Posts Tagged ‘Utah’

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2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout: That’s a Wrap

Monday, March 1st, 2010

For the last three years, I (with the help of Ski Salt Lake and the Cottonwood Canyons resorts) have hosted a ski-based photography competition called the Ski Salt Lake Shootout. It’s a frenetic mess of photographers, athletes, loads of equipment, inevitable cell phone exhaustion and always, exceptional photography. I know by now that, for five days, I am encased in a veritable bubble of shutter clicking, bro-brah-ing, thumbs-upping, and little, if any…sleep.

Andy Jacobsen, making sure gravity is taking time off the clock at Alta Ski Area during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

Andy Jacobsen, making sure gravity isn't taking time off the clock at Alta Ski Area during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

In the end, however, the visual and emotional rewards are extremely gratifying. It’s humbling to see what the photographers and athletes are able to produce within such a short window of time. It’s always great to see how other photographers see, and to talk shop with others in the biz. This year we were blessed with a mix of weather conditions and what seemed like consistently good (and at times exceptional) snow. The talent pool of athletes here across the Wasatch Front is staggering, and it’s always cool to see how many top level athletes call SLC home.

Photographer Mike Schirf lines things up at Snowbird during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

Photographer Mike Schirf lines things up at Snowbird during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

While I spend the majority of my time documenting the event for awards slideshows and the like, I do search for differing angles from which I can shoot some of my own imagery during the week. Check out the images in this post  for a peek at the action, and I’ll be sure to post a link to the Shootout site as soon as we have the winning images uploaded.

Carston Oliver enjoys a break in the action at Snowbird during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

Carston Oliver enjoys a break in the action at Snowbird during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

Julian Carr, making the best of late light and fresh pow at Alta Ski Area during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

Julian Carr, making the best of late light and fresh pow at Alta Ski Area during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

Norwegian photographer Erlend Haugen captures Cody Barnhill at Snowbird during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

Norwegian photographer Erlend Haugen captures Cody Barnhill at Snowbird during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

Carston Oliver, just before the hurt at Snowbird during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

Carston Oliver, just before the hurt at Snowbird during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

Julian Carr checks his takeoff at Alta Ski Area during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

Julian Carr checks his takeoff at Alta Ski Area during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

Andy Jacobsen sends it at Alta Ski Area during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

Andy Jacobsen sends it at Alta Ski Area during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

Jared Allen takes a break from/for the camera at Brighton Resort during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

Jared Allen takes a break from/for the camera at Brighton Resort during the 2010 Ski Salt Lake Shootout.

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Posted in Action Sports Stuff | 2 Comments »

We All Start Somewhere…

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
Sunset, Entlebuch, Switzerland 1997

Sunset, Entlebuch, Switzerland 1997

I was hanging out at my parents house the other day when I went downstairs, down the hallway that led to my old room. On the way, I noticed my first print “exhibit” on the wall. Placed there nearly 15 years ago, this was a veritable blast from the past, and one I couldn’t help but study and ponder. Wow–talk about photography 101! I gazed at the images sheepishly, wondering what I was thinking with the blown highlights here, centered composition there and numerous other nitpicks in between. And then it hit me–I wasn’t thinking. I was simply shooting.

Sunset, Eiffel Tower, Paris, France 1997

Sunset, Eiffel Tower, Paris, France 1997

It was a simpler time during my senior year in high school. I had taken my only photography class the year before and had learned just enough to operate my father’s old Canon FTB. It was a literal aluminum tank that hung from my neck, with a light meter that bounced up and down in an unsure motion as I panned across shadows and highlights. To this day, that photography class at Highland High School remains my only formal education on a medium that would one day define my career. Who knew? I certainly didn’t.

Fall color, Mill Creek Canyon, UT 1996

Fall color, Mill Creek Canyon, UT 1996

This is less of a “look at me now” post, and much more of a “look where I started” reflection. The simple truth is this: we all start at the same place. A place unfamiliar, curious and rarely comfortable. It’s an insecure place, where one is pestered by self doubt and a lack of knowledge. Conversely, however, this place also bursts with a desire to create and explore. It’s a place illuminated by the glimmer that comes from rounding every unknown bend, and returning with a new morsel of skill or knowledge…

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France 1997

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France 1997

Times have changed a great deal since I first picked up a “real” camera. Film has been replaced to a large degree by digital sensor. Notepads with scribblings of apertures, shutter speeds and focal lengths have been replaced by high tech programs that record it all for you at the click of the shutter. Entry level cameras can do more now than the best pro cameras could ever dream of mustering 15 years ago. One factor, however, remains the same. Creativity, passion and the will to achieve can never be replaced or switched out. They are the photographic foundation that will never crumble.

Sunset, Lake Powell, UT 1996

Sunset, Lake Powell, UT 1996

Think about where you started. Maybe it was ten, fifteen, or even twenty five years ago. Maybe it was yesterday. Remember not what you didn’t know then. Rather, remember that all you knew was that clicking the shutter brought mystery and joy and crazy, care free satisfaction. What a cool thing…

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Posted in Landscape/Scenic Photography, Photography Instruction | 3 Comments »

Why Do You Do It?

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
Winter sunset over Big Cottonwood Creek, UT

Winter sunset over Big Cottonwood Creek, UT

You know what I’m talking about. Why do you photograph?

Whether a green amateur or a full time pro, you have to ask yourself now and again why it is that you create imagery. Is it for money? Love? Cyber back-pats? Creative survival? What is it?

As I’ve transitioned from casual amateur to serious hobbyist to full time pro over the years, I’ve thought long and hard about why I photograph. The motivating factor has changed across the years,  from a carefree occupier of time, to a burning desire to improve, to a simple desire to prove (something to someone, somewhere, anywhere) to a means of putting food on the table for my family. In the end, however, the simple answer is this: I NEED TO PHOTOGRAPH. It is every bit as much a part of me as my fingers typing this very blog post.

Within every true creative, there is a relentless desire to…create. A feeling akin to that of an athlete’s muscles aching to be used and abused, this hunger to create is innate and restless unless satiated on a frequent basis. It matters not whether there are stock requests to fulfill, commercial clients to satisfy or workshops to teach. At a certain point, you must ask yourself why you do it. If the answer isn’t one of creative necessity and passion, then when it gets bad, you won’t have enough to keep going.

I think many a pro would be lying if they said there wasn’t a glamour factor to it all.  Yes, it’s great to get compliments and adoration and words of encouragement, but that won’t sustain a photographer through the peaks and valleys. The image above was one of, if not my very first five-star shot. If you’ve followed my work, you’ve likely seen it many times before. I can remember the feeling I had when I uploaded the images of my CF card and saw it on the computer screen. I was elated. And yes, I still get that feeling every time I go out to shoot and come back with a keeper.

Ask yourself why you do it. Hopefully you discover a truth you may not have known before. And hopefully, that truth fuels your photographic fire for years and years.

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Posted in Landscape/Scenic Photography | 2 Comments »

Focusing Fast Action (Contest Post!)

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010

For you antsy folks, there is a contest at the bottom, but you’ll have to have read the post to have a fighting chance!

Image 1: Julian Carr skis fresh Utah powder at Alta Ski Area

Image 1: Julian Carr skis fresh Utah powder at Alta Ski Area

Earlier this week we were blessed with a bounty of blower (read: ridiculously light Utah powder) here in the Wasatch. It was the first day of shooting skiing for me this season, and it did not disappoint. There are some days where most everything goes right, and this just happened to be one of those days.

Image 2: Jen Hudak skis fresh Utah powder at Alta Ski Area

Image 2: Jen Hudak skis fresh Utah powder at Alta Ski Area

Anyone that has ever attempted to shoot fast and unpredictable action knows well the challenges of coming away with a sharp image. It’s hard enough to frame it up exactly as you’d like, let alone focus. Any athlete that has ever shot with me knows my typical response when I see something I like on my camera LCD display–”that will be killer if it’s sharp”. IF IT’S SHARP….

Nowadays, the auto focus systems on pro (and even some prosumer) cameras are so advanced that it’s tough to screw things up. That said, it still happens, and it always seems to happen to the shot or frame that you wanted the most. There are a few things we can do as photographers to nail the shot every time. When shooting skiing, there are essentially two techniques I use to focus. I will use a focus tracking method where I’m utilizing the auto focus in my camera throughout the image sequence and at other times I may pre-focus on a specific spot where I’ve directed the athlete to go. Both techniques work well in certain situations–some better than others.

Carlo Travarelli skis fresh Utah powder at Alta Ski Area

Image 3: Carlo Travarelli skis fresh Utah powder at Alta Ski Area

Focus Tracking

Focus tracking works well when:

a) the athlete is moving towards or away from you at a rapid pace

b) you’re not sure where the climactic action will occur OR there are a number of images throughout the action sequence that you may want as keepers

c) there could be confusion between you and the athlete as to where exactly it is you’d like them to turn, air, etc.

d) generally speaking, the athlete will not remain parallel to the focal plane throughout the sequence

*Note: As a Canon shooter, I focus with my AF-On button instead of my shutter button. This allows the camera to continue micro-adjusting focus as the shutter clicks away.

*Note #2: It is best to manually select a focus zone in your camera. Place that focus zone over the part of the athlete you’d like in focus (most often the face). I typically start “tracking” focus about two seconds or so before I start clicking the shutter.

Image 4: Julian Carr skis fresh Utah powder at Alta Ski Area

Image 4: Julian Carr skis fresh Utah powder at Alta Ski Area

Pre Focus

Pre focus works well when:

a) you have a specific, mutually understood spot (between you and the athlete) where the climactic action will occur

b) the athlete is maintaining approximate equal distance from the focal plane throughout the action sequence

c) you’re shooting at infinity focus–in particular, this pertains to long lens, big line shots where the athlete is a great distance away OR wide angle shots where you’re shooting at infinity

d) there may be anything present (obstacles, weird lighting, atmospheric conditions) that would confuse your auto focus (there are ways to tweak your AF system so it doesn’t get thrown off as easily with things like this)

* Note that pre-focusing requires precise explanation and understanding on the part of the photographer and athlete as to where the action should occur. Generally speaking, the longer you have worked with an athlete, the better you will understand each other, and the more confident you will feel that the athlete can nail the spot on which you’ve pre-focused. Additionally, it’s wise to use larger apertures when possible, thus giving yourself and the athlete a margin for error across the focal plane if for some reason they are a bit closer or further away than the spot you mentioned.

Image 5: Julian Carr skis fresh Utah powder at Alta Ski Area

Image 5: Julian Carr skis fresh Utah powder at Alta Ski Area

So. Contest time. I’ve included images throughout this post from shooting at Alta Ski Area on New Year’s Eve Day. I have a super cool Clik Elite medium lens pouch (great for wide angle zooms or moderate primes) and t-shirt for the first person that can correctly state which focusing technique was used on each image in this post. The contest will end on Wednesday, Jan. 6. Good luck!

Image 6: Julian Carr skis fresh Utah powder at Alta Ski Area

Image 6: Julian Carr skis fresh Utah powder at Alta Ski Area

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Posted in Action Sports Stuff, Photography Instruction | 18 Comments »

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