The Lines and Textures of Utah © Jay Goodrich

It has been a category on this blog since the beginning, dating back to 2003. At that time I am not sure many even knew what the heck a blog was. I know I didn’t, until I started playing around with the whole concept. It is amazing how fast technology and its use catches on. Now, if you do not have a blog, you are missing out on a major marketing and news tool for you business. From a growth perspective, I sometimes think I have been stagnant since 2003. That nothing in my life is any different. When I sit down and actually reflect upon it all, I realize that almost everything has changed. Except for the fact that I don’t think and act like a 40 year old and I will never listen to that crappy elevator music I remember my parents listening too. For me it is Heavy Metal til’ death do us part. Whoops, sorry, wrong soapbox.

So why the drop of the Photo of the Month? Simply, like everything else, life changes. I feel that the Photo of the Month category does nothing for me. Well it did something, but as my business grows and I grow as an artist, I feel that it leaves me feeling limited in what I can send out to the world. And limiting my exposure to the world is not a good idea, well sometimes it is, for instance, per Jerry Seinfeld, “there is good naked and bad naked”. In this case though, the Photo of the Month had me limiting what I would show you in regards to new work, and then it had me arguing with myself as to what the best image of my recent work was “worthy” of the designation. If I create it from this point on and like it, I will show it to you and give you the story behind it.

The Aspen Groves of Central Utah © Jay Goodrich

With that said, I have created a new category to replace the Photo of the Month and it is simply named, “New Work”. It began as “New Images”, but that too felt limiting, what if I produced a movie, or book, or gallery show. That is all new work isn’t it? Of course it is. Now, when I have something new and creative, I can comfortably send it out there to you, regardless of timing, regardless of any limits or boundaries. And yes, this does include bad naked too.

Square Sandstone Shapes from Central Utah © Jay Goodrich

Now for some new, good naked. I was in Colorado two weeks ago shooting a commercial architecture project and decided that I would make an overnight trip into Utah to meet up with friend and fellow photographer Guy Tal. I drove down to his home in the middle of Utah and he literally showed me the kitchen sink of where he lives in a day. The varying landscape and diversity of eco-systems is a photographer’s paradise and from what I saw, a completely under explored region of Utah. This place is so under explored, I am not even going to tell where he lives. I am keeping the secret safe. And, I am so enamored with this place, I am heading back there in a couple of weeks for a five day trip of shooting.

Seed Packets in a Hardware Store © Jay Goodrich

I wanted to keep my theme going of a recent post to the Outdoor Photographer Magazine Blog regarding the creative use of my iPhone. This image was taken in a hardware store near the Haight/Ashbury district. The repetitive patterns of the bags of seeds caught my eye, but once I began to analyze the image a little closer I realized that it was also the design of the packets themselves that I liked. As fall approaches and we head into winter many people, myself included, begin to plan on what will be part of their garden in the coming spring. The image was taken with an iPhone 4 and mastered in Lightroom 3–that’s it.

As of writing this I am in JFK waiting for a flight to teach a one day workshop tomorrow in Houston. It is pretty amazing how fast information can now be sent to the world no matter where you are. I can only imagine where it will be when my daughter is my age.

Stars and Moving Clouds, Mount Rainier NP, © Jay Goodrich

After such an amazing evening hike and dinner with Heather and the kids I couldn’t help myself this month. I had to use one of the images as a photo of the month. I was fortunate enough to capture this photograph at the bottom of the Paradise Trail as we finished our hike in complete darkness. I decided to throw all the rules of composition out the window and include way more of the sky above rather than the foreground of wildflowers that was at my feet, which was almost black to the naked eye. Since these clouds were rolling along at a fast pace all I needed to create the above effect was a 30 second shutter speed. In some cases it takes much longer shutter speeds to see even the slightest bit of movement in clouds, but not on this night. The scene looks almost like the volcano itself is outgassing during an eruption. Taken with a Canon 1D Mark III, 16-35mm f2.8 lens, Gitzo tripod, Kirk ballhead, and mastered in Adobe Lightroom 3 and Photoshop CS5. You can read more about the evening and see additional images on my weekly post to the Outdoor Photographer Magazine Blog.

Pride Parade Spectators, Vancouver, Cananda © Jay Goodrich

The photo I have chosen for this month’s photo is a little different then past choices and hopefully a new way of highlighting how I see the world. Don’t get me wrong, I love photographing nature and adventure but I am also taking to more literal types of photography. Possibly a bit towards photojournalism, but also not quite there. I want my viewer to start contemplating the scene. What does this image say to you? For me it was the repetitive nature of the stark apartment architecture and the people, who all seem to be joining forces in a celebration. Onlookers to something, but what that something is, has me looking deeper into the image. There are hints there but nothing concrete. The other piece of the puzzle for me is the variety of race, gender, style, ect. it speaks volumes to the people of our world. Captured with a Canon 1D Mark III, 70-200 f2.8 IS AF lens, handheld, mastered in Lightroom 3, Photoshop CS 5.

Glacier Lillies, Paradise, Mount Rainier N.P. © Jay Goodrich

It is almost time. A time when the snow covered meadows that surround Mount Rainier National Park begin to erupt into a summer splendor of pattern and color. It was almost a year to the day that I captured this image. It is a study of pattern and texture. There is no single subject for your eye to focus on yet the image keeps you looking for one. I love images like this one. They go beyond the standard wide angle landscape and yet still possess a strong compositional quality. There is a harmonious balance of white lilies and green grass and stems. Hopefully you can join me there in the next few weeks when the flowers begin to bloom all over Mount Rainier. Taken with a Canon 1Ds Mark III, 70-200 f2.8 AF IS lens, Gitzo tripod, and Kirk BH-1 ballhead. Mastered in Lightroom 3 and Photoshop CS5.

Windmill Blowing in the Spring Winds, Alice, Texas, © Jay Goodrich

The spring in Washington has be really windy this year. Since this is my first year here, I am not really sure if it happens every year. It seems like every road bike ride is into the wind–both ways–for all of the miles. For this month’s photo I wanted something that would portray that wind. I have captured tons of abstract motion images of this, that and the other thing blowing, moving, and swaying in those winds. After the thousands of images, I have decided that one of my favorite images, is one that I captured a couple of years ago in a place that isn’t even near where I live.

The image is a bit trite, but a technical success nonetheless. I had to figure out a shutter speed to allow me to capture the moving vanes of the windmill while still allowing the viewer to read the manufacturer on the directional fin. It tells the complete story of how I feel almost every day that I head out to shoot, run, or ride recently.

Windmill, Alice, Texas, Canon 1D Mark III, 70-200 f2.8 AF IS lens, Gitzo tripod, Kirk BH-1 ballhead.

The Hayden River Valley, Yellowstone National Park, Wy © Jay Goodrich

Our photo this month was taken by Jay last summer while he was working on a project in Yellowstone National Park. The reason we decided to post it for the photo of the month this month is because Jay is there right now shooting more images for the project. Hopefully he will be willing to “leak” some of the new images when he returns. Anyway, this image was taken of the Hayden River at sunrise as a low level fog bank was beginning to clear. You never can predict what nature will do, so it is best to stay until the last possible moment if you find a good location and keep you mind open to anything. Taken with a Canon 1D Mark III, 16-35mm II lens, Gitzo Tripod, Kirk BH-1 ballhead, Singh-Ray LB Warming Polarizer, and a 3 stop hard-edged graduated neutral density filter. And per last month you can order discounted prints of our monthly images directly from our print site.

Rock Topo, Red Dirt Creek, CO, ©Jay Goodrich

I often look to abstract painters for inspiration in my photographic work. This idea of looking elsewhere is not new, I know many photographers that do it. It has done one major thing for me – put me always on the look out for new and interesting compositions. I don’t care what time of day it is, how good the light is (well for the most part), where I am, what gear I have with me, if I see something that catches my eye, I have to catch it with a camera. It could be the most simple of things or the most difficult subject I have ever tried to photograph. I will not quit until what caught my eye is recorded to something, even my iPhone, for availability to share with others at some point.

This month’s image came to me during a private workshop that I was teaching just after traveling for close to a month. During that month I was backpacking for a good part of my travels, which means I was looking at a topographic map constantly. When I discovered this rock, it immediately reminded me of those maps – pinnacles, and valleys. I grabbed my macro lens and had my participant stand next to me to block the late morning light. The subtle reflections added a subtle glow to the image. Taken with a Canon 1Ds Mark III, 100mm macro f2.8 lens, Gitzo tripod, Kirk Ballhead, Singh-Ray Warming Polarizer. Mastered in Lightroom and Photoshop.

Martha's Beach, Washington

I have had a really good week. Colleague John O’Conner inspired me with a few super simple image compositions that he posted to his facebook page. I drew more inspiration from a video of urban trials rider Danny MacAskill. And, was able to witness an amazing light display at my own private beach that allowed me to utilize everything I learned – hint go to my facebook page. I was going to post the beach image that I had on facebook earlier this week as the photo of the month, but I figured it was out in the world already, so why not something new. This month’s photo was taken from the same location. For what ever reason, the sun always seems to come out right around sunset, it doesn’t matter if it is howling, pouring, or foggy and overcast. This is really good for me because I love to take the kids and the dog down there to explore – with my camera of course. The evening pictured here was standard operating proceedure –  it rained all day and then bam, magic. That is the beauty of nature, it is ever changing. This image was captured with a Canon 1D Mark III, 16-35mm lens, Gitzo tripod, Kirk BH-1 ballhead, Singh-Ray LB Warming Polarizer, Singh-Ray 3-stop Daryl Benson reverse grad filter.

All of these positive events have generated a new idea – the experience. A new category on this blog beginning Tuesday. You will have to wait until then to find out more.

One more – I just realized that Singh-Ray has posted an article by me on their blog. Let me know what you think. They used this image as their lead-in.

Deception Pass S.P., Anacortes, WA © Jay Goodrich

Last week the rain that we have been engulfed in for over six weeks just decided to up and clear one afternoon. I was so shocked that I almost didn’t grab my camera and head out. I was “too busy working on the computer”,”in a van, down by the river” and did not want to leave. I swear I was on drugs or something, again. I should have learned my lesson a week prior when I led a private workshop student out into the rain forest of all places, during what else-a crazy rain storm to shoot, and the images that we returned with were pretty stunning. Maybe one day I will get the hang of this stuff? Probably not, it is just like trying to be a good husband, no matter how hard I try, that crazy side of my man brain always clouds my judgement and I do exactly what I shouldn’t. Isn’t the first step to fixing a problem, actually realizing that you have a problem? Well honey, I am almost there. It took me 13 years to get to here, so maybe in another 13 I will achieve the next level of my manhood.

All joking aside, I decided to head out to a state park that is about 13 miles from my house, as the crow flies it would be about 3 miles. And if you calculate in the lovely Washington traffic, it only took about 2 hours to get there. Yes, I almost missed it! I am joking about the traffic, it was only an hour. Yes, still joking. I shouldn’t have had all of that coffee today. Those of you who know me best, know that I never touch the stuff. Used to never touch the stuff-double shot mochas are now my favorite. It’s like throwing jet fuel on a bonfire. Sorry, enough of this train-of-thought stuff.

I went out to Deception Pass State Park in Anacortes, Washington. I remember when Heather and I went there for the first time, we were wondering why there would be a mountain pass by us? We quickly realized that “passes” near the ocean are for water and not the easy way through a mountain range. I figured last week was a good time to give this place a try during a sunset and it was SPECTACULAR! There are two bridges that travel between the water passages and you can walk across both of them and underneath them for that matter. I hit it just right, the tide was on it’s way out and I was able to capture these spiraling whirl pools that were being created by the moving water. The fact that the sunset was amazing didn’t hurt either. This image was created with a Canon 1D Mark III, 16-35mm f2.8 II lens, Gitzo tripod, Kirk BH-1 ballhead, a Singh-Ray 3-stop Reverse Graduated Neutral Density Filter, and a Singh-Ray LB Warming Polarizer. Mastered as always in Lightroom and Photoshop.