First NBA Experience | Jimmer Fredette Returns

Yesterday was a big day. My first-time-shooting-NBA kind of day.

Quick bit of backstory. Jimmer Fredette, formerly Brigham Young University's all-star player, returned to Utah for the first time since his epic college basketball career... this time playing as a Sacramento King. Fredette was picked tenth in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft.

Big ups to my editor, Mark Johnston, for letting me get up to Salt Lake City for this (stressful/rewarding) experience. Looking forward to keeping to my 2-foot by 2-foot square on the hardwood again.  Cheers to the cool photographers that shared the floor with me.  As always, enjoy.

Jimmer Fredette, center, of the Sacramento Kings, is encouraged by teammates in the huddle before a game against the Utah Jazz Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Utah's Derrick Favors, center, reaches for a rebound off of the backboard as Sacramento's Donte Greene, right, looks on in horor during a game Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Frozen Hog Mountain Biking

Clear as a bell. Eighteen degrees. Perfect riding weather, no? The folks at the tenth annual Frozen Hog Mountain Biking Race in Alpine, Utah, were loving it. Great light and fun action abound at this assignment. Something about this event reminded me of the many mornings I woke up early during my senior year at Western Washington University to string for The Bellingham Herald... Got me missing some of my buddies and shooters back home.  Enjoy!

A portrait of Gabe | Payson, Utah

Gabe Jackumsen, 10, has Cystic Fibrosis, and has been through a lot more in his few years than most people have in their entire lives. Luckily for him (and despite his illness), Gabe has an outstanding support network.  When I was sent to the Jackumsen home to make a picture of the fine young man himself, I was warmly welcomed.  For the duration of the time I spent in Payson, Utah, I was reminded yet again of the importance of family and the fragility of life.

Here's to Gabe, tough little guy that he is.

Gabe Jackumsen, 10, poses for a portrait while hooked up to his Respirtech high frequency chest compression device Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, at his home in Payson, Utah. Two years ago, Gabe's parents, Travis and Karen Jackumsen, took him to the doctor after his complaints of chest problems. He was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.  Twice a day for thirty minutes each, Gabe must allow the vest to shake his chest, keeping his lungs and airway clear. While his morning session with the machine safely occurs before his fourth grade classes, the avid Cub Scout and basketball player sometimes finds himself having to come home for his evening session between recreational activities.  "The most annoying part about it is I can't move around a whole lot while it's on," Gabe said.  "Except when he's playing Wii," said his father, Travis, with a laugh.

UVU Men's Basketball vs. North Dakota

What happens when the 7 p.m. game gets delayed to 8 p.m. and your deadline is 9 p.m.?  Oh, and don't forget the anthem, player introductions and a dance team performance during the pre-game minutes.  You make do.  In the allotted 15 minutes of shooting time for print and an online gallery, I shot this week's personal favorite basketball photo.  Sweet face.

UVU's Ben Aird, center right, stretches to catch a rebound as teammate Alfonzo Hubbard, center left, and North Dakota's Mitch Wilmer, right, and Troy Huff, left, look on during a game Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

"Push It" Gym

While the concept was simple - "shoot some features on this new gym in Springville" - the challenge was a (challengingly) typical one for a newspaper photographer: make something especially cool out of something of everyday occurrence*.

*Cue the beauty of high vantage points, punchy color and graphic aesthetics.  Enjoy!

Instructor Kristin Mackey, upper right, leads a group of women through a rigorous morning of exercises and conditioning drills Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, at Push It Gym in Springville, Utah. Mackey opened the gym in 2010.

MLK Day 2012

The beauty of this job - for me, at least - is the sheer volume of life a photographer can experience through the simple presence of a camera. The places you go, the things you see, and in this case, the people you meet.  For MLK day this year, I was lucky enough to meet and photograph the living civil rights legend, Julian Bond, at a presentation at Utah Valley University in Orem.  While the picture is merely a profile snapshot, it is the experience that was the incredible takeaway from the day's events.

Waiting for Wings

As an intern, I wish I would have heard about this sooner - I would have attended instead of shooting it.  Just kidding.  Sorta.

Two sets of brothers, Jayce Ross, top left, Micah Ross, top right, Mason Ross, lower right, and Jesse Brown, bottom center, and Hans Brown, lower left, enjoy the comforts of their home away from home - a TV, Xbox and fast food for breakfast - while waiting for the grand opening of Wild Buffalo Wings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, in Lehi. The restaurant promised free wings for one year to the first 100 customers through the door. The boys had been holding their spot since Friday. The parking lot, full of other young hopefuls awaiting Monday's bumrush, was dotted with tents, trash and makeshift firepits.

Brigham Young Men's Basketball vs. Santa Clara

Full speed ahead on the sports. This was one of the first games I photographed in Utah that I felt "in the zone" on.  Maybe it was the added pressure of sending to the Associated Press and Salt Lake Tribune at halftime, but something worked better for me than what I was doing before. Thanks to editor Mark Johnston for a light kick in the rear beforehand.

*NOTICE TO NON-PHOTOGRAPHERS: The next line down will seem incredibly geeky and leave you scratching your head.  Skip it, and go straight to the pictures.

*NOTICE TO PHOTOGRAPHERS: The light in BYU's Marriott Center is unlike anything I have ever seen or photographed in for indoor sports - it's insanely good.  Averaging 1/800th at f/2.2 at ISO 500 on one of my two camera bodies, life is great.  Come to Utah and see for yourself!

Say Yes To The Dress (...Feature?)

Apologies for the terrible title of this post.  Moving on.  I was out hunting features the other day and everything was coming up short.  I happened to glance into a bridal shop on State Street in Provo and violá - problem solved.  Although these did not end up running due to a lack of page space the next day, I still like the feeling you get from them.  I couldn't pick one, so here's three.  Enjoy the prep for the greatest day of someone else's life!

Madeline Bodine, 21, right, tries on wedding dresses with her friend and BYU classmate, Mindy Westover, 22, left, on Monday, Jan. 9. 2012, at the Bridal Center in downtown Provo. Bodine is set to wed Andrew Barrett, another BYU student, not pictured, on April 21 at the Salt Lake Temple.

Food Review | Savory & Sweet

Daily Herald staffer & buddy, Spenser Heaps, was sent to photograph a new restaurant in town - Savory & Sweet - for a food review article.  Lucky for me, my editor sent me along with him.  Spenser took the reins on the shoot and flat killed it.  I, on the other hand, was a tad rusty on shooting food (as it had been a while since my Seattle Magazine intern days), but came away with a b-side frame that stood out to me as something a little different than usual for this type of shoot. Shot with a 135mm lens and lit with one Speedlite from overhead (thanks, Spenser) and balanced with the outdoor light, this buffalo chicken crepe image is a recent favorite.

All-Stars Wrestling

I did it.  I took the advice from my good friend, John Lok - a staff photographer at The Seattle Times and an incredibly positive guy - to request strict sports duty once I got to Utah.  In less than a week, I have shot a number of games and matches in all different sports from high school to college level, and, with any luck, NBA will be in the near future (i.e., with the Utah Jazz). To start off the sports train, enjoy a couple frames of young high school lads giving each other the beatdown at an All-Stars wrestling tournament at Utah Valley University.  Thanks for looking.

First Day | Daily Herald

I think it is only right to post some frames from the first day of every internship, whether they are good or bad.  The images made the first day are personal benchmark; a sort of starting place that should serve as a constant reminder of what was as time rushes onward.  On my final day at the Herald, I will look back at this post - and hopefully laugh.

Fitness fair.  Weather features.  BYU basketball.  Fun first day.  Enjoy a chuckle at my expense.

 Cycling and kickboxing instructor, Sarah Fossum, right, leans away from the bare foot of Emily Peay, center, a dance and cardio party instructor, during a yoga demonstration for onlookers during the Health & Fitness Fair Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at the Pleasant Grove Community Center. Fossum and Peay, along with the other women in the demonstration, all work as instructors at the community center. The event offered informational stations boasting new health programs and products for attendees.

Bryan Niven, center right, works with his father, Jeff Niven, right, to roll the base of their third snowman Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Rock Canyon. Bryan, his wife and his two children enjoyed the light dusting of snow with his parents, both of whom recently relocated to Utah from Southern California.

Brothers Skyler Crawford, left, and Spencer Crawford, right, chase after their friend, Ethan Gaylord, with intent to pelt him with snowballs Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, in Pleasant Grove. Before the battle, the trio enjoyed sledding down the hill outside of the Pleasant Grove Community Center. "We're bummed about the little snow so far," Skyler said, "but we're taking advantage of what we have."

San Francisco's Perris Blackwell (22) pushes through a pack of BYU defense at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012.

Welcome to Utah!

Long story short: getting my body and my stuff to Utah in light of my acceptance to the photo internship at the Provo Daily Herald has been a journey of journeys.  Better story: I am officially living and working out of Utah County from now until June 2012 with a killer photo staff: photo editor & photographer Mark Johnston and staff photographers James Roh and Spenser Heaps.

After (somewhat) settling in, I was introduced to Rock Canyon, which can be seen from my office window and driven to in five minutes for a hike or a chill lunch spot. As I take in the stunning natural beauty of this area, let these opening images serve as a scene setter for my photographic existence in Utah.  Thanks for peeking in!

NERO / N.Y.E. Resolution for ZUMA Press

It's been simply astonishing to watch dubstep dominate the American music scene over the past several years. What began as a sort of musical experiment in South London basements can now be heard in nearly every radio-played single, unbiased by genre or scene. Yet what is more incredible is the live presentation of dubstep - a thing of beauty that I've been lucky enough to photograph several times. While a touch more tame than this past summer's IDENtity Festival, N.Y.E. Resolution was a comfortably familiar experience of epic proportions.

NERO - one of the world's top DJs at the moment - made a stop in Seattle, Wash., for a New Year's Eve celebration, and the following images are a brief testament to the insanity that unfolded. What a way to kick off 2012. Happy New Year, and enjoy!