My Sundance Premiere

I got to photograph my first Sundance here in Utah, for the paper. Most of the other photographer are a little tired of Sundance. It is a lot of waiting around and battling crowds just to photograph a celebrities in what could be considered the worst set up dog and pony show. Bad lighting, against a flat backdrop with a bunch of annoying text all over it. That aside, I had a blast. I realized that when I see celebrities the US Weekly in me comes out. I start noticing their awesome shoes and commenting on how Emma Roberts is looking a little anorexic. Don't get me wrong, I love being a news photographer but I have to admit it is kinda fun to be paparazzi for two weeks. It's like camping. I love sleeping outside under the stars, cooking over a campfire, living in nature. And that's fine for a few days but I really appreciate my bed and a hot shower when it comes down to it. So anyway here are some things I learned at Sundance:

1. Yes it's true! The paparazzi does scream ridiculous things at celebrities. Favorite quotes, "One for the big guy in the back.", "It's a Sundance party." "For blue man over here." Hearing a grown middle aged non fashionable man say to Zoe Saldana "Yeah your looking good Zoe." just seems a little strange and creepy but hey I guess if it works for them, then at least I'm entertained.

2. Publicist for movie stars=23 year old overly fashionable female who is bad at their job.

3. Richard Gere is super classy.

4. Ashley Olsen isn't very nice.

5. Cillian Murphy (the guy who played scarecrow in the first batman remake) is super creepy and weird in person.

6. I'm so glad I'm a newspaper photographer. Freelance celebrity photography is literal the worst. The industry standard is the ugliest lit, most uncreative picture in the world. I think I would cry myself to sleep every night if I had to take pictures like that all day. It's like intentionally being a sucky photographer.

Ok so enough of my babble lets look at the pictures I liked from the festival.



Cast members (from right) Emma Roberts, Andy Samberg, and Rashida Jones give interviews on the red carpet before the premiere of "Celeste and Jesse Forever" at the Eccles Center.


Child actor Finn Donoghue is escorted the red carpet before the premiere of "Price Check" at the Eccles Center.


Richard Gere


My childhood crush Elijah Wood, who is really small in person, but not in a creepy way.


The only person to do anything interesting on the red carpet.




Cast member Joel Edgerton sticks his tongue out at a publicist on the red carpet before the premier of "Wish You Were Here" at the Library Center Theatre.

Bye Sundance! Until next year.

Update..

Here are some pictures from the last month.....








Another to add to my collection of weird animal photos. The photos was taken for Las Posada, a latino tradition of a procession following Mary and Joseph on a donkey trying to find a place to birth Jesus. Nothing gives me more joy then seeing someone ride a live donkey in downtown SLC. So great.





Lego competition. My favorite part of this photo is the kid in the corner praying.



Candlelight vigil for Ryan and Kelly Pack who are still recovering the hospital after a Christmas Eve accident that killed their 18-month-old, Colum Pack. (left) Finn Pack, the three year old son of Ryan and Kelly, who survived the crash, stands with his cousin Ashli Davis during a vigil outside of Ryan and Kelly Pack's home. Davis' parents are currently taking care of Finn Pack until his parents are out of the hospital.



Pictures from a studio shoot I did for my favorite column "Sexy In SLC".



Little did I know that shooting pictures in a jail during visiting hours would be easier then shooting a school.

Some Sports Pics

With all the basketball games I've shot you would think I could be a coach.

First month or so feature photos.

From Veterans Day


For a story on an 18-year-old boy, Kunal, who runs his families hotel by himself after both of his parents were deported to India.





On the red carpet with some stars from Twilight.

First Week

Holy Moly! It's been a wild ride and it's only been a week. Shooting Judas Priest, Volleyball finals, and a Real Salt Lake Championship in three days. Here a couple from this week that I liked. More to come...when I have a free moment.

A Happy Pup!

This is Bug. In case you didn't know he is the best dog in the whole world. In this picture he is giving you the tired dog happy face. The culprit is the Kong laying to his left...they are his crack.

First Down

Virginia University of Lynchburg hasn’t had a football team in 57 years. We decided at the paper it would make a great story to follow these guys as they begin their first season. I was amazed at the access we were allowed and tried to take advantage of the opportunity and make intimate pictures of the players you would rarely see even from a high school football team.

Click here to watch an audio slideshow of the teams first few weeks.