Please vote for my entries in the High Country News 40th Anniversary Photo Contest!

High Country News is a great publication covering the heart of the western US. I've been reading it regularly for about 15 years now. We are loyal subscribers, and I am an infrequent contributor.

I'd be proud to have one of my images associated with the celebration of their 40th anniversary. I need your help, though. Please go to the site and vote for this image!

Thanks in advance... -R

Fly Fishing Film Tour in Casper, WY on March 11!

I posted earlier noting the launch of the 2010 Drake Fly Fishing Film Tour, presented by Costa, Patagonia, Sage and other huge sponsors, an event that brings fly anglers together during the heart of cabin fever season to celebrate the beautiful places in which we fish, and those that we dream of fishing just once in our lives. In that previous post, I mentioned that the Tour at that time had no Wyoming dates. Apparently, I wasn't the only one disappointed at the prospect of having to drive to Salt Lake City or Billings to participate in the event.

Thanks to the North Platte River Fly Shop, which has stepped up to sponsor and host the event in Casper. The details: March 11, beginning at 6:30p, at the Natrona County High School. Tickets are $12 each in advance, $15 at the door; kids under the age of 14 are free. Tickets for our Casper show can be purchased online HERE.

Net proceeds from ticket sales go to benefit Project Healing Waters.

A couple more...

As a postscript, here are a couple more shots from Oregon. Again, a beautiful place, an incredible river, forever protected.

Lower John Day River
Copyright 2010 schnitzerPHOTO

Pitching the "D"
Copyright 2010 schnitzerPHOTO

Oregon

Murtha Ranch - Lower John Day River, Oregon

Copyright 2010 schnitzerPHOTO

Whew. I wish I could do a better job of keeping up with everything. I know, I know - I don't have kids, and, as a result, some of you might think that I could have nothing but time. Not at all the case. The schedule has been jam-packed. Kel and I have both been pedal-to-the-floor, and I'm already looking forward to February's close. Long days at the day job, and a lot of photography footwork to do.  There's plenty going on, and we don't mess around in getting after it.

The time spent in Oregon was, as always, great. I was fortunate to have the guidance and assistance of Western Rivers Conservancy staff, who escorted me around their Murtha Ranch property in and around the John Day River. I'm grateful once again to Communications Manger Jenny DuVander, and also to Don Elder and Anne Tattam for good company, and for the work they all do to conserve some of our country's most spectacular watersheds.

The light wasn't ideal, but it was February in Oregon. You have to just roll with what you're presented, and I actually enjoy the challenge of trying to make the most out of challenging conditions. Adding to the constraints, I was limited to a single day. Thankfully, we worked a variety of perspectives, and the dynamic ambient light provided variety. As a bonus, Anne was determined to swing some flies through some of the John Day's sublime runs, which presented the opportunity for some spey fishing shots, as well.

After the Rain
Copyright 2010 schnitzerPHOTO

Skagit Loop
Copyright 2010 schnitzerPHOTO

Oxbow: John Day
Copyright 2010 schnitzerPHOTO

I hope that Western Rivers Conservancy is able to make use of some of the images. Again, I'm grateful to have had the opportunity, and look forward to more soon.

As far as the currency of this blog is concerned, I have to renew my commitment. I've got a bunch more fly fishing shooting in the weeks ahead, including a quick trip to Florida. One way or another, I'll get back on track. To everyone who stops by, thanks for your patience. I hope you're all having fun out there, whether in the snow or the sun. -R

Trout Magazine

Beaverhead Release

Copyright 2010 schnitzerPHOTO

January has been a steamroller. With a hundred different irons in the fire, the submission deadline for the upcoming Trout Magazine request was suddenly staring me down. It has been a while since I've put together a submission for Trout. The publication, and the organization it represents, Trout Unlimited (TU), are very near and dear to me. I am a TU alumnus, having worked for the organization for five years. I am grateful for the time I spent with the organization, and I have many close friends still there on behalf of its worthy mission. It is more than just a conservation organization that I support - it is, in a very real sense, my extended family. Their challenges, their successes, I still perceive as very much my own.

With the turning of a new year, I resolved to once again make a point of contributing photography in support of TROUT Magazine's conservation messages. I was put in touch with their communications staff - all new since my departure in 2006 - and received the call for submissions for the next issue. Unfortunately, the time between notification and the deadline was short, and there weren't many articles that overlapped with images in my archive. I diligently perused the binders of 35mm slides, as well as the digital library for more recent collections. I didn't find hundreds, but a few dozen matched up with least one feature article.

I won't give away what the upcoming issue will highlight, but the headline image for this post is a vague hint. That image, featuring my old friend Rob, is part of a series gathered during some particularly memorable late summer days in western Montana. The memories provided by yesterday's skimming of old slides is something I should avail myself of more often. Not that I needed any more desire to get out fishing right now, but, during the past ten years, I've been fortunate to share some downright fairytale days on some of this country's most beautiful creeks, streams and rivers - even tropical flats and Alaskan waters - with friends who made every day just that much more special. That's sappy, but true.

My fingers are crossed that I am once again able to be a part of Trout Magazine. Whether that happens with the new issue, or one subsequent, I've got a renewed vigor to make many, many more fly fishing images this year. So, to any friends out there who read this - let's get our calendars together and get after it.

2010 Fly Fishing Film Tour!

The 2010 Tour, presented by Costa, lauches January 26 in Ventura, CA.  This is THE premier collection of fly fishing films, and a celebration of fly fishing around the globe.

Check out the tour schedule, and get inspired, as well as contract an acute case of cabin fever.

Getting in the groove

Intro: Some may note the conspicuous absence of a post marking the New Year.  Had I penned one, it would have been witty and profound, but, alas, I just didn't have it in me.  I'm sure there were plenty of amusing "Best Of..." lists out there, looking back not just on the year, but on an entire decade.  I've decided to keep this blog forward-looking.  So, in the way of resolutions: 1) more fishing; 2) pursuing more and more challenging photographic projects; 3) more fun.  With the third item in mind, I hope everyone is headfirst and safely in to 2010.  Let's make it a good one.   -R

Self Portrait: Ski Prep

Copyright 2010 schnitzerPHOTO

We've been fast in winter's grip since well before the holiday season.  Though it took me some time to get accustomed to it, I've lately been making every attempt to embrace the season.  One of the ways I do so is on skate skis, thanks to the Lander Nordic Skiing Association, of which we are members.  LNSA maintains our little system of nordic trails - Beaver Creek, just up the mountain (@8000') from our place, includes a warming yurt and weaving, hilly trails in and out of aspens.  With good snow, it is spectacular.  The Association also grooms the municipal golf course when there is enough snow, making for a good lunch break option.

For the past four days, I've been getting out to Beaver Creek for at least an hour each outing.  Yesterday, I put in ninety minutes. My body and lungs are grateful for the spark provided by skate skiing.  Chukar hunting requires almost as much physical exertion, but just isn't the same.  Last week, we picked up Kel's new skis, and she broke them in on New Year's day.  However, her surgically-repaired right foot isn't yet fully capable, so she'll keep working on it incrementally.

There's a lot of winter remaining.  Here's hoping for more snow.