I have been taking photographs at the Releve Dance Competitions for the past 2 years now. I enjoy watching dance, and even one of my daughters is a dancer. It can get a bit mundane taking photographs dance after dance after dance. Occasionally a dance will catch my attention more than others. As a photographer, my goal is to capture the emotion in people. I LOVE emotional photographs no matter what emotion or mood the subject is projecting. I feel like if I am able to catch the emotion of the subject, I have done my job in portraying that person at that time. I do realize that dancers are also telling a story in their dance. I guess that is one reason I love taking dance pictures. If I can capture their story with their dance, we both win. Occasionally I see a dance that I become involved with emotionally. I am looking through a zoom lens in which I probably see details that the audience might miss. I like to put myself in the mood of that dance or the story in which they are trying to tell. The reason I am posting these photos is because this particular girl, Susie Carroll, danced a solo titled "Emotional Journey". By the end of the dance my eyes were welled up in tears (hate to admit that and destroy part of my manhood). I got into her dance emotionally, in which I try to do as much as I can so I can take better pictures. I feel like the more I get involved in the story, the better the photos will turn out. This is the first time however, that a dance at one of these competitions brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Susie for portraying the story you were trying to get across. You succeeded, and did an excellent job. After the dance I looked at one of the judges who was also wiping tears from her eyes. I guess I wasn't the only one with wet eyes.
On a side note, I want to thank Releve Dance Competitions for allowing me to take dance photos at their competitions. They work tremendously hard to make these competitions a success. A lot of people take for granted the hard work involved. Releve is committed and dedicated because they love seeing our youth progress and succeed in their talents.
I want to also give a shout out to all the dancers at these competitions. I am very, very impressed at the talent our youth have. They are dedicated and work very hard week after week to give us these wonderful performances. Moms and Dads can be proud of their daughters and sons that dance. These kids bring it! They move me when they are out on the dance floor. They ROCK! Even when things go wrong, they keep plugging away. That is what it is all about. Just give it your best! Things happen, and things go wrong in life, but we just need to keep plugging away. I am proud of all you dancers! I have thoroughly enjoyed this year at dance competitions. I have also enjoyed talking with a lot of you after the dances. Keep up the good work and hope to see you next year. Remember, you compete against other studios, but the most important thing is to just do your best and keep plugging away.
To view or purchase photos go to Relevedc.com and click photo gallery.
To view more or purchase photos of this competition, please go to Relevedc.com and click on photo gallery.
For more photos go to Relevedc.com and click on photo gallery.
The weekend of March 7th and 8th Releve Dance Competitions were held in Ogden, Utah at the Val A. Browning building on the campus of Weber State University. This competition kicked off the year with Releve's first competition of 2014. This was a large competition with over 1100 dancers.
There were many great performances throughout the weekend from petites to Seniors. The kids had fun, and brought their energetic personalities to the competition. I am fortunate to work with Releve Dance Competitions and take many photographs of each performance. Releve Dance Competitions have a great staff, and care deeply for the kids involved in dance. I am continually impressed with how talented our youth are, and how hard they work.
For all the dancers involved in these competitions, I must say that you are a talented group. I hope you always remember that the most important attributes are not winning, but always giving it your all, and trying to improve step-by-step. You will make mistakes, but this is how we grow and become stronger. I enjoy your enthusiasm and hope to continue to see your talent strengthen. Good luck on the rest of the year, and keep getting up when you fall.
Below are a few photos from Friday's solo night. To view or purchase photos from this or past competitions, go to Releve Dance Competitions and click photo gallery, or go to stevegrayphotos.com and click photos and Releve.
Any questions email me at: [email protected]
To purchase or view these photos go to: http://www.stevegrayphotos.com/p238676912
Way to go Minis! Great race at the Rhino! Keep rockin it!
To view more photos or purchase please click the link. http://www.stevegrayphotos.com/p677903937
A few photos from the Pee Wee race at the Rhino Rally in St. George on February 22, 2014. These little guys and gals know how to rock desert racing. One of the highlights of these desert races is watching the Pee Wee race. If you would like to view or purchase any of these photos visit this link. http://www.stevegrayphotos.com/p578326597
The DWR has begun to move several Pronghorn away from busy highways located at the intersection of Redwood Road and highway 73 in the Saratoga Springs area. These animals have grown to large numbers over the past several years and pose a risk of vehicle collisions. The DWR along with several volunteers from sportsman groups, have used a drop net to capture the animals, ear tag them and move them to the West Desert. So far we have moved 28 animals and plan on moving more. I want to personally thank my co-workers at the DWR, and the many volunteers who have helped with this project. Everyone involved has a passion for our wildlife heritage here in the great state of Utah.
No Pronghorn were injured in the relocation effort. Everything was a success!
For more information about Pronghorn Antelope click the links below.
Utah Pronghorn State Management Plan
Wikipedia Info on Pronghorn Antelope
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Facebook Page
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TOP 10 MINI BIKES USRA 2013
1st - Kolton Christensen 8j
2nd - Brayden Bland - 3j
3rd - Jagger Wanlass 25j
4th - Chance Kolan 4j
5th - Benji Knight 14j
6th - Jacob Wharton 11j
7th - Austin Phillips 70 j
8th - Darcie Spencer 12w
9th - Tyler Lynn 26j
10th - Karson Thomas 90j
To purchase photos click here
For more photos CLICK HERE
There was nothing better than going to a Utah NHHA race in anticipation of watching the greatest desert dirt biker of all time. I will always have happy memories of not only seeing this man race, but of also talking with him, and seeing him interact with young kids. He ALWAYS took time to talk to kids and to sign autographs. He was more than an incredible rider, he was truly a great individual at all levels. I will miss seeing him race, and feeling the energy he brought to this unique sport. I hope his family knows how much we feel for them with his loss, but I also hope they know how he impacted our lives forever.
KURT CASELLI BAJA PREP - CLICK HERE
KURT CASELLI'S LAST RIDE - CLICK HERE
DIRTBIKE MAGAZINE TECH TIPS WITH KURT CASELLI - CLICK HERE
REMEMBERING KURT CASELLI - CLICK HERE
HE BELONGS TO THE AGES (KURT CASELLI MEMORIAL) - CLICK HERE
THE ONES HE LEFT BEHIND (VURBOFFROAD) - CLICK HERE
KURT CASELLI REMEMBERED BY FRIENDS - CLICK HERE
DESTRY ABBOTT TALKS ABOUT KURT CASELLI - CLICK HERE
SOCAL RACING STAR KILLED IN CRASH - CLICK HERE
NEWS REPORT FROM CALIFORNIA - CLICK HERE
KTM MOURNS THE LOSS OF KURT CASELLI - CLICK HERE
R.I.P. KURT CASELLI - (1983-2013) - CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO
KURT CASELLI FACEBOOK PAGE - CLICK HERE
TRANSWORLD MOTOCROSS - CLICK FOR VIDEO
KURT CASELLI - CLICK FOR VIDEO
A few photos from today's wedding. Congrats Charlotte & Aaron.
WE ARE THE STRIKE was at the Scera Theatre in Orem last Saturday the 26th of October. They gave two spectacular concerts that night and finished each concert with Michael Jackson's "The Thriller" It was definitely a great night. This group is becoming more and more popular everyday, and I don't expect them to slow down. Check them out on their facebook page.
TO PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM THE JOHNNY ROCK RACE CLICK HERE: http://www.stevegrayphotos.com/f799043395
A few photos from Red Yeti at the UVU UCCU Center. To view more photos click the link below.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS
Posted below are a few photos from the Nebo Invitational held at Maple Mountain High School. To view or purchase more photos of the Nebo Invitational click the link below.
The Juab County Fair Demolition Derby was a WILD event. I was able to take many photos of the derby thanks to Jamie Garrett for letting me get close to the action. It was a lot of fun and the crowd was pumped. Below are a few photos I took at the derby. If you would like to view or purchase photos from this event click this link: JUAB DEMOLITION DERBY PHOTOS
Great performances at the Annual Orchard Days Little Buckaroo Rodeo. These boys and girls are the future of the great American sport of rodeo. Who knows, there may even be a future star among them. In any case, it was great to come out and see a small town tradition. To purchase photos from the rodeo go to this link: LITTLE BUCKAROO RODEO PHOTOS
To purchase desert racing pictures click this link: PURCHASE DESERT RACING PHOTOS
We are all very familiar and are inundated with sports every day. We see them on TV, internet and our local high schools and colleges. These events entertain us on a daily basis, and we become part of the masses cheering for our team or our athlete. One sport that many people are unfamiliar with is desert racing on dirt bikes.
Dirt bike desert racing has been going on for many years. Check out this article titled "The Selvedge Yard" Dirt bikers race a marked course that they have not been able to pre-ride. They do not know what lies ahead except for various desert obstacles. These races are are approximately 100 miles in length for the bigger bikes and around 40 for the mini bikes. Even pee wee 50cc bikes run around 1 mile to 2 miles. Even here in Utah we have two National races that get no attention except in the racing community. The one thing I have learned about desert dirt bikers is that they are passionate about what they do. This is generally a family activity. When the weekend comes approaching a race, big rigs as well as single vehicles swarm an area on the desert known as the pit area. Families gather together for a weekend of racing, but more importantly a time well spent with family and friends. The racing community is a big family in itself. People mingle and reminisce about family and past races. Everyone is willing to help each other with their bike setups, or just lend a hand setting up camp. I have learned over the past few years being exposed to this sport that these people are unique. They love riding! They live for riding! They dream riding! They spend working hours waiting for the whistle to blow so they can go riding. I see facebook posts of riders texting that they will be riding on a certain day and ask if anybody wants to go. They develop a camaraderie with fellow dirt bikers, and they develop friends for life.
We all know that this is a harsh world to live in, especially for our kids. They are growing up in a time when drugs and other bad things are around us. Desert racing can be dangerous. There have been many serious accidents. However, families are bonded by desert racing. Kids grow up close to their parents and siblings through desert racing. Instead of a weekend where parents have no idea where their child is, they are beside them at a desert race bonding and becoming closer. Through racing fathers and mothers teach their children the value of life, friendship and family. Sisters become closer to brothers, and brothers to sisters. There are even some families where they all race. They support each other whether they have a good or bad day racing. What matters is that they are together.
Even though desert racers are competitive, they will be the first to stop when another has fallen or is hurt. They will assist their fellow racer. They know that they would want the same courtesy given to them if they were in that position. More important than winning is the fact that they are doing what they love. They are riding. They are riding with their family and friends. They are enjoying the adrenaline and release of tension that everyday life gives us. For some it is golf. For some it is tennis. Just remember that when you are out on the course hitting a little white golf ball (which I enjoy), there are a few unique, select individuals that are screaming through the desert on their bike and loving every minute of it.
I would like to personally thank all those that I have met at these races. I feel like part of your family. I appreciate your kindness and your support of my photography. Yes, I do want to make money. It is a business, however, I absolutely love taking pictures of your lifestyle and your passion. I love documenting your achievements and memories. My hope is that one day your children and grandchildren will look at a photo I shot and say "Hey, that's my dad when he raced, or that's my grandpa". I hope that people will look at these pictures in the future and remember a point in time when they lived life to the fullest. To me that means more to me that any money could ever do.
I have posted a few photos below from the Juab Xtreme Enduro race held in Nephi, Utah. It was an exciting event with many bikers participating. To purchase photos from the event click this link: PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM JUAB XTREME ENDUROCROSS
Here is a list of the winners from the race:
VET CLASS: 1ST RICH BLACK, 2ND CHARLES SMITH, 3RD LANCE RAVEN, 4TH JASON MERRILL, 5TH AARON BEZZANT,6TH BRYCE CHRISTENSEN, 7TH MIKE WOODALL
NOVICE CLASS: 1ST PARKER SMITH, 2ND STEVE MARX, 3RD PORTER BARNES, 4TH, WES HAWKINS, 5TH KELTON CLARK, 6TH STEPHANIE WOOLSLAYER, 7TH CHANCE NELSON
AMATEUR CLASS: 1ST TY BARTHOLOMEW, 2ND KYLER CHRISTENSEN, 3RD KOLTON LYNN, 4TH DEREK PENROD, 5TH TRYSTON DROUBAY, 6TH JASON MERRILL, 7TH CHRIS WINN
YOUTH CLASS: 1ST AUSTIN PHILLIPS, 2ND BURKE BARNES,3RD BRAYDON BLAND, 4TH TYLER LYNN, 5TH JOEY AAGARD, 6TH DAEMON WOOLSLAYER, 7TH ISSAC BENNETT
Posted below are a few photos of the Epic Moto Endurocross held in Manti, Utah.
To purchase photos from the race click this link: PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM EPIC MOTO ENDUROCROSS
Shawn Strong put on an Awesome event, and I look forward to more in the future. Thanks for all the efforts put in to make it happen. At the end of the night, Josh Knight came out on top taking first place.
Recently, I've been working on trying to develop my skills in creating composites from photographs. This style of photography has become more and more popular especially with commercial shoots. My inspiration comes from a few photographers, but the man that has lead the way in this type of photography is Joel Grimes. I love his work! What I like about Joel is that he says he is an artist with a camera. That is what I consider myself. We are all very unique in what we like and don't like artistically. What I like might not be what someone else likes. What they like, might not be what I like. This is what sets us apart from each other. We are all unique. When I create a composite from a photo, I create it from my artistic point of view. If I create something today it might look totally different than if I create it the next day. My mood might be different. I cannot replicate the same piece twice and have it look the same because I might feel different about it the second time.
There are several steps I do in creating composites. In a nutshell, I take a photograph of an individual in front of a white sweep background with studio lights. I also take a picture of a background out in the field. I then combine these two elements with varoius photoshop techniques to come up with a final composite. I am continuing to learn more techniques to create these images. I plan on doing many, many more of these in he future.
This particular photoshoot of Trish was kind of a test project for me. First I would like to thank Trish for her willingness to do this shoot with me. She was very wonderful to work with and has a passion for life. Thanks Trish! I take a lot of pictures of motocross and desert racing every year. I love dirtbikers. These people are passionate about their sport. They live for the ride! There are many female dirtbikers that race desert and motocross. I wanted a female dirbiker to photograph in this shoot. I wanted to capture that even though these female dirtbikers are rugged and competitive on the weekends during races, they also have a feminine side. They have a beautiful, caring and delicate side to them also. I wanted to capture the rough and feminine side of Trish (it didn't hurt that I had a beautiful subject that I think could be a model anyway). Hope you enjoy the images.
I want to continue doing these composites. If any of you would like some composites of you in your sport or occupation, please email me for pricing. [email protected]
I've posted a few photos from the 2011 Elite Bull Riding at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. To purchase any of these images click this link: PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM ELITE BULL RIDING
One of my favorite photos from this night is of the Father/Son bullfighter team of Mark and Justin Scherer. They are two of the best bullfighters in the business, and great people also. Justin was saving a cowboy from a rank bull as usual and got knocked over. Mark was the first one over his son tending to his needs. The second picture below depicts this moment. Mark would have helped anyone in that situation, but being that it was his son gave it special meaning. I titled the picture "A Father's Love". These guys put their lives on the line every rodeo to make sure the cowboy is safe. Thanks to them and all the bullfighters for what they do!
Santaquin Orchard Days is almost upon us again. With that in mind I thought I would post a few photos from previous Orchard Days rodeos. These photos and others can be purchased by click this link: PURCHASE ORCHARD DAYS PHOTOS.
Santaquin Orchard Days Rodeo has been voted RMPRA rodeo of the year for 5 years in a row! I anticipate this year will be just as great as previous years. I am looking forward to being there taking photos of all the action.
I will post any photos I take this year on the link I provided above.
