A Little Sunshine for the Eye Guy

I made this last night. Matt Hammond is a terrific doctor. You've probably seen his ads in the HomeTown Values Magazine each month: he's the Eye Guy. And he's really a terrific fellow; I love working for him and his family. 

Nikon D800, 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII lens @

Last night we made some new head shots for Dr. Hammond, and as well as senior pictures for his son (those to come). I just couldn't pass up this picture, though, as he held his littlest girl in his arm.

These are some you may have seen in the HTV Mag. We made these last Summer. Let me tell you: Dr. Hammond's family is great to work with...but Big Blue is a riot!

Nikon D800, 28-300mm VR lens @250mm, f/8, 1/250s, ISO 100.

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @62mm, f/9, 1/160s, ISO 100.

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @250mm, f/9, 1/160s, ISO 100.

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @96mm, f/9, 1/160s, ISO 100.

Harbinger

If you look through this blog, you won't see newborn babies in pea pods dangling from a snagly branch over the raging surf during a beautiful sunset. It's not that I don't think that wouldn't be a beautiful (if insanely dangerous) picture...it's just not my style.

My style is usually mom and dad with their little kiddo, brother and sister with the new sibling--these pictures I love, and I can interact with and make a more real picture. There's only so much emotion I can elicit from a crocheted owl touque.

But I do enjoy making pictures with meaningful objects, stuff from the family, stuff that might be with the kid for a while. Grandma's blanket, dad's christening clothes, mom's teddy bear, the blanket auntie made. These things have more meaning, and help tie an image to the past, to the family. I dig that.

And this little guy sure dug it, too, when we swaddled him in dad's high school football jersey. Something about all that old sweat and grass stains must be comforting.

Nikon D800, 70-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 98mm, f/5.6, 1/160s, ISO 640, Nik Color Efex Pro 4.

Track Track Track Track...

I have a friend, J. (you've seen him before) who is a bit of a nut about riding his motorcycle at the track. See, Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele invites amateur racers to use the track once each month during the summer months. I always know when it's getting close because J. starts posting on Facebook: "TRACKTRACKTRACKTRACKTRACK" and he starts inviting friends to barbecue during the day, and starts ordering new tires, etc. He's a bit of freak.

Which is why we're friends. I'm a passionate person when it come's to photography, and I love to work with other passionates because they put as much into their craft as I do. We relate to each other. I might exclaim, "You paid how much for tires you'll burn through in one day?!?!?!?!" and Jeremy might respond with, "You paid how much a camera strap?!?!?!?!?!" So, we're even.

Last week was the first open track day of the season, and I joined a few others from the Cache Valley Photographers to make some pictures of the event. 

Here's J. in his disco suit.

Guys and gals come from all around to ride. this is L., and he came from Colorado for the day.

Then I met up with L. later for a quick portrait.

L.'s brother C. also came out to ride that day.

One more of J. to wrap us up.

The South Fork

You know what those guys say, right? "A bad day fishing is still better than a good day working." Obviously those guys aren't photographers.

K. pounces on the pescados in a riverside pool. 

So a nice day fishing and photographing is pretty much the best thing ever. K. and I hit the South Fork of the Snake this morning, and spent the day stalking trout along some of the most beautiful stretches of river in the world. Yep, not a bad day.

Sometimes you fish in beautiful places...

...and sometimes you fix your line in beautiful places!

This kind of ethereal picture can only be made while fishing cause, you know, you gotta be in the zone.

We floated in K.'s drift boat, fishing from the boat and frequently stopping to walk the shorelines. K. loves pics of the boat--he took this one.

10 and 2, 10 and 2, 10 and 2...

K. turned the camera on me for a few frames, as well.

Whistling while I work? No: sound effects make me a better fisherman.

Man, it's tough spending the day up here.

I even caught a fish! The biggest brown I've ever landed.

Ready for his closeup.

Woodsy Tales

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 28mm, f/9, 1/160s, ISO 200.

There's a story you should read, if you haven't already. See, when I was a kid, my elementary school didn't have a gymnasium. We spent every day outside doing calisthenics while Coach Johnson sang "Daisy Daisy", then playing tetherball and tag on the playground, falling off monkey bars, rolling in tires, and getting bit by fire ants. Good times.

But, when it rained (this is Florida, ya know?) we had to stay inside. Sometimes P.E. was held in the cafeteria where we sat at tables and played BINGO; northern Florida in the '80's, what can I say? Other times we convened in the library where we watched film strips.

My favorite was the Lorax. I often helped load the tapes and the film strip and synchronize the two. The film perfectly followed the book by Dr. Seuss, plus some music. Remember the Grinch film? Just like that one, but you should have seen the brown barbaloots dancing about in their barbaloot suits! Good times.

Maybe that's why I've always enjoyed the woods...

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 28mm, f/8, 1/250s, ISO 400.

And we were enjoying the woods a little while ago. This Autumn has been very lovely. Now with the first snows sitting heavy on the hills, it's a good thing we got some time for these fun images.

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f.3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 180mm, f/5.6, 1/200s, ISO 200.

I say 'we'. That's cause my friends C., L., and L. were good enough to let 11 photographers from the Cache Valley Photographers come along and work with them making pictures throughout a very chilly morning. Cafe Ibis cocoa kept us warm, though.

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 28mm, f/8, 1/250s, ISO 400.

Oh, back to that story you should read. I recommend the Lorax, but that's not what got me thinking. It was picturing L. in a wedding dress one of the club members brought along. You've heard of The Bride of Frankenstein, right? Creepy looking bride with hair sticking straight back with stripes and plenty of diodes attached to her reanimated flesh? Well, the woods and the leaves and the vines and the dress got my mind stewing on another film we watched during rainy days on the playground.

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 56mm, f/5.6, 1/250s, ISO 320.

It was a claymation rendition of Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle. Pretty awesome little film. I remember Rip testing the wind for a kite by licking his claymation finger and holding it in the breeze, and playing nine-pins with gnomes in the Catskills. At the end...well, I don't want to ruin it for you.

Suffice it to say, L. in her dress was a perfect Bride of Rip Van Winkle with vines and leaves of a hundred years grown about her. Bride of Rip Van Winkle: look for it in a theater near you.

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 90mm, f/7.1, 1/160s, ISO 320.

There was one other film we watched, too, and it also happen's to be based on one of Irving's stories, though I believe it was produced by Walt Disney: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. I'll let you know as soon as I figure out how to get L. on a horse and a pumpkin on her head.

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 300mm, f/9, 1/250s, ISO 500.

High Flight

Nikon D7000, Zeiss 18mm f/2 lens, f8, 1/2500s, ISO 400.

I have a scar on my left arm. I also have scars on my knees, and all the way down my right foot. However, only the scar on my left arm came from skate boarding. I was 8, and my older brother had a board (which he ruined a leg on himself) and all I did was ride it down the neighbor's driveway; on my stomach. Anyway, got the bottom and the board stopped, but I didn't. 

Seems like there's an entrance fee to sport's like this--a cost to prove you're worthy. I didn't pay it. I didn't get back on and learn to ride. You know that saying about getting back on the horse? Well, this wasn't the horse for me.

There are lots of ways to fly, but the adventure gods don't let just anybody in the club. They have to be sure that the applicants are diligent, worthy to enjoy the free of the sky. I didn't continue with skating, but I found flight on a few other avenues. If you haven't found a means to fly for yourself, you're missing out. I'm thinking that it's never too late to find flight. At least, I hope that's the case; I hope I can find it again myself.

These four fellows really fly. Their passion and commitment is quite obvious, and it was a pleasure watching them worship in the temple of flight. I particularly appreciated their skill as I lay below...

Nikon D7000, Zeiss 18mm f/2 lens, f/8, 1/2500s, ISO 400.

Nikon D7000, Zeiss 18mm f/2 lens, f8, 1/2500s, ISO 400.

Nikon D7000, Zeiss 18mm f/2 lens, f8, 1/2500s, ISO 400.

This is "Fun"?

Nikon D700, 400mm f/2.8 VR lens, f/2.8, 1/400s, ISO 1600.

Portrait of a Man

Nikon D700, 400mm f/2.8 VR lens, f/2.8, 1/400s, ISO 6400.

You may wonder why I post pictures from the fair, or the rodeo, or a rooftop in Saudi Arabia; aren't I a portrait photographer? Shouldn't I be showing you portraits so that you'll buy portraits?

The fact is, I'm a photographer. That's it. Anything with light on it falls under my purview, and anything with good light is likely to be photographed. I happen to be passionate about this stuff, though, and I'm also passionate about relating with people, so portrait photography is a good fit for me and I love it and it pays the bills (important for me, since this is my full time profession).

Still, a guy's got to stay on top of his game. I'm not as fortunate as doctors who get to 'practice' medicine on real people and that is totally acceptable. Nope, when I have you in front of my lens, I have to be ready to make things happen right away, and it's unacceptable for me to practice on a client. I have to know my equipment, know what will happen when I fire the shutter, and know that you will be pleased with the results.

That's why I go to the rodeo. We love pictures of us being natural, doing our thing, not too 'pose-y'. Well, as my friend Patrick Oden taught me, if you ever want natural expressions and true character to show through, do sports photography.

Cowboys, however, take it to the next level. This dude, for instance, is about to help a compatriot by steering a steer out of the chute so that it runs straight and the guy can wrestle it to the ground. (Note: rodeos are not for the tender hearted; both man and beast are beaten up pretty hard--though man certainly takes the brunt of it) Something about grabbing life by the horns....

Anyway, one minute he's helping a buddy, the next he's in the chute himself preparing to leap off a horse going 30 miles per hour onto a bull doing the same and drag it to the ground. By the way, these guys don't buy their jeans at Old Navy.

Nikon D700, 400mm f/2.8 VR lens, f/2.8, 1/400s, ISO 6400.

This reminds me of a few things relating to photography, as well. If you think photography is easy, then I should shoot more like you. For me, I have a lot of sweat into every shoot I do. First of all, I'm carrying about 20 pounds of lenses and cameras on my person, and my pants pockets alone weigh about a stone just with batteries and gels and memory cards. Next, I'm likely to lie prone on the ground one moment, climb a tree the next, and finish off by squatting up and down about a jillion times as we make pictures--and that's of mature adults. Don't get me started on a kids shoot. So, this work requires a certain level of fitness and flexibility. I'm still sore from a Swiss Family Robinson Shoot we did on Thursday!

Take a look at that first picture again, and then take a look at this next one. (Click on an image to make it larger)

Nikon D700, 400mm f/2.8 VR lens, f/2.8, 1/400s, ISO 6400.

This guy is older than me, and I'm turning thirty something this month. This takes guts and determination at a level I completely comprehend. He puts his all into these five seconds of riding, and he's all in every time he gets on a horse. Is he nuts? You bet he is. And that's why he wins, even though the other contestants are younger and more spry.

I get that. That's why I shoot the rodeo. That's why I shoot the roof tops in Saudi Arabia. That's why I shoot the food my wife and I eat at the Tandori Oven. That's why when I join you on vacation, or you come into my studio, or we work in your home, or we shoot you doing what you love--anytime we make a picture I'm ready because I've practiced to be so. When I get a fast steer, or one with stamina, or one that's too tall, I'm ready. And if you think that's a parable of me working with your kids, you're right.

Let's make some pictures together. Bring me your worst. I'm ready.

Oh, and I recently bought my first pair of Old Navy Jeans--love 'em, but they're not holding up to the rigors of my life. Sigh.

Click on the tags below for more pictures of various styles and places. Then call me up and we'll make it happen for you. Oh, and if you know the cowboy in these pictures, please put me in contact.

Periferals

Often, something going well goes even better when you can include stuff going on nearby. Yes, it's great to get clean teeth at the dentist, but the gift bag really makes all the difference. Meeting your favorite star on a set while filming--awesome; enjoying the delicious catering--awesomest. Like popcorn with a movie, cosy socks with a good book, and gatorade on your head after a great high school football game, it's little things that really make a great experience into the best experience.

So it is with these pictures. Had a blast and made some of my favorite pictures ever of a bride and groom recently. However, these two portraits of family members on the sidelines are also some of my favorites. Same thing with the figure skaters: portraits on the podium of the winners are good, but these individuals shot while we had a few minutes to spare really tied the whole thing together for me.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 70mm, f/8, 1/640s, ISO 500.

Nikon D700, 14-24mm f/2.8 lens @ 24mm, f/5.6, 1/2000s, ISO 800.

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 300mm, f/11, 1/200s, ISO 400.

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 230mm, f/14, 1/200s, ISO 400.

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 150mm, f/16, 1/200s, ISO 400.

Out of Place

Nikon D700, 14-24mm f/2.8 lens @ 14mm, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 200.

This dude obviously belongs on a motorcycle; it's just a surprise to see him on a Ducati and not a Harley.

The CVP's and I enjoyed some time at Miller Motorsports park on Tuesday. Pretty fun to watch and shoot. However, I, too, was out of place. We were unable to locate the guy with our press passes, so we were stuck on the sidelines, which is remarkably close to the action, but it's not close enough to make different perspectives interesting. After about fifteen minutes of shooting we had seen lots of guys and girls coming around turns, dipped low, and they all became a blur. Still very fun.