Best of 2017

  Late December every year I like to look back over my work and pick my best shots. These are not necessarily the best technically by any means but definitely my personal favorites. Listed in chronological order...

#1 - Winter Noir XIII - January 11th
   Portland got blasted with our biggest snow storm for years so i jumped in the Subaru and headed downtown to a deserted City filled with excellent photographic opportunity.

Canon 7D Mark II - EF16-35 f/4L IS - 20mm - f8 - 1/30 sec - ISO10000

#2 - Ancient Order of United Workmen Temple - January 20th
    I received the opportunity to tour the interior of this building from 1892 that was slated for demolition. 

Canon 6D - EF16-35 f4L - 16mm - f8 - 1/15th - ISO 400

#3 - Untitled - January 20th
    The election was over and Portlanders decided to riot in the streets on the very cold and wet night.  

Canon 7D Mark II - EOS 135L - f2.8 - 1/250 - ISO 12800

#4 - Yaquina Morning - February 11th
    Sunrise at the Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport, OR just as the moon was setting to the West.

Canon 6D - EF70-200 f4 IS - 200mm - f4 - 1/160 - ISO 2000

#5 - Wilsonville vs. Thurston - March 3rd
    Tipoff of some high school basketball at Wilsonville High School. Zach Reichle from Wilsonville would eventually sign for the Oregon State Beavers.

Canon 7D Mark II - EF135L - f2.8 - 1/750 - ISO 1600

#6 - Coldwater Peak - May 20th
    If you turn around at the Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mt. St. Helens this is what you see.

Canon 7D Mark II - EF70-200 f4 IS - 169mm - f11 - 1/250 - ISO 640

#7 - Mt. Hood from Lost Lake - June 24th
    A view of Mt. Hood from Lost Lake.

Canon 6D - EF70-200 f4 IS - 200mm - f8 - 1/250 - ISO 100

#8 - Longing - July 8th
    Michael Nekvapil (Some Camera Guy) and I took model Rhiannon out to an abandoned farm house for some stunning work on a very hot and humid afternoon. One of my last shoots with my trusty Canon 6D.

Canon 6D - EF135L - f3.2 - 1/80 - ISO 200

#9 - Fishbone (Jay Armant) - September 9th
    I got my second opportunity to shoot Fishbone, this time at the Roseland Theater. Quite a challenge this time as it was my first real outing with the new Fuji kit.

Fujifilm X-T2 - XF50-140 f2.8 - 140mm - f2.8 - 1/250 - ISO 1600

#10 - Halloween Sunrise - October 31st
    Sunrise from the Pittock Mansion.

Fujifilm X-T2 - XF18-55 f2.8-4 - 35mm - f11 - 1.8 sec - ISO 200

#11 - Judith Gap Sunset II - November 24th
    Sunset at the Brewington Ranch near Judith Gap, Montana.

Fujifilm X-T2 - XF18-55 f2.8-4 - 18mm - f10 - 1/3 sec - ISO 200

Best of 2016

  Late December every year I like to look back over my shots and pick my personal Top 10 (+3 this year... so hard to limit it). These are not necessarily the best technically by any means but definitely my personal favorites. Listed in chronological order...

#1 - Window to the Future - January 13th
   The past few years have seen great change in Portland as many structures are being demolished to make room for new development. This particular building is on NW Park Ave and was built in 1910. I have a personal project to document as many demolitions as I possibly can. The framing of the backhoe bucket works perfectly here.

6D - 85mm - f8 - 1/125 - ISO 1000

#2 - Concerned Todd - January 17th
   Filmmaker and friend Todd Trigsted dropped by to drink some beers and dial in the studio lights. I think we got them pretty dialed.

6D - 135mm - f9 - 1/125 - ISO 100

#3 - Pure Rebel - January 21st
   Traveling model Kristy Harmer is a charmer for sure. The camera loves her and she is a true professional that is booked out every day of the year that she wants. This particular day was a four person group shoot in a recording studio in Brooklyn. I had dozens of shots that were keepers but this one works the best for me. Photo taken from a small step stool to provide a bit of foreshortening that emphasizes her face.

6D - 35mm - f6.3 - 1/60 - ISO 100

#4 - Reaching - March 8th
   This shot is from a poplar tree farm along I-84 in Boardman, OR. The B&W conversion using NIK Silver EFEX just works for me. 

6D - 16mm - f16 - 1/200 - ISO 100

#5 - Knob - March 8th
   The 1914 Davenport Hotel is a hotel located in downtown Spokane, WA. The Davenport was the first hotel in the United States with air conditioning, a central vacuum system, pipe organ, and dividing doors in the ballrooms. The hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Door hardware is my living and photographing vintage hardware is a passion of mine.

6D - 35mm - f11 - 25 sec. - ISO 100

#6 - Monroe Street Bridge - March 9th
   This bridge is also in downtown Spokane. This B&W long exposure using NIK Silver EFEX is one of my personal favorites. 

6D - 16mm - f16 - 30 sec. - ISO 200

#7 - Palouse Falls - March 9th
   Palouse Falls is one of the wonders of Washington State. This photo is a long exposure taken with a Lee Big Stopper (10 stop ND filter).

6D - 16mm - f11 - 30 sec. - ISO 100

#8 - Attack from above! - June 8th
   On my way home from work I spotted this Osprey being tormented by a murder of blackbirds. I pulled over and let the shutter of my new 7D2 machine gun for a few minutes. Spray and pray they call it... my prayers were answered with this shot.

7D2 - 100mm - f8 - 1/800 - ISO 100

#9 - Elle Apostrophe - June 18th
   This shoot took place in the Benson-Cheney mansion in St. Johns. Victorian attire and fog machines were on the menu and we certainly made the most of it.

6D - 85mm - f8 - 1/160 - ISO 100

#10 - Island Lake - June 29th
   Our summer vacation was in Montana and Wyoming this year. No trip is complete without a drive to Yellowstone National Park via the breathtaking Beartooth Pass. This is an early morning (just after sunrise) shot at the edge of the lake taken rather quickly due to the fact that the mosquitos absolutely love my sweet blood and they were swarming me.

7D2 - 90mm - f16 - 1/125 - ISO 800

#11 - Square Butte Sunset II - July 6th
   Sunsets in Montana are a true sight to behold! This particular shat was taken just after the sun dipped directly behind Square Butte. The clouds just exploded in color. This is an HDR (High Dynamic Range) composite taken from a 3 shot bracket and combined in Adobe Lightroom.

6D - 35mm - f11 - 1/20 - ISO 100

#12 - Untitled - October 8th
   My friend Michael asked me to be the second shooter at a wedding for a good family friend. This shot was the father/bride dance and captures Dad's perfect expression.

6D - 100mm - f4 - 1/180 - ISO 400

#13 - Angelo - November 12th
   I got the chance to shoot my favorite band Fishbone from the front row. Learned a lot on how to shoot in low light without flash that night... basically use fast glass and bump shutter speed and ISO up as far as you can to get the correct exposure. I used my 35 f2 IS and 85 1.8 as fast primes may not be as versatile as a zoom but they sure do let the light in.

6D - 85mm - f2 - 1/250 - ISO 1600

#13 - Tilikum Morning II - November 30th
   I revisited this shot from last year and nailed it even more successfully due to the fog and light. I manages to capture the lights on the bridge as well as the OHSU tram. I will take this shot a few times a year and one of these days I'll hit it perfectly. 

7D2 - 135mm - f11 - 1/250 - ISO 250