Sanford Portraits

I'm always referred to as the "sports" guy, or the "action" guy, and I don't see those as necessarily bad terms, but I don't like being a one dimensional (I guess that explains my insatiable thirst for random outdoor sports).

So when a class assignment came up that gave us the option between shooting pre-game tailgaiting, or "fall fashions", I decided to stir things up and side with the latter. I thought I'd bring my own light to fall fashions, and let the themes of my wardrobe be reiterated through the photos themselves; that being whatever works. I decided to go for more of a cross-section of Appalachian wear, rather than select the nicest dressed individuals that make me feel bad about wearing clipless shoes and shirts covered with mud to class.

It's also fun to walk around campus with a scrim, location pack, and softbox, and commanding people to pose for portraits.

Office Portrait

We've all seen the scads of corporate work--a guy in the corner of his office, softly lit with a sincere and powerful look at the top of his sky scraper. But the reality is nobody wants to be there; if you do, kudos. Everyone wants to be on the river, just like paddler Kevin D'Souza pictured in his office in Blowing Rock, NC.

While I know this takes the post count up for today to two, which therefore forces my blog approval rating downward (and subsequent "hipness") I'd like to catch everyone up on what's been happening over the past few months, so keep prepared for a bunch of short blog posts with photos. Hope you enjoy--let me know when it becomes unbearable.

Green Race

Last weekend I had the pleasure of covering the Green River Race in Saluda, North Carolina for the Winston-Salem Journal. For those of ya'll that don't know, the Green Race is a 4 to 5 minute kayak race through the gnarliest fare of what the Green River has to offer, including racers getting to "spank the monkey" (stomping Gorilla), or "spank" it backwards, like pictured here. Congratulations to all the racers!

I'm Alive!

After a few years of frustration with Blogger, I’ve finally pulled the trigger and switched to WordPress, which I am very happy with so far. I’ll resume consistent posts from here on out, but here’s the quick sparknote version of my past few months:

• 1.) I worked in Costa Rica for Rustic Pathways as their staff photographer for 3 months
• 1b.) All of my gear was stolen there
• 2.) Upon arriving back to the States, I immediately started up classes and shooting the same old stuff.
• 3.) I’ve become a bearded mountain biker that kayaks only occasionally, rather than the inverse.
• 4.) I’m currently remarketing towards editorial rather than photojournalism which has been my primary market for the past three years; and I’m excited.

I wish I could catch everyone up on the details of the past months, but it’s been busy and full, so I’ll just share a few photos. Hope everyone likes the new blog.

Another Day in the Office

 

This past Sunday I flew down to San Jose, Costa Rica to begin my new job as a photographer for Rustic Pathways, an American based company that leads travel trips for high school students around the world. For the next ten weeks, I'll be rotating between programs, zip lining, surfing, rafting, and other activities generally described as "awesome" or "gnarly" by some.

This job so far has been a dream come true.

While I fully expect an exhausting summer of constant nomadic living, I know that this summer will be a lifelong memory of great people, great places, and every day as a great day in the office of the Costa Rican backcountry.

Sugar Shred

Here's a quickie from shooting some more downhill the other day. These group of guys came rolling through town with PinkBike.com and FreeHub Magazine.

Since my last post, big things have happened. I've been hired as a photographer for a company called Rustic Pathways that operates trips around the world for high school students. In two weeks, I'll be moving down to Costa Rica and will be shooting and working down there. Photos to come.

Triathlete Tunnel

I shot this one back in September while working with Triathlete Magazine doing a story on aero modifications for bikes to be ridden in triathlons. I didn't want to put it up on the blog until after the story published.

It was a very photogenic assignment, with lots of precise parts of expensive aero bikes. These bikes are a bit of a change from the 40 lb beast in the last photo with 8" of travel, versus this $20,000 seven pound bike. This one is pictured in the A2 Windtunnel in Mooresville, NC. The wind tunnel specializes in testing for NASCAR, but also has a biking division.

Downhill

Shot a few frames of downhill mountain biking with some friends on Friday. Good time and great getting back out on a bike for a little while. Got a call this morning and was told it was Photo of the Day on VitalMTB. Hope to get out soon and shoot some more frames with a bit more care and time spent for each one.

Revitalized

This winter was pretty slow for me photographically--the camera spent a lot more time in the bag rather than in my hand, and that's about to change. This past weekend I went down to the annual North Carolina Press Photographers Association and got my inspiration back. It was great seeing all these folks just excited about photojournalism, and photography in general. Also, seeing some killer work from the judges Corey Perrine, Lisa Krantz, and Preston Gannaway, and hearing some very inspirational career paths from each of them helped kick it off for sure.

This week alone I've shot more than I did in January and February combined. I've stepped it up with my job shooting as a University News photographer here at Appalachian, which I have been working on and off since November, and also just having fun shooting photos. It involves LOTS of portraits, but I'm trying to bring a new personal light to them (ha, see what I did there? Light)

A friend of mine from Alpine Ski Center asked me if I could come help them out with a little shoot they were trying to do. I did not realize this involved me directing 40 people with a megaphone from on top of a van, and individually lighting 10 people repelling off of a retail building.

The finished product is supposed to be a mockery of the Die Hard poster, with the manager as Bruce Willis and the background being vignettes of the movie, such as the cops, hostage scene, the German dude being pushed out the building, etc. However, instead of German terrorist, they were replaced with Floridian tourist. Here's a little teaser.

SoCon Wrestling Champs

For some reason I thought taking a freelance assignment that led up immediately to a 25 hour adventure to Colorado via FJ Cruiser was a good idea. What was a morning shoot went until 10:00. I feel like this guy. -->

That was one exhausting, repetitive shoot. I think I gained a lot of respect for wrestlers but developed a deep inner psuedo-hatred of the sport itself.

Can't wait for my next post to be from Sunny Breckenridge, CO.

Post Ski Season Post

If anyone cared enough to look through the amount my shutter actuated throughout a year, they would see a sharp decline in the months of December, January, and February. It almost comes to a screeching halt. That's because for 3 months, I get to exercise my passion for skiing, and more specifically ski racing. This year my goal was to ski for 70 days, and I'm very happy to say that I met that goal, making this my best season in terms of days.

However, skiing 70 days out of a 90 day window puts a lot of things on the back burner, such as school, friends, and my photography. I am a member and an officer of the Appalachian State Alpine Ski Racing Team, so for those three months, I only see people from the team and only train and race. Luckily, that window coincides with a slow period in freelancing, but I still try to shoot a little bit. Ross Taylor of the Virginian-Pilot told me how I cannot miss this opportunity to document what my teammates and I do in the winters. Although I find it mundane and average, Ross told me how much he regrets not doing the same thing with his friends in college--an opportunity he would never get back.

As a freshman on the team I shot a lot of racing photos, but after a while, I realized I didn't care about them whatsoever. It's a guy hitting a gate, or something. They all look the same. They say nothing about what my friends are like or how we interact. Sure, racing photos are pretty to look at, but eventually (to the dismay of my team) I decided that shooting races wasn't worth it. Instead I started shooting the road trips, the parties, the goofing around that to me, is the essence of the team. I have folders upon folders of these photos to sit on my hard drive and rot, but after looking through them, I noticed they play an important part in my photography. These photos are totally restriction-less. I don't care what a client thinks, I don't care what the subject thinks. There are no deadlines and there is no subject matter I have to grab. I have the luxury of just slinging a camera around my shoulder and waiting for some nice light or a silly moment.

These photos mean things to me sentimentally, but also as development as a photographer. While they might be failures in the eyes of viewers, editors, peers, etc., they make me push myself in other places.

I hope you get the same enjoyment of these photos as I do, or as much enjoyment as I had shooting the photos.

More on Flickr

The End

Today, my Mountaineers faced off against Villanova, the defending FCS Champions in Boone. Going into the game, I didn't know much about 'Nova, other than they won last year. I didn't know their star player is a legitimate machine. I'm not sure if I have ever seen a guy so athletic as Matt Szczur, nor a name with so many consonants. Running back, quarterback, punt returner, and billed on the roster as a wide receiver. And, he's already signed with the Cubs, for baseball.

The Apps came out hard in the first two drives, but after that Villanova turned on the jets and we were in for a ride. Nova was a great team, I see why they got the champs last year, and I can imagine this year might be similar.

But back to the Mountaineers. Lots of people left the game disappointed, upset to see the season end. But I didn't at all. While more football is always good, I'm proud of what the team did this year. Coming into this season, I didn't know what to expect. Lots of lost coaches, lots of players that were the guys who killed the beast in Michigan, and after the first game, I wasn't sure what we would see. I think for what this season was, it was a great one. Thanks guys for another great season.

After the game I hung around to shoot some more photos, and imagining the seniors, just being defeated in their last game they will most likely ever play was earth-shattering. A few were shaking hands with fans, thanking them for being fans, and the fans thanking the players. To think that the dream they have been pursuing since elementary school in pee-wee football would come to a halt.

So thank you, seniors, for giving us a great season. I wish you the best of luck wherever ya'll end up. I hope to see at least a few playing Sundays next year.

Snow Time

I love and live in Boone because of the winters. I love the cold, the crisp air, how great my coffee tastes in comparison, the inability to drive, and of course the unique opportunity to ski within 15 minutes of my door.

This fall, however, has disappointed me. Warm weather, blue bird skies--what many would consider ideal. Finally though, Boone weather prevailed, and after 4" of rain last Tuesday, the cold followed. Since then, it has been snowing since Friday, including 3" of snow Saturday between Noon-3 PM; the exact same time as the second round playoff game of App St. vs. Western Illinois. Paired with my new 300 2.8, it was one fun game to shoot.

Keep posted, one of these days I'll be posting something other than football.

SoCon Title Part XI

After the 43-13 defeat of the Wofford Terriers on November 17th, the Apps brought home the sixth consecutive Southern Conference Championship for the 2010 season, before hitting the road against the Florida Gators. Despite the utter defeat received in the Swamp--I'm glad to see the Mountaineers have held it together this year with some major lineup changes. Going into the season, I saw this year as a chance for the Apps to lose some games, become humble, and being rebuilding the dynasty that I knew as Appalachian football. I was wrong. No rebuilding, or no rebuilding in the way of losses. The Mountaineers kept strong the whole season, despite the changing of flow and major game strategy.

Thanks for another great season at home, now let's see how playoffs go! I'm excited to see how it goes, and just as excited for basketball season--looking promising already!

Opening Day

My photography, blog, and school life tend to slow down a little to yield to my main addiction of life: skiing. After a brief cold period followed by a nice dusting of early season snow, my local mountain opened up Saturday morning. I was beyond stoked, but was out of town. My season pass wasn't yet lined up, my skis weren't tuned, but I was excited there was snow on the ground.

Later that day I get a call from my editor at the Winston-Salem Journal, asking if I could shoot some skiing photos this weekend. A perfect way to get on the hill, shoot some photos, and make some turns.

I was graced with a beautiful blue bird day, met some nice guys on the lift, and got to make some turns, regardless of their mediocre quality.

It's finally skieason.

Football vs. Jacksonville

This past Saturday was the first home football game for the Appalachian State Mountaineers up here in Boone, NC. I'm fortunate enough this year to get to shoot for the Winston-Salem Journal; I don't have to sell my soul and I still get to shoot my favorite team.

The Mountaineers are going to have an interesting season this year. After losing Armanti Edwards, the team then lost three coaches. Pretty big swing. However, the Apps came out on top above the Jacksonville Dolphins, 45-14.

Literal

My typical assignment reads as follows: 6:00 PM, Event X, Place Y. Three photos edited and captioned.

This assignment: Light and time, the world's two "weirdest things".

After working at a newspaper all summer, and really being in a newspaper state of mind for a year at least, it's become difficult for me to think non-literally with my photography. Weird experimental lighting, setting stuff up, and all that jazz has been tossed out the window in replacement for layers, candid moments, and embracing natural light. While I love the latter, I'd like to still be able to think non-literally.

This semester, back at Appalachian State, I'm enrolled in a class taught by the intellectual genius Jeff Goodman. I have never met anyone so curious with the world, and with such a vast knowledge base. Ask the guy anything and he either knows it or will research it for hours and know the ins and outs of everything.

Jeff pushes us to think more outside the box than any one individual I have met. I'm definitely not doing it quite yet, but expect to see a bit of a turn from here. This is the only shooting I'm doing this semester except for a few personal projects, football for the Journal, and divulging myself in CSS and HTML editing.

So this one is my friend/roommate/co-ski team exec/shredder Ben McCracken, in a 10" exposure light painted with a dual-circular tube fluorescent ski shop sign we salvaged from the 80s.

Lost Photo Story -- Cadillac Sky

Over the past few years, my intense appreciation of bluegrass music has progressed to something that more resembles obsession. I've always found the scene to be so grassroots, humble, and of course fun to listen to. Merlefest, just 30 minutes down the road, is one of the largest bluegrass festivals in the country, and this year, I was given the opportunity to follow Cadillac Sky, a young, energetic band with the energy and showmanship of a young newgrass band with the tact and deep lyrics of traditional.

I had huge expectations for myself to produce a ground breaking photo story showing the true side of Merlefest--how hard the bands work to make so many show times, the camaraderie backstage between bands, and how these guys aren't exactly living like rockstars they resemble on stage, but down-to-earth, humble folks trying to make it, just like the rest of us.

Months in advance I started talking with the record company people, and found them to be awesomely accommodating, but some mis-communications happened and I got a late start. So now it's halfway through the weekend, and I'm just starting to make my first frames. After meeting up with the guys for a little while, shooting some photos and getting to know them, I split off with intentions to meet back up. A few hours away turns into my ride to the festival returning back to Boone, and never catch back up.

Next morning, I'm informed that my camera was smashed the previous night while the car was being unloaded. And so the story of the lost photo story ends--missed connections, my poor planning, and destroyed gear. I was pretty upset about my main camera being destroyed, and downloaded the photos never to take a look at them until this past week. Here's what I found, plus a few just from around the festival.

Merlefest also marked something personally for me. It was one of the first times I felt like I started seeing differently, specifically in layers, geometrically, and different types of lighting. While my attempts that weekend were very elementary and pretty much a fail on all points, it was the beginning of new things for me photographically.

To the Cadillac Sky guys if you see this--I'm sorry I was such a flake. I'd really love to give this another shot in the future; y'all are a great group of folks and a great band.

Post Internship Post

This summer I was granted the great opportunity to intern as a photojournalist for the Winston-Salem Journal, just down the hill from home. It was a great opportunity and I made a few photos that I'm reasonably happy with, and made some new friends in a new place.

On the other hand, I didn't make a single blog post, update Flickr, my website, or anything. Guess it's catch up season now. So here's a summer long dump of photos.

Jamal Jackson Portrait

Brought out the studio gear this week and did a sportrait of Jamal Jackson and DeAndre Pressley, two potential quarerbacks for the Appalachian State football team for the 2010 season.I'm excited about these guys' potential for next year, I think they are both great athletes, and don't mind posing for photos too much.

Also, interestingly enough, this photo has more hits than any other photo of mine on Flickr, with over 800, 700 of which happened in 24 hours. Who knows?