Behind the Photos

The summer ad campaign for Colorado Tourism is released and these are two of my favorites from last summer's shoot with Tom Stofac and Brandon Saunders at MMG Worldwide. The dude ranch image was supposed to be an evening shoot, but a thunderstorm of epic proportions forced us to cancel that after assembling a cast of cowboys, dudes and horses. We reconvened at 5 a.m. the following morning and were rewarded with exceptional light. Then it started raining again.

The Tavern shoot also had its brush with weather, as rain was falling as we were setting up. Eventually the rain let up and we brought up our talent -- 14 young Denverites, each better looking than the last one. The Tavern was busy since a Rockies baseball game next door had recently finished, but we had a section of the deck cordoned off for the shoot. That did not stop one short, weasly-looking individual from breaching the perimeter, walk up to the models at the front table and announce, "You girls are all bitches." Our producer, Liz Long, thought he had said, "You girls are all midgets," and was a bit perplexed. But the male models heard him clearly and all leapt up with an idea to defenestrate our intruder. Realizing he had not called them midgets after all, and fearing the mens' wardrobe was about to mussed in a bar fight, Liz quickly had the individual removed, and the shoot proceeded happily.

Return to the Burn

Last week in Yellowstone I found myself photographing the same location I had photographed over 22 years ago -- the day after it had burned in the great Yellowstone fire of 1988. Here are the before and after images.

Wheel of Life & Death in Yellowstone

The wheel of life and death is close to the surface this time of year in Yellowstone. And not just because most winter visitors tend to be retirees well into their social security years. All the animals are in survival mode, expending as little energy as possible to make it through until spring.

On my first morning in Yellowstone last week I encountered three coyotes working over the remains of an elk that wolves or weather had killed the day before. The formation of the ravens waiting for their piece of the kill created a kind of wheel of life mandala. By the time I left 4 days later, there was not enough left to interest the ravens.

Escalante

Handmade: Artisans of the Old & New West

For the past few weeks I've been photographing Western artisans -- individuals who are making functional things by hand with a very high level of artistry. It's that balance of form and function, I think, that makes their work so compelling. One commonality I've found amongst all the artisans I've worked with is that their work is a natural extension of their lives.

No, I don't do weddings but...

When your friends renew their vows with an Elvis impersonator officiating you have to make an exception.

Symphonic Collaboration

Once again I am honored to be working with composer Jim Cockey on a multi-media project to accompany his latest symphonic work, "The Gift of the Elk-a Suite for Native American Flute and Orchestra." The performances are April 10 and 11 at Hyannis, Cape Cod, with Jung-ho Pak conducting the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra. Joseph FireCrow, from the Northern Cheyenne tribe, will be the featured flute player. My images will be projected behind the orchestra during the performance. This is my second collaboration with Jim, the first being "Symphony #3 -- An Idaho Symphony."