Peake Photography Blog

A Tale of Two Seasons: Part X of XIII

2009-11-21T00:38:00.000-08:00

A tattered and beaten Cosmo the Coug (as he deserves) usually hangs by the neck from my doorknob throughout the year, except for a few choice occasions when he braves the outdoors…to hang by his neck from the MUSS flag on my car. Anyone who calls himself/herself a Utes fan should appreciate this gesture—an indication of how important the U vs. Y game means to everyone.

But I can honestly say the game against TCU was even more significant last year, and this year proved the same.
Before your Utes pride lashes out at me, remember last year.

As if the hype of No.10 Utah vs. No.11 TCU was not enough, it was the first time the Utes would be in black jerseys—the first blackout game in school history.
The Utes fans responded and Rice-Eccles Stadium was rocking (literally)…at least until TCU scored 10 points in 9 minutes. Jaws dropped and worry lines began to appear.

The Utah defense settled in, and finally the game slowed down. It became the defensive battle I was expecting. After two Louie Sakoda field goals, the fans came back to life.
The Utes pinned the Horned Frogs deep right in front of the notorious north end zone. I was standing 15 yards from the play right in between the players and the fans, and I could FEEL the noise. I knew TCU quarterback Andy Dalton could too because he promptly stood up and called a Timeout.
The 3rd quarter was the peak for each team's defense as the score held tight at 10-6. The 4th proved to be one of the most amazing quarters of the 2008 season.
TCU found a rhythm again and were moving the ball, but Utah had a "Bend don’t break" defense. The Horned Frogs managed to grab two field goal attempts, which they promptly missed both times.

After the second miss, fans could feel that something magical was about to happen. Brian Johnson led the offense 80 yards, capping it off with a pass to Freddie Brown for the touchdown and a 3-point lead.
The fans rushed the field to celebrate their undefeated Utes. The only thing standing between the Utes and a BCS game was San Diego State and the y.
This year, the tables were turned. Utah was the team with a loss going on the road to face a top-ranked undefeated team who were wearing new jerseys. That is where the script changed. TCU scored quickly and Utah responded to tie the game.
Then TCU started to kick our asses, and the feeling amongst the Utah fans in attendance was "Let's just go home."
I was prepared for a loss because TCU has been playing well this year, but I thought it would be close…10 points or less please.
A final score of 55-28 was hard to take, and even thinking about it now it makes me feel queasy. However, as I said to the TCU fans before the game, “If the frogs win, I will jump on the bandwagon for them to get in and win a BCS game." So GO FROGS!!!

Now Utah will turn their attention to San Diego and the cougs to close out the year again. But I have a hunch it'll work out…

A Tale of Two Seasons: Part IX of XIII

2009-11-13T00:41:00.000-08:00

With TCU on the horizon, everyone has been so focused on pulling out a second win that I was worried we'd ignore the ever-present threat of the Lobos.

However, all my fears (and everyone else's) were for naught as we not only beat them, we kicked their sorry asses to next week—I almost feel sorry for them.

With freshman quarterback Jordan Wynn getting his first start, the Utes safely avoided the trap and made their match up against TCU a showdown for the Mountain West Conference Championship.

Last year the Utes also came away with a win, but it wasn't very convincing as we came away with one touchdown and two field goals. It was a hard fought game as previous games against New Mexico have been.
Even with the team not looking it’s best against the Lobos, I personally hit a zone that night in Albuquerque. My best photos were from that game, including a crucial block against a Lobos kick that made the difference between win or lose.
After David Reed fumbled a punt in the second quarter, New Mexico had the ball on the Utah 42 yard line and moved down the field before attempting a field goal. I watched as James Aho approached the ball, swung his leg back and kicked it. But instead of it sailing through the up-rights, Aiona Key jumped above the line and blocked the ball, and I snapped my camera, capturing the moment forever. The Utes left with a 13-10 win, and I had my picture of the year.
As I said earlier, usually games against New Mexico are difficult, but with the Lobos suffering from a new head coach and such a bad offseason only comparable to ones the Oakland Raiders face, this year's game was almost too easy.

Wynn started just as I hoped, and threw to Jereme Brooks for a 69 yard touchdown pass in the first quarter that gave the Utes an early lead.
Our offense kept racking up points, finishin with 45 points and 557 yards. They had finally executed the big win everyone was looking for.
As soon as the game against the Lobos was over, attention turned to the showdown against TCU just as it did last year. However, the roles are reversed this year as they are the undefeated team hoping for a shot at the BCS, and Utah is the team with an early loss to a non-conference team. We're aiming for any chance at a BCS game, along with a shot at the Conference Championship.

Even with a freshman QB and having to go to Amon G. Carter Stadium on Saturday, I feel the Utes will give TCU a run for their money. Just like TCU did last year when they came to Rice-Eccles Stadium for the first black out.
In J. Wynn I trust.

A Tale of Two Seasons: Part IIX of XIII

2009-11-06T12:26:00.001-08:00

I saw Terrence Cain and Corbin Loukes at a practice game for the Utes last spring and wasn't impressed. My coworker, Chris Kamrani, thought Cain showed potential, but instead, I noticed a skinny little white kid by the name of Jordan Wynn.
Wynn didn't seem any faster or stronger than the others, but the way he took control during a 2-minute drill made me wonder what the future held in store.

And despite being a true freshman, that "skinny little white kid" kicked ass on Saturday against the Wyoming Cowboys, just as I had hoped.

Week nine truly proved to be a tale of two seasons.

Week after week of close calls last year and underperforming, the Utes had their best offensive game of the year racking up 549 yards of offense and 49 points in a personal ass kicking of Colorado State.
We won all of those games, but it didn't compare to the beating the Rams took as Corbin Loukes, Matt Asiata and Jamie Brooks all rushed for touchdowns, and Freddie Brown and David Read caught passes from Brian Johnson for six points.
The feeling that day was awesome as the team appeared to be finally showing the college football world their greatness.
This year I was hoping for the same type of performance from the team against Wyoming. It didn't quite go as planned, but I think we're finally on track…thanks to Wynn.
It was a close game up until halftime, but to be honest, it looked bad. Then, miraculously enough, quarterback Terrence Cain was pulled for Jordan Wynn. I cheered internally, hoping that Wynn would lead us to victory.
With Wynn as the QB, the Utes scored back-to-back field goals and then threw a touchdown pass at the beginning of the 4th quarter, bringing us to the lead. The game ended 22-10, and I couldn't be happier.
Now that Wynn has seen time, we are back to the same point as earlier this year, waiting to find out who will get the nod on Saturday to start. Luckily, the New Mexico Lobos are the worst team in the nation, so even if I started for the Utes we would have a shot at winning.

This week will be the breakout game for the Utes no matter who starts as quarterback, which is why I'll be in the stands instead of out on the field. I just want to see a big, big Wynn.

A Tale of Two Seasons: Part VII of XIII

2009-10-31T02:16:00.000-07:00

The Utes played with fire this year, but thankfully didn't get burned.

More than ever I wished this year's Utes were the same team as last year. But all of my heartfelt appeals to a merciful football God will not pull off the impossible. They're like the child you wish paid a little bit of attention to you and actually cleaned his/her room once in a while, but no matter what you still love them.

As the team warmed up in War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyom., the skies were clear, the temperatures low and the wind blowing as everyone kept an eye to the west, praying an incoming snowstorm would wait until after the game to arrive.
Utah jumped out to an early lead against the University of Wyoming as Sean Smith snagged an interception and pushed it back 25 yards to score. The Utes never looked back, getting up by 34 points in the 3rd quarter and finishing the game with a 40-7 win. Just the thing to give fans the confidence that their team was great…but not really…
The offense accounted for two touchdowns and two field goals for 20 points; the other 20 came from the defense and special teams. The Cowboys' offense outgained the Utes, which gave me an uneasy feeling out on the field. If a 2-5 Wyoming team can perform better then a 7-0 team, what does that really say about the Utes? But that is how the Utes are, and I love/hate them for it.
As we left the stadium, it was obvious the storm was minutes away, but we had made the decision to go right home instead of staying another night in Laramie. Bad mistake. It proved to be hell as we nearly froze in my dad's tan Ford Taurus on Interstate 80, waiting and waiting and waiting to move. Ever tried walking on solid ice? Ever tried driving on it? But as bad as the drive was, it gave me the best non-football picture of the season as Tony Pizza, our sports editor, made a snow angel in the middle of the interstate.
Wyoming sucked, but since it's Wyoming, what else could I have expected?

This year we didn't have any travel issues because we played Air Force at home, and compared to Wyoming the weather was nice—I'll take rain over snow any day. But the story was similar with the Falcons' offense gaining more yards and controlling the ball most of the game. However, the Utes came out on top after the first OT.
It was an unnerving game to watch, but to be honest; we always have problems with Air Force. If the team can put together a good offensive and defensive game against Wyoming this year, then I might be able to sleep at night.
That being said, I bet the Utes win by less then 10. If you're an avid fan like I am, you just know these things. The team frustrates the Hell out of me, but in the end, they pull through.

A Tale of Two Seasons: Part VI of XIII

2009-10-24T00:05:00.000-07:00

This year Utah kickers have had big shoes to fill.

Often kickers don’t get respect from players or fans because they only serve one seemingly small purpose, but Louie Sakoda was a star on campus. In week 6 of 2008, Louie became a legend as he kicked the final 3 points that gave Utah a last-second win over Oregon State.
As I have said, Utah fans kept a careful eye on the Beavers as they knocked off USC the week before. And with an 8-point lead and 2 minutes left in the game, it looked like the Utes would be the second-ranked team to fall to the Beavers in as many weeks.
I remember standing on the sideline thinking, "Well, it was a good run, but it's over." And some fans clearly felt the same way as they started to move toward the exits. It had crossed my mind to leave early too because it was a Thursday night. I had to edit photos quicker than I do on a Saturday. Had I left early, I would have missed a magical evening.
Brian Johnson and the offence took the ball at their 40 and started the drive that ended with a pass to Godfrey for a touchdown. Excitement started to build, but Utah still needed the 2-point conversion to tie. All our wildest hopes came true as Johnson went to the right and scored—bringing the game to a tie—and the stadium erupted in cheers!
That momentum carried over to the defense and even I began to think they could pull off a win. After forcing a three and out, Utah got the ball with just over a minute left. Brian Johnson picked up right where he had left off, moving the ball down to the 20-yardline and setting up a 37-yard field goal attempt with 2 seconds left on the clock.

Fans at Rice-Eccles held their breath as the ball was snapped, placed on the ground and Louie kicked it through the up-rights.
I had just 5 seconds to get a picture of Louie before he was surrounded by teammates, and I was bombarded by fans running onto the field.
The joy in the air that night felt like it could not be matched again. Little did we know that was just a small taste of what the team had to offer.

Fast forward to this year, and there was no way of matching the win over Oregon State as the Utes faced UNLV, where, short of an ass-kicking, it was going to be a disappointing game. There was some excitement for Utah fans as No. 17 continued to impress us with another Interception and a fumble recovery for a TD.
The team looked good against the Rebels, winning by 20 in front of a crowd that had about as many Utah fans as UNLV fans. A lot of the Utah fans were friends and family of players like Devonte Christopher, Sly and Eddie Wide, who broke off a big run for one of his longest TD runs of the year.
Next up, the Utes need a good start to the second half of the season, which will likely be the harder half. It starts with Air Force—a tough game we could lose if we're not careful.

A Tale of Two Seasons: Part V of XIII

2009-10-23T16:02:00.000-07:00

I thought the Utes were going to lose to Air Force. I thought the Utes were going to lose to TCU. I thought the Utes were going to lose to Alabama. And this year, I was sure the Utes were going to lose to Colorado State.

I need to stop assuming the worst.
Every year I walk into the stadium carrying enough camera equipment to make a football player struggle, and at some point during the game the same line pops into my head, "We're fuckin' going to lose."

By the 3rd quarter I had watched the Utes fumble the ball multiple times. Colorado State was ahead 14 points. Just like the Little Engine that could, I thought the Utes had it in them to make a come back, but they needed something. That something arrived later in the 3rd quarter when the quarterback threw the first of 3 interceptions to Robert Johnson.

But that stuff happens every year. The Utes are always surprising me. Just when I think I know what the team will do, I'm reminded that anything can happen, including amazing wins against TCU and Alabama.

And at the same time, they've also had some lackluster wins. Like last year, the Utes faced Weber State—a Division II school, which means we should have kicked their asses back to last week but instead won with a 16-point margin.
A homecoming win over Ron McBride and the Wildcats was good because as any coach will tell you, a win is a win. Put into context, that win looked like a loss.
I was actually more worried about Oregon State. Two nights before the Weber State game, I watched as the Beavers beat No.1 USC. It made me wonder what would happen to the Utes when they entered Rice-Eccles Stadium next week.

To ease my mind, I was looking forward to a beat down of Weber State to show that our beloved team was who we knew (hoped) they were. They were able to put together a good half before giving up late touchdowns that left us with the opposite feeling.
This year, we had grim hopes as Colorado State seemed to be treating their alum to a homecoming win. But on that frigid October night, Utes fans got to see just how good Robert Johnson could be.
Despite being down 14 points, it felt that Utah was close to getting back in the game. They just needed that spark to get them going. That's when Johnson stepped up and got a pick. The offence went on to score, and then Johnson helped them seal the win with two more.
At the end of the game I went to get shots of RoJo. He was exchanging words with some Ram fans and said one of the best lines I have ever heard. He told the fans, “Go home. Just go home. You're going home with the L because No. 17 said so.” Then he ran off to celebrate with the team.
The team then prepared to go to Vegas the next week where the temperatures are sure to be at least 50 to 60 degrees warmer then the 24 it was in Fort Collins. Woohoo for LV!

Summer Panoramas

2009-10-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

So you clicked on this blog expecting a detailed account of the Utes game this week, but let out your frustrated sighs now—because there isn’t one.

Unfortunately, since the game against the Colorado State Rams is right before Fall Break, and there’s no chance in Hell I’m missing one minute of Yellowstone’s erupting geysers, you’ll be able to catch parts 5 and 6 of my blog after the UNLV game the following week.

Although I’d prefer to be blogging about our glorious Utes more than anything else, I’ll be roughing the dangerous geysers of Yellowstone National Park and snapping

But don’t worry, the game this weekend will (hopefully) amaze and excite as the Utes open up the conference play against Colorado State. For everyone who follows our team as religiously as I do, you’ll remember last year’s game against Colorado State in which we trounced Rams. At least that’s what I was told. My memory was a bit faulty that night. It could have been the boytle of vodka I drubkd before, after and during the game. Just maybe.

And after the break, you’ll get to read not one, but two blog posts as I announce my thoughts on the Utes performance against UNLV (if I remember it…the game is in Las Vegas after all).

Sorry for the delay but I will make the posts worth the wait.

This week I just wanted to share some of the panoramas I did this summer. Not including sports (which is ranked too high up there next to beer and girls), panoramas are becoming my favorite thing to shoot.

This one is from the summer of 2008 when I went to Kodachrome State Park i just never posted it.
An overlook of the Mirror Lake Highway
Butterfly Lake
Mirror Lake
Above the Spiral Jetty
On the Spiral Jetty

You’ll hear from me soon Utes fans!

A Tale of Two Seasons: Part IV of XIII

2009-10-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

The 16-game winning streak--that captivated college football fans nationwide as a humble team from back of the water Utah surged unexpectedly to the top of the list--ended dramatically last week. But Utes fans, who spent the week licking their wounds after the demoralizing defeat in Oregon, crawled out of the shadow of despair upon witnessing the 14-point lead the team took against the University of Louisville Cardinals.

As the Louisville game approached, I should have been confident the Utes would pull through with an easy win, but doubt still clouded my soul. That might sound a little dramatic, but if you watched the Utes get stomped out of Autzen Stadium last week, you understand perfectly.

A loss would have little effect on the Utes' standing in the conference, but besides ripping out my heart, the biggest blow would land on the team. I feared that a loss to Louisville would wreck havoc on the teams' confidence as they prepared for the eight conference games that await them.

Last year, the Utes also had a lot on the line in the fourth game as they traveled to Colorado Springs to take on the Air Force Academy Falcons. Mountain West Conference football viewers know without a doubt that the true conference powers are the Utes, TCU, and it pains me to say it but, the y. However, playing Air Force is no walk in the park, and in years past, when our beloved team wasn't in their prime (don't get me started on this year), they have slipped up and lost to the Falcons.

Air Force was a bit of a scare for Utah in '08. After a quick lead, the Utes struggled to maintain a strong hold and by the 4^th quarter Air Force had scored to tie it up. Utah drove down the field one last time to score with 58 seconds left in the game--a 7-point lead that left the Utes in a precarious position.

It did not take the Utes long against Louisville to show they had improved since the Oregon defeat. The Utes blocked a field goal on Louisville’s first possession, and then scored a TD. On the second one, Utah forced a fumble and scored one play later to knock the score up to 14-0--thank god--sending Rice-Eccles into a frenzy.

The Utes continued with their early momentum throughout the remainder of the game and came out with a win, or so it appeared.

For as Utah took two steps forward, they also took one back as the injury bug bit them--and bit them hard. Utah’s running back Matt Asiata will miss the rest of the year. As sad as it is to lose Asiata, I am excited to see Eddie Wide take over the starting job. Hopefully fans will see the performance he mustered on Saturday continue over to the next game.

As for the rest of the injured Utes, let's just say the bye week came at a perfect time. Rest is exactly what the team requires to regroup to kick some ass.

A Tale of Two Seasons: Part III of XIII

2009-09-24T09:06:00.000-07:00

I walked into Autzen Stadium still deluding myself that the Utes had a chance at the BCS. Nothing could be further from the truth.

It’s true; they had shown questionable playing skills the last two games, still managing to scrape through with wins. But like all die-hard Utes fans, I still hoped they would pull through. However, when Terrence Cain threw an interception to the Ducks in the last few minutes of the 4^th quarter, I felt empty. After watching our team’s mediocre performance the entire game, there was no desire to beat up the Ducks’ quarterback, just desolation. The 16-game winning streak was over.

Remembering back to 2008, I went to every game but one: the third game. Ironically enough, the Utes game against Utah State was the one I missed…for a game at the y of all things. Can you believe it? A staunch Utes fan like myself missing a game for an inferior rival team (who I might add we beat in a blowout game last year)? But the chance to work with the Sports Illustrated photographer Bill Frakes—a once in a lifetime opportunity for an upcoming sports photographer—was too sweet a temptation to pass up.

Since I started taking sports photos as a mitigating factor against the slim chances I had of playing them professionally, I have dreamed of working at SI. I learned a lot from Bill, even though I spent the day watching the y beat UCLA in a blow out (never a positive experience) and carrying around extra cameras and lenses.

As I drove back to the airport and Bill slept, I turned the radio on to the Utes game and the fan inside of me started wishing I could be in Logan with the team. Lennie Mahler took my place at the game that ended up being a blowout for Utah— just as I had expected.

But this year did not go as well. Last week was the first time I had ever gone to Oregon. I drove more than 24 hours roundtrip and barely made it in time for the game. Driving through Oregon and Idaho was a tiring (and boring) experience, and I arrived with a sore butt. Oregon drivers can’t merge at all from what I saw, so we lost an extra hour of the trip. We passed the time by making up headlines for what a game with the South Carolina Game Cocks playing the Oregon State Beavers would be.

We arrived at the stadium just as players were being announced, but by the time we parked and my camera equipment was set up, I had missed the kickoff. Jostling my way to the field was the first of many horrific moments as I watched the Utes punt the ball and the Ducks take it to the house for six. It took away almost all confidence I had for that game.

Nonetheless, the Utes had pulled through in worse straits, including the brilliant game against TCU last year. And scoring 14 points in 17 seconds left Autzen stadium in stunned silence—a nice change if you’ve ever been in that ear-destroying stadium. It makes 54,000 fans sound like 150,000.

But instead of intercepting the ball like we had done against BYU so many times in the past that had me applauding their quarterback with atypical love and affection for his red colors showing forth, our beloved team gave the ball up in the last few minutes.

I watched as the Utes walked off the field as if they had just watched a puppy hanging by its neck from a tree, all bloody and beaten.

Then I noticed as Ducks fans started acting all high and mighty to their Utah counterparts. Beating an undefeated team like the Utes would be an exhilarating feeling, especially compared to wins against Idaho State. But don’t get too comfortable Ducks; you won’t be having any more of those ‘lucky’ wins. The Utes obviously weren’t at their best.

It was an unfortunate end to an amazing undefeated period, but I still hold true to the fact that the Utes have an amazing season left in them. Yes, Terrence Cain let down hopes that he was ‘able,’ but that doesn’t mean the season is over. For the rest of it, I will be out there on the field or in the stands with a beer in my hand, watching and hoping to see the Utes show their true colors once again. And if they don’t, that’s what the beer is for.

A Tale of Two Seasons: Part II of XIII

2009-09-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

Fans watched from the stands or thousands of miles away as the Utes marched onto the Spartan field, expecting them to wipe the floor with San Jose players. And 60 minutes later, the Utes marched off the field winners—but the victory was hollow.

The Utes have faced challenges before. When they competed against conference foe UNLV in game two of 2008, our beloved team couldn’t score in the first quarter. The Rebels had embarrassed the Utes in Las Vegas in 07—leaving a bitter memory for staunch Utah fans, myself included. That year still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The Utes had just shutout UCLA, and then went to Las Vegas where the tables turned.

So coming home after Michigan last year, Utah was looking for vengeance against UNLV. After tying the game by halftime, the Utes finally got their act together and scored four touchdowns—leaving the stadium with a 42-21 win over the team that had humiliated them the year before. Fans walked a little taller that day, ready to take on Utah State the next game.

But last week, Utah left with insecurity, not pride.

I walked into the stadium last Saturday expecting an easy victory. Although the Utes played less than exemplary their first game, I was sure the interceptions and fumbles would be cleaned up by week two. Instead, the same fumbles and missed kicks replayed over and over like a bad sitcom. Where was the former glory of the Utes who time and time again made the Mountain West Conference proud?

This was the team’s first road game, where they had to pass through a sea of San Jose fans that were yelling every insult known to mankind. Utah fans were not immune to taunts either as Spartans berated passing Utes each time blue and yellow came across red. At one point in the game, I looked up and saw a big hole in the student section where security was rushing to break up a fight.

Utah did show promise in their first drive as they marched down the field. Matt Asiata offered a glimmer of hope as he punched it in on the 4^th down.

The team played well enough in the second half to pull out a win, but it left fans with an uneasy feeling. MUSS tickets sold out before school even started as excited fans didn’t want to miss a single play of a potentially amazing season. And now fans are valiantly hoping for the Utes to demonstrate their currently hidden talent, but it remains to be seen whether this will occur.

Next week, your roving photographer and blogger will travel to Oregon and walk into Autzen Stadium hoping for the best along with thousands of other Utah fans. Utes—make us proud.

*The photos from the 2008 UNLV vs Utah game were taken by Lennie Mahler, Thien Sok and Lucas Isley.

A Tale of Two Seasons: Part I of XIII

2009-09-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

Shock played across the expressions on Alabama fans’ faces as the Utes scored the first of many touchdowns that won them the Sugar Bowl. Disbelief and pride rang throughout the stadium as Utah stood, the only undefeated team in the country.

And now, months after an incredible and magical year, the Utes return from the best season in school history, ready to prove their abilities once again. That amazing season was the best time of my life. If I were to do it over again, there’s only one thing I would alter: blogging. Pictures are worth a thousand words, and I left a lot of words unsaid. This year, I’m going to change that.

Like a junkie chasing that first high, I will be following the 2009 Utes to try to recapture some of the rush of the previous season. As a Utes fanatic who proudly sports more Utah paraphernalia than the Crazy Lady, the one thing that makes my day as a photographer and photo editor for the Daily Utah Chronicle, is knowing how amazing our team was last year. Snapping that perfect picture of Aiona Key as he blocked New Mexico’s field goal kick—preventing the Lobos from 3 crucial points that could have meant win or lose for the Utes—embodied the pride I felt for our team. So for the next 13 games, I will be writing about the new season and how it compared to last year.

First off, for those of you who don’t read my regular blog at peakphoto.com, I will tell you a little about myself. I am a U student finishing a degree in mass communication. I have lived in Salt Lake City my whole life, and in my family, supporting the Utes has nothing to do with where you go to school. It’s a part of our Saturday afternoons with eyes glued to the TV.

And as a now more-than-ever ardent Utes fan, I remember the opening of last season like it was yesterday. Comparing with the current kick off, both seasons started with a lot of excitement and anticipation. In 2008, the excitement focused on going to Michigan to play in the Big House. This year, it was all about who was going to start at quarterback.

With two sports writers and more camera equipment than I want to think about in tow, I embarked on the flight for Michigan the Friday before the game. We flew with camera equipment that included a 400 mm lens that fits into a case the size of a trumpet but weighs more than a ton of bricks. On that flight, I was the guy fighting with his bag to make it fit into compact overhead compartments.

This being the first time in Michigan for us, we arrived early and I was excited to see a good amount of red on the streets surrounding Michigan’s stadium.

The Utes got off to a great start with Utah taking the lead, and I was in a perfect spot to capture Corbin Louks crossing the goal line.

Through the eyes of a camera lens, I watched the Utes lead through the first half of the game, and then struggle as Michigan fought back. Yet, our team held on to walk away winners with their helmets high in the air, singing Utah Man.

And the Utes won an impressive victory in their first game of the new season, yet their performance left doubt in the minds of some fans. Utes fans expected the team to walk away winners against long-time rivals, the Utah State Aggies, but the margin of victory left much to be desired.

Standing on the field, I expected to watch the Utes score touchdown after touchdown, but instead, the Aggies held their own. One has to wonder, has the Aggies’ new coach, Gary Anderson, the former Utes defensive coordinator, had that much of an impact, or are the Utes showing signs of faltering so early in the season.

It’s been mentioned that the Utes’ game against Michigan also left much to be desired, and so perhaps our team just needs a few practice rounds before showing their true colors. In the months that follow, I will be at every game, analyzing our team’s chances of success and remembering the magic of last year.

Rocky Mountain National Park

2009-06-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

As I had mentioned, I have not been shooting as much because the paper is on a summer break. So when Chad asked me to go to with him to Rocky Mountain National park in Colorado, I jumped on the opportunity.

We left late on Sunday night. Chad and I picked up two other guys, Jaron and Amos, before we left town. We got out of the valley around 7 pm because we had to go back to the studio to get Chad’s tripod. We made good time on the drive.

Once we got into Steamboat Springs, we had a fun time finding the condo. Our directions and phones, both with Google maps, told us to turn left and keep on Pine Grove Road—a misleading set of directions. However, Amos used his phone with GPS directions, which told us to go straight though the light. We got to bed around 2 a.m.

The next day, we got up, got some food, including some steaks for dinner, and then started on the 2-hour dive to Rocky Mountain National Park. When I asked Chad why he wanted to go to Rocky Mountain National Park, he told me that “word on the street” is that there is a lot of wildlife, including bears, in the park at this time.

We were in the park for only a few minutes when we saw a ton of cars on the side of the road, all focused on a moose just off the road too. So we set up all of our gear, which consisted of a 5D with a 400mm, a 30D with a 70-200mm, a 20D with a 16-35 and a G10. I got this shot of the moose before we continued further into the park.As we drove, the cloudy skies became dark, and when we were stopped at a pull-out, the rain began to fall. As we drove up the mountain, the rain became snow and the snow became a white-out. The wind blew the snow more and more as we drove up the mountain. We knew as we drove that we were missing some great views because of the snow, but we kept driving hoping that the snow would stop.

The snow storms passed as we got around the mountain, so we stopped to take a look and were treated to a nice full rainbow over the valley.The drive down the backside of the mountain was nice, sunny and green. We were going to find a place to stop and have lunch when we had our first run-in with the law. A ranger pulled us over to say that we were speeding and had been close to the centerline. When he finished telling us to be careful, we asked if he knew of any bear sites. He told us there were some on the Silver Lake Highway. We decided to eat some lunch before heading off and got out and ate our sandwiches.

As we ate, we saw an animal move across the field, but we were not sure what it was. So we grabbed our gear and ran down the road where some other people were going into the woods. We heard that it was a bear that had walked across the road. We went a few yards into the woods when we saw it, and I got two pictures, this one and one of its ass. Then we lost it and didn’t want to end up scaring it anyway, so we went back to the car.

We started toward the area with the bears, but the rain started again. When we saw some elk, we stopped to take pictures, but because of the rain we stayed in the car. That is when another ranger came up and flashed his lights, so we moved and started to go back towards the other side of the park.

This time, the views at the top of the road were spectacular. I did an HDR photo and then a panorama HDR when we stopped at a pull-out.

This is just a 3-exposure HDR.This is a 3-exposure HDR and 7 frame wide Panorama for a total of 21 pictures. The HDR in this one was not the best, but I love the panorama part of it. Up the road there was a visitors’ center that was closed, but there were also some stairs leading to the top of the mountain. So we went up, and I did another panorama from the top of the mountain that is 16 photos wide. If you look close, Chad is on the trail to the far left to give some size perspective. I was happy with the landscapes I had taken. Part of me wanted some more animal shots, but it was getting late. We pulled out for Chad to do an HDR, and I took pictures of the water collecting on the pine trees. We put the cameras back into the trunk because it was getting dark. We drove a little ways down the road when we saw some more elk in an opening on the side of the road. We pulled over, got the equipment out again and walked over to the opening. There was probably at least 12 elk in the clearing’ all of them were male and most with big 6X6 or 5X5 racks.
What made it even better was that the rain and time had caused a lot of people to leave the park, so we shot with only two other people taking pictures. It was like our own personal photo shoots with elk models. After finishing with the elk, we headed back to the condo to have our steak dinner. We stopped to shoot the sunset just outside of the park when a cop came up to us again because he thought we were getting ready to go tip cows. That finished our trouble with the cops.
These are all photos from my cameras, but I have some on Chad’s G10 I need to get from him. If you want to see more, check on my Facebook. I will post them there in the next few weeks.

Another Sunset

2009-06-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

I have not been taking a lot of photos lately because I have no classes and the Chronicle is slow over summer semester. One night a few weeks ago, I went to have dinner with my friend, Ioana, and some of her friends. After dinner, we were hanging out and were going to go bowling, but we needed to kill some time. First, we decided to shoot the sunset because it was a nice one that night. So we drove up by the Mt. Olympus trail head and parked. I grabbed my camera out of my trunk and got what I felt was a good shot to start then worked the scene till there was not enough light to shoot any more.

When I uploaded the photos and was tagging my favorites, I found I only had one that I really liked. It turned out my very first shot was the best one. Here is the shot.

I have decided that I’m going to hike up Mt. Olympus this summer. Ioana said she would like to go too so we talked about it as I shot the sunset. I hiked Mt. Olympus the summer of 2007, and unlike then, I know exactly what I’m getting into. This time I want to build up to the Mt. Olympus hike with some smaller ones. To begin, the next day we hiked up Ferguson* canyon to do a quick hike and get some pictures of the waterfall.

The waterfall was so nice I could have shot it for hours. The first angle I wanted to shoot was from the middle of the river, so I braved the rippling water and drenched my feet in its icy depths.

This picture was worth going into the freezing water. I moved a ways up the river and snapped some more shots. Since my shoes were already soaked, I decided what the hell and went back in the river for some more, but they did not work out too well. When I was in the river I had an idea to take a picture of my feet, a tribute to Trent Nelson who often takes photos of his own feet. The middle of the river is not the easiest place to keep your balance however, so I moved to the bank. I still had my left foot in the river, looked down and there you have it.

To keep up with the dangerous behavior, I climbed onto a rock and was working on getting this shot.

I took a few photos from here and switched my focus from the plant to the river, but I think the river looked best. After I got my shot and was trying to get off the rock, I slipped and nearly fell off. My clumsiness almost took out Ioana’s feet too. We managed to get down safely even with my camera bag going faster then I was at times as it rolled down the hill. I was scared one time it was rolling down until Ioana managed to stop it. That was the last scary moment I had on this hike, but I have a feeling there may be more on future hikes.

I will post photos from other hikes I climb this summer as I keep my photo skills fresh for the fall semester at the paper.

Sky

2009-04-14T01:20:00.000-07:00

I have been dealing with a bunch of shit lately but the last two days I took some good photos of the Sky. Working on these photos is a nice distraction.
Sunset, Sunday April 12, 2009.

Salt Lake City lights illumine the sky over the Oquirrh Mountains.

Sunset Sunday April 12, 2009 with the aid of Photoshop.

Cross Country State Championships

2009-03-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

In November I was hired to shoot the high school state cross country championships. I accepted the job despite never shooting cross country before I was a little nervous going into it but after the first race I settled in and thought it went well. That day I took over 1,200 photos but I edited them down to my top 10 from that day. Let me know what you think. I feel that one is my best shot from that day.

Economy in Crises

2009-03-19T10:46:00.000-07:00

Last fall right after the economy crashed there was a Hinckley forum in the Hinckley Institute of Politics. I took the assignment and was going to shoot it before going to class. I thought it was going to be the typical Hinckley shot so I showed up like 5 minutes before the start of the forum, which was a bad idea. This turned out to be the most popular form I have ever seen. When I showed up I could not even get in the door I could just barly see the guy leading the forum through the people standing in the door.If I went to the other door I could only do hail marry shots over the people in the door so I decided to shoot the crowd instead of the speakers so I went out to the TV they had in the hall to shoot that crowd but one shot never really captured the number of people there. Then I moved to just under the TV and thought I could try to make a panorama of the over flow in the hall. That was money it took me like four tries to get a panorama that worked well but it was worth the work.
I just found out that this picture won a mark of excellence awarded in the photo illustration category. I would of never thought that I would win an awarded for an assignment at the Hinckley Institute. I guess I should never assume.

Volleyball update

2008-10-31T21:13:00.000-07:00

So as I said in the last post that is kinda old now, sorry, I was on my way to shoot volleyball at byu volleyball and I talked about the sign I saw last time I was there. Thankfully no y fans were racists this time but there was an annoying ass ball boy that I had to write about.
So I noticed him dancing around during warm-ups and that was interesting but every point he was jumping around more than the players did.
It was distracting as all hell so I snapped a few frames. I wished he would have stopped dancing and would just done his job.