PERSONAL SHOTS: ON TARGET

I invited myself the other day to join my friend Howard, his work colleague Kelly, and Howard’s instructor, Bud, to some target shooting a few weeks back. I really love these pictures for their sense of time, place, and attitude. Although blasting off a few rounds of ammo is not the most quiet sporting activities around, there was, however, something very serene about the Hillsboro Trap & Skeet Club. And it was that sort of weird serenity, amid the booming of guns, firing off at propelled orange clay targets skyward, that hooked me into a few moments that I felt compelled to capture.

To see more work like this, please visit my website at www.danielrootphotography.com

 

 

PERSONAL SHOTS: When Luck Happens

They say luck happens when opportunity meets preparedness. One of the things I love most about photography is when this luck occurs.

First luck of the day was these guys in the masters ski races. I can only imagine the conversation at home as they asked their wives, “Honey, does this ski suit make my butt look big?” I am so attracted and inspired by people who follow their passion, even when, as the song goes, “your mind makes a promise that your body can’t fill.”  I was really taken that even though these guys might qualify for AARP discounts, they are as young at heart as the teen racers in the last three images.

In contrast to the above images, when I happened upon this scene of high school ski racers (below), it immediately brought me back to my teenage days. What really inspired me to make these images was an attempt to reconnect with my days in high school.

If you want to see more of my work, please click here: danielrootphotography.com

Making It Count with Mo Farah for Nike Running

Back in my days as a photojournalist making excuses was not an option. You had to bring back the goods on a daily basis, no matter what obstacles were thrown in your way. There was no time to scout. No time to come back when the light was right. Working around other photographers and videographers was a part of the game as well on many of the bigger news events of the day. One would think when you move to the world of commercial photography that the field of play would change. Well, sometimes I do have total control, and sometimes I don’t.

When Monster vs. Robot Creative Director Pierre Robichaud called me to ask if I could show up at the Nike World Headquarters running track last December to photograph Mo Farah, a Somalian-born British track and field athlete, and current 5000 meters champion, I was in one of those situations where I would have very little control of the shooting situation.  My task was to shoot vignettes of the track, Mo running, and the scenery around the track, while navigating in and around two crews shooting motion, plus one crew shooting stills. I had to make sure I was out of everyone else’s shots wherever I chose to shoot, and I had about one minute to make a portrait of Mo.

The images were used on the Nike UK Running Facebook site as part of their Make It Count campaign.

I am very stoked to be able to show a few of the results of my efforts. It was a fun shoot to be a part of, as I love collaboration on any and all fronts. If you want to see more from this shoot, please visit my website at www.danielrootphotography.com.

What makes a fun test shoot?

I often ask myself this question when I have time between assignments to go shoot for myself. So what does make for a great test shoot? My first goal is to find an activity or person that I find interesting. The next goal is to not over think the test shoot, and to just shoot for the pure joy of shooting. I like to think of this as my way of doing improvisational jazz with my camera. So last week I headed out to the slopes of Mt. Hood and hung out with some of the freestyle skiers and snowboarders. In the end, I came away with a meeting of freeform art. I was all too happy that my art form allowed me to keep my feet firmly planted in the snow.

 

 

Green Acres

When my iPhone rings, and the caller ID says it is Portland Monthly calling, I know I am in for some sort of visual treat. Back in the fall when the very talented Mike Novak, who art directed the piece, called and asked me to travel the 300 miles from Portland, OR, to Wallowa, OR, to provide images for a feature they were doing on a woman who saved her family ranch by switching to 100% grass-fed cattle, I thought, hey, tasty treats too. Sign me up.

However, what really gets me excited about assignments like these, besides the opportunity to take great pictures to help illustrate great stories, is the anticipation of who I will get the privilege of encountering for the story. Not only do I get excited about the subjects of the story, but also the people and places on the periphery. Every person has a story to tell. That is why I love what I do. I get to hear lots of great stories, and I get to capture them as well. Anyway, enough about me. Here are some shots form the story below. But before you start looking, just know that rancher Cory Carman, her husband Dave Flynn, raise some awesome tasty beef. The cattle can be a little camera shy at times, but they loosen up after awhile. Cory and Dave are also great hosts. I showed up early before sunrise to start shooting for two mornings in a row, and Cory and Dave were gracious enough to invite me in for fresh coffee and a hot breakfast. They even had me over on my last night for a great steak dinner with fresh farm produce as well. Green acres is the place to be for sure.