My 10 Best...so far
I have been doing this photography thing for a couple of years now. In that time span, I have taken roughly half a million photos! Starting out with my Nikon D3400, then transitioning to a D500 and D610. I have always said that the thing that draws me to photography is for the fact that I will never be a master at this craft. As a photographer, I am constantly growing and learning new techniques. For this reason, this list of 10 pictures you’re about to see has such diversity. There are so many styles of photography, and I want to learn them all!
Without further adieu, enjoy.
10. Buffalo Stand Off
This was from one of my many trips to Grand Teton National Park. I was driving alongside Highway 191, where I saw a large Buffalo herd grazing in the field just to the side. I pulled over to start taking pictures of the herd. While I was shooting, this lone buffalo started breaking away from the herd heading directly towards my car. It stopped about 10 yards from my car, which allowed me to capture this beautiful close up.
9. Turn Earned
My first powder shot that is featured on this list is titled, “Turn Earned.” When you ski predominantly at resorts, there is one downside; people. My friend Thomas and I like the saying, “Burn to earn your turns.” This refers to the hike that is required to hit this high alpine bowl at Keystone. It’s a roughly 20-25 minute hike on a cat track to get some fresh untouched snow in some great tree skiing. We don’t usually drop in above tree line, however this time we decided since it was a beautiful day we’d go above the trees. What we found coming out of the trees was an absolutely wide open field of powder, any line was ours!
8. Pennsylvania Mine
You can find this abandoned mine just past Keystone, however it is a bit difficult to find. My original plan was to actually do some drone work around this mine with Buffalo Mountain and Red Peak in the distance. However, the winds were howling at over 50 MPH. This was the first time I ever saw my Mavic being blown away by the wind. Instead of giving myself anxiety, I pulled out my Nikon and captured this shot.
7. White-faced Capuchin Eating
This White Faced Capuchin was inside a tree picking at the inside of it, eating whatever it got it’s hands on. These monkeys are extremely prevalent all around Manuel Antonio NP in Quepos, Costa Rica. They are so used to human interactions that you can get so close to these animals, however, they aren’t the most kind. I saw this one eating and was using my zoom to try and get that up close shot. After my shutter released the first couple of times, it turned up to look at me. I captured this extremely intimate picture of the Capuchin looking up at me.
6. Crystal Mill
Crystal Mill is one of the most photographed locations in Colorado. It is by far not the easiest place to get to, but it’s worth every second once you’re there. I’ve made the hike to Crystall Mill more times than I can count, I love it that much. I have been in peak Summer, Spring, and Fall. The road is closed in the winters to vehicles, but I’d snowshoe the 4 miles. Crystal Mill is a destination I recommend for everyone to see at least once.
5. Powder Slash
There are few words I can use to describe the feeling you get when you ski/ride on real powder. As someone who grew up in the Midwest all I ever knew before I moved to Colorado was riding on ice. The first time I hit my first powder line was just indescribable.
4. Moulton Barn and the Grand Teton
Yet another extremely iconic photography location; this time we are inside Grand Teton NP. I absolutely love when I come to this area of our country. The Grand Teton NP and Yellowstone NP are such a large land mass. You can dedicate an entire week to exploring it. You’d be lucky to see even 30% of it all. Moulton Barn is part of the Mormon Row just east of the Moose Junction. Upon my first ever visit to the Grand Tetons I learned this mountain range is best suited for sunrise.
3. First Tracked Milky Way over Green Mountain Reservoir
There is a lot going on is this picture, or…..pictures. Astrophotography is the main subject that got me into photography to begin with. This picture of the Milky Way over Green Mountain Reservoir is actually a milestone for me. This is the first time I ever used a star tracker to photograph the Milky Way. The tracker gives your camera the ability to rotate along with the Earth, allowing you to max out your shutter speeds to not seconds, but MINUTES. Go ahead and click on the picture to see it full screen! Virtually noiseless.
2. Larkspur Glades
There is a sense of “let go” when you’re riding amongst the trees. Beaver Creek is a mountain that can hold powder unlike any other mountain I have rode before. My buddy Thomas (skier) and I absolutely love the Larkspur Glades at Beaver Creek. I actually took this picture on my first day of trying ski photography, I was hooked instantly. For it to still remain my favorite and most appealing shot says a lot. Fast forward to 3 years later, I’m now a professional ski photographer for Vail Mountain.
1. Captain Wil Trapp
This photograph for me, is just personal. I am a Columbus, Ohio native. I was born in Columbus. I grew up in Columbus. I was a soccer player in Columbus. I then, naturally, was a Columbus Crew fan. My fandom for the club is just the start of my personal ties to this photo. I was 11 years old and I was at my first ODP District Tryout, when I met a kid who wore the same outfit every day: black Nike shorts, yellow Nike socks with a white swoosh, and classic Adidas Mundials. That kid’s name, was Wil Trapp. Even at 11 years old, we all saw something special in Wil. If Wil was on your team for any game, you already knew you were going to win. Fast forward 14 years, Wil is now the Captain of the Columbus Crew, our hometown team. When I look at this picture I get a sense of pride. There was a time when I played right next to you on the field, now I get to photograph you from it as well.