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.

Cabin Getaway Weekend | Plain, Washington

Spent a quiet, relaxing weekend with buddies Mark Malijan and Andy Jaeger in the town aptly named Plain, Washington. Got my feet in some snow, felled a handsome Christmas three and drank a beer in the back of an open trailer in a mini-blizzard. All in all, not the worst time I've ever had. Enjoy some pictures from the low-key adventure.

Late October | Ballard, Washington

After extensive moving and travelling, I'm settling back into the Seattle vibe. Enjoy some miscellaneous pictures from around my home.  Expect more of these kinds of posts; having gone full freelance with The Emerald Collective as of two months ago, I rediscovered the freedom of making pictures with no purpose but for simple personal content. Enjoy.

The Eddie Adams Workshop XXV | The Final Edit

The Eddie Adams Workshop has long been one of the most coveted milestones in a photographer's career. Every year, thousands apply from all over the world, sending in a 20-image portfolio under the simple guideline that is both elusive and mysterious in nature: what is your personal vision? After months of deliberation by a group of the industry's top editors and photographers, only 100 lucky individuals (50 student, 50 professional) are granted access to the workshop's week-long experience in early October in upstate NewYork. Who judges?! How do they judge?! Why did _____ get in, but I didn't?! Questions such as these plague photographers that miss admission, just as I had after my first year's submission.

Yet, in 2012, with the help of The (Provo) Daily Herald's photo editor, Mark Johnston, I crafted an 18-image portfolio that later admitted me to the 25th anniversary of the workshop in the professional's bracket. We edited on images that immediately grabbed the viewer; no quiet moments or overly detailed images - just shock and awe at its most vivid. As I look back over the edit, it's almost less about the images now and more so about the ordering.  Many, many hours were spent to craft a flow that moved from picture to picture in a pleasing way, either by mood, color or subject body language. The thing that rings truest for me is the fact that these images spanned almost every photographic experience I have ever had. Multiple internships, long road trips and pivotal life moments all came out to play.  The result, shown below in three screenshots of six images each, is my attempt to shed some light on the mystery of being admitted to the workshop.  Please feel free to contact me about anything EAW-related - I would love to help as much as possible... even though it probably won't be much.  If you missed admission this year, make sure to apply next year! Upon my return from the workshop in mid-October, expect a reflection and work share from my time at Barnstorm. Enjoy! Oh, and... go Team Turquoise!

Daily Herald staffer James Roh gets LASIK

The man has been waiting years for this moment. Thankfully, I drove the guy to and from his surgery, which gave me the chance to sweet-talk my way into the operating room for a couple pictures of this monumental event in the history of Roh's eyeballs. The experience brought me back to my seven-hour stint shooting a tummy tuck several years back... except this time, it didn't smell so barbecue-y. James is now referred to around the office (by me) as Eagle Eyes and/or Major Lazer.

Caution, one of the pictures below gets a tad graphic in a Clockwork Orange kind-of-way.

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.

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.