Long overdue update

I know, I know...I haven't posted anything since last fall.  I guess we have some catching up to do...

Actually we don't need to talk about winter, there wasn't much snow, so the skiing sucked.  Moving on...

In February I was fortunate enough to pick up three more photo awards in the annual Colorado Press Association contest.  That makes 12 in the past four years, but who's counting?  This photo won first place in sports:

I also picked up third place awards in news and photo essay:




















In March my son, Erik, returned from his year-long deployment to Afghanistan.  I had my best night's sleep in a year the night after he got back.

In April my father passed away.  We were somewhat prepared for this, but it was still hard to say goodbye.  Thanks to all of the family and friends who helped make saying goodbye to my easier by providing lodging and food, fond memories, kind words...the list goes on and on.  Thanks to everyone for the thoughts and prayers.

This is the poem read at his service:

He loved to till  the verdant soil and watch his garden grow,

And now he tills another spot--a beautiful spot I know.

He plows where fields are always green

With furrows straight and true,

And where the day is always bright

And life begins anew;

But we shall miss him here on Earth

Until our day is done

When we shall be with him again,

When our rewards are won.

This spring I had the pleasure of coaching an amazing group of girls on the Middle Park HS junior varsity soccer team.

We finished the season 8-2-1, all eight wins were shutouts--a record for our JV program.  We scored 29 goals while only allowing five, and what I am probably most proud of, sixteen of the players scored a goal.  I always look forward to the girls' season, so in case anyone is interested, just 225 days until next season!

Let's get back to talking about photography...sort of.  While I was back in Iowa for my dad's funeral, one of my uncles mentioned to me how much my dad enjoyed seeing my photographs in the paper (my parents had subscribed to our weekly paper ever since they sold their condo in Fraser 10+ years ago).  Apparently he was quite proud of my work, although I don't remember him ever coming out and saying it directly to me.  Hearing that has really had an impact on me in the subsequent months.  I find myself working the situations/events I am at to shoot images that he would be proud of.  These past several months I have had numerous occasions where I have really felt like I was "in the zone" photographically and produced some quality work.  Here are some of my favorites:

 

After the dry winter, a dry and warm spring has increased the fire danger in my area to the point where Rocky Mountain National Park decided to staff it's only fire lookout tower for the first time in more than 30 years.  At the end of June I made the trek up Shadow Mountain to get some photos for a story for the paper.

If you are interested, you can follow me on Twitter or on Instagram (zbpix).  You will also note I have added a feed of my recent Instagram photos to the right side of this blog.

To close out this rather lengthy update I leave you with a photo I took of my dad for a photo story I did for a photojournalism class at the University of Iowa in either 1983 or 84.

Miss  you dad.

goo, goo g'joob

Fire, Friday Night Lights, Fall Color

A few favorites from the past week.

It was homecoming week for Middle Park High School and last Tuesday they had a bonfire, that started burning so hot that no one was able to stay very close to it.  A few students had brought marshmallows to roast for s'mores, but couldn't get close enough, so they convinced this firefighter to toast them.

The sun has been setting earlier each day, so for the homecoming football game on Friday evening, the sun was going to set shortly after kickoff.  The were scattered clouds which were only going to help with the color in the sky, I just wish there would have been better action to put against the background.

On Sunday morning I was covering the Fraser Valley Fall Duathlon and was fortunate the changing of the aspen was in high gear and gave me a multitude of shooting possibilities to play with while I waited for the competitors to come by.

I was able to find a location where the mountain biking course would enter an amazing stand of changing aspen and made the most of it.

goo, goo g'joob

Rediscovering the Maroon Bells

I had a photographer friend visiting from out of town and he had never been to Aspen or seen the Maroon Bells, so we made plans to make the trek last weekend.  I hadn't been there in something like 15 years, so I was anxious to make a return trip to what has to be the most photographed location in Colorado.

I could go on and on about all of the other photographers who were there capturing the beauty of this amazing place and the variety of approaches they all took, but suffice to say, no matter what the technique, it is virtually impossible to get a bad photo of the Maroon Bells...some are just better than others.

Here are my favorites:

goo, goo g'joob

Favorites from the past couple weeks

I had the best intentions of writing an eloquent post on the photos below, but it's been a little hectic with a flurry of events and assignments to cover, the start of the boys' soccer practice and trying to fit it some of my own fun.  So I hope you enjoy some of my favorite images from the past couple of weeks.

goo, goo g'joob

Favorites from another busy summer weekend: 230 miles and 1,500 images

I have written before about the challenges I face when I cover annual events here in Grand County, or anywhere for that matter.  Coming up with something different from events that I have been to and photographed year after year after year...(you get the idea), presents the ultimate challenge as a photographer. It is so easy to shoot similar shots to what I have done in the past, but that is lazy.  

This is especially true at our county fair.  There are a limited number of events that will truly yield a good photograph, but I was committed to keep looking until I came up with images I hadn't shot before.

One key trait of a photojournalist is to be observant.  I make it a point when I am looking at the work of other photographers to pick up on tips and tricks they utilize to make interesting images.  I heard legendary Boston Globe photographer Stan Grossfeld speak when I was in college and he said to "never pass up a gift." I learned in recent years from Mark Rebilas to never pass up a reflection.  His work got it ingrained in me that if there a puddle, there is a potential reflection photo.  So when a rain shower passed through Kremmling prior to the Junior Rodeo at the Middle Park Fair, I knew if I was patient and looked long enough, an image would present itself.

I saw these three men standing by this building watching the beef judging.  In a perfect world they would be standing a little more to the left, but after looking at the photo again today while I was editing everything from the weekend, I was still happy with the image.

Ed Pickering, left, Leigh Murphy, center, and Eric Pickering look on during the beef
judging  on Friday afternoon at the Middle Park Fair in Kremmling.

I had somehow missed shooting the Demolition Derby over the years, but wanted to make sure I made it this year.  So glad I was able to cover it, because the theme/costume contest was hilarious, the crowd overwhelming and the action...well, there is nothing quite like the smell of burning rubber and engine coolant on a summer's eve.

I will admit that going into the Bret Michaels show at the Winter Park Music Festival, I was a little skeptical.  Sure I knew his music, but come on, what kind of a show would this guy put on having just flown into Denver from a gig the night before and he would be flying out right after this performance to get to Omaha for another show with Poison and Motley Crew that night?  In a nutshell, he nailed it.  He was full of energy, kept the crowd involved and sang the hits.  But man, it was tough to get a shot of him where he wasn't pointing at the crowd or had his hands in front of his face.

If you go back exactly one year, you might remember the photo I captured of Night Ranger guitarist Joel Hoekstra at last year's Winter Park Music Festival.  While not quite as good, this photo of "Dirty Ray" Scheuring got me thinking, what is it about me and musicians' hair on this weekend?

"Dirty Ray" Scheuring, bass player for the Bret Michaels Band

I was surprised to see this girl, who couldn't have been more than 8 years old, singing along to "Talk Dirty to Me"... 

A young fan looks on during Bret Michaels' performance
on Sunday afternoon at Hideaway Park in Winter Park.

and giving the devil horns...Ronnie James Dio would be proud.

goo, goo g'joob

Favorites from the Fourth of July weekend

The Granby fireworks display is reflected in the SilverCreek
pond on Saturday evening.  Byron Hetzler/Sky-Hi News

There is always so much to shoot around here over the Fourth of July weekend, I always seem to be scrambling from one end of the county to the other.  This year I told myself I was going to really work at shooting these annual events in new ways, or at least from places that I hadn't before.  

Granby often holds its fireworks display on an evening other than July 4.  This year it happened to be on Saturday evening.  Once the sun had gone down, I decided to leave the rodeo early and start finalizing my shooting location for the fireworks.

There is a pond not too far away from the rodeo grounds and the hill where the fireworks are launched.  Lately it seems I can't pass up a good opportunity for a reflection, so I decided this would be the spot.

Normally, by this time of night, the pond would have been still, but a small thunderstorm was passing to the south, which kicked the wind up and eliminated the perfect reflection in the pond.  At first I was bummed, but after looking at the final result I don't mind that it's not a glassy reflection.

Spencer Brown competes during the bareback bronc riding event at the Flying Heels
Rodeo on Saturday in Granby.  Byron Hetzler/Sky-Hi News 

Saturday's Flying Heels Rodeo in Granby was the first rodeo I had shot this year.  Organizers had cancelled their Memorial Day weekend rodeo due to the equine herpes virus.

While this rodeo image isn't much different from what I would normally shoot as far as the action goes, I did remind myself to try shooting from a new angle, which actually cleaned up the background nicely by avoiding distracting banners and workers (aside from the white car).  Some great early evening light added to the moment to give me a nice frame.

Participants make their way along the Fraser River Trail during the Run for
Independence on Saturday morning in Winter Park. Byron Hetzler/Sky-Hi News

I headed to the Run for Independence in Winter Park on Saturday thinking my "do it differently" plan was in jeopardy, because I thought I had already photographed this five-mile run from all of the best spots.  Fortunately, as I walked along the Fraser River Trail looking for a new shooting location, I came across this group of trees and winding stretch of trail.  All I had to do was wait for the participants to pass by.  The runner with the American flag was a nice bonus.

A dog pops bubbles during Fourth of July festivities in Polhamus
Park on Monday in Granby.  Byron Hetzler/Sky-Hi News

This dog was pointed out to me during Fourth of July activities in Granby's Polhamus Park on Monday. It was having a ball chasing bubbles coming from one of the exhibitors set up in the park.  It was tougher than I thought to get a good shot, but this one works and I like that their are still remnants of a just burst bubble lingering over its head.




goo, goo g'joob