Santa's gone fishin'

Native American Day

Bluffview Elementary School students watch as Roman Johnson walks into the room to perform a traditional dance for the school's Native American Day program.

Shiprock Fair

Gold!

The New Mexico Press Association liked this photo and named it the second place feature photo in the state during last weekend's annual awards banquet. It's all in her expression. She was too cute. I remember panning for gold when I was this age and being thrilled to see those sparkling flakes.



Allison Kitchens, 5, spots gold in her pan after a long process of shaking and sorting gold flakes from the gravel and sand with her grandfather at the Gem and Mineral Show on May 2, 2007.

It's been a while...so here are a few from the last week:)

Toadlena Trading Post

Click play on the player below to watch a photo slideshow with audio from the traders and weavers at the Historic Toadlena Trading Post.

Totah Festival

I'm back to work in Farmington, shooting one of my favorite events of the year, the Totah Festival. The pow wow continues tomorrow and I'm looking forward to shooting more after some rest!

Through the shawl of another dancer, Cree Rain Frank, 14, is seen dancing in the Fancy Shawl competition Saturday at the Totah Festival Pow Wow.
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Barack Obama's Speech at Invesco Field

Video and editing by Lindsay Pierce

Arriving Early for Barack Obama's Speech

Video and editing by Lindsay Pierce

Clinton Releases Her Delegates

Video and editing by Lindsay Pierce

Videos from the DNC

Having lots of fun and little sleep. Here is a little evidence: (I did the filming and editing on both videos)

Democratic National Convention!!

I'm in Denver! I just missed a tornado on my drive here yesterday, but witnessed one of the most beautiful skies I've ever seen:


Check out the Denver Post's website for outstanding coverage of the DNC:
http://www.politicswest.com/
Photos and multimedia site: http://photos.denverpost.com/photoprojects/galleries/video.html

This was very difficult to watch...

Louisiana bull rider Corbin Carpenter is bucked off a bull and then trampled Friday morning at McGee Park during the National High School Finals Rodeo.

A rodeo chaplain from the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys and bull rider Shane Hood, far right, console Theresa Carpenter as paramedics prepare to take her son, Corbin Carpenter, to San Juan Regional Medical Center after the Louisiana bull rider was thrown from a bull and trampled Friday during the National High School Finals Rodeo at McGee Park in Farmington, N.M. Carpenter was in critical condition Friday afternoon after emergency back surgery.

**We've heard that Corbin's surgery went well and there have been some good signs for recovery in the days that followed. During the championship performance Sunday night, rodeo contestants, fans, families and locals raised $12,000 to help his family. Many people are thinking and praying for him.

Stretching before saddle bronc performance:

And some more action:

Bull riding video

I put this video together tonight from the bull riding action at the National High School Finals Rodeo. This was a lot of fun to shoot and edit (besides the fact that it seriously trimmed down my hours of zzzzzzzzs.
I hope you enjoy!

pretty light

mmm love this light.

cowboys and cowgirls

1,500 of the nation's best high school rodeo athletes have made their way to Farmington for the week-long National High School Finals Rodeo. And they've brought friends and family too! Cowboys and cowgirls galore. It's only the beginning. Here are a few of my favorites from the first two days: I'm off to shoot more!














that's it for now...I'll add more later when I'm not falling asleep. goodnight.

A slice of Farmington pie in July

Mostly a bunch of Freedom Days fun....a crazy wildfire...and one sassy 3-year-old

what's your flavor

You really never know how a photo will rub someone. Kinda like how one person's junk is another person's treasure, I guess. This is a beautiful thing, but it makes the task of assembling a photography portfolio (to impress someone you don't know) a difficult job. I consider the opinions of as many people and photographers as possible when putting my portfolio together. Consequently, I have many photos that might be struggling with their self-esteem, riding an emotional roller coaster after hearing "Nah. Take that shot out," and then "Wow. Nice shot. Move it up," back and forth. I only worry for the photos. I don't take it personally. I loving hearing people's honest feedback and I find it so interesting to see how different images affect different viewers.

I entered photos in the New Mexico Associated Press annual competition a couple of months ago. Last weekend, I was honored with 2 first places, one for a sports photo and another for a feature photo, and on top of that, they chose one of these pics as the "Photo of the Year." I'm shocked and surprised, kind of still waiting for them to tell me it was a mistake!

I think I am especially fond of the two honored images because they are both of scenes that I found tucked away in the corners of a big event where there was a whole lot going on.
On June 7, 2007, with dancers in all different costumes running all over the place, I was in photographer's heaven, shooting cute little dancers on stage, back stage, in the makeup room, and in the hallways. I had already taken plenty of photos and I knew I had what I needed, but for some reason, I continued to wonder and peek around in each room until I found these little "baby belugas," in a room in the very back, coloring in a coloring book before their showtime. I shot a few frames before this one girl looked around and then up at me. Her curious face completed the photo. This photo took first place in the Feature Photo Contest:)

At the 2007 Western Zone swimming championship, I was shooting for the sports page. I photographed several events and got some nice action shots before I noticed these guys. I really enjoyed the visual juxtaposition of the motorcyclists and the swimmers, seemingly unaware of or uninterested in their differences. This photo took first place in the sports category and was the "photo of the year." I think this is an example of how you never know what will make a judge tick. A portfolio reviewer in Louisville whom I highly respect looked at my portfolio recently and this is one of several images that he wavered back and forth over. I believe in the end he suggested I remove it, possibly knocking the photo's self esteem. But not for long, the APME judges lifted it back up.

You just never know. For now, I'm going to keep making images that I like and I'll continue trying to figure out which images move and shake the rest of you!:)

multimedia frenzy

This is going to be a big 'ole post of exciting (to me) stuff.
#1 - Louisville, KY
Two weeks ago, I spent an entire week in Louisville, Lulville, Luhvill, KY, with a group of amazing, talented photojournalists for the National Press Photographers Association's Multimedia Immersion Conference.
I returned home with a tired body and an energized, excited and inspired mind. As part of the conference, each student worked on their own multimedia piece during two afternoons, editing with Final Cut Pro late into the evening. Thank you Ed Hamilton for welcoming me into your studio and sharing your time with me. I truly enjoyed spending the day with you.

Here is the story I did in Louisville, my very first video:


Each night after the conference, I drove my little rental car down the very cool Louisville's streets of Bardstown and Baxter to the home of awesome friends Valerie and Curtis. I would tip-toe in and then tip-toe out 4 hours later. Val and Curtis, I love you guys. I'm so glad I was able to spend a day with you before and after the conference. I can't wait to return and photograph that belly full o boy!:)



#2 - Farmington, NM
So I'm back in F-town and I've already got a local video up on the Daily Times website. I'll admit, I was a little nervous that I might come home overwhelmed with ideas, inspiration and new skills, but struggle to find the time and resources to develop them. I squashed that fear. Got a video up. Check it out. It was a lot of fun. Looking forward to doing more!





And finally,
#3 - Kansas City!!!!!!

One of my very best friends, Aaron, who has been a huge part of my life since I was a baby, got married in May in KCMO. Since I left the next week for Louisville, I'm a little late in putting this up! Here is a slideshow of some of my favorite images of the day. It was a gorgeous wedding with the most beautiful bride I've ever seen!!! I love you guys both. Disclaimer: I was in the wedding party, hence the reason I do not have photos of the ceremony!

Tough

When the going gets tough....



Four-year-old Katy Vance helps her dad run through the 20th mile marker of the Shiprock Marathon before driving with her mom and brother to the finish line.

Too cute.

look tough...



Mother and son at the skate park.

Why I love photography

This is my first ever blog entry!!! I've spent the evening rearranging and reorganizing photos on my desktop and in the process, I came across this photo that I took a couple of months ago on Valentines Day Eve. I really like this photo and it reminds me of why I love my job. I love being pushed to see and capture those ordinary moments that can go overlooked in the every-day routines of life. These two romantics, 56 years apart in age, walked into the grocery store on Feb. 13, 2008 with one common goal - to find the perfect Valentine.