Under Pressure

This is it. The end of summer is near, however, I still have to survive one extremely taxing week before I can be rewarded with some much needed down time.

This week the Caldwell Night Rodeo rolled into town with the finals being held Saturday evening. I am more stressed out than usual because this particular rodeo takes place at night, forcing me to work much more quickly due to deadlines. It's a really stressful ordeal simply because everyone wants to see a photo of the champ spread across the front page but there is really no way to ensure that you are going to get that shot. As with most of assignments, the name of the game is calculating your odds and determining what position will give you the best chance to get the shot. Ultimately, the rider you need the most is the one you didn't get, making you want to pull out your hair - but that's life.

On Thursday evening I did get the one I was looking for. Check it out...

Horsin' Around

Horses are hugely popular throughout much of the Western U.S. and on Saturday I experienced two drastically different uses for them.

For my first assignment I went out to the Idaho Cup; an annual horse race that showcases horses from throughout the state. Horse racing is always a fun event to shoot because it has so many inherently visual elements. Jockeys in bright colored get-ups, juxtaposition of short jockeys and big horses, cowboy hats and of course the racing action itself.


The second event was distinctly different from the first and although in both the horses were racing around, the first assignment did not involve firearms - which I am convinced makes all assignments more interesting.

You see, the concept here involves guys and gals in late 19th early 20th century attire riding around on horse back and shooting balloons with pistols and rifles. I actually found myself sporting a pretty big grin as I watched these crazy folks maneuver around obstacles wielding large firearms. As a funny side note; the whole event was sponsored by the firearms manufacturer Colt and throughout the event the announcer made it a point to inform the audience that the gun which "won the west" was a Colt - The Peacemaker. Early American arrogance at it's best.

My 08.08.08

802. That was the total number of frames I shot on Friday. Needless to say, I kept pretty busy.

My day started a couple hours earlier than normal Friday when a desk editor called to inform me that Brandi Swindell, a "Christian Rights Activist" from Boise made her return to the Gem State after being detained by Chinese officials early last week for protesting the Chinese government in Tiananmen Square - a big no no. 148 Frames.

Then it was on to the Vans Warped Tour for what I thought would be a couple quick photos for our entertainment publication. Two hours, three bottles of water and 559 frames later I was on my way back to the office smelling far more offensive.



After about an hour of editing I was ready to head home and call it a day. I left the office and got in my car when unexpectedly I received a call from a reporter informing me that there was a multiple vehicle, multiple injury accident in semi-rural Canyon County. As it turned out, one vehicle ran a stop sign and was struck head on by a vehicle, which was traveling in the opposite direction at about 60 miles/hour. Two were taken to the hospital and one was pronounced dead at the scene.


Just proof that in this line of work you can see the best day of someone's life and the worst for another all in a matter of hours. 95 more frames makes 802.

Are you ready for some football?!?

With air temperatures continuing to hover around 95 it may not feel like it, but fall is just around the corner. How do I know this? Simple.


Monday was the first day of practice for the Boise State Bronco football team.


Although I don't like to admit it, football is a pretty big deal in Boise. Every game day you can count on encountering a gridlock of motorists and pedestrians making the pilgrimage to Bronco Stadium and unfortunately for me I'm often caught right in the middle of it.


I am now in for another six months of non stop Bronco Blue & Orange which I am sure will have its moments (most notably a Sept. 20 match up against the University of Oregon at Autzen, which I may get to shoot).

Enjoy the Scenery

So unfortunately over the past couple of days I haven't had much work I've been eager to brag about so in this post I will share a tidbit from my weekend. On Tuesday evening I made the 130 mile trek from Boise up to Stanley, Idaho for a couple days of camping, reading and mountain biking in the Sawtooth Mountains. It was wonderful.

I was able to check out the scenery at the gorgeous Redfish Lake...


...and spend some quality time in the saddle...


The trail I rode cut through an area that was burned in a fire last season and consequently tons of beautiful wildflowers are now in bloom. All in all it was a fun and relaxing weekend. Oh, and I had a face to face run in with a badger. Fun stuff...

On Saturday I covered the Crime Prevention Fair in Nampa, which is held in association with the National Night Out program. I made a slideshow from the event and if you would like to check it out you could do so...

Here

Another Tasty Silhouette

Happy Birthday!

On Wednesday, July 22nd my nephew Joey celebrated his first birthday with a heaping pile of cake. Didn't eat much of it but he sure enjoyed it!