Vignettes of a Traveler: 2010

12/31/10

My New Year's Resolution

Help snowboarding get into the 2014 Paralympics!

As 2010 comes to a close I find myself thankful for many things. The wonderful relationships I've developed over the years with friends, co-workers and business contacts are the first that come to mind.

Nicole Roundy slays a backside boardslide

A few years a go I had the pleasure of photographing a group of adaptive snowboarders at Mt. Hood as they attended a series of freestyle camps through Windells. It was amazing to see the union of technology, innovation and relentless willpower that allowed these athletes to trench fat carves, slide boxes and spin 360s. I even witnessed the first ever 540 by an AK (above the knee) amputee.

Ten years ago, technology that mimicked the proper flexion and extension of knees and ankles, making it possible for amputees to snowboard, didn't exist.

People like Lucas Grossi, Jarem Frye, Nicole Roundy, Keith Duetsch, Travis Theile and Amy Purdy and organizations like Original Gimp, Adaptive Action Sports, National Ability Center, Symbiotechs and Wounded Warrior Project have pioneered a new era for adaptive sports. Thanks to the determination of these and other people, adaptive snowboarding now has a great shot at getting into the 2014 paralympics.

ESPN is even getting on board and ran an article about this. This article also features a photo I took during one of those adaptive snowboarding camps mentioned above. So exciting!

In honor of all the adaptive athletes and their bid for the 2014 paralympics I will donate 5% of all 2011 profits from my photography to these athletes and their cause.

With your help we can we can help these athletes fulfill their dreams so buy a print or download, donate directly to one of these orginizations and spread the word! Thanks!

12/26/10

Engagement

It was a good Christmas.

My fiance and I celebrate at the Portland City Grill.

12/19/10

Dew Tour 2010

Last October I had the pleasure of going to the Dew Tour finals in Las Vegas, NV. Here's one I recently rediscovered. He's doing a front flip while grabbing his front tire. So sweet!

Check out my gallery to see more.

12/14/10

Architectural Fine Art

Here's a couple photos I've had on deck for a long time. I'd forgotten about them. It feels like I found $20 in a pair of pants I haven't worn in a long time.

Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas, NV

Sculpture made from recycled concrete under the hwy 205 overpass, Portland, OR

Thanks for looking in!

12/8/10

Rhythm and Momentum

Hard to believe it’s been two months since my last post!

I wish I could say I was in Mexico getting a sun tan this whole time but instead I’ve been hard at work adding the necessary infrastructure to my web presence and online commerce.

I’ve also been hard at work creating - shooting photos, putting together a book and composing music. In these lean times creating is the only thing, besides my fiance and dog, I have that keep’s me sane. But, I am not alone as I am one of the many in this country who’s had to reinvent themselves over the last few years.

About a year ago, around the time I had sent out my 200th resume without getting an email or phone call from those companies in acknowledgment, I made a decision. “F!@# ‘em.” I said. “If they won’t give me a job I’ll make my own.”

To rephrase this sentiment - instead of blowing my time (it takes on average 2-4 hours per cover letter) screaming into the void and stinking of desperation, I would compress my ten year plan into three. If was going to blow my time and not get paid for my hard work then I was at least going to do something I love.

My plan - to transform my creative talents into a self-sufficient business.

After a year of very hard knocks, including my old computer crashing, my camera breaking and having nothing left to sell (thanks for the good times Suby!), momentum is gathering (and I am able to buy my dog good food again). Next year will be a big year. It feels good.

So here’s a few things I have on deck.

Starting January 1st, 2011 I will begin a big marketing and promotion push.

As you can see this site has come along way in a few short months. Please check out the galleries page and buy a print or a photo gift.

I have composed, under my alter-ego Traveler Q, four downtempo tracks. I will keep putting out one a month and should have an album, titled “Nod Your Head” by June. You can listen to the tracks on my Facebook fan page and buy them on CD Baby. Making a movie? These tracks also are available for licensing.

My photo book “Montana, New York - Perspective, Form and Volume”, an analysis of American mythos by comparing Montanan and New York, will be ready in January.

After a dry spell, I am in talks to license some more of my work. Details to follow soon.

Finally, I will have a photo show to complement the book in Portland in 2011.

Until my next post here’s a few photos of DJ Moshy. I had the pleasure of photographing him during his weekly gig at the Blue Martini in Las Vegas when I was there for the Dew Tour.

Thanks for your support!

10/8/10

Business and Life Update

It's been a busy few months. Between moving to a new place, my other job and other commitments and wedding plans I haven't been able to stay current with this blog

I have some great projects in the works including a photo show at Mountain Hardwear here in Portland, Oregon, a continuation and refinement of my documentary series of Portland, the release of some original music composed by my alter ego Traveler Q and, hopefully, a photo book contrasting Montana and New York City. And, with Christmas coming soon I'll be selling prints of my work. So please keep checking in for updates.

For now I've been working on a series of How To articles for photography for Still Not Sponsored.com (SNS) where I am lead photographer and marketing consultant. So, if you are interested in what I've been up to or improving your photography please check in with SNS's blog. So far I've written about The Rule of Thirds, Basic Composition - How to Frame a Shot and How to Set Up an Action Shot.

For those who don't know about Still Not Sponsored.com it is a social networking site for snowboarders, skaters, skiers and BMXers. Check out my profile.

SNS's mission is to show people that you don't have to be a sponsored rider with a glossy cover spread to have a career in the industry. We work to connect talented designers, artists and photographers with companies. But, above all else, we want to share the good vibes, positivity and love of shred that made us who we are today.

SNS also gives out free gear every month through contests so if you've been beat down by this recession like the rest of us then you could use the gear and the happy boost.

So please check out SNS, build a profile and support positivity and creativity. You don't ever have to grow up, just make good decisions - and supporting positivity is a good decision.

9/23/10

Getting to Know the Burnside Bridge

Kyle, cell-phone Luddite and skateboarder, was a half hour early. I am a half hour late because it is 8am on a Saturday and I like pancakes. So, we miss each other at the Burnside skatepark by an hour. With my ride long gone I am now on foot and should be bummed.

Not really. I have a pb-and-j, a camera and I am solo. As a chronic wanderer, no better combination for blowing a few hours exists.

Each bridge leading to downtown Portland has it’s own character. For the past six months, because of my commute, I've been exploring the Hawthorn Bridge. But now, having moved to a new neighborhood with a new commute, I am looking forward to exploring the Burnside Bridge.

So, here are a few shots from a wander around the Burnside Bride.

Earl morning, Burnside Bridge skatepark.

Water tower above the old Towne Storage building.

Midway on the bridge sits the operator's tower and gates.

Looking between the drawbridge spans at the Willamette River below.

Portland Saturday Market - hand-made jewelery, food carts and hot dates.

8/11/10

Ripzu Skateboard Park Grand Opening

Last weekend I had a chance to photograph the grand opening party for the Ripzu Skateboard Park in Vancouver,WA. I've photographed a skateboarder or two but shooting a big indoor park full of kids and pros partying is a completely different experience. What a blast!

There were so many good shots that it was very hard to choose. Here are some of the highlights:

Ripzu owner Chris and son/business committee member Colby prepare for the Party. Seriously though, Colby really is on Chris's business committee, along with his other son Chance. Each son has a different role in supporting the business.

Benji Galloway frozen during a kick-flip to coping stall. Benji is a skateboard warrior and displayed the deepest bag of tricks, stepping up to every feature like it was an old friend. He rides for Bacon Skateboard.

Pro-skater and Ripzu employee Tyler George skies above the vert. Chris scooped up Tyler for his park because Tyler has taught skateboard lessons for a few years, has a great attitude and is a jack-of-all-trades. He rides for Bad Monkey.

All the groms bum-rush the park between the pro-demo sessions. It might look like chaos to the average observer but all the skaters showed amazing awareness of and courtesy for each other. I believe there were no injuries that day.

Pro skater Justin Lintner in the middle of a backside 180 off the deck and into the pipe. Justin's smooth style mirrored his laid back composure, even when he was wiping out. He rides for STPU.

Garrett (10) dropping into the ramp. He won skateboard in the raffle drawing and couldn't stop smiling. I thinks he's probably still grinning.

Zach L. G. (14) olies for a 50/50 grind. Zach rode so hard all day that, on his last drop into the pipe, he blew his trucks off. Literally, I have photos. (Notice the spiffy Still Not Sponsored shirt. Go SNS!)

7/30/10

Portland Bridge Festival

(Please check out part 2 , Hawthorn Bridge Adrift in Time, on my literary blog)

In honor of the Portland Bridge Festival I've uploaded a few photos of the Hawthorn Bridge, which turns 100 this year. I was instantly enamored with the Hawthorn Bridge the first time I stepped into it’s space. After not picking up my camera for a few months the Hawthorn Bridge was my first subject so I hope I did it justice.

There are eight bridges that connect downtown Portland with the east-side neighborhoods. The Hawthorn Bridge, along with the Steel Bridge, is a turn of the century vertical-lift bridge. Suspended over the roadway are two huge concrete counter weights and an operators cabin. Some might call it a drawbridge, but technically I think that is a different style of bridge.

The Morrison Draw-Bridge from the Hawthorn Bridge
(photo copyright 2010 Aaron Schultz)

A few times a week my commute to downtown Portland takes me over the Hawthorn Bridge. Sometimes I bike and sometimes I walk. I prefer walking because it gives me more time to absorb the downtown Portland, the Willamette River and the Hawthorn Bridge.

Stepping onto the Hawthorn Bridge a subtle reality slowly takes over my senses. I smell a sentient mix of metal and river. The roadway sings as each car passes. The elegant superstructure latticesses light and oncoming traffic. A soft breeze carrying sun or rain, but always humid, caresses my exposed skin. Whizzing bikers pass on my left while tourists lean against the railing and gaze at the river.

Happy birthday Hawthorn Bridge!!

(Please check out part 2 , Hawthorn Bridge Adrift in Time, on my literary blog)

7/23/10

Stillnotsponsored.com and Fuel TV

I've been apart of various blogs in the past but this is the first one dedicated strictly to my photography. I could prattle on but let's just get to business.

I've teamed up with Stillnotsponsored.com to do some marketing and photo work. Stillnotsponsored was recently written up in the Fuel TV blog and they used one of my photos.

For those who don't know about Stillnotsponsored don't worry, you will soon. They are a social networking site for skaters, snowboarders, bmxers and the token skier or two (Ha! Kidding! We all know skiers can rip.)

Thanks for checking in. Stillnotsponsored is just one of the cool projects I have going so please keep checking back.