
Thursday, August 27, 2009
www.jimurquhart.com or www.straylighteffect.com

Tuesday, August 25, 2009
www.jimurquhart.com or www.straylighteffect.com
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Firestorm



Last Thursday I was enjoying a day off but I was also keeping an eye on the weather. The forecast was for a very windy and hot day. Humidity levels had dropped to almost nothing and I knew there was a real possibility wildfires could make a run that day. But I was off, so I wasn't too worried. As I check out the news in the morning I learned several small fire had started up over night that were sparked by dry-lightning strikes. But once again I was off so I went about my day.

The next day the winds were calmer and I was able go out and make a few more pictures, but nothing of much consequence.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Finally taking a moment
Waves crash over sea lions at Sea Lion Cave in Oregon
Hiking with Dayna through the forest on the Oregon CoastSo it's been a couple weeks since Dayna and I returned from our epic road trip. We covered 3,413 miles and seven states ... and I now am just able to sit down and take a look at what I have shot. It was an awesome trip. I have never taken a two week vacation before, nor have I really had the desire to. But then Dayna comes into my life and shows me there is so much more to life than just meeting deadlines. And our trip was just that, an experience in just letting go. There were only three goals on the trip. Survive the family reunion in Wyoming, mail off Dayna's thesis paper to complete her third master's degree and make it to the Oregon Coast. The lack of an agenda was really the vehicle by which we had the greatest time.
The ocean and Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, Oregon
Shop keeper selling some fish type thing in Chinatown in San Francisco
Sunday, July 26, 2009
An update from the road ... after nearly 3,000 miles
Golden Gate Bridge in the fog ... we had to trespass into a construction site to get this view. It was well worth it.
Dayna at the Sea Lion Caves in Oregon
A wave sneaks up on Dayna. The water is freezing!
Gray whale we sighted on a whale watching trip off the coast of Newport, Oregon.
Pedro the Mule (Subaru Baja) with our kick ass teardrop trailer at the cabin in Wyoming.So it is late Sunday night and Dayna and I have found ourselves in San Francisco.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Got nailed - golf tee shot gone bad
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The light was beautiful and she said yes.

So it is late Monday night and I have found myself online looking for venues for my upcoming wedding. Yes, that is right, I am now engaged and in the process of getting ready to get married.
Last Thursday, May 21, 2009, Dayna, the love of my life and my best friend said, "Yes!"
Dayna and I had been talking about marriage for awhile. It came naturally. She really is the best experience that has ever happened to me. Since she came into my life I have found what it is really like to experience true happiness. She has accepted me for who I am with all my faults and I have never been so inspired to explore the world and all it's love as I am now that she is here. When I catch a glimpse of her beautiful blue eyes I see beauty and hope reflected in the morning sunrise.
In my life I have missed the opportunity she has now presented me with. But there was always a reason deep inside that kept me from taking the step off the edge before. Then she comes into my life and shows me the possibility of true love and in my heart I know she is the one. She is why I have been struggling and pushing on. It was to find her and her love. So with that said, I had no other option but to be loved and to love.
I had originally planned to ask for her hand while we were on vacation in July on our tour of the west. But after she took care of me when I was so sick a couple weeks ago I realized I needed to do this now.
We had originally planned to have a portrait shot by my co-worker and friend Scott Sommerdorf in the weeks leading up to mother's day as a gift to the moms but I was so sick and covered in hives from the allergic prescription drug reaction (see this post) the morning of the shoot we had to cancel it.
So with that in mind I spoke to Scott and we scheduled another shoot for last Thursday. I later called Scott and upped the importance of the shoot and explained he was going to witness a proposal. He was in. This was going to provide the cover story.

I purchased the ring on Monday night and picked it up Wednesday morning and immediately went to her dad's house and then her mom's house to ask for permission to marry their only daughter. They both said yes and told me that Dayna had told them she was pretty sure I was going to propose on our vacation in July. This meant she had not caught on to what the portrait shoot the next day was really about.
My friend Jim "Shorty" Patrick wanted in on the action and I needed him there. I wanted the event video taped for her to have forever. So with that, he was going to join us on the trail to Ensign Peak overlooking the valley with the story he was coming along to help pack extra flashes for Scott to light the shoot with. Luckily Dayna had no clue what was really in the pack Shorty was carrying. In it I had placed a bottle of Champagne on ice, a video camera and the ring. I placed the ring in there so she wouldn't detect the box on me while we were hiking up.
We met Scott and Shorty near the state capitol before the shoot and then they followed Dayna and I up to the trail head. When we met, I handed Shorty the bag and said, "here are the flashes," and Shorty sold it by complaining about having to pack them up the trail.
On the way up to the trail Scott pocketed the ring knowing he is going to be in the best position during the photo shoot to hand it off to me without her knowing.
We begin hiking the trail and find a good view to shoot the photos at and all begins as planned. Scott begins shooting portraits of us and we have a great view to enjoy. After a few minutes he approaches us and repositions us for the next set of shots. At this point, he places the ring right behind Dayna where she can't see it and I grab it without her knowing.
We change positions again to an area where she can be standing and I can kneel when the moment is right. At his point I begin talking about my dog Gizmo and how much he would have enjoyed the trail and how he should be in the photos and how we should have brought him along. However, "Gizmo" was the code word that Shorty, Scott and I discussed would be the cue that I was about to propose and to be ready for it. I talk about my awesome dog Gizmo all the time and there was no way no one would have known what we were really talking about.
The moment was right, the light was perfect and there she was. She was there to be with me in that moment and she loves me and I love her.
My nerves are so wound up I began to shake almost uncontrollably. She is watching me and ask, "are you ok?" She can see I am really nervous about something and is worried about me. At that moment I took her hands and knelt on one knee. I speak of how much I love her and explain to her that she is the most beautiful light in this life I have ever witnessed.
In the end I ask her to marry me and without hesitation she said yes. At that moment I became the luckiest and most successful man in the world. I had found the love of my life. She is the most beautiful, most intelligent, most loving and caring woman in the world and she loves me with all her heart.
We linger and enjoy the view for awhile. Then the four of us enjoy the whole bottle of champagne and I get to enjoy the love of my life in the light of the setting sun.

I found the love my life. She loves me and she said yes.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Utah Grand Prix American Le Mans
The start of the Utah Grand Prix American Le Mans series raceYesterday I covered the Utah Grand Prix American Le Mans series race at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. It was fun and very challenging. This was the second time I have covered the event and was it was just as fun as the first.
This is a completely different style of racing than most Americans may be accustomed to.
Where most racing here is based on covering a certain distance in the shortest amount of time like the Daytona 500; 500 laps with no time restrictions, an American Le Mans race is about covering the most distance in a set time period; X laps covered in 2 hours and 45 minutes. Plus there are a lot of left AND right hand turns, go figure.
Also, there are four different classes of cars on the track at the same time which makes for some interesting situations during the race.
But one of the biggest differences is the types of cars. Porches, Acuras, Ferraris and the like. As it was explained to me by Jeff Holms of Gil de Ferran Motorsports (Gil de Ferran is a legendary former Indy car racer who won the Indy 500 and is now an owner/driver in the Le Mans series) there is huge difference in technology in the cars. He explained that a Nascar race car is typically valued at $200,000, and an Indy car is valued at about $500,000 but a top class Le Mans car is valued at well over $1 million.
Even the types of sponsorships are different. In Nascar you may see teams sponsored by WalMart or Budweiser beer where in the Le Mans you see Nordstroms and Patron.
Robertson Racing LLC's Ford GT MK 7 rounds a corner
Lowe's Fernandez Racing's Acura ARX-01b
de Ferran Motorsports' Simon Pagenaud, left, celebrates with driver and team-owner Gil de Ferran after winning the Utah Grand Prix American Le Mans race Sunday, May 17, 2009 at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah.
To those considering covering the event next year I would highly recommend getting there early. Even if it is to get table space to work at in the photographers work room. The local press like myself make up a very small portion of the race photographers on the day of the event. Many are seasoned professionals who travel the world covering motor sports and really know what they are doing. Many be a little salty to the local press. Lets face it, these guys make their living traveling the circuit and we local guys just come out only so often. But if you can engage in a conversation with one, listen carefully to everything they are saying. They really understand the sport inside and out and know how to create story telling images.
Also, although it is uncomfortable and sweaty as hell, get there early enough to get a fire suit. You can shoot the outer perimeter of the track without a suit, but if you want to get into the pits and really get in close to the action, taking the time to get there early enough to get a suit and its associated uncomfortableness is worth it. Plus, there are only so many shots of cars screaming past you can shoot on the track. And the chances of you being in position for the one wreck on a winding 3 mile course is about slim to none. You can do what I did and throw the suit in your pack while hiking the track and get it on when you get to the pits. At least in the pits you have a chance to add a little variety to your photo report.
The crew Robertson Racing LLC races to service their Ford GT MK 7 during a pit stop.
Corsa Motorsports' Ginetta-Zytek 09HS driven by Johnny Mowlem races out of the pits
Also be ready to do some hiking around the three mile course. There were two photographer shuttles running with a goal of being able to pick you up every 20 minutes. But on race day it is more like 40 minutes. I think that has to do with all the photographers and the fact the shuttles have to traverse through the paddock where there are a ton of spectators milling about.
I ended up walking about 2/3 of the course with a camera and 400mm f2.8 lens over one shoulder, a hip pack with water and assorted gear and a camera with a 70-200 on the other shoulder.
I am still recovering from a allergic reaction to prescription drugs ( see prior entry here) and went into the day at about 70 percent of my normal strength. Well, after covering the race Sunday and state track and MLS soccer the Saturday night before the race, I am beat up and have grape fruit swollen knees and my shoulders have swollen up like they have oranges stuffed under the skin. I am taking the day off today to recover (Naproxen, the anti-inflammatory of the gods) but over all I am getting healthier and stronger and imagine I will be up to full speed in a day. It was just a tough physical weekend.
Deseret News photographer and friend Jeff Allred, left, and myself hanging out on the turn one photo stand prior to the start of the race.
My girlfriend Dayna getting a moderate sunburn with her dad while making their way through the paddock looking at cars.
Also, water and sun-screen. Pretty self explanatory. However my girlfriend came out to watch the races with her dad and forgot the sun-screen. When I got home I found her battling a moderate sunburn and a mild case of heat stroke.
Over all I really like covering this style of racing and look forward to more of it in the future.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Art or Environmental Vandalism
The view from the north shore of Great Salt LakeRecently I spent two days working a story about Utah's west desert. It was a great trip where travel writer Tom Wharton and myself traveled over 500 miles on dirt roads from Tooele, Utah, west across the Pony Express trail skirting the southern end of the Dugway Proving grounds to West Wendover, Nevada, then driving north along the western shore of the Great Salt Lake and cutting across the barren north shore of lake via the old Trans-continental railway back to Wasatch Front. I produced a multimedia project on the trip that can be found HERE.
Clouds reflected in the Spiral Jetty
The Spiral JettyBut once out there and exploring I came to question the value of some of the "art" that has been installed in the desert.
The Sun TunnelsFriday, May 15, 2009
Star Trek ... Yeah! Kick Ass!
Watching previews. My feet, left, Dayna's feet on rightSo last night Dayna (the significantly better 98 percent of my life) and I actually did it and darkened the door of a movie theater. Hell, we actually did the whole dinner and movie date thing we had so prided ourselves in avoiding.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Being a passenger and Star Trek
Dayna driving us to Park City for some shoppingSince being leveled by own body waging war with the evil that is lamisil (see earlier post My Pain and My Savior) I have not been driving much. And those that know me, know this is odd. I love to drive, hell my 2006 Suby has nearly 80,000 miles on it and I bought it new. Much of that can be attributed to my work. But while I am still recovering driving has been a chore. I am still weak and have a lot of pain in my joints and driving a stick shift can be taxing right now. And once behind the wheel, my joints and muscles stiffen up but I have been perfecting the roll and crawl out of the car maneuver. Dayna has stepped in whenever possible and this has been a new experience to be a passenger. I kinda dig actually looking out the window and seeing the world rush by from a new perspective where I can actually enjoy the view.
Gizmo enjoy the ride ... wish I could do thatWe are going to go and actually sit down and see a movie tonight. We are going to check out the new Star Trek movie in IMAX. ... I know, kinda anti-climatic. But we have taken pride in the fact that we have never been that couple in the movie theater not interacting with one and another, rather, every night when I get off work or we have nights or days off together we have always been doing something and being active. No Taco Bell nights, but pushing each other to try new food from different cultures and new experiences. She is a kick ass go-cart driver but I rule on the Foosball table! Ha!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Pain and My Savior
Dayna, Fire, Cabin and Moon Rise Dayna and I have begun taking on adventures. Any chance we get I am taking time off work and we have been getting in our fair share of trouble. We even purchased a tear-drop trailer for camping this summer and are getting ready for our great tour of the American West. We took it on a test run camping trip and towed it to southern Utah for my birthday. It was cold as hell, but it is just big enough to sleep both of us and the ever faithful Gizmo, the wonder dog. With that in mind, I decided it was a good time to finally take care of some minor health issues. My feet have plagued me for years. I have the flattest stumps that serve as feet. I was fitted for orthopedics and they have been great. Hopefully no more shin splints on the flat sections of hikes. But I have also had several nails plagued by toe fungus for several years. This has been a constant source of embarrassment and those that know me know I never take my socks off in front of people. However, this summer I plan to be on the beach a lot and I figured it was time to get a handle on the situation. About a month ago I began taking prescription Lamisil pills (generic; Terbinafine HCL 250 mg) to fight off the infection, little did I know that an attempt to fix my toe nails was about to turn into one of the most painful and humbling experiences in my life.
My dad making fireAbout three weeks into the regimen of pills and cream I began waking in the middle of the night for no reason and I began to feel pain and pressure in my ears. My ear canals swelled up to the point they became shut. I couldn't put head phones on and it sounded as if I was under water all the time. Dayna urged me to see a doctor early on, but I shrugged it off as just probably an ear infection. We irrigate my ears and put medicated drops in. My issues resolve quickly, but little did I know this was the first salvo my body had fired at me in an attempt to warn me of the impending pain and demise that was marching it's way through my flesh. I went out of town for a couple days on cool assignment about the western Utah desert. No problems. On Friday May 1st (11 days ago) I find myself with an unexpected day off. We had planned to meet one my fellow tribune photographers and friends that morning. We were to have our portrait done as part of Mother's Day gift for Dayna's mom. I wake and notice a couple spots on my skin on my arms. I figured I must have been bit by a spider. However, by the time I get out of the shower hives are covering my neck, my arms, my chest and the palms of my hands. At that moment I had a few choice words. I had heard hives were a known side-effect of the lamisil, but it was rare and usually not serious. I call my podiatrist and he confirms it is a side-effect of the pills and tells me to stop taking the drug and it should resolve itself with some benedryl. By the time I am off the phone, the hives have begun to spring up on my face and around my eyes. We race off to Walgreen's and I purchase all the benedryl pills and creams I can grab. Dayna is a trooper, she is a former a soldier, and orders me to take off my shirt right there in the Walgreen's parking lot where she is slathering me with benedryl cream. All the people at the adjacent McDonald's are getting more than they expected with their morning mcmuffin. We have a day off together and we are not about to waste it with a case of hives. We go to a party that night at the house of friend of mine from my former life as a ski and snowboard photographer. No issues, just cool patterns on my skin. Saturday I work my shift with mild discomfort but by evening I am beginning to feel pain. A burning sensation. Sunday May 3rd I wake and I am covered from head to toe. There will be no work for me. We race off to University of Utah Urgent care. Once there I am in pain, covered in hives and swelling. The doctor confirms it is the lamisil which I have already stopped taking but explains the drug takes weeks to build up in my skin and toe nails where it fights off the original infection. With that in mind he explains just how toxic of a substance it is and informs us it may take weeks to get out of my system because it is embedded in my skin. A simple detox is not going to work. With the extent of the hives he orders complete blood work including a liver function test. The doctor jokes I may be having this reaction due to stress and hints that upcoming nuptials maybe the cause. We both blush and laugh if off. I walk out with a shit-load of prescriptions for antihistamines and the steroid prednizone. I begin taking my drugs at once and head home for the night. The hives have really taken hold and as the doctor explained, I am just as broken out on the inside of my body as I am on the outside. I am having some difficulties moving around and can't get comfortable but Dayna is there to help me. She somehow splits her attention between me and her studies. She is preparing for her finals for what will be her THIRD masters degree. Here I am, a community college drop out that has a beautiful girlfriend that is younger than me and is willing to take care of me and somehow manages to excel at her career and tackle three master's degrees. On Monday I work most of my shift in the office but leave a couple hours early to get some rest. Tuesday morning rolls around and I meet travel writer Tom Wharton in the morning for a simple assignment. We are going to spend a couple hours on the north shore of the Great Salt Lake for a story then travel to Brigham City for lunch and a quick feature. We finish the first of our day with no problems. I was feeling great. But just as we are to drive to Brigham City I notice a knot in my throat I can feel when I swallow. I figure its a hive and take a couple benedryl. But by the time we get into town with another stop along the way my feet are swelling. I slather my feet with benedryl. I am hobbling a bit and hurt but I am ok and we have lunch. However, by the time we finish lunch and I pick up my camera to shoot a feature at the place we just ate it is obvious to everyone that something is not right. I shoot my photos and limp back to the car. I have gone from a healthy active 32-year-old to hobbling hunched over like a 99-year-old depression era survivor in the matter of an hour. We get back to Salt Lake where we go our different ways. I am once again en route to seek medical attention. I call Dayna to inform her of what is going on but she is a couple hours away with her work but is getting to me as fast as possible. I call my dad and he is en route to meet me. I am really scared. It hurts to touch the steering while. When I get to the parking lot I crawl out of my car. The pain has sapped all my strength. I very slowly limp in the front door. I am not kidding, an old woman with a walker passes me. I am so screwed. Once in I am rushed back to an examine room. My dad arrives and is pretty shocked by what he sees. The doctor informs me the "latent drug reaction" has really taken hold of my body and I am basically screwed. My earlier liver test results are in and it shows I have elevated liver enzyme levels meaning my body has been waging a war for awhile. The damage is not suspected to be permanent, but I will need further testing to ensure they do come down. In a later phone discussion I am informed it is lucky I quit the drug when I did, otherwise it could have been fatal. I walk out with a prescription for triple the dose of Prednizone steroids. The idea is that the steroid will suppress my immune system and keep my body from fighting off the lamisil so hard. That way the toxic drug can exit my system without my body going all suicide-bomber on itself. That is at least the idea. And if I can avoid a micro conquest or jihad taking place with my own flesh and blood ... well, sign me up. My dad carefully helps me into the car and he make sure I take my first super massive dose of roids. Dayna is on the other side when I get home and all 110 pounds of her carries me into the house and deposits me in bed where I will stay for two nights and a day. I am a bawling mess, I don't have the strength to lift myself up. I am scared and angry... she takes care of me. I am a blubbering mess ... she takes care of me. I try to fight my way to an upright position ... she takes care of me. I become a total angry asshole about the whole situation .... she goes and studies. On Thursday I have gained a ton of strength back. The doctor had given me the ok to travel. I have the weekend off for vacation so we opt to hit the road and join my family at our cabin near Pinedale, Wyoming. But after a nice day of traveling and enjoying what seems to be my health returning we are nailed by the effects of the mega-dose of prednizone. My whole body begins to swell again. I am swelling so bad I can't bend my fingers. My face swells all weird and my fingers are turning blue because all the circulation is being cut off. My joints are filled with so much fluid I can't bend any of them. I have been in serious car accidents and have been partially ejected in the past. The only way I can equate what is going is to describe it as like being in a rollover car accident and ejected out the windshield straight into a meat grinder. It is literally as if any time I try to move my muscles are being torn apart for the inside.
My dadSo here we are, trying to enjoy a nice weekend away, and I can't even get out of bed once we are there. I literally have to have her lift me out of bed in the middle of the night just to get to the bathroom. But she does it and never complains. She helps me in and out of the car. At one point I don't have the strength of a baby and I can't even lift a can of soda to take a sip. But Dayna is there and she monitors my every move and is always one step ahead of me to ensure I can still try to have a nice weekend. By Friday we determine it is my best interest to get off the Prednizone. It's one of those situation where it is as if we are using an atomic bomb to repaint a bedroom. The hives will return, but at least I can still go to the bathroom on my own with hives. We manage to still have a nice weekend and even venture to Jackson Hole for a day of some shopping and being tourist. It is now 11 days since the original hives set in. I am going to try to work tomorrow, I am gain some strength back. I have had about 6 hours of decent health and normal walking ability in each of the last couple days. Over all I feel as if I am on the mend, but i definitely feel as if I have been seriously aged by the whole process. But I am thankful for several things. My family has been so supportive through this whole ordeal and has done all they can to make sure I am getting back to health. My employers have cleared me off the schedule when needed. And then there has been Dayna. She has given so much to be there for me. When I have scratched at a hive I can feel the daggers shoot from her eyes telling me stop, and if I still don't stop, a quick slap swiftly dealt by her usually does the trick. At times I have hated the world for putting me through this and she has been there to fight back my punches in the wind. When I had fallen or found myself without the strength to sit up right or stand, she has been there to wipe away the tears and help me stand.
Dayna, Gizmo and CabinIt may take several more weeks before I am back up to 100 percent but I am sure I will get there. With my family and Dayna there to pick me up and wipe away the tears, I cannot fail. They make that impossible.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Finally ... a cool cheerleader!


So I was shooting a Jazz game recently and I remembered a prior conversation with a friend where they commented that one of the perks of shooting Jazz games is that the dancers (cheerleaders) sit next to the photographers on the baselines. I retorted that this was not a perk because the smell from all the gallons perfume and layers of hairspray is enough to make you ill.
Sorry, it is just not my gig.
But this sparked a memory of a totally kick ass cheerleader I had shot during the girls high school basketball championships. Alexis Armstrong is a special needs student at Wasatch High School where she is also a member of the cheer squad. I was fortunate to meet her prior to her team's game in the championship.
I was getting set up to shoot when I noticed her in her wheelchair trying to get up onto the court that had been laid at the E Center in West Valley. Her cheer squad teammates were already in position and none of them had helped her onto the court so I went over and introduced myself to her and wheeled her on the court where she could cheer.
She was behind me much of the time at first while I was shooting but when I changed positions to the other side of the court for a quarter I could see why she was member of the squad.
Alexis seemed to be the only cheerleader in the arena really cheering with all her heart. She was really going for it with everything she had. Maybe it was the disability that freed her from the scripted routines that seem to be really heavy in passion-lacking yells of words of encouragement, painful ear to ear smiles and the manicured look of cliche.
No matter what it was, she really cheered for her team in a genuine manner that stood her apart from the rest.
I have never understood the concept of cheerleaders and probably never will. But watching Alexis gave me hope that not all cheerleaders are as annoying as I imagine them to be.
Her team went onto win the championship.
PS. Why is there always a couple cheerleaders that run onto the court during timeouts tumbling as far as they can? Why do they do this and what purpose does it serve?
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Rooting for the little guy


A couple weeks ago I was assigned to cover a college basketball game between Weber State University and Idaho State University. My assignment basically told me to get some action shots of the game at the beginning but I was to primarily focus on stand-out Weber State guard Kellen McCoy.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Relieved when the candle went out

-Enga Valasi, right, an aunt of JoJo Lee Brandstatt, mourns and calls out with her sister-in-law Elena Faauli, left, during a candle light vigil for JoJo Lee Brandstatt Saturday, February 7, 2009 at the West Ridge golf course in West Valley. JoJo Lee Brandstatt, 18, was found dead on the West Ridge golf course early Friday morning. Jim Urquhart/The Salt Lake Tribune; 2/07/09-
Friday, October 31, 2008
Moab Wildfire





Last week I covered a late season wildfire in Moab. It wasn't a big one, about 450 acres, but it temporarily forced the evacuation of several homes and a hotel. I got the call late on it but I was able to drive the four hours quick enough to get in on some of the action. My reporter and I showed up in our full fire gear including shelters and were allowed great access.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Wilderness Therapy





So it's been awhile since I have posted. I have been a bit distracted as of late.
Monday, September 22, 2008
My Dad. The King of Dads!

This is my dad, Don Allen Urquhart, and me on a fishing trip off the western coast of Mexico a couple years ago. To me it's the best photo of us together ever taken. We had just spent a couple days fishing for tuna on a charter trip. It was a business related trip that my dad called me up at the last minute for and invited me to come along. It was one of our first times he and I traveled just us on a trip. Despite both of us fighting off sea sickness for most of the trip we had a riot. Our boat caught nearly 160 tuna in just the first few hours of the first day. We had to slow down a bit because we were quickly running into our quota the permit allowed on the boat for the trip. (there is nothing like eating freshly seared tuna while you have a rod in your hand catching more.)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Loss

Monday, September 8, 2008
The Long Bus Ride Home





On Friday night I drove to Kamas, Utah to cover a high school football game between South Summit and Grand County High School from Moab. I wasn't really covering the game on this one though. This assignment was about how the Moab football team was taking on one of the longest road trips in the state for a regular season game. These guys had to ride in a bus for 239 miles to get to the game, play, then jump back on the bus and ride for five hours back to Moab.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Winning $1 Million - Deal or No Deal



Have you ever wondered what it would be like to win a million dollars? I was given the opportunity to cover Utahn Jessica Robinson winning the top prize, $1,000,000, on NBC's "Deal or No Deal."
I was sent to cover a party held where her friends and family watched the broadcast where she won. The episode was taped on July 9, 2008 but she had to keep it a secret that she won for almost two months.
In fact, a lot of her family were kept in the dark and most of party goers did not know she won. It was amazing to watch Jessica and her friends and family react as the episode progressed. It was a riot to watch Jessica watch the show and relive the adventure and emotions as the show continued and come completely unglued when she watched herself win. I bet it was also a relief she no longer had to keep such a huge secret.
Monday, September 1, 2008
It Snowed!!!!





It snowed on Monday morning(Labor Day) in the high elevations of the Wasatch mountain range. WOOOOHOOOOOO!
--"Take that mean cruel Summer! How do you feel now Mr. I will make you uncomfortably hot?
It's cold isn't it! Your days are numbered. Mr. Bright Sunny and Sweltering Hot, put your hands up and reach for the sky!
Punk."--
If you can't tell, I am super excited about the fact there is fresh snow in the mountains, even if it is just a couple inches above 8,000 feet.
It's weird. Summer really is a bummer for me. When most people are enjoying the sun and getting out, I am more prone to trying to sleep in super late, I put on weight and not really motivated compared to the zest I feel in the cold months. In the winter I am much happier, shed weight and in general 10 times more active. Maybe there is a medical term, something like "reverse seasonal polarized affective disorder" -I just made that term up. ;-)
Well, we had to cover the development for the paper, so I drove to Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon and bought a tram pass to get to where the snow hadn't melted off from at 11,000 feet. I shot the above images while riding to the top in the tram and while hanging out at the summit of Hidden Peak for awhile. While on the tram I met a couple families that were heading up with their kids to check out the freshly fallen snow. I introduced myself to them and they were super cool about letting me shoot frames of them enjoying the new development.
Unfortunately I couldn't stick around on top too long. As much as I wanted to keep hanging out enjoying the view and cold air I had to get back to the valley to watch a woman in Sandy win $1,000,000 (more on that later).
While commuting I left a couple vulgarity riddled messages for my ski buddy Jim P. on his cell phone about the fact it snowed and that it was just that much closer to ski season. He just responded to me with a text message to the effect that he was hung over. Fine. He can have his headache. I made a snowball.
I guess this means I better get serious about getting ready for the season. More time in the gym working on core strength (argh), more time on my bike and watching ski movies.
Wet dogs


If you know me, you know I love dogs. For the majority of my life I have had a dog in my home and love their companionship.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Smoking in the corner.


A couple weeks ago I was assigned to cover the last night of Club Manhattan here in Salt Lake off of Main Street and 400 So. before it closed for several weeks for a complete remodel. The club has been mainly known for it's hip-hop scene recently and it was fitting that was the night it closed on.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Burlesque anyone ... anyone?

A week ago I was assigned to shoot local burlesque troupe The Slippery Kittens. I swear this was an assignment. I had to wait on posting it here because the story had not run until yesterday. The group has been gaining quite a following here locally and this was their last local performance before departing for L.A. to compete in the semifinals of NBC's "Americas Got Talent." That was the whole crutch of the story.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Shooting Faith



To me, shooting photos of people practicing their faith has always been an enlightening experience. I have never been one of professed faith but it has always been something I have been aware of.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Bikes and sweet light



Last night I was assigned to cover the criterium phase of the Tour of Utah bike race. The race started at 7pm so the light was sweet and the paper only wanted a couple pics from the event that lasted approximately 90 minutes ... so I had some time to play and try to come up with something cool. Some of these pics are a success, others ... not so much. Feedback is always welcome.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
A Mother's Pain


Summer please end soon

So I am off today and completely wiped out after working seven days straight. With the olympics going on I was drafted to pick up a couple night editing shifts which can be taxing when there is a lot going on. I shouldn't complain too much, Chris Detrick, a friend and fellow SL Tribune photographer has been in China working non-stop covering the games pulling 20 hour days. But during this last week I was in Huntington on the year anniversary of the Crandall Canyon mine disaster, on Thursday I found myself trying to get access to a very un-mudslidish mudslide, Friday I covered a horrible murder scene, Saturday I covered a fatal scooter accident that resulted in a 13-year-old being killed before he got a chance to really enjoy life and now ... I am just tired of summer and praying for snow.
1st post ... and a safe rainbow

So this is my first post. Welcome to my blog. I hope you will find it worth your while as it develops.
I am a photojournalist for The Salt Lake Tribune in Salt Lake City, Utah, and I have started this blog to share some of the sights and sounds that come with that experience.
I am also planning to include more than what I witness in the course of my job. Maybe this will get me off my ass to actually start shooting for myself again. Something I have rarely done in years.
A rainbow - something I pass by all the time without even thinking twice about. They happen all the time, right?
Recently I was traveling back to Salt Lake City through Utah County after covering a mudslide that closed Highway 6 near Price. As I exited Spanish Fork Canyon I caught a bright hue out of the corner of my eye to north. At first I didn't thing much of it but the more I drove closer to getting onto the interstate I thought about the scene taking place next to me. Still hesitant, I kept looking out the window trying to find a major flaw in the design of the bow that would give me an excuse not to pull over and shoot it. The more I looked and drifted in and out of my lane, I couldn't come up with a reason not to shoot it. So just before I was about to merge onto the interstate I flipped a U-turn in afternoon traffic and raced to find a good angle to shoot it from.
All of sudden I was racing through side streets towards Springville looking for a clean background and a view without power lines.
Something I was so ready to pass up had just become a purpose.
I finally found myself walking through a horse pasture that was surrounded by homes. I shot a few frames, enjoyed the sight and walked away having shot something for myself. Yeah, a rainbow. It's a start.
