Rockies

I just found out that I'm a finalist for a Rockie, (a new award from the AAF). I'm one of 3 finalists. It's pretty awesome to be nominated! I'm amazed every day that I'm even a player in this industry let alone receiving any recognition.

canSURVIVE event

2011 canSURVIVE has come and gone. Needless to say it was a great evening full of emotion. Reading the stories and talking to the survivors is always the highlight of the gala. I'm inspired by the way these survivors handled and continue to handle the trials   they are faced with and the support system they have every step of the way.  I walked away wanting to be a better person. I'm honored to be part of such a wonderful cause.

Walmart World

I got a call from Walmart World magazine, a magazine I never knew existed. They wanted me to photograph a bike assembler from the Orem Walmart store. Apparently they're writing a piece on him because he's a triathlete, and the piece is on physical fitness.  I decided to photograph him up Provo Canyon in the middle of the road with the beautiful fall leaves behind him. The shoot turned out very nice, despite temps being in the high 30's. The editor at the mag was very pleased with the photos and is having a hard time picking just one photo... that's always nice to hear. I'll post a photo when I get approval.

Addy Award Promos

Last week I had the chance to shoot the promotional pieces for the 2011 Addy Awards. I think this was my 3rd or 4th year shooting for the Addys. This years Addy promos were conceptualized and executed by the wonder Katie Barrett, Trent Wood and Adam Fox of Love Communications. We photographed several of the creatives moms from local ad agencies. Spending the day with such sweet women is a way I'd love to spend everyday. I'll post photos from the shoot when I get approval.

canSURVIVE story

As most of you might know, canSURVIVE (my annual gallery stroll/gala event) cansurvive.us  is coming up in November. This is the 3rd year for the gallery and I couldn't be more excited!! The cancer survivors we've photographed this year are amazing, including Nurse Kate whose portrait is featured on the invitations.  

For those of you who don't know anything about canSURVIVE, I'll give you the background. canSURVIVE  is a brain child of my wife, Heather, and myself. Ever since I was a child I wanted to photograph things that had great meaning. War zone photography was very appealing to me because I knew that's where some of the most powerful images could be captured. I learned rather quickly I wasn't cut from the same cloth as war zone photographers. Heather suggested photographing cancer survivors. This immediately resonated with me. In 1997 I was diagnosed with bladder cancer, and the year prior, Heather lost her mother, Karen, to ovarian cancer. We felt strongly this is what we should devote a lot of our time to. We decided that it would be best if it were more than just a gallery stroll, but also something that could benefit a cancer organization.

We selected Needs Beyond Medicine (formerly UCREW), to benefit from any proceeds that could be generated by the event. NBM is different than a lot of other cancer organizations in that it provides funds to people going through cancer treatment to cover non-medical expenses. We brought the concept to Phil Brown, executive director of NBM, and he jumped all over it… and took it over! Phil has worked tirelessly since 2009, finding venues, sponsors, helping design promotional materials, but most importantly, finding survivors willing to tell their stories and be photographed. Phil is very passionate about helping people with cancer, and has also been deeply impacted by the disease.

In 2009 Cynthia Griffin, a good friend of mine, was the first to be photographed.  I'm happy I started with her because her story set the tone for all future galleries. I first photographed her against a black backdrop, which turned out beautiful, but after photographing several people, we decided to change direction and photograph people in an environment, (usually their own but not always); we figured this would help tell more of their story.

The first gallery stroll/ fundraiser was in September 2009 at the Depot in downtown Salt Lake City. Seeing the responses to the photos and watching people reading the stories with tears rolling down their cheeks was the moment that made me realize, maybe I had done something good with my life and that I wanted to shoot this gallery for as many years as I could.  

The second year’s gallery was at Noah’s in South Jordan. This turned out to be a great venue. I just loved watching the survivors look at their photos and take them in. The majority of the survivors stayed the entire duration of the gallery speaking with other survivors (it almost felt like a therapy session).  canSURVIVE 2010 Event Video, with interviews

I photographed a man named Michael Carnley in 2009. He was a great guy, super nice and very articulate. I can't remember exactly the name of the cancer he had but it was a melanoma on his brain. We photographed him for the 2009 gallery. He was cancer free at the time we photographed him. A year later we heard the cancer had returned and caused him to have a stroke. We decided if he was willing, we'd like to photograph him for the 2010 gallery. When we photographed him, he was still battling his cancer and was a little worse for the wear but was in good spirits, (to Phil and I it looked like he hadn't missed a beat, as happy and kind as ever). He was at the gallery in 2010 and did an interview for a video we had done.  Unfortunately he passed away a month later. At his viewing, the large prints we had made of Mike were on display. His wife gave me a big hug and thanked me for taking the photos. This made all of the work we put into shooting these photos worth it.  

2011 promises to be a good showing. cansurvive.us With every year comes changes to the layout of the gallery. This year there is no door charge, there will be chances to donate throughout the evening. The venue for this year is the Marriott downtown on State Street, and will be a perfect home for the pictures and stories of survivors. The survivors we photographed are as amazing as ever. I'm very anxious to see the response to the stories. As always, I hope above anything else, I captured a photo that represents them the best.  

I hope to see you there!

canSURVIVE

November 4,  5 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

Marriott City Center 220 South State St. SLC, UT.

www.cansurvive.us

www.needsbeyondmedicine.org

Sports Illustrated and McDonald's adtorial

I had the opportunity to photograph Baltimore Ravens defensive back Haloti Ngata for S.I. last month. I think the photo worked out well in the layout.

Mortician Project phase 3.

Today I traveled to Pocatello Idaho to photograph a mortician named John Perkes. John, following in his fathers footsteps has worked in the mortuary business in some for or fashion since the age of 14. When asked as a kid what he wanted to do for a living John would always reply, "I want to drive a Hearse". He is currently the CFO of Colonial Mortuary. Johns passion lies in the business end of the mortuary business but that doesn't mean he's lacking in compassion for his clients in mourning.

"Mortician" Project phase two

Like most people, I've often wondered what drives a person to become a mortician. Having been one of those "left behind" by my loved ones, I've witnessed first-hand the comfort a mortician's work brings to those grieving. But what makes them want to get into the business in the first place? Well, for the amazing morticians at Memorial Mortuary in Murray, UT, they unanimously agreed that it was the drive to help make the whole process of death and grieving easier on the living.

Brandon Buningham considers his profession a calling, and I agree. I think you can see it in his eyes.

If you're wondering what made me start photographing morticians (and there are many more to come - keep your eyes peeled), check out Part 1 of this series.

David Bartholomew- Mortician/ Marketing Director

Brandon Burningham- Mortician for 16 years.

Dave Jacobsen- Mortician for 30 years.

Jeremy Layton- Mortician for 9 years.

Marjorie Smith- Mortician for 6 years.

The "MORTICIAN" Project

I've always been fascinated by morticians. What makes a person choose this as their career path? My opinion is that being a mortician is a calling and only a special kind of person can do it. I hope to better understand what makes a mortician through photographing them.

I launched the MORTICIAN project with portraits of a friend I've known for quite a while -- Chad Anderson. Chad has worked at Goff Mortuary in Midvale, UT for the past 8 years and, as of January 2011, became the owner.  I was very glad he agreed to let me take his portraits. My hope is that, through these pictures, you can see in his eyes what kind of a man he is, how much compassion he has, and how seriously he takes his job. Watch for more photos in this series to come...

Day 31-Shawna Gunther

Day 30- Bailly Inlay

30 Portraits in 30 Days/ Day 28- Char Miller

Day 27- Jared Barnett

Day 26- Samantha Pero

Jason Harrison

Charlynn Hamaker

Ofc. Ryan Lim

Skylar Miller

John Knotwell

Kelly Lim

Nathan Biddle

Day 18- Mark Langer

Day 17- Jill Baker

Day 16- Jarett LaTour

Day 15- Katelyn Goings

Day 14- James Rabdau

Day 13- Philip Barrett

Day 12-Leland Black

Day 11- Janessa Black

Day 10- Hal Brown

Day 9- Jen Black

Day 8- Philip Brown

Day 7- Heather Hurst

Day 6- Jim Harker

Day 5- Karlee B. Turner

Day 4- Travis Turner

Addy Awards

The Addy awards were last night. I was very happy to walk away with several awards for work I shot in 2010.

Jibe Media,  X-insurance "That's not covered campaign". (Silver Addy)

Richter 7, Wood Revival (Gold Addy)

Richter 7, Wood Revival (Gold Addy)

Richter 7, Wood Revival (Silver Addy)

Richter 7, Wood Revival (Silver Addy)

The Summit Group, Addy Award promos 2009 (Silver)

The Summit Group, Addy Award Promos 2009 (Silver Addy)

Freestyle Marketing Group, Industrial Supply company (Gold and silver Addys)

Day 3- Meredith H. LeSueur