Ashland Independent Film Festival banner flying in front of the Elk’s Lodge on East Main Street

@ashlandfilm #AIFF2016 @CATMovies @BirthofSake

Today is April 12, which means the Ashland Independent Film Festival of 2016 is now only a memory.

You can view a list of award-winning films here. “The Birth of Sake” received an honorable mention. A couple of my other favorites (“Thunder Road” and “Embers”) didn’t receive any awards, which just goes to show you how high the quality of this festival has become.

“The Birth of Sake” in Ashland’s Varsity Theatre

Erik Shirai, director of “The Birth of Sake”, answers questions from the audience

Posted on April 12th, 2016 under only in ashland, people. Tags: AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G ED lens, ashland independent film festival aiff, Nikon D750, signs, varsity theatre coming attractions theater. Comments Off on AIFF 2016 is over

Jesse Carroll

After a doubleheader sweep of the previously #1-ranked team in the state, the 10-1 Grizzlies head into Tuesday afternoon’s matchup as the new #1. Game time is 5 p.m. at North Mountain Park on 4/12/16. Ashland High’s opponent will be 11-2 Marist. The winner will take over first place in the seven-team 5A Midwestern League.

Posted on April 11th, 2016 under only in ashland, people. Tags: ashland high school, baseball, jesse carroll, NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens, Nikon D750, sports photography. Comments Off on #1 in the state

Aaliyah Oliver

@SOU_Softball @SOURaiders

Fortunately for the Raiders, I didn’t know what I was talking about yesterday when I said they’d need help to catch the Owls. Details here.

Posted on April 10th, 2016 under only in ashland, people. Tags: aaliyah oliver, NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, softball, sports photography. Comments Off on 1st place

6-photo photomerge of AIFF 2016 activity on a beautiful Sunday morning in Ashland

Awards tonight, award-winning films shown tomorrow for the last time. If you are supposed to work tomorrow, it may be a good time to take a sick day.

Posted on April 10th, 2016 under only in ashland, photography, places. Tags: AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G ED lens, ashland independent film festival aiff, ashland springs hotel, national register of historic places, Nikon D750, photoshop photomerge, plaza, varsity theatre coming attractions theater. Comments Off on Day 4 @ AIFF 2016

Tyler Burke slides in under the tag. She is 5-5 in steals this year.

@SOU_Softball @SOURaiders @twyler_

SOU nearly took two more from OIT today. Instead, they settled for a split in Klamath Falls. These teams couldn’t be any more competitive. They have now played four times, going extra innings twice, and three of the four games have been settled by one run. The other? SOU won by just two runs.

Unfortunately for the 28-12 Raiders, they are going to need some help from other teams to catch the Owls as SOU is currently a game back in the standings, and they have no more regular season games against Oregon Tech.

Posted on April 9th, 2016 under people. Tags: Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, softball, sports photography, tyler burke. Comments Off on Even Steven

Michelle Branch and Michael Bryant discuss “Damn, What a Dame”

@ashlandfilm #AIFF2016 @jimmycthatsme @formerchildren

My favorite of the 2016 film festival so far are the Short Stories. There are actually tickets still remaining to see these on Sunday morning.

The short films are all good or better, but the final one “Thunder Road” by Jim Cummings is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. I’ve never simultaneously been so sad and laughing hysterically before.

I said a final goodbye to my dying mother just days before the 2013 Ashland Independent Film Festival. She died within days of the festival ending. My father was dying during the 2014 AIFF. So I tend to get a little extra emotional during AIFF. “Thunder Road”, “Semele”, “Mother’s Day”, and “1985” (a short before “Five Nights in Maine”) all got me really good.

“Mother’s Day” by Jeff Tan in Varsity 3

Varsity Theatre (Ashland, Oregon)

Posted on April 9th, 2016 under only in ashland, people. Tags: ashland independent film festival aiff, michael bryant, Nikon D750, varsity theatre coming attractions theater. Comments Off on Day 3 at AIFF 2016 begins

Ashland Springs Hotel and Varsity Theatre

@flula @ashlandfilm #AIFF2016 @AshlandSprings @CATMovies

Day two begins for the 15th Annual Ashland Independent Film Festival.

Flula Borg after the showing of Honey Buddies

Travel Essentials (2016 Ashland Independent Film Festival sponsor) on the big screen in the Historic Ashland Armory

Posted on April 8th, 2016 under only in ashland. Tags: AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G ED lens, ashland independent film festival aiff, ashland springs hotel, Historic Ashland Armory, Nikon D750, varsity theatre coming attractions theater. Comments Off on AIFF 2016 continues

Cherry blossoms in Ashland on the last day of March

Posted on April 6th, 2016 under lithia park, nature, only in ashland, photography, places. Tags: AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G ED lens, lithia park, Nikon D750, spring. Comments Off on Lithia Park’s Upper Duck Pond

Eagle Point is 5-0 against teams from Oregon and ranked #1 in the state. Ashland is 8-0 and ranked #5. Someone will have a blemish on their conference record after today’s game @ Eagle Point @ 5. The same two teams will play a doubleheader in Ashland on Saturday (4/9/16) beginning at 1.

Posted on April 5th, 2016 under people. Tags: ashland high school, baseball, jesse carroll, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, sports photography. Comments Off on Battle of the unbeatens