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

Ogden Valley Balloon Festival

Stormy weather threatened to cancel the festivities, but sunshine and calm winds prevailed and I was able to make it to the annual Ogden Valley Balloon Festival for the first time this summer. Here are a few highlights.

Shannon White flies his hot air balloon, Mountain Breeze, over Pineview Reservoir during the Ogden Valley Balloon Festival on Friday, August 14, 2015. White and his wife live in Colorado and have been coming to the Ogden Valley Balloon Festival since 2003.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Pineview Reservoir and the Ogden Valley is visible from a hot air ballon during the Ogden Valley Balloon Festival on Friday, August 14, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

The early morning sun shines through Moonshine, a hot air balloon from Utah during the Ogden Valley Balloon Festival on Friday, August 14, 2015. Moonshine was the first balloon to go up after weather delayed the launch.
©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

Back Country Horsemen

One of my favorite assignments this summer involved heading into the Northern Wasatch Mountains with the local chapter of the Back Country Horsemen. Here are a few photos from the trip up Ben Lomond.

Larry Housley coils rope after packing supplies up Ben Lomond Peak on Thursday, July 10, 2015. Members of the Wasatch Front Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen Association carried gear into remote areas of the Northern Wasatch Range in order to supply aide stations for an upcoming race.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner

Larry Housley has a beer and rests with his horse, Bubba, after packing supplies up Ben Lomond Peak on Thursday, July 10, 2015. Housley and a second rider with the Back Country Horsemen Association rode two saddle horses and brought three additional packhorses loaded with gear in preparation for an upcoming ultramarathon.
©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

Summer Snow

OK, it isn't really snow, but the wind last night in Ogden Valley was kicking up so many seed pods that it looked like a snow storm in 70 degree weather.

©Benjamin Zack, 2015

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

Fireworks Over Camano Island

Took some photos during the Fourth of July while launching and watching fireworks over Puget Sound. Having a large aerial firework explode while on the ground is pretty high on the list of dangerous holiday accidents, but it sure made for an interesting photo.

©Benjamin Zack, 2015

©Benjamin Zack, 2015

©Benjamin Zack, 2015

©Benjamin Zack, 2015

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

Pulaski Tunnel Trail

I stopped at the Pulaski Tunnel Trail near Wallace, Idaho on a recent trip through the northern Rockies. The trail documents some of the early Forest Service and wildfire history from Northern Idaho. I didn't take too many photos while there, but I had some fun playing with black and white.

Pulaski Tunnel Trail, Wallace, Idaho
©Benjamin Zack, 2015

Pulaski Tunnel Trail, Wallace, Idaho
©Benjamin Zack, 2015

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

Tournament Time

Play-off season for high school basketball in Utah just wrapped up. Last week I spent a couple days shooting the quarterfinals of the 5A and 4A tournament at Weber State University in Ogden for the Standard-Examiner. I'm not sure how much of it is chance, but the best photos from each day usually came within one quarter of one game. My personal favorites were in the Layton vs Bingham and Bountiful vs Spanish Fork games. A few highlights are below.

Jarriesse Blackmon leads Layton High School in a cheer before their game against Bingham during the State 5A Basketball Tournament at Weber State University on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner, 2015

Bountiful High School's Zac Seljaas shoots over the outstretched arms of Spanish Fork's Parker Bowman during the quarterfinals of the 4A state tournament at Weber State University on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner, 2015

Layton High School's Julian Blackmon leaps for the basket at Bingham high School players watch during the State 5A Basketball Tournament at Weber State University on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner, 2015

Kearns High School's Kiko Faamaulsili, left, embraces Bushman Ebet following their 51-48 victory over Logan High School in the quarterfinals of the 4A state tournament at Weber State University on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner, 2015

Calvin Grant

I headed out to Brigham City, Utah today to meet with Calvin Grant. He is an 84-year-old cattle rancher and is one of the subjects for a new history project on the Ogden Stockyards. Here are a few photos from today.

Calvin Grant grew up on a cattle ranch in West Ogden near the old Ogden Union Stockyards. In the 1960's, his father, Dave Grant, was the last person to trail drive cattle to the yard where they were sold all over the western United States. Today, Calvin is 84 and still keep the books for Grant Range Bull Co. and is helping Weber State University students compile a history of the old stockyards.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner, 2015

Calvin Grant grew up on a cattle ranch in West Ogden near the old Ogden Union Stockyards. In the 1960's, his father, Dave Grant, was the last person to trail drive cattle to the yard where they were sold all over the western United States. Today, Calvin is 84 and still keep the books for Grant Range Bull Co. and is helping Weber State University students compile a history of the old stockyards.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner, 2015

Calvin Grant grew up on a cattle ranch in West Ogden near the old Ogden Union Stockyards. In the 1960's, his father, Dave Grant, was the last person to trail drive cattle to the yard where they were sold all over the western United States. Today, Calvin is 84 and still keep the books for Grant Range Bull Co. and is helping Weber State University students compile a history of the old stockyards.
©Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner, 2015

Antelope Island Bison

I went out to Antelope Island over the weekend looking for bighorn sheep. It was a beautiful day with zero sheep sightings, but I did find some rather photogenic bison. After recent trips to photograph the bison round-up and bison research projects, it has been a while since I was just shooting shots without human interaction. Enjoy.

©Benjamin Zack, 2015

©Benjamin Zack, 2015

©Benjamin Zack, 2015

©Benjamin Zack, 2015