Medora Musical at The Burning Hills Ampheteater - 2015

Over this last summer, I had the AMAZING opportunity to shoot for the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation (TRMF). This organization helps to preserve and present the park to all those looking. You can find more information about them here. 2015 was the 50th anniversary of the Medora Musical. After shooting the Kat Perkins and Tigirlily concert the summer before, I was contacted by TRMF and offered this opportunity.

With a project this big, the majority of the work was planning! Once the time came to shoot, I felt like I knew the Burning Hill Amphitheater inside and out before I stepped foot on the first night of the shoots. I ended up staggering my nights over the two weeks. A few of the nights, I shot from all public spots, but then on my last day in Medora, I was able to shoot from behind the scenes. It was SO much fun. Everything that I have the chance to shoot behind the scenes work, I like it more and more.

There are a TON a great photos from the shoots. Two weeks of shooting, two camera bodies, 5 lenses, 16 memory cards, and over 300 hours of planning, shooting and editing resulted in over 3200 photos, to be precise! You can take a look at more of the photos here, and to all of you that I met along the way, I hope you all enjoy! Thank you!

Hairball - Bismarck Civic Center - Jan. 2015

Over the past month, I was able to get my hands on media access for the Hairball show at the Bismarck Civic Center, here in Bismarck, North Dakota. It's been a few years or more since I had a chance to shoot a large concert. I have to say, I am in love all over again! It is such a blast to be able to capture the energy of the musicians and everyone in attendance.

“Hairball is a Rock & Roll experience you won’t soon forget. A band puts on a concert - Hairball puts on an event! The lights, sound, smoke, fire, bombs, and screaming hoards of avid fans...to merely call it a concert would be like calling Mount Rushmore a roadside attraction!”

— www.hairballonline.com

I have to admit, this was the first time that I have had a chance to see Hairball. They definitely live up to the great things that I have been hearing from people around town! These guys put on a hell of a show with tons of energy and amazing talent! If you ever get the chance to see them, make every effort to get there!

The night started off with Hangman's Joke. These three are North Dakota locals. They did an awesome job and did a great job getting the crowd going.

After a quick change-over on stage, Hairball was up and running from the word go! That intensity never quit. Check out more of the images below, and the rest over on their galleries!

It was an awesome night of Rock and Roll, and I can't wait to have the opportunity to shoot again! Check out more of the pictures from the night in the Hairball and Hangman's Joke galleries.

#DayofCaring 2014

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of shooting again for Bismarck's MSA United Way. You may have seen that I also got to work with them for their Annual Campaign Video. If you haven't, you can read about that experience here!

On Wednesday, August 13th 2014, MSA United Way hosted their annual #DayofCaring. This year was one of the best turn outs that they have had. Over 800 people of Bismarck and Mandan gathered together to better our communities to help complete more than 40 projects! Some of these projects included fixing, cleaning, organizing, and building for local organizations.

The day started early at Century High School in Bismarck. Volunteers and team leaders started to show up at 7:30 am, inside the gymnasium. Volunteers were greeted with a breakfast of fresh doughnuts from Bearscat Bakehouse and watermelon from Cash Wise. (I have to say, I am not usually one for doughnuts, but Bearscat's were fantastic!)

After getting everyone fed, registered for their projects and a short presentation by the Board of MSA United Way, the volunteers headed out to their project locations spread across Bismarck and Mandan, and as far north as Wilton, east as Menoken.

With the distance between locations, came quite a challenge to shoot as many of the 40+ locations as I could! You can see more of the photos from each location in the Behind the Scenes Gallery.

Being able to see the efforts of so many people from North Dakota, all for one cause is truly inspiring. I look forward to the next time that I work with a non-profit like MSA United Way, to help share what it is that they, and others do day in and day out within our local communities.

Currently, I am looking into working with some non-profits overseas for the opportunity to do some documentary work - cross your fingers for me! Be sure to check back for the latest updates!