Archives : 2009 : December

The Best Wedding Images Of 2009 From Byron Roe Photography – Bend, OR

As Wendy and I leap into the new year we look forward to making new friends who are keen to our unique style of wedding photography, as well as keeping up with all our new wedding couple friends we made through out 2009.  Thank you all for having the utmost faith in our talents as photographers for our inaugural year.  It was a privileged to be part of each and every one of your special days!

Since everyone else is doing their “best of….” for 09, I thought we needed the best bride & groom images of 2009 as well!  So here are the coolest images, (in our opinion) from the weddings we shot though out the year.  I did the preliminary choosing without Wendy but I knew that it would be better to have lots of choices to pick from since they were destined to be debated once she looked at them!  One of the great things, (among many others) about wedding photography is that they’re always unique and never dull.  So sit back, relax and enjoy these images that were so inspiring for us to create.

Winter Fog Photography at Deschutes River – Bend, Oregon

There are days where the scenery in Bend, Oregon is just plain beautiful.  Recently, the combination of freezing fog on the pine trees and a light dusting of snow made our town pretty magical.  I was looking for a good excuse to grab the camera and experiment with some ideas – and the Deschutes river was the perfect venue for tinkering.  It’s pretty rare that we focus on shots that don’t include people!

In a few hours of shooting down at Big Eddy and Dillon Falls, I ran into 4 other photographers (tripod and all) – one all the way from Seattle – with the same idea.  We were almost vying for the ‘best spots’ without being too impolite; it was rather funny.  We’re used to working around others with cameras at weddings, “the paparazzi” Byron and I like to call them (those with point and shoots and basic SLRs) but that’s the last thing I expected with this casual nature shoot!   One photographer even took a shot of me shooting at Dillon Falls (since I was hopping on the slippery rocks to get as close to the falls as possible, hoping I wasn’t going to slip!).  If he does end up sending it our way, I’ll post an addon!  Enjoy these winter pics; we wish everyone a spectacular start to 2010.

-Wendy

I fell cold just looking at this photo   Brrrrrr…

Just a subtle bit of color to spice up this image…don’tcha think?

See those footprints?  Yup, I was out on the edge jumping from snow patch to snow patch.

All that jumping for a view like this – worth it!

I couldn’t take my eyes off of the intricacy of this tree root…weird but fascinating!

And this one’s for you – Byron <3

Business Portraits With Jeff Coffey Of StreamiT Media

My friend Jeff Coffey is a true visionary and his company StreamiT Media has been working frantically on an exciting project that will change how video content will be dealt with on the web.  Wanting to make sure he had his business portraits set when INC.com calls him up for a cover shot, Jeff and I spent one morning recently working together.  We always have a great time together in social or work settings and this was no different.

I’ve always had an interest in fashion/interior design/architecture, (maybe it’s my Italian roots showing through) and even though I never went to school for it or worked in the industry, I’m seeing that looking at all those GQ, Elle Decor, etc. magazines when I was younger wasn’t a waste of time as it really helps me to envision lots of options during a photoshoot and in this case allowed me to manipulate his wardrobe choices to get the results you see below.   Please take a look at their website for more information:  StreamiT Media

Photoshoot For Bend, Oregon’s New “Volcanic Theatre” And The Source’s Cover

It’s been called “beer theatre” and should play out to be quite a riot when this new theatre company in Central Oregon comes to a bar/pub for a show.  Can you imagine chillin’ out in a more relaxed setting to watch theatre than the usual seating arrangements we have all come to expect?  “I’ll have a pint, burger and…..hey, for one it’s always intermission sort of!  Imagine, no more waiting for an hour to go to the restroom!

Anyway, I had the privilege of shooting this weeks cover for The Source and this proved to be lots of fun as their art director Elise and I worked with the logistics of shooting at the Summit Salon during lunch time.  One great thing about working with actors, (at least in theatre) is that they are easily motivated to have fun and play during a photoshoot which makes getting great images much more likely to happen, (and I don’t have to do anything silly to lighten up the situation…not that I have a problem with looking silly….just ask Wendy!).  With Elise taking the place of a light-stand (at some point I’ll own some) and holding a snooted speedotron light to create that spotlight look for the cover, I got to yell “action” and the actors did the rest.  Thank’s Elise for risking life and limb as my light holder, Summit’s staff for letting us shoot there, and Ric, Lorraine and Sandra for the acting fun.  Looking forward to seeing the show!

Phoenix, Arizona And All The Festive Cheer One Could Ever Imagine

Wendy and I just got back from spending a week visiting my parents down in Phoenix.  For one, (and I’m not saying this because they’re going to read this) my parents rock, and the older I get the more I realize this and love them all the more.  They have so much positive energy it’s easy to understand where I get my love of life!  I’ll tell you though, I wasn’t expecting much from the weather, (because it usually ends up getting cold just as we arrive), but I really was hoping for temps in the 80′s.  Nope, yet again a cold front flows in and 50-60 temps prevent me from getting that tan I desperately wanted.

The images below are from a number of different moments during the trip.  My parents live fairly close to some amazing hiking trails call the White Tanks, so I took a camera with me and spent about 10 minutes photoshooting Wendy next to this huge cactus.  I love walking around in areas that are nothing like where we live.  Super picturesque and amazing colors!

The other images are of my parents church choir prior to mass beginning.  My mother was a professional opera singer prior to the birth of my brother and I and she continually amazes everyone with her voice.  My father has been singing in the choir for a number of years and seems to have found a new love in his voice!  The final images are of this house that wins the Christmas Spirit Award…enough said.

That’s Wendy getting a little too close to a LARGE cactus.

My mom, Ninfi Roe, dazzling hundreds of Midnight Mass goers with her soprano solo.  Just beautiful…

My father, Byron Roe, Sr., in the gray suit – singing baritone with the fellow choir.

The most elaborate house of Christmas lights I have EVER seen!

…it made the Phoenix news….did you know their electric bill is $800 for the month of December?

Max King Of Bend, Oregon Wins XTERRA Trail Run Worlds 2009

Back when we had an autumn in Bend, Oregon this year, I got the chance to go out with Max King for a photoshoot.  With more evergreens than deciduous trees in Central Oregon you have to know where to go for some color so I took him up to a very unusual spot that has a very dense but small area of aspens surrounded by green for miles.  Even though the colors were amazing the temperature was in the 40′s so my hat goes off to Max who not only stuck it out during the photoshoot but had a great attitude as well.  Max looks in top form as he just claimed his second title as XTERRA trail running world champion about a week ago in Ka’a'awa, Oahu-Hawaii.  About a month ago he won the USA Track and Field National Trail Marathon (six days after finishing 18th at the New York City Marathon).  Congrats Max!