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!

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!