HCSC Rail Jam at Bachelor

Last March, I had the honor of photographing the Oregon Interscholastic Snowboard Association's (OISA) State Finals Competition for the third year. 2012 was a big year because it was the event's first time at Mt. Bachelor near Bend, OR.

One of the events was an after-hours the Rail Jam sponsored by High Cascade Snowboard Camp and Mt. Bachelor. The kids jammed through a snowstorm and into the night. The following panorama was my parting shot for the night as I walked inside.

To see more photos from the event check out the OISA Facebook page.

New Camera App

Found a fun retro camera app for my phone. I really like the composition of a square frame. Square vs. rectangle - what do you think?

Portland Street

My beautiful wife

Vine

Princess path

My mom and the Dog

Our coffee table

Velo Bike Shop

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Last Saturday was the first glorious day of summer in Portland. A light breeze drifts deep, verdant smells through the sunshine and 80 degrees. After using Grant Park as our office for a few hours, we decide to take my wife’s bike to our new neighborhood bikeshop, Velo Cult.

We live in the Hollywood neighborhood and had heard rumors about this place known only to us as the "new bikebar" (different from "bikerbar") - a bikeshop and bar combined. Awesome!

This perfect Portland business combines two things dear to Portlanders – beer and bicycles – so it will probably do well. According to bikeportland.org, “Velo Cult's mission (is to be) a meeting place and bike-cultural worship center.”

Worship these saddles made from the hide of the golden calf.

We feel right at home as we drink our first beer. The staff chats us up and the Dog does her meet and greet. But, it doesn’t feel quite right, so we pull out the Facebook machines, um, I mean, MacBook and iPad. Now it feels like Portland.

Big windows and skylights fill the space with warm natural light. High ceilings, exposed trusses and rough-sawn lumber construction compliment polished chrome and stained trim. The gentle light and suggestive colors are perfect and I happened to have my camera.

George, Tom and Scott the mechanic-bartenders.

Thanks to Velo Bike Cult for letting me photograph their shop! 

A super-futuristic platform makes the bike hover. Alien-tech is cool.

Guardian of the back door.

The Dog is pooped from all the belly rubs. Too bad the state will exile her when Velo Cult's kitchen starts running.

You can tell by the moody shadows and symbolic light switch this handlebar sculpture is a critique on contemporary society.

For those looking for the OISA 2012 State Competition photos - they should be available Wednesday 4/4/12.

I'll post a link here and on the OISA facebook page when they are done. I'll also be uploading some highlights to the OISA Facebook page throughout the week.

Thanks for your patience. It was great seeing everybody this year!

Kelly Point, Time Laspe Photography Project

Kelley Point City Park sits at the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Including the Native American who called this area home first, these rivers have been major NW regional influences on settlement and trade for 10,000 years.

With walking paths, good beaches and some interesting mid-20th century maritime ruins Kelley Point is a beautiful park to explore. The ruins are mostly left behind by the Port of Portland and include things like old dock pilings and a lighthouse foundation. I felt like a little kid exploring the park and watching the huge ships sliding through the confluence.

Most of the ships are coming and going from the current Port of Portland (there are some very beautiful pictures on this site) just up river from the park. This slow and (mostly) quite display of international commerce inspired me to create a time-lapse photography project.

The following is seven hour time-lapse (scored with original music by me) from an afternoon sitting at the confluence at Kelley Point Park in Portland, Oregon. The end of the old pier in the video basically designates the point where the two currents join together. Enjoy!


Kelly Point Time Lapse from Aaron Schultz on Vimeo.

Montana Road Trip

Last week I took a road trip to Montana. Here are some highlights.

Road Trip Boredom

Catching Bugs

Oops!

Vouching for One's Character

Rock Creek Solitude

The sky was so impressed it created a rainbow.

Best View in the House

The Way to the Reception

A Portland Wedding

Last weekend I had the pleasure of working with Bryan Hoybook Photography. Bryan hired me as a second photographer for a wedding he was shooting.

As a documentary photographer I love being the second shooter at weddings because my basic responsibility is to roam around and document the event. People at big events are a fascinating subject because somebody is always doing something interesting. After a little while one gets synched up with the rhythm and vibe of the event, fading into the background, the only measure of time is the click of the shutter and the growing number on the shot counter.



Of course, Bryan and I plan out each part of the event, coordinating shots so we can get maximum coverage and don’t get in each others shot. As the lead photographer, Bryan has all the responsibility. His focus is to not only get the key shots - bride walking down the isle, the ring exchange, family portraits, etc - but also manage the customer service side by knowing when to step forward and take charge and when to fade into the background. 

Wedding portraits have never been my strong suit. It’s like herding cats with A.D.D. First, you have to get everybody to the same location. Then, pose them (line them, stack them up!) for the shot, making sure the composition is correct and all the hands, hair, jaw lines and background are flattering. Finally, you have to get them all to look at the camera with a genuine smile. Then, trade groups and repeat, again and again.

Bryan pulls this off with amazing grace, at once commanding attention (“right now I need everybody to pay attention to the photographer”), offering rewards (“the sooner we get photos done the sooner you can continue drinking”), and going with the flow (“oh, one of the groomsmen is an hour late, we’ll shoot the bridesmaids first then”).

During the day there are many things that impress me about Bryan, but the biggest is how he handles the portrait sessions. Bryan makes sure they are fun (warming up the crowd) and efficient (he only takes three shots per pose). With so much for the bridal party to do during a wedding, “fun and efficient” are key for all vendors. He’s been photographing weddings a long time and it shows. Bryan Hoybook is truly one of Portland’s best wedding photographers and it was great working with him.

After a 9 hour day (Bryan stayed for 12 hours) and 1100 shots, I head home, mind, body and soul exhausted but euphoric from a massive right brain workout...