My Pin-Up Bride

I just got back from AZ where I photographed one of my brides for this wedding season. Actually, I'll be heading right back to AZ the weekend after next to shoot her wedding. I'm totally psyched to shoot it. She is obviously stunning and her fiance sounds really cool, a punk rocker bassist guy with lots of tattoos and a mohawk! I think his "tux" on the wedding day will consist of Dickies, Con-All Stars, that kind of thing. And Amber is going to be wearing a really cool, form-fitting dress. I love weddings that step away from the traditional! I don't think there will be any chicken dance at their wedding! WOO HOO!

Here's Amber being a 1940's pin up model. The airplane is mine. That's right. (OK, it's not, but after that shoot, I am convinced I need to get me one). Great job Amber, that was a fun shoot. And I hope when she becomes a famous model/actress, she'll give me some serious props.

My Pin-Up Bride

Here are a couple of shots where I kind of desaturated the colors a little to give it a look to kind of resemble the old-school printing tonality. Jenny helped me with this, bless her little heart!

My Pin-Up Bride

And just a totally candid shot of her doing her make up. She had no idea I was taking her photo. ;)

My Pin-Up Bride

Just wating for her pilot to show up...

My Pin-Up Bride

Amber was really good at "playing the part". Here she is, just being a 1940's super star!

My Pin-Up Bride

This is one of my fav's. Vintage and antique! Sepia Tone and a little soft focus gave this shot a unique effect!

Hawaii!!!

I just returned yesterday from beautiful Oahu, Hawaii with my girlfriend, Jenny. We went for a workshop and spent a few extra days enjoying Hawaii. We stayed on my dad's sail boat. Stay tuned for photos of the boat. It was a GREAT trip. Here are a few shots from the resort that our workshop was held...

Hawaii!! (Cont...)

Jenny heard that the Hawaiians love Spam and Eggs. So we went on a mission to find ourselves a real, authentic Spam and Egg Breakfast.

Anna Millers - finding a place with Spam was easy. Jenny is excited.

Mmmmm there it is in all it's glory...

Hawaii!! (Cont...)

What can I say, she's the girl of my dreams...

Hawaii!! (Cont...)

Haleiwa - we saw a cool old Chevy Woodie. Also, Jenny and I having a big ol' burger and fries and Hawaiian beer. Mmmmmm....

Hawaii!! (Cont...)

Some artsy shots from the town of Haleiwa (aka North Shore).

Hawaii!! (Cont...)

It rained the day we hit up the North Shore. I get so mad when people think that you can only enjoy a trip when the sun is out. The colors came alive from all the rain! It was absolutely beautiful. Be optimistic, people! Whoever said mud and dirt can't be pretty.

Hawaii!! (Cont...)

Every time I've ever gone to Oahu I have taken a tour of Oahu on the City Bus. It's like a scenic tour of the island for less than $5.00 bucks. Jenny was up for it so that we did! Here are some shots from the bus. We're not too proud to ride the bus!

Hawaii!! (Cont...)

Our last night, Jenny and I hit up Waikiki. I wanted to buy a Ukaleli... but considering I can't even spell the word, I decided I am only worthy to photograph them (from a shop in Waikiki).



My new favorite Japanese Saki. Sho Chiku Bai. I just like the way it rolls off the tongue! We were drinking it casually as we walked through the streets of Waikiki. On Japanese woman stopped me and made a remark (laughing) about the way I was just cruising around drinking Sake.


This girl was a street performer. The hoola-hoop queen.

Hawaii!! (Cont...)

Here's a shot from the airplane window coming home. Man, what an action packed few days we had. A nice view of the moon from our seats was the perfect way to top it off....

One-Hour Wedding

Today I photographed my first one-hour wedding. It's not something I advertise, and it came up last minute, so I decided I'd go ahead and shoot it. The wedding was walking distance from Jenny's loft here in Denver, so why not. I'll post more, but the bride was very photogenic. Here's one for now. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

...as promised, here are more! This couple in particular wanted mostly posed photography, which is FAR from my preferred style, but like I said, why not. It made for a fun change of pace. ;)

Bowlin!

Yesterday we had our Rookie Party here with the Ski Patrol. Basically, it's tradition that every year the rookie patrollers must host a party, and it better be good... like I have said, being a rookie patroller can be compared remarkably to pledging a fraternity! "Yes Sir, may I have another?!?!".

The party was a good time though. I didn't... but lots of people dressed up. There seemed to be some confusion of the theme. Some thought it was a rock star party, others thought it was a bowling fashion party. I'm not sure what theme Mark Winchester was going for, but it worked!






















Jenny, my girlfriend and business competitor ;) , bowled a 122. Check out that perfect form.






















I bowled a 172, and I only had one frame that game that wasn't a strike or spare. I think I got 8 spares, 2 strikes and a "9". I even got a "split". The pins were a part from each other and I deftly maneuvered the ball to tip one over to intentionally slide across to knock down the other. OK, it was luck, but I still celebated with shots of Jaagermeister. ;)

Patroller of the Week: "The Colonel"

...aka "El Tigre", aka "Jon". This week I'm featuring Jon, a retired Army soldier turned Ski Patroller. Jon was the rookie trainer. For the first part of my season at Ski Patrol, I'd report to "The Colonel". He's a crotchety old grouch of a man, but that's just the way of the Colonel! The patrollers actually made up a song about him called "El Tigre" and it's pretty funny. Anyway here he is, sporting the military-issue spectacles.

what my clients think of me...

One of my brides for 2006 had a funny dream about me. Actually a very scary dream, accoding to her. This is too funny for me not to post. Direct from her email (I'll be nice and keep her name private!):

"Also, about that
dream that i had, i am scared to tell you this for fear you might think i am
crazy, but you strike me as the type of person with a good sense of humor, so i
wanted to tell you. In my dream you actually were taking pictures of everyone
else, but i just missed the boat. Anyway, the funny part was that you actually
had three legs, but one of them had a horse foot with a horse shoe and
everything. and as James later pointed out, this would probably be a good thing
for you, because you could be your own personal tri-pod. I thought that was
funny. But then later in the dream you transformed into this old hippie guy
with long dreadlocks that just kept smoking pot the whole time instead of taking
pictures, and then you had three arms, and then i woke up. Sorry if this freaks
you out, but i just thought it was funny. I have weird dreams a lot though, so
who knows."

Any dream experts that can translate this one?

Also a groom of mine who was supposed to get married last May couldn't because he was involved in a tragic snowboarding accident at my very own Keystone. The crazy thing is that after thinking about it, I am 99% sure that I was skiing the same run as him on the day of his accident... I was about a minute in front of him and didn't even realize it. I remember the day in April well because I was attending the new hire clinic at Keystone, when a snowboarder was flown out Flight for Life. I didn't realize it was a groom of mine until a few weeks later when his fiance emailed me to tell me that he was in a coma.

Then Thanksgiving weekend I got a great email from Scott. No longer in a coma! Scott is now hiking and man, if you check out his blog, you can tell that Scott is now living each day for what it's worth. I respect Scott so much for his passion for photography, the Colorado outdoors and cooking! Scott, I want to try your famous pizza. And if you look deep into his blog, you'll see I am even featured in a photograph. I'm honored, but it's kind of a funny shot! Check out his blog! Scott, I'm glad to have you back!

Stickers

Stickers are really popular among the patrollers... and in Summit County in general. Most popular destinations for stickers include nalgene bottles, windows, cars, lunch boxes, and you name it. Here are some shots of water bottles inside the patrol headquarters and a sign full of stickers near Loveland Pass. Also a nice sunset shot I got while driving to Denver yesterday after work. I don't know what the "bucket 'o' gout' is all about, but I do think the curly heart shaped straw compliments it well.