2012 was a busy year for me, from assignments to workshops to speaking engagements. I can only hope 2013 will be as busy; based on my current schedule, it might even be busier! I always like to reflect on my work from the previous year, and choose 5 images I like. Even though I shoot thousands of images every year, there are only a handful of images that will stand out. Some of these images were shot on assignment, others on workshops, and a few were done on personal shooting trips. The portrait above was done for an editorial assignment of a friend/body builder/model in Fort Collins. We had done many shots highlighting his athletic ability, but then we changed gears and went for an introspective moment. This was a moment he let his guard down, and showed another side of his character.
I was a contributing photographer at Canoe and Kayak for years, and Cree and I have paddled hundreds of miles guiding sea kayaking trips. We had a chance to take out our boats and paddle a scenic alpine lake in Wyoming this summer. Felt like old times.
I photograph a diverse range of subjects each year, and I like them all! One moment I might be shooting dripping chocolate on cheesecake for an editorial job, then next moment shooting wildlife on a personal trip. My family and I were able to spend one blue bird day at the famous puffin rookery at Machais Seal Island in Maine this summer. The puffin photography was some of the best I have ever encountered.
I made a trip to the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, supposedly one of the driest deserts in the world…except it poured everyday while we were there. The storms and clouds presented some exceptional shooting situations. Here a hiker looks out into the desert after a passing storm.
I also visited Thailand and Cambodia, and the photo ops were nonstop. The mysterious jungle temples and friendly people made this a memorable trip. We befriended some monks, who volunteered to pose for us in one of the temples. I love the strong color against the weathered temple in this image. The monk’s peaceful nature matched the ancient temple perrfectly.
Onward to 2013!