Laverne Cox speaks at CU Boulder

"There is currently an empathy defecit in this country" - Laverne Cox

-Nick Annis Visuals ©

Full Article at 303magazine.com - Click Here

Colorado Symphony @ Boettcher Concert Hall

This was hands down the hardest concert I have ever shot. I'm used to being able to push around in a loud and rowdy crowd while a performer runs constantly all over the stage. This was entirely the opposite. I had to take the best photos as fast as possible with a very still performer. All while being as silent and unnoticeable as possible. Not too happy with the results, but I hope I have a chance to try it again. Always learning something.

-Nick Annis Visuals © 

Alcohol @ Occidental

For a bar/happy hour piece I took some photos of drinks at Occidental on Thanksgiving Eve. The article from 303 magazine is here. I need to get my own tripod along with a remote shutter activator robot assistant transformer. When I want to keep my ISO nice and juicy I can't be touching the camera to activate the shutter.  After I was done taking photos of the drinks I asked a few bartenders if I could take their portrait since I hadn't done portraits in a while. 

I feel like I really botched that one. It was a good reminder and learning experience of a few things that I forgot. The photos did not come out great (the bartenders did awesome though. Thank you!) I just hadn't snagged portraits in a while. I broke the brick wall rule (Brick walls look horrible and extremely tacky). I didn't use a tripod. I also felt rushed and obligated to go as quick as possible. I should have reminded myself to slow down and ask if I could take 15 minutes of their time. All good reminders and I'm glad I did it, but I should have done a better job. My bad. 

-Nick Annis Visuals ©

Grouplove @ The Ogden Theatre

Some of my favorite pictures I have taken in a while. Super proud of these and they look awesome.

Sick show. The openers, Dilly Dally, have an amazing crew. Lead singer has an awesome voice and a super cold and harsh rock sound that I am really into. I listened to all of their music the next day. MUNA was also lively and very upbeat which is more similar to Grouplove. They all had a great chemistry with the crowd and everyone was getting rowdy. Super great show, and a fun night. Grouplove killed it of course for their first sold out show. Article is

-Nick Annis Visuals ©

Cold War Kids @ The Boulder Theater

Cold War Kids slayed The Boulder Theater. Had to apologize to some high school kiddos for stomping on their toes to get around the venue. It was a very odd and intimate place to shoot from. No pit just me and the crowd and a lot of "Sorry.", "Excuse me.", "I'll be gone after the third song.". I felt rude tromping around, but most people are nice enough to slide by if you have a camera in your hand. I would rather have a pit, but still very cool experience. Strumbella's also slayed as well and were super fun and upbeat live. Canadians eh?...

Gallery is here

-Nick Annis Visuals ©

Tech N9ne @ Red Rocks

Super rowdy show full of "Technicians". One of the livelier crowds I have seen at Red Rocks. Link to the article is here. Don't know what else to type. It was loud. It was fun. Look at the pictures they are cool.

-Nick Annis Visuals ©

Kaytranada & Cashmere Cat @ Ogden Theater

First time at the Ogden. Super awesome venue. It is always great to get close to the stage and overall the atmosphere is perfect for a concert. Took Cashmere Cat a while to get on the stage, and also Kaytranada.  I left before the show was over and it was after midnight. Here are the selects. Not stoked on these photos either. Maybe I'm losing my touch. 

-Nick Annis Visuals ©

Tears For Fears and Robert Delong @ Red Rocks

Shot this concert at Red Rocks. It was..... alright. They didn't let us shoot from the front and put us next to the soundboard. Very Exciting (sarcasm). Not stoked on the photos, but here they are.....

-Nick Annis Visuals ©

Rino Music Festival

Went right across the river from work and shot the Rino Music Festival. It was the inaugural event, and was quite an awesome lineup. Bishop Briggs, 888, St. Lucia, and Silversun Pickups. Here are my selects from the event. 

-Nick Annis Visuals ©

Work Never Hurt Anybody

If I find myself in a job position that requires a suit and tie every day I might struggle to adjust for quite some time. Boa has  a "wipeout" event (this being the second year) that is a fun and competitive afternoon to enjoy working at such a great company. I offered to do the photography for the event instead of compete this year. I always am having fun behind the camera though. 

-Nick Annis Visuals ©

Español por favor

Warning, all photos were shot on my old Nikon D60. Please do not cry since the megapixels are not as juicy and glamorous. I understand if you feel the need to throw your computer out the window, but please refrain. I'm not paying for that sh**. 

Just got back from a quick trip down to Puerto Rico to visit my good friends Laura and Victor. I was lucky enough to get on a boat and explore some cay's and mangrove islands with Laura and her cousin, enjoy some waterfalls in the rain forest with Victor, attempt surfing con todos mis amigos, and of course was smart enough to forget to apply sunscreen to all parts of my body. After that a layover in Charlotte was best spent getting some BBQ at  Midwood Smokehouse

I recommend trying the dish that represents myself very accurately, The Hot Mess,

"The Hot Mess Our custom chuck & brisket burger patty with creamy bacon jalapeño spread, Monterey Jack and caramelized onions on a bun. +Make it a Hotter Mess + 2 Bacon wrapped jalapeño" - Midwood Smokehouse

A few thousand calories later I enjoyed some coloring at a twenty-two, a bar that had some dope art and also of course.... cool furniture. Expected something else? Well of course they had beer that tasted good, so why would I bring that up, but looks like I did. I just ruined my own joke. This is going nowhere.  If you're still reading this post props to you, and I recommend you leaving a comment of what your favorite animal is below.

It was real, it was fun, but it was not real fun when I boarded my final plane to Denver and they forgot the pilots. 

Umphrey's Mcgee

Extremely excited by the opportunities I have found within Denver for my photography so far. I didn't imagine myself taking photos at a Red Rocks concert so quickly. Here I am though, and here are the photos from that concert. Short and sweet copy. I have been very busy with work, applying to graduate school, and still trying to have fun in between. 

Electronic Thump Thump: Deadrocks 16'-Zeds Dead, Tchami, Lil Dicky, NGHTMRE, Rezz,

Never did I think I would find myself leaning over the railing of the stage at Red Rocks with my camera a burp's direction away from Lil Dicky.  I guess my pictures aren't too horrible if someone gave me a press pass to do that.

The show started out Sunny and relatively empty. I hadn't been to a concert with mostly DJ's before and the crowd was definitely.... interesting.  Right towards the end of Lil Dicky's set the clouds began to spit on the amphitheater. Then with Tchami next the photographers trudged out into the downpour with cameras undershirt. 

Not the biggest fan of DJ's and their electronic thump thump since the interaction between the crowd and the music is mostly directed by the LED lights and screen images. I think the crowd was definitely into letting Lil Dicky freak and he was much more lively and enjoyable to photograph.

Tonight I photograph Umphrey's Mcgee at Red Rocks

Exposed

Fourteener, 14er, 14,000 feet. Air gets paper thin, shade and trees disappear, and extreme weather can roll in within minutes. Below freezing windchill in the middle of summer, and a climb in elevation that brings a brisk walk to a snails crawl. A sufferfest, death march, and anything but fun, yet such a satisfying pain.  Thoughts become cloudy and the mouth gets bone dry. Water sources deplete, and now there is the hike back down. 

There are 58 peaks over 14,000' in Colorado. These high peaks are not your afternoon hike and require a bit of experience and planning. Although they may not be the most technical and difficult hikes, the altitude bites into your fitness fast, and inexperience can leave you in a dangerous place within a lightning storm. I wanted to show with this group of photos how exposed and how raw climbing a 14er is. I wanted you to feel the sun relentlessly beating down on you, and the dryness of the air sucking away any last bit of hydration within your body. I wanted this batch of photos to capture the raw struggle of climbing these peaks.  We climbed the tallest peak in the Rocky Mountains in North America  this weekend, Mt. Elbert and it was awesome. 

Back to Class

Today I took a class on Strobe and Studio Lighting in Fort Collins. I want to and need to learn more about this type of lighting. I haven't had enough experience with it. Although I personally liked all the natural light photos I took instead of the ones with the strobe light. I liked them so much more that I didn't even post any that involved the strobe light. Also I don't think those photos are as great because it is a whole new skill I haven't mastered yet. Here are some photos of the model from our class (she did all the gesturing and posing since it isn't exactly my type of photo I enjoy, but she did a great job at it and I didn't have to direct or anything. Just not the type of photo I enjoy) It was a helpful learning experience though, and it was a good way to spend an afternoon. 

Otis

Hadn't taken photos in a while, so hanging out with Otis by the fire was a good start.

Road Trip!

I spent my last week after graduation taking some time to finally get the motivation to drive across the country for the last time....hopefully.

Check out my route 

I took a stop in South Boston (Goodwill Hunting), ran by Yale real quick, and spent time in some suburbs of Connecticut with my college buddies for possibly the last time in a while. My goal for this trip was to: 

1. Make it fun and less of a suffer fest.
2. Take at least one photo every time I filled up my gas tank.
3. Get home

I met quite a few awesome people during this trip while taking photos and found a few interesting places. From stopping in the "Taste of Holland" in Iowa to meeting a man from Beijing that is riding from New York to LA I found out real quick that I do love taking photos and you will meet some interesting people while doing it. Many portions of this trip  i found myself wanting to learn more about the person or place I was photographing. I thought about many projects that I could make of these small towns, but for now I am going to focus on my upcoming idea for a project.

Taking a break near Scranton, PA from riding across the country via motorcycle this couple shared a passion for riding. 

Taking a break near Scranton, PA from riding across the country via motorcycle this couple shared a passion for riding. 

Taking a break near Scranton, PA from riding across the country via motorcycle this couple shared a passion for riding. 

Passionate for dogs, this kind woman was just leaving her daughters graduation and was stopping near South Bend, IN for a break. 

Riding from New York to LA, this gentleman from Beijing, China was on an adventure and a mission.

Riding from New York to LA, this gentleman from Beijing, China was on an adventure and a mission.

Riding from New York to LA, this gentleman from Beijing, China was on an adventure and a mission.

Scoring an internship in New Mexico, this guy was on a trip across the country from Wisconsin to make it to the job on time. This was photographed outside of Des Moines, Iowa. 

Scoring an internship in New Mexico, this guy was on a trip across the country from Wisconsin to make it to the job on time. This was photographed outside of Des Moines, Iowa. 

This gentleman was kind enough to let me take his photo in between his work duties in Lexington, Nebraska.

This gentleman was kind enough to let me take his photo in between his work duties in Lexington, Nebraska.

Stopping for gas in Lexington, Nebraska.

Smiling for the Camera, this dog was also excited to be in the sunny state of Colorado. Taken in Sterling, CO

Hey Tim,

I went to Kristen's family reunion in Connecticut this past week. I met a few family members and also a couple people who I had a great time getting to know. I don't know if you're reading this Tim, but I enjoyed talking to you. It was awesome getting to know you and I hope you keep up with this website and Boa and all the various other adventures I take on. 

Thanks again!

Wrapping Up

My weekend and my time is over. I am wrapping up the final bits and pieces of my small little world that has been created over the past four years here in Syracuse. When my worlds do smash and mix together like the nasty cheap alcohol and soda combinations known to many Syracuse students I get confused, excited, and sad all at the same time. When family or friends visit that happens. Just like a kid with too much sugar. I have built up this small existence here in Syracuse that hasn't blended or touched with anything from home, and I slowly have become home here. I remember the newness of the college and the area around Syracuse. I remember how different it was and how out of place I felt. I struggle with letting things go, and I get attached to the oddest little things. That is probably why packing my room was such a ridiculous feat this weekend. I am sad. I am happy. I will always remember this place and this world I have lived in for four years. I have had the chance of a lifetime to build something and experience something many others never will or have the chance to experience. I am lucky and I have wrapped up my experience. I don't know when I'll be back.

1947 Ford

Went out to Skaneateles,NY  (Skinny-Atlas) today with all of my family for some food and such. There were a bunch of kids taking prom photos, and Mike (this guy) was hanging around by the water as well. He grew up in the area and now drives some family friends to prom in his 1947 Ford. He had the car for 10 years, and found it in a junk yard in North Dakota in much worse condition than it is now.