Anchorage Rowing Club

"If you are not in over your head, how do know how tall you are?" --TS Eliot

Click the link below to watch the HD Video on Vimeo 
Anchorage Rowing Club Video

The Anchorage Rowing Club practices on Sand Lake twice a week when the ice is out. I don't know why, but I'm still surprised by all the variety of activities that Alaskans occupy their time with. I saw a piece in the Anchorage Daily News on this club and immediately knew I had to get in the water and see what it was like to have a 45 foot boat crank past you at 12 knots. What struck me about this from the water line, was the violence and grace that propelled these craft. Teamwork and power are nothing if your timing is off.

I wish that I had another month and $10k to do this film correctly but feel this is a good start. This was a good project to learn on with video and stills like: when your lanyard breaks and your Canon 5D sinks to the bottom of the lake, batteries die mid sequence, oars go by your face, float planes turn your way, fisherman cast over you........

Take a deep breath, this is just the beginning, the water is only at my chin. How tall am I?

Burning Bridges and Life Lessons

David Jensen on Kodak 320 TXP 4"x5" shot at f2.5 at 1/250th with an Aero Ektar equipped Graflex Speed Graphic

 About five years ago this man turned me down for a job that I really, really wanted at his studio. Needless to say, I was upset. Not only had I been turned down for a job, but had my portfolio had been turned down once again. Any artist will confess that having their portfolio turned down is like coming home to find the locks changed on their house. I had two options, get angry and burn the bridge or admit that my portfolio needed work. I wasn't the right fit for the job, and it was time to step up my commitment to photography. It was hard to admit, but I am a better man and photographer today because of not getting that job. Well more importantly I'm a better photographer today because of the man in this photo.

He is an Anchorage icon, and somebody that has impacted more families than anyone else I know. He is a memory maker, and a damn fine one at that. Many homes in Alaska hold his art, art which allows memories to be visualized. David Jensen has taught me more about what it truly means to be a photographer and responsible business man than all my years attaining a degree.

 This image is from a series on Alaska business owners that I'm completing, and David graciously sat for me and my giant slow camera. But, it could have easily not been, I could have taken that rejection personally and let anger get the better of me, but it was just part of life that we all must accept if we want to improve. It would have benefited me to learn this 10 years ago, but at least I learned it. Like so many others, thanks for the lesson David.

Good people are rare, great people are even more so, like the Cubs in the World Series. And then there are people like David. David, I hope everyone has the opportunity to know someone like you in their lifetime.

What are you capable of.....

when no one is judging you, when there is no score being kept? What does it take to motivate yourself? I've been floating in lakes around Anchorage asking these questions and photographing people that I consider far more motivated than me. Sure, I'm in foul 50 degree water dodging float planes and boats, but this is where I want to be. Much like these rowers, little motivation is required when you are where you want to be. Motivation comes when you would rather be anywhere than where you are, but you must remain. When turning back to shore isn't an option, when editors say, "we publish pictures, not excuses" do you go longer, work harder or fold shop?  We all have excuses, they never sound convincing no matter how many times we tell them. When up is the only option, will you climb on and find that you are capable of far more than you ever imagined? A man in a wheel chair once said to me, "Perseverance, perseverance, that is all it takes..........."

Anticipation

"30 knots" shot with a Holga, 1 sec Handheld on Ilford 100ISO

"Outside Moscow" shot with a Holga,  @1 sec Handheld on Ilford 100ISO

Maybe it's because I grew up with a darkroom tucked away behind the furnace of my parents basement or my time spent working in photo labs, but I miss film. I don't miss the chemicals or hassle but I miss the anticipation of shooting film. It was like Christmas every time you dropped a role off at the lab or took it into the dark room. Just like Christmas it might not be the best gift but it was going to be something new. I love my Canon digital, especially at 100ft underwater, but miss that anticipation. So I shoot film. Not because it is better than digital or whatever the argument is this week, but the process of shooting film is something I grew up and I like it. Just like a gambler you are going to loose on your bets occasionally but when you win it seems so much sweeter.  Holding that negative up to the light and seeing your idea realized still captivates me. Digital allows me to push my work in a different direction, film helps reel me in and make me plan the shots and count on intuition more than LCD playback. I even prefer cameras without batteries or light meters, look at the scene, do the math, wait for the light. Let the dice roll and see what turns out when you pick it up at the lab. Maybe I'll see you down at Keller's dusting off a roll of 120 next time. I will be there anticipating what my next set of negatives will look like, did it come up 7's or snakeyes?

Open for business

The first post of the new blog is just a sample of what we are working on this summer in Alaska. Underwater photography is king this year and we will be working to bring you both still images and videos from around our great state. From Diving in Prince William Sound and Seward to Triathletes and Rowing clubs. If it involves Alaska and water I will be there to document it. If you wish to see the video in HD the link to Vimeo is listed below. 

http://www.vimeo.com/24810165