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Let me preface this entry by saying that anyone who doesn’t give thanks to and/or think about the original Matrix on a daily basis is a fool. Period. There is no excuse for not doing so. It is your mind’s right for giving you the ability to do things like, well, live and breathe.

Anyway, if you haven’t seen the aforementioned film, go out, buy — not rent — buy it and watch it seven or eight times… I’ll wait… good. Great film, huh?

Now you know the scene when you think Neo is about to smoke one of those suited fools on top of the building only to find out that the guy has the kind of agility and quickness that make Barry Sanders and Fred Astaire look like Barry Manilow and Fred Flinstone as he dodges bullets? If not, here is a picture:

Well, that’s just dandy and drool inducing. And since this is precisely the scene that kept me on the couch in my parents’ basement for the better part of a decade eating Rasin Bran and living out my prime, I decided to pay homage to it with a Prep Athlete of the week photo.

My subject, Kyle “Did he just do that?” Grott. His ability to make opposing defensive backs look like my dad on ice skates was good enough reason for me to want to make him look Matrixesque.

The above photo is the final version. To read more on how the shot was made and how my assistant’s foot speed  played a crucial role, read on by clicking “continue reading” below.

Thanks for looking.

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I’ve been fascinated with the idea of photographing Native American ritual for quite a few years now. When I realized the Wind River Dancers, of the Wind River Indian Reservation near Riverton, Wyo., were going to be performing at the American Indian Heritage Day Celebration at the Cheyenne Depot Museum this past Saturday, I jumped at the opportunity.

What I found was a diverse display of traditional dances from tribes such as the Ojibwe and Arapahoe. The dances themselves had a variety of purposes from healing to paying homage to animals to retelling stories of battle and the hunt. Some were even highly functional, such as the mens’ grass dance — wherein Native American tribes would use dance to flatten grass on the prairies where they would make their camps.

I wasn’t surprised to find that, by arriving early, I found pictures that I treasure as much as the shots of the main event. Meaning, with many performances and athletic events, I find that the preparation photographs tell just as much, if not more, than the shots of the main event. Here, I’ve provided a few photos of traditional Ojibwe performer, Brad Whelan, as he prepares his headdress, feather bustle (a spread of golden eagle feathers which go on his back) and other items for his performance for the public. You’ll also notice photos which display the clothing and dance which, amongst other things, makes these cultures so unique.

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Why is it that the biggest cop out of conversation –weather — is always a non-cop out of conversation in Wyoming? On Thursday night, I said to a co-worker, “I hope the weather stays nice for the two days of state football I’m going to shoot.”

The next day on I-80 between Cheyenne and Laramie, my Jetta was tossed around like an American tourist in a Turkish prison.

Thursday was beautiful with no snow… Friday was more like the movie Alive — you know, rugby team crashes in Andes and resorts to munching on each other to survive. The only major difference was my lack of human meat. It was cold and miserable and I’m pretty sure I would’ve eaten my meaty brother had things not cleared up before Saturday’s games.

Despite bad weather, the games were actually pretty good on Friday. One upset in 2A and a success story in 1A as Southeast won their fourth title in a row.

On Saturday, the nice weather (less snow) resulted in three games with a combined difference of 115 points. That of course was skewed by 6-man dynamo Guernsey-Sunrise’s 76-16 win over Kaycee. The other two games ended in a 25-point win for Sheridan and 30-point win by Douglas.

I had fun and am glad I didn’t have to eat anyone.

Congratulations to the champions and the runner-ups for making it to Laramie.

Thanks for looking.

In honor of Veterans Day, I thought I would post some photos from a recent return from Iraq of several members of the Wyoming Air National Guard at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne. These men and women were from the 153rd Airlift Wing and their jobs are to haul supplies, food and personnel around Iraq on 60 days rotations.

All in all, a pretty scary position to be in when we consider how the insurgents in Iraq have been known to target those carrying supplies for the U.S. military.

This thought really stuck with me as I noticed how emotional this homecoming was for the returning soldiers and their families and friends.  From the moment that mothers began to excitedly point out the incoming transport plane to the hugs and kisses between airmen and their loved ones, you could see how long these moments had been anticipated.

These emotional moments resonate with me now on this day of recognition for those who have served their country. To me, these photos are a reminder that military members indeed sacrifice much for us, but their loved ones do as well through the worry and loneliness of separation which comes with the job.

However, the photos, as well as the experience of shooting the assignment, also remind me that there is much joy when those who serve are reunited with their families. I suppose every coin has two sides.

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God, I love Grease!

The scene when Danny Zuko and Sandra D make the school carnival their own private Studio 54 is fantastic. Every night I pray to God and ask to wake up as Danny. To date, my prayers have gone unfulfilled and I am merely a half white guy with the rhythm of reinforced steel.

Unlike me, however, the K through 2 students at Jessup Elementary can, as Young MC said, bust a move…

For the 50th day of school, the three grade levels at J.E. danced and jived and mash potatoed as if it were 1950. The only major difference was the lack of corporal punishment, polio shots and lead paint. Must be nice to have such great teachers. Growing up, I was lucky not to get cigarette ash in my eyes in the classroom and these kids are partying like it’s 1959. Man-o-man, what a lifestyle.

As the events heated up in the gym (literally, it must’ve been 188 degrees), I longed to reenact the National Bandstand dance off when that minx ChaCha DeGregorio stole Danny from Sandra D… but alas, I did not want to scare the children. Imagine being 5-8 years old, enjoying a school function only to have it ruined by a “man” dancing (more so flailing) on the dance floor like a cat with no legs in a swimming pool.

Yeah, that’s not good for anyone. Real square.

See ya later alligator.