2017 Summer Photojournalism

Fall is solidly here in Northern Utah. Take a look back at some of my favorite photos from this summer.

Ted Sumner gets off his bike after flagging down an ice-cream truck on the Bonneville Salt Flats during Speed Week on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017. Raul Ruiz lives in nearby Wendover and spends the week driving his ice cream truck around the spectator areas on the salt flats.
©Benjamin Zack, 2017

Zack Schuster kayaks through Ogden Canyon during the Ogden GNARrows Down River Race on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017. Kayakers from around the region met for a day of racing on Class IV rapids near the mouth of the canyon.
©Benjamin Zack, 2017

Tyler Arnold, left, Jared Watson, center, and Cody Edwards search for boreal toads in the Monte Cristo Range on Thursday, July 12, 2017. Biologists from around the state are studying the rare high-elevation amphibians. Boreal toad populations have been shrinking around the West. The large toads are difficult to study, but Utah scientists are trying to get a better idea of how local populations are doing.
©Benjamin Zack, 2017

2017 Spring Photojournalism

I can't believe it is already July. Here are a few highlights from stories I've covered around Northern Utah for the last three months. Enjoy.

Hayden Call, 7, collects eggs while working alongside his siblings on their family farm in West Haven on Friday, April 21, 2017. Over the last decade, the Call family has moved from gardening as a hobby to running a small three acre farm behind their home outside of Ogden. This year will be their fourth year selling produce at the Ogden Farmers Market.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner, 2017

Dylan Orchard is thrown from a bull during the Utah High School Rodeo Finals in Heber City on Thursday, June 1, 2017. Orchard competes for Weber County's  Spikers High School Rodeo Club. The annual finals rodeo features four days of riding before Saturday night's championship.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner, 2017

The Union Pacific No. 844 steam engine passes through orchards Perry on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. The 73 year old engine was the last steam engine built for Union Pacific. The train returned to service in 2016 and now makes several short excursions per year.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner, 2017

The start of 2017

I've had a full start to photographing 2017. Now that we've hit April, I pulled together a few highlights from the first quarter of the year. Enjoy.

Liz Goldberg climbs the frozen falls at the end of Waterfall Canyon on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. Every winter, the frozen water draining out of Malan's Basin turns the canyon above Weber State University into a popular destination among ice climbers in Utah.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Michael Lewis, right, and his brother, Yaya Lewis, climb around the playground at High Adventure Park in Ogden on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017. The weather was sunny and in the mid-60's on Tuesday, but snow and cold temperatures are predicted for later in the week.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Firefighters respond to a home on the 2800 block of Monroe Blvd. that burst into flames after an explosion on Tuesday, March 7, 2017.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

A portrait of Jay, a Harris's hawk at the Ogden Nature Center. Like all birds at the nature center, Jay is unreleasable. He came to the center through a wildlife rehabilitation center after his wing tips were permanently damaged by frost bite.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo 2016

I had another full and fun week shooting the annual Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo for the Standard-Examiner. I split my time between working on a stop-motion video of the rodeo and taking photos. Check out a few highlights below.

Kyle Brennecke of Stephenville, Texas rides in the bareback bronc riding competition on the fourth night of the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 23, 2016. ©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

A young rodeo cowgirl holds on tight during the mutton bustin at the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 23, 2016. ©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Tim O'Connell waves to the crowd after winning the bareback competition during the final night of the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo on Monday, July 25, 2016. ©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

March Highlights

It has been a busy and exciting month full of photos. Below are some of the photos I've shot around Northern Utah for the Standard-Examiner in March. Enjoy.

Protesters supporting and opposing Donald Trump face off outside of Trump’s Salt Lake City speech on Friday, Mar. 18, 2016. ©BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner, 2016

Brody Andrade, 4, focuses on a dollar bill that another customer gave him as Mark Tarintino cuts his hair at Moore's Barber Shop on Thursday, Mar. 3, 2016. ©BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner, 2016

Visitors to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge use spotting scopes that were on display for bird watching during Swan Day on Saturday, Mar. 12, 2016. More than 400 people turned out for the annual event. ©BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner, 2016

Woods Cross High School celebrates after their quarterfinal victory over Payson High in the 4A state basketball tournament at the University of Utah on Wednesday, Mar. 2, 2016. ©BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner, 2016

Summer Highlights

As the summer wraps up, I've been going through some of work I've shot for the Standard-Examiner over the last few months. Below are a few of my favorite shots that haven't made it onto the blog yet in other posts.

Michaelangelo Romero, left, Steve Wardle, center, and Karl Rice wait backstage before Romero and Wardle's performance (as Lady Delish and Steve Hi-Weigh) during the drag show at the Ogden Pride Festival at the Ogden Amphitheater on Saturday, August 1, 2015. The celebration was Ogden's first LGBT pride festival.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

The sun sets over Lindquist Field as the Raptors take on the Helena Brewers on Monday, August 17, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Rev. Brandee Mimitzraiem cries during a prayer vigil on Friday, June 19, 2015 for the men and women killed at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. Rev. Mimiztraiem hosted the service with fellow ministers and members of the community at the Embry Chapel AME Church in Ogden.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Gary Smetana tears out a bathtub while working on renovating a home along Grant St. in Ogden with the Genesis Project on Friday, June 19, 2015. Members of the Genesis Project, a church based in Central Ogden, volunteered on projects around the city during a five-day service project.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Tour of Utah

The Tour of Utah bike race passed through Ogden again this summer. Here are my favorite shots from the second stage of the international bike race.

The main pack of cyclists begins their climb up Ogden Canyon on during the second stage of the Tour of Utah on Tuesday, August 4, 2015. Tuesday's race started in Tremonton and circled around Pineview Reservoir before finishing in downtown Ogden.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Cyclists race around the corner at 25th St. and Washington Blvd. during the women's race in the second stage of the Tour of Utah in downtown Ogden on Tuesday, August 4, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Wide Look at Baseball

I covered a fair number of Ogden Raptors games for the Standard-Examiner this summer. On a recent game against the Helena Brewers, I decided to change things up a bit and only shoot the game with a wide angle lens (specifically a 16-35 mm/f 2.8). It was a fun challenge. Here are some of the results.

The Raptors played the Helena Brewers at Lindquist Field on Wednesday, August 19, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Ogden third baseman Faustino Oguisten watches the first inning from the dugout as the Raptors play the Helena Brewers at Lindquist Field on Wednesday, August 19, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

The Raptors played the Helena Brewers at Lindquist Field on Wednesday, August 19, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

The Ogden Raptors congratulate Scott De Jong after he scores Ogden's second run during a home game against the Helena Brewers at Lindquist Field on Wednesday, August 19, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Ogden Rodeo Highlights

One of the best parts about being a photographer in Ogden is shooting photos at the annual Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo. I spent a bit more time this year shooting video and shooting behind the scenes. Here are some of the highlights from the past week.

Doug Aldridge of Carthage, Mo. heads out of the chute during the saddle bronc riding competition as the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo kicks off at Pioneer Stadium on Monday, July 20, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Anthony Thomas of Australia tightens his boots before the start of the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo  at Pioneer Stadium on Monday, July 20, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Lon Danley of Tularosa, N.M. tries to hold on for eight seconds during the third night of the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo continued on Wednesday, July 22, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

The fourth night of the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo returned to the Ogden Pioneer Stadium on Thursday, July 23, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

April Highlights

Here are some of the highlights of photos that I've shot over the last month for the Standard-Examiner. The month started with some aggressive finger-painting, but otherwise it looks like I had a very brown and grey month. There were a few colorful shots, but I guess those will wait for future posts.

Jack Rasmussen, the Dean of the College of Education at Weber State University takes a break after fingerprinting with students in the WSU Charter Academy on Monday, April 6, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Zak Westerman falls to the ground after his group drew an "Indian attack" card during their fifth grade pioneer trek at Smoot Park in Centerville on Friday, April 24, 2015. During the journey, each "family" of students would run into different challenges including illness, broken supplies and getting lost. Westerman's group later decided that someone else in the family should be the one injured in the attack. They picked the smallest student who would be the easiest to carry as the journey went on.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

The Christensen family practices roping at their home in Plain City on Monday, April 6, 2015. Sydnee Christensen, 14, recently started Hope Counts, a non-profit that raises money for the families of rodeo riders who are covering injury expenses. In two years, the group has raised around $40,000.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

March Highlights

Looks like I've only been loading landscape/cityscape photos on the blog for the last few weeks. To try and right that, here are some of my favorite photos shot over the last month at the Standard-Examiner.

Aylin Nelson, right, spray paints hand carved letters in the "paint booth" at north Layton High School while Jarred McLane stains a piece of wood during their new ninth grade Pinterest class on Wednesday, March 18, 2015. The new class, where students find woodworking projects and designs on Pinterest, was established last semester as a way to encourage more girls to get into manufacturing courses.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner, 2015

Rebeckah Sharpe dunks herself under water during water polo practice in the newly renovated pool at Ogden High School on Wednesday, March 4, 2015. The pool reopened on Tuesday after a multi-year $4.9 million renovation.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner, 2015

Firefighters battle the flames at the Ogden Cold Storage warehouse complex in West Ogden on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Firefighters responded to a call at the abandoned warehouse at around 1:30AM and worked as the fire spread through a set of seven interconnected warehouses.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner, 2015

Stormy Skies Over Utah

We had some dramatic storms rolling through Northern Utah earlier this week. I caught a couple photos when a hiking trip was cut short by the lightning, and took a few more when the sun set over Ogden.

Sunset over Ogden, Utah after a day of thunderstorms.
©Benjamin Zack, 2015

Storm clouds roll over Willard Bay and the Great Salt Lake towards the orchards of Fruit Way above Willard, Utah.
©Benjamin Zack, 2015

Storm clouds roll over Willard Bay and the Great Salt Lake near Willard, Utah.
©Benjamin Zack, 2015

Sunset over Ogden, Utah after a day of thunderstorms.
©Benjamin Zack, 2015

Golden Hour Light in West Ogden

As the sun started to set earlier this week, I spent some time chasing the evening light around West Ogden. The secluded neighborhood across the railroad tracks from downtown offers some of the best views of the Wasatch Mountains from within the city.

Sunset over Ogden Canyon.
©Benjamin Zack, 2015

Evening light over the Swift Warehouse in West Ogden.
©Benjamin Zack, 2015

Evening light over downtown Ogden and Mt. Ogden.
©Benjamin Zack, 2015

Sunset over West Ogden.
©Benjamin Zack, 2015

Lewis Peak Snow

After an unusually warm start to the year, new snow arrived in Northern Utah this morning. After the morning storm passed, I caught a couple photos of Mount Lewis and Jumpoff Canyon above Ogden.

Fresh snow covers Lewis Peak and Jumpoff Canyon above Ogden, Utah.
©Benjamin Zack, 2015

Fresh snow covers Lewis Peak and Jumpoff Canyon above Ogden, Utah.
©Benjamin Zack, 2015

Highlights from 2014

It has been another fun year of shooting photos in Utah. I put together a few of my favorite images from 2014 below. Take a look and let me know what you think.

Wildlife biologist Steve Bates, left, checks for an ear tag on a bull bison while Bob Middlemas, right, tries to detract the animal and control its head at Antelope Island State Park on Monday, November 10, 2014. Most years, the large bulls are not rounded up with the rest of the herds due to their aggressive nature. This year, all of the animals were brought in so that genetic testing could be down in order to see if there are cattle genes mixed in with the herd.
©Benjamin Zack

Narumol Khunsumrit and Chaimongkhon Sripatnet, from Thailand, spent the summer with Wat Dhammagunaram Buddhist Temple in Layton where they taught traditional dance and music classes. On Saturday, August 22, 2014, their students danced at the Summer Thai Food Fair at the temple.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Art Holston Sr. bows his head as local pastors lead marchers in prayer at Ogden City Hall during a "Peace March" in solidarity with Michael Brown's family on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. Around 75 people took part in the march from New Zion Baptist Church to City Hall.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Riders carry their bikes over a pair of barriers during the Utah Cyclocross State Championships at Mt. Ogden Golf Course on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014. Designed especially for poor weather, cyclocross races involve multiple laps on short courses filled with obstacles. At the state championships, riders had 45 minutes to an hour to try and complete as many laps as possible on the 1.7 mile course which included hurdles, a fence hoping and numerous sharp, slick turns.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Kara Fierro kisses her husband Isaac Eaves after Fierro's first attempt at a difficult new move in their pole fitness class at Kairos Fitness in Ogden on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. Fierro is battling cystic fibrosis, a deadly genetic disease that has been getting worse in recent years. "Sometimes I do feel hopeless and depressed, but exercise has really helped me a lot," says Fierro. During Fierro's recent hospital stays, she set up a pole and a hoop in her hospital room to help stay active and positive.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Visitors explore the Ogden Exchange Building during a groundbreaking and open house on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014. Built in 1930, the building has set vacant since the 1970's, but new plans call for the art-deco structure to be the heart of a new business park.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Nate Spencer swims laps during swim team practice at the Layton Surf and Swim in Layton, Utah on Sept. 5, 2014. Spencer lost the use of his arms when he was three. Now 13, Spencer has been swimming competitively for two years and also plays soccer and skis.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Cody Vosler prepares the underside of the 119 steam engine for welding at Golden Spike National Historic Site on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014. Every fifteen years, the steam engines at the monument have to go through testing and extensive restoration.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

James Reeder finishes attaching his regalia ahead of the opening ceremonies at the 9th Annual Social Pow-Wow at Clearfield High School on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. Reeder came down from Logan to dance along with his wife and son.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

An abandoned farmhouse appears during a brief break in a whiteout winter storm near Soda Springs, Idaho.
©Benjamin Zack

Eric Chabot lets a young golden eagle flap its wings after attaching a solar transmitter to its back at a nest site in the West Desert on June 11, 2014. Biologists from HawkWatch International attached the devices as part of a project to track young eagle populations. After putting the 45 gram transmitter on, Chabot lets the eagle move its wings to make sure everything fits properly.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Clouds over Chesler Park. Canyonlands National Park.
©Benjamin Zack

Tyler Nelson, form Victor, Idaho, competes in the bareback riding during the final night of the Ogden Pioneers Day Rodeo on Thursday, July 24, 2014.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Players from the Ruckus baseball team wait to bat during practice at the Club Heights baseball field in South Ogden on Saturday, July 26, 2014. The team is currently raising money to attend the Gil Hodges Little League World Series in New York at the start of August.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Kylie Meyer from the University of Idaho holds a burrowing owl after measuring and banding the bird on Antelope Island on Tuesday, May, 27, 2014. Scientists spent several days examining the owls on the island and attaching radio collars as part of the Global Owl Project.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Thousands of gathers met in the Uinta Mountains near Heber City for the annual Rainbow Family Gathering on Monday, June 30, 2014. At the start of the week, Forest Service officials estimated that around 4,000 people were at the gathering. The crowd is expected to reach 10-20,000 by the Fourth of July weekend.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Bob Okazaki of Denver pauses at the frozen fall in Waterfall Canyon on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014. Just a few days after consistently freezing temperatures arrived in Northern Utah, the large waterfall is already frozen solid. Sunlight doesn't reach over the steep canyon walls for several months during the winter.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner