Craig Okraska Photography

Michael Franti & Spearhead

2011-12-09T21:14:00.006-07:00

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Best.Show.Ever.

If you've never been to a Michael Franti show do yourself a favor and GO!
I had an incredible experience photographing the band this past summer. I can't say much more...check out the photos -- I'll let them speak for themselves!

Lany & Brett : : Fort Collins, Colorado

2011-10-22T19:22:00.011-06:00

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Instead of hearing what I have to say about Lany and Brett's wedding day, I decided to try something a little more interesting and insightful -- from the perspective of the bride and groom themselves. I came up with a few questions and asked them to write as little or as much as they wanted...they took to the task wonderfully and reflected upon the day.

Check out their favorite photos from the day and why they choose them at the end of this post.

A little background about Lany and Brett's idea for implementing their hockey theme: they really liked the idea of interesting, hockey-based portraits as part of their photos. After pondering over the idea, I asked them how willing they were to experiment. To my delight, they whole-heartedly agreed to a short series of conceptually-based photos illustrating a storyline of them battling it out in the rink. We narrowed down the ideas and managed to pull 5 of them off in the short time we had before the start of the ceremony (only 30mins!!). I can't express the fun we had pulling everything together to make it happen...:)

Many thanks to Don Hajicek and Jeremy Hochhalter for their awesome assistance!
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How did you meet?

We both ended up signing up for a co-ed hockey tournament in Sheridan, WY. When we were down there, we really hit it off, and spent most of the tournament talking and getting to know each other. One night Brett even invited me to come hang out after they had kicked us out of the hot tub, but I turned him down because I was tired -- only to come knocking on his room door 5 minutes later. At the end, Brett asked for my phone number, and called me the very next day. He even texted me that night to say it was nice to meet me, but I never texted me back (he would come to find out that my phone was broken, and my texts rarely, if ever, came through). We went out a day later, and have been inseparable since

How did you propose?

When I decided to propose, it seemed only fitting that I propose at a hockey game, since that is where we spend a lot of our time, and where we met. Lany and I played over the summer 2010 in a co-ed hockey league in Windsor, so I convinced Lany to take the opening face-off for "the game." I waited until we played a team that had some of our good friends on it (and one of the referees was a good friend as well), and got Jeremy (who introduced us) to take the face-off against Lany. While she was getting ready for the face-off, I started our song ("Stand by Me" by Playing for Change) on the PA system, and got the ring ready, and skated up behind Lany. She didn't realize what was going on for what felt like forever, as she was very involved in taking the face-off. When she finally realized I was asking her to marry me, she got very excited... and tried to kiss me... but her face-mask was still on! Oops. Once we kissed, she decided to take a "victory lap," except she lost an edge behind the net, and careened in to the boards. Then very daintily skated back to the bench. We played the rest of the game, we both scored a goal, and then we got to BBQ with our friends and family after the game to celebrate. I was even able to get her mom, brother, and sister-in-law to come up to be there. Unfortunately her Dad was stuck in Durango, due to the night of the proposal being moved up 2 weeks due to a scheduling error from the Hockey League.

What was your theme/style?

We decided that since hockey was involved in us meeting, and hockey was involved in our proposal as well, that having it involved in the wedding was a fitting choice. So when we met with our wedding planner for the first time (Kate with Green Apple weddings), we described our theme as: "hockey themed, but classy, not tacky" -- So we tried to add hockey in to our ceremony and our decorations in various ways, while still having a beautiful, elegant event. We knew from the beginning we wanted an outdoor wedding, so we found a city-run garden with lots of space for people to feel comfortable walking around and enjoying themselves, without feeling pressure to drink or dance if they didn't want to.

Dress/shoes/jewelry details?

Dress was an Allure, sweetheart neckline with lots of sparkles, beading, and tulle. Shoes were actually already purchased long beforehand. Our proudest accessories were our hats. Lany's hat was her "reception party hat," and was created by Etsy seller Lady Lygeia (who also created the fascinator she wore for the ceremony). Brett wore an Optimo Fine Hat, which he has now been starting to wear as a common accessory to his wardrobe. Lany also wore a pearl necklace with a claddagh pendant (she also has a claddagh tattoo on her back and wears a claddagh ring on her right hand -- it's the Irish symbol for Love, Loyalty, and Friendship)

Hair and makeup?

Hair was done by Janae with Europa Salon, and makeup done by Barbara Fisher, a local make-up artist. Both of them did a great job, and we would highly recommend them. Janae did a great job of finding a good balance of creating an up-do that looked very pretty, without being "over the top" (My normal version of doing my hair is straightening it, or putting it in a pony-tail, so anything too fancy would have just looked weird.)

Flowers and cake?

Flowers were done by Linda with Finishing Touches -- Linda created a beautiful blend of starfighter lilies, dyed-blue singapore orchids, burgundy roses, Fiddle-Fern Fronds, and Ivy -- They were absolutely spectacular! The cake was done by Schmidt's Bakery -- Pumpkin Caramel, German Chocolate, and Raspberry-Almond-Poppyseed. It was, of course, all decked out in skates, mini-pucks, and, of course, a Stanley Cup cake topper!

Where did you have your rings made (any significance behind your style choice)?

Darvier Custom Jewelers created our rings. We used Brett's Grandmothers engagement ring/wedding band/diamond in the designs, which are amazing. Brett's band has meteorite in the center, with alternating bands of titanium and yellow gold. Lany's ring is a tension-set band (where the diamond actually sets in the band without braces or prongs) in titanium, with a tri-gold mokume inlay. We wanted something really unique, and Darvier was extremely amazing throughout the process of designing our rings.

Location of ceremony?

Gardens on Spring Creek -- This venue was a city-run facility. It had a ton of space, and had seperate areas we could use for the ceremony and the reception. We loved that it had an outdoor kitchen where people could watch the food being finished in front of them. It also had lots of space for people to roam around, and we really tried to create an atmosphere where people didn't feel like they had to sit in their seats and wait for us to "do something" -- We used high-top tables to create a feeling of, "Please walk around and enjoy yourself," but also made room around the dance floor for people to dance and be merry if they wanted to be. We really enjoyed the way our ceremony came out, too -- We ended up re-creating our entire thing about a month before the wedding to make a place for a reading that was very close to our hearts, but that the officiant didn't feel comfortable reading. When we had originally created the ceremony, we put in readings that we really liked, and we were happy with. But as it got closer, we realized those readings didn't speak to us from the heart. So, we decided to have people closest to us give a speech during the ceremony. We requested that each person write an approximately 2-minute speech, and that they send it directly to the officiant - We didn't want to hear any of them before the ceremony. So Chris spoke on behalf of the groomsmen, Tiffani spoke on behalf of the bridesmaids, Brett's mom, Joy, spoke on behalf of the parents, and our good friend Jeremy Fusco (who introduced us, via setting up the tournament we met at, and has been a great friend of our ever since) gave a reading as well. We requested that Jeremy read a piece about human beings being split in half, and forever looking for the other part of their soul (originally by Plato). It was amazing to get to hear all their stories for the first time while we were standing up there. We also wrote our own vows, and didn't share them until we read them to each other at the wedding.

Groomsmen and Bridesmaids (how did you make your choices)?

Our groomsmen were Brett's 2 Best Friends Chris and Chip (he's known them for about 15 years now), and each of our brothers (Scott - Brett's brother, and Colin - Lany's brother). We wanted to keep the Bridal Party small, as we wanted the people who were standing up there with us to be our absolute nearest and dearest (and we didn't want to try to wrangle too many people when it came to planning wedding events!). The bridesmaids were Tiffani (Lany's best friend since high school), Catie (another one of Lany's best friends from high school), Sara (Lany's sister-in-law), and Becky (Lany's close friend and co-worker).

What did you do for your honeymoon?

We actually haven't taken a honeymoon yet -- We decided to spread out the "wedded bliss", so we made it through all the wedding craziness, and then took a few days and went up to Steamboat, where we relaxed, ate food, and reveled in the simple joy of not having to make any decisions more complicated than, "Are you hungry?" and, "Where do you want to eat?" -- I really can't imagine trying to plan all the crazy, hectic wedding stuff, AND planning an oversees vacation at the same time, but a few days away to rest and relax was definitely an amazing choice! We're hoping to go to Europe in May for our "real" honeymoon.

Most memorable moment of the day?

Brett: When Lany was walking down the stairs for our first-look photos, I was incredibly nervous (like... panic-attacky, hyperventilating nervous). As soon as I saw Lany come around the corner, and I got to see her and speak to her, all of the nerves just seemed to melt away. I don't know if I've ever felt anything quite like that before, with such an intense build-up to an almost immediate relief washing over me. Once we got the first-look photos completed, it all seemed easy.
Lany: There were so many amazing moments that stick out throughout the day, it's hard to narrow it down. Seeing Brett's nervousness when we met for the first look photos, and then feeling the almost palpable release as we moved from those to our on-the-Ice shots. I loved the feeling of getting my ice skates on, and taking a few ordinary passes with Brett -- the feeling of being in the ice rink with a strapless dress on and not being cold... walking down the aisle in the sunshine, and seeing these waves of faces of all the people I love most in the world coming together, just to support our vow to love each other.... and then hearing our family members speak on our behalf.... The ceremony and the lead-up to the ceremony are some of my favorite parts, because they were rushed, yet there was this eerie sense of ease and majesty to them than I can't quite explain.
When I woke up on the morning of the wedding, I decided to go get breakfast. It was interesting sitting alone in the hotel, eating breakfast, watching a re-run of last years Stanley Cup hockey, and just enjoying the quiet solitude before I had any "schedule" for the day. My brother and sister-in-law came down to join me, and the waitress (who had been waiting on me all morning) asked us if we were in town for a wedding. My family looked at me, and we all started chuckling. I said, "Yes -- we're here for a wedding. Mine." The look on her face was just... incredible. I wish I had a picture of it. She was so excited, and so shocked that I hadn't said anything, "Well, why didn't you say so? I would have made a bigger deal of it!!"

What is your favorite photo from the day and why?

Brett: Lany and I agree that there are way too many to choose from to answer this question!!!! I really like the "gangsta pose" that we got to take with my groomsmen, as it's just a picture full of awesomeness. But my other favorite would have to be the hockey shot where Lany is in net, and I'm winding up against her -- It was such a comforting feeling to get away from the pressure and stress of the day, and just... put our skates on for a little bit, and mess around on the ice. It released any nerves from the day in to something that we both do all the time. Plus, the hockey photos are just incredible.
Lany: I also agree that there are way too many photos to choose from!!!! There's a picture of Brett's Best Man (Chris), and my Dad leaning over the railings of the hotel while we do our first look photos, and I just love looking at it. I also love the photo of Brett twirling the flower girl, and she's spinning with such abandoned joy that you can almost feel the picture moving with her. There's another picture of Brett and I laughing at the toasts, and we've got our heads thrown back, and you can feel straight-laughter issuing forth from the photo. But my absolute, I-can't-stop-looking-at-them photos, are definitely the hockey photos -- I want to make them in to posters and hang them up all over the walls because I feel like I could look at them forever and never get sick of the creativity and intrigue presented by them. It almost feels like it can't be us doing those photos, because they're so interesting, and intriguing... like they tell more of a story than is actually there, "Who is this girl in a wedding dress, and why is she facing off against that man in the tuxedo?".... I feel like they should be in a magazine

Local Author and Entrepreneur

2011-08-24T19:04:00.002-06:00

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This is Larry.
We originally had this idea to photograph portraits outside his Laramie, Wyoming home for his upcoming book, which is sort of a memoir, but mostly his adventures in the wilds of Africa during his younger days. But, as nature would have it, the unpredictable weather kept us at bay.
Recently, however, the winds calmed and the sun came out, giving us a perfect morning for a few prize moments. Personally, I like the first one the best, but I'll let you be the judge.

Lisa & Matt : : Vedauwoo Wedding

2011-07-06T23:53:00.005-06:00

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Rain, sunshine, clouds, rain, wind, sunshine, rain, sunshine, wind . . . and in that order. It's a mighty brave person to tempt Wyoming weather, but I'd say Lisa and Matt are pretty brave people (and their guests too!). But, despite Mother Nature's games, no worries - it turned out to be a pretty perfect day on top of Vedauwoo (pronounced Ve-da-voo). After the ceremony everyone trekked down the mountain for reception festivities at the Laramie Railroad Depot. They couldn't have picked a cooler place to have a party!

All in all, it was a fantastic way to spend a Saturday - I had a great time!
Here are a few snapshots of the day . . .

One of my favorites of the night

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Hillbilly Hellcats

2011-06-16T01:04:00.004-06:00

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rockabilly: (rŏk'ə-bĭl'ē) n.
A form of popular music combining features of rock 'n' roll and bluegrass.

...add a dash of living guitar legend Chuck Hughes and you have the Hillbilly Hellcats. Check out this premier Denver act.

Thanks for the opportunity guys ;)

Rehearsal Dinner

2011-04-07T15:27:00.005-06:00

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Who needs a panoramic camera?

The "Odocoileus" series

2011-02-17T23:19:00.005-07:00

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So there was this deer at a party . . .

Addison : : take 4

2011-01-23T15:56:00.004-07:00

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Full of energy and vigor, Addison never ceases to amaze me at how fast she can move! I've had the pleasure to photograph her over the past four years - this year though, instead of shying away from the camera, she did her best to show off all her smiles. As always I had a fantastic time playing paparazzi with the Kjellgren fam.

Here's some of the evidence . . .

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home on the range

2010-12-07T22:55:00.005-07:00

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Have I been neglecting sharing my recent stuff - yes. But I have good reason. Here's a few photos of our new place! Picket fence and all . . .

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Photo delivery 3.0

2010-09-25T17:32:00.003-06:00

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Photo delivery 1.0 = negatives

Photo delivery 2.0 = cd/dvd

Photo delivery 3.0 = flashdrive

Since digital files keep growing and growing in size, I decided it would be much easier to deliver my images via flashdrive. The choice seems like an obvious no-brainer - no more worrying about degradation of discs over time, no more scratched discs, no more "disc error" to contend with. But perhaps most desirable of all, my clients get a flashdrive to reuse as they please.

Shall I further expound upon it's grandeur?

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Crazy Kids : : portrait session

2010-07-28T22:32:00.002-06:00

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To borrow a phrase from my grandfather, these are "crazy kids." When I was a young lad, I would walk home from the bus stop and pass by my grandparents house. My grandfather was a devoted carpenter and you could always find him working on some random wood-working project. As we walked by, he would always ask, "what did you learn today," and invariably we would respond, "nothing." He'd mutter under his breath, "crazy kids." For some reason that has always stuck in my mind about him and now I find myself saying the same...does this mean I'm getting old?

It probably goes without saying, but I had a fun time wrangling these expressions out of them. You can almost see their personalities in each of their portraits. Hope you like them :)

Michaela & Jared : : The Pines at Genessee : : Golden, CO

2010-06-28T19:03:00.007-06:00

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First things first: many, many thanks to photographer extraordinaire Lisa Spicola for the privilege! You can check her out here.

A soggy Saturday it was for Michaela and Jared. Rain, however, wasn't about to stop these two together with their family and friends to celebrate their big day at The Pines at Genessee in Golden, CO - I can't think of a better backdrop than the amazing (and foggy) Rocky Mountains. We managed to muster up some cool ideas even if the weather didn't cooperate. Luckily Jared was the kind of guy to heed my crazy ideas and put them to film, even if his buddies laughed all the while (all great fun!). Many people may not know this, but overcast days can give you amazing light for photography. If you ask me, I wouldn't complain a bit, great light = great photos. Thanks so much for the opportunity!

Here are a few of my favorites from the day.

THE DETAILS

Location Prep: Sheraton Denver West

Location: The Pines at Genessee, Golden, Colorado
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NoCo Pro Photo Magazine : : Interview

2010-06-15T19:47:00.005-06:00

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I'm a little behind on a blog update . . . that doesn't mean there's isn't anything to post however !

To follow up on the Premiere Issue of NoCo Pro Photo Magazine, I was interviewed for the first Artist Focus feature. The questions were well thought out and included some interesting takes on what influences me, namely the question "what song defines my photography." As many of you know, or may not know, music is a huge influence. It's difficult to narrow it down to only one song, especially since it probably changes on a weekly basis. Even so, I couldn't just keep it at one song, but I did manage to keep it at one artist - an incredible feat to say the least. At any rate, you can check out all the questions and my extremely interesting and thoughtful answers (*hint of sarcasm) by following the link below. Among the questions and answers are a few of my recent photos as well as a few older images, all of which I'm pretty fond of.

Needless to say, it was fun to be an interviewee, and not to mention that I'm honored to be the first artist in profile. Check out the link below...

...and yes, that is my arm in the fridge :)

NoCo Pro Photo - NoCo Pro Photo Magazine : Issue

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Chrissy & Lowell : : Red Top Mountain State Park : : Georgia

2010-05-23T22:01:00.007-06:00

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Three days in hot Georgia! Who knew Red Top Mountain State Park in north Georgia was such a fantastic place to have a wedding? And who could pick a nicer couple to host all their friends and family, complete with cabins and all, along beautiful Lake Alatoona? If you guessed Chrissy and Lowell you'd be correct! I had such a great time and couldn't imagine photographing a more sweet, laid back couple. Stress-free weddings are always a plus! To top off the festivities at the end of the day's events, we all had a late night swim in the lake - I couldn't say no to that! Thanks again guys for such a fun time. Hope you enjoy these teasers...(press F11 for best viewing).

THE DETAILS

Location: Red Top Mountain State Park

Photographer: Craig Okraska Photography

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NoCo Pro Photo online Magazine : : Priemer Edition

2010-05-22T19:53:00.004-06:00

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Sweet! That's my work on this month's cover of the premier edition of NoCo Pro Photo Magazine - a new online publication geared towards northern Colorado photographers. We have some really talented photographers in Colorado, and I'm glad to be part of this creatively thriving community.
I'm honored to have won the first of monthly themed challenges. You can check it out here:

NoCo Pro Photo Magazine

Erin + Ben : : The Tides Riviera Maya : : Mexico

2010-05-02T20:26:00.015-06:00

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One word: AMAZING!

Erin and Ben were married at The Tides Riviera Maya in beautiful Play Del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico. We spent four incredible days on the beach, in the jungle, and among great people. To be honest, it was hard to stop photographing since there were pictures hidden everywhere. Erin and Ben couldn't have been easier to photograph - it helps when you have attractive subjects to work with ;) I loved every minute of it. And it doesn't hurt that they have a great sense of style (Erin was the head buyer of designer collections for Shopbop.com and is about to open her own store in NYC - yeah, she knows fashion). What more could you ask for? These guys know how to party!

I had such a tough time narrowing down only a few photos for this post, so as you can see there are a bit more than I normally post. I had such a great time guys. Thanks so much for sharing your experience and allowing me to photograph; I hope you enjoy this taste...(press F11 for best viewing).

THE DETAILS

Location: The Tides Riviera Maya, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Event Planner: Elegant Occasions :: JoAnn Gregoli

DJ/Music: DJ Monk

Jewelry: Rachel Leigh

Photography: Craig Okraska Photography

Assistant: the extraordinary Anika Mahoney

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Name this Photo : : I need your help

2010-04-02T14:13:00.003-06:00

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Hey friends, I need your help and advice on these two recent photos. I'm currently trying to decide on a title for each of these images and I'm seeking the creative minds of people like you. I'm interested in a title that goes along with a storyline - whatever story you can come up with - whatever these images invoke.

And one more favor to ask...which photo appeals to you more?
Your votes are incredibly valuable to me! Thanks so much for your thoughts!
It's open to you Facebooker's as well...Click Here or Here to link.

My Dad

2010-03-10T23:35:00.003-07:00

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Yup, that's my ole' man. And here he is in all is hunter-clad glory. Over the past year or so, I wondered to myself, with all the photographs I've taken of completely random things, total strangers, and not so total strangers, why haven't I captured more images of my family? Last Christmas on my visit back home, I forced my dad into letting me spend some time to truly photograph him. I was actually quite surprised that he was open to my ideas, given he would much rather spend time looking for that deer. Needless to say, it was well worth it to me to take a few minutes and capture an image of my dad - his passion and his environment. I love my dad.

Model shoot : : Heather

2010-02-07T01:29:00.003-07:00

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I had a fantastic time photographing Heather, all while experimenting a little with some newer lighting techniques that I've been itching to try. Somehow I managed to coerce her in to jumping up and down in place with an expression-less face (hey, that rhymes). In the first image below, she pulls it off exquisitely! I had the opportunity to shoot with a ring light. This produces that unique "ring" catch-light in the eyes and gives soft, shadowless light in the second image.
Hope you like these favs of mine. . .

A Monday in Piedmont Park

2010-01-15T22:54:00.005-07:00

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2010 is not just another year, it's another chance for me to photograph little Addison and her mom Jennifer! This time we ran around Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta and found a ton of fun. Though Georgia isn't known for it's cold weather, that day showed us arctic fronts sometimes do make it down south.
But the chilly weather and cold breezes could stop Addison from having a field day at the playground ! !

Here are a few of my favs...
(click F11 to view fullscreen)

Sabine : : Dirk : : Omi : : Germany

2009-12-13T22:50:00.007-07:00

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Here a few images from the other side of the world. Lots of great food & drink, amazing ruins, and good people. There was a bit of wine involved in some of these portraits (can you guess which ones?). Can't wait to make it back to Deutschland!
Congratulations with little Max!

a quick stop in Luxembourg

Omi

our flight over Greenland was breathtaking
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Deanne : : Jonathan

2009-11-27T03:15:00.005-07:00

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All the way from Portland, Oregon! Yup, this is what genuine Oregonians look like (though they kinda bare a strange resemblance to southerners I think). Great models and even greater company. Did I mention they were easy to photograph? Thanks for braving the Colorado cold; we had a great time.
Hope you enjoy these photos........!!

Kim + Will : : Steamboat Springs, Colorado

2009-11-08T05:02:00.009-07:00

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One splendid day in Steamboat Springs, two charming people, and a whole lot of orange and pink = Kim & Will's big day!
I wasn't quite sure what to think seeing as how they are wedding photographers as well - a little intimidating to say the least. As the day progressed, however, I knew it wouldn't be tough photographing such a friendly and happening couple. Moreover, it was evident these guys knew how to party. And that they did...! Congrats guys!
Many thanks to Krystal Radlinski with Verve Studios for the opportunity to meet and photograph such great people. Here's a few snapshots from the days events...

Another amazing Colorado wedding!

2009-09-20T22:13:00.010-06:00

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Dina and Kieth are hitched!
Dina's family's ranch, nestled in the Rockies, has to be the perfect backdrop for a wedding! Everyone had a grand time, despite a few rain showers. I really enjoyed their hospitality and helping take part in their big day thanks to Kristy Watts. Here's a few of my faves from the day...

From the Wyoming series

2009-09-08T15:29:00.005-06:00

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Oops, so it's been a few weeks since my last phlog (photo log; as opposed to web log); I sincerely apologize for this. Believe me when I say I have sooo many photos/events to post that I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. At any rate, here are some images from my latest venture into the vastness of Wyoming.
These photos were taken around Pinedale, WY and Jackson, WY. The burly lookin guy with the banjo is my brother in spirit, RC. If you aren't familiar with his initials, he's the famous ole-time bluegrass picker Ross Crandall. If you haven't heard of him, do yourself a favor and check him out when he's in your town. It's hard to feel sorry for a fella who lives in a yurt overlooking the Grand Tetons!
The other critter is a white-tailed prairie dog. They are hilarious to watch and even more fun to photograph. As for the sky image, that was the actual color and texture of the pre-dawn morning (no enhanced photoshop techniques to speak of)! It was worth it to wake at 5:30am to catch first light over the Wind River Range.
Please enjoy

Colorado Rocky Portaits

2009-07-09T00:51:00.008-06:00

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After photographing another great Colorado wedding over the 4th of July weekend in Salida, we found ourselves spending the night just outside the small South Park town of Fairplay...specifically Pike National Forest. What a killer back-drop for some great portraits - check out those cloud layers! I couldn't pass up the opportunity to test out my new off-camera light triggers. Here are a couple of images of what I like to describe as "environmental portraits." Let me know what you think...

(note: this site is best viewed by pressing F11; press it again to return back to the normal screen)

New Biz Cards

2009-06-02T22:34:00.005-06:00

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You gotta have a card, right!? These cards came all the way from Hong Kong and I'm really pleased with the quality. I was turned on to this company called Print 100 who prints at amazingly affordable rates with super fast turn around. It's hard to see the spot UV in these photos, but look at that shine! (I know this sounds like an ad, but since a fellow photographer shared his good experience with me, I'd thought I'd pass it along to anyone in market for a printer)
Why didn't I print local? Well, you'd be amazed at the cost to print your own custom design, spot UV, moderate weight paper, with a matte finish business card. For what it's worth I'm a big proponent for buying local....especially when it comes to food. But that's for another blog. In the meantime, I will continue to stare at my new works of art!

Photoshoot with Courtney

2009-05-23T14:32:00.008-06:00

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It's not everyday I get a chance to shoot in a studio set up since I'm more of a "on location" kinda shooter. So, need less to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to experiment with studio strobes and various lighting techniques. Courtney was a great model to shoot with and was very open minded to the random and sometimes seemingly odd posing we put her through - not to mention camera lenses in her face! Thanks Courtney!
These are two of the more interesting images from that shoot. Nothing ground breaking here, but fun to say the least!

Montana is cold

2009-04-20T14:18:00.003-06:00

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Cold. As in negative temperatures cold with blowing winds. I'm not complaining one bit, however, because as it turns out, every place I am fortunate enough to visit seems to reveal an interesting distinction; and eastern Montana isn't much different. There is an insane amount of history: fossils, native Americans, prehistoric artifacts, manifest destiny. . .
I don't want to forget about the 'Now' though, because even though we don't think about it, we are creating history everyday. I pull out the trusty ole' Nikon for these images. A few "cold" ones and a few more for my "sign" theme.

Swetsville Zoo

2009-03-30T22:52:00.004-06:00

I've been to many zoo's in my time, but the Swetsville Zoo has to be the most unique I've experienced! Just outside of Fort Collins in the small community of Timnath, CO you can encounter all sorts of interesting creations, shapes and textures to photograph. I've posted a few images from my recent visit...
Unfortunately, big business has moved in next door and it appears the Swetsville Zoo may be down and out and looking for new homes for it's creatures. This article explains it a little more. It's worth a visit if you're looking for something new and unique.

Snow Finale?

2009-03-03T22:09:00.006-07:00

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It's March and I'm already missing the snow! Snow has a wonderful way of transforming the mundane into something spectacular, or in this case, something worth a closer look. It's not difficult to find interesting things to photograph near my neighborhood in Fort Collins, just a little patience and some warm clothes. In the meantime, I hope we get at least one more snow-fall; before too long green buds will be poking through to a new season. Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure.

* every now and then I like to play with photoshop - can you spot which one!?

Personal portrait work

2009-02-19T23:02:00.003-07:00

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In my travels I often get to meet interesting people who have incredibly interesting stories to tell. Here are a few characters I've met who have not made it on to my blog yet. It's amazing how many fascinating people are out there in this world; the hard part is taking time to stop what you are doing to notice. I sometimes find it difficult to just stop somebody in the street and ask to photograph them, but other times I see an interesting face and I get this gut feeling. A little dialog in my head tells me that "I have to photograph this person!" if I don't the moment will be lost...Here are a few those documented internal moments.

An Afternoon with Addison

2009-02-11T10:38:00.005-07:00

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I had a fun time with little Addison again in Atlanta. I always seem to underestimate how difficult it can be to photograph the wee ones and to find interesting shots, especially when they've just woke from a nap! She gave me a run for the money but, as always, I enjoyed every minute of it! I hope to continue it annually! Here's a few faves from our short session...

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-29T11:30:00.001-07:00

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We had a stupendous Thanksgiving in the Rockies along the north fork of the Canadian River! We backpacked in, thanksgiving dinner and all, spent 3 days in an amazing yurt, hiked around our personal mountain, and found a great little wonderland all to ourselves. As always, here are some images of our trip...

Monterey Aquarium

2008-10-12T18:20:00.000-06:00

How could a trip to Monterey be complete without a visit to the Monterey Aquarium?! So many cool creatures and so little time to photograph all of them. Here are a few photos from my foray into these unique underwater habitats.

Kelly + Mike

2008-09-29T22:21:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Kelly and Mike! It was a wonderful time in beautiful Monterey!

Ta!

2008-08-13T22:28:00.001-06:00

Portrait session for Ta before her return to Thailand. With only about an hour of daylight left in the day, we rushed around town to find the coolest locations to shoot. Here are a few of my favorite shots.

I only wish everyone were so easy to photograph!

Alison + Tobi

2008-06-19T21:32:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Alison and Tobi!

I had the distinct pleasure of photographing these two last weekend in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. A beautiful location to wed with two beautiful people = a photographer's dream. Thanks so much guys!

2008-06-05T00:28:00.000-06:00

rainy day in Sheridan...thanks Anika!

A few from the last week

2008-05-19T00:46:00.000-06:00

...and I present to you, the lovely Canon 5D

2008-05-14T01:59:00.000-06:00

Flowers

2008-04-26T20:16:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I've been experimenting with flower photos. And just to make them a little more interesting I've played around with some composition ideas I've picked up from marketing ads and other photographers. I hadn't realized flowers could be so interesting to photograph.

the past in northeast WY

2008-04-17T01:00:00.000-06:00

Through Wyoming

2008-03-22T01:43:00.000-06:00