Project: Billings, Montana

Last fall we spent some time working with AD Creative Group to create a series of images for the Billings, Montana Convention and Visitor's Bureau. The series of ads will be used in print, outdoor, and on the web throughout 2011. Here's a peek at some of the layouts, and a few production shots as well.

It's always great to see the images once they are dropped into their final form with all of the design elements in place. AD has done some really nice design, letting the images carry the message and tying things together with complimentary graphic and type elements.

AD's Creative Director, Andy Yates came to me with some ideas for the project and we began a collaboration that yielded some great results. We would need to create nine scenes over a five-day shoot, showcasing various elements of Billings, everything from family activities, dining, hiking to passing through town on a Harley. We created a rough schedule for the shots and then adjusted on the fly as the week went on to make the most of good weather while we had it. Our planning and flexibility, along with the great local resources pulled together by AD's President, Eric Finstad who's help was invaluable.

Thanks to everyone involved!

Billings, Montana: production photos

Never underestimate the power of man and his mini-van.

More fun with the Globetrotters

We're just back from New York, after once again working with the Harlem Globetrotters for their 2011 promotional images. Always a lot of fun, and a lot of work. I think if I do this for one more year, I become an honorary member of the Washington Generals.

One-A-Day project rolls past 100 days.

A few days back I posted my one-hundredth image in my One-A-Day project on Tumblr. I really didn't start out with any specific goal for how long I might like to keep this up, but for now we roll along. For the most part, I'm pretty happy with where the project has taken me, and hope to keep it up for a while. I've found myself in some interesting places while out trolling for subject matter, driven a lot of miles, and I've learned a few things about myself along the way. I have an apparent affinity for goats, squirrels and shopping carts and I'm a sucker for dramatic clouds.

A few times, the project has been quite a pain in the ass. Wrapping up a busy day and realizing that I don't have anything I want to post. Often, this has sent me out chasing the fading light and hoping to be inspired, but really having no idea of what I'm looking for. More often than not, I've met an interesting person or experimented with some old-school long exposures to bring out the magic of the evening. Not every result has been great, but most have been pretty satisfying. A few times I've pulled frames from a job I've been working on, but for the most part, I've created something wholly different, and often as an antidote for selling my soul.

One of the reasons I started the project was to connect with more people on a daily basis. For the most part, I've done this, but I still have plenty of days where I love the solitude of being all alone in a wide open space pulling together all of the elements to create something unique.

Thanks to everyone who has offered their encouragement along the way. It's nice to know that the work is being seen.

Here are a few of my favorites, along with some notes.

"Bring your daughter downtown.. don't forget the tutus". Thanks Barb and Bailey.

"how about you get back up on that ladder like you were a minute ago".

I spent a long time roaming around an abandoned house as the sun went down and made few decent pictures, but loved the magic of the rain on the windshield as I was about to leave. Tip: keep a flashlight in the glovebox.

One of many visits to a Wal-Mart parking lot. This time with the Magic Box.

Back to the same abandoned house, this time with a willing friend in tow.

My piano, Morgan's dog Paxton.

My own take on one of Boulder's most photographed spots at Chautauqua.

Woody & Joan, my neighbors, delivering geraniums to all of the mothers on my street prior to Mother's Day.
Kind of funny how much effort and equipment went into this capture of a squirrel on my back fence. I think I got it out of system, now I just wish the little bastards would stop eating my peaches.

It was a little satisfying to drive by this same spot the next day and see that all of the "weeds" had been mowed.

Fun project for Starz On Demand

I had an interesting project recently for Starz, creating images for Starz On Demand video spots, currently running on the network. Working over three shoot days, we produced a set of images from five scenes that were cut with movie clips, and edited into the final 30 and 60 second spots. The idea, was to convey images of people living their lives without concern over when their favorite movies or shows are airing, with on-demand, they are in control.

Working closely with the in-house creative team at Starz, we broke down each scene into a series of stills, so that different parts of the still frame could be animated and move independently against the background clips. Starz art director, David Kammerzell did a beautiful job editing the spots and adding the star power with the movie clips.

Each of the five scenes presented it's own set of challenges, most of them the usual technical sort, but the skateboarding shot presented the most unique challenges. We shot at the crowded Denver skatepark on a beautiful, warm spring day. Our biggest obstacle was dealing with the hostile local skaters who didn't like giving up any park time to our skater Kody Wright. After each pass in front of the camera, Kody had to head back into the crowd of pissed-off skaters to start his next run-up before launch. No punches were thrown, but a few members of crew had some pretty heated exchanges with Denver's finest street rats.

My favorite image is the office scene where we combined three light sources (strobe, tungsten and L.E.D.) to create the late-night office environment.

Pants on the Ground

Here's a funny outtake from a recent Sports Illustrated assignment. I was down in Lamar, Colorado working on a college baseball story. Between the two games of a double-header, I was walking past the dugout when I noticed the team from Central Arizona was doing there best to cool off in the 98 degree heat. Simple, but effective.

One-A-Day project update.

One of my favorites so far.

Check them all out on Tumblr or on Twitter, or find me on Facebook.

One-A-Day project.

My work is often diverse, and on different days, very different from the day before. While the ever-changing nature of my subject matter keeps me interested, and is one of the things that has shaped my talents, I haven't always taken the time to follow my vision. I've spent way too much time trying to figure out where my work fits into the marketplace. Often, editing what I create to suit the potential clients who are viewing my website, excluding images which I love because they don't fit in with my core style. I'm very proud of the work on my website but it really isn't a complete picture of what moves me. So, to challenge myself, I recently started my One-A-Day project. There are no worries here about diluting my identity as a creator, these images were created and posted simply because they made me feel good. The only rule is that the image I post for each day must be created that day. I'm only two weeks into the project, but I'm already energized by the challenge to create something fresh every day, and I've connected with people whom I would never have approached otherwise. So, check it out. Not sure where it's headed, but I think that's the point.

Springtime on the Central Coast

It seemed like it would never stop raining this winter in California, but of course it did, and the green of spring has been gorgeous. I've been spending some time enjoying the scenery along the central coast, exploring some new locations and shooting some of the local talent.

Native Eyewear Prints Ads

I'm pretty excited about the print ads currently running for Native Eyewear. All of the images were shot on location in Seattle and the gang at Motive did a really nice job on the graphic design work. Below is a look at the pieces and the some details on where you can see them.

Jason Kehl hangs out at the Seattle Public Library. Currently running in Climbing, Dead Point and Urban Climber magazines.

Andie Bernard flees from the troll. Currently running in Trail Runner.

Jeff Lenosky takes the stairs... sort of. Bike Magazine and Decline.

Here's to the Kids

Colorado Avalanche rookies Ryan O'Reilly and Matt Duchene get their first taste of playoff hockey tonight. Here's a look at a portrait session we had before the season got started, back when they were young. Not sure how those playoff beards are going to fill out, hopefully they have some time to find out.

Play Ball!