EDITORIAL | THE FLYFISH JOURNAL 7.4
Published Editorial
It’s great to see his mug in print. This is a portrait of one of the fishiest, hardest working, most genuine people I know, my roommate, Rick Matney. All this and more from other great photographers and writers in the new issue of the FlyFish Journal.
Head down to your local shop and grab yourself a copy or order a subscription, you won’t be disappointed.
+ The FlyFish Journal – http://www.theflyfishjournal.com/
LIVE MUSIC | TROUTHUNTER LODGE
Island Park, Idaho
By chance I was in Last Chance Idaho at the TroutHunter Lodge and Milton Menasco & the Big Fiasco from Bozeman Montana were live on stage and rocking it. It was a great night on the Fork, hope to see these guys again!
+ TroutHunter: http://www.trouthunt.com/
+ Milton Menasco & the Big Fiasco: http://www.miltonmenasco.com/
A SERIES OF BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS
A few Black and White moments from my life on the road
“When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in Black and white, you photograph their souls!”
― Ted Grant
+Playa Blanca, Yucatan Johnny Pares spinning up some topwater bonefish flies.
+Skagit River, Washington Scott Wilson swinging for saltwater rainbows on an early foggy morning.
+Las Pampas, Argentina Argentine Gaucho, Jonathan Nunis, observes the outcome of his trusty calving rope work. Jonathan is one of the few old World gauchos, the last of his kind. It’s very much a fragile way of life in the new realm of technology, power and greed. I’ve never felt so humbled, so welcomed, so very small and insignificant in the big small world. It’s my hope their way of life continues forever.
+Casa Blanca, Yucatan A Yucatan Osprey heads to a palm tree with breakfast in its talons. I enjoyed watching the hunt and the feast, a day I won’t forget.
+Remote backcountry, Argentina Yvon Chouinard studying maps of the expedition in his tent. Andes Mountains, Argentina. This image represents my childhood dream and my childhood hero. A good role model and hero can make a difference, especially for the youngsters. It could be anyone really, a parent, a friend, someone who over came the odds, maybe a neighbor, perhaps a coach, an explorer, probably someone with a backbone that created positive change, it could be anyone with integrity, guts and bravery. These types follow their own quest, which is more often than not, the hard road. They fail but get back up and keep on going with their integrity and spine in tact, and they instill the seed of chance in others. Decades later I was the middle of the Andes Mountains gearing up for a big adventure. Ironically my childhood hero was also on the expedition team. I feel very fortunate to have captured this moment, for me it’s an internal lifetime accomplishment. It was also an inspiring moment, solidifying with certainty; the only limitations are those we put on ourselves. You can do anything you want to, you just have to actually want to do it. The champ is still going hard, still following his dreams, and still forging his own path. And its not everyday you get to bring your childhood hero on an expedition and take his picture when he’s not looking. Thirty-years later, I’m inspired once again.
A GAUCHO & HIS HORSE
Patagonia, Argentina
Local gaucho of the Andes Mountains, Jonathan, headed home on his faithful horse after a good day of roping calves on foot in Las Pampas.
Location:Patagonia, Las Pampas, Argentina
+ Patagonia: http://www.patagonia.com/
+ Las Pampas Lodge: http://www.laspampaslodge.com/
ELEPHANT HEAD PLANT | MONTANA BACKCOUNTRY
Rocky Mountain Flowers
I’ve seen these colorful pink and magenta plants my entire life, but I kinda like this image in black-n-white. For no other reason than I needed to kill 5 minutes between downloading hard drives, I decided to study up a bit about this peculiar plant. I proceeded to “Google it”. Besides the usual techy data stuff, where they are found, what type of temps, how much water, and a lot of scientific wording I can’t actually pronounce or remember, I found out some really fascinating information.
Natures Medicine:
It is widely known that the Cheyenne made it into a tea to break up a cough. It’s also a mild tranquilizer, muscle relaxant, aphrodisiac, and sedative. It’s used for muscle, back and joint pain, along with sprains, nighttime cramps and insomnia. You can also apply it to fevers, use it as a general sedative, against anxiety, and some herbalists give it to hyperactive children.
Magic:
Remarkably, upon further research I discovered the Elephant Head is also used magically for preparing for astral travel or clairvoyant states. So if any of you are planning on attempting astral travel anytime soon or maybe you need to practice up on using your third-eye, it sounds promising, might want to give it a try.
To this today I can’t walk past them without stopping for a moment to appreciate these animal designed flowers. When I’m viewing them through my macro lens I also tend to wonder, with a smile, what the hell nature was thinking… how bizarre, how grand.
CONCH PIRATES | OUTER ATOLLS BELIZE
Illegal harvesting of Conch
A few hours off the mainland of Belize on the outer atolls a group of conch fisherman weather out a storm onboard a rickety mother ship sailboat. The day after this image was taken I stumbled onto one of the conch divers on a tucked away flat. I was able to photograph him illegally harvesting conch. In a few short hours he had scoured every last mollusk leaving a pile of shells and destruction.
+ Patagonia: http://www.patagonia.com/
+ Turneffe Atoll Trust: http://www.turneffeatoll.org/
LAS PAMPAS GAUCHO LIFE | ARGENTINA
Patagonia Cowboys
I’ve been fortunate to spend time with the secluded rural gaucho families. I’ve had the opportunity to photograph the day-to-day living, share a mate, partake in a family asado, brand and castrate cattle, and share a beer out of an old manure soiled hat with many. I’ve also been lucky to see a greater glimpse into their isolated quiet lives. Each year I look forward too seeing them all, I can’t wait to return.
Here, Jonathan is breaking down a calf after it suffered from a fatal jaw injury. A blow to the gaucho, this accident resulted in a loss much needed income. We were able to purchase some meat; they kept the rest for food, so not all was totally lost.
+ Patagonia: http://www.patagonia.com/
+ Las Pampas Lodge: http://www.laspampaslodge.com/
OLYMPIC ATHLETE SHOOT | ERIK BJORNSEN
Olympic Nordic Skier
It was a great evening shooting with 3-time National title holder and first time Olympic Nordic Skier, Erik Bjornsen.
+ Erik Bjornsen: http://erikbjornsen.com/
+ Austin Trayser, Trayser Media Group: http://www.traysermediagroup.com/
