Focus Northwest

Not all photo assignments are glamorous, exciting and lend themselves to great photos. Today was one of those dreaded days when “guy speaking at podium” popped up on my to do list… Thankfully that guy was kayaker/conservationist Trip Jennings, a National Geographic Young Explorer grant recipient, who had nice visuals to accompany his talk at Redmond High School about two exploration trips to the Congo. I’ve done this “You be the Photo Editor” before with sports, and now today’s challenge is guy at podium. Below is a series of Trip speaking with different backgrounds from his presentation. The question, which frame tells the story for you? Please leave your answer in the comments.

Los Gentlemen, above, put on a winning performance during the Rockathon finale at the Old Fire House Teen Center in Redmond on Friday, May 6, 2011. It was my second year to cover the music event for the Redmond Reporter, which was an 80′s theme with each of the four band finalists performing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” during their set. Photos of each group including Pave the Earth, Stuck on a Bus and D-Frost after the jump…

It’s spring time here in the Pacific Northwest and we’ve had a particularly cloudy stretch to start the seasonal change. Thought I’d take a minute to share a couple of snapshots from the last few days pausing to take in the momentary sun breaks. Above, the power line trail in Redmond on Wednesday. April 6, 2011. More photos after the jump…

Theater owner Arif Amaani stands in the seats at the Totem Lake Cinemas in Kirkland. The theater specializes in Bollywood films, and was featured as part of an ongoing series on Totem Lake Mall by the Kirkland Reporter. In this series of portraits you find a lot of underexposed (read: black) backgrounds. This is an easy way to clean up clutter or less than optimal backgrounds that I find myself subjected to all the time. It also adds drama and attention to your subject. More photos after the jump…

Sergeant Kurtis W. Bennett, looks on as son Austin, 2, inspects his father’s  the Purple Heart medal during a presentation ceremony by Sen. Patty Murray at the Jackson Federal Building in downtown Seattle on January 7, 2010. Sgt. Bennett, of Iron Company, 3D Squadron, 2D Stryker Calvary Regiment was awarded the medal for wounds received in action in Iraq in 2008.

I recently was assigned to photograph a Laughter Yoga group for the Redmond Reporter. Once there I realized that this would be better served as a multimedia piece and quickly formed a mental plan to gather audio and some video snippets. Always a learning process, as I’m teaching myself these new media skills as I go. Fun group of people to say the least!

Retired Air Force servicemen Col. Merle Fister, left, and Warren Olson honor the flag during a Veterans Appreciation ceremony at Rosa Parks Elementary School in Redmond on Wednesday, November 10, 2010. On this Veterans Day, we remember those that have served our country, and today I remember my grandfather that served in World War II. Today’s post shows military service members and their families from around the Eastside and a nod to some veterans I have been honored to photograph in the past. Thank you again!

I spent some time looking for a stand-alone photo at Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park in Redmond yesterday afternoon, when I flushed this coyote while wandering one of the trails. Only had a moment to snap a couple frames as it darted through the brush. You can see a little motion blur as I was not set up for capturing action in the “dark” forest trail. A random occurance that I was happy to have a camera at the ready…

Sailplane pilot Connor Laurel, a Redmond High School senior, hand launches his remote-controlled glider at 60 Acre Park in Redmond on Wednesday, August 18, 2010. Laurel and teammates Michael Knight and Brendon Beardsley each won gold medals for the U.S. Junior Team at the F3J World Championships in Dole, France earlier this month. MORE PHOTOS AFTER THE JUMP…

Not all business stories are created equal. Some may be fuzzy, but this recent assignment was downright furry. Above, Doug Brathovde, owner of Anthropaws, a Redmond costume-making business, puts the finishing touches on a hyena character, Nahia. More photos of Brathovde’s cosutmes and home workshop along with his ‘furry’ alter ego, Dyno after the jump…