February 2014 | In Pictures

Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate, left, hoists a 12th Man flag toward thousands of outstretched hands during a historic celebration parade for the Seattle Seahawks, Super Bowl XLVIII champions, on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. A record-shattering estimate of 750,000 people attended the event. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Fans and Space Needle personnel work to unfurl a 25-foot by 35-foot 12th Man flag under the Statue of Liberty in honor of the Seahawks making it to the Super Bowl Friday, Jan. 31, 2014, on Liberty Island in New York. The flag journeyed from Seattle to Manhattan on a cross-country trip. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Bruno Mars, center, performs during the halftime show at Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Seattle's Marshawn Lynch dives into the first touchdown of Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Broncos fans imbibe before Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

A member of Blue Thunder does a handstand while playing an impromptu set for Seahawks fans to celebrate the day before Super Bowl XLVIII Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014, in New York City. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

With "GET MORE" scrawled across the bottom of his cleats, Seahawk Walter Thurmond, top, sails over a tackle during Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The Seahawks beat the Broncos 43 - 8 to clinch the championship. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Seahawks Chairman Paul Allen hoists the Vince Lombardi trophy into a cloud of colorful confetti following a Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl rally Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

A masked Marshawn Lynch sneaks through a pack of Seahawks teammates while attempting to evade a media onslaught following Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The Seahawks beat the Broncos 43 - 8 to clinch the championship. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Big Lo, a Seahawks super fan, kisses the Vince Lombardi trophy following a Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl rally Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll strides onto the field for a Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl rally Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

With Vince Lombardi trophy in hand, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, right, tries to dodge a spray of 2003 Dom Pérignon champagne let loose by running back Marshawn Lynch, left, during a Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl rally Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII days previous. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Passers-by navigate the crowds of Times Square the day before Super Bowl XLVIII to catch a glimpse of the Vince Lombardi trophy Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014, in New York City. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Northwest Photojournalism crew looking good following Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The Seahawks beat the Broncos 43 - 8 to clinch the championship. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

After "pants-ing" an opposing player, Harlem Globetrotters player Hi-Lite, center, feigns sadness as Dizzy, right, points at a skirt revealed under Hi-Lite's shorts during the "Fans Rule" World Tour Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, at KeyArena in Seattle. The kid-friendly Globetrotters have thrilled families and millions of fans for 88 years. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Harlem Globetrotters player Flip, bottom, tosses an opponent over his shoulder during gameplay at the "Fans Rule" World Tour Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, at KeyArena in Seattle. The kid-friendly Globetrotters have thrilled families and millions of fans for 88 years. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Sonic-gear-wearing fans await the Harlem Globetrotters to sign autographs following the "Fans Rule" World Tour Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, at KeyArena in Seattle. The kid-friendly Globetrotters have thrilled families and millions of fans for 88 years. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Harlem Globetrotters player Flip clambers to the top of the basket mid-game during the "Fans Rule" World Tour Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, at KeyArena in Seattle. The kid-friendly Globetrotters have thrilled families and millions of fans for 88 years. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Mark. Seattle, Washington.

Carey. Seattle, Washington.

Seattle, Washington.

Feeding the birds. Seattle, Washington.

Crosses. Seattle, Washington.

Captain Wade Bassi, left, one of two owners of the halibut and black cod ship, Polaris, watches from his window during the Parade of Historic Fishing Schooners Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, beginning at Fishermen's Terminal and concluding at MOHAI in Seattle. The eight-boat parade consisted only of operational historic wooden fishing schooners - some more than 100 years old - responsible for seafood on dinner tables nationwide. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

In a marriage of equestrian arts and theatrical effects, the 30-million dollar extravaganza of Cavalia's Odysseo took Marymoor Park by storm with a production featuring 63 horses and 47 artists Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014, in Redmond. The show opens to to public and runs from Feb. 19 to March 9. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

In a marriage of equestrian arts and theatrical effects, the 30-million dollar extravaganza of Cavalia's Odysseo took Marymoor Park by storm with a production featuring 63 horses and 47 artists Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014, in Redmond. The show opens to to public and runs from Feb. 19 to March 9. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

In a marriage of equestrian arts and theatrical effects, the 30-million dollar extravaganza of Cavalia's Odysseo took Marymoor Park by storm with a production featuring 63 horses and 47 artists Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014, in Redmond. The show opens to to public and runs from Feb. 19 to March 9. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Concerned citizens fill the Seattle City Council's chambers following a rally for the need of a statewide moratorium on potentially dangerous oil-by-rail projects Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, at City Hall in Seattle. Oil trains have exploded in different regions in the U.S., causing death and property damages. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

While aboard the Polaris, Brian Dafforn, center right, points to a fleet of ships alongside Kyle McCartney, right, during the Parade of Historic Fishing Schooners Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, beginning at Fishermen's Terminal and concluding at MOHAI in Seattle. The eight-boat parade consisted only of operational historic wooden fishing schooners - some more than 100 years old - responsible for seafood on dinner tables nationwide. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Nat. Seattle, Washington.

Retired minister John-Otto Liljenstolpe, right, joins a crowd of Working Washington supporters protesting for 15 dollar minimum wage in front of McDonald's on 3rd Avenue and Pine Street Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in downtown Seattle. Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant joined in to speak, amongst others. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Men enjoy drinks near a tower of bottled waters at the MAXIM Super Bowl party Saturday, Feb.1, 2014, at Espace in New York City. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate is mobbed by hundreds of students at Auburn Riverside High School after the institution won the Verizon-sponsored second annual “Save It Seattle” contest Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014, in Auburn. The "Save It Seattle" movement encourages the community to take a pledge to stop texting and driving. Quarterback Russell Wilson was the guest last year after Seattle's Roosevelt High School won the contest. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Performers comfort their horses following Cavalia's Odysseo Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014, in Redmond. The show opens to to public and runs from Feb. 19 to March 9. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Korbin Levin | Athlete of the Year

I present to you another in the series of the Utah Valley Athlete of Year portraits, this time with a young man named Korbin Levin.  Not only does the dude have a great name, but just like Ms. Riggs from the previous post, he let me do what I had to do - no time crunch whatsoever. The image that ran in print is not pictured here (as it's my least favorite), but I decided to share a couple for the sake of the work put in. My only regret is utilizing a limited distance light kit for the shoot. It would have been great to spread my strobes out and shoot more environmental, but hey - that is the nature of the beast. Enjoy these outtakes from the afternoon's session.

Mercedes Riggs | Athlete of the Year

Year after year, all over the country, youth athletes are awarded this prestigious honor... and local photographers struggle to do something different with each new batch of portraits. After I got assigned this year's load of portraits, my editor Mark Johnston made a simple request: "let's bring these back to strong, clean photography," he said. Sounds good to me.

I lucked out with Mercedes Riggs, the Utah Valley female basketball player of 2012. Not only was she a total sweetheart and came prepared in a badass Timpanogos jersey, but she allowed me to corral her around for over an hour and half as I executed various portrait ideas I had been cooking up for the shoot. The paper ended up running three portraits of her, pictured below. My only wish is that the high school had stocked more basketballs for the first image.  Another hundred orange orbs in the background of the picture couldn't have hurt. I can only hope that she enjoyed seeing them in print as much as I enjoyed shooting them.