Erik Porter - Triple Bypass

Hello, two years ago I photographed Geri and her two bicycling partners, Susan and Holly, riding the Triple Bypass on a cold, rainy day in July. Only about a third of the 3,500 registered riders finished that year, including the "Fillmore Girls".
Click here to see the 2006 ride. 2006 Triple.
Another cyclist who finished the '06 ride was Erik Porter, who is a good friend of Holly and her husband, Doug. Erik's wife, Eva, called me a few months ago to see if I was available to photograph Erik's Triple Bypass ride - for the 4th time. Since I didn't have a wedding, I accepted the challenge and decided to have some fun with it. The ride is the flagship event for Team Evergreen Bicycle Club. Team Evergreen.
Geri offered to sag, as she knew the route and had lots of great spots in mind for photo opportunities. Click here to see a slideshow of Erik's ride. Erik's Triple.
Erik started his ride at 5am on Saturday, July 12, at the intersection of Evergreen Parkway and Squaw Pass Road - in the dark. Erik headed up Squaw Pass, but Geri and I had to drive around to Idaho Springs and up the back side of the pass (11,140 feet in elevation), because the road was closed to vehicle traffic. It worked out well, as we caught up with him at the summit at sunrise. His neighbor, Steve, dropped him off and sagged for him all the way to Loveland ski area, where Erik's wife, mother, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and two kids picked up the sagging duties.
One of the most interesting aspects of Erik's ride was that he started his ride so early, he was basically a solitary rider - rather than part of a group of riders. There were a handful of other cyclists that started about the same time, and they all kept a good pace and finished in the top ten.
Erik powered his way up to Loveland ski area where he met up with his family and Steve, before climbing Loveland Pass (11,990 feet in elevation), just before 10am on a beautiful, Colorado blue-sky day.
After a quick descent, the route traveled across Dillon Lake Dam Road before entering Frisco, Copper Mountain, and the climb up Vail Pass (10,560 feet). From the summit of Vail Pass to the town of Vail, the course continued mostly on bike paths, so we drove ahead to the finish line at Nottingham Park in Avon. Erik completed the ride, including breaks, in 8 hours and 27 minutes.
Thanks Eva and Erik, for a great day!
Cheers, Kent

Elise and Mark Bisbee Wedding

Hello, on June 27th I photographed Elise Simonds and Mark Bisbee's wedding at the Church of the Good Shepherd followed by their reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. Church of the Good Shepherd.
Cherry Hills Country Club.
I photographed the wedding with my good friend John Hudetz. Hudetz.
Please click here to see a slideshow. Wedding.
I actually enjoy photographing church weddings as much as outdoors weddings. Both situations offer different opportunities to find meaningful and unpredictable images. Both Elise and Mark were great as they were totally camera unaware allowing me to capture very natural pictures.
Thank you so much for letting me do what I do best.
Cheers, Kent

July 4th Camp Out

Hello, I finally had a weekend off to go camping with Geri and a group of friends over the Fourth of July holiday. We decided to pitch our tents near Home Stake State Park between Leadville and Minturn.
Click here to see a slideshow.Camp Out.
My friend, Paul Broome, arrived first and found a perfect campsite off the road with our own lily pond and river access plus lots of room for the rest of the group who were arriving the next day.
So Paul, his black lab named Jackson, and I had the place to ourselves the first night. In terms of car camping this was the best site I've ever had. The ponds weren't deep enough for fish to survive over the winter months, but at the end of the road was Home Stake Reservoir at more than 10,000 feet in elevation.
The reservoir visit was a full day's adventure using Paul's pontoon fishing boat and Jimmy and Rosie's canoe to transport everyone across the lake including two dogs.
It was a beautiful day for boating, fishing and sunning but the water was a little too cold for swimming - unless you were a dog.
Speaking of dogs and fishing, you might be wondering what the deal is with the weird fish hat. Well, it actually belongs to me. I traded for it at a White Elephant post- Christmas party a few years ago and decided to wear it one morning. Then someone came up with the idea to photograph everyone wearing it including the dogs.
Cheers, Kent

Denver Botanic Gardens Concert

Hello, last week I managed to sneak in three concerts between three weddings. The first two shows were at Red Rocks. Red Rocks.
First, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on Saturday evening after a morning wedding. Then Mark Knopfler on Tuesday night. Sorry, I didn't feel like sneaking my camera into the venue - so no pictures.
Finally on Thursday night, we went to see Richard Thompson and Loudon Wainwright at the Denver Botanic Gardens and cameras were welcome! Botanic Gardens.
Not only was it a great show but we were able to bring in our own picnic dinner and beers. Plus, this summer they have a cool Urban Nature art show throughout the different landscapes. I managed to include several in my pictures. Urban Nature.
Ten of the most skilled local, national, and international "Street Artists" created the exhibit using spray paint.
It doesn't get much better than a good concert with interesting art in the best garden in town.
Cheers, Kent

Kids summer music camp

Hello, last week I photographed a kids summer music camp. Sunday night was a performance by the faculty. Eclectic Concerts.
I was pleasantly surprised to see some friends with their kids who were participating in the Intermezzo Chamber Music Sessions that started on Monday and finished on Friday. The camp is for budding chamber music enthusiasts, both novice and experienced, who want to learn how to play in an ensemble. Intermezzo.
I would like to thank Dianne Betkowski, director and cellist for asking me to document their program.
Cheers, Kent

Mount Evans day and night

Hello, last week a good friend of mine from Kansas, Randy and his nephew, Logan, visited and we decided to get up early and explore Mt. Evans, at 14,258 feet in elevation.
Believe it or not Randy was in my very first photography class at West High School in Wichita. Logan just graduated from high school and will be attending college this fall and wants to become a photojournalist. I've been mentoring him for the past few years mostly via email. This was the first time we've actually photographed together.
We knew it would be more than a little chilly so we packed coats, hats and gloves which came in handy even before it started to snow. We hiked around Summit Lake at 12,800 feet where we saw a herd of mountain goats - also where a group of climbers from Iowa started their climb to the peak.
Then we drove to the parking lot at the top and climbed up to the actual summit, crossing snow more than once. A pair of skiers hiked by carrying skiis and looking for a chute to ski down. We were happy just taking pictures, as it started to snow and we decided it was time to head down to lower elevations.
On the way down we stopped at the Mount Goliath Natural Area which has one of Colorado's few stands of bristlecone pines, some of the oldest trees on earth. Several of the bristlecones are more than 1,600 years old. I broke out my black and white infrared camera trying to make the pictures even more interesting.
The morning trip to Mt. Evans was so much fun that we decided go back for a late night photography experience and make some long exposure images - 20 to 30 minutes each - so you could capture star trails. The moon came out and added some nice fill light. Some of the pictures appear like they were taken in the daytime except for the star trails. The Mt. Evans Wilderness Area is an amazingly cool place to visit, and it's only an hours' drive from Denver.
Cheers, Kent

Danelle and Michael's Wedding at Phipps Mansion

Hello, last weekend I had the pleasure of photographing Danelle and Michael's wedding at the Phipps Mansion. Phipps Mansion.
The ceremony was held about 11AM in a garden area on a beautiful, blue sky summer morning followed by a reception/luncheon on the patio. Click here if you would like to see a slideshow of their wedding. Wedding.
At the end of the ceremony I made a group photograph of all the guests, and enjoyed having plenty of light to catch everyone mingling before and after lunch.
Thank you Danelle and Michael for choosing me to photograph your wedding!
Cheers, Kent

Bend it with Beckstead

Hello, last week I spent three intense days participating in a wedding/fashion photo workshop called, Shoot with Beckstead. Shoot With Beckstead. Last year American Photo Magazine named David Beckstead one of the top ten wedding photographers in the world.
David Beckstead.
A group of about 15 wedding photographers mostly from the Denver area, lived and breathed Beckstead's style, both in a classroom/studio situation and photographing models on location for 14 hours a day! Beckstead is known for his use of composition, color and light. On the first day, after getting pumped up listening to David speak and viewing a few slide shows of other shoots he's done from around the world, we drove up to Georgetown and the Georgetown Loop Railroad. Georgetown Loop Railroad.
At each location David would quickly look around for scenes that had dynamic lines, patterns, colors etc. Then we would photograph for about 15 minutes before changing locations. I don't normally use models, preferring reality over fiction, but this was actually great portrait practice using creative compositions. Usually I draw on emotion, action and occasionally architecture.
After lunch we worked our way around the Georgetown Historic District before heading out of town to an old graveyard, and believe it or not, an I-70 underpass, because of the cool lines and light. That night we edited our images down to 30 to share with the group in a critique session lasting eight hours.
The second evening we went out to practice low light night fashion using available light and/or video lights. The last day we did a shoot at Centennial Airport with two WWII planes. We went from a night shoot/low light situation to a bright, hot midday location. Each provided different challenges and opportunities.
Cheers, Kent

Jessica and Casey's wedding at The Tapestry House

Hello, last weekend I photographed Jessica and Casey's wedding at The Tapestry House in La Porte, Colorado, which is just north of Fort Collins. The Tapestry House.
I photographed the wedding with my good friend, John Hudetz. John Hudetz.
This was the first time I had been to The Tapestry House and I admit that it's a great location for both a wedding and reception. The house is beautiful inside and out and their perennial gardens have been meticulously tended. If you would like to see a slideshow of the wedding, click here. Wedding.
Cheers, Kent

Jennifer and Mark's wedding at Cordillera

Hello, last Saturday I photographed Jennifer and Mark's wedding in Cordillera with my good friend John Hudetz. John Hudetz.
It started at The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera where Jennifer was getting her hair and makeup done. Lodge and Spa at Cordillera.
Then Jennifer and I rode with Carolyn Moorman, of Artisan Events, to The Club at Cordillera for the ceremony and reception. Artisan Events.
The Club at Cordillera.
The first thing I noticed upon arrival at the club was Desiree Kelly of The Makery setting up a 7-tier cake using a ladder. The Makery.
It was a beautiful sunny spring day high in the mountains above Vail for their outdoors ceremony followed by the reception in both a tent and the Timber Hearth Grille.
If you would like to see a slideshow click here. Wedding.
Cheers, Kent

Home improvements

Hello, I've had an exciting time this week at the home office. First of all it's spring which means lots of cool flowers are in bloom and everything is planted and growing in the garden! The really big news is that we've had the house painted - inside and out - and it's finally finished. We had to delay the exterior paint job for a month while a house wren minded her nest and hatched two babies.
There are a couple of themes running through this post: painting, plants, flowers, and of course Chinle, our cat, hanging out in the yard. Note how the front of the house changes from green to a copper color.
If you would like to see a slideshow click here. Home Show.
Also, I need to shout out a huge thank you to Ron Vetter for doing a wonderful job on our painting projects.
Cheers, Kent

Lauren and Nathan's wedding at the Garden of the Gods Club

Hello, last Saturday I photographed Lauren and Nathan's wedding at the beautiful Garden of the Gods Club in Colorado Springs with my good friend Sean Cayton. Garden of the Gods Club.
Sean Cayton.
The Garden of the Gods Club must be one of the most picturesque wedding venues in Colorado, with its layered vistas. The ceremony was held next to the reflecting pool with the Garden of the Gods Park behind it and Pike's Peak rising above it all. It seemed like the environment was interacting with the wedding guests who were involved from start to finish with the clouds, light, mountains and sunset. Even a deer stopped at the pool for a drink. If you would like to see a slideshow click here. Lauren and Nathan.

Emily and Eric's Estes Park Wedding

Hello, last weekend I had the pleasure of photographing Emily and Eric's wedding at Saint Malo Chapel in Allenspark, Colorado. Saint Malo. Their reception followed in the MacGregor Ballroom at The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. The Stanley Hotel.
I photographed the wedding along with my good friend and fellow wedding photographer, John Hudetz. John Hudetz.
You couldn't ask for two more beautiful locations! Emily and Eric had a blast and enjoyed every minute of their day as you can see in the pictures.
One of my favorite details was the Spanish guitarist, Piatro, who played at the ceremony as well as at the reception. Piatro.
If you would like to see a slideshow click here. Emily and Eric.

Saint Vincent dePaul/Red Rocks Wedding

Hello, on May 17th I photographed Lisa and Evan's wedding with my good friend and fellow wedding photographer, John Hudetz. John Hudetz.
Lisa and Evan's wedding at Saint Vincent DePaul Church in Denver was a traditional catholic ceremony. After that things got strange. The couple had planned their reception at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, before the venue booked a concert for the same night. And it wasn't just any concert - it was a violent rap band called Insane Clown Posse. Insane Clown Posse. Most of the fans paint their faces to look like the band members. Lisa and Evan decided to go through with their reception plans even though they aren't fans of ICP. Red Rocks.
A group of somewhat friendly concert-goers actually joined the couple in a photo while we were involved in a portrait session at the Trading Post. That produced a few shockingly different wedding photos.
We then drove to a remote part of the park for some pictures while hiking and climbing on rocks. Once we finally made it to the reception, I was blown away with how perfect the space was. The 30,000 square-foot visitors center turned out to be a great location for a Colorado experience, with breathtaking views and gourmet food! You couldn't even hear the concert music from inside the visitors center. Wow, what a wedding to remember!
Cheers, Kent
If you would like to see a slideshow click here. Wedding.

Siesta Key Beach Vacation

Hello, after Chris and Taunya's wedding in Tampa, Geri and I headed to the beach to relax for a few days before heading back to Colorado.
Geri did her research and booked a room in a 1950's vintage motel in Siesta Key. It was the most relaxing time we've had in years! The white sand was like powdered sugar. The sand is basically powdered coral and it squeaked when we walked down the beach.
We took a couple of day trips around the area to places such as Myakka River State Park where we boarded a guided boat on the upper Myakka Lake. Myakka Lake is very shallow with thousands of alligators.
Another day we visited the Ringling complex and Ringling Museum of Art. This 66-acre estate was the winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus back in the early 1900's. Now it is a series of buildings which house the world's largest miniature circus and memorabilia from the American Circus, also a Venetian Palace called Ca d'zan which was the winter home of John and Mable Ringling. The 22,000 square-foot palatial mansion reflected their love of Italy. The world-class art museum features many paintings, sculptures and treasures collected by the Ringling's.
We walked many miles along Siesta Key and Crescent beaches every day before going for an ocean swim. Meanwhile back in Denver, it was snowing! If you would like to see a slideshow of our mini-vacation click here. Siesta Key. Oh, and just in case you were wondering about the travel gnome - his name is Jerome. I liked his size in proportion to the sand castle.
Cheers, Kent

Lilies & Finches

Yesterday while I was hurrying around trying to get caught up on work, I walked into the dining room where Geri had put some fresh cut lilies of the valley in the vase that we used as a cake topper at our wedding reception. When I noticed how beautiful they looked in the morning light, I grabbed my camera and climbed up on a chair to capture the image from a high angle which made the shadows even more dramatic.
Then late this afternoon I noticed a flurry of action on the branches of our redbud tree outside the front window, where a bunch of house finches were flying around. There's a nest in the wreath on the front porch with two babies in it. I made this memorable picture with a long telephoto lens through the window.
Cheers, Kent

Chris and Taunya's Tampa Wedding

Hello, on Saturday, May 10, I photographed Chris and Taunya's wedding in Tampa, Florida. Chris is my nephew so it was extra fun hanging out with him as well as my mom and sister.
It was a beautiful day, hot, but not too hot and there was a nice breeze. The wedding and the reception were held at the Hilton Garden Resort.
After the ceremony we visited Lettuce Lake State Park for a quick photo session before dinner. Click here if you would like to see a slideshow. Chris and Taunya.
By coincidence, all the pictures I chose for my blog were shot in black and white.
Cheers, Kent

Wedding books for wedding sites

Hello, Recently I made a book for a the Evergreen Lake House from Jessica and Aaron's wedding last May. Evergreen Lake House.
If you would like to see a slideshow of their wedding click here.Jessica and Aaron.

Chinle, our rock climbing cat

Hello, I couldn't resist taking this photo of our cat Chinle and publishing it.
Cheers, Kent