April 2014 | In Pictures

Originally from Taiwan, Buddhist nuns Sister Tám Ván, right, and Sister Dien Hoa, left, navigate their way through rows of colorful bulbs during the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Friday, April 11, 2014, between Mount Vernon and La Conner, Wash. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people come to the Skagit Valley in the spring to enjoy acres upon acres of nature's blossoming beauties. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Following nearly two decades of restoration, Barry Horner, right, joins volunteers and other Museum of Flight employees to help move a WWII-era FM-2 Wildcat fighter plane into its new permanent home Thursday, April 3, 2014, at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Built under contract by General Motors for the U.S. Navy, the plane was delivered on December 27, 1944, serving aboard the escort carrier U.S.S. Petrof Bay during WWII. The Wildcat flew anti kamikaze patrols in the Pacific, and participated in the invasion of Okinawa near the end of the war. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

With his curled beard, Dale Boudreau, of Bellingham, Wash., poses for a portrait at the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Friday, April 11, 2014, between Mount Vernon and La Conner, Wash. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Julian. Seattle, Wash.

As part of the city's "4/20" celebrations, Snoop Dogg exhales lungfuls of blunt smoke on stage during “Snoop's Wellness Retreat” tour Saturday, April 19, 2014, at WaMu Theater in Seattle, Wash. Rapper Wiz Khalifa co-headlined the tour. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Views of the restored King Street Station photographed Thursday, April 17, 2014, in downtown Seattle, Wash. The station's retooled waiting area was originally unveiled to the public on April 24, 2013. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Master of ceremonies Yoshiomi Matsumoto poses for a portrait backstage during the annual Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival Friday, April 25, 2014, spread across the Seattle Center in Seattle, Wash. The festival was founded 39 years ago in appreciation of 1,000 cherry trees gifted to Seattle by Prime Minister Takeo Miki on behalf of the Japanese government in commemoration of the nation’s bicentennial. Events continue through Sunday. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Portland resident Kim Hoffman scrawls the quote, "who needs action when you have words?" in memory of Nirvana's lead singer, Kurt Cobain, on a bench near the home where he died on the 20th anniversary of his death Saturday, April 5, 2014, at Viretta Park in Seattle. On April 10, Nirvana will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Stripes of color of the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival from above Friday, April 11, 2014, between Mount Vernon and La Conner, Wash. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people come to the Skagit Valley in the spring to enjoy acres upon acres of nature's blossoming beauties. Aerial access courtesy of HeliTours Seattle and Classic Helicopters. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Lucky women who made the cut for semi finals at an open audition for the Sea Gals squad rehearse the dance for the second round Saturday, April 26, 2014, at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. Tryouts are comprised of four competition rounds, with the final squad selections to be made May 4. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

People of all bed sizes took to friendly, feather-soft warfare at the annual International Pillow Fight Day event Saturday, April 5, 2014, at Westlake Park in Seattle. This year's fight was themed superheroes versus villains. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Liza Ogwel, 31, took to the sunny space outside to warm up with music before an open audition for the Sea Gals squad in preparation for the upcoming Seahawks' season Saturday, April 26, 2014, at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. Tryouts are comprised of four competition rounds, with the final squad selections to be made May 4. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Stripes of color of the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival from above Friday, April 11, 2014, between Mount Vernon and La Conner, Wash. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people come to the Skagit Valley in the spring to enjoy acres upon acres of nature's blossoming beauties. Aerial access courtesy of HeliTours Seattle and Classic Helicopters. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

A multi-colored bulb opens to sunlight during the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Friday, April 11, 2014, between Mount Vernon and La Conner, Wash. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people come to the Skagit Valley in the spring to enjoy acres upon acres of nature's blossoming beauties. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Colorfully-dressed performers of the Otokichi story play prepare for the stage in their dressing rooms during the annual Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival Friday, April 25, 2014, spread across the Seattle Center in Seattle, Wash. The festival was founded 39 years ago in appreciation of 1,000 cherry trees gifted to Seattle by Prime Minister Takeo Miki on behalf of the Japanese government in commemoration of the nation’s bicentennial. Events continue through Sunday. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Natalie. Ballard, Wash.

A lone, airborne split pillow stands out against an overcast sky during the annual International Pillow Fight Day event Saturday, April 5, 2014, at Westlake Park in Seattle. This year's fight was themed superheroes versus villains. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Participants complete their races at the fifth annual Seahawks 12K Run Sunday, April 13, 2014, in Renton, Wash. The event featured three races: a 12 kilometer, five kilometer and children's run. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Four Asian small-clawed otter pups, born in January, join their family to play, tumble and tussle at their public debut Thursday, April 24, 2014, at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

The boys, and Chelsea. Seattle, Wash.

In celebration of “4/20 Eve,” guests take dab hits at the third annual DOPE Cup, which featured a host live music, table games and performers Saturday, April 19, 2014, at Magical Butter Studios in Seattle, Wash. Cannabis strains from across Washington were judged for awards in multiple categories. The winners will be featured on the May cover of DOPE Magazine. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

An large, inflatable version of the Vince Lombardi Trophy stands at the finish line of the fifth annual Seahawks 12K Run Sunday, April 13, 2014, in Renton, Wash. The event featured three races: a 12 kilometer, five kilometer and children's run. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Several hundred yards from the home where Nirvana's Kurt Cobain killed himself in 1994, background, fans of the late lead singer such as Beau Allen, 27, right, and his mother, Bobbi Binder, center right, visited a bench loaded with offerings of flowers, unopened beers and handwritten notes on the 20th anniversary of Cobain's death Saturday, April 5, 2014, at Viretta Park in Seattle. Allen also visited the site on the tenth anniversary of the singer's death, and has been a fan of Nirvana since age six.  On April 10, 2014, Nirvana will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Four Asian small-clawed otter pups, born in January, join their family to play, tumble and tussle at their public debut Thursday, April 24, 2014, at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Feathers explode out of a split pillow, mid-swing at the annual International Pillow Fight Day event Saturday, April 5, 2014, at Westlake Park in Seattle. This year's fight was themed superheroes versus villains. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Nearly 300 young women await the beginning of an open audition for the chance at making the Sea Gals squad in preparation for the upcoming Seahawks' season Saturday, April 26, 2014, at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. Tryouts are comprised of four competition rounds, with the final squad selections to be made May 4. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)

Mark. Queen Anne, Wash.

Color Me Rad 5K Run | Orem, Utah

I know, I know, it looks just like my Holi post from a month or so back. But that's because the Color Me Rad 5K Run basically was the same thing... except this time, people jogged around. As an event, I thought Holi was a lot cooler and more fun to shoot, but I did what I could in an hour's time for Color Me Rad. Enjoy the color insanity, once again.

Failures are just as good as victories...

...When it's regarding an athlete and you're a photographer. It is never good to wish failure on someone, but I'll be damned if a weird sports fail doesn't look cool. The image below stood out to me from the day's take; just the strange intersection of a moment and a unique shape from a BYU track meet recently. Enjoy!

Ropes Course | Standalone hunt

Another hot, slow newsday - time to hunt for some standalone art. Since my editor had shot at this location the week before, this image did not run. Regardless of its absence from print, I figured it was worthwhile enough of a picture to post. It's not perfect, but it reminds me of summer camp. Enjoy.

BYU Volleyball | Something a little different

Rarely am I moved by a sports image in any aspect outside of the capture of peak action. During a match between BYU and Long Beach State, Brigham Young's Robb Stowell reacted to a point against his team in one of the places in the stadium with an ethereal background. Luckily, I had spent a solid 15 minutes on the floor of the BYU side of the game shooting tight with a 300mm - something that rarely pays off. The centered composition, an absent background and the multi-directional light on Robb during such a moment jumped out at me. When you see that weird frame in your take that appeals to you (and maybe you only!), do not be afraid to move it. What's the worst that could happen? Enjoy!

BYU's Robb Stowell buries his face in his jersey after a point was scored against his team by a Long Beach State player during a quarterfinals game on Saturday, April 21, 2012, in the Smith Fieldhouse at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Marty McCoy | Portrait

I feel like the portraits have come in droves this past month. When I knew that an elderly gentleman named Marty McCoy (who had narrowly avoided a stroke) was coming in, I opted out of my usual preference for strobes and brought it back to basics: hot lights. Fluorescent hot lights. Photographers everywhere just cringed.

... Needless to say, the quality of light provided by office lights nailed to 2x4' boards cemented into paint bucket stands was exactly what I was looking for; soft, flattering and gentle on the wrinkles. Enjoy.

Rebuilding with the ReStore | Fifth Anniversary

The ReStore - which I mistakenly thought was a Washington thing - was celebrating its fifth anniversary in business. The following image is the fruit of my labor from creeping around aisles of the store with a camera to get some art for the story. Luckily, I didn't need to creep too long; two gentlemen let me cruise around with them as they searched for a door for a project they were working on. When a moment can't be found, go graphic and something will come. After all, they're just pictures. At the end of the day, the point is to enjoy looking at them. So... enjoy!

Brothers Greg Jensen, right, and Adam Jensen, left, search for a door intended for installation on a shed the pair were in the process of building Monday, April 16, 2012, at the ReStore in Orem, Utah. The store - founded, owned and operated by Habitat for Humanity - is celebrating its fifth year with a sale. Donations and proceeds from the ReStore fund efforts by Habitat for Humanity.

Clear Horizons | Academy for children with autism

Miles Lambert, center, plays with an instructor during a classroom fun day on Monday, April 16, 2012, at Clear Horizons Academy in Provo, Utah. Clear Horizons is a school for children with autism.

Charity Fashion Show | Pre-show feature

Pulled this one out of somewhere in the last half hour before deadline at an event that hadn't even begun at the time this photograph was shot. Long story short: a miracle, and I am happy with it. If you look carefully, the Brigham Young University signature "Y" can be seen set into the Utah hills in the corner of the left widow pane. Enjoy!

Models practice their runway walks by the glare of a single spotlight before a charity fashion show to benefit Sowers of Hope, an non-profit organization started by two Congolese locals on Friday, April 13, 2012, in Provo, Utah. The evening's events marked the third year of the popular show.

Ardie Adams & his orchards | Portrait

Nothing better than meeting the subject of your portrait and finding out they're not only easy to get along with but a good person at heart. Ardie Adams, one of the oldest living fruit growers in Utah County, was certainly no exception to the rule. Mr. Adams and I spent an afternoon together talking life, cherries and the ol' Book of Mormon. As I was leaving, he put his hand on my shoulder. "You seem like a fine young man with a fulfilling life being lived already," Adams said to me. "I respect how hard you work - never underestimate where hard work can get you." Noted. Enjoy!

Ardie Adams, 90, a life-long fruit farmer, poses for a portrait Friday, April 13, 2012, in his orchards at his home in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

Ardie Adams, 90, a life-long fruit farmer, presents some of his cherry blossoms Friday, April 13, 2012, in his orchards at his home in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

Can you believe...

...A construction photo made it onto a photojournalist's personal blog? Yeah, me neither. That being said, it may be the bleak color palette, the worker's downturned body language or the sparing composition, but this frame summons a lonely feel for me.

Construction of the new Provo Recreation Center continued under a cloudy sky Thursday, April 12, 2012, in Provo, Utah. Progress on the new facility is estimated at the halfway mark.

Spring baseball continues...

A little bit of golden hour never hurts when out shooting a baseball game on a gorgeous April evening in Utah. I love the pace of the sport; molasses-slow for ninety percent of it, but a blazing ten percent to keep it interesting.
NOTE: If you say you "kinda like" shooting a sport to your editor, you will be assigned every game. Luckily, I honestly do have a great time out on the field in my supercool kneepads. Enjoy!