Glass Photography

Tom Glass in one of his wooden boats.

This past spring, I spent a week with my brother. All we did was talk, breath and sleep wooden kayaks. Thanks to his patience he and a friend taught me how to Eskimo role

This was taken on a day where we had thunder, lightening, and rain so thick you could barely see. It was a perfect day.

This guy, Tom, my brother, paddled solo around Vancouver Island BC this summer. It was a short trip, only some 45+ days and mild seas, 10 foot swells with 3-4 wind chop stacked on-top that. Yeah, I’m bragging . . .

~SMG

BTW. If you want to buy a handmade boat . . . they’re for sale.

I’m not sure if I’d say hanging with a 3 year old and 6 month old is a “fun” backpacking trip. But it was great to get away and unplug for 3 days in the mountains of Colorado. And of course, no trip would be complete without a requisite stock shoot. Here’s one of my favorites.

~SMG

Anthony Reid is a “mixer” making sure the correct portions of the ingredients are in each batch of MANA. Behind him is where the peanut paste is delivered.

This assignment was awesome! It included photographing architecture and people and combining the two skills into unique images. I absolutely had a blast working with the MANA folks.

Yes, this assignment is as wonderful as they come. I was flown out to North Carolina, where I met “corporate” MANA, and then Matt West, marketing director and close friend, from NC we drove the 8 hours south to the MANA factory in Fitzgerald, Georgia, where the photography took place.

I might post more MANA work over the next year. But as of now, this what you get.

Now, before “eeeewing” and “aaaaweing” too much (kidding . . . kinda-of) over the image you need to know about MANA. In short, they are working to save the lives of kids that are starving by producing a peanut paste. You’ve heard of the mess in Somalia – right? Well, they’re sending product to save lives.

MANA Peanut Paste.

So, please take the time to check out the MANA Nutrition site, and possible sign up for their e-newsletter.

The coolest part about the day and age we live in, is the ability to view other photographers work. Because of this, one day I stumbled upon photographer Joel Grimes. I was speechless.  His work absolutely stopped me. This portrait, was inspired by Joel Grimes work. It is not nearly as awesome, or incredible, but I’m really happy with it and it was my first crack on these “larger than life portraits” that Joel Grime creates.

Also a special thanks to Melissa for putting up with my experimentation. ~SMG

Dr. Eric Cornell, runner, and Nobel laureate stands with the iconic Boulder Flatirons in the distance.

It’s always exciting when I get an email for an assignment from Runners World. The staff is awesome, and the assignments bring me to interesting locations and cool people.

This time I photographed physics Nobel laureate, Eric Cornell at Colorado University campus. Eric IS the guy who has made the “coldest” thing ever. Say a wee bit above absolute zero. And lo- he used lasers to do it? Don’t ask me how, but really? Laser to make things cold? I’m sure the beer companies could make a killing off this technology. Anyway, back to the photography.

It was a great day with many challenges – namely Overly-Enthusiastic-Open-Space-Boulder-Ranger – read “get permit” and hence, go beg at the door of the local catholic perish to use their property. Also, I had a friend, Brian Pettit, assist me that day. Without him I’d still be hauling lights through Boulder open space, with a Ranger protecting prairie dogs – gasp, did I just write that?

Anyway, it was an awesome shoot, and  If you are Runner’s World Reader, check it out it on page 25 of the June 2011 issue. And for the record, I do like Prairie Dogs.

~SMG

Athlete: Matt Stallings / Location: The Prow, Rotary Park, Fort Collins, Colorado.

I think the picture says it all. Other than don’t we all want abs like that - I mean really?

The Greenland 50K is a trail race outside of Greenland Colorado. Good luck finding the town. It is tiny. Anyway, I’ve photographed the race for a few years now. This year, I hired a second photographer, Matt Oscadal,  who hiked the million miles down the trail to photograph the runners on the course - he did a fantastic job on the action shots. Meanwhile, I stayed at the finish line and photographed portraits of willing race participants.  Here’s a few of my portraits from the day.

Daughter and Mother . . . windy - do you think?

Group of friends,"representing."

Smoking Guns . . .

Innocent little smile . . . yeah, well, Melanie Fryer dropped the hammer, and secured the course record in 4 hr, 3 minutes and 33 seconds. Go super Girl, Go!

This is more like it. Melanie Fryer's Stoic-Super-Human-Stance. . . . and she still has a grin . . . BTW. In all of her running pictures she's smiling. People, she ran for over 4 hours! Heck, I don't know if I can drive for that long without a break . . . .

I can’t remember his name now, but I believe he recently moved from Pennsylvania to Colorado, and then decided to run a 50K. Hmmm . . . . yeah, that’s awesome, and amazing.

And whoa . . . the lowly race director, Derek Griffith. If it weren’t for his vision, you could all be at home watching TV – that was a joke, kinda of. He is also the publisher of Colorado Runner Magazine. If you’re a runner who lives in Colorado, this magazine is the source. Check it out, buy it, get a subscription.

Now I hope we’re all inspired . . . leave the keyboard and go run! Well or read more posts.

~SMG