Snowshoe Snowboarding Photography

Over the holidays I have been spending time at our condo at Snowshoe, WV and getting in some riding in the incredible conditions we have this season. The snowfall to date has been consistent enough that the quality of snow keeps getting better. As for today, we awoke to heavy snowfall in the morning and it snowed all day and it is still snowing as I write this at 10p.

Getting in so much riding in this short time frame, my legs are spent. So I gladly hauled my gear onto the slopes to get my friends Nick and Ryan to session a feature I have been wanting to shoot. The heavy falling snow always makes for interesting photography, so I wanted to use the lights and pick up the falling snow for effect.

Additionally, the cloud cover was heavy and low. Once the lights came on the slopes a unique ambient light was created. Being deep in the trees, we felt like it was almost daylight. Once the shoot started moving and the riders became more comfortable with the feature, I was able to grab a few shots that I was happy with. Using low light and slow shutter speeds can create some fun photographs and helps to lend to the action.

Sports, or action photography is flooded with great photographers creating incredible photography. Thinking of something that will make a shot unique is always the most important aspect of a shoot like this. Setting up lights and snapping away is the easy part. Once a photographer starts to bend the rules a little, a unique perspective can start to form and sometimes something special can occur. I enjoy looking at other photographer’s shots and trying to see how they set up the shot and what might have been going through their mind when bringing their creative ideas to life.

Tonight, I was trying to leave behind the more straight-forward methods for shooting a scene like this in hopes of grabbing a unique shot. The riders were fun and eager to keep the shoot going and this made my work much easier. I hope to return and shoot the same feature in different conditions to see what might transpire from another session.

Opening day Snowshoe, WVA

As the winter season is upon us, we are geared up for one of our most-favorite sports. Snowboarding. Ah, the season is short here on the right coast, but what excitement it brings. Out of all of the sports I participate in snowboarding is right there at the top of the list for being my favorite. If I had to name one it would have to be surfing, but snowboarding is running pretty close in second place. Mountain biking is high on the list too. Right along with road biking. Oh, and kiteboarding too. It places near the top as well. I guess it’s a good thing I sold all of my climbing gear earlier this year or that would be competing for top honors as well.

Ugh. So many hobbies, so little time.

The official opening weekend for Snowshoe resort in Snowshoe, WV kicked off the 09/10 winter season this past weekend. Originally, opening day was scheduled for last week – the week of Thanksgiving. With plans to be out of town for Thanksgiving already nailed down, I had accepted the fact that I would miss opening weekend. However, with warm temperatures the snowfall and snowmaking to date was not enough to provide suitable conditions for the resort to open as originally scheduled. So opening day was delayed until this weekend. Bummer for the resort, but not so bad for Kim and I.

I left work in Hatteras around 5:30pm this past Friday headed to Richmond to switch cars and pick up Kim along with a season’s worth of snowboarding gear.  I pulled into the drive way, unloaded one car, finished packing the other and hit the road continuing my journey westward. Up to a foot of snow was expected to fall overnight so we wanted to get to the mountain before conditions got too bad. We pulled up to our condo at 2:00am. I think we finally crawled into bed around 3:00am. Not even one flake of snow had fallen.

After waking from an all too short night’s sleep, I was like a kid on Christmas morning jumping around ready to hit the snow. It didn’t help that 8 inches of snow had fallen sometime during the night and was still coming down in buckets. There was no containing my excitement. We were getting dumped on the first day of the season!!!

The drive up the mountain on the ‘back road’ was about as we expected. Two-wheeled drive cars were spinning and careening barely able to make it halfway up the mountain. We drove by some determined kids combining every effort to get themselves up the mountain. I was impressed; they looked as if they might actually make it. If not, they were at least going to enjoy the ride as long at it lasted.

Coming back to the resort after leaving in March was a great first day on the slopes. We saw so many friends that it was like we never left. Hearing about everyone’s summer and what their upcoming plans are is always a great. Everyone was so excited to be back on the snow. Getting the legs back into shape might be a bit of a challenge though. I know it will come, but wow, they felt like noodles. Working at the beach all summer I hardly rode my bikes. My legs are usually quite a bit stronger by this point in the year, so I was feeling the result of the work they were accomplishing.

Of course, I have been brewing up photography ideas about what I want to shoot this year. I was lucky to get some nice shots on the mountain last season, and I can’t wait to start shooting again this year. Actually I have already started shooting. Always keeping my camera gear with me I am ready at a moment’s notice. In fact, I am always pestering my friends, and even strangers to shoot. I actually met a kid tonight that was eager to perform for me at our condo complex on one of the picnic tables. He lives in the Outer Banks during the summer and spends his winters here, so we had a lot to chat about.

There is nothing better than wearing yourself out doing something you love. I was glad to see some of my skills remain, but I have a little work to do before I get back to last year’s level. Also, I have some goals I would like to accomplish, so I need to do some specific training to get my butt into the physical shape required.

By the time the day was over I was ready to hit the sack. Not before a required hot tub soaking though. Ah, hot tub, an incredible dinner with great friends and some relaxing beverages – is there anything better? Uh yeah… A solid night’s sleep. Goodnight.

Photographing Strong People

While in Myrtle Beach for the Thanksgiving holiday, I was invited by friends to attend a power-lifting competition. Never having been to an event like this I figured I should jump at a chance to shoot something new. Besides, I wanted to see our friend’s brother set a new world record. Yes world record. The event is sanctioned by the Amateur Athletic Union and many of the athletes in attendance are competing for world records. Having a chance to photograph a new sporting event is always at the top of my list.

The event hosted competitors ranging in age from pre-teen kids to masters. The oldest competitor was aged 76 years young. Also, Special Olypmic athletes are represented at this event.

Being a competitive athlete for many of my adult years, I can appreciate the amount of effort these competitors put into reaching an event like this. It was apparent that many of these athletes are serious about their training practices and maintain a unique focus.

Photographing Flat Day on Hatteras

For the most part, our travels to Hatteras Island involve chasing after a promising wind forecast, or a hopeful swell. For us, the activities on the island mostly revolve around getting blown around by the wind or tossed around by the waves. Or, both.

Today was one of the days where you are able to catch up on work or projects or just laze around. Me, I had to go into work for a couple of hours today. After getting away from work, I made some stops by to see friends and take it easy and snap some photographs.

The beauty of the island is glaringly apparent when the elements are at rest and I actually take time to slow down and soak up the incredible scenery. I had hoped to catch the clean waves before they dropped off, but managed to get sidetracked before I could make it back home to pick up my wetsuit and surfboard.

Since I had my camera with me, I took time to capture some shots of the island in all of it’s glory.

As the sun set Kim and I went for a short paddle board session on the sound. The water is crystal clear and quite cold – we have had constant northern winds for the past two weeks.

I also managed to get a few shots for an ongoing project I am working on.

Aloha.

Richmond Night Life

With the last couple of days having been long ones on the computer and tomorrow a long wedding shoot, which means more long hours in front of the computer, Kim and I were happy to entertain her family while they are in town for the weekend. One of our favorite things to do for visiting friends/family is to take them to any one of the multitude of incredible restaurants in Richmond.

Tonight we started talking about Tapas for dinner and then could not get it off our minds. So decision made. Tapas for dinner. That left only one place to go. Europa. One of our all-time favs. This is the restaurant where I took Kim on our first date almost 10 years ago. We still love eating there and thinking about our first date.

The food has not changed much (which, is a good thing – a very good thing) even though the menu has expanded a bit. A great wine selection and even better food. Ah, the choices are almost too much. The more people that go to dinner, usually the better. Everyone orders a couple Tapas and everyone else gets to try a taste. Such varied flavors, and very satisfying.

After dinner we took a stroll around downtown to see ‘Inlight’, an annual event usually associated with First Friday’s – also known as Art Night where downtown galleries open their doors and a street festival takes shape. As usual, there was some interesting sights and entertainers out for the night. Nice material for some urban photography. We didn’t stay long, but were able to walk around enough to burn off most of our delicious dinner and wine.

Richmond certainly has it’s share of things to offer if you just look around a little. I am looking forward to another season of First Fridays this fall with new art and lots of sights on the streets.Check out some of last year’s usual entertainment – Richmond Burners.

Aloha.

Beach Wedding Bridal Portraits

So whenever I get a chance to shoot portraits on the beach I like to try many different poses as long as the bride is up to it and comfortable. Most brides are open to a photographer’s createive ideas, and working with a relaxed bride always makes my job easier. Then, if the other factors fall into place the shoot goes that much better.

With these shots, the light was just about perfect and the setting was ideal. I hardly used fill flash on these, except for a few that I was working to make the bride really stand off from the background, since the evening sunset provided a wonderful warm glow. I have been wanting to shoot in the sea oats that grow in the dunes on Cape Hatteras in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I have had ideas swirling around that I finally got to test.

I was very happy with the results after this shoot. Wedding photography can be a little stressful at times and keeping the bride (and photographer) relaxed is important. When you do get one that is at ease, the job goes much smoother.

Working on more weddings in the Outer Banks I am excited to see what opportunities I can create with the endless beauty of the area.

Aloha.

Kite boarding in Cape Hatteras

After a long wait for ridable wind, it seemed like a long wait, more like a couple of days, the wind picked up and people were on the water getting their fix. While waiting (and hoping) for the wind to build a little bit more, I took my camera into the shallow waters of Kite Point in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to shoot a couple girls that were throwing some nice moves. Not having a water housing for my camera(s) limits my shooting abilities near and around water. So I continiue to work in knee to waist deep water praying that nothing bad happens.

Welcome back to Cape Hatteras

After a hectic week catching back up in Richmond, VA working on the house, yard, job, wedding photography, and some mountain biking, I came back to Hatteras last night.

Being a weather junkie, I have been watching the Island’s weather from Richmond, and the weather has been a little crazy down here the past few days.

Northerly winds have been kicking up a decent swell and lots of rain has been dumping all over the island. News reports indicates somewhere 8″-9″ between yesterday and this morning. This made the morning commute somewhat more interesting.

All of the water on the roads (and yards, parking lots, and just about everywhere) was from rain. Not storm surge or swell. All rain.

Luckily the Subaru made it through with no problems. I was more than a little late getting to work, but that is part of life here on the sandbar.

Aloha.

Back in the RVA

I am a little behind in posting the past few days. Things are a tad hectic now that I am back in Richmond, The River City for a week or so. Spending two months away from home with only one visit back to shoot a wedding has put the house (and maybe Kim too) in a ’spot of bother’. How is it that our new house decides to start showing its age (5 years young) during the few weeks I am in Cape Hatteras working?

For one, our water heater died. Two, the downstairs heat pump fan stopped working, the outdoor shower plumbing failed. Oh, and two outside electrical outlets are dead. Really? I thought we were done with this kind of stuff after selling our old houses. Ah, home ownership. Makes you want to rent again, eh?

With Kim having to take care of the house issues, juggle her demanding job, shuttle herself back and forth between Hatteras and Richmond, she is just about done. I can’t say I blame her either. She has been able to take care of most of the problems, but it was high time that I came back and helped her out. I think she was over hearing how much surfing and kiting I was doing while she played the grown up. So I took her mountain biking. Well with 30 of our close friends.

I have to say, I missed good ‘ol Richmond. Nothing like sitting in traffic staring at the back of an overgrown SUV with stickers plastered all over it like they are a sponsored athlete. What is up with the stickers on cars these days? Everything from professing love for their schnauzer, to what college(s) they went to. People really like speaking from the back of their cars. Anyway, I digress. What was I talking about?

Back in Richmond, VA. That’s right. Lots of house work and catching up with good friends and family. Lots of eating out at some of the many incredible restaurants Richmond has to offer. I am still amazed at how many great restaurants are here. Not the chain restaurants that accompany those quaint big box plazas of the suburbs. No, I’m talking about all of the little spots you never know are there unless you either stumble upon them or have them recommended by a friend. Cuban, Indian, Greek, Italian, Vegetarian. The list goes on. So many unique places to eat here.

After getting to catch up on some mountain biking, friends, family, and eating out. Kim and I do what we enjoy a lot, cooking at home and eating together. She is such an incredible cook. I don’t know how many new recipes she has created from whatever she can mix together, but it has to be close to a hundred. She is becoming famous for her ‘pantry specials’.

I wish I could say I’ve been able to get out and see all of my friends, but I have been having a crazy week at work and with tons to do around the house, I didn’t even realize it was Friday. Between doctor’s appointments, oil changes, cutting grass, getting ready for a wedding shoot, helping with the yard sale tomorrow morning, getting the house back together, and everything else there hasn’t been enough time for socializing. Hence, no blog posts.

I did manage to find time to show Kim some basic photography skills this evening. She loved the fact that now, I am the model. So many times she has endured me practicing as she is the model.

She will be assisting me at the wedding this weekend. I wanted to be able to put a camera in her hand and know she is comfortable with it. Her eye for composition and her talent as an artist makes her a natural photographer. All she needs is a little nudge on the technical end of the practice. So I am excited to see what she captures tomorrow.

Well, off to bed for me. It is late and we have an early yard sale to set up in the morning. Not to mention a little wedding photography for the better part of the day.

Aloha.

Tropical Storm Danny

With our latest storm sitting right off the coast here in Cape Hatteras, the expectations for severe weather have actually waned just a bit. Orignially, the storm predictions estimated the disturbance progressing into as high as a Category 2 hurricaine with chances of a direct hit to the Outer Banks areas. Things are still moody and rough, but not severe.

The storm has failed to strengthen into any appreciable threat. Unless you plan to enter the water. Of course, as wind/water junkies we (Kim, myself, and most of our friends) we fully intent to enter the water. All of the current warnings are for moderate to high rip current threat. The wind will not get much over 40mph and the storm swell is somewhere around 10 feet. Perfect conditions for ‘playing in the water’.

About the only rideable location for the SE winds today was the ‘point’ of Cape Hatteras. Yes. The little tip of land where the sandbar makes an almost 90 degree turn to the west and creates a south-facing shore. With the storm swell and wind direction kiters and wind surfers alike were taking advantage of what little riding there was. The waves were very disorganized and sloppy. Part of me was itching to get wet and ride the waves, but the other 99% of me was not in much of a hurry to get out there.

I was happy hanging out on the beach with my cameras and friends to watch as most of the kiters eventually slipped further and further downwind until they walked back up the beach. Besides, I’m saving my energy.

With the wind direction predicted tomorrow it should make for nice surfing. So it is off to bed for me… I need my rest. I haven’t been this tired for this many days since performing long range patrols as a young Marine.

Aloha.