Pickathon 2014

I only had one day to shoot so my take isn't what it usually is, but I still had a great time doing it and saw some friends in the process: 

March Madness in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A day and a half after returning from Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I took for Milwaukee, Wisconsin to cover rounds two and three of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championships. We know now that Oregon lost to Wisconsin who when on to play in the final four.

Monster Jam Portland 2014: GRAVEDIGGER!

Monster Jam visited Portland, Ore., Sat. and Sun., Feb. 15 and 16, 2014, at the Moda Center. 

Here's a post from my work on OregonLive.com.

Tree killing time

We kill trees every year about this time. We make no apologies. We put it on the ground pack it to the car and strap it down. It ends up in our living room with fancy lights and decorations. This is what it looked like:

Hood River Gigapan on July 12, 2013

The Results of 6 Days of Track and Field

First. it was two days at the Prefontaine Classic, three days off, and back to Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., for four more the NCAA Track and Field Championships.

I've been shooting meets there since 1997 and it never gets old. I first saw Galen Rupp and Ashton Eaton in High School. They are now both elite athletes with Olympic medals. 

I always wonder which of the athletes I'm shooting at the beginning of the career will someday be standing on the podium accepting their Olympic medal. I wonder which one of them may end up disgraced after a doping charge. 

I see track and field athletes as something special. They seem to be the best of what humans are capable of being, especially in the physical realm. There's not one kind of greatness with track and field athletes. Each event heat sheet is populated with a specific set of talents and attributes.

I'm always fascinated with the way a shot putter spins and throws with such grace and agility. Imagining them in street clothes, you'd never guess they'd be able to move like that. Their strength is obvious, but alone it's not what gets the shot where it needs to be.

The sprinters are all about full throttle, flat out, technical speed. Distance runners are about efficiency and strategy. Jumpers seemingly defy physics, but pole vaulters in a class of their own. I believe they possess the highest level of talent in terms strength, speed, technique and courage. Anyone can run, throw and jump, (maybe not well) but very few can get pole vault.

These photos represent my effort photographing humans at their best. It took me six days.

©The Oregonian

At Wilson Ranches Retreat outside Fossil, guests connect with a working Oregon ranch

I rode on a 8-hour 30-mile roundup at the Wilson Ranches. It was by far the best horse ride I've ever been on. I really got into herding cattle, mostly because the horse I was on was really good at it. Nancy and Phil Wilson made me feel welcome and part of the crew. ​

​Here's a link to Terry Richard's story for the travel section: http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2013/05/wilson_ranches_retreat_outside.html

Prom!

The Oregonian has decided covering high school proms is a priority for the photo  department. I shot my first one of the season last night. I must say, it was kind of fun. Everyone is in a good mood, dressed up and having a good time. Good vibes everywhere. Here a few of my favorite images.​

©The Oregonian

My Favorite Oregon Duck Football Photos from the 2012-13 Season

I shot every game except Arkansas State, Tennessee Tech and Cal. I traveled with the Ducks to University of Washington, Stanford, Arizona State, and USC. I only shot one Oregon State Beaver game besides the Civil War, which was at Stanford.

My favorite photo came when the Ducks walked through the tunnel at USC for warmups. Another photographer had some green-gelled lights set up and I just happen to have shot a photo at the exact same moment he did. It made the players look like storm-troopers.

I also loved seeing the Ducks beat USC on the road. The USC fans were not pleased.

Overall, it was a great year to be the Ducks beat photographer for The Oregonian.

©The Oregonian/2012

Latourell Falls

When I arrived the light was perfect. I was streaming down through the trees and it was raining and the mist from the Latourell Falls filled the air. By the time I set up my tripod, it over. I settled in and waited for the light. It came but there were no people. Some people showed up and light left. I gave up and started to retract the legs of my tripod. The light broke through and four people appeared. I quickly got the legs back out and started shooting. This is what I saw.

Nye Beach, Oregon

I was dispatched to Newport's Nye Beach to for a travel story on the Sylvia Hotel. Here's a link to Lori Tobias' story: http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2012/03/sylvia_beach_hotel_easy_to_get.html And here's my take:

Pickathon 2011

This is my third year shooting Pickathon. I love the energy at this thing and better yet, it's only about a half mile from my house. I ride my motorcycle down there shoot, and hear some every special music. It's now a summer tradition for me. http://thomasrboyd.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Pickathon-2011/i-qZ2hHxv/0/L/pickathontbMG1401-L.jpg http://thomasrboyd.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Pickathon-2011/i-Vn94vsD/0/L/pickathontbB1C1180-L.jpg http://thomasrboyd.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Pickathon-2011/i-gmHkNGM/0/L/pickathontbMG1103-L.jpg http://thomasrboyd.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Pickathon-2011/i-RcHdH5X/0/L/pickathontbB1C1192-L.jpg http://thomasrboyd.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Pickathon-2011/i-2sNnW6B/0/L/pickathontbMG1137-L.jpg http://thomasrboyd.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Pickathon-2011/i-jfgK6pR/0/L/pickathontbMG1176-L.jpg http://thomasrboyd.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Pickathon-2011/i-B8CrmH3/0/L/pickathontbMG1255-L.jpg http://thomasrboyd.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Pickathon-2011/i-7dfVKBh/0/L/pickathontbMG1333-L.jpg http://thomasrboyd.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Pickathon-2011/i-Z5kxs3B/0/L/pickathontbMG1577-L.jpg http://thomasrboyd.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Pickathon-2011/i-wJbs6vr/0/L/pickathontbMG1678-L.jpg http://thomasrboyd.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Pickathon-2011/i-TMJjk9h/0/L/pickathontbMG1791-L.jpg http://thomasrboyd.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Pickathon-2011/i-CVmJ3FM/0/L/pickathontbMG1859-L.jpg http://thomasrboyd.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Pickathon-2011/i-fLChHpm/0/L/pickathontbMG1898-L.jpg http://thomasrboyd.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Pickathon-2011/i-MqdGFR3/0/L/pickathontbMG1913-L.jpg

The Portland Timbers Preseason

I'll be shooting a lot of Portland Timbers Major League Soccer this year. On Saturday in Denver, Colo., I'll be shooting their first game as a MLS team. I thought it would be a decent post to show the work so far in the preseason since I'll be updating regularly as the season progresses.  

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Oregon v. Washington, Nov. 26, 2010

Another game, another blowout. Here are some of my favorites from the day.

Oregon v. USC, Oct. 30, 2010 in Los Angeles, Calif.

Here are a few snaps from the game:

iPhone Snaps, 2010

A fellow pro photog is curating a gallery show of iPhone images and asked me to submit some photos. The only rule is that they show "Portland". This is what I'm going to submit. [smugmug url="http://thomasrboyd.smugmug.com/hack/feed.mg?Type=gallery&Data=14094605_yD85B&format=rss200" title="iPhone%20Snaps" description="2010" imagecount="100" start="1" num="100" thumbsize="Th" link="smugmug" captions="false" sort="true" window="false" smugmug="false" size="X3"]

Here's an audio slideshow I edited

Brent Wojahn, Beth Nakamura and I shot the Portland Beavers last game. Actually, Beth shot several games leading up the final game so most of the photos are hers. She had some very nice images and totally nailed it when one of the players threw a cup of water in another players face. I walked around PGE Park all day and gathered audio. With the help of Judy Siviglia, I edited and put the photos over the audio. It was quite a process and a very long day. Kraig Scattarella just posted the timelapse we shot. Bruce set up two cameras, one on the roof of PGE Park and the other on the roof of The Oregonian building across from PGE Park. I set up a camera firing every five minutes from a stairwell at the Mac Club that was pointed at the scoreboard.

Portland Beavers radio announcer Rich Burk was generous enough to email us his radio clips from the game. His voice made very cool and I really appreciate him doing that.

Here it is:

Portland Beavers last game in PGE Park

Here's the slideshow:

Beavers play for the last time in PGE Park

Oregon Ducks 72, New Mexico 0

I've never shot a blowout like this. It was easy livin' as a photographer. We didn't have to run down to the other end of the field one single time. It was sunny and and 75 degrees. They fed us tacos in the press booth. It just couldn't have been an easier day. Here's the game story: http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2010/09/oregon_football_well_wasnt_tha.html

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the day:

Pickathon, Happy Valley, Ore., Aug. 6, 7, 8, 2010

Not much happens in Happy Valley. Perhaps that's one of the things that makes it happy. However, the one thing that does happen, is the best American roots and indie music festivals on the face of the planet. It's called Pickathon. Let me tell you, I've shot countless concerts and music festivals ranging from U2 to Willie Nelson. I can tell you this is the most generous, most laid back, photo friendliest, musician friendly, kid friendly, beer loving, camping friendly event of any kind I've ever covered. There's a refreshing lack of rules even while there's hundreds of volunteers on hand to enforce the ones they do have. The volunteers really just try to be helpful. It's only about a half mile from my house. I can hear it from by deck. I rode my motorcycle down there and parked next the back stage. Best yet, all my favorite people are there. Photographers Tim Labarge, Torsten Kjellstrand, Jamie Francis, Tom Patterson, Faith Cathcart, Ian Malkasian, all cover it for PIckathon. With Tim LaBarge large and in charge, they do a great job. This year I covered it for The Oregonian. This is what I saw.

Vale Rodeo in Eastern Oregon

< I went to the Vale Rodeo with the intention of photographing the suicide race. I certainly did that, but it since it was over in in about 3 minutes, I shot the rodeo both nights as well. I had a great time. Everyone was friendly and open to being photographs. I full run of the place. While the weather didn't cooperate, it did make for some interesting images.