A SERIES OF BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS

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

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+Playa Blanca, Yucatan Johnny Pares spinning up some topwater bonefish flies.

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+Skagit River, Washington Scott Wilson swinging for saltwater rainbows on an early foggy morning.

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+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.

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+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.

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+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.


 

OSPREY PORTRAIT | MACRO LENS

OZZIE THE BOX CANYON OSPREY
Idaho Osprey Rescue

A portrait of “Ozzie” before he was taken to the Teton Raptor Center for wing and shoulder rehabilitation. I think this shows his personality well: a brave courageous bird with a will to live.
I’m happy he is flying once again back home in the Box Canyon of the Henry’s Fork River, Yellowstone country.

+ Teton Raptor Center: http://www.tetonraptorcenter.org/
+TroutHunter Lodge: http://www.trouthunt.com/

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YUCAN OSPREY

OSPREY FISHING | SIAN KA’AN BIOSPHERE
Natures Angler

Local, seasonal, Yucatan angler flying to breakfast with the catch of the morning in its talons, snapper was on today’s menu. I feel lucky to have been able to witness this event as well as photograph two of them fishing in the ocean surf in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. It was an impressive, humbling, sight to say the least.

+ Patagonia: http://www.patagonia.com/
      + Casa Blanca & Playa Blanca Fishing Lodges: http://casablancafishing.com/

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FLYFUSION MOBI PREMIER ISSUE

PUBLISHED FLYFUSION MOBI ISSUE 2014
Editorial Magazine 

I’m pleased to a have Henry’s Fork River photo essay in the premier issue of Fly Fusion Magazine MOBI. Summer is just around the corner, can’t wait for opening day! Big thanks to the great folks at TroutHutner Lodge!

+FlyFusion MOBI: http://bmg.uberflip.com/t/50018#
+TroutHunter Lodge: http://www.trouthunt.com/

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YUCATAN OSPREY | FRESH BREAKFAST FISH

MIGHTY YUCATAN OSPREY 
Yucatan, Mexico

 Osprey: A highly specialized fish catcher, with closeable nostrils, a reversible toe, and spicules under the foot to maximize grip. They are extensively celebrated in mythologies and folklore throughout world history and reside on almost every continent.  One famous native civilization has this interesting doctrine to say about the famous fishy bird:

An osprey doesn’t wait for the fish to jump out of the water to meet him, instead he splashes in headfirst into an element that he could not survive within. He even places his head under the water – unlike sea-eagles. He teaches us how to plunder our resources and the necessity to move outside of our comfort zones in order to do this. Osprey teaches us to take risks, and to not be frightened of grasping opportunities just because they seem like they’re out of our reach.

I am fortunate to have Osprey as a daily sighting here at home on the banks of the Henry’s Fork River, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. I’ve noticed people have the same reactions all over the world when an osprey is seen hovering in place above water, everyone stops in their tracks, waiting and hoping, anticipating the dive. Often times nothing happens, no big splash, no show, no fish. There is no warning to when these astonishing optical moments in nature will happen. But when this big event happens, it causes people to cheer enthusiastically, smile big and laugh out loud, for no other reason than watching an Osprey successfully catch a fish, dry off and fly away. Both are an amazing thing to witness. In a world where money talks, material objects are trophies and an everything costs something cause nothing is free mentality, its inspiring to see this small act of nature can stop the rat race of time and for only a moment makes everyone stop and think about something more. Nobody won anything watching nature going about its daily routine, nobody was paid, nobody bought a ticket, and the event didn’t require a board membership and not one person needed sign a waiver in fear of a lawsuit. It required only a few small things, first to be in the places where these creatures live, second to be lucky and the last would probably be something along the lines of being able to be noiseless enough to see when the big event is about to go down.

I was thrilled to spend a brief morning photographing two osprey fishing in the Sian Ka’an reserve: two birds, two fish, and a once in a blue moon experience to observe. The Mayan name “Sian Ka’an” literally means “the birthplace of the sky”. The local Mayans say their ancestors believed, that in the beginning of time, the sky was created in the area surrounding the atoll, where I was based, Casa Blanca. I suppose it could be fitting to capture these awe-inspiring birds airborne in the sky and hunting fish in the water at the exact place where legend says it’s where the sky was born. Or just lucky, either way, it’s always a great experience watching these birds.


+ Casa Blanca & Playa Blanca Fishing Lodges: http://casablancafishing.com/



TRADE SHOW BOOTH BANNER | TROUTHUNTER LODGE

ANOTHER TRADE SHOW, ANOTHER BANNER
2012 IFTD Trouthunter Lodge

This year I sat down with TroutHunter Products to find distinctive imagery for their upcoming 2012 trade show booth. We selected a fitting image which would not only be pleasing to the eyes of potential passing customers but an image that captures the unique lifeblood of the company.  Its important to know and understand what your clients company branding style is so that you can deliver exceptional exclusive imagery.

Story Behind the Photo
This past summer I had the opportunity to shoot an Osprey that was rescued by a few local Henry’s Fork river guides. If you somehow missed that incredible story be sure to head over and check out the article over on the TroutHunter Lodge blog [HERE]

About the Product
If you haven’t heard the news yet, TroutHunter products is making superior tippet and leaders these days. So, if your like most anglers out there and your contemplating what the strongest fluorocarbon on the market today might be, I urge you to investigate, or better yet, order a spool and try it for yourself…you will not be disappointed.

+ TroutHunter Products http://www.trouthunterproducts.com

iPhone image by Bryan Gregson Photography