There is a long story behind this image, a story that goes back nearly 15 years. Dave Black, one of the greatest sports photographers of all time, became a hero of mine way back when. I’ve studied his work with creative lighting for over a decade. So, when I happened to run into him in the small town of Cisco Colorado, I was surprised to say the least. We chatted for a bit, shot some photos and that was about it. Well, until the next night I ran into him here at delicate arch. I won’t tell you how I got down here, but Dave refereed to me as ‘The Fearless Leader’. Anyway, he was conducting a light-painting workshop (he’s the guy holding the light up top) and invited all my buddies from the #nXn20123 trip to join in We all sat back and had a great time as the most legendary light-painter did his thing. I guess this lesson here is, always be nice and respectful. The world is a staggeringly small place and it’s important to fill it with positive energy. You just never know how you might meet out there, so open yourself to new adventure and meeting new people.
Reflections On The Past
If you remember last week’s adventure in Americana, I shared some ideas surrounding using non-pro gear to have fun and make images. Well, this was another shot from that adventure. The sun was setting, and noticed the windmill in the distance. I initially thought about compressing the image by zooming in on the horizon. However, just up ahead of me were the tire tracks you see here. They were leading me right in to the scene. So I decided to run up the road, get low and grab a quick hand-held shot. Now, if I was shooting anything but a non-pro super zoom…no way could I have made that compositional decision within the few seconds Mother Nature granted me. Again, the lesson is feel the flow and forget the gear!
Reggie
Because Father’s Day was yesterday, this image is for my pops. When he was a kid, he had a dog named Cesar. Caesar was a boxer and I have heard so many stories about what a great dog he was. Anytime I see a boxer, I can’t help but think about him. Like the day I met this guy. His name is Reggie and he’s the shop dog at a local rock store in Utah. Good dog, and nice enough to let me lay on the ground to take his photo.
iPhone Friday
The Great Wide Open
If this isn’t what Tom Petty was talking about, I don’t know what is? Yes, still an adventure into Americana with the Nikon 18-200…well, that and an iPhone. I shared some thoughts about the creative process as it relates to the adventures on the plains over at Big World Little Lens if you’re interested.
Photographer’s Note – This is a single image brought to life using Lightroom 4. Has anyone upgraded to LR5 yet?
















