Racing is Black and White
There isn’t a single person who hasn’t seen the old images from the Tour de France and thought “man, those are some cool shots”.
Race photography comes at us these days with such hyper-real clarity, and amazing color that, at times, it can be a little overwhelming. And this is coming from a photographer that LOVES to make life look hyper-real. Long gone is the simplicity of the black and white image in bike racing. The colors jump off the page and the rider’s eyes burn holes through the screen with fierce intensity rarely seen. These images work. They are beautiful and portray the venues beautifully.
But, there is still something to be said for a solid black and white image. It has no color…only tonal range. In reality, this is the way the image is first seen. Either on film or through a digital processor, the camera sees only tonal ranges. The range of light runs the gamut from intense white to absolute black. Within each extreme there is no detail, no information. But, if a photographer can create and image that spans the entire length of the tonal histogram (from absolute white to absolute black) and catch all of the tones in between a beautiful picture can be had.
This last weekend, I shot a race on the eastern plains of Colorado. It started in a town famous for the world’s first rodeo. Realistically not much has probably happened there since. Granted, they do have a great rodeo every year. In any case, the race started in Deer Trail Colorado and ventured into the plains to the east of town. The race flyer warned of high winds and high heat. Not a great combo. Mix those two elements in with rolling hills, no trees and a bunch of fallow wheat fields and the photography turns to be fairly monochromatic. What a great opportunity to shoot in black and white. In reality it was a relief. Normally I am shooting with mounds of extra light. I will remotely trigger one or even two speedlights and drop the exposure of the back ground down a bit. But this day was different. Nothing but me and my camera. Just the landscape and a mind that was thinking in terms of tones instead of color.
Life becomes very simple when a photographer thinks this way. Color is washed out. All that remains are shades of gray, and values of light and dark. Contrast creates the drama in the photo. There are no blue skies to stare into. No green trees to contrast with the blue sky. No colorful kit of the road cyclist. Instead you get dark eyes crying out in pain and sun bleached faces that contort from extreme effort. Roads revert back to “black top” and cloudless blue skies go white. What a wonderful way to view the world.
I had my day of shooting, and it was glorious. No frills, no strobes, no fancy techniques….it was me, my long lens and the world. When I got home and looked at the images I thought to myself ”are they as cool as those Tour de France images?” The answer? NO way in hell. But it was a ton of fun and it shows what racing in Deer Trail Colorado is like.
Episode #7- Chris Winn
The Hugo Road Race is one of the classic races in the Denver area that ALWAYS comes with a story. This year brought temperatures that scorched every single rider and winds that steadily howled. It seemed to be a day that was destined to last for ever. The sun beat down every single racer. The skin of each rider was drawn tight by the constant battering of 60mph winds. And the volunteers worked to exhaustion to keep water bottles full and trash contained. It truly was an epic ride. Only about half of the riders finished that day. For those that did finish the end was bittersweet. For those that didn’t finish, the end was also bittersweet.
One of the racers I met was a Rio Grande rider who snapped a shifter half way through the race. At the time, he was in the lead group with two teammates. . . looking for a win. Chris Winn was poised for the podium but it would have to wait. For the rest of the afternoon, Chris rode around with me as I shot images of the other categories. We chatted about his home country of Australia and his desire to sign with an international pro team. Just a couple of months later he won the best young rider Jersey at the Nature Valley Race. The stars are lining up for him, so keep and eye out for this awesome rider from Down Under.
- With what team do you ride? This year I’m racing with the Fort Collins based Team Rio Grande. First year on the squad and I’m happy they’ve allowed a foreigner to invade their program. Great bunch of blokes and can’t be happier how everything is going in 2010.
- How long have you been racing? I first zip tied a number to my handlebars at the age of 14, spending the next 9 years picking dirt out of my teeth as a cross country mountain biker. At the end of 2007 I flipped the switch and turned to the dark side….I mean became a roadie.
- How did you get started racing? Like most things growing up I followed my older brother into the sport. At the time I was a tennis player but as soon as the cycling bug bit, it turned into a nasty rash that I still haven’t been able to get rid of yet.
- What is your all-time favorite race? The race to the fridge post training ride. Especially when there is decent left over’s from the night before so preparation time before consumption is kept to a minimum. I do enjoy watching the classics with a soft spot for Flanders. The one’s I’ve personally tackled in the USA would be Nature Valle Grand Prix and the Tour of Utah as favorites.
- What is your strongest discipline? I tend to do better on the hillier stuff, one day and stage races that sort of thing. Being a smaller guy I don’t have too much in the sprint department, so big game crits aren’t usually where you’ll find me at the pointy end of things.
- What part of bike racing do you absolutely loathe? The safety pinning of numbers onto your jersey. Coming from a mountain bike background it was a couple of zip ties for a plate on the handlebars and you were away. Recently I got back from a stage race where for the first 4 days the number placement changed on the jersey each day and it was cracking me big time.
- Tell me a little about your bikes and gear. What are they, what cool little gizmos do you use to train, what is your favorite piece of equipment? I really like my set up this year. I am riding on an Orbea Opal decked out with SRAM and rolling on some Reynolds 46mm tubulars on race day. The bike is super stiff and stable at high speeds which is perfect for our stage race schedule. For training I have an SRM which works a treat and is nice to collect some data while racing being the nerd kid that I am. As for my favorite piece of equipment I’d have to say my white SRAM hoods make things look pretty trick and tie the graphics of the bike together.
- Do you have any superstitions about racing or any pre-race rituals? What are they and how did they start? Being an Aussie the pre race meal is always a lightly roasted platypus smothered in Vegemite. Anything less and the legs just don’t turn. No, to be honest I don’t have any superstitions outside of just trying to be organized before racing and therefore stress free. Actually, you’ll never see me with those shorty ankle socks……bad news right there. And the sunglasses always go on the outside of the helmet straps….and they have to be spotless…….hmmm so maybe I do have a few then!
- If money was absolutely no object, what bike would you ride and how would it be painted? You know I’m pretty happy with my Orbea right now, and I just saw the 2011 Orbea Orca released so I’d love to throw my leg over one of those. Deck it out with SRAM Red parts and a green and gold paint job and I’d be happy as a clam. Does it come with a mechanic to keep it clean???
- If you could race with any pro, from any time in history who would it be? Good question there. It would have been cool to race alongside Phil Anderson in the 80′s. Phil was one of our many Aussie cycling pioneers to break into the European scene and put us on the map. Plus at that time I could get away with a worse hair cut than I do now.
- You are granted a riding session with one current pro team. This session includes as many hours of riding as you would like, lunch at any location you choose and the ability to ride any place in the world. How do you fulfill this dream? Please be specific with details about lunch conversations with riders and any pertinent gossip that is applicable. I would say a long (6hr +) blue sky day in the mountains of Northern Italy with Saxo Bank would be perfect. Throw in the Gavia, Mortirolo and the Stelvio passes and that should take care of the climbing aspect alongside some sweet descending action. Lunch would be burritos at a random Chipotle found midway through the ride, and consequently all conversations and gossip would be about how on earth this Mexican chain restaurant ended up in a small village in Italy. Needless to say I’d think Spartacus would enjoy a steak fajita though.
- Who would you absolutely love to beat by the end of this year, and why? Any current professional….the more the better! It’s no secret my aim is to gain a contract for 2011 so the further up the results sheet I can ride the better.
When it Rains…..
Last week I was sitting in the car waiting for a client to show up. All week it had been sunny and the early morning light was perfect for a shooting. Today however, as I sat in my car, the clouds opened up, the fog rolled in like a lumbering old man and a steady drizzle threatened to end the entire thing.
Even though it wasn’t the exact lighting I was hoping for, the light was beautiful and wrapped serenely around the landscape. With time to kill, I pulled out the I phone took a shot, tweaked it with Tilt Shift and sent it off to FaceBook with the caption, “not sure the photo shoot is going to happen.”
Within minutes a response was posted from my good friend Dug Gordin. That is not his name of course, I had to change it to protect his innocence. So, Doug (oops,) Dug posted a quick little response that said… and I quote “A real photog would find a way…” so true.
Seconds later, the client pulled up completely excited about the shoot. ”These clouds are perfect” he said, “they totally fit the theme”. With that we were off.
15 minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot of the highest trail head around. By now the clouds sat even lower but the drizzle had eased up. The shoot was to take place on a rock outcropping that rested 100 yards down a drainage. I loaded up the light stands, got the extra batteries and heaved my 50 pound pack onto my back. I was ready to descend.
It only took a couple of minutes to get to our secret location and it was well worth the scramble. The model edged out onto the giant boulders that hung 500ft off the ground. This was going to be tricky. Everything around was slick with the fresh rain. Every boulder was glossy and the light bounced off the granite like kaleidoscope of colors.
Working with the fading sun, we noticed two things had changed. First of all, the rain was back. Second was the LIGHTNING. The low hanging clouds randomly exploded. On and off they went with increased frequency. But, in the words of my buddy Dug, “A real photog would find a way…”. So we kept shooting.
Within minutes the conditions deteriorated. Water was pouring off the rocks, the sun had almost completely set and suddenly the lighting was lower and firing off every couple of seconds. Without any warning, (that’s the way lightning works you know) my entire head started to tingle and a burst of light thundered just feet above. But with Dug’s words of wisdom “A real photog would find a way…”, we pressed on.
Soon it was too dark to shoot and time to begin the now treacherous hike back up the the ravine. I wish I had some harrowing tale of near death, but that is not the case. Soon, we were at the car and headed back to town.
In the end, Doug (oops) I mean Dug had great advise “A real photog would find a way…”
Out In the Oil Fields
Growing up in Wyoming, the lights from the glowing oil derrik seemed to be the western version of the Northern Lights. They were untouchable and mysterious. They represented a world I knew nothing about.
I remember driving through the vast empty space between Green River and Laramie, lost in thought. Pondering what life must be like on a rig. After all, the derrik ran 24 hours a day, rain or shine, in extreme heat and extreme cold. At times the only lights in the world during the dark windy winter months would be the luminous glow from a distant drilling rig. That was part of the allure of the drilling rig.
A month ago, I was commissioned by a wellhead company to document the work of installing wellheads, BOPs and the maintenance needed to keep it all running. Before I knew it, I found myself sitting on a 12 passenger turbo-prop headed to the distant plains for North Dakota. The Bakken Oil field is one of the largest and most active formations in the lower 48 states. The discovery of oil in North Dakota has turned sleepy cow towns into busting oil stations.
Watford, North Dakota is such a town. Just recently it was written up in the New York times. The author discussed the challenges the city faces and the struggle with housing the men working the Bakken field. This town would be my home for the next 5 days. For 14 hours a day, I followed a group of men around to the various rigs while they installed BOPs, lubed wellheads and performed general up keep. Finally I got to see the inside, or rather all around the mystical drilling rig.
The men that work these rigs are made of movie stuff. They have their own language. They have their own hand signals. They even have their own names for the specific jobs on the derrik, and unless you have proven yourself, they have their own name for you. These men are hard. Working 12-14 hour shifts in the dead of winter, exposed to the elements with some of the most dangerous equipment in the world, makes a person tough. The work is wet and thick with muddy oil that bubbles form the hole. The tools are enormous and one misstep or a slip in attention and life becomes very serious very quickly.
As I was shooting pictures of the men installing a BOP, one of the guys said to me, “hey, don’t step there.” I looked at him with my usual “yea, no shit” look since he was pointing to a large pool of watery mud, that had the consistency of thick chocolate milk. What did he think, I would just step in a pool of water with my camera strapped to me? So, I looked at him, with that same look and said, “yea, ok”. Then he looked back and said it again; I must have been getting closer to the pool. With the same look I said, “So, it isn’t just a pool of water?” ”Nope,” he said ” ya step in there and we’ll never see y’again. That goes down 150 feet and there is no way to get ya out.” Needless to say, I didn’t get any closer to the hole.
In the end, I got some great shots for the company. But the shots that truly stand out in my mind are the images of the men on the rig. One of my favorite photographers did an entire series on oil rig workers. Richard Avedon, in the mid 1980′s produced the most vivid and striking images I have ever seen. My images are not the same in any stretch of the imagination, but they do capture what the work is like. Oh, and for the record, the guy with the sledge hammer is the one who told me where NOT to step.
Another Day at the Office
One of the areas that I have been totally getting into this year is….making movies from still photography. This type of work is blowing up right now. And, there is not set form or structure. These shorts are on the internet all over the place. Most recently photographers are being nabbed up by companies such as At&t and major insurance giants to produce low cost movies with a very unique look.
Most of the time, the videos don’t have the look of a classically composed “stop motion” movie. Instead they are shot with the camera set to high-speed shutter and shooting images between 2-8 frames a second with low res. jpegs. The look of the video can vary greatly. This is what makes this type of shooting so much fun. All of the same techniques used in a still shot can be employed when shooting at multiple frames a second. Blur can become very effective. Short depth of field often brings with it a mystical quality and all of the cool special processing techniques just add a little extra boost to the final product.
This video was created with the intent of using it during the grand opening for an advertising company in Denver called Amélie Company. They are a specialty firm that produces some great work for international companies. We shot early in the morning, trying to capture the feeling of coming into work. The milling around, getting coffee, checking emails, all became the focus of the shoot. Along with the morning activity I tried to give the viewer a sense of the building. I wanted them to see the work space and the great character of the office.
Take a look and let me know what you think.
http://www.vimeo.com/10917227Monday Night Lights
Sitting in the first corner, I try to get myself as small as possible (eternally a challenge) so that the cyclists don’t clip me as they race by.
Bike racing is always a challenging sport to shoot. It’s not like you can simply stand in front of the competitors and ask “hey can you hold that pose for just a second longer?” No way, most of the time these athletes scream by at mach 3, totally oblivious to the world. Their heart rates are through the roof and every thing goes black except for the person they are following. My job is to catch the essence of the moment. What is it like to slam your bike into a corner at 25 mph? How does it feel to be in “the drops” pedaling as fast as possible down an 8% grade on 1/2 inch tires wearing only lycra.
This night a good buddy of mine, Jerry Olson, and I ventured into the world of track cycling. We headed out of town for the bubble of Boulder in search of some fast paced track action. Half an hour later, we landed at the hub of all Boulder track racing. . . Boulder Indoor Cycling. On any given night, cyclists clip into the pedals to warp around this 142 m. oval. The 45˚ corners hold each racer in place and drop them into incredible angles that make great pictures.
On this particular eveningt a group of locals had gathered to train. Chris, Ingrid and Erika were great sports. They rocked some new Tiemeyer bikes and buzzed me every every chance they got. Each time I asked if they would “go again”, they were absolutely in. They hammered around the oval time after time so that I could get a couple of shots.
My favorite aspect of cycling is the speed. It doesn’t matter if it is uphill, downhill, on the flats or around a banked corner; I love the speed. And, I try to show this through my imagery. Motion blur is one way to show the great velocity that these athletes carry. Tonight crafting that “blur” was my goal.
It really isn’t very tough to shoot a static cycling shot. Modern digital cameras have an amazing ISO range and current lens technology can stop the fastest moving object. So tonight I was looking to combine the use of flash with a slower shutter to generate the feeling of the velodrome . Every 8-10 seconds a rider blew through my view, focussed on the black line. This focus and speed is hard to explain to someone who isn’t there at that instant. The wood against carbon wheels creates that muted thunder, and heightens the rush of the race. This isn’t a stagnant moment, it is intense as well as instantaneous. What better way to capture the feelings of rider and spectator than blur? Warp that image. Make it scream. Show the intense concentration, the sweat…the pain. Show the speed. Enjoy.
Cleaning out the Closet
Every so often I sit down at the computer and start wandering back through old photos. I used to do this when I was in grade school. In fact, I used to do it in high school, and college too. The old memories return, flooding my mind with emotion and seemingly lost events. I find it refreshing to reflect on those times, trying to remember old friends, certain moments…trying to recall even the smells at the time. With the advent of digital photography the ability to dig out those old photos is endless. Years and years of images, stored on hard drive after hard drive provide literally hundreds of thousands of events to recall.
Most recently I found my self plunging back through a week I spent at the Marine Recruit Depot (MCRD) in SanDiego California. For an entire week I was part of a group that was granted an insider’s view of the recruiting process and basic training. Each year the Marines ask various groups to visit the depots with the intent of dispelling any myths the general public might have about this particular branch of our military. During the week, I was exposed to some of the basic training techniques the Marines use, shown around the entire base including a great trip to Miramar (famed TopGun School) and shown what life is like for recruits as they proceed through the grueling steps of basic training.
As I said before, letting my eyes pour over older photos always brings back memories but it also allows me to have a fresh perspective on the shots I took. I find that with some images, I am much more critical and don’t like the composition or processing. But with others, a new appreciation comes from a second glance. Looking at photos after an extended time away freshens the eye and removes some of the emotional attachment that once may have lingered. This “fresh” look drives a new creativity and re-energizes the need to create distinctive images.
The series below is the second kind of image. At first glance I wasn’t crazy about them. Today, they capture the hard work, the exhaustion and the sleep-derpived blur these soldiers must have endured. This is the final day or their basic training. Today, they will be called Marines for the first time. They are no longer recruits. For the last three days they have been functioning on 2-4 hours of sleep coupled with endless physical, mental and tactical challenges. These shots were taken just as they hiked back into base from running the Gauntlet.
All Terrain Shoes – A.T.S’s
I am drawn to cool short movies that are shot using “Stop Motion” techniques and/or by shooting with high-speed shutter option of still cameras. One of the coolest videos that has caught my eye is by a German photographer/producer, Roman Kuhn. He produced a five minute short that tells the tale of the new Mercedes Mclaren and a sneaking paparazzo. The entire video was produced using two Canon 1Ds shooting at 10fps.
A few weeks after viewing this cool short film I headed to Wyoming to visit my parents. As with most visits, we did the usual go out for breakfast, take walks, play with the dogs, eat lunch, take naps….repeat. One afternoon, as my dad and I were futzing around in the garage. We were both bored so I suggested we head down to the river to make a movie. He was in. My pop loves this stuff. He is the type of guy who is game for any new adventure, especially if he gets to play with cool new gear. Quickly, we decided to shoot a video featuring his cool new all terrain shoes. (I am not sure if that is the official name of these brogans, but for the purpose of this story they are.) We jumped into the truck headed to the river and looked for rocks, fences, dirt trails, sand and of course water, to start making our movie. We brainstormed some scenes and talked about all of the cool qualities of his shoes. We had to cover the vents, the velcro fasteners, the super cool slip-cord-tightner (another technical term) and of course, we had to shoot the super-duper-no-slip-rubber that keeps it all together.
Over the next two hours we shot 1,000 frames or so… the coolest part of this whole undertaking is shooting tons of images. I don’t know a single photographer who doesn’t like to fire off 10 frames a second. It is the machine gun of camera stuff. Clicking off frames as fast as they go. And, with digital, it doesn’t cost $12 a minute for film.
Since the end-use was web, I was able to shoot with low resolution jpeg image. This allowed each card to hold 2,000 or so images. I just shot away. One thing I forgot to keep in mind was, duh, keep the camera horizontal. That is actually a big change from shooting only stills. The format for video is completely horizontal. Any crazy tilts or going completely verticle renders the frame useless.
At the end of the day, my dad and I had spent some quality time together. Once again we were out in the wilds, tinkering with gadgets, toys and gear trying to produce something cool. True QT.
Take a look and let me know what you think. It is pretty bare bones and I still have to figure out the after effects. Drop me a line if you have any suggestions or questions.
http://www.vimeo.com/10208716Celebrations in Denver
In 1965 Rachel B. Noel was elected to the Denver Public Schools Board of Education. This successful election made Mrs. Noel the first African American Woman elected to public office in the State of Colorado. In 2008 Mrs. Noel passed away leaving a living legacy of hope, tolerance, and inspiration that thousands of people benefit from today.
A month ago I was asked to cover the Rachel B. Noel Awards Ceremony that took place at the Shorter A.M.E. church in Denver. I arrived early, not knowing the grand scope of the ceremony and was soon to learn that I was asked to cover one of the most glorious awards presentations/celebrations in Denver.
Over the next four hours I photographed local community leaders, educators and honorees as they came together and received recognition. During the ceremony, the audience learned of the great accomplishments of Rachel Noel and joined together to commemorate her life. This night brought the songs and voices of various church choirs together as well as members of the community who have made great changes in our city. Together we learned of the people and groups that have helped create a stronger and healthier Denver.
Our lives were enriched with the stories of triumph and struggle that brought so many people to Denver. The choirs rejoiced with soloists praising the work through song. The program flowed seamlessly for two full hours of vocal melodies, tribal drums and dedications.
Following in the legacy of Rachel Noel, five awards were given and one Distinguished Visiting Professorship was granted. Each was presented to people who fought against racial discrimination and inequality. Each was presented to people who, like Rachel, make a difference.
This night, the following awards were given:
Distinguished Visiting Professorship
Julius E. Coles
Academic Excellence
Metro State African and African American Studies Department
Community Engagement
Jeff S. “Brother Jeff” Fard
Community Service
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Denver Alumnae Chapter
Spiritual Leadership
Shorter Community African Methodist Episcopal Church
Community Activism through the Faith Community
Lost Found Members of The Nation of Islam in North American Universal -African Improvement Association
Congratulations to all who earned awards. Your work is truly outstanding and is making a difference in this world.
Riding In the High Desert
Almost 5 months ago, my long-time buddy, Phil McIntosh and I headed back to the small town in Southwestern Wyoming where we grew up. We both had a bunch of work to finish up so we didn’t begin our six hour trip until early evening. But, in our heads that was perfect. It was the first time in a LONG while we had taken a road trip together and we had been looking forward to it for quite some time.
Pointing the car north we sailed up the I25 corridor, everything synched. The music pulled memories from distant trips and adventures long past. The night sky darkened and millions of stars peeked through the fading glow of a fall sunset. Our chat circled around family, lost adventures, jobs, cars and biking. After all, cycling was the draw to head home.
When we lived in Green River Wyoming, not much was going on. It was the mid 80′s. We liked alternative music in a town that thrived on country. Things like skateboarding, snowboarding and mountain biking were not looked to highly upon. But in the 20 years since, much has changed. And that is why we came back to our old haunt. Over the last two decades, Phil’s dad Tom, and a group of his buddies have worked tirelessly to make this sleepy western town a mountain bike mecca. The cool thing is that for the most part, they have succeeded.
Over 40 miles of trails now surround the town. There are smooth rolling runs with banked corners and great rollers. And then, there are the uber technical lines that feature six foot drops and narrow ladder bridges. There is great climbing and even greater descents waiting to test your luck. All of these trails were the back drop for my camera.
My assignment was to shoot images for a feature article appearing in Mountain Flyer Magazine. In every issue, the magazine covers a certain biking destination. Many of the spots are new or developing. The March issue will spotlight the history of mountain biking in Green River. My job for the weekend was to get the images that would supplement the story.
As it turned out, we didn’t have the classic October weather I was hoping for. The high only reached 40˚ and the wind worked its hardest to be a classic Wyoming howl. Our shoot, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, was to cover five different trails and a newly built skills park. Nat and Rachel Lopes, of HilRide, created the layout for the park and the Tom and his gang of bike fanatics moved tons of dirt to create an amazing bike park. I stood in awe the first time I saw their creation. Green River now had the coolest bike park around. That’s something to be proud of.
So, for two days I followed the group of ten riders around, scoping out the best places to shoot. We all shared stories of great trails and wipe-outs and injuries and geeked out on the coolest gear and newest parts. What more could you ask? True to Wyoming style, the skies shone crystal blue with lofty clouds adding to the contrast. I shot mostly with off camera flash, but kept the light harsh so it would balance out the look of the sun. Over the weekend I took over 1,000 images. And from that, about 15 will be used for the story. In the end, the coolest shots were the ones that reminded me of my buddies and biking in Wyoming. It is a classic tale, two guys head out on a road trip to mountain bike for the weekend. This time we have pictures to prove how much fun it was. Thanks to all the folks in Green River for being such sports with the photo shoot. Nice work with the trails.
Urban Assault
Earlier this week my friend Paige Eden and I took a short trip east of town in search of an abandoned airfield. We had heard about many different airfields but most of them no longer exist. Paige turned me on to this cool photography site that explores urban ruins. These folks have it down, they check out old asylums, empty hospitals and cool detention centers. We wanted to see something similar.
With this in mind we searched for anything that was no longer inhabited in the Denver area. Sure enough, Paige stumbled on this cool old airfield. The runways are barely visible but two main buildings remain. During operation, there were a series of hangars, a fuel station and even a restaurant. All that remains are, what appeared to be, the restaurant and the traffic tower.
When we arrived it was snowing pretty hard. We hoped to find the landing markings on the tarmac; those would make cool pictures. Instead we found quite a bit of old furniture that had accumulated around the concrete pads of the old hangars and office buildings. The decaying sofas proved to be cool subjects in their own right. I took out the camera and decided to shoot the entire day with a wide open shutter. I was looking for a super short depth of field and hoped it would add to the mystique of the area.
After getting everything we wanted from the airfield we moved to the buildings. One of the things I find funny about this type of location is all of the gang graffiti. We are no where near the city and still the structures are rife with all different gang tags. How do they get all the way out here? The building looked like it had been used as temporary shelter, party house, teen-age get away and shooting range for the last decade. Unfortunately a mismanaged fire destroyed a solid third of the building and made for very treacherous exploration.
We were able shoot from the windows of the first floor and then ventured into the basement. Inside was a hodgepodge of leftover chairs, old televisions and random clothing. The charred remains mixed well with the trashed insides and the silently falling snow added to the eerie mood.
After an hour or so of exploring, we packed up our gear and headed home. When the weather warms up, we are both excited to head back for a cool fashion shoot. Make sure to check out Paige’s Blog to see the images she took.
Wandering 2/7/10
It’s 9am Sunday morning and the city feels sleepy under the lightly falling snow. The silence is strange since it is Super Bowl Sunday. People should be hustling from one place to another. But they’re not. The snow has made everyone a little sluggish, a little slow.
This morning inspired me to wander through my neighborhood. I wanted to talk to people. I wanted to see what was happening on this Super Bowl Sunday. Stepping from the warmth of my house, I shuffled south listening to the silence that only a sky full of falling flakes can make. The city was subdued. Every sound and every color muted.
At first my lens focussed on lines and curious angles. My eyes liked the places where the snow started to gather. They moved to rocks and fences, steps and tree branches. Everything was silent and my images seemed to respond to the stillness. I found withered thistle in the neighbors yard. I cast my gaze on empty allies and lonely churches. And slowly life began to change.
Meandering toward Federal Blvd, the city seemed a little more awake. Even so, the bus stop, which normally hums with activity, silently loaded and unloaded it’s contents. The liquor slumbered behind its shuttered windows and locked door.
Down the block a lone man swished away the morning snow with a push broom. The gentle sweeping of the snow fit in perfectly. And soon others joined him, helping clear the sidewalk for morning worship. A silent lot, clearing the walkway, dressed for service.
Further along Federal, past the hushed doorways of the dispensaries and hair salons, the empty school yard rested from its weekly toil. Every piece of equipment sat silent. Every slide was empty. The playground slept under the still winter blanket.
Turning west onto the less busy side streets, a man and woman exhanged goods. I paused, simply watching. I was drawn to the scene. Eventually they turned around and noticed my camera and me staring at them. Introducing myself, my curiosity was piqued. For the next couple of minutes we talked. Quietly we shared bits about our lives as the snow continued to fall. They explained to me how they distributed food to the elderly. Rolland pulled away the tarp, opening of his trailer and showed me the food he had collected from grocery stores earlier in the week. He would spend his day dropping off donated goods to people who were struggling. It seemed fitting to meet him here. He was off the beaten path. Rolland silently worked as the snow drifted to earth around him.
Wandering the streets of Denver this morning I met half a dozen people. Some of them wanted their pictures taken. Some of them simply didn’t care and allowed me to snap off a quick shot. It was all give and take. We talked. A young man, on his way to a friends house, told me the two teams in the big game. Others chatted about the neighborhood and how it had changed. We all shared. We all listened.
Rolland however, made me think. His humble self-confidence was pure. He made me think and my mind settled into the walk back home. Again the lens found leaves clinging to trees and lonely pinecones resting on barren sidewalks.My morning of wandering drew to a close much the way it started. I turned the corner as the snow piled up and crunched beneath my shoes, and my street sat completely empty.
Pin-Ups
I love photographing people.
A couple of months ago, I was talking with a good friend of mine and she happened to mention how she thought 1950′s style pin-ups were some of the coolest images of women ever made. She pulled out some old Betty Paige calendars, that her father had given her, and we wasted the better part of an evening talking about the aesthetics of this bygone genre.
We poured over the poses and commented on the sex appeal. The eyes. The facial-expressions. The outfits. Everything seemed to say “sex” without really saying it. That is what turned us on the most. They were “hot” but not slutty.
We dissected more images looking at the specifics of each pose and the subtleties of each shot. Soon the talk rambled toward the idea of producing images like these. But, with a modern twist.
We should do a pin-up shoot.
A short list of possible people sprouted. To be included were hair stylists, make-up artists and models (of course).
We were onto something. Over the next month our team gradually assembled the needed accoutrements.
Sassy outfits, check.
Stylist, check.
Models, check.
Make-up artist…..check. Now all we needed was a day to make it all work.
My idea was to shoot all of the ladies against a “green screen”. After the shoot was over, each image would be digitally extracted and placed on whatever background seemed to fit. From the get go, I wanted crazy color. It was 1950 meets a Deee-Lite video. It was my crazy dream that I hoped would work.
Each image needed to tell a story; a little vignette. There is one behind any good pin-up. There is the librarian who, during story time, happens to show a little leg. Or maybe the tale is about a housewife/baker who just happens to forget the majority of her clothing for the day. Maybe, just maybe, the story goes something like this. A lady starts giving her cute dog a bath and is interrupted by the doorbell.
The endings are all the same. When someone catches their little indecency, their tincy-wincy indiscretion … the reply is always … “Ooops”.
So that is where we start.
Chile – A Catharsis
2009 was a DOOZY.
When I think over the past year, I can’t count the number of people that feel the same way. Personally it was one for the record books.
I am a firm believer in marking significant events. Keeping them in mind. Honoring them. Our recent trip to Santiago, Chile was such a marker. It designated an end as well as a beginning.
We began the trip on December 21st and spent Christmas and New Years in Chile. During our stay in South America, we scoured the country. Vineyards, local markets, Chilean Starbucks, and taking in bits of history filled two solid weeks.
Santiago rests between the majesty of the Andes and the sweeping hills of the Coastal Range. Within the hour it is possible to find oneself swimming in the crisp Pacific waters or hiking the the steep and rugged terrain of the Andes. Sitting at 33˚ South latitude, the summer temperature seldom varies more than 5 or 10 degrees. (Keep in mind that when I speak of summer I am speaking of December. This fact still confounds the Wyoming part of my brain.) Having such predictable weather is a true blessing when trying to escape the wintery world of Colorado.
The last year helped me realize just how fragile life truly is. Looking back, the statement “life is fragile” seems quite trite and very cliche. And, maybe fragile isn’t the correct word. But, in the same breath, it is correct. Our journey is fragile. In any single moment, we each have stories of hardship. But, nestled within each tale of struggle there lies success and triumph.
These are the stories I wanted to capture and this is the difficult job of the photographer. Wandering around a town that is completely new and expecting insight into a complete stranger’s life seems unrealistic. But, looking into the eyes of any human, stories are told. And somehow they are no longer strangers.
I wanted to catch a glimpse, or rather, capture a glimpse of each tale. How was I supposed to do this in a city of 5 million people, with broken Spanish and a camera? Something wonderful happens with a camera…people let you in.
The last year has helped me to tune in to the struggles that other people face. Each challenge is like reading a chapter in a new book. And, I just can’t put the book down. It is the stuff that makes up life. These are the experiences that make us real, that make us human. It is the pain…the joy…the drunken nights…the nights alone. It is loss. It is near loss. These vignettes are told through the gaze of a stranger. And I wanted to hear the tales.
It was my catharsis. It was my way of sharing my story.
By capturing a look, a moment of reality, I too was able to share my story. Maybe I found some of myself in each person. The young family sitting at a cafe. Two boys, one mischievous, and one somber sat with their father enjoying summer break. The men in the market, selling the fruit they had grown over the last few months. How many years had they been there? What stories had they heard sitting in that booth, year after year?
Armed with my I-phone translator app. I traveled around looking for stories. I found one sitting in a doorway. Again with my broken spanish, I pointed to my camera and asked if I could take his picture. ”Yes, my friend” was his response. If I had taken all afternoon to speak with him, I can’t even imagine the adventures I would have heard. I am sure there would have been tales of hard work, women and wine.
My favorite picture happened without words and was finished in the blink of an eye. I saw an old man sitting in the window of a train. He seemed both solemn and serene. Without speaking, I pointed to my camera. He nodded. I took three shots and showed him the viewer. A slight smile graced his lips and with a glow in his eyes he nodded again. That was it. What stories does he have? Did he survive a corrupt government? Was he alone? His eyes told generations of tales.
And this is how I was able to remember the last year. I honored it by searching out the librettos of life, captured in the blink of an eye.
Episode#5-Alison Powers
About two years ago, I met Alison while working at a local bike shop. At the time I had no idea she was such and incredible racer. What struck me was how kind and genuine she was. Well to tell you the truth, I was really taken by her awesome curly hair and her amazing smile…..who isn’t? I soon changed jobs, but kept in touch while she traveled the world exploring her racing career with various pro teams. She seemed to be everywhere and kicking butt all over Italy and France. Then in 2008 she became the National Time Trial Champion. Even with all of the wins and international travel she is still the same Alison. Every time I see her at a race, whether it is CX or road, she smiles and takes time to talk. So, here is one of the nicest and most successful cyclists the metro area.
1. With what team do you ride? Team Fuji for CX. Team Type 1 on the road.
2. How long have you been racing? 5 years on the road. This is my first real year of racing CX.
3. How did you get started racing? I missed being an athlete (I used to ski race until 2004).
4. What is your all-time favorite race? Good question! I don’t know. There are so many great races and, of course, it always depends on how you do at that race.
5. What is your strongest discipline? Time Trialing
6. What part of bike racing do you absolutely loathe? Road rash is a major bummer.
7. Tell me a little about your bikes and gear. What are they, what cool little gizmos do you use to train, what is your favorite piece of equiptment? This year, I used Orbea bikes. Ordu TT bike, Opal road bike and Occam mtn bike. For CX, I am using a Fuji Cross RC. I use an SRM when training and that is amazingly helpful. My favorite piece of equipement is my singlespeed CX bike. I love it!
8. Do you have any superstitions about racing or any pre-race rituals? What are they and how did they start? No, I don’t have any spuerstitions.
9. If money was absolutely no object, what bike would you ride and how would it be painted? I’d have a Cervelo TT bike painted blue (that’s my favorite color).
10. If you could race with any pro, from any time in history who would it be? No idea.
11. You are granted a riding session with one current (international) pro team. This session includes as many hours of riding as you would like, lunch at any location you choose and the ability to ride any place in the world. How do you fulfill this dream? Please be specific with details about lunch conversations with riders and any pertinent gossip that is applicable. I’d ride with Team Luna to learn some mtn bike and CX skills/secrets. Riding with the new team Radio Shack wouldn’t be bad either. Learn from Lance…
12. Who would you absolutely love to beat by the end of this year, and why? Alison Dunlap. She’s an amazing bike rider, and a true inspiration to the sport. Plus, then I could talk smack to her.
Episode#4 – Eszter Horanyi
Eszter Horanyi, what can I say……..THIS GIRL FEELS NO PAIN. Any person that can win a 24 hour race is someone to reckoned with. Not to mention, she won it all alone! I was fortunate enough to meet Eszter a couple of weeks ago while on a shoot for an article posted on MTB Race News. We spent the morning around Marshal Mesa, just south of Boulder. The sun was coming up and it was just after our first snow storm, what an amazing time to be outside. Eszter rode up to the shoot and had grand plans of going home right away to study or do some work or something crazy like that, but….after we were done, she decided to pedal off for a ride. I don’t know too many people who compete in 24 hour races, let alone win 24 hour races, so it was quite a please to meet Eszter and chat with her about her training, riding and life.
1.With what team do you ride? Waltworks/Fuentes Design
2. How long have you been racing? 6 years total, 3 on a mountain bike.
Through the CU Cycling Team, I raced road for two years then switched over to mountain bikes.
3. What is your all-time favorite race? Gunnison Growler…no, Crested Butte Classic…no, Breck 100. I don’t know, I like them all.
4. What is your strongest discipline? Unfortunately, it seems that I’m pretty good at 24-hour racing.
5. What part of bike racing do you absolutely loathe? The logistics. Getting myself properly dressed with a functional bike to the start line.
6. Tell me about your bikes and gear. I ride a Waltworks steel 29er hardtail. The frame is made by a good friend in a Boulder garage and rides like a dream. American Classic helps me out with some of the lightest and strongest 29er wheels out there and Ergon hooked me up with some awesome grips, but everything else on there is pretty standard. Anytime I have anything fancy, I tend to break it.
7. Do you have any superstitions about racing or any pre-race rituals? I have a pair of socks that I refuse to wear because I had a really bad race in them. Unfortunately, they’re really nice socks.
8. If money was no object, what bike would you ride and how would it be painted? I’d pay Walt off to build me a Ti Waltworks hardtail. Then I’d pay him extra not to grumble about it.
9. I you could race with any pro, from any time in history, who would it be? I’m a total idol-worshiper bike racer. Alison Dunlap, Kelli Emmett, Katie Compton…oh wait, I could show up to any cross race in Colorado and get beat down by all of them.
11. You are granted a riding session with one current pro team. This session includes as many hours of riding as you like, lunch at any location and the ability to ride anwhere in the world. How do you fulfill this wish? I’d take the Waltworks Dream Team down to central Colorado. I’d get Dave Wiens to come out and show us around Hartmans Rocks in Gunnison early in the morning, get a late breakfast/lunch in Crested Butte at Izzys and then go out and ride Crested Butte trails with the Crested Butte crew. Then I’d eat dinner at either the Brick Oven or Secret Stash…or both, I’d probably be pretty hungry by that time.
We’d make fun of Walt the whole time and then he’d kick me off the team.
I really can’t think of any one else who I’d rather hang out with than the people I already ride with, and the riding in Colorado is pretty darn good.
11. Who would you absolutely love to beat by the end of this year, and why? I train a lot with a Brit and a West Virginian. Like most boys, they talk nonstop smack both in the email exchanges setting up a ride and during. I’d like to drop their sorry asses.
Episode #3-Jon Pulley
Episode three takes us across the ocean to “The Mother Land”. This short story starts out some years ago in England….I am not sure where in England it started, but I am sure it all started in England. Fast forward some 40 odd years, move from England to the thriving suburb of Westminster and you are now up to speed with my latest blog subject, Jon Pulley.
I met Jon about 8 years ago. At the time, he was working in an alternative school in Aurora, teaching math and mountain biking or climbing every weekend. He would rush off to the mountains Friday, and return home totally “knackered” every Sunday night. Not much has changed, really. He still rocks a mountain bike, he still rushes off each weekend and he is still a good “mate”.
1. With what team do you ride and why? Boulder Cycle Sport. Brandon and the crew got me racing ‘cross a couple of years ago as tried a few road races and didn’t really enjoy them that much. Saw that BCS had a ‘cross team so decided to give it a try. Got hooked that first season and raced nearly every w/e. Cut back last season as injured my back and this year I’ve been XC racing.
2. How long have you been racing? First race was 15 years ago – Polaris Challenge in the UK. A two day self sufficient orienteering bike race. Then moved to Mexico and did only a couple of races over a four year period. I moved to Colorado and have only really raced for the last couple of years- mainly ‘cross and XC short track through endurance.
3. What is your all-time favorite race? Tried the Breck Epic this year. Enjoyed the multi day format, the camaraderie and racing sweet trails around Breckenridge
4. What is your strongest discipline? Climbing
5. What part of bike racing do you absolutely loathe? Sandbaggers, pisses me that someone has the balls to win a race by so much time and be proud of their achievement. Grow up!
6. Tell me a little about your bikes and gear. Cross bike is a Scott- nothing special there, ulterga stuff. XC is a Superlight that’s been around for a while. Love it, although I bought a Yeti 575 (love too) last fall which I now ride more. Both great machines. My road bike is a Lapierre X lite- nice ‘cos not too many here. Rode it in France 2 years ago and got loads of comments.
7. Do you have any superstitions about racing or any pre-race rituals? What are they and how did they start? Try and drop the kids at the pool before any race.
8. If money was absolutely no object, what bike would you ride and how would it be painted? Bike, bikes! Carbon Blur or ASR, spec’ed in the region of 21lbs. Custom Ti single speed and a sweet AM bike. Would have to get brother in-law to paint them as he does custom artwork.
9. If you could race with any pro, from any time in history who would it be? Have to be Sean Kelly. Grew up following all his races in cycling weekly- even had full KAS and PDM team kits when I was 15!
10. You are granted a riding session with one current pro team. This session includes as many hours of riding as you would like, lunch at any location you choose and the ability to ride any place in the world. Would like to hang out in Girona for a spring with all the pro roadies. Would be a great place to ride, live and ride some more
11. Who would you absolutely love to beat by the end of this year, and why? I think that I’ve beaten myself up this season, also crashed at the Dakota five O last w/e. So think that I’m just about done. May squeeze a couple of ‘cross races, but that’s all for the 2009 season
Episode #2 – Susannah Gordon
One of the first people I met in the cycling world of Colorado is still one of my favorites. I bumped into (literally) Susannah Gordon 3 years ago at a coffee shop on Pennsylvania Street during the ColoBikeLaw beginning of the year mixer. At that time she was just one of the ladies in the mix. Now, fast-forward three years. She flat out rocks! In any race she is one of the ladies pushing hard, blasting through corners and blowing up legs on any climb. Let’s check in with the second rider of my cyclist blog adventures….Susannah Gordon.
- With what team do you ride? ColoBikeLaw.com
- How long have you been racing? 4 years
- How did you get started racing? I started with a church group just riding my bike, and found myself chasing people down on the road. I would say, “I can catch that person!”. The friends who got me started were all ex-pro’s and knew right away that I should start racing. They encouraged me to find a team…
- What is your all-time favorite race? 2008 Tour of the Gila. This was my first NRC level race and I placed 16th overall in the GC. It was a thrill for me to ride at that level and finish amongst the strongest ladies in the nation.
- What is your strongest discipline? Climbing is my strongest suit, but I have really been working on my TT skills in the last year.
- What part of bike racing do you absolutely loathe? I absolutely hate someone who sits on a wheel and refuses to work in a race. My theory is, get out and race your bike! I think you gain more respect from the peloton if your willing to work during a race and still have it in you to sprint for the finish.
- Tell me a little about your bikes and gear. What are they, what cool little gizmos do you use to train, what is your favorite piece of equipment? I was fortunate enough this year to have BMC sponsor me. I ride the BMC Pro machine with SRAM red components for my road bike with a sweet set of 2009 Zipp 303’s for the road and Reynolds ROM’s for uphill finishes. My TT bike is the BMC Time Machine with the 2009 SRAM red components. I have often told people that if I don’t well at the races, it’s not because I didn’t have the right equipment!! My SRM computer is probably my best friend and my worst enemy. I live my daily life of training using that cycling computer and I am so thankful to have it, yet sometimes I want to throw it as far out of reach as I can get it! Drives me crazy sometimes having all those numbers staring me down…especially when I’m having a bad workout.
- Do you have any superstitions about racing or any pre-race rituals? What are they and how did they start? No, no superstitions. I just have always believed that my talent was God given and staying humble and focused on the task at hand is what helps me win races. I always evaluate each race and the course and decided where it tactically suits me as a rider. Knowing your competition is also really important to race tactics, who is good at what and understanding how they will race.
- If money was absolutely no object, what bike would you ride and how would it be painted? I love my road bike (however, I could go for the lime green, black and white colors!). If I had my choice of TT bikes, I would own a Cervelo P-3. Ultra sweet ride!
- If you could race with any pro, from any time in history who would it be? Funny that you ask that question, the last 2 years, we have had the privilege of riding with the best ladies in the world. Jeannie Longo was living and racing in Colo. Until the 2008 Olympics, and used Colo. As her training ground. At Mt. Evan’s last year, I stood on the podium with her (which was very surreal), I was thinking- “What I am doing up here with Jeannie Longo!”. On the same note, this year at the 2009 Tour of the Gila, I rode along side of Kristin Armstrong and Alison Powers, our current Olympic and National TT champions. I thought to myself “what I am doing here!”. However, these ladies couldn’t be any more kind to the peloton…Great inspirations.
- You are granted a riding session with one current pro team. This session includes as many hours of riding as you would like, lunch at any location you choose and the ability to ride any place in the world. How do you fulfill this dream? Please be specific with details about lunch conversations with riders and any pertinent gossip that is applicable. Funny that you ask this question. My coach just approached me the other day and asked about sending a few ladies over to Lucca, Italy next year with the Colavita Pro Team. We would use it as a training camp and an opportunity to train and ride in Italy. Spending a week with the Colavita team, riding daily and having great dinners and wine in Lucca is on my list of fun things to do next year! I am hoping for long rides that involve lost of climbing and gorgeous views! I would want to know all the low down of the domestic pro team riders, what their ambitions are and what they all have planned for next season.
- Who would you absolutely love to beat by the end of this year, and why? I have been lucky enough this season to have had success in every avenue of racing. I have won TT’s, Crits, Road Races and Hill climbs. I guess my best answer would be that when a domestic pro lady shows up to our races, not to be intimidated, but know that I have the skills and training to beat them. Have more confidence in my ability as a rider and know that I can be competitive even at the highest level!
CAF Cruiser Criterium
What a race!!!! So, in the midst of two tornados, hail, torrential down pour and some very upset road cyclists, the CAF Cruiser Criterium of 2009 was a smashing success. All of the volunteers made the silent auction run as smoothly as possible during the rain storm and ensured that the items for sale stayed dry and safely tucked inside the tents. Trish Downing was on hand to speak about the CAF and all of great opportunities they provide for athletes looking to overcome physical challenges. After a long day of meeting many new and crazy people, the final tally is in: 10 gallons of rain water, 8 soaked tents, 20 WONDERFUL volunteers, 5 thousand dollars in auction items, over twelve teams of cruiser racers, 75 outrageous costumes, 25 stylee cruiser bikes, thousands of dollars raised for CAF, and MORE FUN THAN CAN EVER BE COUNTED. To see all of the images, click the following link – CAF Cruiser Criterium 24 Minutes of City Park
Urban Runner
Two weeks ago, Dirk Ruge, Michael Mauro, Kari White and I took the morning to shoot some incredible images of an urban running scene. We trained our lenses on an area that had great lines along with an unrivaled view of the city. Both Mike and I were able to play with natural and artificial light to capture images that told our story.
Thankfully, Dirk Ruge came along to film and produce a great “behind the scenes” podcast of the entire morning. In all we were able to create great images while Dirk captured some stunning footage. Take a look at the images and click the link below to view the video.
http://www.vimeo.com/5130765
Fishing In Fall
As the leaves turned to a golden hue, the stream was as clear as the Colorado sky and just about perfect for fly fishing. I look forward to this season as it signals a slowing down of the life cycle, a resting time for all things. It certainly is a time to reunite with friends and spend some quality time in the mountains.
A good friend of mine, Todd, was headed out to fish “a secret spot” up near….well I really can’t say. But, it was in the mountains of Colorado. He asked me to join him, and is there any better time to bring the camera?
I was bound and determined to use off camera flash, but without an assistant it was going to be a challenge. The river would, most definitely, topple the strobe and we all know that is not a good thing. So, I used the extension cable for the strobe and set my camera and flash to manual. With the camera fastened around my neck, I held the body with my right hand and elevated the strobe with my left, giving me a similar feel to off camera lighting. The shutter was set to sinc at 250 and I worked with the aperture to expose for the sky. It took some futsing (technical term for messing around) with, to get the flash exposure just right; but after a couple of test shots I was ready to capture this beautiful day of fishing.
At The Hangar
This last week I had the opportunity to visit my buddy Steve at his office. It just so happens that his office is an airplane hanger that houses two pretty awesome jets. Steve was looking for a creative corporate portrait that he could use to document the last few years of work. So, I met him for a 7am photo shoot. The sun was just coming over the top of the building making for great morning light. We shot for about an hour and a half and were able to get quite a few interesting images. Once again I was working with off camera strobes that are controlled remotely from elinchrom slaves. The light was powerful enough to balance out the sky so that we could get nice sun flare in a series of shots. At the end of the shoot, Steve needed to start up the vintage fighter plane and I was able to get a couple shots of that also. In all, it was a great morning, early shoot, a chance to hear the thunderous roar of a fighter jet and time with a buddy
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In the FootHills
Today we were fortunate enough to have one of those classic Colorado days, crystal blue skies and about 70 degrees. Mike Mauro (www.mauromedia.com), Dirk Ruge, Kari White, Mike’s nephew Kolton, and I all headed into the foothills to shoot images around the theme of “trail running”. It was quite a day, Kari soared back and forth over a ravine, giving Mike and I plenty of chances to catch “the shot” while Dirk recorded it all on video. Keep an eye out for the “behind the scenes” podcast coming soon.
