Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Leaving On A Jet Plane
I suppose they call it the flying short course for the simple reason that both faculty and students fly into a hub to get together, but I would defend that it takes on a new meaning in that the weekend you spend will ultimately fly by.
What a weekend. I spent two days in the beautiful city of Portland, Ore., listening to some of the most innovative visual journalists in the industry divulge some of their deepest secrets. In addition to the amount of new information I acquired, I also had the chance to sit around and "talk shop" with really creative people who have some of the same fundamental interest as I do.
The vast majority of the material covered at this short course was focused primarily on the development of web based content in general and online video in particular. I have to say, after hearing all these wonderful people share their stories, it allowed me to walk away with a refreshing sense of enthusiasm that I will hopefully be able to take to my job back home.
One of the many, many highlights of the weekend came on Sunday afternoon when I had the opportunity to try out the new Canon 5D Mark II. For those who are unfamiliar, the 5D Mark II is a Digital SLR which is simply unlike any other on the market for many reasons, primarily the fact that it shoots HD video. It is a really impressive piece of equipment with a really reasonable price tag. It'll hit shelves sometime in November and I am super excited about it.
I have so many more stories to tell, but unfortunately I have to hustle through security to catch my plane for Boise.
Thanks for checking in!
What a weekend. I spent two days in the beautiful city of Portland, Ore., listening to some of the most innovative visual journalists in the industry divulge some of their deepest secrets. In addition to the amount of new information I acquired, I also had the chance to sit around and "talk shop" with really creative people who have some of the same fundamental interest as I do.
The vast majority of the material covered at this short course was focused primarily on the development of web based content in general and online video in particular. I have to say, after hearing all these wonderful people share their stories, it allowed me to walk away with a refreshing sense of enthusiasm that I will hopefully be able to take to my job back home.
One of the many, many highlights of the weekend came on Sunday afternoon when I had the opportunity to try out the new Canon 5D Mark II. For those who are unfamiliar, the 5D Mark II is a Digital SLR which is simply unlike any other on the market for many reasons, primarily the fact that it shoots HD video. It is a really impressive piece of equipment with a really reasonable price tag. It'll hit shelves sometime in November and I am super excited about it.
I have so many more stories to tell, but unfortunately I have to hustle through security to catch my plane for Boise.
Thanks for checking in!
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Roof Is On Fire
I should have known better.
I thought for sure Friday was going to be nice and easy; a couple of assignments and then with bags in hand head off to the airport.
NOON: Change of plans.
En route to my first afternoon assignment I noticed an enormous plume of thick black smoke in the distance and only moments after I was buzzed by a Nampa fire engine, which was racing to the scene. So like any good photographer, I put my cardboard press sign on my dash (as if it were a siren or something) and followed close behind.
I arrived on the scene of a structure fire in the heart of a crazy convoluted subdivision. I wasn't on scene quick enough and consequently the flames had been almost completely extinguished, but I hung around for a bit and got some semi run of the mill fire photos.
Now I'll be bumming around before heading to bed before a full day of workshops tomorrow. Should be fun!
I thought for sure Friday was going to be nice and easy; a couple of assignments and then with bags in hand head off to the airport.
NOON: Change of plans.
En route to my first afternoon assignment I noticed an enormous plume of thick black smoke in the distance and only moments after I was buzzed by a Nampa fire engine, which was racing to the scene. So like any good photographer, I put my cardboard press sign on my dash (as if it were a siren or something) and followed close behind.
I arrived on the scene of a structure fire in the heart of a crazy convoluted subdivision. I wasn't on scene quick enough and consequently the flames had been almost completely extinguished, but I hung around for a bit and got some semi run of the mill fire photos.
Now I'll be bumming around before heading to bed before a full day of workshops tomorrow. Should be fun!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Bump, Set, SPIKE!
On Thursday evening I made the trek out to Middleton to cover a three team volleyball meet. Since the light in this particular gym is less than spectacular, I brought along a strobe to bounce off the ceiling. The resulting pictures had a much more acceptable exposure.
On an unrelated note, this weekend I have been exempt from my duties on the photo desk and will be traveling to Portland, Oregon to attend the Flying Short Course, which is a workshop for visual journalists. I will be flying out Friday evening and returning late Sunday. I am excited to have the opportunity to meet many of the PNW area photographers, whose work I have admired for some time now and I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge my excitement to spend some time in Portland - one of my favorite cities to visit.
Check back later for details!
On an unrelated note, this weekend I have been exempt from my duties on the photo desk and will be traveling to Portland, Oregon to attend the Flying Short Course, which is a workshop for visual journalists. I will be flying out Friday evening and returning late Sunday. I am excited to have the opportunity to meet many of the PNW area photographers, whose work I have admired for some time now and I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge my excitement to spend some time in Portland - one of my favorite cities to visit.
Check back later for details!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
A Long, Wet, Day
I guess I'm not sure where to start so I'll just start from the top.
Saturday was crazy. Crazier than usual. For starters, I was the only photographer on the desk, which meant I did more running around than usual.
Heading home Friday night I had two morning assignments and two evening assignments on the bill for Saturday.
To my surprise, I woke up early Saturday morning to thunder, lightning and an uncharacteristic downpour of rain. Usually a Saturday morning thunderstorm is something I enjoy, however, on this particular Saturday every one of my assignments was scheduled to take place outdoors so I was less than enthusiastic.
The first, was a 5K fun run in downtown Boise. The run started at 8:30am and went off without a hitch. After realizing that my grand-master-plan of hopping out of my car for a quick frame and then hopping back in was not realistic, I began to walk towards downtown. It only took about 30 minutes before I was completely soaked.
Around about 9:30am I made my way out to Eagle, Idaho for one of the largest cross country meets in the Northwest, the Bob Firman Invitational. Cross Country is usually fun because the action is very predictable, which allows you to get creative with your backgrounds and Saturday's races were no exception. The rain only gained strength as the morning went on and consequently the condition of the course continued to get worse with each passing race.
Around noon the rain relented and the sun made an appearance. At 1pm I was scheduled to cover a ceremony, which marked the completion of a four-day Sand Mandala project at The College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho. It actually turned out to be a pretty interesting assignment.
After a very quick lunch I hustled back to the office to edit some video as well as the photos I had taken throughout the morning. I was able to sit for about a half an hour before my editor called to request some last minute art of fans watching the Boise State vs. Oregon game at a local sports bar. We actually sent a photographer to the game (which is why I was the only one working the desk) but the idea was to get some local reaction from locals.
I was scheduled to round out the evening with a hometown idol competition, modeled after the hugely popular American Idol. As previously mentioned, the event was scheduled to be outdoors and after heavy storms rolled into the area in the evening, the event was consequently canceled.
So that's it. One long, wet, day. Let's hope for sunny skies tomorrow!
Saturday was crazy. Crazier than usual. For starters, I was the only photographer on the desk, which meant I did more running around than usual.
Heading home Friday night I had two morning assignments and two evening assignments on the bill for Saturday.
To my surprise, I woke up early Saturday morning to thunder, lightning and an uncharacteristic downpour of rain. Usually a Saturday morning thunderstorm is something I enjoy, however, on this particular Saturday every one of my assignments was scheduled to take place outdoors so I was less than enthusiastic.
The first, was a 5K fun run in downtown Boise. The run started at 8:30am and went off without a hitch. After realizing that my grand-master-plan of hopping out of my car for a quick frame and then hopping back in was not realistic, I began to walk towards downtown. It only took about 30 minutes before I was completely soaked.
Around about 9:30am I made my way out to Eagle, Idaho for one of the largest cross country meets in the Northwest, the Bob Firman Invitational. Cross Country is usually fun because the action is very predictable, which allows you to get creative with your backgrounds and Saturday's races were no exception. The rain only gained strength as the morning went on and consequently the condition of the course continued to get worse with each passing race.
Around noon the rain relented and the sun made an appearance. At 1pm I was scheduled to cover a ceremony, which marked the completion of a four-day Sand Mandala project at The College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho. It actually turned out to be a pretty interesting assignment.
After a very quick lunch I hustled back to the office to edit some video as well as the photos I had taken throughout the morning. I was able to sit for about a half an hour before my editor called to request some last minute art of fans watching the Boise State vs. Oregon game at a local sports bar. We actually sent a photographer to the game (which is why I was the only one working the desk) but the idea was to get some local reaction from locals.
I was scheduled to round out the evening with a hometown idol competition, modeled after the hugely popular American Idol. As previously mentioned, the event was scheduled to be outdoors and after heavy storms rolled into the area in the evening, the event was consequently canceled.
So that's it. One long, wet, day. Let's hope for sunny skies tomorrow!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Check Mate!
Recently I worked on an assignment about schools in Idaho that teach chess as an alternative platform for educating kids on subjects like reading, math, as well as strategy and various other important skills. It was assigned to me through the Associated Press in Boise and therefore had national distribution. Pretty exciting...
Check it out here.
Check it out here.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Goin' Goofin'
Sunday turned out to be a truly wonderful day, which for me was just what the doctor ordered. Lately I have been stressed out by a multitude of people, places and things and for one day I was able to put all aside and enjoy my surroundings.
The only task on the budget for Sunday was to cover the final round of the Albertsons Boise Open and if there is one thing more relaxing than playing a round of golf, it is taking pictures of professionals playing a round of golf.
Sometimes it's nice to do something so familiar that you can lose yourself in the moment and although that may not make much sense take my word for it, it's a good thing. Sunday I was able to lose focus on all of the things that had been weighing heavy on my mind and just enjoy the tournament.
Here are a couple shots from the afternoon...
Now it's Monday, the end of my work week. Time to kick off my shoes and relax....
The only task on the budget for Sunday was to cover the final round of the Albertsons Boise Open and if there is one thing more relaxing than playing a round of golf, it is taking pictures of professionals playing a round of golf.
Sometimes it's nice to do something so familiar that you can lose yourself in the moment and although that may not make much sense take my word for it, it's a good thing. Sunday I was able to lose focus on all of the things that had been weighing heavy on my mind and just enjoy the tournament.
Here are a couple shots from the afternoon...
Now it's Monday, the end of my work week. Time to kick off my shoes and relax....
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Sports Mania
The fall sports season is now in full swing and if things keep up at this pace, chances are my posts may come a little less frequently. To prove my point I'll take you through the last week of activity.
I've covered a number of prep sports including: soccer, volleyball and of course, football. This is a wonderful time of year to be out shooting sports simply because the light is almost always spectacular and the temperatures tend to hover between comfortable and cool.
Here are a few choice shots to prove the point...
Yesterday was a busy, busy day, which was a welcomed change of pace from the two days prior. I spent my morning at the Indian Creek Festival, which was a community celebration throughout the streets of downtown Caldwell, Idaho. I produced a slideshow and strived to make this one a bit different than the norm.
Check it out here.
After finishing the slideshow and scarfing down a quick meal, I hopped in my car and drove down I-84 to Boise to cover the Boise State, Bowling Green game at Bronco Stadium. Once again, the weather was great and the game was actually pretty entertaining. I was nearly the target of two consecutive plays to the sideline, escaping near calamity both times by about a half a step. I walked away with a nice battle scar and a couple of nice frames. Check it...
Now it's back to the grind starting this afternoon with the final round of the Alberston Boise Open - a Nationwide Golf Tour event. Should be pretty fun...
Check back later for details.
I've covered a number of prep sports including: soccer, volleyball and of course, football. This is a wonderful time of year to be out shooting sports simply because the light is almost always spectacular and the temperatures tend to hover between comfortable and cool.
Here are a few choice shots to prove the point...
Yesterday was a busy, busy day, which was a welcomed change of pace from the two days prior. I spent my morning at the Indian Creek Festival, which was a community celebration throughout the streets of downtown Caldwell, Idaho. I produced a slideshow and strived to make this one a bit different than the norm.
Check it out here.
After finishing the slideshow and scarfing down a quick meal, I hopped in my car and drove down I-84 to Boise to cover the Boise State, Bowling Green game at Bronco Stadium. Once again, the weather was great and the game was actually pretty entertaining. I was nearly the target of two consecutive plays to the sideline, escaping near calamity both times by about a half a step. I walked away with a nice battle scar and a couple of nice frames. Check it...
Now it's back to the grind starting this afternoon with the final round of the Alberston Boise Open - a Nationwide Golf Tour event. Should be pretty fun...
Check back later for details.
Friday, September 5, 2008
More Football
After spending a nice and relaxing three-day weekend with family down in Utah I returned back to work and shot a couple of prep football games Friday night. Beautiful weather and wonderful light. Nothing great but here it is...
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