Hood River, Oregon

Rita Wilson performs for No Kid Hungry fundraiser

I had the pleasure of photographing Rita Wilson singing at a fund raiser for No Kid Hungry at the Everett Street Bistro. They managed to raise over $90,000 and ate some first class food in the process with Sarah Schafer, Executive Chef, Irving Street Kitchen; Richard Reddington, Executive Chef & Owner, Redd and Redd Wood; Alissa Rozos, Pastry Chef, St. Jack; and Cathy Whims, Executive Chef & Owner Nostrana.

Pickathon 2013

This is my fifth year covering Pickathon and unlike other annual events I shoot, I never seem to tire of it. It's not just the music, which for the most part, I'm totally into. 

It's about the festival's photo policies. They believe in simple rules. They don't impose a three song limit unless the artist specifically requests it. Since I've been shooting there only one artist has ever imposed it.

I don't remember ever being asked to do anything or ever being stopped from going somewhere by security. This is a remarkable thing to say these days. It seems like every year, every venue and every event continues to tighten controls on photographers. I could write an entire essay on this issue, but I my point is that Pickathon does it right and they always have. I hope that never changes. 

Columbia County Fair

Nike hosts top high school lacrosse players for "The Ride"

Nike was host of "The Ride," an invitation-only event for the nation's top-ranked boys and girls high school lacrosse players. The event was patterned after similar events Nike holds for football, basketball and soccer players.

The events feature expert coaching, top-notch competition and, for the participants, wide-eyed access to the company's headquarters near Beaverton. Nike also pays for participants' transportation and living expenses.

I was there for a few hours of drills.

Oregon Project Dayshoot+30: A trip to the Columbia Gorge

My son Cole and I headed up the Columbia Gorge to make some photos for an Oregon Historical Society project. 

It's an interesting project: On July 15, 1983, over 90 photographers spent 24 hours capturing daily life throughout the state of Oregon. Project Dayshoot was the name of the venture, and it produced a book called One Average Day. 

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of Project Dayshoot, the original photographers--as well as new contributors--will capture still and motion images across Oregon on July 15, 2013.

Our travels took us to Vista House, Latourell Falls, Multnomah Falls, Oneonta Gorge, Cascade Locks, Hood River and Koberg Beach. We met tribal fishermen Butch Sams and Randy Settler.

 Here is the result of our day:

Hood River Gigapan on July 12, 2013

Yakama Nation celebrate sockeye return to Cle Elum Lake for the first time in 100 year

Yakama Nation biologists released thousands of sockeye salmon into a Central Washington lake over the past four summers to restore fish runs that were decimated with the damming of area rivers and streams. Each fall, the just-released fish swam up the Cle Elum River to spawn and die. Their babies, meanwhile, spent a year in the lake before swimming to the ocean to grow into adulthood. Now, four years after the first release in 2009, those adult fish are returning to their birthplace to spawn, and tribal members are celebrating what they hope is the resurrection of a revered species to its native habitat. "You are part of a sacred ceremony to celebrate the return of an important ingredient to our body, our hearts, our life," Yakama elder Russell Jim told the crowd gathered on the shore of Cle Elum Lake.

Tribal fisherman harvest Pacific lamprey from the Willamette Falls

Tribal fisherman from Pendleton motor to the Willamette Falls to harvest lamprey, Sat., Jun. 29, 2013, in Oregon City. The fish hang out in pools below the falls and also climb the rock walls to move up stream.  The take was trucked on ice for distribution to tribal members. Lampreys are round like snakes but with smooth skin and fins. Their mouth is a parasitic suction cup with concentric rings of teeth. The tribes have treaty rights that allow them to harvest Pacific lamprey. For generations, it's been an annual tradition. 

Bully Creek Reservoir Gigapan

The Results of 6 Days of Track and Field

First. it was two days at the Prefontaine Classic, three days off, and back to Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., for four more the NCAA Track and Field Championships.

I've been shooting meets there since 1997 and it never gets old. I first saw Galen Rupp and Ashton Eaton in High School. They are now both elite athletes with Olympic medals. 

I always wonder which of the athletes I'm shooting at the beginning of the career will someday be standing on the podium accepting their Olympic medal. I wonder which one of them may end up disgraced after a doping charge. 

I see track and field athletes as something special. They seem to be the best of what humans are capable of being, especially in the physical realm. There's not one kind of greatness with track and field athletes. Each event heat sheet is populated with a specific set of talents and attributes.

I'm always fascinated with the way a shot putter spins and throws with such grace and agility. Imagining them in street clothes, you'd never guess they'd be able to move like that. Their strength is obvious, but alone it's not what gets the shot where it needs to be.

The sprinters are all about full throttle, flat out, technical speed. Distance runners are about efficiency and strategy. Jumpers seemingly defy physics, but pole vaulters in a class of their own. I believe they possess the highest level of talent in terms strength, speed, technique and courage. Anyone can run, throw and jump, (maybe not well) but very few can get pole vault.

These photos represent my effort photographing humans at their best. It took me six days.

©The Oregonian

asportinglife.com: Know What You Want to Make - Thomas Boyd

​Here's a post I wrote for asportinglife.com. I talk about narrowing your focus to make the picture you want to make.

​http://www.asportinglife.com/know-what-you-want-to-make-thomas-boyd/

My post on ​asportinglife com.

My Favorite 2013 Prom Photos

This year The Oregonian editors decided to dispatch the photo department to cover the local prom season. I shot four proms total and the last one was today. ​

Here's a link to all the prom coverage: http://photos.oregonlive.com/photo-essay/2013/05/2013_oregon_proms_-_mesd.html#incart_river​

At Wilson Ranches Retreat outside Fossil, guests connect with a working Oregon ranch

I rode on a 8-hour 30-mile roundup at the Wilson Ranches. It was by far the best horse ride I've ever been on. I really got into herding cattle, mostly because the horse I was on was really good at it. Nancy and Phil Wilson made me feel welcome and part of the crew. ​

​Here's a link to Terry Richard's story for the travel section: http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2013/05/wilson_ranches_retreat_outside.html

Wapato Jail, with 10th anniversary fast approaching, remains dark and unused

The Wapato Jail was built ten years ago and has never been used. I took a tour and shot photos. Read more here: ​http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/05/multnomah_countys_wapato_jail.html

Skate World Flashback to the 80's

I had an assignment at Skate World in Gresham. It had nothing to do with skating, but I marveled at the details in this space. It brought me back to 1981. Red carpet on the walls, a green floor, and massive mural of Mt. Hood.

Photojournalism has the Power to Help People

During my 23 years as a daily photojournalist, I've seen my work do good in small ways, but nothing I've done comes anywhere close to Sara Naomi Lewkowicz's recent work on domestic violence.

As a daily newspaper photographer, we do a lot of work that has little or no impact on the community. We often shoot assignments that are an attempt to illustrate process stories about government bureaucracy. They are stories that aren't obviously visual. They are assignments that need to be done and we do them the best we can and  move on the next. 

I was shooting just this type of assignment yesterday. It was essentially two city bureaucrats giving us a tour of a half-empty building. In that building we came to a room that was used by the police department to train victim advocates. These are people that help victims of domestic violence through the process of the justice and social agency system.​

​In the classroom hung 39 photographs. They were printed with full captions, a byline, and the Beaverton Police Department logo on the lower corner of the page. It was obvious someone put forth a lot of effort and expense to create the display.

Sara Lewkowicz's ​39 photos hang in a class room for training victim advocates.

I realized someone at the Victims Advocate Training Academy responsible for teaching volunteers decided that the most important visual teaching aid they could use in their classroom was photojournalism. It isn't just any photojournalism, it's a body of work that showed in great detail the legal, physical and emotional story of domestic violence.

​This forensic evidence I found hanging on the wall was tangible, indisputable proof, that photojournalism could help people. In this specific case, it helps volunteers that go with police to domestic violence calls better understand what the victims are going through. Sara's photos help victims of domestic abuse be better understood and better served during a very difficult time. I imagine every volunteer having Sara's images in their mind as they roll up on a scene.

​As important as it is for those volunteers to see this work, it's just as important to me to see work like this doing good and helping people. Photojournalists don't get the  opportunity often. It makes meaningless assignments more bearable knowing that someday we may get the opportunity ourselves to once again have our work make a positive impact. We want to know the possibility still exists.

Galen Rupp and Mo Farah train with Alberto Salazar

​Oregonian track and field reporter Ken Goe and I had the rare opportunity to document Galen Rupp and Mo Farah during their work out with running legend Alberto Salazar. If their names aren't familiar to you, let me refresh your memory. Galen Rupp won the silver medal in the 10k during the London Olympics behind his British training partner Mo Farah. They are two of the most accomplished distance runners in the world today. 

Goe brilliantly tells the story of how Salazar uses scientific methods to shape their training.

Here's a link to the story in The Oregonian, which also has a video I produced: http://www.oregonlive.com/trackandfield/index.ssf/2013/04/for_mo_farah_and_galen_rupp_it.html#incart_m-rpt-2​

©The Oregonian

Prom!

The Oregonian has decided covering high school proms is a priority for the photo  department. I shot my first one of the season last night. I must say, it was kind of fun. Everyone is in a good mood, dressed up and having a good time. Good vibes everywhere. Here a few of my favorite images.​

©The Oregonian

First Salmon Feast at the Celilo Indian Village

One of the Plateau tribes’ most important ceremonies is the First Salmon Feast. This salmon ceremony must occur before open fishing can take place. It is why every fishing season begins with a ceremonial harvest for fishers to catch salmon for use in these ceremonies. The timing of these feasts matches the arrival of the salmon to each longhouse. The feasts move upriver with the fish. On this weekend, the feast takes place at the Celilo Indian Village 13 miles upriver from The Dalles.

​I showed up Saturday as the pow wow portion of the weekend was in full swing. Dancers were in full regalia and competing fiercely for points that could win them a nice prize. The barn was full. They danced on a packed dirt floor and there were at least a half dozen circles taking turns providing the songs.

I was treated great by everyone involved. Fred Hill, Sr., was the master of ceremonies and tried to get me dance! No way was that going to happen! No one needs to see that. He got some good laughs from crowd at least.​

​I started early Sunday morning and started shooting as they built the fires. I shot fish being cleaned, filleted and placed on sticks and the grill. They butchered four deer for the occasion as well.

​I wasn't able to shoot the actual ceremony, but there was plenty going on outside the long house to keep me busy.

​I'm grateful for Bobby Begay and everyone else who showed me first class hospitality the entire weekend. The food was great and I hope to be able to do it again. 

​©The Oregonian, 2013