Everfree Northwest

Fans dressed in costumes of all shapes and colors wander the Traveling Pony Museum at the first annual convention called Everfree Northwest - a three-day celebration dedicated to the hit TV show, "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" - on Friday, August 17, 2012, in SeaTac, Wash. Despite My Little Pony's target market of 8-11 year old girls, the show has garnered a loyal adult fanbase. Attendees at Everfree covered a worldwide gamut; from Australians to Canadians to Americans. Everfree Northwest is sponsored by Pegasi, a Washington non-profit corporation formed to administer the event and its affiliated charity activities. Seattle Children's Hospital was chosen as the event's charity of choice, proceeds from Everfree's art auction will be donated directly to the hospital.

Over The Edge | Downtown Seattle

A woman is framed between the spires of a stone outcropping as she rappelled from Seattle's 1000 2nd Avenue Building - all 40 stories and 490 feet of it - to raise money for Special Olympics Washington at the Over the Edge event Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in downtown Seattle, Wash.

Nearly 150 supporters rappelled from Seattle's 1000 2nd Avenue Building - all 40 stories and 490 feet of it - to raise money for Special Olympics Washington at the Over the Edge event Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in downtown Seattle, Wash.

Dale Doornek, a paraplegic from Sultan, Wash., center right, awaits a team of professionals to safely lock him into harnesses before his skyscraper descent at the Over the Edge event Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in downtown Seattle, Wash. "This just rocked," Doornek said, "I loved it."

Dale Doornek, a paraplegic from Sultan, Wash., in yellow, is accompanied by a professional during a skyscraper descent at the Over the Edge event Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in downtown Seattle, Wash. Nearly 150 supporters rappelled from Seattle's 1000 2nd Avenue Building - all 40 stories and 490 feet of it - between August 11 and 12 to raise money for Special Olympics Washington.

Trevor Rotzien, dressed as Mighty Mouse, makes his steady descent down a 490-foot skyscraper at the Over the Edge event Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in downtown Seattle, Wash.

Marcia Evans | Portrait

Marcia Evans, owner of Jewel Hospitality, poses for a portrait Thursday, August 2, 2012, at her office in Seattle, Wash. Evans recently filed a complaint with the attorney general's office concerning Yelp informing her of the fact that they would remove her negative reviews from their website if she paid them for advertising.

Seafair Torchlight Parade 2012

From left, Selena Nguyen, Lan Tran and Juliet Dang relax outside of McCaw Hall before boarding the Little Saigon float for the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade Saturday, July 28, 2012, in Seattle, Wash. The parade begins at the Seattle Center and moves down Fourth Avenue for over two hours of colorful floats, fun costumes and cool summer evening temperatures.

Phillip Bates, right, and his sister, Clara Bates, center right, enjoy the amenities of their home away from home - a setup that their father has been constructing for 28 years - on the street before the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade Saturday, July 28, 2012, in Seattle, Wash.

In the shadow of the Space Needle, riders from the Ixtapa Mexican restaurant wait for the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade to begin Saturday, July 28, 2012, in Seattle, Wash. The parade begins at the Seattle Center and moves down Fourth Avenue for over two hours of colorful floats, fun costumes and cool summer evening temperatures.

Staff sergeant Joshua Simkins hoists the flag during his march in the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade Saturday, July 28, 2012, in Seattle, Wash.

Dancers flit about Fourth Avenue in the final light of the evening during the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade Saturday, July 28, 2012, in Seattle, Wash.

Dancers utilizing webs of string and colorful balls perform for the audience during the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade Saturday, July 28, 2012, in Seattle, Wash.

Memorial Day 2012: Civil War Reenactment | Camp Floyd

Honey Bischoff, left, and Toni Scott, right, share a laugh while enjoying a cup of tea under the shade of a tree at a Civil War Memorial Day event Monday, May 28, 2012, at Camp Floyd in Fairfield, Utah. The family-oriented affair included classic battle reenactments, canvas encampments to reside in, firearm and cannon demonstrations, troop marches and photoshoots in period uniform.

Carter Lovinggood, center right, hugs his nephew, Weston Fletcher, in blue, while helping other children get suited up for a marching demonstration at a Civil War Memorial Day event Monday, May 28, 2012, at Camp Floyd in Fairfield, Utah. The family-oriented affair included classic battle reenactments, canvas encampments to reside in, firearm and cannon demonstrations and photoshoots in period uniform. Lovinggood found the opening for a position at the event while surfing the internet for Civil War reenactments in Utah.

Tracy Mutter, right, of Magna, Utah, strings up mock laundry to dry at a Civil War Memorial Day event Monday, May 28, 2012, at Camp Floyd in Fairfield, Utah. The family-oriented affair included classic battle reenactments, canvas encampments to reside in, firearm and cannon demonstrations, troop marches and photoshoots in period uniform.

The Shelley Irish Dance Company | Pre-show

Just a little backstage lipstick action before a performance by Utah's most esteemed Irish dance group. The girls of The Shelley Irish Dance Company rehearsed for this night - the one and only showing - for over 10 months. This particular group of young women were cooler than most when it came to letting a dude creep around in their dressing room pre-show. Enjoy.

Hannah Cosper, 16, left, perfects the application of her thick, red lipstick before the annual performance by the young women of The Shelley Irish Dance Company on Monday, April 30, 2012, at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo, Utah. The concert featured the state teen fiddle and guitar champions, members of the group Firefly, the Timpanogos Pipe Band, An Rogaire Dubh and the local championship Highland dancers.

Blood Battle | Communities race to donate the most blood

While they aren't the most dynamic images from the more-visual-than-usual blood drive, they were my personal favorite. No matter how you butter it up, the bottom line is that a blood drive means that someone in a white coat is going to suck blood out of your arm with a fat needle - no hiding that fact. After making a couple paper-friendly frames for print, the pictures below lean toward illustrating the uncomfortable, clinic-like atmosphere of what was an undeniably good-natured cause. Enjoy.

Brenda Dobry, left, relaxes while donating blood during the Blood Battle blood drive Tuesday, April 10, 2012, in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Communities all over the county competed to see who could acquire the most blood over a day's time.

Empty blood bags and vials littered tabletops around the makeshift donating station at the Blood Battle blood drive Tuesday, April 10, 2012, in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Communities all over the county competed to see who could acquire the most blood over a day's time.

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.

Spring Fashion Show

Under a greenhouse roof, dozens of women of all ages awaited the start of a spring fashion show by JJeans & Things on Saturday, March 10, 2012, at Olson's Garden Shoppe in Payson, Utah.

Preparing for El Capitan | on the Feature Hunt

News hole.
Nice day.
Everything falling through for everyone on staff.
Classic situation.
We must be doomed.
Oh, but wait!
Look at that guy with a compelling life story rock climbing in beautiful light.
This man saved the day.  Enjoy!

Louis Eubank spent the early hours of the evening on a celebratory climb after being accepted into Tufts University for medical school Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at Rock Canyon in Provo, Utah. Eubank, an avid outdoorsman, was aid climbing his way to the top of the rock face while toting over 60 pounds of gear. He was training for a longtime - and upcoming - climbing dream at El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.

The Peruvian Fire Engine

Let there be light! A normal day turned great when I was sent to photograph a group of volunteers cleaning out an old firetruck destined for use in Peru. Not only did the weather clear up, but the calm of the cleaning was sporadically broken by impromptu water fights. Naturally, I became a target. Go figure.  This post - as many others are on this blog - reflect the beauty of working a "found" experience while out on assignment. As every photojournalist knows, not everything is perfect - but that sure doesn't mean you can't go out and have a good time.  Enjoy!

Warm winter ATVing

I love assignments that get me out and about. Recently, when speaking with my editor, it occurred to me that everything I've shot in the past month and a half has been indoors. My assignment to document a popular ATVing spot in relation to Utah's unusually warm winter was just the ticket to get me out and about. Now that it's said and done and the picture has been made, I am sure glad I didn't manage to destroy the remote camera (consisting of a Canon 1D Mark IIn, 17-40L, two PocketWizards and a Magic Arm) that was mounted to the front of an ATV for the second image. I still have my job. Enjoy!

Colton Saunders, center, pulls into his family's campsite after joyriding his ATV while his mother, Holly Whitehead, right, chats with friends and family members Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, at Fivemile Pass, Utah. Miles of open terrain is available for safe, free range riding.

Cody Johnson, 19, and his family, not pictured, took advantage of the unseasonably warm winter weather to joyride their ATVs, dirt bikes and sand buggies Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, at Fivemile Pass, Utah. Miles of open terrain is available for safe, free range riding. The sunnier-than-usual season allowed Johnson more freedom to ride. "It's a lot better without all the snow in the way," Johnson said, "and much more fun when it's warm."

Sandy resident, Kevin Zamora, center, packs his collection of all-terrain vehicles into his trailer after a long day of riding Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, at Fivemile Pass, Utah. Originally from California, Zamora also professionally races motorcycles. All-terrain riding remains as simply a hobby.

Tracks stand out against the dry, cracked earth Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, at Fivemile Pass, Utah. Miles of open terrain is available for safe, free range riding.

Coyote's | Food Review

I can't say I complain when a food review assignment shows up in the budget. Coyote's, a Mexican restaurant in Orem, Utah, was my second savory subject for the the Daily Herald's "The Ticket" section.

Technical data: Canon 5D Mark II (tripod; 2 sec. timer), 135L, 580EX Speedlite from back at 105mm, 580EXII Speedlite from above at 70mm. Since the restaurant wasn't the most picturesque on the inside, a simple, clean booth sufficed for a background.


Can you almost smell it?

BYU Women's Basketball vs. Saint Mary's

Shooting basketball in a gigantic, well-lit, empty stadium is an odd experience.  Yet there is something to be said for the clean, graphic backgrounds of the stands behind the players.  Not my favorite basketball images, but I owe the sports ladies some photographic credit after posting guy stuff all the time.

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.

"There With Me" essay runs in The Skagit Valley Herald

This past summer, I was lucky enough to work for The Skagit Valley Herald as their photo intern.  In my free time between daily assignments and on weekends, I pursued a personal project on Latino gang culture.  The final essay, entitled "There With Me," just ran today in the Sunday edition.  The final product, I believe, serves a purpose in understanding the struggles of an individual trapped within a dangerous - yet "supportive" - lifestyle while fighting to escape for the greater good.

Raised in Juarez, Mexico, Ramon Luna came to the United States following the random murder of his brother. Blinded by rage and disconnected from his cultural roots, Luna turned to gang life in Skagit County, Washington state. After gaining a reputation on the street as a notorious fighter, Luna was accused of rape, burglary and kidnapping by a young woman who recognized him from a local party. In jail and awaiting the jury's verdict, Ramon was met by street minister Chris Hoke, a man Ramon had previously mocked. Through Chris's words and an out-of-the-blue admission by the accusing woman that she had lied, Ramon was set free by what he believes was forgiveness and the grace of a newfound God. Luna continues to live in Skagit County, this time with Chris Hoke at a new age ministry called Tierra Nueva, or "new ground." He has abandoned the gang lifestyle, despite the involvement of his current friends and family members. Ramon recently began to use his life experiences as leverage to reason others out of the gang life. 

Thanks to all my people at the SVH for bearing with me and this story on its path to publishing.  I appreciate it.  The essay in full resolution is available for viewing on www.jordanbstead.com.

Welcome | Goodbye?...

As time surges forward, change is needed.  After showcasing my work as a blog on Flickr for many years, it is officially time for a change in the way my images are viewed.  Bigger is always better.  So: hello, Blogger.

If you wish to meander through old work, please visit: The Ol' Flickrstream.

Thank you for making your way here.  The internet is a big, scary place.  Stay a while and enjoy the view.

• Jordan Stead /// https://www.jordanstead.com/