T.C. Worley-Photographer

Leave.

2009-11-12T08:12:00.000-08:00

Nothing subtle about this. I am migrating to my new site for good now. The new website has a blog incorporated into it, rendering this page useless to me. I will maintain it for a while, but will not post much content here.

For those who have followed, I sincerely thank you and invite you to join me on the new site:

www.studiobluempls.com

The good times are still rolling, just changing the address. See you there.

Best,

T.C.

National Sports Center Velodrome Promo

2009-11-02T19:57:00.000-08:00

I promised I'd show the images once they were released to the public, so here they are. You may have seen them on posters in bike stores around Minneapolis and St. Paul. I really like what Chris Verbick did with the poster design-work around the images. He's a talented man - off educating himself in England as we speak.

Anyway. It's too late to visit the Velodrome to see some racing, but come spring you'll get our chance again.

Happy Halloween.

2009-10-30T17:44:00.001-07:00

More Rendezvous- 08

2009-10-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

"Hannible" sold knives, furs and such.

They didn't have hoop and stick yet...

The missing end of the card was shot off by this woman's musket ball. The skinny side facing her! Quite a shot, this one.

Blackpowder musket.

A trapper's bedroom.

Last summer I shot an assignment for the NY Times on a group of people that get together to reenact the ways of the fur trappers that settled parts of Minnesota way back when. It was an interesting job for sure. All around me people were dressing and acting like they were living a century ago. Kids threw hatchets, men fired black-powder muskets and ladies cooked over open fires. These are images that were never published.

Pears.

2009-10-06T19:55:00.001-07:00

We try to grow as much food as we can on our little Minneapolis lot. We have a garden with over a dozen different things, as well as 7 hens (one laying blue eggs) that give us fresh eggs daily. We try to keep our foods' distance from our plate as short as possible - except for coffee. Mmm...

This summer we noticed that several neighbors had fruit trees that they did not utilize. We saw them picking up fallen, rotting fruit, but never taking the good stuff to use. So, I started asking if we could take some of the fruit off of trees if they were not going to. It pleased them all, and so we did. We got home grown apples and pears, which we either ate fresh or canned for later. The pears were especially beautiful, so I could not resist taking just a quick shot of them.

I'm told this was a great year for apples. It's not too late to find out for yourself. An apple a day...

NY Times: Home = happy foreclosure story

2009-10-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

This last weekend I dodged rain and 30mph+ winds to finish my latest assignment. A little rosier way to look at the foreclosure mess our nation is in, was to pick a home that was bought cheap and made into a pretty sweet place.

If you want to read the article: NYT Home Section

View: Slideshow

The home was okay, but the real gem was the yard! The property includes the following: 2.5 acres of land within city limits. A large garden, and new fruit tree (pear & apple) orchard. It also had a view of both St. Paul and Minneapolis skylines, and a detached workshop with a bar (although not currently functioning as such).

So, the moral of the story? Foreclosure is not always bad. I guess.

Energyprint & Envirobate- executive headshots

2009-09-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of working with a few brand new companies this last month. Both needed headshots of their executives, and management teams.

The first, Energyprint, specializes in software that helps your company track its consumption. They help you by road-mapping your consumption, costs and carbon in an effort to save you money and keep your business operating efficiently (and thus greenly - is that even a word?).

I am really into the idea of operating efficiently as a means of reducing consumption. It is not as hard as it seems once you get into it. I like what they are doing.

The above image is of Priscilla, the COO at Energyprint.

THe second company is Envirobate. This company takes care of the abatement of things you and I ought not try to remove ourselves. Things like mold, asbestos and more. If you have an older home like I do, you might find yourself needing their services at some point. Top shelf stuff.

This is Mike Sherek, Project manager of the commercial wing of asbestos removal.

Gear review- Thule Roof Box

2009-09-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

For several years I have worked with writer, Stephen Regenold, of The Gear Junkie - a website and syndicated column in several papers nationwide. Recently he asked me to test (and in this case photograph as well) and review a few items and write about them for the site. This is the first of those. Have a look around his site - lots of outdoor toys, stories, photos, etc...

Here's the link to the review: Thule Boxster 611

So long summer and Beautiful bikes

2009-09-11T15:18:00.001-07:00

It saddens me deeply to see summer go away soon. I absolutely love summer and being outside and grilling and tan. Alas...

Fall is amazing, but amazingly short here in MN, and then winter. Long, Long winter. Beautiful, yes, but so very long. So here is an image that I found and love. It says summer so well and is really simple and beautiful. I wish I knew who captured this image. Well, done, sir (or Ma'am).

And soon, so long to road bike season. I will trade my skinny tires for wider, Cyclocross tires and layers. So, here are a few nice rides to remind us of the fun of bicycling in the summer. I am not a fixie freak, but I like these bikes a lot. Gotta' say, the fixies look great - I just keep mine for the track. And I never tire of seeing pursuit bikes. Those frames are so agressive looking! Again, I did not take these, so props to those who did.

I had a good trip to Tucson, AZ this week. I was working for Everlast Climbing Industries -- my longest standing client. I will post images when I am able to.

Aton 24hr Mtn bike race

2009-09-03T19:39:00.000-07:00

I drove out to Afton last weekend to cheer on a few teammates that were racing for 24hrs. Sometimes people will do these races as a team-- relay style. Not these two guys. Jeff and Tim (Super Rookie) went from 5pm Friday till 5pm on Saturday. While we were all snug in our beds, the racers were doing laps around a ski hill.

When I arrived at the course there were about 6 hours left to race. Tim looked ragged, but was still on the bike and doing well (5th at the time). I offered snacks, but he graciously declined. (I never actually saw Jeff).

I did not stay for the finish, but Jeff ended up taking 2nd place and Tim took third (and 1st place single-speed). Could not be more proud of that kind of racing. Well done, gents.

Here are a few quick shots I took at the race.

Unidentified racer descending the ski hill towards the finish.

Tim climbing away from the finish area with 5.75 hours to go.

Tim was gentlemanly enough to exchange pleasantries with my boys while he climbed his single speed up the ski hill.

Jack (the PIRATE) doing a wheelie half way up the ski hill on his Surly Puglsey. He is either super tough or insane to race that bike!

Wall Street Journal!

2009-08-28T22:26:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-26T07:56:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-14T09:15:00.001-07:00

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

2009-08-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-08-10T21:19:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-08-10T18:50:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-08-07T19:12:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-08-06T13:03:00.001-07:00

New deal.

2009-08-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

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.

Hitched!

2009-08-01T11:09:00.001-07:00

Several weeks ago my sister-in-law got married. The wedding was a very small, intimate gathering of family members. The ceremony was in a little clearing surrounded by woods in east central Minnesota. It was nice. A bit chilly, but really nice.

My new brother in law is a stand-up guy. He (they) lives on a house boat and rides a Triumph Bonneville. He's not bad looking either, I hear.

These are a few shots that I liked. I do not do many weddings, mostly friends (or family) but as I used to shoot a lot of them, I still attract a wedding client or two each year. If you have a wedding coming up, I might be your guy?

Big congrats again, Ami and Jimmy.

Adventure Racing

2009-07-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

I've been asked multiple times to join teams for an adventure race, but for some reason or another was never able to do it. I finally got my chance last weekend. Stephen Regenold (of www.thegearjunkie.com) my adventure journalist partner, old pal Stanley (whom I met on North Dakota's Mah Dah Hey trail in '06), and a friend of his, Stephanie embarked on a 6.5 hour race.

First we started on foot, reading maps, orienteering our way to checkpoints. We ran through groves of saplings, swamps, rocky ravines and more. Length: Approx. 6 miles.

Then we were routed to a creek. We hiked/ran up the creek, hitting checkpoints along the way. The creek wound through several huge culverts that were dark and dripping. As if hiking through a creek is not hard enough, try turning out the lights! This was actually a favorite part of the race for me.

When the creek dead-ended at a 80' waterfall, we climbed out of the creek and onto bicycles. We rode roughly 12 miles on the road to a river.

At the river we loaded our bikes into a truck, grabbed 2 inflatable kayaks, paddles, and set off for 6 miles of wet drudgery. Not really. My legs were welcoming the rest and the day was perfect for a paddle. Hot, but not too hot. The water felt good. River was s bit low, so there were some short portages.

Upon reaching the 6 mile point we exited the water and grabbed our bikes for another few miles of road biking that would bring us to Mount Kato - a ski hill that has singletrack trails all over it. We rode 8 or 9 miles of singletrack, hitting checkpoints along the way. Another 4-5 miles of road biking to the finish point.

We were the second co-ed, 4 person team to show, but a missed optional checkpoint bumped us into 3rd when the team behind us made it to the finish with their time bonus. Dern. We had to settle for 3rd place. For a first race, I was happy enough. It was super fun to be in the woods and wild all day. There was suffering and cramps to be sure, but it was too fun to dwell on the negatives.

I might get into another one of these this year - I'll post if I do.

***Not sure who to credit photos to. Someone borrowed Stephen's camera. If you want credit, stand up.

In hind sight...

2009-07-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

A few months ago an advertising agency client of mine mentioned that there would be a dress code for an upcoming job. The shoot would be for a pretty formal, professional client of theirs. So, being the dork that I am, I send a few options for them - total tongue-in-cheek style. This was my favorite. It is 80's T.C. I am wearing an ostrich skin (likely fake) leather jacket with shoulder pads and oversized bicep area. Tight pants with a lot of belt loops, tight-rolled of course. A righteous turquoise, tight shirt with pink flamingos. Lastly an attempt to feather what hair I had at the time.

Amazingly the client continued plans for the shoot and has even allowed me to bid on an upcoming job! Lucky for me they have a sense of humor.

Happy Friday, everyone. Enjoy another summer weekend!

Brinkman Russell Inc.

2009-07-14T13:38:00.000-07:00

I know that for a lot of people, now is not a great time to gussy up the house. But if you are one of the lucky who have not yet felt the pinch of the current economy, and are considering a remodel, may I suggest calling Brinkman Russell. I have worked with these guys longer than any other client. I am proud to be associated with them too. A lot of construction companies have poor reputations for unmet expectations, ridiculous delays, or maybe even outright dishonesty and shoddy work? I have always heard positive feedback from the homeowners that hire B.R. They are perhaps the most ethical company I have ever worked with.

These are a few shots of homes they remodeled this year.

If you want to contact them, give them a call (651) 735-8367) - or visit their site: www.brinkmanrussell.com

Bike racing, and summer fun.

2009-07-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

This has been an exceptional summer here in Minnesota. Having grown up in a warmer climate, I am all about the Minnesota summers. They are short and sweet. You dang well better make the most of it, because snowflakes fly early up here.

So, I have been making the most of it. I've been sailing, bike racing, adventure racing, swimming, riding motorcycles, camping, etc... Never a dull moment. I do not have photos for all of these activities, but I scrounged a few to show you.

First is my son Jack during his first Mountain Mike race. He's done BMX and the Shimano Kid's races (everyone wins), but this year he decided to compete for real. Mount Kato, in Mankato, MN was the race. He suffered through the 4 mile course, wrecking twice, but insistent on finishing. He was not very pleased at the end of the race, as it was the toughest physical thing he has ever done. But you should have seen his mood change when the results were posted and he got second in his age group! Kid was pumped up! I was right proud of him. I got to follow him through the course and it was really fun to watch him maneuver the course with his tiny bike. Kids rule, seriously.

I raced later in the day and had a great time. This is one of my favorite courses. I managed a 3rd in my Single Speed category, but was 30-something overall. Good times.

Lastly, dig this image my wife took of Jack at the beach. Kids are the best humorists and they do not even know it.

If you have not met your summertime funtime goals, get it in gear. We're neck deep into July already. Make it happen.

***The bike racing images were pirated from Dana Schoppe's page. Thanks, Dana.

Gangsters in Wisconsin!

2009-06-27T11:36:00.000-07:00

One of the more interesting assignments I have been on lately. NYT sent me to northern Wisconsin to shoot (photos) places that notorious Chicago gangsters used to frequent. When the heat was on, they would flee to the northwoods for some relaxation. I visited several spots and generally just toured the north woods looking for gangster related things. It was beautiful.

Go read the article, view the slideshow and maybe even watch the movie trailer ("Public Enemies", due out soon)- all accessible from the NYT site.

Capone, Saltis and Dillinger were the more familiar names, but many, many gangsters roamed around up there. The image with bullet homes in the glass was taken at the Little Bohemia Lodge in Manitowish Waters, WI. Those are real! When the movie comes out you will see a shoot-out scene at this lodge. Can't wait to learn more about this. Very intriguing stuff, these stories. Go have a look.

Let's work out a deal.

2009-06-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

Last month the NYT sent me into a prison to photograph inmates. Turns out that in order to save some dirt, Minnesota and Wisconsin are bartering with a few items. State budgets are tight and disappearing in some cases. Rather than close prisons and lay off officers and state employees, etc..., the neighboring states are coming together to make certain items cheaper. Think buying bulk, like some people do at Sam's Club, or Costco.

It makes sense. So, to show that in photos, they sent me into a prison to show inmates working on license plates. MN inmates will be making Wisconsin plates soon. It was quite an experience. I was shaking hands and rubbing elbows with some (formerly) dangerous dudes. Being a level 4 prison (out of 5) meant that these were not purse-snatchers. They were murderers (alleged, they' like you to remember), serial rapists, drug dealers, etc...

Guards had no weapons, as "whatever you have on you can be used against you" I was told. A weapon would be a liability to a guard. So, I was armed with nothing but my wit. Which luckily I did not need to use. These guys were all quite well behaved while I was there. Some of them were even gentlemen - for which I thank them.

It made me a little sad that a series of wrong decisions had landed these guys in a very hopeless situation. They could not see the beautiful pond beside the driveway into the prison- peppered with ducks feeding and red-winged blackbirds flitting around under a perfect, blue sky. The lucky ones would get a few quick minutes of sunshine each day, but not even that was guaranteed. They might have a job inside, but pay starts at 25 cents an hour. There are not enough jobs for everyone, so those without a position sit in their cells all day. It's a terrible existence, really.

Of course, I recognize that their actions were deemed unacceptable in our society and that they really ought to be punished. It is just sad that it has to happen that way in our flawed world. Too bad that anyone can find themselves in that situation. On the other hand, I would not rest easy knowing that one more murderer, or child molester, or rapist was out roaming my city waiting to unleash their terrible, uncontrollable habit on someone I know and love - or don't know or love... Just sad.

Just behave yourselves, all of you.

Read the Story

RIOT Minneapolis: Clothing

2009-06-07T11:27:00.000-07:00

Friend and Teammate, Spencer (Dispencer) Haug has launched a new (and mega-rad) apparel line called RIOT. I helped him with photographing the t-shirt designs that he is selling so far. Have a look and if you see them as objects of desire, you may visit the site and get yourself one.

They are all bike-themed, or more specifically, bike-racing-themed. Perfect for you or the bike dork in your life. Every order comes with stickers!

Check it out.

Working with a legend.

2009-05-26T18:27:00.000-07:00

Not sure that He's actually a legend just yet, but he is to some. Jeff Riedel, a NY based photographer was here this month shooting an ad for NIKE. I was called to assist him. Please understand that I took no photos on this job - I was there to help with lighting and what not. It was really great to watch him work. We photographed a Minnesota Viking running back in the Metrodome locker room. Don;t want to give away too much info just yet. I will post an image when I see it though. The shot above is an ad Jeff did for Adidas.

It was a pretty neat experience. Do people still use the word neat? I do.

Go see his work. He's shot a lot of athletes and celebrities. You have likely seen his work before. Oh, and on top of being immensely talented, he is a gentleman to boot. Do people still say "to boot"?

Jeff's Site.

The value of art.

2009-05-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

I have a few sites/blogs that I follow each day. They are all art related, or photo related. Every morning I check them and get a little creative boost for the day. I used to check out art/photo books in college for the same reason. I feel like it is a duty of mine to stay sharp and find images/creations that inspire me or challenge me to think in a new way. Plus I like it. Some of the vintage photos are so great!

These are a few images that I really liked. Being a bike dork, I obviously loved the bike sculpture. I want it. James Micheal Starr built it. Graham Hobart shot it.

The kid is just amazing! I dare you to find a cooler photo! I want to hang out with this guy. He's probably old enough to be my dad by now. This image captures little boy behavior so well. Yep, amazing.

I'm also a big fan of graphic art - especially older stuff. It boggles the mind that people did such great work so long ago. Really dig this "Umph" piece. Good motto for all of us, eh?

Our new president seems to value art, as he has pledged a great deal of money to it. Read about it as well as the first ladies thoughts HERE.

Not saying tax money should go to it - nobody lambaste me. I like to see it valued though. food for thought, peeps. Enjoy the images.

Is this a sign?

2009-05-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

So, I took 4 days off of work to go on a turkey hunting this month. I awoke early, well before the sun was up, and hiked into the valleys and ridges of southeastern Minnesota. I was wearing camoflage from head to toe, and carrying a 12ga shotgun. I looked pretty official. Truth is, I am not so official. I have taken on a quest to kill and eat a wild animal to see if I can truly deal with the realities of what it means to be a carnivore.

You see, the meat we eat is almost always prepackaged in a bloodless styro-foam tray, or maybe it comes already cooked. It looks nothing like the animal is was pulled from. So, I am seeing if I have what it takes to do the "dirty work". If not, then I think it is hypocritical to eat meat. I like meat, so I am not wanting to give it up, and have no real intention to. I just want to prove to myself that I can do it.

So, I've entered the woods for 2 seasons now, hunting both turkey and deer. So far nature is kicking my butt. No creatures have fallen under my hand.

However,while hiking those bluffs this year I did stumble across another of natures bounty. The illusive morel mushroom. I in fact stumbled across several. Now, I am not sure what to do to them to transform them into the delicacy they are rumored to be, but I will certainly find out. For now they are dried in a canning jar. If any of you have a great recipe for them, drop me a note.

Here is an image of the ones I found. So far, it seems that perhaps all the woods wants me to have is plant life. I'm no quitter though. Watch yer back wildlife!

I lied, and more Velodrome.

2009-05-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I didn't so much lie as spread a rumor. Escapes (NY Times travel) will continue, but will do so in a shrunken form and will be located in another section of the paper. So, it will not be the same, but will not actually go away. So, please forgive my hasty comments about its disappearance.

Also, I shot the National Sports Center Velodrome promotional stuff this last Sunday afternoon. We had beautiful weather and cooperative volunteers and it went quite well. I do not know exactly how they will be used just yet, but it should be fun.

I got to realize a dream of mine that I have had since 2006. I was able to shoot from the back of a motorcycle while racers rode inches away from me. It was great! I loved shooting this way and it helped us create some unique images.

Here's a sample.

4,600 mile hiking trail!

2009-04-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit misty eyed as I write this. Today may mark the last day that my photos run in the NY Times "Escapes" section. I have heard a nasty rumor that the section is slotted for removal by the paper. [ Curse you economy! ] I'm not really too upset. If this is the end of 3 years of getting paid to sail, camp, mtn. bike, climb, hike, ski, mountaineer, snowboard, etc... I think I can learn to cope. It has been absolutely amazing and I am grateful for each of the dozens of assignments I have been called on to shoot. So, farewell, old friend... you will be missed.

Today the article on the North Country Trail ran. This trail is kind of amazing. It will be all the more so when it is completed. I'll give it to you in a nutshell, but you need to go read the article for yourself. The trail starts in NY and (at this point) ends in North Dakota - making it twice as long as the Appalachian Trail (also the grandfather of N. American trail systems). Lace up yer boots!

Go read: NY Times article

Velodrome Season is back!

2009-04-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

Of all the new things I have tried in the last few years ( yoga, criterium races, archery, maple syrup-ing, blogging, to mention a few) racing on the velodrome in Blaine, MN is among my new favorite things to do. If you have never seen it, I urge you (again) to visit the velodrome on a Thursday night sometime this summer.

I will soon be neck deep in a new photo project at the track. Stay tuned for shots from that. Till then you will have to make do with these regurgitated images from last summers' Fixed Gear Classic race weekend.

Seriously now, go watch some track racing.

Ragnarok Report

2009-04-19T12:17:00.000-07:00

Me, about 1/5 of the way through the course.

Whew. Really glad to be done with this race and off my bike for a day or two. It turned out to be a fantastic day to race. Highs about 70 degrees and almost no wind. The dry, fast course made for some fast finish times. The winner blitzed the 105 miles in barely over 6 hours. He was hauling.

I managed to finish in 7.5 hours, which I felt really good about. I came in 25th overall and 4th in the single speed category. My bike set-up was really good and allowed me to climb almost all of the hills - though a few times I thought I might pop. The last 25-30 miles was a mental battle. I knew I could finish, but my body really wanted me to stop. I think a lot of people were dragging by that point, because only one person passed me in the last 25 miles. I felt like I was grinding to a halt and that everyone behind me would come whizzing by any minute. Not so, gladly.

I'm posting a link to a site that Scott Haroldson (Minneapolis wedding/portait shooter) maintains. He and a few buddies shot a lot of images. That is where I got these. If you'd like to take a look at more, go here: Ragnarok Photos.

Thanks to the race organizers for a great event - for free! I hope that I can do it again next year.

Off to rest now.

The Ragnarok 105 race

2009-04-17T18:44:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I am leaving my home at 5:00am in order to get to Redwing, MN in time for the start of the Ragnarok 105. It is not a very conventional race. It is as much an adventure race as a bicycle race. Riders must bring enough water and food for the duration of the race and cannot accept outside support in any way. It follows as many gravel roads (especially hilly ones) as the race directors could find. So, it is neither a road race, nor a mtn bike race. Racers are given "tulip" notes - a sort of simplified map to follow, and all of us are really hoping not to get off course. Every mile you ride in the wrong direction must be retraced. Add that to the 105 miles of normal race course and you get a REALLY long ride. Last years winners finished in a little over 8 hours. I hope to finish within 10. I am hopefully not as slow as that goal suggests, but am riding a single-speed bike and will cover ground a little slower than those with a full set of gears. Think - Tortoise and hare.

I am going to carry a small camera and hopefully get a few shots of the race course. It should be beautiful! Southern, river valley Minnesota is easy on the eyes. Lake City is like a little paradise tucked away in the hills. I just hope that the blinding pain will subside long enough for me to take a few images. I will post whatever I end up with sometime later this week.

To learn more about the "Race", click here.

Skiing Lutsen Mountain - Northern Minnesota

2009-04-03T18:29:00.000-07:00

I love my job. I've said it a lot, but it bears repeating. One of the most fun days lately was going to Lutsen Mountain up on the north shore of Minnesota. It is a pretty large ski resort for the midwest - larger than I expected to see. It is known for its gondola lifts - not something you see too much of east of the Rockies. It was a great time. I am not a highly skilled boarder, but I make it work. Jim Vick, marketing director for the resort was kind enough to show me around the place and carry my bags, telling me " I haven't fallen in years". My equipment was much safer on his back. Thanks again, Jim!

Go read ski writer extraordinaire Stephen Regenold's first hand account of his times at Lutsen Mountain. Don't forget to watch the Slideshow too.

Hiking South Dakota: Harney Peak

2009-04-03T18:15:00.000-07:00

Every time I ask people if they have heard of Harney Peak, nobody has. I certainly never had, but having hiked it, I try to preach it to people. If you fancy yourself a hiker and hike for the sake of seeing a beautiful place, then Harney Peak should be on your shortlist. It's in an area that is better known for Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park, so I think that explains why few know about it. The area is swarmed with families in campers pointing at mountain goats and bison from their air conditioned perches. That tends to repel the outdoorsy folks. The hike is not for the weak, but you do not need to be an adventure racer either. Just take water and snacks, and give yourself enough time. Even though I have climbed the trail, I already want to go back.

Go read the Article and watch the Slideshow and see if you agree that this is a place worth visiting.

Pretty wood.

2009-03-31T16:29:00.000-07:00

This is an image that a friend of mine sent me in an email. I DID NOT TAKE THIS PHOTO. I regret that I do not know who to give credit to. However, I thought it was really cool and that the artist - the sculpture artist should get some more mileage out of this.

Hope you like it too.

For those about to rock

2009-03-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

My buddy Dylan (drummer) is a rockstar, greasy wrenching hotrodder and genuine stand-up guy. He's recently started a new band (was with Corpse Show Creeps) with some guys here in Minneapolis. I did this shot for them to use as an ad in a Rockabilly magazine.

Check the site for more info and show dates.

You wish you were cool enough to wear leather pants.

This just in...

2009-03-16T18:35:00.000-07:00

"Weird, but kinda cool". That is how I would have to describe my being written about in the Star Tribune today.

I am grateful as a self-employed person to have free coverage like this. I am generally the guy on the other side of the news story, the one shoving a camera in someone's face for a story about them. Well the shoe was on the other foot today. I am just glad that getting into the news was not precluded by my being busted for some crime against humanity. Thank goodness.

A lot of people think that I have it made - and lest you think I am an ingrate, I very often feel I have it made too. However, having a fun job comes at the price of uncertain income that when it does come, often does so in small amounts. So, while you may hate going to work at the same place everyday, you do not have to know the stress of the self-employed photographer. Especially one with 3 mouths to feed. The fact that I have made this crazy gig work for so many years is awesome though. I admit it. I love what I do and I hope it shows.

Thanks to Stephen Regenold for not misrepresenting me in the media.

MN 2008 Cycling Images

2009-03-03T23:03:00.000-08:00

Minnesota photographer, Robbie Halvorson put together a collection of images from Minneapolis area photographers that showcases the 2008 Cycling season. There were four guys total that contributed - I was one. Robbie merely wanted to give back to the cyclist community a bit by posting this gallery. It turned out pretty nice. Go have a look:

MN Cycling Racing 2008 - Gallery

Fitsok catalogue

2009-02-27T06:03:00.000-08:00

Fitsok is a brand of running sock that is relatively new. They make technical socks in several styles. I was hired to shoot some images for their catalogue that will be out very soon. Unfortunately the deadline was in February, which meant we had to shoot in January - cold or no cold. Well it was cold. The images of the girl were taken in about 6 degree temps. She was a trooper and it all worked out. The guy was lucky enough to only have to endure about 20 degree temps.

I have not had a chance to try out the socks, but my wife has and loves them. They are only available in running stores. Check 'em out.

North Shore Fun

2009-02-25T20:15:00.000-08:00

This last weekend I was on a quick assignment up in northern Minnesota. We stayed at a great little place bewteen Lutsen, MN and Grand Marais, MN. If you like nice, but not fancy places- consider yourself more into cozy than into cutting edge, then you ought to like the Cascade Lodge. Our room had a fireplace and fold out couch. A few nature paintings tied the decor together. The lodge is sandwiched between Lake Superior and the north woods. I could throw a rock and hit the lake from my porch. Rooms are clean and priced appropriately.

After I was done working, I took the boys out behind the lodge where the ski trails start. There is quite a system of trails up in the north country and had I more time, I'd have rented a pair of skis and dove into them. As it was, I had just enough time to let the kids glide around a bit. It was great though. They are so pumped about gliding down a 50 yard gentle hill. They have these little hybrid skis (not downill or XC, but somewhere in between) that they get around on quite well. They can ascend and descend pretty good in them.

Since I cannot leak the images from the job, here are some that I took of the boys at Cascade. I have a ton of fun with these guys. They are among my favorite adventure partners.

3 random images

2009-02-19T18:52:00.000-08:00

These are all images from various going-ons in my life. I ran across them as I was reformatting media cards.

The Geo Tracker driver is making sure we all know that it is actually not a Jeep he is driving. Just another great find in the U.P. - Michigan's upper peninsula. Love that place.

The dog is Lucy, my Pit Bull Terrier. She's wearing my son's sweatshirt and is not enjoying herself nearly as much as we were. She's a great family dog - very patient with all the dumb things we do to her. Very sweet girl. Love that dog.

The kid skying through the air is my oldest son. He's been jumping bikes since he was 5 and will definitely out-ride his dad within a few years. Riding with my sons is in my top 3 favorite things to do. Love those kids.

I'll post some job images soon. I like for them to reach publication before I post images - don't want to spoil the surprise.

Spearfishing in the U.P.

2009-02-02T08:19:00.001-08:00

When I first got my assignment details for this job, it mentioned spear fishermen using "decoys", which I thought must surely be an error. Decoys are for duck hunting and turkey hunting - not fishing. So, I was surprised to see that they actually do use decoys- beautiful, hand-carved, realistic decoys.
I've gone ice fishing before and truthfully did not see the attraction to sitting in a drafty "shanty" waiting for some unseen fish to happen along my lure. Had I actually caught one, I might have had more fun. With spearfishing, there is a visual connection to the fish you are trying to catch. And then when you see the one you want, you fling a spear at it, like some sort of indian hunter.
It is by far the most interesting style of fishing I have ever seen.

Do go read Greg Breining's description, which is far better than mine. Greg used to be a staff writer for the DNR's Conservation Magazine, and is especially gifted at writing about all things outdoors. Look for the photo slideshow again too, as it shows more details of the sport - like shots of those decoys I mentioned.

Oh, and for those not familiar, the "U.P." is Michigan's Upper Peninsula. What looks as though it should rightfully belong to Wisconsin, is a wonderfully wild piece of land brimming with outdoor adventure that somehow came to belong to Michigan. It is among my favorite places to escape to. If you go, try a "pasty" They are not gross.

NY Times Article

Orchestra

2009-01-17T17:48:00.000-08:00

This week I was asked to shoot several Orchestra performances. I am very uncultured in this area and I felt like a child who is trying to be quiet in church. Every where I look there are people glaring at me because I am a distraction - my faint shutter clicking being way too much for the trained, delicate ears of concert goers. It was not really that bad. I did have one old man shush me and wave his arms for me to leave. I thought it was perfectly classic! Old men are cool!

In the attached image, Pierre Laurent-Aimard is conducting from the piano bench, because he is intermittently playing the piano and then conducting - repeat. Wow.

Anyway, if I have not offended you and driven you away by now, you can follow the link to the article about the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. It is written by James R. Oestreich - who they say is kind of a big deal.

NY Times Article

Surfing Lake Superior

2009-01-16T14:19:00.000-08:00

I shot this assignment in negative 6 degree weather, which seemed insanely cold at the time. This weeks negative 20's and 30's have given me a new perspective on cold and an increased desire to take my profession to a warmer climate. Anyway...

Today the NY Times ran the story Stephen Regenold and I did on Surfing Lake Superior. I have to say that this assignment was the most fun I've had in quite a while. I love surfing. To see surfing at all, let alone on a lake (!) was really pretty cool.

Do yourself a favor and go read the article. Great writing. I think my images held their own too... Make sure you view the slideshow, as it really gives you a better idea of what we saw. I think there are 8 more images in the slideshow.

Enjoy.

NY Times Article

Kids are cool: part 3

2009-01-15T08:41:00.000-08:00

I really dig kids. Except naughty ones.

Loft living

2009-01-08T19:01:00.000-08:00

Back in the late summer I photographed a loft property that was for sale. I used to dream about owning a loft and parking my motorcycle in it - maybe even putting a climbing wall in it. It would have been a great, adventuresome bachelors pad. These days I find myself wanting to get further from downtown, not living in the heart of it. In spite of that I really enjoyed shooting this loft and it did rekindle (if slightly) that love of concrete floors and high, white ceilings.

It is (was) on the market for $300,000 and is in the warehouse district of Minneapolis - 700 block of North Washington to be more specific. If you have the jones, I imagine that there are still lofts available. And you know, there has never been a better time to buy...

High Five Bicycles

2009-01-03T11:17:00.000-08:00

I posted a little teaser image of a bike a few months back. It was a High Five brand. I Minneapolis based company that is doing custom order frames (and a few other things like wheels, etc...) for people who want to go fast. There are no plans for citizen, commuter bikes for High Five. It is all about racing, or at least going fast and aggressive.

Jason Prudhom is the man in charge of the operation and he rides a High Five road bike in Midwest events. His wife rides a High Five Mtn bike - and has ridden it to several podiums (Wins!) in Minnesota races. Here are a few shots of the zippy machines. If you are interested in a custom ride that nobody else has, and you like supporting the little guy, then High Five might be the way to go. If fate is kind to me, I might soon be the owner of one of these beauties myself!

Drop Jason a note if you'd like to hear more about them.

E: jsprudhom@gmail.com

Oh, and Happy New Year! Go 2009!

USA Women's Hockey

2008-12-22T07:14:00.000-08:00

I spent an evening last week photographing some of the USA women's hockey team. An article was written about how they are lacking challenging opponents to practice with, and have thus had to start playing local men's clubs and high school teams. Some of these ladies are former Olympians and the others are Olympic hopefuls. Now, I'm not a hockey fan, but it was really fun to see these girls (often much shorter and smaller than their opponent) own it on the ice. They are very fast and precise - the antithesis of me on the ice.

Go Here for the article.

Oh, another observation: The women's hockey bench lacked that awful stench that the boy's bench was putting off. Score one more for the ladies.

Funny / Not Funny

2008-12-19T10:37:00.000-08:00

I'm not even sure what to say about this. I think it says enough on its own. Spotted in Iron Mountian, Michigan - in da' U.P.

Surfing On a Lake in December

2008-12-19T10:15:00.000-08:00

The thought of it is ridiculous. I don't even like winter. For me winter sports are a necessary evil. The alternative is rotting inside the house, my arms and legs suffering atrophy. Winter sports involving icy water are particularly repulsive to me. However, I have loved surfing ever since I learned how to in my early teen years. I've found that a lot of people don't "get" surfing, but I cannot think of too many things I'd rather do. But then I am used to warmer climes, sunshine and sunscreen - not this masochistic freeze-fest.

I've been assigned to shoot this sport for the last 3 years and finally my calendar and the conditions meshed, so I headed to Northern Minnesota to shoot. As we got in view of the lake I could see huge rollers crashing into the shoreline. I began getting pretty excited. I'm not embarrassed to say that I began beeping my horn and pumping my fists. In surfer vernacular, I was "stoked"!

I was offered the necessary equipment to try this sport for myself. But... my desire to shoot and do the job well combined with the fear of what -6 (that's a minus in front of the six) would feel like outside of my cozy 7 layers of clothing kept me from getting into the water. I'm only a little ashamed. I wish it had been 30 degrees. I could handle that. So for now my dream of riding a freshwater wave remains unfulfilled.

I'll post images and a link to the story when it runs. Till then, stay warm and out of the water- unless you have a 6mm wetsuit and brass b@lls.

Jingle Cross Rock - 2008

2008-12-01T20:28:00.000-08:00

I spent this last weekend in Iowa City, Iowa racing with my team. It was the 5th annual Jingle Cross Rock Cyclocross Race. This is the biggest, baddest CX race in the midwest and it pulled racers from as far away as California.

We rented a minivan and drove down in style. Stayed at a really fancy hotel and ate delicious food all weekend. We also raced on a splendid course. It was tough, but really fun and challenging. I raced out of my category - for reasons we'll not mention here - and felt good about where I finished in the pack.

I will be posting a re-cap on another site, so I will leave a link when that is live. For now, here are a few images of the good times. Never thought I'd find myself looking forward to visiting Iowa, but from now on I will!

The next generation

2008-11-25T10:01:00.000-08:00

Racing at LGR VeloCX race - just rode over the barrier.(Photo: Bruce A - Skinnyski.com)

I went to bed smiling last night, because I was thinking about what today held for me. This morning it happened and I am very proud of it- not in an arrogant way, but rather with a satisfied feeling of accomplishment.

My son, 7, has ridden his bike to school before (4.25 mi) which I thought was pretty neat. It has always been his idea, I'v never pushed him to do it. Since winter has settled in, we have not ridden to school in quite a while. He asked me if we could again. I thought that's cute, but not really feasible. I offered to pull him in the trailer, bundled in a down sleeping bag. He liked the idea, but really wanted to ride. I gave it some thought and figured we could try it. Worst case is he gets cold and miserable and we don't do it again.

So last night I found some of my riding gear that he could use (balaclava), and readied a few items for our ride. As I tucked myself in, I smiled, thinking of his little excited face.

So, we struck out this morning. It was 22 degrees when we left. He was wearing a few warm layers and snow boots, little fingerless biking gloves under his mittens and his full face BMX helmet. We packed a Thermos of hot tea for a mid-ride break. The trip went well. He never complained and got excited when we saw his bus headed the same direction- his buddy Peter, waving from inside.

I ride a lot of places rather than drive. It saves money/gas/emissions - keeping me fit to boot. Seeing him get that, and enjoy a bike as transportation is enough to make this dad smile. I have hope for the bike revolution to become a little more permanent. If he can go 4 miles in 20' temps, think of how many others could do that(adults, I'm looking at you). I'm willing to wager he'll be more alert in school today too. I'll have to ask his teacher. If you see us pedaling around NE Minneapolis this winter, give us a toot.

Blackpowder Deer Hunting

2008-11-19T08:41:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I spent a warm fall day in the woods with a group of deer hunters. This is the 2nd time I've had an assignment to follow a deer hunting party. This was a little different though, as the guys were using blackpowder, flintlock muskets like they used back in the 18th century. The rifles are long, skinny and generally ornately decorated. They use a peice of flint to ignite the powder- that you have to measure and load into the gun yourself. They also use hand-poured lead balls ( instead of the classic bullet shape ) and cotton ticking between the ball and the powder. In some cases material from abandoned horned nests will be used as wadding. No kidding.

It takes a special kind of hunter to want to use a blackpowder gun for hunting. They can be pretty accurate, but are not nearly as convenient as modern rifles. Any moisture will potentially dampen the powder and either fire with a delay, or not at all. Odds of a downed deer are decreased a bit for sure. But the guys I followed were tired of hunting being so easy and wanted to notch the challenge up a bit.

If you'd like to read and see more, take a look at the NY Times article HERE.

There is a slideshow of images, so don't miss that. It shows the details of the hunt from a rifle firing down to the (often) antiquated dress of the hunters. Check out the beautiful guns too.

Afton Cyclocross Racing

2008-10-28T07:52:00.001-07:00

I covered another race this last weekend. Actually got to race this one, and it was fun. Afton is a local ski hill, so any event there is bound to contain some elevation. Race course planners sent we unfortunate racers up a rather large "run-up". A run-up is essentially what it sounds like. You run up it, rather than ride. You are carrying your bike slung across your shoulder. Pain soon follows. Most run-ups are short little interruptions to a bike race, but this was a monster. It was about 75 feet of 25% grade hill. It was also thick, wet grass. Sounds like fun, eh?

Here's the write-up/images on Generation Oudoors: CLICK ME

More Cyclocross racing & Generation Outdoors

2008-10-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

I was approached by the guys who operate Generation Outdoors, a new outdoor news, review, social site thing. They wanted to get my help to cover outdoorsy happenings in the area. So, I went to the Hudson Big Ring Flyers Cyclocross race and shot some of the action and did a short write-up. In my quest for total coverage, I was forced to dodge high-speed racers and scale 8' chain-link fences. My kind of job!

Go have a look.

Black Elm Custom Furniture

2008-10-15T10:50:00.001-07:00

It's no secret that I love well designed, unique furniture and architecture and the companies that are passionately committed to them. So, it brings me joy to tell you about another company I've had the pleasure to work with. Black Elm Woodworking is a Minneapolis based custom wood working shop.

Owner, Kris, has a knack for building ridiculously well crafted furniture. In a era where most furniture is a glorified cardboard monstrosity, or 72 piece afternoon assembly project, Black Elm represents the antithesis. Each piece is custom, made of 100% hardwood and highly detailed.

Have a look around his site and if you appreciate well made, distinctive furniture, give Kris a call. I think you will find his prices are modest for the level of work he's doing.

Freeriding Pt. 2

2008-10-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

One year ago I spent a day shooting freeriding at Dave B's place (which he calls Snake Trails) Somerset, Wisconsin. I'll save the elementary explanation of what freeriding is. Have a look at the photos, visit the link above and most of all enjoy living vicariously thorough the guys in the photos.

Ely, MN - the Boundary Waters Canoe Area

2008-10-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

I've wanted to go to Ely, MN since I was 18 years old- long before I wanted to be a photographer. I had read the article on Jim Brandenburg's photo project where he took one photo a day for a period of (I believe) 80 days. They images were fantastic, and I developed a new idea of what great outdoor/nature images should look like. This far away (I was in N.C.) place called Ely fascinated me.

Fast forward a bit to this summer when I got the call to visit Ely, MN and photograph it for a section that the New York Times calls " Havens". Havens is essentially a post card look at a town, highlighting its best features and characteristics. I spent two days climbing bluffs, riding in motorboats, etc to get the shots I needed. I got a lot of nice images. It is a beautiful community. In the end the Times ran one image. This is the whole reason I started this blog was to show some of the images that never get published. So here are a few from that trip that have never made it off my computer until now.

Here's the accompanying article by Greg Breining if you'd like to read about the place.

Fairest of the Fairs

2008-09-30T06:50:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit late on the draw here, but wanted to post these images anyway. The Minnesota Fair happened about a month ago. I was hired to go shoot some images of things that sum up the fair. One priority was to photograph people eating things on a stick - which has definitely become the calling card of the MN State Fair. I witnessed 14" corndogs (known around here as "pronto pups"?), alligator, hotdish (tater-tots and meatballs, with gravy), ostrich and homemade nut rolls - all on a stick.

Then there were the usual sightings of people winning and carrying giant stuffed animals, the warehouses full of farm animals and the midway chaos. I am not really a fan of the fair like most Minnesotans. I didn't grow up with the tradition and generally wrinkle my brow at events that cost me $40 and leave me with a stomach ache. I really cannot complain about getting hired to go to the fair though, can I?

If you'd like to read the article, go here.

Knut Design - Furniture

2008-09-19T16:10:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love well designed, well made furniture. Especially it it is made of metal,stone or rough wood. Knut Design must have read my diary, because here is a table that meets two of those criteria and does it supremely well.

You might remember the acid etched samples I showed months ago from Knut. Here, Nathan (owner, designer, etc...) takes a neighbors downed walnut tree and some raw steel to create this beauty. I can't think of anything else to say other than how awesome it is. I did nearly separate a shoulder moving it into the house to photograph. Good thing Nathan is a strapping gent - maybe he'll consider doing deliveries for customers?

Check back to his site if you haven't. There some new content and a few new jobs that have been completed and documented. Keep an eye on this guy.

Cycling Paradise?

2008-08-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is a first. I may have never linked the word "Paradise" to a conversation about Wisconsin. And to be truthful, it really is not paradise - because there is no such thing. But, the Trempealeau County area of Wisconsin is a mighty fine place to be a road biker. This Spring, Stephen Regenold, my dynamic adventure journalist partner and I rode in the area for two days. I had heard the hype and was expecting it to be overstated, but what I found was truly special. The area combines a seemingly endless web of backcountry farm roads with the (almost complete) lack of motorist traffic. To some cyclists that might just equate to cycling paradise - especially if that cyclist lives and rides in the Minneapolis area like I do. Potholes, trucks, glass, traffic lights, people in a rush - all these things are absent in paradise, er, I mean Trempealeau.

Go read the full article and maybe try to squeeze in a fall weekend in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. You'll thank me.

NY Times Story

Be on the lookout!

2008-08-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

These two are wanted for rabble-rousing and chocolate stealing. They have many alias's ("Jelly face Jones", and "Action Jackson" to name a few) and disguises (see photos). They may be hanging around wherever ice cream trucks can be found and are generally keeping a low profile by staying mobile. Their primary means of transportation is bicycle. If you see them, keep them busy with knock-knock jokes and call their parents immediately.

Guns, Knives, Fur hats, etc...

2008-08-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

I'm going to skip the explanations and just insist that you follow the link and read the article for yourself. It was quite an event. My favorite part was watching 9-10 yr olds throw knives like back-alley brawlers. Don't mess with the Rendezvous kids!

Check it out here: NY Times Rendezvous article

Tough motorcycles: part three

2008-08-05T08:58:00.000-07:00

Another exciting installment of tough, garage built motorcycles. This one comes courtesy of Dave Polgreen, aka - "Tha' Nuts". Dave is no stranger to nice machinery. Since I've known him, he's built at least 3 show stopping bikes, owned several nice cars (one, a 60's Cadillac), and hoarded enough antique motorcycle parts to start a small museum. He's one of the most talented builders I've had the pleasure to personally know.

This bike is his Shovelhead Harley that he built at home, in his own garage. The tank and fenders are genuine antiques, well preserved from the heyday of choppers. He found them and decided to build a bike to go with them.

These images were taken for a great little magazine out of Australia called "Greasy Kulture". Last fall we met in Northeast Minneapolis and shot this beauty. Since then he's built another stunning bike that I hope to shoot later this year as well. The bar was raised even further - well done, sir. Stay tuned for that.

I'm a sponsor!

2008-07-22T07:25:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned this before, but I think that it needs reiterated. I'm proud to be sponsoring the Grumpy's/LGR (Little Guy Racing) Cycling team this year. I am just one of several sponsors that helps this team stay rolling. I am also happy to be a rider on the team. We have a good bunch of guys and girls that really just want to have fun on a bicycle. A few of us are having the most fun when we are in front!

We've gotten a lot of podium wins this year and several of our riders are clawing through to higher categories this season. And as if that were not enough, we are (perhaps) the only Minneapolis based amateur team that has a newsletter! We like to think of ourselves as a "professional looking" team.

Above is a shot of our racing kit that I took. The kit was designed by the talented Spencer Haugh. Haven't heard of him?! You will.

If you find yourself craving some bike racing, come to the Velodrome in Blaine, MN on Thursday evenings to watch the Thursday Night Lights races. We have one of about 23 tracks in the nation. If you haven't seen track racing, you owe it to yourself to come watch. I personally invite you. If you come, cheer for the guys/girls in the Grumpy's kits. It makes us go a little faster!

Devil's Tower - revisited

2008-07-11T08:13:00.001-07:00

The story I shot on Devil's Tower is running in today's NY Times Travel section. There is an audio slideshow (images linked to sound bytes) for the article that you should go listen to. Our guide, Frank Sanders, is passionate about what he does. His personality comes out in the audio. Images are great and all, but I really love when we get to do interviews to go with them. Go have a listen/look

The Story

Slap your hands, say yeah.

2008-07-07T16:05:00.000-07:00

You are looking at a sneak peak of the latest bicycle brand on the market. I cannot say much about it (prototype), but it is cool and will become cooler throughout this next year. Look for more info here in the near future.

In the meantime look for this bike screaming around Minneapolis with a friendly guy on board. High Fives!

Little Dirt Jumpers

2008-07-02T13:22:00.000-07:00

I'm proud of my boys for a lot of reasons. They are good hearted kids, and they have a lot of friends- of all ages. But today I am proud of them for being awesome bike riders. Jack learned to ride at 4yrs and Boone at 3 1/2yrs. They are now 7 and 4 respectively. They seriously ride really, really well for their ages. We have a lot of fun on two wheels at this house.

We ride started riding last year at a local mountain bike trail near us (Theodore Wirth). They do really well and are not scared of the obstacles. They squeal and cackle their way through the woods, having a great time for the entire 3 mile (approx) trail.

Yesterday we went to our favorite dirt jump. It is a modest little hump of earth that they call their "jump". Some other kids made it a long time ago, but we reformed it to be a little better. Here are some images of them jumping it.

If you are a competitive cyclist and would like your kids to enjoy cycling, I suggest looking into races that host the Shimano Kid's Series. The "races" are actually just rides. There are no winners or losers, exactly. They all get a medal and generally a t-shirt and sticker too. My boys really go for the swag! If I allow them to share a goo packet they're absolutely loving it! So whether they're ready to hit the jumps or not, take them out for a ride. There's no better time than right now to get in some two-wheeled fun with the wee ones.

Above images courtesy of: Margaret Mongomery

Big Bog: recap

2008-06-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

Here's the actual NY Times article about the Big Bog Recreation Area in Northern Minnesota. Read what Stephen Regenold has to say about it. There are more images as well. Stay tuned for more of these travel stories coming up - I've been busy this spring!

Nature Valley Gran Prix, Minnesota

2008-06-13T12:41:00.001-07:00

We are smack in the middle of the Nature Valley Gran Prix. For those unfamiliar, this is Minnesota's premier road race event. Professionals from around the world are here competing. Teams like Toyota United, Rock Racing, Kelly Benefit, Healthnet, Jelly Belly and more are battling on the streets as we speak.

June 7-8th started things off with an event called the Fixed Gear Classic that was held at the National Sports Center's Velodrome in Blaine, MN. It was bar none the fastest, most exciting track racing that I have witnessed. One highlight was watching Roberto Chiappa break 2 long standing track records. He hit speeds of 41mph on his way to setting the record. Wild!

Our hometown racers came out and held their own quite well against the big boys of the world. Well done guys and girls-you know who you are.

I showed up in the rain to shoot the Criterium race in downtown St. Paul on Wednesday. The poor racers had to endure some really sloppy conditions. There were a lot of wrecks at the corners - sometimes as many as one every other lap. Kristin Armstrong took off a few laps into the race and rode like a freight train the remainder of the race. I could be wrong, but think she lapped all but a few riders. Really impressive ride.

The men's race was really fast. It felt like they were attacking the whole time. I am always amazed at the strength of these pro riders. Unfortunately, the mens race was cancelled before the finish due to one of the motorcycles wiping-out due to the terrible weather. The riders decided to call the race off and donate the nights' prize money to charity. True gentlemen.

For images of the events go to my gallery page.

* AllI ask it that you remember to give me photo credit for any use and no one is permitted to use these for anything other than personal use. That would be violating the riders' rights as well and mine. Thanks all.

Tough motorcycles: part two

2008-06-06T11:49:00.000-07:00

I promised to show my motorcycle build, so here it is. It took me a long time to build, because when I started this project I was WAY under qualified. That didn't stop me from learning to weld and fabricate enough to do the job though. So far it has stayed in one piece - even at highway speeds (+).

This bike was my reaction to wanting an antique bike but not being able to afford one. I figured I'd make my own version. It started life as a 1977 Yamaha 650xs and I quickly cut the frame up and began making it into what is is now. Most of the parts were originally on another machine - be it a motorcycle, tractor, truck etc...

Some would call it a "chopper" and technically I did chop it, but others would call it a "bobber" style. I just call it the most fun I've ever had on a motorcycle. You dig?

History being made

2008-06-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

Today is just another day for me. I am working from home, doing little chores and emailing clients - nothing out of the ordinary. But I am keenly aware that something big is happening. Hillary Clinton, the first woman with a decent chance at US presidency has thrown in the towel. The fact that she made it this far is a victory for equal rights in and of itself. The fact that she lost the nomination to a black man is even more impressive.

I do not consider myself a racist and I believe that the issue is in fact a non-issue. Though to many black Americans, racism is still alive and well. I am a little shocked at how bad some people think it is, because I do not see it in my community. I have a lot of respect for the way Barack Obama is helping to dissolve the problem of racism. Whether or not he gets the job, he has put a stake in the heart of the problem and I think that great things lie ahead for our nation. Black America is so proud right now - as they should be. I feel that Barack has earned his way to the nomination and not been handed a favor. He beat a very worthy opponent this week.

We are witnessing history right now. We've seen men on the moon, walls fall in Russia, and Sadaam be brought to justice. This is one of those moments. Writer, Christina Cappechi and I talked to people on the street Tuesday evening and it was amazing to hear the excitement of the black community in St. Paul. What was also exciting was the amount of support that the average white person has for Barack. I take great pleasure in seeing the race of this man take a back seat to his vision.

Go read the article in the NY Times today (link below) and look at the face of Wilhelmina Brown. Get swept up in the change that is happening right now. It is not dependent on Obama winning the Presidency. He has won something potentially bigger already.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/us/politics/05race.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Obama and I

2008-06-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

Image property of T.C. Worley - please ask for permission to use.

Yesterday I worked the beat for the NY Times at Barack Obama's Rally in St. Paul. It was a little outside my normal assignment, but was really exciting to see up close and personal. The amount of energy in the room when he accepted the nomination for Democratic nominee was really incredible.

I wish I could say I heard more of his speech, but as soon as you get the shot you want, you sit down and file images as fast as your fingers can go. This was easily the most intense news assignment I have done.

If you're a supporter - congrats, your man is on the way. This is a big leap for the US to have a minority man in contention for President. 50 years ago some would not have allowed him to eat a hamburger next to them. History was made last night. Enjoy the images. Here's the link to the NYT slideshow:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/06/03/us/0603-BARACK_index.html

Kids are Cool: part 2

2008-05-30T10:46:00.000-07:00

I've been photographing my children a lot this spring for some reason. I go in phases. You'd think that a photographer dad would be great about photographing his kids. Not so. But I am on a roll for now and wanted to post a few of the boys.

They went with me to South Dakota and Wyoming on assignments earlier this month and we had a great time. A few of the images are from Wall Drug, a cornerstone of kitch and curiosity in the western US. They got cowboy pistols and proceeded to shoot at most everything for the rest of the trip. There are way more imaginary bad guys out west by the way.

The portrait is of Boone. Jack, his older brother got his first school photo this year and it was so cute that I had to do one of Boone too.

If you are thinking of procreating and are not sure if it is for you, I suggest that it just might be. If you are into laughing and having a lot of lighthearted fun, you should get one of these! Not always easy, but always worth it. Here's to kids.

Velodrome season starts tonight!

2008-05-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

I'm surprised by how many people don't know what a velodrome is (think Nascar for bicycles). I was fortunate enough to see one when I was a child and have always wanted to ride one. I got my chance last year - thanks, Super Rookie! In a week or two I will be done with the prerequisite class that will allow me to race on it. It is such a rush to sweep around the track! Not for everyone, but definitely for me.

Tonight starts the "Thursday Night Lights" series and the National Sports Center Velodrome in Blaine, MN. I will be there cheering my team on. Which brings me to this:

I am not only riding for the Grumpy's/ Little Guy Racing team this year, but am proud to be a sponsor as well. If you look close, really close and squint, you can see my logo on the back of the jersey. It is roughly business card size or smaller. I don't expect business from it as much as I am very happy to further a group of great people and the sport of cycling in general. Contrary to what jealous, opposing teams might tell you, they are a great bunch. Check them out: www.littleguyracing.com

Enjoy these images of the beautiful sport of Velodrome racing. They are from the latter part of the 2007 season.

Big Bog Recreation Area

2008-05-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

Last week I went on assignment to north central Minnesota to cover a fairly new rec. area. As the name suggests, it is a big bog. Not much more than that. The upper area of the state is really, really flat and as a result there is a huge peat bog there. The water does not really have anywhere to go, so it has been sitting there for centuries (?). Our guide said that if you were to squeeze all of the moss in the bog, the volume of water would be enough to cover the state (MN) in a foot of water. If there's ever a huge drought... well you'll know where to find me.

It is not a high flying adventure area like most of the stories I do. Rather it is a botanist, or bird watcher's paradise. Animal sightings can range from wolf or bear to Sandhill cranes and Tundra geese. I personally was most afraid of a moose encounter. I was running (literally) near dusk, to be at a certain spot for sunset and was praying I did not run up on a big moose and startle it. I'd have met my fate under it's gigantic hooves for sure. Then the bears would have eaten me.

You can read more about the bog on my adventure travel partner, Stephen Regenold's "GearJunkie" site. paste this link: http://thegearjunkie.com/trip-report-big-bog-minn

Earlier in the day we flew a Cessna over the bog for a birds-eye-view of the place. We saw elk migration trails that have gone unused for decades, but still scar the land. Also, because the land is so flat, every river zig-zags its way to the nearest lake. From the air they are like black serpents or sometimes like veins and arteries. guess my favorite part was seeing carnivorous plants growing wild. There are pitcher plants and a few others that grow well within view of the boardwalk. That alone is worth the drive.

I cannot post image that were submitted for the article yet, but here are some that I liked from the "2nds" pile. The yellow squiggles were not actually part of the bog, but a farmers field that we flew over. Not sure what made them, but they looked cool from the air.

Look for a follow-up once the article has gone to print.

Climbing Devil's Tower - Wyoming

2008-05-08T18:24:00.000-07:00

This was another assignment where I have to shake my head and admit out loud that I have an incredible job. This last weekend I left for the west side of South Dakota for a few days to climb Harney Peak and then to head into Wyoming to tackle Devil's Tower. I'll post about Harney another time, because Devil's Tower was my favorite. A lot of people think it is an old volcano or something. Not quite, though it was formed by magma and then the river washed away the soil to reveal the tower we see. It is a huge structure - over 900' tall.
We climbed a route called "El Cracko Diablo" - The Devil Crack. It was not that terrifying. In fact it was one of the greatest crack climbs I've ever done. Having gotten a late start, we made the summit around dark and had to spend few hours rapelling in the dark - which is also not as terrifying as it might sound. When all you can see is what your headlamp reveals, it is not that scary. You cannot see that you are 600' from the ground.
Climbing Devil's Tower this week was a realization of a dream. A smaller dream, but a dream all the same. I am already planning a return trip to the tower to spend two days there and add a few more routes to my list.
The guy in the orange helmet is my adventure journalism partner, Stephen Regenold (visit: www.thegearjunkie.com). He is interviewing our guide at about 500' off the deck. The older gentleman is Tower guide, Frank Sanders who is well on his way to climbing the tower every day for one year! At 56 he is the real deal, a true hardman. He's touched foot to Devil's Tower summit over 2000 times! I'm not sure I've summited that much in my 11 years of climbing! (Check here for more info on Frank's vision: www.devilstower-sacredtomanypeople.org - site should be up soon) also see: http://www.devilstowerclimbing.com/

As Frank said, "Blessed are those who live out their dreams". Preach it!

tough motorcycles: part one

2008-04-10T11:04:00.000-07:00

This is Kevin Baas's "Panhead" Harley. He built it from a pile of old parts (mostly) and fabricated a few of them himself. This is my kind of bike - old and tough. I shot these images of Kevin and his bike for a publication out of London, called The DicE. This was last years bike, and Kevin tells me that he has another bike, this one a "Knucklehead" that he needs photographed for another publication. The man is cranking out awesome bikes all the time. When he isn't he's teaching kids how to as a shop teacher. No kidding, his shop classes are spent helping teens learn how to build motorcycles. Makes your birdhouse you were so proud of seem lame now, doesn't it? He's also operating a small business of metal signs and what-nots. Check out his site: www.baasmetalcraft.com

More of these rides to come.

Ice Fishing Mansions

2008-03-26T06:53:00.000-07:00

This was another interesting assignment. A glimpse into another culture very different from mine. I am neither a northerner, nor a fisherman, so the "sport" of icefishing is lost on me. But in northern Minnesota, this is good clean fun. And in the case of the people we met, it is also somewhat luxurious. A lot of ice fishermen sit on a bucket with a pole or two in the water. An easy upgrade is some sort of shelter from the wind -some are cloth covered frames, other are more like outhouses with room for one or two inside.

They day we went out was bitter cold. I think the high for the day was -10'. We headed to Lake Milacs in north central Minnesota. A string of very cold weeks had built the ice up to about 16" - just enough to hold the weight of a ridiculously large ice fishing house.

The focus of our story was ice houses that sleep several people, have satellite tv's (multiple usually), bathrooms and kitchens. They are much like a mobile home on ice, but the ones we visited were a notch above mobile home quality. I am not exaggerating when I say that a number of these ice homes were nicer inside than my own home. I do not have a parquet, inlaid wood floor in my home - one ice house did though. My home also does not have holes in the floor with underwater (and under-ice) cameras that can watch the fish come by to inspect the bait on your line and then take it if it so desires. The ultimate fish finder!

So, these are nice places to get out of the wind if you happen to be sitting on a frozen lake. That is the biggest need that they fill however. I'm told that if you really want to catch fish you need to be mobile, able to move where the fish are. These large houses were not mobile. They are pulled onto the ice and lifted onto skids so that the ice does not melt beneath them. Inside they remain toasty and warm with antique rifles above the doors, taxidermy on the walls and your favorite television shows beamed in from space. There might even be a big pot of venison chili warming on the mini-stove. Now you're living the northern Minnesota good life.

I dig this!

2008-03-05T13:29:00.000-08:00

I'm not actually a tree hugger, but I am a conservationalist and am quite concerned about caring for the planet we live on. So, that side of me loves this bike. Bamboo bikes have been around for a while - Craig Calfee is most noted for it - but his guy Nick Frey is going to race this bike. It weighs only 16 pounds, which is not crazy light for a race bike, but is decent. Since bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants if it can be used in this capacity, there is great potential for poorer countries to have transportation - without a dependency on oil! Nice.

I found this on Velonews, so go read more if you wish: ( no photo credit available)

http://www.velonews.com/article/72960/more-bamboo-commencal-lands-in-the-us-and-more

Gunflint Trail - Grand Marais, MN

2008-03-05T10:30:00.000-08:00

I spent two days in Grand Marais, MN for the NY Times shooting a cross-country skiing article. The area I went to is about 5 hours from Minneapolis and literally on the Canadian border. I looked out my cabin window and could see Canadian soil across Gunflint Lake. It was a beautiful place. I stayed at Hestons Cabins in a very cozy 3 bedroom cabin on the lake. Highly recommend the place to those who like comfort, but with a little rustic flavor. To me it beats a hotel room to pieces.

Skiing was great, despite the warms temps that threatened the snow. Our skiing outing took us up on a high ridge that again, gave us views into Canada and the surrounding wilderness. The trail was "tracked", but not easy. It took dips, dives and switchbacks that sent us rolling in the snow a few times. There were crazy fast downhills where we certainly pushed our XC skis beyond their limits. It was a ball. I think we ended up going about 8+ miles.

Afterwards we dove into a dinner at the Gunflint Lodge. I devoured some antelope, bison, and venison sausage with red souce over some pasta. With our bellies full we went back to the cabin and slipped into our trunks for a visit to the wood-fired sauna. I got talked into jumping into a hole in the ice, then bolted back to the sauna. It was a great trip.

Big thanks to Jake Helmbrecht and Tom Hagerty for allowing me to photograph them for the article. They were good company. Minneapolis based writer, Greg Breining wrote the article and did a fine job as ususal. Go here to see the article. I'll add more images of the town of Grand Marais soon.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/travel/escapes/29gunflint.html

Snowball's Chance In Hell Bike Race

2008-02-22T19:48:00.000-08:00

Two weekends ago on Brownie Lake in Minneapolis, a bunch of crazies gathered for the SnowBallsChanceInHell Bicycle races. (the actual name is much longer) They are held right on the lake - the frozen lake, for you out o' towners. In a nutshell, a "course is shoveled/broomed off and bikes race around for a number of laps. The course is a figure-eight, so there are frequent collisions, many intentional, and loads of screwing around. Nobody take these races too serious, it is all about fun. Refreshing. So was the temperature. I believe it was in the negative temps, or zero at best.

There were some prizes given out by the sponsors: One on One... can't remember who else, maybe CRC Coffee?

Some guys showed up with studded tires - not the wimpy store bought ones, but home-made with sheet metal screws versions. Most were without studs at all though. A number of Surly Pugsley's were there too. Again, for out o' towners, the Pugsley is a mammoth tire'd mountain bike. It is the SUV of bikes. Balloon tires are 4+ inches wide. They are specific for winter riding. The guy doing the wheelie is on one.

If anyone knows the names of guys riding, feel free to leave it in the comment section. Credit where credit due and all.

Windsled - School bus for freezing lakes

2008-02-22T14:02:00.000-08:00

I was assigned to Bayfield, Wisconsin last week to shoot a "windsled" that kids take across Lake Superior to get to school. These kids live on Madeline Island, one of Wisconsin's Apostle Islands. Strange device to be sure. It is like a swamp boat made to go across thin ice, or lakes that are still freezing and may have open water. It is driven by two large props - which are each driven by a 502" chevy race motor. They don't put these motors in street vehicles. They are powerful mills! Anyway, if you'd like to hear more, head to the NY Times site and view the slideshow while you are there.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/us/22ice.html?ref=us

Mount Shasta!

2008-02-19T13:19:00.000-08:00

Last spring I begged to be assigned a story on climbing Mt. Shasta that I knew the NY Times was doing. At first the reply was "no, we'll find someone closer". Bummer. Then less than two weeks before the climb, they call me and ask if I want to do it! Well, so much for training in advance. I just took what fintess I had and went for it.

Stephen Regenold, Minneapolis based freelance writer (and fellow adventurer) and I struck out to climb the 14,000+ beast. If you want to read how it went, copy and paste this link: (tried to post as a link and blogger would not do it?)

http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/06/15/travel/escapes/15Shasta.html

It was my first mountaineering climb, and as mountains go, this was a good first-timer's choice. It was not easy, but there are not heavy techincal sections. I have a long history or rock climbs, so this was something altogether new. It is basically a long, steep hike in the snow. Up, up and up some more.

Sadly, we never stepped foot on the summit. We endured 70+ mph winds and little sleep at camp (10,500') and in the morning we saw several avalanches in the area that we were to hike through. "Wind loading" was becoming bad. No other climbers made summit all week though, so we felt a little better about bailing. I am here to tell of the story rather than burried in snow. I feel good about the decision.

I got some nice photos despite the circumstances and had a good time to boot. Northern California is fantastic! Oregon is really nice too!

Enjoy the images. The guy descending is me - photo credit: Stephen Regenold.

R.I.P. Polaroid

2008-02-11T20:10:00.000-08:00

So, Saturday I found out that Polaroid, the instant film company has quit making their products. I am sure that most of you know Polaroid for the big clunky cameras. Those ruled! However, there was a lot more to the company. We (formerly - pre-digital) medium and large format, or 4x5 users knew it as an easy way to get a preview for how our film would turn out. It was spendy, messy and likely toxic, but we loved it. I have warmed hundreds if not thousands of polaroids under my arm pits. Sometimes, when working on fashion sets, I'd have two under each arm ( to speed up the processing of the chemicals). And to dispell a myth, shaking them did not speed or help the process at all.

Polaroids had a distinct smell. A mild chemical smell, that I have to admit that I loved. I became quite fond of it. I've said too much...

So, here's to Polaroid. An american, photographic icon. So long old friend. And to my artist friends who still use and rely on Polaroid, I am sorry for your loss...

*I'll scan a few and post them here when I return home.

BMX!

2008-01-27T12:36:00.000-08:00

These images were taken at an F-Bom (www.f-bom.org) gathering at 3rd Lair (indoor skate park). F-bom is a new site that is trying to get BMX and Freeriders on the same page. They both like to launch their bikes off of stuff, yet they genereally do not congregate together. So, Shad Holland decided that he'd try to bridge the gap with his new forum. I went to shoot some images for the sites' gallery, and to add to my biking photo collection. Some of these riders are really talented. They look really relaxed as they sail around the place. These are just a teaser. I am working on a more public display of my on-going project. Enjoy.

Idle hands are the devil's playground

2008-01-10T15:52:00.000-08:00

Being self employed means a life unlike the average man's. I often have time on my hands in the middle of the workweek. That is how I found myself earlier this week. So, I've been reading a lot and taking oppurtunities to do things that I usually cannot, such as taking a ride with a teammate one morning. It is pretty sloppy out on the roads, so I took my cyclocross rig instead of the road bike. It got really dirty. In fact, it got dirty on top of the dirt of several CX races that I never washed off.

So, I did what any guy would do. I put it in the bathtub and sprayed it off with the shower wand. I waited till my wife left the house. My wife who only hours earlier had cleaned the entire bathroom. Well, I'm happy to say that I got it clean without her noticing. I confessed later in the day though.

So, while I don't necessarily recommend my method, it is easier than the bike-on-rack through the car wash method.

If you have a better idea, I'd (we'd) love to hear it.

PS. For viewers in warm climates, you should realize that water hoses are packed away for the winter here in MN. I really had no choice...

Knut Design

2008-01-09T16:19:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine called a few months ago saying he had some stuff he'd like photographed. We agreed upon a plan and he sent me the items to be photographed. What I picked up at the post office (insured mail) was a 40-some-pound box. Inside the box was the beginning of his new company Knut Design.

Back in college "Nate", as I call him was an art student quite taken with printmaking. It seemed to come natural to him and he made some really beautiful pieces. Through the years, his skills continued to grow. He went to Norway for a time to make prints, and a few years ago was accepted at RISD -Rhode Island School of Design. Alas, the woodsy, outdoor side of him fell for a chance to move to Jackson Hole, WY where he still resides.

But, back to the company... Nathan's printmaking days consisted of using different chemicals and acid baths to etch a pattern or shape onto a plate of metal. He took those same techniques, but focused on the plates themselves as the final product. Nathan pictured these plates being used as cabinet faces and backsplashes in some of the Jackson Hole, high-dollar homes he was working in as a carpenter. Turns out people liked the idea and now he is busy growing his own company.

Check out his site for more examples and contact: www.knutdesign.com

Cyclocross Racing in Blaine, MN

2007-12-21T11:22:00.000-08:00

These images are from the Grumpy's/Little Guy Racing (my team) Cyclocross Race held in Blaine, MN this fall. It was on the grounds of the NSC Velodrome (see earllier posts on this blog). Matt "Little Guy" and Rob "Tuffy" designed a course that was more difficult and varied than anyone suspected possible. It was my first Cyclocross race ever and it was a ball! In 30 minutes, I had to make as many laps around a 2k course as I could. Obstacles included: muddy hills, muddy ditches, thick grass (worse than it sounds), 18" hurdles. There were off-the-bike hills too, but not large ones. I finished in the front half of the pack, not too bad. It was a gas.

The NY Times sent us out to cover the race, so I raced the "c" race, which is for the slower and rookie riders. Then I shot the next two races, which get longer for the participants. "A" racers go for one hour! Brutal!

It was really good exposure for the sport, which is really a niche here in the US. European countries go nuts for this type of racing, but they are not competing as much with the Mall of America, Wii systems and reality TV for entertainment. Sad, we have too many options for entertainment here in the US. Anyway...

Bjorn Selander, divinginto the ditch in the Blue/white Ridley Factory jersey became the (under 23) National Champ in Cyclocross 2007. I think he is only 19, or 20 yrs old. Look out! Congrats, Bjorn.

Aric Hareland, jumping the barrier in the black/white Silver Cycling jersey is another local tough guy.

Enjoy the images. Try to catch a Cyclocross race in the future if you have not. It is a great spectator sport, as it takes place on a short course and involves laps. The Velodrome is good entertainment too. I'll be there this next season. It should be entertaining; spandex.

When it was warm...

2007-12-15T11:51:00.000-08:00

Some of you know that I grew up on the east coast and rather enjoyed the surfing and skateboarding lifestyle that the coastal states are known for. So, it was with great joy that I accepted an assignment to wakesurf here in Minnesota. I had done it before, and was excited to get the chance again. Really fun.

Here's the skinny: You get a boat, preferrably one with an inboard motor and prop. Weight one side of the boat (with water bladders call "fat sac's". The boat then produces a larger, heavier wake. Using a surfboard shaped device you pull yourself into the wake just behind the boat and when you can let the wake's power propell you, you toss the rope into the boat. Now you're wake surfing. *Not to be confused with wake boarding, where you hang on to the rope the whole time - lame...

Check out the photos. First, Bill Tyler is deep in the curl. Not easy to do, but he's doing it with style. The rest are of Todd "Z-man" Zaugg on his home lake. He's quite comfortable on the board... comfortable enough to accept a beverage from someone in the boat. Nice Todd.

As a disclaimer, this can be really dangerous without the proper equipment. DO NOT try this with an outboard motor boat, as your body parts and the prop may tangle.

Recycling is Rad: messenger bags

2007-12-01T16:00:00.001-08:00

A number of people asked me about the messenger bag I was wearing last night. I was proud to tell them that my wife, Bekah made it. What's more, she made it of recycled plastic bags and caution tape. The caution tape came from the small scraps from the Grumpy's/LGR Cyclocross race this fall.

She takes plastic bags destined for the trash and fuses them together to create a super tough plastic fabric. If you'd like to see more or contact her about getting one made for you, you can contact her at:

http://recyclingisrad.blogspot.com

About half of the bags she makes are custom ordered, so if you have preferences, she can ususally accommodate. You can see some in person at the CRC coffee shop and Re-gifts.

You'll be seeing more and more of these around. They rule.

COLD SPRINTS! - November edition

2007-12-01T14:27:00.000-08:00

Last night was the first of four "Coldsprints" hosted by Grumpy's Bar and Grill, Behind Bars Bike shop and One-on-One Bike shop. If you aren't privy: "Coldsprints" (normally "Gold" sprints) are bicycle races on indoor training rollers - a fancy version of a staionary bike. In 20 seconds, you go as fast and hard as possible and try to beat the score of other contestants. A computer tracks the speed and distance and displays it on a screen. Think interactive video game for active types. Have a look:

Two teammates of mine won the event. Jake H. and Lindsey of Team Grumpy's/Little Guy Racing. I barely missed the qualifying heat, but vow to spin faster and harder next time. As a bonus, proceeds from last night went straight to the food shelf. Big thanks to everyone who helped out. Enjoy the images and try to make the next one if you missed this event.

More: Bike Project 2007

2007-11-22T14:04:00.000-08:00

Here are a few from another indoor trainer session in the basement. This time Tim sports his actual race kit ( www.littleguyracing.com - go Grumpy's!) The outdoor images are of Spencer Haug, another teammate on the Grumpy's/Little Guy race team. He's turning on the power in these images. enjoy.

Bike Project - continued

2007-11-21T18:33:00.000-08:00

This image is from the very first day I shot for the bike project. This is Tim "Super Rookie" Hayes. Tim agreed to let me photograph him through the winter and into the racing season. So, in January, we met in a basement studio and the project began. Tim is on an indoor trainer - the part of cycing that most of us loath. More of these to come...

Timberlake Family

2007-11-09T11:24:00.000-08:00

I do not photograph a lot of families ususally. I do not operate out of a studio, and I generally photograph in a more editorial (candid, natural) way. Not a lot of families are looking for that. I got a call from the Timberlakes a few weeks ago and they wanted family photos exactly the way I shoot them. So, we decided to get together one morning and these images are a few of the 300 or so that I took. I especially love the fish face that the 3 year-old is making at his pet fish. Kids rule.

I like architecture.

2007-10-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

I do a fair amount if architectural photography - something I never thought I'd like to do. Turns out I do like it, and I think it is because I appreciate good design. I have a problem of collecting chairs - old chairs ususally. All of them are designed well. Thus my problem. Anyway. These images are from one of my newest and favorite clients, ROOM DESIGN. They are an architecture firm based in Minneapolis. It is really fun to work with them, because they are the ones who designed the place and are excited about seeing it photographed well.
These images are from a loft in uptown, really close to Lake Calhoun. The bathroom is great, isn't it. I look forward to working more with these guys in the future. They are a talented bunch. Look for more of their work at the Franconia Sculpture Garden, as ROOM is designing the coming campus. Should be really cool when it is done - I've seen the models!