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

Zion National Park in Black and White

I went down to Zion National Park last week and had some fun revisiting black and white landscapes. Enjoy.

Zion National Park. February 2016.
©Benjamin Zack, 2016

Zion National Park. February 2016.
©Benjamin Zack, 2016

Zion National Park. February 2016.
©Benjamin Zack, 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

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