Forty-eight years as a photojournalist with forty-seven of those covering Yosemite National Park, and I had never photographed the Bracebridge Dinner. Â Not because the event hasn’t been around – it’s over 80 years old. Â More because when I think about Yosemite the images in my mind’s eye are Half Dome and El Capitan erupting from […]
Category Archives: Photography
Cowboy Photography Workshop July 2011
Two weeks ago, the Erickson Cattle Company held a Cowboy Photography Workshop in Ackerson Meadow near Yosemite National Park. Here is my record of what I saw during the workshop. Photographers were treated to lots of real cattle ranch activity. A late rainy season kept the wildflowers and grass alive and colorful until this mid-July […]
Riot Training 1967
Less than two months after the infamous Detroit riot of July 1967 in which the Michigan National Guard was called out, I was assigned to photograph California National Guard riot training for the Modesto Bee. At the time, I was still learning how to be a professional photojournalist, dealing with law enforcement and government agencies […]
Jess Tharp — Fourth of July, 36 Years Ago
In the middle of June 1975, Laurelei Mullens, Modesto Bee features editor, sent me to south Modesto to photograph Jess Tharp, an 80-year-old cowboy saddle maker. Mullens was doing an advance story for the big Modesto Independence Day Parade. She wanted to do the story about Tharp because he would be the oldest rider in […]
John V. Tunney California Senatorial Campaign 1970
Last week I blogged my 1968 experience with national politics and campaign trains in my blog “Robert F. Kennedy 1968.â€Â A little more than two years later, I got the opportunity to put into action what I had learned when I was given the assignment to cover 1970 U.S. Senatorial candidate John V. Tunney.  […]
Raiders 2010-11 Season
Still hoping the National Football League and the Players Association will come to an agreement so they can play football this year. I have been photographing the Raiders almost as long as I have been covering the 49ers. The drive is shorter and it is easier to get in and out of the Oakland-Alameda County […]
Spring Branding
I figured that before I blogged the Erickson Cattle Company’s cattle drive this year, I should show some of the work cowboys do before the drive. First, they round up the cattle from the ranch, and then separate the calves to brand. Catching the calves is just like team roping at the Rodeo. If you […]
Cowboy Photographic Workshop 2010
August 14, 2010, I participated as a teacher for the Erickson Cattle Company Photography Workshop in Ackerson Meadow near Yosemite National Park. I love to share my knowledge with others plus get an opportunity to make a couple images at the same time. A good part of my career was motivating, coaching, helping, and problem […]