Latitude:

End of the Day

2011-09-15T11:22:00.000-06:00

It was a beautiful evening with a golden sunset as the horses made their way into a corral at the Flathead Lake Lodge in Bigfork, Mont.

Nice Evening on the Farm

2011-03-14T14:09:00.003-06:00

It was a nice evening on the farm. Catching up with family and spending some time with little cousins. I even had a second to take a couple test shots with the new camera app on my phone. I like how they turned out, but I wish they were larger so I could try and use the app for the newspaper sometime.

How do you fight Cabin Fever?

2011-03-02T15:17:00.003-07:00

Bar Stool Racing
Cabin Fever Days : Martin Cinty, Montana

Jesus + The Mountain:

2011-02-07T15:40:00.005-07:00

Friday, I ascended Big Mountain on chair two at Whitefish Mountain Resort to make pictures of a refurbished Jesus statue overlooking the Flathead Valley. The tricky part was a) I don't ski too well and b) they don't usually allow foot traffic on chair two. After much help from the resort, I was allowed to hop the lift and (short) hike down to the statue. The skiers and resort employees were pretty psyched about the dumping powder. I was hoping for a bluebird day but was just happy to make it up the mountain. The first are a few pictures I took of the state. The next two are from the lift. Because of the lack of foot traffic on chair two, I would imagine the image of Hell Roaring restaurant is a unique angle.

Stay tuned to FlatheadBeacon.com for the release of a historical piece on the Jesus statue or pick up the Feb. 9, 2011, print edition for the full story. (UPDATED: Read the full story here.)

Di-still My Beating Heart:

2011-02-02T13:26:00.004-07:00

I love the process of making booze. So how excited was I when we decided to do a story on some local microdistilleries for the Beacon. My favorite "taste" by far – and quite possibly ever – was the absinthe (specifically Extrait d’Absinthe Verte) distilled by Ridge Distillery west of Kalispell. Its the complex flavors the assorted herbs (including anise and wormwood) used in the distilling process that bring to the drink that I love. Plus I'm a huge fan of "black licorice" flavor. Their gin is outstanding as well. Then it was onto Whistling Andy distillery in Bigfork where they make vodka, gin, rum and moonshine. Out of the state's seven microdistilleries, four of them are in the Flathead Valley.

Read the full story in the Beacon by Myers Reece: Moonshining Goes Mainstream.

Smokin' Montana Cold

2011-01-24T11:34:00.002-07:00

Dog Days of Winter

2011-01-11T12:05:00.004-07:00

Flathead Sled Dog Days – Olney, Mont. : Sunday, January 9, 2011

Holiday Leftovers:

2010-12-27T10:51:00.003-07:00

For our holiday edition of the Beacon, I spent a few hours with Santa... Whitefish Santa to be more specific. Basically the story goes like this:

At the age of 50, Clifford Lee became Santa Claus.

Of course, with his annual white winter beard and jolly temperament, his grandkids had always assumed he was Santa. And his brother had long encouraged him to officially take on the role.

Lee, who lives in Whitefish, was reluctant. Growing a beard to keep his face warm in the winter was one thing. Dressing up in a bright red Santa suit and entertaining large groups of hyper kids was quite another...

Read the rest of "Becoming Santa" by Myers Reece here.

Lee had some great anecdotes about being approached by kids while wandering around in his civilian cloths or wagging a finger at children acting out while shopping with their parents. I made the portrait in his home in Whitefish.

Best of Preps: Fall 2010:

2010-12-17T07:52:00.009-07:00

Another year and another portrait series of the fall sports standouts of 2010.

The kids were great to work with this year. Thirteen portraits in one night is always a challenge. With collaboration from my editor Kellyn Brown, I can honestly say that I was super psyched with our front page design as well. First time in Beacon history we messed with the flag. Click the image for a larger view.

Check out the kids' stats along with the full list of all stars on the Flathead Beacon Website here, they are quite impressive.

Glacier National Park Fall Flashback

2010-12-15T09:22:00.002-07:00

It was an early morning heave-ho out of bed but I ascended Going-to-the-Sun Road and reached the summit at Logan Pass just as the sun was rising. What I didn't plan on was the fog that kept washing over me in massive waves of freezing vapor. Most of the time the vistas were totally obstructed. Then, as if a plug were pulled, the fog would rapidly shift leaving gaps through which to photograph before rushing back up the steep valley walls and swamping me again.

Brief Fall Flashback:

2010-12-14T12:12:00.002-07:00

Remember Summer Pt. 3: The Sun

2010-12-13T12:53:00.003-07:00

Remember Summer Pt. 2: Hot Air

2010-12-10T12:33:00.002-07:00

Remember Summer Pt. 1: The Water Park

2010-12-09T11:59:00.003-07:00

Sledding: Not For the Faint of Heart

2010-12-08T09:34:00.003-07:00

Rhoda Hell, Viola Blood, Pippi Broadknockings = Roller Girls

2010-02-12T14:32:00.005-07:00

Finally getting around to blogging this one. Mr. Testa and spent some time at a little – somewhat hidden – roller rink east of Kalispell where the newly organized roller derby team meets to practice their skills. What I didn't expect is that they would practice in the dark. See, their practices, until they can fin their own space to fly counter clockwise on four wheels, is during an open skate time at the rink. So while they rumble on the rink, the lights are turned off, Lady GaGa is turned up and other patrons there to have a good time mingle.

But I do think the lack of light turned into a good exercise for me and I was happy with the results. (For the other photogs out there: I used two lights on a pole (both SBs) and placed one light in two corners of the room.)

I loved the characters and their outfits were amazing. The monikers I liked the most were Rhoda Hell, Viola Blood and Pippi Broadknockings. The whole experience was infectious. Below are some pics from my night out with the roller derby league. I also added one of my fearless reporter.

Have Horse – and skis – Will Travel...

2010-02-02T10:30:00.002-07:00

Pulled myself off the couch this weekend to take in the local Skijoring in Whitefish. I have been feeling under the weather this past week so my brain wasn't firing on all cylinders but the event is so interesting – skiers are timed as they are pulled by horse over a series of three jumps – I couldn't help but go . Skijoring is another crazy aspect to the crazy Whitefish Winter Carnival... more on the carnival to come.

SnowMantana...

2010-01-13T16:34:00.003-07:00

Cruising for wild art today between assignments. Vignetting added to snowman photo... just cuz I wanted to.

Sled Dogs and Snowmobiles...

2010-01-12T10:27:00.006-07:00

Last weekend, Jessica and I headed north out of Whitefish to some trail heads near Olney. A snowy system of trails, mostly used for snowmobiles and access to some track skiing, weaves between Olney and north Whitefish Lake. On this day, the usual hum of snowmobile motors gave way to the icy swoosh of dogsleds and the quite panting of eager sled dogs.

The third annual Flathead Sled Dog Days was mostly fun with some difficulties thrown in. While Jessica remained at the star/finish line, I decided to jump on a snowmobile and take a nine-mile (hell raising) ride to the six-eight-dog turnaround. In hindsight, this was not the best idea. While it was great to see a different aspect of the race, the pictures were few and far between. At one point, the freezing rain and fog mixture complete froze my gear. Once the dogs were finished at our check point, the volunteers – who had other duties to attend to – left... leaving me to wait for about an hour and a half in the cold, snowy woods alone. This is a peaceful and terrifying experience.

I kept my toes warm by jogging, my fingers warm by jumping jacks and my camera warm by... well, it was pretty much an icicle. My ride did come and I was off on yet another nine-mile, jarring, sub-zero snowmobile adventure.

A very sincere thank you to the organizers and volunteers at the Flathead Sled Dog Days... I can't wait till next year.

Sushi by Candlelight...

2010-01-06T11:04:00.003-07:00

It has been a crazy couple weeks of house sitting. Lost dogs, found dogs, dirty dogs, snowy dogs, broken glasses (sorry bout that), shoveling heavy wet snow, shoveling heavy dry snow... and then, on our last night there, power's out. Even the gas heat uses electricity. So, sushi by candlelight. In the end, we still have everything to be grateful for... including sushi.

Rockin' the Rail, Fireworks and Very Cold Water...

2010-01-04T14:37:00.005-07:00

My New Year's consisted of – among other things – a Rockin' Rail Jam, Torchlight Parade, fireworks, a polar bear plunge and me in fishing waders standing in the 33-degree waters of Flathead Lake (which doesn't sound that cold, but I promise you... it was)... oh, and it was raining.

The end of 2009 and the start of 2010 was an interesting and busy 24 hours.

As a personal plug, check out my year in photos and year in sports photos on the Flathead Beacon Web site. Happy New Year's everybody.

Cyclocross...

2009-12-01T16:03:00.003-07:00

Flying across Herron Park's terrain, in one smooth movement they dismount their bikes to hurdle obstacles or sprint up steep inclines and then, like they never left their seats, they are back to peddling. It's a pretty amazing endurance sport called Cyclocross. The bikes are too burly for the road but too skinny to be mounting bikes and the races are usually about 1.5 mile laps, the winner being the first to complete a certain number. An off-season sport, mountain bikers and road cyclists look to it as a cold weather alternative that remains doable even in deeply inhospitable conditions

Ahh, To Be Bendable...

2009-11-30T11:29:00.003-07:00

Each year, about this time, I go on a Nutcracker rehearsal assignment and I am once again reminded of the painful days when I was in ballet. The sit ups, dance belts, elbows up - shoulders down, sit ups, humiliation, sit ups, stretching, pain, sit ups... did I mention sit ups. Ballet was by far the most difficult thing I’ve tried to do and ultimately, I really enjoyed it. I still grit my teeth when I hear a member of a ballet audience say, “It looks so natural.”

Cheers! It's Beer...

2009-11-19T12:43:00.004-07:00

I have been working on photographing an assortment of beers for our upcoming Winter Guide at the Beacon. I have a new born respect for people who shoot this kind of stuff. It's not easy and there are people out there who are ghastly good at it. There are a few technical things I would change, but I believe it was at least a good first effort on my part.

Montana Parking Spot...

2009-11-17T15:40:00.005-07:00

Parking at a high school football game in early October.

Someday We'll Find It...

2009-11-16T11:44:00.002-07:00

A beautiful day in the Flathead Valley.

Halloween Leftover...

2009-11-14T09:32:00.004-07:00

I'm not one of those photographers who really gets excited about photographing dogs or kids, so covering Dogtoberfest at a local ranch supply store was one of those "Is this really my job?" kind of assignments. But, I even have to admit, this guy dressed like the devil really cracked me up. And knowing there are a couple of you – Ashley – who will get everlasting pleasure out of a dressed up pooch, I present this photo for your enjoyment.

A Safe Haven...

2009-09-22T15:21:00.005-06:00

I recently photographed a story for the Beacon on a new nightclub for teens in the Flathead. The club is open to anyone age 16 and up but the owner has made an effort to reach out specifically to at-rick youth.

The Shadow of Zen...

2009-09-21T14:34:00.002-06:00

and pear.

I Refuse to Succumb to the Law of Gravity...

2009-09-15T16:22:00.003-06:00

Young Cowboy...

2009-09-14T16:07:00.005-06:00

I met this young cowboy during the O-Mok-See races at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. The word O-Mok-See comes from the Blackfeet Indian phrase 'riding big dance'. The first valley games where held in Columbia Falls in 1949. Most of the games resemble barrel races or races where the competitors weave their horses through tall posts. Most of my action images were relatively normal but I really liked the the calmness in this image. This young man acted well beyond his years as he told me stories about his horses past and present. He carried this great love for his animals and the cowboy lifestyle.

See a slide show of images from the event on the Flathead Beacon Web-site.

One of These Things is Not Like the Other...

2009-09-12T08:43:00.006-06:00

A little followup to the first day of school post.
This is my back to school version of the Sesame Street Game
"One of These Things is Not Like the Other."

Don't Know Much About History...

2009-09-10T16:43:00.007-06:00

Images from first day of class at Flathead High School.

More Red Hats...

2009-09-09T11:10:00.004-06:00

Maurine Jacobson, right, and her husband, Howard Jacobson, tease each other about how the met in fashion school in 1945 in Chicago. The two decorated the lobby of the Kalispell Grand Hotel with hand-made red hats to welcome the upcoming Red Hat Society convention. They were possible two of the funniest people I have ever met.

Please Summer, Don't Go Away...

2009-09-08T10:18:00.006-06:00

It's starting. The leaves have a conspicuous glow, the nights have been cool - we went from a fan in the window to sneaking the heat on for a few seconds over 24-hours - and I have taken to wearing my fleece more frequently. So Jessica and I decided to try and fit in at least one more hike around Logan Pass before the Sun Road closes from the west side. What we didn't expect is that by the time we reached the summit it would be snowing.

I normally don't post pics of myself on my blog, especially looking the way I do in this picture. It should be known that I am squinting because of the freezing, gusty wind blowing the sharp bits of sleet into our eyes. I'm not ready for winter.

We did conclude the outing with a long, sunny, trip around the south edge of Glacier National Park. See Jessica's pics.

Red Hats in Montana...

2009-09-02T13:49:00.003-06:00

In the about us section of the Red Hat Society Web site, the group describes themselves as:

We believe silliness is the comedy relief of life and, since we are all in it together, we might as well join red-gloved hands and go for the gusto together.

Well... I think this photo says just that, only with a Montana twist. The society will be convening at the Kalispell Grand Hotel here in downtown Kalispell.

Pig Days of Summer...

2009-09-01T09:40:00.007-06:00

While some of my friends are out getting pictures published on the front page of the NYT (see here...), traveling the world covering conflicts (see here...) or working on production shots for a local equity theatre (see here...) - I was out shooting pig wrestling.

Pig wrestling is a simple yet complicated event. The idea is: teams of four wrestle a large hog into a barrel in the middle of a very muddy circle. Outwitting a pig, especially a wet one, is more complicated than you might think. And very dirty. To add a little twist, crowd members are encouraged to bid on the teams in each division in a winner-take-all situation. The highest bid for one team was $185.

It's not a glamorous job, and I ended up being about as dirty (and sweaty in the summer fair heat) as one of the wrestlers. But such is the life of a small town newspaper photographer.

My favorite image from the event is this top photograph. The couple hugging are celebrating their honeymoon - which included pig wrestling... awesome.

Why the Greats are Great...

2009-08-25T16:40:00.004-06:00

Here's my attempt at an Elliott Erwitt. Not nearly as clever or as good, but the little dog still makes me laugh. Check out Erwitt's far wittier image (here) and more of his iconic images on the Magnum site (here). I love the way Erwitt sees humor in life. His images are ironic, almost always humorous but never cruel. Another of my favorites is the nudist group painting a subject fully clothed (here).

No Fair...

2009-08-24T14:39:00.003-06:00

Last year I attended the Northwest Montana Fair in the summer heat of Kalispell, Mont. (My southern friends, please, no comments.) I spent five hours, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., wandering the grounds. It was a blast and I have to say, I feel like I made some nice images.

This year, however, I did not want to go. After shooting pig wrestling for two hours, not really getting any killer pics (only in the editing did I 'see' what I should have seen while there), becoming continuously covered in sweat (my own) and mud (pig mud) I started wandering the grounds. I just couldn't keep going. Plagued by guilt and the desire to out shoot last year's images, I finally gave in to my desire to leave. This is the only non-pig pic I took. Not much to it, pick a background and wait. Sometimes you just can't force a second wind.

Ahhh... the Fair Must be in Town

2009-08-20T15:48:00.002-06:00

You Say Tomato...

2009-08-19T16:37:00.003-06:00

I say delicious.

Do You Scuba?...

2009-08-18T15:35:00.004-06:00

On assignment, Scuba. Just about everything I tried during this shoot did not work. This includes laying at the bottom of a 12-foot swimming pool (my ears screaming with pressure and my pockets filled with weights to stick me to the bottom) with a Walgreens point and shoot camera – sad, I know, but I tried it. I didn't even pop for the twice as expensive Kodak waterproof point and shoot (those things are expensive).

I might post my more successful attempts at weird underwater photographs later, but for now, this was my favorite.

The Flathead's Last Two Dairy Farms...

2009-08-17T13:20:00.005-06:00

"Dairy farming has never been an easy life; there are market vagaries, early morning milking and sometimes-uncooperative cows to contend with. You make a living, but not much of one, which is why dairy farming in the Flathead is nearly a bygone era."

Read the full story The Flathead's Last Dairy Farms at the Flathead Beacon Web site.

One With the Water...

2009-08-11T16:04:00.003-06:00

On a news assignment today at the confluence of the North Fork and Middle Fork of the Flathead River. I would have given anything to blow off the rest of the day, climb into a raft (or inner tube), prep the floating cooler and drift down the cool crystal clear water. The reporter working on the story with me was good ol' Dan and I couldn't help but think of these lyrics. Our outing was not quite the same as being left stranded in the desert... or was it.

Sons of the Pioneers
Cool Water

All day I face the barren waste without the taste of water,
Cool water.
Old Dan and I with throats burned dry and souls that cry for water,
Cool water.

The night are cool and I'm a fool each stars a pool of water,
Cool water.
But with the dawn I'll wake and yawn and carry on to water,
Cool water.

A Face at the Festival...

2009-08-10T15:51:00.004-06:00

It's arts festival season here in the Flathead. One of the booths at Huckleberry Days in Whitefish was using these very cool faces to display jewelry.

All RAVed Up...

2009-08-05T17:31:00.007-06:00

Shooting road cyclists is never easy. Tackling the Tour de Georgia down south was always a logistical nightmare (especially when you were never really told what was needed for the paper). They are fast and usually don't travel past the same point more than once, meaning you have to try and figure how to keep up or in front of them. It may be one of my favorite things to shoot.

This time around, with no "photo-moto" handy (the small scooters you see during the Tour de France or other major long-distance cycling events) we used the reporter's Toyota RAV. He drove while I shot precariously with the back hatch open. I propped the door open with my foot while I shot, leaving me very sore in very strange places the next day.

This picture of one of our local cycle clubs on an afternoon ride didn't make the paper, but it was one of my favorites from the trip. For almost the whole time the cyclists were riding with their backs to the light, so I anytime sun popped through the surrounding trees lighting anything by the back of their heads I was exstatic.

Farms Flying Flag...

2009-08-04T16:50:00.004-06:00

Three pictures, two exposures, one American flag I photographed while visiting a diary farm to the west of Kalispell, Mont.

Good Old Fashion Square Dance...

2009-08-03T16:51:00.004-06:00

Square Dancing at the Bar W Guest Ranch in Whitefish.

Sun and Flowers...

2009-07-31T15:19:00.004-06:00

I spent some time at a couple dairy farms yesterday (more to come of that later) and grabbed some shots of a beautiful garden of sunflowers. I'm always thankful of my job when I get a chance to be outside (and it's not freezing, raining or below zero) and have time to explore an assignment.

Ahh.. to be Young and Fearless

2009-07-30T14:10:00.001-06:00

Braving the Outrigger...

2009-07-28T15:18:00.005-06:00

One of the most fun days of shooting I've had in a while was photographing a local outrigger boat club for the Beacon on Whitefish Lake. I really wanted to get some shots of everyone paddling toward me from inside the boat. "Sure," they said. "We'll just put you on the front."

What I didn't realize was when they said, "on" they didn't mean "in." So for the final image they had me sit on the bow of the traditional Hawaiian boat (on the northern end of the white triangle seen in the first image below). I put my camera gear on the dock, lowered myself over the bow, gripped with all my might with my scrawny legs and hoped to high heaven that I wouldn't tip into the water dousing not only myself but also my camera.

I stayed dry.

The result was the last image pictured. Not exactly what I was going for. I needed a bit wider glass to really get the effect I wanted.

Over the Hill Gang...

2009-07-27T16:49:00.005-06:00

At the beginning of this month I had an opportunity to hike the High Line Trail in Glacier National Park with the Over the Hill Gang. The group of hikers – whose average age is in the mid-60s – hike the trail each year to help the National Park Service clear the trail of snow before its official opening. The group has participated in the annual tradition since 1992.

First – I had never hiked the High Line Trail before. Honestly, if you get a chance, it is incredible. After meandering a ways from the Logan Pass Visitor Center, the trail turns into a mountain-goat like hike along the edge of a sever cliff wall and never again is anything less than breathtaking.

Second – when you're hiking with a group of individuals in their mid-60s, two of which were 80 and one of those legally blind, there is no sympathy for being tired, hot or thirsty.

Click here to read the full story in the Flathead Beacon.

Proof I work...

2009-07-24T16:12:00.002-06:00

or at least stand around and photograph myself in mirrors.

More From the Water Front... It's Hot

2009-07-22T21:47:00.004-06:00

Ok, not to keep posting the same images over and over, but I recently visited the Whitefish City Beach on the edge of Whitefish Lake. Working on an assignment on boater safety, I couldn't help but make a few "cooling off at sunset" images. It's nothing I haven't really posted before but it was a nice break from the daily grind.

Seattle Trip 09

2009-07-20T11:46:00.007-06:00

I just got back from a week in the Emerald City visiting family, taking a jaunt up to Vancouver B.C., eating, walking, and eating. It was a fantastic trip. Not only did I get a chance to catch up with some dear family members (including some growing-like-sprouts-young-adult cousins) but I put the camera down for almost the entire vacation. Unlike some of my photographer counterparts, I have to take a break from being behind the lens every now and again. I did snap a few pics. This image of the space needle is the only one I shot with my own camera. Most of the time Jessica was kind enough to let me snag hers and blast a few frames when I just couldn't help myself.

Sometimes it's nice to take pictures when I don't have to, other times it's nice to not have to take pictures.

Youth With a Mission

2009-07-07T15:20:00.004-06:00

I recently hung out at this massive campus in Lakeside Montana that used to be home to a U.S. Air Force radar facility and now houses the Youth With a Mission, one of the world's largest Christian mission organizations. Read the full story in the Flathead Beacon here. One of the ways the spread their message is through music and the arts. They had quite the impressive recording studio.

Another Day of Blowing Up City Beach...

2009-07-06T14:42:00.006-06:00

I spent the Fourth of July at City Beach in Whitefish along the always beautiful and impressive waters of Whitefish Lake. I can honestly say I didn't really want to be working, but I did take a couple extracurricular pics besides the fireworks show – which was actually quite good this year.

Walking on Water...

2009-07-04T09:48:00.002-06:00

Shadows and Rainbows...

2009-07-01T09:54:00.004-06:00

A few images from Kalispell's first gay pride parade. See the full slide show at the Flathead Beacon here.

Smoochin' on the Lake...

2009-06-30T09:45:00.006-06:00

Finally getting around to dealing with some Polebridge and Bowman Lake photos. I am proud to say that I spent more time fishing, eating pizza and pastries, drinking, dancing to surprise music, chatting with friends and meeting a wonderful lady – who is dating my wonderful Mate – than shooting photos. It was a great getaway, even though I had to endure my couplie friends non-stop lovie dovie smoochin' in between casts (you know who you are :)

Eyes a Deep Pool Blue...

2009-06-29T14:28:00.003-06:00

I recently spent a few hours at the water park in Kalispell. I was surprised at the resurgence of popularity in aviator glasses among lifeguards.

Polebridge Sunset

2009-06-23T12:04:00.003-06:00

I have had a difficult time keeping up with the ol' blog lately as I struggle to keep my head above water – but what's new I guess. So to those of my friends out there who I said, "Of course I'll get those pictures to you as soon as I get a chance." I'm sorry. I still haven't had a chance.

But I did have a second to post this image from my awesome evening of camping near Polebridge. And to prove brilliant minds think alike, my lady took almost the exact picture. I think I like hers more. She had to actually get up to make the photo while I refused to leave my proximity to the pizza.

Awards Announced...

2009-06-23T11:58:00.002-06:00

The Flathead Beacon – the newspaper I work at in the beautiful Flathead Valley, Mont. – won top honors among the state's large weekly and small daily newspapers in the Montana Newspaper Association's Better Newspaper Contest held last Saturday. We took home 30 total and 12 first-place awards.

Click here for a full list of awards.

As the Sun Sets, the Blue Moon Rises...

2009-06-15T14:29:00.007-06:00

Despite being alergic to everything on this planet – and the rodeo being a bombardment of sneezes and heaves – I love shooting the Summer Series Rodeo at the Blue Moon near Columbia Falls.

End and Beginning...

2009-06-14T10:58:00.004-06:00

It's the end of the school year but a new beginning for summer, the sun, flowers or just laying out in it all on the soft green grass and letting the mind go warm.

Dear Graduates, Good Luck Out There...

2009-06-08T15:11:00.004-06:00

Glacier High School in Kalispell graduated its first ever senior class this weekend.

Reflecting on Downtown Kalispell...

2009-06-04T14:22:00.001-06:00

Just a little reflection fun while on an assignment downtown Kalispell, Mont.

Wild Mile and a Sun Burn

2009-06-02T11:36:00.004-06:00

A couple weeks ago I photographed the Bigfork Whitewater Festival. It wasn't the best shooting I've ever done but I can't complain about sitting for a few hours in the sun – and the warm Montana weather – on a huge boulder overlooking the rushing waters of the Swan River. The kayaks racing the 'Wild Mile' section were incredible to watch. At full strength the Swan is considered Class V rapids.

Oh... and I got a pretty wicked sunburn.

Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.

2009-06-01T12:32:00.007-06:00

I just got back from a reunion of outstanding journalists, and friends, who I worked with in Chattanooga. This year, the reunion was in the great city of San Francisco. By far, my favorite section of San Fran is Little Italy. First, I love it's proximity to Chinatown, City Light's Bookstore and the Vesuvio Cafe (my favorite pub for ambiance). Secondly, and more importantly, the food... two words, Holy cannoli. Here's one of the Vesuvio adjacent to the City Light's Bookstore, one of Matt and Ginny staring longingly at the assortment of yums and, of course, one of two cannoli I ate without regret.

Eyes on the Conductor...

2009-05-28T09:39:00.002-06:00

Ears to the music.

Just Another Typical Day in Montana...

2009-05-27T11:37:00.004-06:00

Portrait of an Aspiring Actor...

2009-05-22T09:52:00.005-06:00

Casey Brown in an amazing and funny local actor. How could I not appreciate a young kid who loves Steve Martin as much as I do. He is graduating early from high school to attend the University of Southern California's Resident Honors Program. Each year USC accepts 20 to 30 high school juniors from around the country - who often represent the best and brightest. Very impressive.

Read the full story by Keriann Lynch, Acting Big in a Small Town, at the Flathead Beacon.

Horsing Around...

2009-05-20T15:45:00.003-06:00

Sometimes a Montana boy just needs to take a picture of a horse.

When the Love of Flying and Beer Colide...

2009-05-18T15:49:00.005-06:00

in a good way...

I can't put it any better than the words written by reporter Myers Reece:

"Down this rutted gravel road, 40 miles from the nearest incorporated town and 20 miles from a post office, loyal patrons of “America’s Most Remote Brewery” are tipping back beers and trying to cope with loss.

They are losing their beloved watering hole."

It's an end to one of the oldest and well-known breweries in Montana, Lang Creek Brewery.

Fans of the microbrew/craftbrew are mourning the loss while others, who are adverse to its tastes, seem surprisingly passive.

It was my first trip to the tap room. It took us about an hour to drive there – West along U.S. Highway 2 from Kalispell toward Libby. Tucked in the splendid Thompson River Valley, closer looking to Jurassic Park than the usual mountain vistas, is a bright read barn which used to house one of the best beers I've ever had. The Zeplin Imperial Ale. And being the aesthetic person I am, I loved the design of each of their lables all marked with the signature airplane.

In 1993, longtime homebrewer John Campbell converted his airplane hanger into the brewery and sold his first beer the following year. A path I oneday dream of taking. I'll call mine VizzuBrew.

So I'll be rasing a glass of something else local tonight and toast the memory of these fine beverages: Tri-Motor Amber Ale, ABV 5.1; Mandarin Orange Hefeweizen, ABV 4.9; Skydiver Blonde, ABV 4.3; Huckleberry and Honey, ABV 3.2; Fish On! Summer Ale, ABV 4.5; Winter Warmer, ABV 6.6; Cherry Porter, ABV 4.5; Zeppelin Imperial Ale, 7.7; London Ale, ABV 5.3; Heavens Peak Hefeweizen, ABV 4.1; Spitfire IPA, ABV 5.9; Stealth Imperial Strout, ABV 8.5; Old Pilot Porter, ABV 5.2

One Man Radio Station

2009-04-20T16:27:00.005-06:00

A couple weeks ago I had the chance to hang out with Scott Johnston, one of my favorite people, at 101.9 Montana Radio Cafe, one of my favorite radio stations. (Read the full story in the Flathead Beacon by reporter Myers Reece here.)

Scott operates the station – with a little help from modern technology – from the front porch of his home in Creston. I was there to document the fifth anniversary of the station and got to listen to two of my favorite local musicians, Christian Johnson and Billy Powell, pick some terribly fast hot jazz.

Check out and support the station here.

Up and About...

2009-04-14T09:43:00.005-06:00

Last week I came down with a sickness that was something of Biblical proportions. It left me completely immobile – a shivering, sweating mass of choking, near hallucinating goo. On the first day of being able to stand up with confidence and consciously interacting with the world again my lady asked if I wanted to take a drive near sunset (a magical time for light in Montana) I couldn't say no. Being that sick, I really reflected on the importance of personal health, including stress management, and appreciation of the things we take for granted. Step one, remember that a very short drive from our tiny little dwelling reveals such a beautiful vista.

Jessica's images from our excursion (here).

As If Best of Preps Wasn't Hard Enough...

2009-04-13T13:44:00.006-06:00

Last week was another Best of Preps circus. I'm starting to really love it. There is some great stress that comes with it though. Coming up with an idea of how to photograph twelve high school students in three different sports in our office, at night and with no studio to shoot in is quite a challenge.

This time I added a little extra challenge to the list. I decided I was going to shoot on a white background and I wasn't going to use a ball. Building a white background that can be assembled in the middle of your office and then dismantled easily is difficult. I experimented with different fabrics and materials (from Sheetrock to cardboard) and decided my best bet was to use a painter's back drop. It was heavier, cheaper and much bigger than regular fabric – three important things to a do-it-yourself photog. And overexposed with a couple of SBs it blew out the wrinkles quite nicely. The only drawback was that I couln't put my subject very close to the background or the kickback light would envelope the student.

I buit a pretty adolescent looking beautydish that created a very nice and even soft light for my subject.

In the end, I was happy with how it all turned out. The hardest part, even over the lighting, was not having a ball to fall back on as a prop. The kids worked with me and all my weird requests, and except from a few snickers and jeers from their friends they were up for trying anything.

Memorial for a Highway Patrol Trooper

2009-04-01T16:14:00.006-06:00

I went to a memorial service for a Montana Highway Patrol Trooper yesterday. The snow was torrential and the occasion very sad. He died four days after being hit by a 21-year-old drunk driver. The driver was said to have been speeding at 100 mhp when he collided head-on with the trooper.

Students Document P-I Photographers at the End

2009-03-30T12:25:00.003-06:00

I wrote a quick blog for the paper I work for – the Flathead Beacon – last week and found out today that the Seattle Times linked to it off their story "Former P-I staffers hope to launch new journalism Web sites." I don't think it drove much traffic to our site but I think it shows how we are beginning to get noticed outside of our state.

This is my origional blog with the embedded student produced multimedia:

This project is two fold. The Spectator's ( the Seattle University student newspaper) photo editor Braden VanDragt documented and produced this very professional presentation, "Silent Presses," which focuses on two Seattle Post-Intelligencer photographers and the final days of the newspaper. We get a view of the impact of a failing newspaper on its staff and community, but also a glimpse into how students are dealing with learning the journalism trade knowing their ability to find careers in the field is diminishing drastically.

This is how Joshua Lynch, editor-in-chief of The Spectator and brother of Beacon reporter Keriann Lynch, described it. Also, embedded below is the video presentation.

The week Hearst told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer newsroom it would put the newspaper up for sale for 60 days, Spectator photo editor Braden VanDragt had to have an idea for a documentary project for a class we were taking. So for those 60 days, Braden got access to the newsroom and employees (no easy task), photographed and interviewed them. Shortly after 10 a.m. March 16—just hours before his project was due—the P-I reported the next day would be its last in print. Braden’s work had come full circle; he showed his video, “Silent Presses,” in the final session of the class that day. Braden made use of a tool many thought would revolutionize newspapers’ multimedia coverage: the Canon 5D Mk II DSLR, a still and high def video camera in one. Now there may not be many newspapers left to use—or afford—such equipment. But a comment in the video and the number of hits on Braden’s work highlight this fact: There is no shortage of demand for the work professional (note the word) journalists do. The business model is broken. Braden and I, and other students looking to enter the field, can only hope this demand can drive a new media business model. In the meantime, our graduating managing editor is planning on waiting tables, and I’m preparing myself for that to be the best option available. But word on the street is a few P-I employees may have beaten us to the punch.

Silent Presses from Braden VanDragt on Vimeo.

Back in the Saddle

2009-03-30T12:06:00.004-06:00

So I was talking to my good friend yesterday (who is a member of and blogs for The New Heathens) and he reprimanded me for not keeping up with my blog. Well - touche. The truth is, I spend so much time sitting in front of a computer screen that sometimes my brain can't handle the whole blogging deal. I just want to quit program, turn off the computer and participate in the real world.

The other thing is, it gets difficult to push yourself to post images and write something when you know a) nobody is really looking and b) the whole process is very self absorbed.

Boohoo I guess - but I'm back in the saddle and it's a goal to fight my laziness and get at least one fresh thing up a day that I either produce myself or that I find interesting - or better yet, that you might want to see. So to mark my internal struggles and unwillingness to blog, here's some boxing photos. Because no matter how much I might not want to stare at the computer screen any more on a given day, it's better than being punched in the face.

Surround Myself With Good Company

2009-03-09T14:18:00.004-06:00

A little link love for ya'll -

My friends Holly Pickett and Kendrick Brinson are featured on the Verve Photo: A New Breed of Documentary Photographers blog. I met Ms. Brinson through my lovely lady (here) and have continued to be impressed her photography. Ms. Pickett and I go way back. If it wasn't for her, I never would have gotten my first internship in Chattanooga, Tenn. An internship that eventually morphed into my job of four years. I owe a lot to Ms. Pickett whether she knows it or not. She always pushed me and inspired me.

So check out their stuff and support their visions - as well as the other wonderful photographers on the Verve Photo site.

Blue and the Red

2009-03-05T09:28:00.004-07:00

It seems I have been burning the candle at both ends recently. I'm not complaining though. It's been fun but busy. The worst thing about it is that I learn I only have so much energy, and when most of that energy is directed toward something, other things are left undone or put off.

I have severely slacked on my sports portraits the past few months. It's one of my favorite parts of my job but I just haven't been able to keep my ass in gear and they don't get done. There are really no excuses for this - although I can rationalize with the best of them.

Follow The Bouncing Ball - For 35 Hour and 15 Minutes

2009-03-02T16:22:00.006-07:00

Thursday from 2 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. - Friday from 2 p.m. to 1:45 a.m. - Saturday from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. - living in a gymnasium - surviving on Gatorade, Polish dogs, Aleve and willpower - 12 games in three days. I'm still tired.

Goodbye Rocky Mountain News

2009-02-27T09:50:00.004-07:00

Sad. Just 55 days short of it's 150th anniversary, Pulitzer prize winning newspaper The Rocky Mountain News is ceasing publication. What are the lessons here? This is the paper that changed the meaning of multimedia for me with their piece "Final Salute" (here). I have been watching the industry implode on itself but I have kept it at a bit of a distance (for sanity sake I guess). But this one really bums me out. So go to their site (here), and click around while you can - see what we're going to miss. Oh - and watch this video "Final Edition," it's very well done and interesting.

Final Edition from Matthew Roberts on Vimeo.

One Artist's Self-Reflection Echos My Own

2009-02-24T17:05:00.003-07:00

I have been doubting myself lately. I do almost every February. Inspiration is cyclical for me. Sometimes it feels like I could go out into the world, drop my camera and get an image I'm proud of. Other times, times like these, I feel like I'm constantly pushing the stone up hill with immense thought and purpose, only to see the stone roll back into the valley below. It's something I've heard most friends say they have felt at one time or another.

I know I’m not alone in the feeling of constantly having to re-imagine oneself, but I have not heard it said better than in this short film "Transform" by Atlanta photographer Zack Arias. He has given me permission to publish it here. It is a beautiful essay on self-reflection, self-doubt and ultimately on understanding how fortunate we are. Please watch. And check out Zack Arias (here).

This blog was also posted on FlatheadBeacon.com.

A Capitol Day

2009-02-23T14:12:00.005-07:00

Last week, fellow reporter Dan and I traveled to Helena to cover a bit of the Legislature. It was my first time visiting the Capitol building in a professional capacity. Exhausting, fascinating, educational and fun. It was great to get out of the office, away from the Flathead and do a little reporting from afar.

Carnival Parade and Plunge

2009-02-09T15:56:00.007-07:00

Scenes from the Whitefish Winter Carnival: Grand Parade and Penguin Plunge

Sit, Skate and Shoot : Sled Hockey 101

2009-02-03T13:30:00.006-07:00

Last Saturday, U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey National Team member Adam Page visited the Valley with support from the Flathead Valley Hockey Association. Here's a little multimedia I turned out for the Beacon - which can also be seen (here) larger and in flash. I'm still figuring out all this compression mumbo-jumbo so forgive the size and quality. And blogspot seems to have made it a bit chunkier - It's all trial and error here baby. Oh, and go read the Beacon online. Press Play to See Video.

Harmonize This Sucka!

2009-01-30T16:00:00.004-07:00

I know I have been over the top with video posting lately. I promise to get back to the photos but it's been a nice break. I think we are all familiar with SNL being a kind of barometer for musicians who suddenly suck in front of a live audience. It seems to be a very unforgiving venue. This is why I am currently addicted to Fleet Foxes - They were amazing a couple weeks ago on the show and I just want you to love them like I do. Check out the serious harmonies.

And because we're sharing, I'll let you in on another of my little addictions - Gogol Bordello. It might be my perfect fantasy of a party - pirates, gypsies and punks - love it. No harmonizing here, just screaming in unison. Enjoy -

We Never Could Have Guessed

2009-01-29T14:35:00.002-07:00

I died a little inside when I saw this. (Thanks Emily for pointing this out to me.)

The foreshadowing is downright painful.

Everything I Could Have Asked For And More

2009-01-26T14:29:00.003-07:00

On Thin Ice

2009-01-23T15:07:00.001-07:00

Montana is Big... I Don't Ski

2009-01-19T15:15:00.008-07:00

Last weekend I ascended Big Mountain on Whitefish Mountain Resort's chair one to photograph an avalanche awareness class at the summit. The trick was... I don't ski. Now, for ego's sake, I do ski a little - but not knowing if I was going to be able to make it down by manpower, or in once piece, I decided to humiliate myself by not only taking the chair up but also back down. This means, as I descend the mountain, each and every skier/snowboarder going up gets a good look at the guy who can't ski.

But it was worth it. We are having an inversion - which is where the cold air is pushed down into the valley by warmer air - and it creates a sea of fog (sometimes freezing) in the valley but nothing but warm and sun at the summit. It was like standing on top of the world looking down into an ancient and ever changing lake. Next time I'll be skiing.

Tough as a Rubik's Cube...

2009-01-13T16:18:00.004-07:00

Times are tough, but are they as tough as figuring out that ultimate riddle of the Rubik's Cube? Ask Graham Parker who finally unlocked the magical mysteries of the six-sided devil after 26 YEARS!

The best quote is, "I have had wrist and back problems from spending hours on it but it was all worth it. When I clicked that last bit into place and each face was a solid colour, I wept."

Check it out (here).

If You're Happy and You Know it...

2009-01-13T12:22:00.003-07:00

Honestly, I was skeptical when I first started reading Gretchen Rubin's blog The Happiness Project on Slate.com. Her most recent post, currently the second out of two, has me hooked.

Rubin discusses "unconscious overclaiming," which she defines as:

"Unconscious overclaiming is the phenomenon in which we unconsciously overestimate our contributions or skills relative to other people’s. In one study, for example, when students in a work group each estimated their contribution to the team, the total was 139 percent."

This is certainly something I am guilty of. I'm guilty to the point where I think I am the only one who realizes other people are doing it – I "overclaim" my overclaiming perception ability... or something like that.

In any case, I recommend checking out her blog (here).

Hitting the Gate

2009-01-12T17:54:00.006-07:00

It was my first giant slalom race but I hope it's not my last. Lesson learned, bring more glass. I didn't have my long lens with me so I had to make due with the shorter ones, which meant a little more hiking. My lady went with me and she spent some time goofing on the slopes too (here). I hope the next time I post some ski photos it's of me and the wrecking ball of carnage I tend to leave behind on the downhill course.

Anniversary Party

2009-01-09T13:23:00.005-07:00

I had the opportunity to meet and visit with Annette Strean – of the band Venus Hum and toured with Blue Man Group – and her husband Kirk Cornelius – of the band Suns of Norway. They are collaborating together in a new band called Anniversary Party and played a show in Whitefish, where Annette is from. The show was in this little hollowed out church lit only by a few stage lights and some red and blueish green overhead lights. The music was fantastic. If I did the Facebook thing my current status would say, "I am eagerly awaiting Anniverary Party's upcoming album."

Visit their myspace page (here) for a taste of their sound.

Best of Preps

2009-01-06T11:40:00.006-07:00

It didn't come come together exactly how I hoped, but here are a few picks from my Best of Preps shoot last month. For the full slide show go (here). Theme was North Stars.

Big Mountain Boom Boom

2009-01-05T10:57:00.004-07:00

I almost missed a short firework show on New Year's Eve up at Whitefish Mountain Resort. I didn't have time to scope out a better place to be but was happy with the pictures just the same. I think next year I'll experiment a little more. It wasn't quite the 30 minute areal light battle that the Nooga used to roll out.

Still Not to Late to Look Back

2009-01-02T15:49:00.004-07:00

We published our first ever Best of Images and Cartoons this year at the Flathead Beacon. You can see them online at:

Beacon's 2008 Best of Images (here)
Beacon's 2008 Best of Cartoons (here)