Who could this be?

This past winter I ran into Jared Slater in the Backcountry of Wyoming.  I was trying to take photos of him smoking, but he wasn't having it.  Kind of funny in my mind.  I started just shooting auto focus from the hip as a joke and ended up with this shot.  I just found it while editing my Jackson stuff from the year and felt like posting it.  I like the anonymous feel.  Opps, looks like I blew it.


Hells Canyon, Snake River

I just came out of a great 5 day raft trip down Hells Canyon of the Snake River.  Instead of a high priced beach front vacation we opted for a more adventureous working holiday. We put my new (to me) boat to the test and old Barney passed with flying colors.  Hells Canyon is truly the Grand Canyon of the north, as it's actually the deepest Canyon in North America, beating out the Grand Canyon in Arizona by about 1000 feet.  Something I didn't know prior to this trip.  Amazing scenery.  Amazing food.  Fresh trout and bass.  PBR.  Just some of the good life the river has to offer.



Pushing off.  Steve with Pretty Keene.


The first big rapid of the day.  All the note worthy rapids are encountered on the first day.  1 of about 5.  I think this photo makes it look pretty small but I can assure you it is big and pushy, and will definitely take you out if you're not cautious.


A closer view


The boats.  Barney is my boat, and Pretty Keene is the boat in the back.


Rapid 2.  Caryn and I swam the whole thing.  Not quite on purpose.  We opted for a more difficult route river right and got swamped out of the boat.  Definitely a "good" near drowning experience.


Camp site numero uno.  No need for a rain fly.  Sleeping under the stars.  We ended up staying here two nights because we were so exhausted.


Proof


Crazy Moth population.  They were everywhere.


G10 macro is pretty good.



Hor 'dourvs to be served shortly



Happy Hour


Happy Stove


The general idea



Taking the bull by the horns


Snow peak mountains, and 95 degrees in the canyon floor.


Cliff jumper


Fishermans delight


More proof


Seeing double


I know


Civilization in the middle of nowhere.


Notice the standard issue river beer holder.


Camp 2, day 3.


B&W


More B&W


The confluence of the Snake River (right) and the Salmon River (left).
Camp 3, day 4


A few minutes later.  Our last campsite.  We took out about 2 hours down stream from here the next day.  Good times.  Trip of a lifetime without a doubt.

The iPhone camera and apps

After reading Cole Barash's and Chase Jarvis' blog yesterday I got a bit excited to shoot more photos with my iPhone.  I never really messed around with all the apps that are available, and I must say 5 minutes later and $8 broker, I was way impressed and hooked.  Messing around with all the many features available to edit photos right on the iPhone I ended up with this image within the first few minutes.  I thought it made a cool stamp and was definitely a direct influence of the new NEW YORKER cover, which was taken with an iPhone and then manipulated with one of the many apps.  I'm excited to use my iPhone in this manner much more in the future.  For now, step back into time.  Or at least that is how this image makes me feel.  It was actually taken at the REI parking lot in Denver two weeks ago.

Editing Blues

What can I say.  I hate editing photos.  I hate being on the computer.  It's probably sunny and beautiful out right now, but I wouldn't know because I'm stuck in my dungeon editing away.  When I edit, I get distracted very easily.  Whether it be the internet, an e-mail, the TV or even a bathroom break, I find my self doing anything BUT editing.  This double exposure is a classic example of how my mind wanders when I edit.  One second I'm actually editing in Lightroom and the next I'm creating this double exposure in Photoshop.  I just can't stay focused, especially when it gets to this time of the year and I'm just over winter.  I'd rather be out and about in the mountains or on the river in the desert.  Well this double exposure is the best of both worlds and must have been what I was day dreaming about while trying to get through the last of my photos from this past winter.  Enjoy!

Time flies when your having fun.....

Or that is how the old saying goes at least.  Fun or not the last month has flown by.  Team shoots, heli's and grom is all I've know for the past month.  Great times at each and every shoot.  Its been good to be back in Colorado for almost a solid month now too.  That never happens!  Well Spring is officially here.  almost 60 degrees one day, and snowing the next.  This is what I have to look forward to in Colorado all the way through May.  Anyways....

This is a Photo I took while cruising around in the heli shooting the kids at "The Launch" event in Keystone, CO.  I love the moody feel of the light and the lone car on the highway.

Hope to have some more updates from the last month up soon.  If not, I hope to at least be able to get my blog on a bit more with current affairs.  Stay tuned.....

Spring Broke '09

Just spent a week in an RV touring the southwest in search of snow. Well, we actually found quite a bit everywhere. Most of the resorts we visited had over a 50" base, and in the desert in March thats not too shabby. We also found a lot of sun and even some fresh powder too. Not to mention sheer ice, where we took going sideways to a new level. Anyways, departing Salt lake City UT, Brian Head was the first stop and it didn't let us down. Some sick logs and tree jibs, fences to ollie, and a park to boot. Next, was Las Vegas Ski and Snowboarder Resort 45 miles west of Vegas. Yes, you can be snowboarding at a real mountain in less than an hour from the strip. Seems kind of crazy but it too was no let down. Defiently give this one a look if your in the Veags area in the Winter. Their park was good, there's crazy steep lines with cliffs and chutes within hiking range and they stay open until mid April. Next on to the Snowbowl in Flagstaff AZ. We had really nice weather up until hear and it was still good the day we rode Snowbowl, but it didn't soften up quite enough to really get anything done. Its to bad too cause there's some sick shit there. As quickly as I write this blog we were off to our next stop in Taos NM. A long haul. The whole trip was a long haul. Drive, shed and sleep. Mix in the occational gas station burrito and some beer, and that was life. Literally wake up and shred all day. Try and seek out a feature, get a shot maybe two. At most three.  BBQ, then peel out to the next spot. Drive until we get there (usually 11pm or as late as 4am), hang out, sleep and repeat. With minimal sleep, white knuckles, showing up at an unknown resort, only having one day to shoot, dealing with spring conditions, trying to find a feature worth shooting and getting it done can be a major challenge, especially with no help from the resort other than lift tickets. Now a days, a park shoot consist of setting the shoot up with the Resort months in advance, the features being built, and you show up and shoot. Have catered meals. Its so easy. Most park shoots are like that these days at least. Anyways, back to the story. Flagstaff to Taos is a long Haul. From resort to resort its about 500 miles. So we showed up at like 4 in the morning. Woke up late. Found a sick feature. We were go listed, then no listed. Wasted our day. Tried to party. No listed again. Do you like how I'm writing in 2 to 3 word sentences? I do. Anyways, the next day was super cold and everything was bullet-proof. Struggled for shots. Attempted some sketchy/dangerous things that should not have even been considered. Reinvented "going sideways", and once again left for the next spot. Frustrated. Wolf Creek prove to be the saving grace. It snowed over a foot the day and night before and it was on. Some cliffs were sent and pow was had by all.  After Wolf Creek a camping night in the desert of Moab was planned, but due to some rather volitile weather and the fact that the RV we rented was falling apart, we declined to risk it. It was back to Salt lake, and out of the RV. Another mellow 9 hour drive and another 3 am bedtime. Really it was just more of the usual. Stoked to be done. I had an awesome Spring Broke!

Some pics....

Our only enemy
The front porch, more or less
Evan waiting for java
Spring Broke lunch of choice, not by choice
Suite case and skateboard
The end of the road
Las Vegas Ski And Snowboard Resort
Laid Back Las Vegas
I've been taking a lot of pictures of the tops of lifts.  This is one of those pictures.  Las Vegas
Super Gourmet Lunch
15 Miles down the road from Las Vegas Ski And Snowboard Resort
Move along
Coffee Stop
Drying Rack
Another top of chair pic.  This time at Snowbowl AZ
Pay Phone in AZ
Cat in AZ
Damn, is that the Hoover Dam?

Life on the Road Diet
Weird art in Taos NM
Skiing is big in Taos
Ansel Adams in color
Desert Tree
The wwwhhip
Bridge
Evan, Java, and myself
Our Saving Grace.  Wolf Creek CO
Littlest found the glory hole
Mad Pow Disease was in full effect.
A visit to Wolf Creek wouldn't be complete without a visit to Tequilias in Pagosa Springs
We pasted through Durango on our route back to SLC.  We hit up one of my Favorite spots there, Stone House Subs.Imagine if this place got snow
Pretty much
Weeeeee
Best Spring Broke ever!

On the road again....again

One day at home and I already got the itch to get back out there.  I love life on the road.  Not just traveling, but literally life on the road.  I actually hate to fly.  Not because I'm scared of it or anything, I just hate the hassle of it all.  Security checks.  Lost luggage.  The list goes on and on.  I also love the American Southwest.  It has always intrigued me.  All the warm and cool colors, old  abandoned junk and of course the open road.  There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.  I happened upon this old train just as the sun was going down and the light was just what any photographer looks for.  I pulled over for a pit stop to remind me why I love both the American Southwest and the open road that runs through it.





I've wanted to shoot this mine/power plant structure at night for some years now.  This is about an hour down the road from the train shots.


Getting the job done

Two 4am wake up calls,  6 hours of sleep in 48 hours, one busted ass sled = one of the best trips I have been on this year.  The last two days have been brutal.  Up at 4am, out in the backcountry till almost 7pm or later.  Long days to say the least, but the shots have been worth it.  On the first day, within the first hour, Kramer's sleds' brakes went out and he crashed into a big tree at the bottom of a big hill.  The recoil on the starter went out in the crash as well as the right side trailing arm.  No big deal.  Kramer clutch start, while wheeler works the gas.

On the road again....

After almost a week at home finishing up some work for Vail resorts it was time to hit the road again.  And what better spot to go.....again, but Jackson, WY.  I love this place.

This is what happens when the roads are super slushy, but the temperture is well below freezing.  How that happens I don't know but somehow it does.

The new hot shit...

Misty old gas station in Wyoming

Clints Photo Show, Ordering info

I currently have a photo show at "Clints Bakery and Coffee House" in Breckenridge, Colorado (131 S. Main Street).  Since my website is still not anything more than a home page, I wanted to list the photos here with all the ordering info.  

Each and every photograph is printed on a matte adhesive Vinyl, then laminated with a matte laminate, and then mounted on 1/2" foam board.  Because each print is laminated it is very, very resistant to scratches, dust, moisture, etc., and is fully archival for decades to come.  My goal was to create art that was both very durable and archival, at a fraction of the cost.  I also wanted each photo in this show to in some way be connected with Colorado, whether it be the rider or location.

Any print can be ordered in any of the following sizes for the following amount:

8"x12" $18
12"x18" $36
16"x24" $60
24"x36" $110
28"x42" $150
36"x54" $190

FED EX delivery is available for an additional fee.  Local (Breckenridge, CO) pick up available free.  Custom Printing to suite your needs is also available.

To order please e-mail me the print name and size desired.  I prefer to use paypal when ever shipping, but a check will be accepted.  Allow 2-6 weeks for delivery.

E-mail orders and questions to: aaron@aarondoddsphoto.com

Here are the photos.  Click to enlarge.  From left to right; Print Name, Rider, Location, Year.




Log Jam Jonas Michilot Breckenridge, CO 2005
Rainbow Front Board Josh Moses Breckenridge, CO 2006
Maggie Pond Skim Pat Milbery Breckenridge, CO 2006
Mini McTwist Chad Otterstrom Breckenridge, CO 2007
Frontside Air Madison Ellsworth Echo Mountain, CO 2007
Getting Hippie Chad Otterstrom Silverton, CO 2007
Cab 720 Danny kass Snowmass, CO 2008
Boardslide Keenan Rice Twin Cities, MN 2005
UFO's Unknown Breckenridge, CO 2004
100" Dump Friends Wolf Creek, CO 2006
Hasselbladed Ryan Thompson Twin Cities, MN 2004
Superpark 10 Mikel Bang Breckenridge, CO 2006
Nose Press Jonas Michilot Denver, CO 2006
DU Lane Knaack Denver, CO 2006
Ollie Chad Tarbell Breckenridge, CO 2007
Sunrise Frontside Invert Ryan Thompson Breckenridge, CO 2007
Front 3 Nose Bonk Pat Milbery Echo Mountain, CO 2007
Hiking to Billboard Chad Otterstrom/Frank Wells Silverton, CO 2007
Air to Fakie Steve Fisher Breckenridge, CO 2007