Idaho Whiteout

I was up in Southern Idaho over the weekend for a planned photo adventure. Unfortunately, the combination of a snowstorm, some closed highways and a stuck snowplow changed all of that. On the plus side, a small break in the snow let me catch this photo.

©Benjamin Zack, 2014

Bighorn Sheep

Earlier this week, wildlife biologists began trapping bighorn sheep at Antelope Island State Park in order to get a hand on overpopulation and to help establish a new herd in Central Utah. I went out on Tuesday to photograph the process. You can also see a video that I made from the day and more photos here. Enjoy.

Utah Department of of Wildlife Resources employees and volunteers from Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife weigh a bighorn sheep on Antelope Island on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014. State wildlife officials are capturing and moving 30 sheep from the island to form a new herd in Central Utah. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Bighorn sheep are moved beneath a helicopter to the staging area on Antelope Island on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014. The sheep are captured with a net gun fired from a helicopter. After they're netter, a person known as a "mugger" hops from the helicopter and restrains the sheep for transport. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Highlights From 2013

I made it through 2013 and thought I would share a few of the photo highlights from the last year. Many of these images are from my first year shooting for the Standard-Examiner in Northern Utah. Looking forward to what 2014 brings. Enjoy.

Big Brush Creek Cave
©Benjamin Zack

Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo wrapped up the final night at Pioneer Stadium on Wednesday, July, 24, 2013. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Elijah White-Scott waits as Kevin Styles combs out his hair before a haircut at Marshall White Community Center on Monday, August, 19, 2013. Styles, who is a barber at Envy Me Salon and Spa in Roy, was one of nine barbers from around the region giving free back-to-school haircuts.(BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Utah Gay Marriage

It has been a busy few days in Utah. After a federal judge ruled Utah's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional last Friday, couples from around the area spent the weekend unsuccessfully chasing rumors about open city clerk's offices. By Monday morning, the county office in Ogden was scheduled to open at 8AM and the state attorney generals office was presenting they case for a stay on gay marriages at 9AM. I shot a fair amount of photos and video throughout the day, but here are a few of the highlights.

Gage Church, left, and Tim Sharp kiss at the Hampton Inn in Ogden after becoming the first gay couple to be legal married in Weber County on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013. Over 60 couples were married in hallways and side rooms of the hotel as they tried to beat a possible stay on the ruling to allow gay same-sex marriage in Utah. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Cody Carter, right, and his husband, Darren Hayes, center, get married in the hallway of the Hampton Inn in Ogden while another couple is married at the top of the stairs on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013. Over 60 couples were married in hallways and side rooms of the hotel in a two hour window as they tried to beat a possible stay on the ruling to allow same-sex marriage in Utah. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Hundreds of people line up outside of the county clerk's office in the Weber Center on Monday morning, Dec. 23, 2013, the first day that Weber County began accepting applications for same-sex marriage licenses. Couples began lining up outside the building at 10pm on Sunday night due to concern that the state might only issue licenses for one hour before a possible stay could be placed on the ruling that allowed same-sex marriage. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Homeless Outreach Video

I just finished a video on the coordinator of a new homeless outreach program in Weber County as he looked for winter camps and met with local homeless residents. Take a look.

You can read more about the program and see photos from the day here.

Bison Auction

Over the weekend I went to a bison auction for ranchers from around the Western U.S. and Canada put on by the Western Bison Association. I've posted a few photos below and you can see more here. Enjoy.

Vaughn Scott hopes on a gate to get out of the way of a 926 pound bison at the Wild West Buffalo Stampede Show and Sale at the Golden Spike Event Center in Ogden on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013. Scott is the president of the Western Bison Association, who puts on the annual auction for ranchers from around the Western United States and Canada. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Ranchers and spectators watch as an 1,800 pound bison is auctioned off at the Wild West Buffalo Stampede Show and Sale at the Golden Spike Event Center in Ogden on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013. Fifty-five bison from around the Western United States were sold at the annual event.(BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Rex Snyder, left, and Nolan Miller chat during the auction at the Wild West Buffalo Stampede Show and Sale at the Golden Spike Event Center in Ogden on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013. Snyder was down from Wyoming to sell some of his animals while Miller was visiting from Manitoba to act as a show judge. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Dishman Hills Natural Area

I took a brief hike in the Dishman Hills Natural Area during a recent trip to Spokane. We reached the location of the 2008 forest fire just as it was getting dark and the weather was taking a turn for the worse. Enjoy the photo.

©Benjamin Zack, 2013