Emerald Bay Photography News and Updates

For some inexplicable reason, I'm terribly fond of this image:



Or is it just me? Does anybody else like the almost painterly quality of this image? The way the chair, hat, painting, old indidan leather jacket, logs, and set of fireplace pokers come together? How the single spotlight casts this interesting light on the scene?

It was taken on a recent furniture shoot, almost as a sidenote, for no particular reason really, and just because to me, the scene seemed so saturated with Cowboy romance.

I just found out today that two images from this shoot are in consideration for the cover of the updated version of the book "Cowboy High Style".

I somehow hope it's gonna end up being this one.

Labels: architectural photographer Bend Oregon, architectural photography, Bend Oregon photographer, commercial photographer Bend Oregon, photography, product photographer Bend Oregon, product photography

I love my job.

Especially when I get to shoot assignments that take me to beautiful homes, let me meet wonderful new people - and give me a slice of education I would have never gotten otherwise.

Take for instance a recent shoot I did for a high-end reproduction maker of Molesworth furniture in Cody, Wyoming.



Molesworth who, you ask?

Yepp, I posed the same question. But in preparation for the shoot and to get a feel for the image style of the book (as my images will get featured in the updated version of the book), I read up on this interesting icon of Western style in Cowboy High Style by Elizabeth Claire Flood.

To quote the author: "Bow-legged cowboys, buffalo silhouettes, bucking horses, Indian teepees, an antlered elk - all icons that symbolize the rugged West. These, plus sensuous natural woods, vibrant leathers, and colorful woven fabrics are the raw materials of western casual elegance.

The western decorative style first became fashionable in the 1930s and 1940s, when dude ranches and lodges were among the most popular tourist destinations. Many of these retreats were outfitted by Cody, Wyoming furniture maker Thomas C. Molesworth, who worked mainly with swollen burls, rich leathers, and vibrant Chimayo weavings, to create the sturdy, streamlined furniture for which he has become famous. By adding romantic western and wildlife motifs through detailed wood carvings or paintings, Molesworth promoted a high style of furnishings that captured the spirit of the West."

Indeed. Shooting these beautiful furniture pieces, I started to really appreciate the smooth woods with their characteristic burls; the soft, supple leathers in their rich tones of red, and the intricate hand-carvings of arrows and teepees.

I'll be forever grateful for the education this job provided me - never mind that it also spoilt me for all eternity. I will never look at my furniture the same way again ...

Labels: architectural photographer Bend Oregon, architectural photography, Bend Oregon photographer, commercial photographer Bend Oregon, photography, product photographer Bend Oregon, product photography

To me, it's become a yearly ritual. A sort of pilgramage, almost.

The shrine is the snowy Start/Finish line of the Attaboy 300 World Sled Dog Championships and the deities are the slim, yet incredibly tough sled dogs.

Not that I'm a dog fanatic a la "Best in Show". Not at all.

But if you've ever seen those sled dogs run their little hearts out in the rough and cold landscape, pulling that sled and its rider (or "musher") relentlessly, over steep hills, plunging descents, and ice that cuts into their tender paws, you can't help but admire them. By the end of the day's 50-mile course they appear exhausted, with tongues hanging to the ground, their skinny chests heaving, licking their bloody paws, and patiently waiting for their bowl of fresh meat. They seem to love it. The pure joy, that wild sparkle in their eyes, tell the story better than any words ever could.

They were born to run. Watching them brings to life legends of old, of a yet unconquered West, tales of a still-remote wilderness that was only accessible by dog sled in winter. You can't help but think of Jack London, the Alaskan Yukon territory, and the Gold Rush.

These days however, the true gold are the dogs themselves. The 2004 Iditarod prize pool was $720,000, with the winner pocketing $70,000...

Labels: Bend Oregon photographer, oregon stock photography, photography, sports fitness photographer Bend Oregon

And fly they did.

Twirling, spinning, hoisting, grabbing, jumping, twisting, whirling - and sometimes falling on their faces they did too.

But most prevailed, and one Ross Powers even went on to take the coveted crown in the Halfpipe competition of the Chevrolet Snowboard Grand Prix at Mt. Bachelor last Saturday with acrobatics like this:



Fourth-place holder Dillon Keir goes sideways:



Andy Finch catches serious air...



... while JJ Thomas crashes after a good run to claim 15th place.



Enthused spectators watch as Toni Turunen whirls himself into 3rd place.

Labels: photography, sports fitness photographer Bend Oregon

I've spent almost the entire past weekend on Mt. Bachelor, amidst temperatures around 16 degrees and driving snowfall. The occasion? The Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix, a rousing combination of daredevil acrobatics in the Half-pipe on Saturday, and dizzying speed demons in snowboardcross on Sunday.

A small selection of pics from Sunday's event can be found in this gallery, but the rest should be up tomorrow.

Here are a few of the best:


Jayson Hale (27) and Francois Boivin (7) catch air on one of the SBX course's jumps.


Swede Mattias Blomberg throws up his arms in victory as he narrowly beats out Montanan Michael Rosengren for first place and $10,000 in Sunday's snowboardcross finals of the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix at Mt. Bachelor.


Mattias Blomberg gets tackled by his joyous Swedish teammate at the finish line.

Labels: photography, sports fitness photographer Bend Oregon