White Out Series

The Forest

I began shooting this series of photographs in the 2009 winter. I have always been drawn to the weather of a breaking storm. It often offers some of the most dramatic lighting and opportunity to capture familiar subject matter in a new exciting way. Breaking weather offers unique and fast changing lighting with clouds opening windows to reveal hidden vignettes of a scene or subject you are accustomed to seeing in full. I began to wonder if there might also be opportunity in the weather before a storm breaks. In the heart of the storm itself.

Solo

Meadow

People often stay indoors during bad weather. You look out the window of your warm dry home and you probably see a world of physical discomfort, especially in the winter. There can be cold numb hands, sticky wet clothing, and skin biting wind. Even if you are just looking at it you can feel it. But is there another place within that chaos? A place less physical. One of emotional quiet and tranquility.

Barn

Many years ago I experienced just such realization within the chaos of white water rapids. When my kayaking skills became sufficient, and my courage allowed me to surf on the waves of big class 3 and 4 plus rapids, I was amazed to find that within the visual chaos of rapids seen from the shore, there exists a blissful pocket where you find total peace and ease. Approaching a rapid it is loud, fast, and out-of-control. Then you make it on the glassy surface of a rapids tongue or on the face of a wave. It all comes together, and suddenly gets quiet. You are riding on silk, connected physically and emotionally with the water. For years I have tried to capture this essence in my kayaking and rafting images.

Three Tall

Could this same place be found in the discomfort of a winter storm? Could I capture it photographically?

Two Trees

In the midst of raging Colorado mountain storms, beyond physical discomfort, I was surprised to find that there does exist this place of emotional and visual tranquility. I have always been inspired by the calm stillness created by the simple compositions of Asian art such as Japanese wood block prints and calligraphy.

Rail Fence

By compositionally distilling a scene to is most fundamental elements I have tried to capture this essence of serenity found with in the intensity of Colorado winter storms. I call this newest body work, White Out.

Rich Included in Backpacker’s Best Photos Ever

I’m thrilled that Backpacker Magazine has chosen my image of a backpacker hiking on a sand dune in Great Sand Dunes National Park as one of its 12 Best Photos Ever.

“If the average picture is worth 1,000 words, the best wilderness images from BACKPACKER’s top photographers are worth millions.”

This photo of backpacker Sarah Hill originally appeared in the September 2002 Issue of Backpacker Magazine. You can see my image along with the other 11 chosen images in a slide show on the Backpacker web site here.

Photography Student Discounts

If you are a student of photography, taking one of my photography classes or workshops or anywhere else, you should know that you may qualify for discounts on photographic equipment, software, and services.

A great resource for such discounts can be found on student Brad Leese’s Photo Student Discounts website. The site catalogs discounts that apply specifically to photography students from major retailers like B&H Photo Video and photo gear and software manufacturers. Check it out today and start your savings.

Shakodo, A new Photography Pricing Service / Forum

Knowing how and what to charge for your photography is hard. Especially when you are just starting out in the business, or if you are pricing a job or photo usage you have no experience with. When I first started out there were not many places to turn to for help. That’s why a while back I made the post
Stock Photography Pricing Resources in which I list several free and some pay resources to help you with pricing. Recently I came across a new web site to add to the list; Shakodo.

Shakodo is offering a free service “where amateur and professional photographers can talk openly in a public forum and make the entire photographic service process more transparent, especially in the pricing area”.

From the Shakodo site…

The Problem

Photography is one of those professions without any fixed prices; everything always must be negotiated. Up until recently, the photographic market was very isolated and the art of price negotiation was one of the keys to success for professionals. With the influx of talented amateurs a market shift began to take place. With their lack of experience and knowledge about current market rates and not understanding client’s budgets and needs, these talented amateurs have settled for lowered price offers. As a result, they have unintentionally undercut professionals while leaving money on the table because they are not aware of the true market value of their photos or services.

As I said Shakodo is new so I have not really been involved yet. I’ll be following it and formulating opinions I am sure. If you try it I would love to hear back from you in the comments what you think of it.