pretty hard, too,” Hailey said.
“Yeah, especially if you have to pull it twice,” Bacon said.
“That is why the aim is always to get it done as quickly and painlessly as possible,” Hailey added.

This year, the three brought home three female elk, or cows, from their hunt at Hahn’s Peak near Steamboat Lake. Transported from the mountains in the back of a pickup to Palmer’s driveway in Boulder, the elk quarters now hang on hooks across a pipe in his garage, and a smell of raw game fills the air.

“There are times when the smell will start to get to me,” Hailey said. “So I’ll chew gum, and that seems to help ease the stomach.”

In the past, the men took their meat to Steve’s Meat Market in Arvada to be processed, which ended up costing them $365 to $450.

Now they have a cheaper alternative.

For about a week, Palmer’s house turns into a butcher shop. With the help of several loved ones, processing the large load of meat has become an annual family event, beginning the day after the hunt, lasting all day and carrying over into the week.

The men — Bacon is Palmer’s brother-in-law, Hailey his son-in-law — set up their station in the garage on a fold-out table, cutting meat off of the elk quarters and separating various cuts into different bins. The women take the bins upstairs into the kitchen, where they then process and package the meat into steaks, hamburgers, sausages and jerky.

“It’s actually really neat family time. I love it when the guys get to go out together to hunt, and it’s fun for us to hang out in here together,” Kina Palmer, Leon’s wife, said while grinding elk burger meat in the kitchen.

With each cow weighing 300 to 600 pounds, the group has to process nearly 600 pounds of meat. But the work is well worth it.

“Unfortunately for the elk, they taste pretty darn good,” Leon Palmer said.

According to Kina Palmer, the meat is of the highest quality, because it doesn’t have the fat and gristle of other meats.

For Bacon, who at one point suffered from high cholesterol, elk is indeed better to eat because of its lean nature.

However, for Palmer, Hailey and Bacon, hunting is less about filling their freezers up with a year’s supply of meat and more about the time they spend with each other in the wilderness.

Under a sky full of stars, they wake up at 4 a.m., have a cup of joe and a roll for breakfast, and race to their previously chosen hunting location.

The goal is to beat the sunrise, because as dawn breaks, the elk start to move and bugle.

“Hearing them bugle that early in the morning is pretty impressive,” Hailey said. “I’ll never forget the first time I heard them bugle. I was actually scared.”

But scaring the elk is what the men worry about.

The animals have excellent noses, so sitting downwind from them is critical.

If the elk smell the men, they will retreat immediately.

“You have to sit there and be quiet and use all of your senses,” Hailey said. “When you finally see one, your heart starts pounding and you can’t keep your gun steady at first.”

Although their adrenaline kicks in at that moment, this hunting trio takes no pleasure in actually shooting the elk.

Rather, the quality of the meat is what keeps them hunting year after year.

“Either you hunt it or you have a friend that gives it to you,” Palmer said of how to obtain elk. “Good luck doing the second.”

A Fiery Collision

2008-11-21T14:48:00.002-07:00

Driving back to the office from an assignment that fell through, I saw a billow of smoke rise off of the side of the road about a mile ahead of me. Traffic slowed down and I tried to maneuver to see what was happening, but when that didn't work I put a call in to my boss to see if he had heard anything about it. He informed me that it was a big accident and that I needed to get to the front of the traffic by driving on the shoulder with my hazards on. I was afraid of getting in trouble, but he assured me I wouldn't so I did as I was told.

The cop that was re-directing traffic let me through and once I parked everything became a huge blur. I literally walked onto the scene without anybody noticing me. The car that had erupted into flames was under control and this point, the other car was completely totaled and a body lay on the street covered in a white sheet. After a few minutes I was approached by a police man who told me that I couldn't be there. I told him that this was my first accident (which it was), that I didn't know how this whole thing worked (which I didn't), and that I was the intern. At that he told me that if I had gotten some photos I would now have to wait on the perimeter and that somebody would be with the media in a little while. It didn't matter though, I already had the shots I needed.

Although the accident was really intense, seeing it all wasn't what bothered me. The strange thing about taking pictures of something tragic like this is that sometimes everything can seem so fake. There is something about looking through a view finder in a camera that takes me away from reality and drops me into a movie set. I'm not sure how I feel exactly about this, but I know that in a sense it bothers me that I am not bothered by what I saw. Maybe I haven't had the time to process anything or maybe that is just an effect of photojournalism. Either way it makes me think about the work that I do and the attachment I have to the pictures I make.

Firefighters extinguish a car fire following a fatal traffic accident on U.S. Highway 287 south of Plateau Road in Longmont on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008.

Eldora Opens

2008-11-21T14:07:00.001-07:00

There's nothing better than getting sent to the mountains for work...two days in a row!

Soccer Player of the Year

2008-11-18T15:58:00.001-07:00

To continue the Athlete of the Year saga, here is Mr. Cameron Tolooee, the soccer player of the year for the Times-Call.

Photo: The Old Fashioned Way

2008-11-14T11:26:00.002-07:00

Although I really didn't enjoy the art school at CU, its louwsy photo department, or its less than average photo professors, I can admit that I really miss the ghetto photo lab. I miss film. I miss the dark room. And I miss watching my images magically appear on paper. In college, the photo lab was an escape for me. I loved going in there in the middle of the day, losing all sense of time (because it was so dark), listening to music, and actually producing something with my hands. I don't think I enjoy anything more than getting my hands dirty and actually making something. I like to see my work come to life in that way and connect with whatever it is I am working on. You just don't get the same experience nowadays with our fancy digital camera and a workflow in the computer. Plus, its much worse for your eyes to be staring at a computer screen all day than adjusting to the lack of light in a dark room.

Although with these photos, I wasn't able to do any of my own developing...having graduated...working with film was very enjoyable. When I am not playing photojournalist, I usually like to play tourist because when I am playing tourist everything is new and interesting to me. On the downside of the tourist game though, I take zero notes, so I have hardly any information about these pictures besides general location.

My goal for the future: To have my own personal photo lab at home.

Venice Beach, CA

Drum Circle. Venice Beach, CA

Slanted Buildings. San Francisco, CA

Nap in the park. San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA

Haight and Ashbury. San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA

Waiting for TED. San Francisco, CA

Waiting for the bus on Halloween. Boulder, CO

Naked pumpkin run. Boulder, CO

Groucho Marx and Rita Hayworth. Boulder, CO

Cross Country Studs

2008-11-11T22:08:00.003-07:00

This was a fun experiment I did tonight for the cross country athlete of the year portrait. I was hoping that as the two of them ran around with flashlights, their bodies would be a bit more exposed so it would look like moving figures not just moving lines of light. So my concept didn't exactly come out as I had hoped, but we had a good time figuring out how to tame the streams of light so that they wouldn't interfere with the subjects. I think I would have liked to see more of a connection between the runners and their "light speeds," as I like to call them now. But, in reality this was just an opportunity to challenge myself to make a more dynamic photo, having to handle more elements than I am used to.

Saving History

2008-11-10T14:00:00.008-07:00

Welcome to my first ever multimedia project.
This is a story about a vintage aero museum in Ft. Lupton, Colo., how it began and the history that it preserves. Melanie Sidwell wrote the story, which can be found on the Times-Call website.

We drove out into the middle of the country to two airplane hangars, where "Aero Museum" was written in big bold lettering on the outside wall of one of them. This is the type of museum I might call grass roots. I've been to my fair share of museums and this one had a much different feel. There was no pristine or prestigious feel to it. The space was modest and so was the casing that held these amazing artifacts. The sense of modesty that occupied the museum made me feel more personally connected with the people the mannequins represented and the family history that built this collection. I highly recommend visiting the LaFayette Foundation if you live at all nearby. I thought I could have hung out in there all day long.

Democratic Victory

2008-11-05T14:28:00.000-07:00

All of a sudden the crowd was in an uproar. Everywhere I looked people screamed, flailed their arms, cried, jumped for joy, and danced in circles. It took me a minute to figure out what was actually happening, but when I saw the big screen hanging in the front of the exhibit building, i realized that Obama had just been announced to be the next president of the United States. This is history in the making and I had the urgency to document as much of it as I could in that moment.

To think, 30 minutes earlier, the reporter had pretty much told me that I didn't have to go to the Democratic party. Nothing was going on, she said. Wrong. When I got there (what I estimate to be) 1,000 Obama supporters were hanging out to watch the election and party hardy with each other. Note 1: Listen to your photo editor. Note 2: Shoot for the web.

It has been a really cool experience to be a part of this whole election process, starting with the DNC and finishing with a new president. I totally appreciate the opportunities I have been given in this internship and I think that, being my first year in the PJ world, I have gotten to be a part of some really big news. Unfortunately, there was no dancing in the streets of Longmont like there was in Boulder until the early hours of the morning, but that's what you get for a small town local paper. Here is the photo staff slide show from the election activities. I think everyone did a really good job coming together and covering all ends of this historical election.

DNC

2008-11-05T13:52:00.003-07:00

While I am on the topic of Democrats, here are some photos that I took at the DNC in Denver. I know they are pretty old at this point but I didn't have a blog at the time, so you get to see them now.

Thousands march from the Denver Coliseum, after a reuniting show by Rage Against the Machine, in an anti-war protest to the Pepsi Center in Denver, where the Democratic National Convention is being held on Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

"I am learning to live in the forest again," said Distance Climbing Eagle as she played her guitar and sang throughout the anti-war protest in downtown Denver on Wednesday, August 27, 2008. "Wherever there is forest that is my home," she said.

Gregory Delaurentiis left his kids, Giddy and Giani, with a babysitter while he went to the Rage Against the Machine concert at the Denver Coliseum, but later picked them up for the anti-war protest walk to the Pepsi Center on Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

Police are suited up in riot gear in the chance that the anti-war protest that initiated after the Rage Against The Machine concert at the Denver Coliseum takes a turn away from peace on Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

Three-year-old Mirella Chavez joins in protesting the "War on Morons" on 16th Street Mall in Denver on Thursday, August 28, 2008. "We're really just against morons," said fellow protester Carolyn Tedder. "We need to do better about the moron situation."

2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008.

The anti-war protest walked down Arapahoe St. to Speer Blvd. and took a right turn towards the Pepsi Center in Denver on Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

A person dressed as an ostrich walks down the 16th Street Mall carrying a sign that reads "McCain's head is in sand on economy," at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008.

Protester Sam Harper came to Denver from Eufaula, Okla. to participate in the Democratic National Convention. Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

Police on horseback at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008.

At Lincoln Park in Denver, members of Grupo Tlaloc and other dancers perform two indigenous dances from Central Mexico which are characterized as Danza Azteca. "Danza Azteca existed before borders existed," said Lorenzo Ramirez, a resident of Denver. "I didn't cross the border, the border crossed me," he said on Thursday, August 28, 2008, after the "We are America: Immigrant Rights are Human Rights" march.

Margarita Castaneda started dancing seven years ago and recently moved to Denver where she joined Grupo Tlaloc, which lead the "We are America: Immigrant Rights are Human Rights" march to Lincoln Park in Denver on Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Alec Ounsworth from the band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah plays a harmonica during his set at the free indie rock concert Unconventional '08 on the corner of 30th and Larimer by the Manifest Hope Gallery in Denver on Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

Nathan Willett from the band Cold War Kids plays a free concert on the corner of 30th and Larimer in Denver by the Manifest Hope Gallery for Unconventional '08, an indie rock concert hosted by moveon.org and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, on Wednesday, August 27, 2008. (Morgan Varon/ Times-Call)

Tennis Player of the Year

2008-11-03T16:52:00.001-07:00

Stephen Lammers, a Niwot High School senior, and tennis player of the year...for his second year in a row. Way to go Stephen.

Spooky Things

2008-10-24T21:27:00.002-06:00

These things used to be a lot spookier when I was young. Looking back now, I don't see how I ever fell for any of it...running frantically from room to room, trying to anticipate any and all monsters hiding behind corners, and looking to find the exit as quickly as possible. Haunted houses now, however, pose a new challenge: The task of making photos while enveloped in dense fog and little to no light. Although, I have a ways to go in overcoming this new challenge, at least the monsters can't scare me anymore.

Cyclocross

2008-10-20T16:39:00.004-06:00

I never knew this existed until 12 hours before I went to shoot it. And when I try to explain it to people, I find myself saying, "Well, it's kind of like a mix between road biking and motorcross. The guys wear spandex, but they race around a dirt track. And oh yea, sometimes they have to carry their bikes over obstacles..." So for all of you I confused in my explanation of the sport, hopefully this helps a little bit. Here are a few of the photos I took on Saturday. If you want to see more check out the slideshow.

Caption: The Cross at Xilinx race in Longmont featured 2 sets of triple barriers, sand, 4 sections of off-camber, a double-sided pit, and an off-course start grid. The entire course was 2.1 miles long on Saturday, October 18, 2008.

Caption: Scott Fliegelman warms up for 25 minutes on his stationary trainer, then does a lap or two of the cyclocross course before racing in the Senior 35+ group at the Xilinx campus in Longmont on Saturday, October 18, 2008.

Caption: Team members and fans provided bikers with water as they came around the last turn of the course at Bluesky Velo's cyclocross race at the Xilinx campus in Longmont on Saturday, October 18, 2008.

Caption: James Kinsinger topples over the handlebars from hitting a mud pit, and causes a 4-bike pile up during the Senior Men's 45+ and 55+ cyclocross race at the Xilinx campus in Longmont on Saturday, October 18, 2008.

Caption: Cassidy Dzekcidrius-Bailey, 9, celebrates his win, while Trevor Way, 9, is awarded second place in the Juniors 8-9 group that raced at Xilinx campus in Longmont on Saturday, October 18, 2008.

Butterfly Bonanza

2008-10-20T15:41:00.004-06:00

This weekend I was shooting at a Cyclocross race in Longmont (which I will upload next) and as I was walking back to my car I noticed two huge flower bushes that were infested with hundreds of pollinating butterflies and bees. So I stuck around a while longer and had some fun with it. Unfortunately I didn't have a macro lens with me, which would have been really nice because I could have gotten more detail, but I think they came out well anyway. Now I guess I have to start adding a nature section to my portfolio.

Dancing Elders

2008-10-07T22:56:00.002-06:00

This was an event I went to really quickly before heading to a soccer game tonight. I was only there for a little while, but the sun was starting to set and the light was great. I love how it hits only Mrs. Elvira's face as she twirls about in her traditional garb. This was at an Inclusive Community Celebration, that showcased numerous culture groups from the community. It was very colorful...and there was free food.

Caption: Elvira Contreras, a member of the Ballet de Mi Tierra, performs folkloric dances from many different countries at the Inclusive Communities Celebration at the Longmont Civic Center on Tuesday, October 7, 2008. The Inclusive Community Celebration showcased the City of Longmont and several other community programs that are working on inclusion efforts and promoting understanding about the many different cultures that are a part of the community.

Aspen Adventure

2008-10-03T16:49:00.008-06:00

Yesterday my boss plopped a map down on my desk and said, "Here is your assignment. Aspen trees." Basically, I was to drive up Boulder Canyon and make my way to Rocky Mountain National Park over the course of several hours. My goal was to take photos of Aspen trees changing colors for the fall. Not too shabby! Anytime somebody will pay me to drive around in the mountains to take photos of beautiful trees, forge rivers (or creeks), hike through huge meadows, get nailed by freak hail storms, wander through old mining towns, and stumble across large packs of elk, I am more than up for the job.

I found that when I have free range and no strict time limit when shooting I can be much more creative. I take my time with each scene and see things differently. Yesterday actually reminded me of my travel photography, mainly just because of the state of mind I was in. Everything looked new and exciting. These were places I had never seen before, people I had never met before, and it allowed me to pretend I was farther than just a couple miles away from home. However, I have to admit that living so close to all of this is something to brag about. After exploring for six hours, I pretty much realized that I had taken up the best profession I could have picked for myself.

Michelle Obama at CU

2008-10-01T17:28:00.004-06:00

It's interesting to think that I am playing a part (a small part) in history by attending these events. Today Michelle Obama spoke at the University of Colorado at Boulder...in the middle of campus. The event was a voter registration rally to try to get unregistered people to make the Colorado deadline, which is Monday. Some papers said that it was the largest crowd of people to ever gather on Farrand Field... I questioned that recalling a certain "holiday" in April around the 20th where supposedly 10,000 kids showed up.

Anyway, I have never been around so much media before, it was like I couldn't get a unique shot because there was always another photographer shooting right next to me. I guess that's when ditching the press section for the crowd pays off.

Lessons Learned:
1. Podium shots, although sometimes required and necessary, are boring.
2. Always listen to the advice of your editor, so you don't walk around shooting an event on a sunny day at ISO 1600... I guess I learn the hard way.

Caption: Michelle Obama visits the University of Colorado at Boulder to give a free speech on Farrand Field to students and the public on Wednesday, October 1, 2008. The event is part of the campaign's nationwide efforts to get unregistered voters to register before Monday, the state's deadline.

Caption: Wandering through the crowd, a man dressed as Barack Obama hugs, waves, and takes pictures with fans awaiting Michelle Obama's appearance on Farrand Field at CU on Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

Caption: "I've been registering people to vote on campus and it is exciting to finally get everyone together to feel the spirit," said Natalie Bograd, a sophomore at CU, while cheering for Michelle Obama on Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

To see more photos you can visit MICHELLE OBAMA at CU

Lessons in Lighting

2008-09-24T14:31:00.002-06:00

Until recently I have been absolutely intimidated by lighting. Thankfully, my helpful new friends at the Longmont Times-Call have been showing me how to do a few things, thus, making lighting less of a monster. In the beginning of my internship I would go out on assignment to shoot a portrait and take an "assistant" with me, who, in reality just came to show me how to set everything up. This happens less frequently now, but I still have much to learn. I'm actually finding lighting pretty exciting now. It is awesome to see the difference in the quality of a photo when it has been lit well. So, it turns out there really isn't anything to be afraid of.

This portait came with a great deal of lighting help from Joshua Buck.

Caption: Pastor Rick Cross of Faith Baptist Church in Longmont sees funerals as a reminder that God waits to receive those who receive Him and that in that end there is a wonderful beginning. That is the comfort, that is the hope, he said. Taken Wednesday, September 3, 2008.

This one I did all by myself :)

Caption: Danielle Telson's father, Jim, underwent a heart transplant in 2006. In the University Hospital in Denver open heart surgery patients are usually made to hug a blanket that is rolled and secured with duct tape in order to aide in their comfort and keep incisions from re-opening. Telson decided to instead make large heart-shaped pillows that she donates to the hospital for the patients to hold. Taken Friday, September 12, 2008.