Ashland has had some fantastic skies the past few days. I’m hoping these kind of skies and clouds follow me to Yosemite where I will be spending much of my spring break next week.

It may not look it from this panorama, but I nearly froze to death taking these eight photos (which were photomerged into one in CS6 later). These clouds were moving through quickly, the wind was howling, and the temperature was probably below freezing with the wind chill factor. I didn’t stick around for long to enjoy the view.

Posted on March 22nd, 2013 under nature, only in ashland, places. Tags: clouds, grizzly peak, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Lens, Nikon D600, photoshop photomerge, trains. Comments Off on 180° from the Ashland Street Overpass

In the photo above, Conan and David Rivera flipped their guitars on to their backs and proceeded to play the other guy’s guitar.

Below is their performance of “Kneel Before the Steel” from their 2011 album “Beyond The Fall Of Time”.

Posted on March 21st, 2013 under only in ashland, people. Tags: club 66, concert photography, exmortus, Nikon D600, sennheiser mke 400 external microphone, sigma 85mm f/1.4, video. Comments Off on Exmortus @ Club 66

Posted on March 21st, 2013 under only in ashland, people. Tags: club 66, concert photography, Nikon D600, sigma 85mm f/1.4, witchaven. Comments Off on Witchaven @ Club 66

Witch Cult @ Club 66
Ashland, Oregon

Tonight’s show begins promptly at 7 p.m. All ages for the Witch Cult set. 21+ for Exmortus and Witchaven.

Posted on March 20th, 2013 under only in ashland, people. Tags: club 66, concert photography, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Lens, Nikon D600, witch cult. Comments Off on Witchaven, Exmortus, and Witch Cult tonight @ Club 66

One of my reasons for shooting yesterday’s softball game was to see if I could get away with taking only my Nikon 70-300mm VR to Japan and Korea this summer where I plan to attend several professional baseball games. My other option is to take my 70-200mm f/2.8 and a 1.7X teleconverter. The problem is those two combined weigh more than twice as much as my 70-300mm and they take up more space in my luggage.

The 70-300mm passed the test in sunny conditions. Unfortunately, most of the games I will go to in Korea and Japan will probably be at night and/or indoors. I’m still leaning towards the 70-300mm though.

Irene Barrantes – SOU softball

Posted on March 16th, 2013 under only in ashland, people. Tags: Nikkor 70-300mm VR, Nikon D600, softball, Southern Oregon University, sports photography. Comments Off on More photos from yesterday’s Southern Oregon University softball victory

Karlie Stephens

… en route to a game one victory over Northwest Christian University yesterday. The Raiders went on to win both games of the doubleheader to improve their record to 5-1 in the conference. Today SOU faces Concordia in another doubleheader. The first game begins at 11 a.m. in Ashland.

Posted on March 16th, 2013 under only in ashland, people. Tags: Nikkor 70-300mm VR, Nikon D600, softball, Southern Oregon University, sports photography. Comments Off on Karlie Stephens gives up just 1 earned run in 7 innings…

Noah Smith of “Fire in the Northwest” @ Club 66

Tomorrow night I don’t know what to do. Three bands I want to see are playing at three different venues. Witch Cult will be at Northwest Pizza, and Stoneburner will be at Johnny B’s in Medford.

If only bands started on a schedule in this part of the world like they do in most other places, I could probably figure out a way to see at least two of them.

I’ll probably end up going to see Stoneburner since I can see Witch Cult and Fire in the Nortwest next week in Ashland.

Posted on March 15th, 2013 under only in ashland, people, places. Tags: club 66, concert photography, fire in the northwest, Nikon D600, sigma 85mm f/1.4. Comments Off on Fire in the Northwest returns to Club 66 tomorrow night

Snowy Ashland, Oregon

Today’s photo is a little more than two years old. This is one of the last photos I took with my old LX3 before upgrading to DSLR technology.

It’s not often that you see the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s heraldic banners in the snow since the banners don’t go up until late February (when OSF begins), and Ashland gets most of its snow before then.

Posted on March 14th, 2013 under only in ashland, places. Tags: lx3, oregon shakespeare festival, snow, winter. Comments Off on Lithia Way in the snow

Zack Karr on bass for Twice Born Gypsies @ Northwest Pizza and Pasta Company (3/9/13)

Posted on March 13th, 2013 under only in ashland. Tags: concert photography, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Lens, Nikon D600, Northwest Pizza and Pasta Company. Comments Off on Twice Born Gypsies @ Northwest Pizza