New Blog: Photocan (click here to link)

After an 8-year career as a professional newspaper photojournalist, I’m currently transitioning into a new career as a freelance editorial and documentary photographer based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I look back on my time at newspapers and can’t help but remember all of the meaningful moments I experienced while at the job. They were my training grounds and I’m ready to use those skills and make work that I hope will inspire others. I look forward to many more great experiences as I strike out on my own. I invite you to follow me on this adventure at the new Photocan; I guarantee it’s going to be a wild ride.

I photographed the family of Ricardo Portillo, who was the center of a story that hit the national spotlight a few weeks ago. Portillo, a youth soccer referee, died after being assaulted for issuing a yellow card to a player during a game. People in the Salt Lake community and all over the country were outraged by the senseless violence that ended Portillo's life.

Recently I invested in a set of knock off pocket wizards. Since coming to Salt Lake I've been shooting portraits with only a few options for lighting. A) Praying to the photo gods for an overcast sky, B) Good window light, and C) shooting during the magic hour (for those who aren't photo savy that's the times when the sun rises early in the morning or late in the afternoon when it sets.) After purchasing these accessories I've been able to step it up a little bit and make some different portraits. I think that before I was force to shoot portraits in only natural light I would automatically go to my strobes and now I have a better sense of when the natural light is the best option. Here are a few:



These two portraits were shot in natural light.

Trucker of the year. An impromptu portrait that I just like.

From a very cool assignment...The University of Utah hosts an annual "Blessing of the Hands" ceremony where local religious leaders bless doctors, nurses, employees and patrons of the hospital. The event was super intense and while there are a few frames I liked I felt as though I didn't do it justice.



maypole



Graduation I'm always trying to find a new way of seeing these events. I've photographed so many different graduations, I challenge myself to see new angles.



RSL

Vigil





Baby animals and children...yup every newspaper photographer has to do it. A wise editor of mine once said, "puppies sell papers."

I covered two days of the State Wrestling Championship. Here are few frames.

 From winning his fourth state championship

I work a night shift, so by default I shot sports, a lot. I've never really thought I was much of a sports shooter but I guess if you shoot it enough you are bound to get some decent photographs. Here are a few from the last few months.