Michael Furman Photography

Poser

2012-01-11T10:29:00.000-08:00

You can find loads of these royal posers like this street performer around London. Surprisingly people of all ages get a kick out of em, I don't get it.

'11 -Scapes

2011-12-30T09:08:00.000-08:00

I never was interested in landscapes. They were pretty look at and I would appreciate them for what they were but they just weren't for me as a photographer. Seemed like a lot of work and a lot of searching for just the perfect light and composition where I prefer narratives/themes in my work. This year though I found myself shooting things that seemed to be landscapes but couldn't be categorized as "landscape" but -scapes. Whether it be abstracted landscapes shown here, industrial-scapes shown here or even a sport-scape shown here I was drawn to different ways of creating -scapes. I felt since I had the fascination this year with the "-scapes" it was only fitting to show some.

'11 Sport

2011-12-28T08:40:00.000-08:00

Stanford University Cardinals Drew Terrell celebrates with fans after defeating Virginia Tech in the 2011Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida, January 3rd, 2011.

2011 was dominated by sports. At the Clarion I shot a fair amount of sports but with a mixture of other things . This year from the beginning of year to this last month I was covering sports left and right until I was almost sick of it, something I never thought I would say. Ironically now that I don't know the next time I will be covering a sporting event I am already missing trying to come up with creative feature shots instead of just standard mundane high action shots or getting goosebumps from the energy of thousands of people going crazy.

'11 Singles

2011-12-26T08:24:00.000-08:00

A street cleaner shields his eyes from the sun while walking down W. 13th Ave in Denver, Colorado, October 11th, 2011.

A few of my favorite singles from 2011. It was a very odd year, being the first away from some sort of newspaper setting in a while where I would have had a wide range of assignments I instead had to self assign myself interesting things to shoot.Luckily I traveled a bit for work so even though I didn't have very many opportunities to get singles from assignments there were plenty of other opportunities that ended up giving me a interesting selection of images for this set.

Highest Point

2011-12-13T11:15:00.000-08:00

A street performer balances a soccer ball on his head while hanging on a light pole outside of Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre in Paris, France on December 10th, 2011. Basilique du Sacré-Cœur is the highest point in the city, a popular landmark for tourists to overlook all of Paris.

I am not a fan of using a blog of a confessionary of any kind but since coming out to the UK I have been in sort of a slump or photographers block might be a better way of phrasing it. Lack of vision, motivation, and overall images that dont seem to be very compelling. Maybe I can blame it on jet lag. Either way this shot I got of a street performer outside of a church in Paris makes me feel that I am starting to get back on track.

Guy Fawkes Mask Appearance

2011-12-02T07:42:00.000-08:00

A man dressed as the main character of V for Vendetta gets his photo taken by many photographers during a public sector protest in London, England, November 30th, 2011. The strike was the biggest action seen in a generation.

After hearing the that an estimated two million public sector workers would be on a strike with many protesting and marching I had to go around London to check it out. I was amazed how many people (some media, many not) had cameras running around, jumping on anything they could to photographer the massive crowds of protesters. Along with that anybody who seemed "interesting" would get bombarded with cameras all around them as you can see by the 5 photographers around this guy who had a Guy Fawkes Mask and the rest of the V for Vendetta garb.

Welcome to London

2011-11-29T08:24:00.001-08:00

Very indicative of all the adjustments associated with moving to a very large metropolitan city. To be fair people around London have been nice and helpful, plus I am pretty sure I got the finger though because the guy didn't want his picture taken.

Adios America... for now

2011-11-17T17:00:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I embark across the pond to England for graduate school. Some I guess would call it the "next chapter" in my life but that's always sounded pretty lame to me. If anything its a continuation of my work in photography, just in a different country and a shift back to my documentary work. I got the shot above during the last Colorado State football game I covered last Saturday. Going to the game I wanted to get something that oozed America before I left. I don't think you get much more "America" than a Longhorn Skull mounted on a Cadillac.

Rally caps Cowboy style

2011-11-10T10:23:00.001-08:00

Two fans use their cowboy cats as rally caps during a game between the Colorado Avalanche and Phoenix Coyotes at the Pepsi Center on November 2nd, 2011 in Denver Colorado. Phoenix defeated Colorado 4-1.

As the Coyotes were defeating the Avalanche late in the third period of my last NHL game for at least the perceived future I saw these two guys using their cowboy hats as rally caps which I found entertaining, clever, and pretty impressive.

Hockey weekend at DU

2011-11-03T14:10:00.000-07:00

Minnesota State acknowledges the National Anthem prior to the start of a game against the University of Denver at Magness Arena in Denver, Colorado, October 22nd, 2011.

Little behind on post due to preparations for my impending move across the pond. In a post at the end of DU's last hockey season I didn't think I would end up covering another game but because of my plans getting pushed back a bit I am able to now cover a few games. Nonetheless here is some stuff from Minnesota States weekend visit to Denver.

Boise State at Colorado State

2011-10-19T15:07:00.000-07:00

A Colorado State fan plays catch on top of a bus prior to game between Colorado State and Boise State at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium in Ft Collins Colorado, October 15th, 2011.

and Boise State won by a bunch.

Diana in September

2011-10-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

Monotonous Speakers

2011-10-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

General George W. Casey, Jr talks at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver on public diplomacy on October 13th, 2011 in Denver, Colorado.

I am not calling the four-star general monotonous but how do you get any mundane monotonous speaker behind a podium slightly more visually interesting ? Maybe a nice shaft of light?

Occupy Denver

2011-10-12T11:46:00.000-07:00

A demonstrator sits in his tent during Occupy Denver encampment near the Colorado State Capital on October 11th, 2011 in Denver, CO. Demonstrators and the tent camp have exponentially with in the last two days

With Occupy Wall Street raging on and the movement spreading to Los Angeles, Portland, Tampa, Boston, and across many other cities in the country I figured I would take a trip to the state capital to see how Occupy Denver was going. What I noticed more than anything else was the different walks of life that were demonstrating from young to old, women to men, homeless, students, businesspeople, and everything in-between.

Eye in the sky football

2011-10-03T13:03:00.000-07:00

First of only a few football games for me this season before my move. Above image is the newest shot of a series I have been working on about media.

Familiar shades

2011-09-24T13:36:00.000-07:00

The Colorado Avalanche get introduced prior to the start of a preseason game against the St. Louis Blues at the Pepsi Center on September 24th, 2011 in Denver, Colorado.

It has been a while since I had shot any hockey especially considering when I was the photo editor at the University of Denver's student newspaper the Clarion I shot two games a week sometimes and an internship with the team photographer for the Avalanche and Mammoth. Never thought how much I missed shooting the sport until about the first five minutes of shooting the Avalanche-Blues game the other night.

JumboTron/Rain Abstract 2

2011-09-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

Had another start to Rapids game with a random rain storm so I figured try another abstract with some different colors

Rapids-Real Espana

2011-09-23T12:45:00.000-07:00

A fan takes a picture in the rain prior to a match between the Colorado Rapids and Real Espana during the first group stage of CONCACAF Champions League at Dick Sporting Goods Park on September 21st in Commerce City, Colorado.

Horse/Golf Cart

2011-09-21T11:05:00.001-07:00

A horse grazes while being tied to a golf cart in a field next to a house in Brush, Colorado, September 20, 2011.

Its not everyday you see a horse tied to a golf cart with bungee cord so when came upon the scene I couldn't resist.

JumboTron/Rain Abstract

2011-09-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

Little abstract of rain and some nice colors from the JumboTron during another Rapids match the other night

Diana in August

2011-09-06T10:32:00.000-07:00

Final stage of 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge

2011-08-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

A cyclist races down Speer Boulevard during stage six, the final leg of the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Denver, Colorado, August 28th, 2011.

Rapids-Chivas USA

2011-08-22T18:29:00.000-07:00

Colorado Rapids Caleb Folan (21) and Pablo Mastroeni (25) celebrates a a goal in the first half during a match against Chivas USA at Dick Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.

Silho-Sunset

2011-08-18T19:06:00.000-07:00

Fans look over the railing during sunset at Dick Sporting Goods Park prior to the start of a match between the Colorado Rapids and Isidro Metapan in Commerce City, Colorado.

One more from the other night.

CONCACAF Cup Rapids-Isidro Metapan

2011-08-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

Colorado Rapids Quincy Amarikwa (12) and Isidro Metapans Alex Escobar (19) battle for the ball at Dick Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.

The Rapids first match in the 2011 CONCACAF Champions League Cup

I don't own a visual sketchbook

2011-08-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

Mostly because I can't draw well. I even had the professor of my Drawing I class tell the class on the first day he could teach anyone to draw well. I never drew well, not before the class or now. I did have many friends who are artists that draw (well) and sketch in their sketchbook, I have always been envious.
It made me envious because I never had an easy carry around tool like a sketchbook where I could visually put down ideas, experiment and more or less perfect my craft unless I brought my camera around with me literally everywhere. Then for me a little less then a year ago came hipstamatic type apps for camera phones besides IPhones that added simple filters to enhance the somewhat low quality of the raw photo from the camera phone, nothing crazy but an obvious difference.
There is a lot of debate over camera phones and apps with filters for professional photographers and I have my opinions about it but they are irrelevant. What is relevant is that I finally got my wish of a very small tool to experiment with angles, light and surprisingly enough some themes.

Diana in July

2011-08-10T10:28:00.000-07:00

Rapids-Crew with a kiss

2011-08-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens (18) kisses the goal post prior to a match against the Columbus Crew at Dick Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. The Colorado Rapids defeated the Columbus Crew 2-0.

A few action captures from my first Rapids match in about a month.

Anthem

2011-08-07T12:39:00.000-07:00

A fan acknowledges the singing of the national anthem prior to the start of a match between the Colorado Rapids and the Columbus Crew at Dick Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Denver, CO.

Anytime I shoot during the national anthem inside I always feel a bit guilty maybe due to having to stand up and put my hand over my heart everyday before school started but time and time again its one of the best times to get some good shots.

Diana in June

2011-07-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

Maytag Man and Mannequin head safeguard RV

2011-07-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

Downtown Denver, Colorado

Abstracted Landscapes

2011-07-16T13:47:00.000-07:00

Some abstracted landscapes through rain on a windshield while driving to Vegas.

ZZ Top Tap

2011-07-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

Duo tap dance competitors dressed as ZZ Top pose for a portrait during the 2011 Encore Nationals Dance Competition in Las Vegas, NV, June 23, 2011.

Probably the most creative get up/crowd favorite I saw from the 300 some odd routines over the three day competition in Vegas so I had to do a quick portrait with them behind some nice red tile.

Light for a change

2011-07-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

Colorado Rapids Caleb Folan (21) and Houston Dynamo Corey Ashe (26) battle for the ball in the first half at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Denver. Denver tied Houston 0-0.

Managed to get a Rapids game that wasn't cloudy at the start of the game.

Adams Country, Colorado

2011-06-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

Tree-Scape

Diana in May

2011-06-10T10:53:00.000-07:00

I came into the photography game late. Not in my life per say but due to be being fairly young, I came in when digital came full circle where you can have cameras with ridiculous ISO sensitivities, 51 point 3D-tracking auto focus, shutter bursts of 10 per second, auto everything if you want it to be, and a big old screen in the back of the camera that lets see you what you shot just as fast as you shot it. All these things aren't bad, if anything some of those tools helped me focus on other aspects of photography that ultimately made me a better photographer faster but digital photography essentially has given the photographer the ability to be flawless and is missing a fundamental fun factor that I enjoyed in basic photo classes when I was doing analog.....uncertainty. The uncertainty of not knowing what you will get through the whole process of shooting film. For a while I have wanted to shoot a couple of rolls of film a month to play with the idea of uncertainty and a different photography format with street photography but didn't feel like my 35mm f2 wouldn't give the idea justice so I decided to take the uncertainty to a whole new level by buying a Diana toy camera that gives you no control and you really never know what you will get from light leaks to soft focus. With that here is Diana in May.

Mexico - New Zealand Everything Else

2011-06-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

A New Zealand supporter takes a picture of himself with his camera phone prior to a match between Mexico and New Zealand at INVESCO Field at Mile High. Mexico defeated New Zealand 3-0.

Mexico - New Zealand Action

2011-06-02T21:42:00.000-07:00

Mexico's Hector Moreno (15) bicycle kicks the ball during a match against New Zealand at INVESCO Field at Mile High. Mexico defeated New Zealand 3-0.

Downtown Denver, Colorado

2011-05-31T08:40:00.000-07:00

City-scape

Rapids-Sporting

2011-05-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

The Colorado Rapids Kosuke Kimura (27) walks onto the pitch prior to a match against Sporting KC at Dick Sporting Goods Park in Denver, CO, May 28, 2011. Colorado rapids tied Sporting KC 1-1.

Westboro Ditches Out

2011-05-20T16:38:00.001-07:00

Counter-protesters wait outside of the University of Denver Hillel for members of the Westboro Baptist Church who organized the protest at the location and other locations in Denver, CO, May19th, 2011.

Due to inclement weather in Kansas they, the lunatics from Westboro Baptist Church weren't able to get out to Denver. Shame, maybe they will reschedule.

ECAC Championship

2011-05-09T10:20:00.000-07:00

The University of Denver Pioneers walk out onto the field prior to the ECAC Championship against Fairfeild University Stags at Peter Barton Stadium in Denver, CO. Denver defeated Fairfield 11-9.

Besides the last 10 minutes of the game where Fairfield made a 6 goal comeback push in the last 10 minutes to fall short by 2 goals. Even though I wasn't able to shoot too much college lacrosse this year the two games that I did shoot reinforced how much I do enjoy the sport.

Sports Illustrated Photo of the Day Snapshot

2011-05-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

A unexpected first for me.

More from Riverside Cemetery

2011-05-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

ECAC Semi Finals

2011-05-06T13:59:00.000-07:00

The shoes of the University of Denver lacrosse players as they stand on the bench watching the semi finals of the ECAC Tournament against Ohio State University at Peter Barton in Denver, CO. Denver defeated Ohio State 11-4.

Riverside Cemetery--Denver, CO

2011-05-04T13:02:00.000-07:00

When a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to tag a long when he went to the oldest cemetery in Denver I couldnt resist. More to come.

Must be the Shoes

2011-05-03T18:49:00.000-07:00

Chicago Fire Marco Pappa (16) celebrates after scoring a goal in the first half to take the lead 1-0 against the Colorado Rapids at Dick Sporting Goods Park. The Rapids and Fire played to a 1-1 tie.

I have shot my fair share of college soccer matches and never have quite been able to get into a rhythm or have been too successful at getting anything worthwhile. If anything it has the least successful sport I have shot but one pro MLS match and I came out unscathed and with some good takeaways that I havent been able to catch in the college ranks. Must be the shoes.

Winslow, AZ

2011-03-29T22:04:00.000-07:00

New Orleans, Lousiana

2011-03-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

National Guard PVT Kennerson of the 256th Infantry Brigade waits to direct people in the New Orleans Convention Center during Yellow Ribbon training on Friday March 11th, 2011.

Light Pockets

Austin, Texas

2011-03-12T10:38:00.000-08:00

Outside dwellings of Austinites, a what turned into a mini study while roaming around an Austin neighborhood. Canon G10 provided by the powerhouse himself Phil Lietz .

Arlington, Texas

2011-03-07T09:14:00.000-08:00

Sunrise, some sort of power plant silhouetted, and a couple of billboards for balance, bit cliche sure but one of the last frames with the shutter of my D700. Served well.

Stratford, Texas

2011-03-05T08:26:00.000-08:00

As seen going into Texas.

Bit of a tilt, bit of a shift

2011-03-01T19:15:00.001-08:00

Upset City

2011-02-28T00:03:00.000-08:00

University of Colorado fans rush the court after upsetting the #5 University of Texas 91-89 at the Coors Event Center in Boulder, Colorado, February 27, 2011 .

Before the game Colorado had a fighters chance. Being down by 20 at the half they had almost no chance. Not really sure what head coach Tad Boyle said at the half but it worked.

Arvada, Colorado

2011-02-26T01:43:00.000-08:00

Branson, Missouri

2011-02-18T15:57:00.000-08:00

The many faces of Joe Scott and some others

2011-02-13T10:34:00.000-08:00

University of Denver head coach Joe Scott looks on as Denver plays against Florida Atlantic in Denver, CO. Denver defeated Florida Atlantic 69-42.

University of Denver head coach Joe Scott is one of my favorite people to photograph during a sporting event. You can spend a whole game just focusing on the coach and not get bored. I love photographing Scott not just because he's animated and gets angry quite easily but because of the passion and intensity that oozes out of him. Here are some of Scott from a game that the University of Denver dominated from the start to end with some other faces along with the rim getting the best of a Florida Atlantic player.

One from London

2011-02-10T10:28:00.000-08:00

Took a little trip to UK. Even though I observed way more than I shot for possible future photo docs I did take the camera out for day.

Snow

2011-02-07T12:13:00.000-08:00

By the end of December I started to worry if Denver would have any snow besides a little dusting here and there. Even though Colorado is on pace to only see half of its average snow fall totals, Mother Nature seems to be trying to catch up.

WU-TANG--Douglas County, CO

2011-02-05T10:38:00.001-08:00

Some stuff walking through Douglas County High School

Armed with a 50

2011-01-04T16:53:00.000-08:00

The Virginia Tech marching band conductor conducts the band prior to the start of the Orange Bowl between Stanford and Virginia Tech in Miami, FL.

After I ending up running cards for the Orange Bowl rather than covering the game I decided I would just bring with me to sunny Florida would be a camera and a 50mm lens to give myself a challange to shoot stuff between going from the photo room to the field. Even though I felt a little bit handicapped compared to what I would normally have at a football game or almost anything else I would shoot the nifty fifty lived up to its name.

2010, Everything Else

2011-01-01T15:43:00.000-08:00

Little bit more dust.

2010, Sport

2010-12-31T15:22:00.000-08:00

University of Denver'sTodd Baxter faces off against Layola's John Schiavone (39) during the ECAC Championship at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

One year up, another dust. Heres some dust.

The Artsy Fartsy Stuff

2010-12-24T18:48:00.000-08:00

The National Anthem is observed prior to a game between Colorado State and Air Force Academy in Ft Collins, CO.

As described to me of what a feature photo was. Non the less let the artsy fartsy stuff commence from college football.

New Mexico Bowl

2010-12-21T16:39:00.000-08:00

UTEP Miners Katrae Ford (18) collects his thoughts while listening to music prior to the 2010 New Mexico Bowl between BYU and UTEP.

Football...over

Chelsea

2010-12-07T12:22:00.001-08:00

Got a hold of some lights so I had to do a little Zack Arias one light setup playing. I may like agressive shadows a bit too much.

One More Before Goin Bowlin

2010-11-25T14:13:00.000-08:00

Injured University of Colorado running back Brian Lockridge (20) takes a moment to pray by himself prior to the teams last home game against Kansas State. Lockridge injured his ankle earlier in the season causing him to be out for the season.

A few from the last CU game of the season against Kansas State. Next New Mexico bowl.

Graduated

2010-11-20T16:41:00.000-08:00

University of Denver students look down at as Chris Nutini lays on the ice injured during a game against the University of Vermont at Magness Arena in Denver, Colorado, October 9th, 2009.

A couple of weeks ago I completed my undergraduate degree, more or less officially graduating from college. A couple of weeks prior to that I shoot my last assignment for the Clarion, DU's student newspaper that I had the privilege to be a photo editor of for about the whole time I was at DU since transferring in two years ago. If it wasn't for the small weekly I wouldn't have accomplished the little I have accomplished doing photojournalism. My last assignment ironically enough was a hockey game which I have done more of than anything else for the paper. With that here are a few photos that I have had a soft spot for that never made it to print or on the blog.

There is no crying in politics

2010-11-06T20:21:00.000-07:00

Mike Fayber sheds a tear as Tom Tancredo American Constitution party candidate for Governor of Colorado gives his concession speech at his election HQ .

or maybe there is.

A Waiting Game

2010-11-04T18:39:00.000-07:00

A Ken Buck supporter falls asleep waiting for results to come in for the Senate race between Ken Buck and Michael Bennett Tuesday night at The Double Tree in Greenwood Village. Bennett was declared the winner of the race Wednesday Morning.

Prior to covering election results in Colorado I heard the the Michael Bennett Ken Buck race would be close so it was no surprise when 12:00 am rolled around and was it not only close only 60 percent of results had come in. With that and sheer bordom of standing around a stage I walked around the hotel the HQ was housed and found a Ken Buck supporter passed out infront of a TV.

NCAA Update

2010-10-31T14:15:00.000-07:00

Air Force Falcons wide receiver Zach Kauth celebrates after a touchdown catch in the third quarter against the Colorado State Rams at Falcon Stadium. Air Force defeated Colorado State 49-27.

Little update of the last three games of college football that I have shot.

Surety Realty

2010-10-28T07:26:00.000-07:00

Owner and Managing Broker of Surety Realty Jason Pavlovic outside one of the houses for sale in the Indigo Trails housing community in Brighton.

Another environmental portrait for the Denver Business Journal but of a broker outside of housing community. Dramatic lines and angle was approach to find a interesting way to capture someone outside of a house. There is something about a portrait outside with natural light that is more appealing than inside with artificial light strobes give.

Front Page

2010-10-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

President and CEO of OPX Biotechnologies Charles (Chas) Eggert stands outside of their fermentation lab. OPX was one of 34 companies to get invited to National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL) 23rd Industry Growth Forum this last week.

Got my first front cover for the Denver Business Journal with this portrait of Charles Eggart OPX Biotechnologies a renewable bio-based chemicals and fuels company. OPX was one of 34 companies to get invited to National Renewable Energy Laboratory's 23rd Industry Growth Forum that focuses on clean energy bringing venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and engineers from the industry together each year.

Pioneer Burger

2010-10-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

Crimson and Gold's Pioneer Burger, with bacon, pepper jack cheese, haystack onion rings & bbq sauce is University of Denver alums Nichole Machamer and Andrew Caldwell signature burger.

For the few restaurant reviews I have done I have never used a strobe to light the selective dish that I get to photograph so using my new SB 900 seemed like a good idea to try.

Treading Familiar Waters

2010-10-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

U.S. National Under-18's Tyler Biggs celebrates after scoring a goal in the third period against the University of Denver at Magness Arena in Denver, Colorado. Denver defeated U.S. Under-18 Team 8-1.

Getting to shoot something that your familiar with after shooting three weekends of a sport your not used is a nice relief which was exactly how I felt shooting DU's exhibition game against the Under 18 National Team. Even better when you get a nice jube.

Unfamiliar Waters

2010-10-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

Colorado State Rams cheerleader celebrates after a last second field goal by kicker Ben DeLine to defeat the Idaho Vandals 36-34 at at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium in Fort Collins, CO.

These are a collection of images from my first three football games I have covered for Southcreek Global. Its been a bit of a learning curve not ever shooting football or even going to all but three live games where I never sat any closer than in the nose bleeds in the middle of winter freezing during Broncos games. Lucky for me I do know the sport which has helped week by week as I get used to covering it.

Campout

2010-09-26T22:12:00.001-07:00

A University of Denver student's feet stick out of a tent the morning after the annual campout outside of Magness Arena for season hockey tickets outside of Magness Arena on September 25th, 2010.

An outtake from a story I shot of the annual campout that was too priceless to not see the light of day.

Futbol

2010-09-09T11:36:00.000-07:00

A new NFL season kicks off tonight so its only fitting to some futbol from a DU women's game against the University of Buffalo from last week. After a long, slow summer of barley any shooting its a relief to see September come around and the start of work.

Exploits with a Canon

2010-06-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

Fathers Day was a first for me in many ways. First time I shot a Rockies/ baseball game in in two years, first time shooting with Canon equipment and it was my first time shooting with really really harsh shadows during a sporting event where hats make shadows even harder to work with. Not to mention using equipment that I am not at all used but stilled managed to battle through and get stuff including a B.O.B. Another first for me.

Queen' II

2010-06-17T15:51:00.001-07:00

Part II of my series on Charlies Drag Show. Portraits are becoming increasingly interesting for documentary series.

Final Design

2010-06-14T06:05:00.000-07:00

One last design for my site after three years and four different designs made possible by Nathan Lucas

Queen's

2010-06-07T17:30:00.000-07:00

In January I started a series on a drag show at a bar in Denver called Charlies. Here are a few from the final edit.

Capital Steps

2010-05-31T11:30:00.001-07:00

I've only shot two events in Gates Concert Hall, the main concert/grand opera hall in the Newman Center in the two years that I have been at the DU. The first was a couple of weeks ago for TEDxDU and three days after that of Capital Steps a satirical group that do parodies of songs about current political scandals that has spanned thirty years now for the Denver Press Club. Its a really nice venue that between three levels gives you a plethara of angels to choose from like the frame above from the balcony level that is my favorite angle to shoot from in there that I haven't been able to get away from in the two times that i have shot there.

Avalanche, Nuggets, Mammoth oh my.

2010-05-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

Colorado Mammoth Goaltender Chris Levis focuses while listening to the National Antham prior to a game against the Washington Stealth on March 27,2010

A few shots I liked during my stint interning with the team photographer for the Avalanche and NLL Colorado Mammoth Michael Martin.

TEDxDU

2010-05-17T10:29:00.000-07:00

Documentary photographer Aaron Huey presents on the Lakota peopleving on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota that he spent five years documenting during TEDxDU on May 13th in Gates Concert Hall. The independently organized TED event brought various DU and Colorado innovators to present on different issues.

If you haven't heard of TED or TEDTalks, you should. TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an annual conference that brings the top innovators/thinkers from all over the world do presentations on various topics in their fields for twenty min at a time. Even though its hard to be able to attend the conference, their website gives you access to a ton of talks.

I have been watching TED talks online for almost a couple of years now so you can imagine when I found out the University of Denver was going to be having their own independent TEDx I was excited not only to attend but of course to be able to shoot it as well.

Neglection

2010-05-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

A pole vaulter celebrates in mid-air after getting over the bar during a track meet at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California on April 9th, 2010

The first thing to get neglected when you get busy seems to be the blog, I managed to be busy enough with various photography things to neglect my blog for three months. Now that things are slowing down I do plan on paying a little bit more attention to my wee little blog and updating every so often with stuff from the last three months.

Anyway, here are a few of my favorite shots while I was in California for the Sports Shooter Academy. Between the awesome faculty of suburb photographers and the other participants it was an awesome experience all around that I wont be forgetting anytime soon. A big thank you to Robert Hanashiro and everybody else that organized a great workshop.

Magness Part I

2010-02-24T20:01:00.000-08:00

Part of a series on Magness Arena

Closer

2010-02-12T07:38:00.000-08:00

Nyle Kenning playing Dan gets photographed by MacKenzie Beyer portraying Anna during a dress rehearsal in the University of Denver's play "Closer".

Got the chance to shoot the dress rehearsal for DU's winter play Closer that was based on the 2004 film about modern relationships and all the drama those relationships come with sometimes. This was the first time I got to photograph a play and hopefully I get to shoot more in the future if not only for the drama and emotion but the awesome controlled light.

Aspect Positions

2010-02-08T10:41:00.000-08:00

When shooting sports, to me there are two important aspects that is critical sometimes to getting good shots. One, light and two, aspect positions. The better the light and more positions you have the better. For me I am extremely fortunate to have four different positions from shooting ice level through the glass to shooting straight down from the catwalks and amazing light in Magness where DU plays hockey and basketball. Not to brag but more thankful because it makes my life a lot easier.

With that, another Friday more hockey this time hosting Mercyhurst.

Global Gala

2010-02-04T13:23:00.000-08:00

A ceremonial Filipino worship dance is performed by Subli dancers in traditional Filipino dresses during the 2010 Global Gala.

Global Gala is a DU event for students who studied abroad. Everyone who is invited gets to get dressed up, eat some catered food and watch some cultural entertainment. I got to party crash being working press. Even though I wasn't able to get to much of the Gala itself because of how dark it was in the venue I was able to get a few shoots of entertainment on stage.

Simpson aka Scamaa

2010-02-03T20:06:00.000-08:00

A tailor, businessman, survivor of the Holocaust, a workhorse, a 95 year old man with a full set of hair. That was only a fraction of who my grandfather was. RIP

Drag

2010-01-28T11:22:00.000-08:00

On top of the "sports/journalism" photography that ends up being posted on here I also do a fair amount of "fine art" photography as apart of my major. Unfortunately since transferring to DU and right after joining the paper my documentary photography has been put on the back burner but because of a good friend of mine I know have a new documentary series to start working on.

That series being a drag show at a local gay bar in Denver called Charlies. Above is one shot from the first Sunday a couple of weeks ago. I am not sure that it will be a new series of mine until I get the OK from a manager at the bar considering I would need backstage access to fully do the series but if I do get the access I think it could be a pretty interesting series.

Stalker

2010-01-19T13:45:00.001-08:00

I really need a to use different people for photo illustrations. Not only to have a different face in my portfolio but mostly for my roommate (pictured) so that he doesn't have to go through me sticking a camera in his face. The frame above even though I liked it, I didn't think it was the strongest of the three illustrations I did for the story that went with it. That story being stalking that was in the lifestyles section...I thought it was a little bizarre too. Couple of interesting facts though about stalking though. What really surprised me though was that 3.4 million people a stalked in the U.S. each year.

Rewind to 2007

2010-01-06T09:07:00.000-08:00

It always fun to find photos that you don't think you had anymore. While going through settings on my computer I noticed there was a folder full of photos that I had taken while at a Colorado Rockies game that I went to with a friend of mine over two years ago.

The seats we had that day were on the first level 5 rows up right next to first base so I figured I would bring my camera, at the time being a D80 with 70-300. Of course I didn't get any "good" action photos that meet any sort of standard but while going through the fifty some odd pictures I did find this one of the stadium lights at Coors Field that I am pretty fond of.

Denver Cup 2010

2010-01-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

My freshman year in high school I went to the Denver Cup way before art or before I learned Photoshop in a computer class that has lead me to road I am on now. The last thing I would have thought I would be doing to start 2010, Twenty-Ten, or as someone referred to it on Facebook as OH-10 back then would be photographing the tournament DU hosts annually.

And it wasn't a slouch of a Denver Cup either. Started the first night first game #5 Boston College getting shocked by St. Lawrence a small college in Canton Village (so small it doesn't have a local newspaper in sight) in upstate New York. It ended the last night in the third period with a DU rally that consisted of scoring four to come back to beat Boston College 4-3 and win the cup. Tough start of the new year for Boston College.

Goodies from 2009

2010-01-02T13:55:00.000-08:00

From transferring to DU, working for the Clarion, becoming photo editor of paper, getting into CMYK, and getting a couple of freelancing jobs, and a couple of internships 2009 was by far the most successful year I have had with my photography. The idea now is to have the trend continue and beyond it into 2010. With that here is a clump of my favorite photos from the year that was 2009.

One for Charlito

2009-12-30T13:27:00.000-08:00

U.S goaltender Jessie Vetter cringes after making a save with her face-mask against team Canada. Canada would go on to win the game 4-2 on Dec 12, 2009 in Denver, CO

In the beginning of December I got the most exciting email I have gotten thus far in my short photography career asking if I was available to shoot a game between the U.S women's national hockey team against Canada's national team as part of the Qwest 2009 Tour. Fast forward ten days later at Leelas a cafe in downtown Denver where my roommate goes to a meet up for Drink and Draw a weekly meet up of local artists and writers. Since I know most of the people that go to the D+D I usually also go to work on whatever I may have to work on.

This particular week Charlie LaGreca a.k.a Charlito a comic book artist and co host of a podcast called Indie Spinner Rack was taping a Christmas episode. In the middle of taping Charlito plugged me and asked if I had shot anything interesting recently and I mentioned the women's game. He instantly responds asking me like many others if any of the girls were pretty and that I should put a picture from the game on my site. Since I was in the middle of getting my new website up and losing my blog I hadn't but was planning on it which now I finally got the chance to do.

The game itself even though not the best game I have ever shot was a great experience and was nice to get a (freelance-ish) paying gig. Hopefully the trend will continue into 2010.

Isiah Thomas

2009-12-28T12:29:00.001-08:00

Isiah Thomas, coach of Florida International gets taped by one of the cameraman before the beginning of the second half of the December 17th game between Florida International vs. University of Denver.

When I found out Isiah Thomas would be coaching for Florida International during the summer I instantly thought of the Sun Belt Conference. Reasoning, DU plays in the Sun Belt Conference which would mean they would be playing in Denver giving me opportunity to shoot the legend. And who wouldn't be excited to take photos of a NBA hall of famer, twelve time all star and NBA Finals MVP who is arguably was one of the best players of the 80's with company like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, and Charles Barkley.

Thomas was the center attention with fans with a mixture of cheers and boo's in accordance with the controversy while coaching the Knicks. Of course the photographers also focused on him including myself. Amongst the several photos I took of Isiah the one above I think showed how much attention he got during the game. The cameraman that did tape Isiah first asked permission and thank you once he was done. Never seen that before but goes to show you how respected he is.

Hendrix Holiday, A Birth of a New Blog

2009-12-25T00:06:00.000-08:00

With the passing of my old blog (mostly because I can't access it after a email was cyberally bogarted from me) I start a new blog on well Christmas and leave it with writer Richard Bach on Christmas, "In the United States Christmas has become the rape of an idea."
Happy Holidays