Climbing with: Alex!

         It's been said that you can't judge a book by it's cover. I now believe that you can't judge a climber by their height.  With that being said,  I repeatedly by comic books buy how awesome their cover art is, but I will never judge a climber by their height, at least, not after meeting Alex. 

        

      During her stretching time, she doesn't say much. I don't think that it means she doesn't have much to say, I believe that it is just a silent confidence. Being the shortest person on the bouldering floor, she will not be overlooked as one of the best on the bouldering floor.                  

             I've seen Alex at the climbing gym many times, sometimes alone, and sometimes with friends. "Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with my girlfriends and I love climbing with them," she says "...but I think I push my self more and try harder when I'm by myself." And I will say that her and her friends do talk, a lot....when they are together!

          When she does climb with her friends, they are taller than her, and sometimes, because of their reach, have no problem with some holds, whereas Alex can't reach them as easily. "It's a challenge, It just means I have to figure out a different way around the problem." And she does. "I really like that about rock climbing."

      

  










          As she finishes climbing, and goes about her cool down stretching routine, with chalk still covering her hands, she thanks me for photographing her, and I thanked her for allowing me to photograph her and for giving me the chance to do what I love...

               ....And making me realize I should read all those comic books with the great cover art!!

2017 What a winter...for portaits!

    Winter is normally a slow time for outdoor portrait because, well, it's cold outside! But, for some reason, I've taken more portraits this winter than any other winter that I can remember!

     Kelle is a Yoga instructor that I've known for a few years now and has modeled for me in the past. With her tattoos, dreadlocks, and beautiful smile, she is always a great subject. One day she was saying she wanted to do another shoot, and I said that unfortunately, it's snowing! She said "snowga, we could call it snowga!!"  So, here are a few photos from our "snowga" shoot!...

...and here are a couple non-snowga shoots...

       Then came a shoot with Taylor. Taylor is a friend of Kelle's. She is also the friend of a former co-worker of mine. Taylor is a red haired beauty, with a fiery personality to match! She was nervous at first, but she overcame that real fast. The camera loves her!...

    For the above shot, Taylor layed down in the snow. This was her idea, and it turned out brilliant!         

      Once again, I found myself talking with Kelle about doing an "acro yoga" shoot. I didn't know what this was at first. Acro yoga is a type of yoga that is done with a partner, some times more than one. As I learned more, and watched more, I realized that this was beautiful and I couldn't wait to photograph it. Kelle's partner for our acro shoot was Jess. Jess was a beautiful, purple haired girl with a great smile and big eyes! Kelle was the "base" and Jess was the "flyer" Here are some Urban Acro Yoga Photos...

        This next portrait shoot wasn't outdoors, but it was still winter!  I've known Liz for a couple of years, both from work and the climbing gym. She has a great physique and some awesome tattoos and I've wanted to photograph her for awhile and I finally got my chance, ...this winter, go figure!  I call these shots "Form & Tattoos"

 

                    So, I guess Taylor really liked modeling, because she messaged me on Facebook a couple of weeks after our first shoot and wanted to do another one, which was fine by me! I did tell her that she made a liar out of me! Because after our first shoot, I told her that our next shoot would be in the warm sunshine,and now here we are, in the cold, again! But really, photographing Taylor is great, in the sun, snow, rain, sleet, or hail!  She is gorgeous in any weather!

       

 

       After my Acro yoga shoot with Kelle and Jess, I asked Jess if she'd like to do a singles shoot and what do you know, she said "sure". So we did a downtown yoga shoot. Now, I am not going to spread any rumors, but I think Jess has modeled before!

       This is one of my favorite shoots of this winter. So simple, yet speaks volumes. I have titled this one  "S-curve amongst the Pillars of Repetition"

        So, as I close this blog, I'd just like to say thanks to all the models pictured above! Thanks Kelle, Taylor, Liz, and Jess! It is because of you that I get to do what I love, Make awesome images!

                                                                                                                                                    

My 6 favorite non-potrait photographs of 2016

     Yes, 6 favorite non-portrait photographs of 2016. I know it's late for a tops list, but, oh well! And yes, I do take non-portrait photographs, sometimes!


#6

      When I was in Seattle this fall I took the ferry to Bremerton, WA. There was not a lot to see there, but they had an old Vietnam era Naval destroyer named the "USS turner". It was restored and you could go aboard and tour the whole ship. I spend a good 2hrs on that ship. It was amazing. This is my favorite photograph that I took of the ship. I just loved the reflection of the hull in the water. Its was truly artistic.

#5

     So, as many of you may know, I love Hoopfest! It is the one time of the year where I get a media pass and play official photographer. Most of the photographers leave around 5pm on Saturday, when the games are all but done.  ...but not all of them! I wander around the city streets photographing the last games being played. The above photo is from one of those last games. This was an amazing out of bounds-saving play! The ball was moving from right to left, out of bounds. The girl was running and jumping straight towards me, grabbed the ball and threw it cross her body, right at the girl in blue's feet! I'm so glad I stay until the end of the day!

#4

    I love to photograph people climbing at Wild Walls climbing gym. I love the determination in the eyes of the climbers, the athleticism is awesome, the angle of the wall, and I just love shooting sports and people pushing the boundaries of their limitations. The people there are also super cool and interesting! This photograph isn't the best climbing photograph I took last year, but it does have the most interesting story! I'll try to make it short!  I was about to leave for the night and I saw this girl climbing. She was moving very well, calm and somewhat easily. I quickly got my camera back out and took a few shots. They were awesome. So, I went and showed her the photos on the back of my camera and she said, "ha, it kind of looks like I know what I'm doing! lol!" I told her she could tag herself when I posted them on facebook. She took her phone and friended me on facebook right then. I said thanks and left. Later that night I checked my facebook and found out she was an acrobatic stunt woman and actress in the Marvel Universe live action show that is touring the world! The show was in Spokane for a couple weeks and her and her fellow performers were climbing at Wild Walls on there down time! I wish I would have stayed and kept shooting! Oh well, I though it was cool!

#3

      When I was visiting Seattle, I took the ferry to Bainbridge Island, then my cousin drove me to another island where I saw this scene. Almost eerie. A foggy background, still water and one little boat named "Drifter", docked all alone...

#2

    Again, while in Seattle I went on a ghost tour of Pike Place Market. I just thought it sounded interesting. I didn't think that I was going to photograph any ghost, but I just knew there would be a good photograph somewhere. When I saw the scene above, I knew I found my shot.The above shot is an empty Pike Place Market. During the day the scene above would have wall to wall vendors on both sides and hundreds of people walking down the isle, elbow to elbow. Yelling, screaming, talking, and fish flying everywhere. I love the stillness and calmness of this photo in a place that is normally loud and crazy.

#1

      I don't claim to be an architectural photographer, but I do know when something looks cool and this looks cool! Sometimes interesting photos just kind of fall in our lap. During a portrait shoot at Riverfront park this fall, my model was using the restroom in the pavilion and I was patiently waiting. I was sitting on this big concrete block where the center pole holding up the pavilion was attached to. I laid on my back, opened my eyes and this is what I saw. Absolutely stunning. I turn the scene black and white so that the lines of the photograph would stand out more.

      And there you have it, My 6 favorite non-portrait photographs of 2016! Please feel free to go to my facebook page to see more photos! Thanks to Hoopfest and Taylor Hemmeter of Marvel Universe live for allowing me to photographer her!

My 6 favorite portraits of 2016

       I know it's a little late for a top list of 2015, but, you know, I'm a little slow. And a top 6 list. They have top 10 list and maybe, top 5 list, but a top 6 list? Who does that?...THIS GUY!! Ha! Actually, I meant to do a top 5 list, but I miscounted. So really, you win! Anyway, before I start, I just want to say that if you modeled for me and you don't have a photo on this list, please don't take it personally. All my models did a great job this year and I appreciate you all and would love to work with you again! (That is an open invitation!)

#6

       This is from an engagement shoot I did. When I shoot at Manito park, I like to photography my clients through falling water from a giant fountain. It gives a cool raining effect. In this photograph, my auto-focus, focused on the water for a split second instead of the couple. I really like it. I think it somehow gives the photo a calming, loving feeling.

#5

        What can I say? I'm a sucker for a great smile! And awesome tattoos! And dreads! And dimples! And stunning eyes! Need I say more! I did a yoga shoot with kelle here and after the yoga shots, she put on this dress and we continued the shoot. She changed her clothes around the corner of this building, that we thought was a hidden corner. But, I guess the security cameras had a great view. After she was done changing, AFTER, the security guard came out and said she couldn't change there. Good to know, thanks!

#4

      Jeni and I were walking out of the gardens at Manito Park when I noticed the red flowers behind her. With her dark hair, dark shirt and tan complexion, her eyes just stood out. It took a lot of attempts to get this shot, because I was holding my camera above my head, shooting at a downward angle. This was the only way I knew of to get as much of the red flower bed behind her.

#3

    I met Rachel at Wild Walls climbing gym a few years back, and she told me she plays Polo. I said "you mean, on horses?" That's what she meant. I have gone out and photographed her getting the horse ready, herself ready and her playing a few times. For this portrait, I asked her if I could photograph her, with her mallet, right after she put the horses away. She said sure, but I'm all dirty, sweat, and gross. Great, I said, That's just what I want! I think it turned out great. Very raw, rough and tough, and gritty looking!

#2

    
      Those few who have modeled for me, know I rarely hold my camera straight up and down. Vertical or horizontally. I hold my camera at an angle a lot. I like diagonal lines. This portrait takes that line, and runs with it. The angle of her legs and the tilt of her head makes her appear to be sliding down and right out of the photo!

And #1

     The girl in the photo is my niece. She needed some modeling portfolio photos done. And she wanted some with a horse. I don't have a horse, so my sister found someone she know who has a horse. They lived in Deer park.We started photographing in Spokane Valley, then in downtown Spokane, then off to Deer Park, for the horse photos. This all took like 5hrs, including driving. Along the way, my sister found out that the horse was no longer available, as the lady was not going to be able to meet us. So my sister got on the phone and begin looking for a horse in Deer Park. At the last minute she found one. A friend of a friends cousin's friends family had one and they were home. I could not have planned it any better. The horse's coloring matched my niece's coat, shirt, and hat perfectly. She walked the horse around the yard and the posing between the two was great!


    Well, That's it. I hope you liked looking at them as much as I enjoyed taking them. I can't wait for my next photo shoot of the new year! And a big thanks to ALL my models of 2015! You are all the best!