Wall Street Journal!

I got a call today from an editor that I knew from the NY Times. Turns out he had moved over to the Wall Street Journal and wanted to hire me for a shoot. It also turns out that the shoot was today and I had about 2 hours to get to the location, shoot a portrait and edit, caption and upload the images to him. Honest injun, I was sweating.

It was cool though. I really love that I never know what I am going to do from day to day. Being a photojournalist is a wild occupation sometimes.

If you would like to see why the WSJ was interested in Minneapolis, go here: Article

Southeast Vacation

We took a 2500 mile roadtrip this last week. Almost entirely for fun, with only a small amount of business. We made stops in Kentucky, West Virginia and North Carolina. Here are a few images of the boys, their cousins and some of the activities we enjoyed. (Most of these were taken by my wife with her point & shoot.)

Jumping on a Hotel bed is a true sign of vacation.

Little boys in rubber boots = awesome.

Boys go to water like magnets.

Jack caught a 2' catfish- his biggest yet.

The dollar store yielded these silly teeth.

Boone shot a .410 shotgun to make his southern vacation complete.

Thursday Night Lights

Jason loosening up.

Fil positioning.

Our LGR kits are fancy.

Good thing LG brought his plumbing equipment.

LG about to achieve perfect "Flyer" pressure.

Feelin' the g's.

Don't mess wtih Texas.

Pat has a sexy bike!

Please God, let Hall win some points tonight.

"Please God, let me win some omnium points."

Hall Wins!

Why is this man smiling?

Tom and Andy giving it 100%. Nice pain faces.

Casper at speed. Guy's fast, but Timmer got the best of him last night.

More action at the Velodrome last night. It was a perfect night for racing. Windless and comfortable temps. Had a great time watching teammates and friends racing. Here's a few images.

Good night for a race

Thursday Night Lights happens at the Velodrome in Blaine tonight. I've been a stranger at the track this whole season. I've been racing in the dirt- when I do race at all. But tonight I will be there to cheer on my teammates and probably shoot some images.

These are two that I took while shooting for the Promo / Poster for the NCS Velodrome this year. It was a fun project. Dig these photos that did not make the cut. Soon I'll do another post showing the images that they ended up using.

The track stand superstars: Chris and Gabe. Sprint monsters: Tom and Ted.

See you at the races?

Reasons to hate Dave P.

Well, here's a few. His motorcycles are not only cooler than mine, but more numerous. Down with Dave.



Aw, Dave. I didn't mean it. Chin up, big guy!

Dave P. is actually a very talented man. He's built more beautiful motorcycles than a man his age ought to have. There's another in the oven right now. Hopefully it'll be up and running and we'll shoot it for a magazine real soon. That is if Dave will talk to me after this.

July 4th in Peru, Iowa = Hot Dang!

Our friend Leah grew up on a cattle farm in Iowa. She asked us to go back with her sometime and kick it farm style for a weekend. We chose the weekend of the 4th. Her brother served in Iraq for several years and so to this family the 4th had a little more meaning.

Fun times. I rode a 4 wheeler, shot rifles, drank gravy from a mug, ate the freshest steaks I've ever had, hung out with Iowa good 'ole boys, and much, much more. Here's a photo walk through the holiday weekend.

Abbie is the sweetest dog I ever met that lives in a barn.

Nothing is more American than an Iowa farm.

Nobody ever sits here anymore.

This whitetail antler was nearly as thick as my wrist!

Kona. We found that she likes to roll in horse poop.

Jack takes careful aim at a charcoal brick.

Boone, 5 yrs, loading his .22 rifle.

Mitch and daughter. She was kind enough to hold his Schlitz while he prepared for another M-80.

Boone between rounds.

Caiman skin boots

Mike is so funny?

Matt and Mitch singing "Folsom Prison".

The boys caught a firefly, or lightning bug - whichever you prefer.

Fireworks out of the back of a Chevy. As it should be.

A few bottle rockets...

Mitch, WD40, lighter + those bottle rockets = the best show going!

Independence is sweet.

Genuine Iowan Ditch Weed - not for smoking, kids.

Pit Bulls need love too.

This is my dog, Lucy. She's a Staffordshire Terrier, which is nearly the same as a Pit bull. Most people cannot tell the difference.

She's by far the best dog I have ever had and continues to win people over. Pits are not bad dogs, just dogs that often get bad owners.

Here's a shot I took of her while we were hanging out on the living room floor tonight.

Another from Black Elm Woodworking

Kris, at Black Elm Woodworking had me photograph a picture frame this week. It is walnut and thus beautiful. It is also for sale. He has a store on Etsy if you have to own it. He'd like that.

More...

New deal.

Work has been slower than I would like this last month, so I have had time to think of things, and hatch ideas. I has occurred to me that I do not shoot enough photos for the sake of fun. I want to shoot things for the pure fun of it. So, I am trying to get better at just taking a camera with me and making fun images where and when I can.

I am going to post them here as I accumulate them. It could be once a week, or twice a day - I am not sure how it will go? Whatever happens, this is the kick-off day.

Image #1 is Rod. Rod is a neighbor of mine who I met because he rides a 1942 Harley. I like old bikes and had to meet him. He is a good guy to know if you like motorcycles - he has dozens of them. Not all pristine, or even ridable, but all cool in one way or another.

This shot is Rod cruising in North Minneapolis. He will be featured in a magazine soon called Greasy Kulture. I do work for these guys every once in a while. Cool Mag, cool neighbor. I took this image while riding my motorcycle next to him. This was the kind of stuff I am referring to; the fun stuff.

Stay tuned for more images of this bike and for random photos that I will be taking per my new deal.