Phillipe Halsman Contest

I was invited to enter a photo contest on the website Jumpbecause.com last month, and guess what ... I won!!!!  Here is the description of the contest :

Last month, Jump Because issued a Challenge + Contest to jumpers to submit a photo that best represents this quote from jumping inspiration, Philippe Halsman.

"When you ask a person to jump, his attention is mostly directed toward the act of jumping and the mask falls so that the real person appears."

Phillipe Halsman is known as the father of the jumpshot and used that as a ploy to get celebrities to relax and let their guard down when he was taking portraits.  His quote above says it all and I've witnessed that over and over again while taking jumping pictures.

I wanted to submit this particular photo because it's hard to get cops to let their guard down and drop the mask.  It's rather unfortunate because the vast majority of us perps are pretty dang awesome, me included :)  And I think the cop persona really turns most people off and gives them bad press.

These 3 were no exception and in the beginning of our conversation they wanted nothing to do with it.  I had to do some fast talking to get them to jump for me, but in the end they were laughing like kids, and I hope it made their day!

Maternity Jump

We have a new addition to our neighborhood but a week before Andrew was born I received an email from his lovely mother Andrea.  She said, and I quote "I want to get a maternity jump shot!"

I nearly leaped out of my chair.  The only thing that stopped me was my laptop was on my lap.  As we left for a suitable jumping location my only request was that we do it near a hospital for obvious reasons!  I've been excited about a number of my jumpshots but I have to admit this one is unique and ranks right near the top.

Thank you Andrea, for your over the top bravery and inspirational idea :)

Harvest Time!

I planted a garden in the spring and only half expected success.  Last year was a bust but if I didn't plant vegetables I would have to look at weeds all summer filling the garden, so in went the seeds.  Now after nearly 12 weeks of water and sun I'm eating fresh vegetables.

I spent a couple hours shucking corn tonight and I have to admit I like earwigs.  They're creepy crawly things but the ears of corn with earwigs hopping out didn't have any other bugs lurking around inside.  Thus more good juicy corn for me to eat.

Jumping in the snow

This time of year has enough variety to keep me happy. Everything from 70 degree days to freezing blizzards. The other evening Roslyn came by my office to drop some information off and the snow was just perfect for jumping. Ros didn't complain one bit about how slow I was getting things set up and getting the pocket wizards to fire the flash. Thank you Roslyn :)

Bald Eagle

I see eagles every week as I travel up and down Highway 89 in central Utah. They have so much meaning for those of us in America and they are one type of fauna I will stop and look at. They are such large birds it doesn't take much effort to soar hundreds of yards away and foil any attempt at a photograph. This magnificent guy was sitting in a tree just off the highway looking for lunch and I walked very slowly towards him looking through my viewfinder with one eye using the other to try and avoid oncoming traffic. By the time I was close enough to get some shots he noticed me and began getting a little edgy. Just before he took flight I got these two shots and the one of him in flight.

Manti Temple

My awesome photography peep Andrea has reminded me how hard it is to get a picture of the Manti Temple that a hundred other people haven't already taken. She's right by the way. But I enjoy seeing that beautiful building in the changing light that the different seasons present and it makes it fun to try and capture a good photo. While the family and I were hanging out in Manti over Christmas break the sun came out for a few hours one day and I headed straight to the temple. These two shots were my favorite of the bunch I took.

Jump into 2011!

I don't know if it's cold where you are, but it's cold here! The house in Manti was -14 the other night so what a way to start 2011. I'm feeling pretty good about the new year. In some ways it couldn't be any worse than the two years we all have just survived, but it just feels like it's going to be a good year. I figured the way to seal the deal would be to start with a family jump shot. So here you go!! Happy New Year!