Welcome to the New krollimages.com

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Thank you for visiting the new and improved online home of Kroll Images. Many changes have occurred behind the scenes in the past month, I hope you will like what you see!

The biggest and most obvious change is the look and feel of the site and it’s new home page. We have a new host (local and green Acorn Host), and new software (WordPress). These allow for the introduction of many new features, some of which are highlighted below. One thing that is not changing (although I’m doing some relaying) is my gallery host (Zenfolio) that I have been very happy with.

A major new feature is the Blog. You will read about where & what I’m shooting, new things on the site & the web, tips & tricks, and photo related news. The most recent full length posts will be featured on the home page, along with the quick posts in the ephemera on the lower left. I’m most excited about a new weekly feature; every Thursday there will be an Image of the Week post where you will learn the full story behind favorite and interesting images. Posts will be categorized and tagged so you can quickly find the kind of information you are looking for (like Image of the Week, or Sports & Action) on the right edge of the blog page. You can read it on the site, subscribe to it in your favorite reader, or have it delivered straight to your email. Comment forms are available on any blog post for your feedback or commentary.

If you are interested in specific types of images you can head straight to one of the new landing pages. These pages are a great shortcut to topical images, blog posts, and galleries. The current pages are for the Scenic Pacific Northwest at nw.krollimages.com, Sports at sports.krollimages.com, and Longboarding & Skateboarding at skate.krollimages.com. There are a few more on the way.

Kroll Images is now getting started on Twitter and Google+ in addition to the established Facebook presence. You will find buttons in many places around the site to share content via social media, please help spread the love if you see something here you like! There are probably buttons off to the left or above what you are reading right now, why not send word out that you are here?

Enjoy your time here. I love photography and it is very gratifying when others enjoy the results as well. Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments, or use the comment forms on any blog page.

-Brian

Arnold Bjorklund Medal of Honor

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Arnold Bjorklund Medal of Honor

Grave of World War II Medal of Honor recipient Arnold L. Bjorklund on Memorial Day Weekend at Willamette National Cemetery.

We are approaching a holiday weekend, I’m sure we are all looking forward to spending time with family and friends. Sometimes we loose sight of the thing we are honoring on Memorial Day. This week I’m proud to present an Image of the Week in honor of all who have served in our armed forces; Arnold Bjorklund Medal of Honor.

There has been a tradition of military service in the families of my wife and I. While I did not serve I have always had great respect for those who have, and a special fascination with the “Greatest Generation” of WWII that included our grandparents among others. In 2010 we visited Michelle’s Grandfather’s grave in Willamette National Cemetery on Memorial Day weekend. The acres of graves and flags is a solemn and sobering sight to behold.

In walking the grounds I was fortunate to come upon the grave of a true hero. Arnold Bjorklund received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his selfless actions in Italy during WWII. I cannot say it any better than the citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Altavilla, Italy, September 13, 1943. When his company attacked a German position on Hill 424, the first platoon, led by 1st Lt. Bjorklund, moved forward on the right flank to the slope of the hill where it was pinned down by a heavy concentration of machinegun and rifle fire. Ordering his men to give covering fire, with only 3 hand grenades, he crept and crawled forward to a German machinegun position located on a terrace along the forward slope. Approaching within a few yards of the position, and while continuously exposed to enemy fire, he hurled 1 grenade into the nest, destroyed the gun and killed 3 Germans. Discovering a second machinegun 20 yards to the right on a higher terrace, he moved under intense enemy fire to a point within a few yards and threw a second grenade into this position, destroying it and killing 2 more Germans. The first platoon was then able to advance 150 yards further up the slope to the crest of the hill, but was again stopped by the fire from a heavy enemy mortar on the reverse slope. 1st Lt. Bjorklund located the mortar and worked his way under little cover to within 10 yards of its position and threw his third grenade, destroying the mortar, killing 2 of the Germans, and forcing the remaining 3 to flee. His actions permitted the platoon to take its objective.

Reading of Lt. Bjorklund’s actions literally sent chills up my spine. I’ve read many military histories and memoirs over the years, but it is always the stories of individual heroism that have the greatest impact on me. A few months after posting the image to my site I got an unexpected surprise when his daughter sent me a very nice email and posted a comment on the image thanking me for honoring her father. It was very gratifying that the image brought even a moment of joy to his family.

She contacted me again earlier this year and told me one of her favorite photos of her father was with President Kennedy. He, along with all living Medal of Honor recipients, were invited to a luncheon in the White House Rose Garden in April of 1963. I can only imagine the conversations that were had over that meal!

Please take a moment this Memorial Day weekend to give thanks and honor those who have served, and memorialize those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

*Please note that this image (along with the rest of it’s gallery) is not for sale. It is able to be downloaded without charge if you would like it to help you honor our soldiers. Please consider a donation to a military related charity of your choice in lieu of payment.

Technical Specs:

  • RAW image with Nikon D300 @ 200 ISO
  • Lensbaby Composer @ 50mm
  • 1/1250th of a Second @ ƒ/2.8
  • Sunday, May 30, 2010 @ 17:21
  • Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon, USA

Winning Joy

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Winning Joy

Raffle winner during Post Race Festivities of the 2012 P-Town Throwdown.

Spring has sprung and with it the first big event on the Portland skate calendar is just around the corner. Hosted by Robin “Robskey” McGuirk of Eastside Longboards, the P-Town Throwdown is held on Memorial Day Weekend each year. This week’s Image of the Week; Winning Joy, is from the 2012 event.

The event is a “push race”, a longboard skateboard endurance race running 8.5 miles from Mt. Tabor Park to Sellwood Park. McGuirk has won every event run on this course dating back eight years and will be trying to make it nine this year. Following the event there is a raffle for the participants held at Sellwood Park. Winning Joy was captured during this raffle at last year’s event. The young man in the photo had just won one of the top prizes, the board he’s holding over his head. Everyone enjoyed how excited he was with the possible exception of the young man over his left shoulder!

As always this year’s P-Town Throwdown is a benefit for the Oregon Food Bank. Come on out on Sunday, May 26th to join in the fun and help set a new record for food donations!

Technical Specs:

  • JPEG image with Nikon D7000 @ 220 ISO
  • Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom Nikkor Lens @ 18mm
  • 1/200th of a Second @ ƒ/11
  • Sunday, May 20, 2012 @ 11:05
  • Sellwood Park, Portland, Oregon, USA

Motoring Home

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Motoring Home

Motoring in on Lake Erie at sunset.

Greetings from Ohio. As I write this week’s post I am in Cleveland on business, as it posts I should just about be ready to start my journey home. On this trip I knew I wouldn’t have much mobility so I didn’t bring an SLR, but back in 2009 on another trip here I did. I’m proud to present Motoring Home as this week’s Image of the Week.

In my position at Portland State Bookstore I volunteer in our national trade organization which is headquartered near Cleveland. I have made several visits here over the years for various functions related to CCRA. Prior to my 2009 visit I made contact with the local camera club to inquire about some good places to shoot around downtown Cleveland. Not only did they help me with that, but two of the officers of the club invited me to join them for a photo tour of the city! How could I not take advantage of such wonderful midwest hospitiality?

After picking me up at my hotel we drove all around central Cleveland. We visited museums, college campuses, historic neighborhoods, and beautiful parks. After a break for me to treat them to dinner we went to the lakefront for sunset.

I captured Motoring Home in Voinovich Park along the the Lake Erie seawall. I was very fortunate that the sailboat passed by at nearly the perfect moment. The sky was more colorful a couple of minutes earlier, but the golden hues of the image frame the boat well.

Following the shooting on the waterfront we moved on to shoot night images of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and then back to the hotel. Motoring Home was my favorite image from the trek; it was exhibited in the Anchor’s Aweigh show presented by the Gresham Art Committee. All in all a very memorable trip to the Midwest!

Technical Specs:

  • JPEG image with Nikon D300 @ 200 ISO
  • Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom Nikkor Lens @ 20mm
  • 1/320th of a Second @ ƒ/9
  • Sunday, July 12, 2009 @ 20:56
  • Near Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Yesteryear Wind Power

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Yesteryear Wind Power

Aermotor Windmill near Maupin, Oregon.

Having spent part of my youth on ranches and farms east of the cascades I have a fascination with the pioneer past of the northwest. Today when you travel through the eastern gorge and Columbia plateau there are huge wind turbines at work. This week’s Image of the Week; Yesteryear Wind Power, is an example of simpler wind power.

Aermotor has been around since 1888 and still sells windmills today. In my travels around the northwest they are the units most commonly seen. I don’t know enough about them to make a true guess as to the age of this unit. I do know it is rare to see them in such good shape and clearly a number of years old. I found it located in a field near Maupin adjacent to an old homestead.

A simple image from a simpler time.

Technical Specs:

  • JPEG image with Nikon D80 @ 200 ISO
  • Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom Nikkor Lens @ 170mm
  • 1/640th of a Second @ ƒ/10
  • Friday, April 23, 2010 @ 11:05
  • Near Maupin, Oregon, USA

Oak Alley

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Oak Alley

The Alley of Oaks at the famous plantation in Louisiana.

This week’s entry is one from the early archives of Kroll Images. During a business trip to New Orleans in 2005 we made a side trip to visit a plantation outside of town. I’m pleased to present Oak Alley as this week’s Image of the Week.

The Oak Alley Plantation is located about an hour out for New Orleans on the Great River Road. The drive was very scenic, mostly following the river and crossing swampland. It was a comfortable, albeit cloudy, day to be out touring.

Oak Alley was captured from the deck on the upper level of the main house. Looking towards the river the famed alley of oaks is what gives the plantation it’s name. The people at the end of the are returning to their riverboat cruise ship just over the dike at the end of the alley.

The plantation was stunning and very educational. Neither knew very much about the history of the area and plantation life. The staff was very informative and the number of artifacts was astounding.

We spent the balance of the day visiting other historic sites in the area and learning about life on the great river. I hope to return in the future to see even more!

Technical Specs:

  • JPEG image with Sony P100 @ 100 ISO
  • Integrated Lens @ 7.9mm
  • 1/80th of a Second @ ƒ/2.8
  • Saturday, February 26, 2005 @ 15:46
  • Oak Alley Plantation, Vacherie, Louisiana, USA

Kickin’ It Up

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Kickin' It Up

SCCA RallyCross presented by the Oregon Rally Group. Held at the English Gravel Pit in Vancouver, WA on April 7, 2013.

Earlier this month Todd of Alternative-shots arranged for us to shoot the Oregon Rally Group’s RallyCross event held in Vancouver. It was a wet and muddy day but we had fun and captured many images. I’m proud to present my favorite, Kickin’ It Up, as this week’s Image of the Week.

I must admit that going into the event I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I had covered Rally and other Motorsports, but never RallyCross and never an event held in a gravel pit! The weather was going to be another twist, rain makes mud and brings with it the expectation of some good mud-slinging photos! Rain also presents challenges with keeping the lens, the gear, and the photographer dry and functioning! Fortunately most of the rain was relatively light with just a few passing heavy showers that were short lived. I was pretty soaked leading into the lunch break but was able to take a short drive for food with the heat kicked up to do a reasonable job of drying out.

After tech, registration, the driver’s meeting, and a short orientation we were out on course and shooting the event. We got great access and while we were getting our feet wet (literally) we even had a volunteer spotter to keep us safe, point out some of the ins & outs, and of course make sure we were following the rules.

While I was getting acclimated I left the camera in Aperture Priority mode to best deal with the changing skies (and therefore light) so I could concentrate on finding good shooting angles and locations. I knew that would result in freezing all of the action with shutter speeds faster than ideal, but the pictures would still be good and cut down on the variables early in the day. Once things settled down I switched to Shutter Priority and ultimately settled on 1/60th of a second for a good compromise between showing a bit of motion blur but keeping the cars in sharp focus. That was still a bit faster than I would have ideally liked, but with the constantly changing light it was a choice that would work consistently. I shot throughout the day with the D300 with the battery pack for it’s rapid fire burst mode and the 70-300vr so I could bring the action close without having to be so close as to become part of the action!

Kickin’ It Up was my favorite shot of the day for a couple of reasons. I liked the way the gravel being kicked up by the right front obscured most of the background and brought the focus in on the car. I liked the sense of speed that the image conjures up. I also liked the bright colors in the frame and the fact that it wasn’t visibly raining. If the cone wasn’t between the car and I it would have been that much better, but with action shots it’s awfully difficult to control all of the aspects of the image.

While this was my image of choice yours might be different, I invite you to visit the galleries from the day and see what else I shot! Check out the super fast slide shows like the one at left. You’ll see every still image captured during the day shown for 1/10th second makes for the digital equivalent of an old flip book video!

Technical Specs:

  • JPEG image with Nikon D300 @ 200 ISO
  • Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR Nikkor Zoom Lens @ 170mm
  • 1/60th of a Second @ ƒ/9
  • Sunday, April 7, 2013 @ 15:46
  • Vancouver, Washington, USA

Curious Fawns

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Curious Fawns

Young Fawns near Goldendale, WA.

This week we brings another image related to our trips to the Maryhill Festival of Speed. This past year, on our way to the Saturday session, we stumbled upon two Curious Fawns. They became the subjects of this week’s Image of the Week.

For the 2012 event we had the good fortune to stay on property owned by family friends just north of Goldendale. The property is located a few miles off of the main highway on lightly travelled gravel roads; the area is rich with wildlife. We saw everything from wild turkeys to large deer.

After rounding a corner on Saturday morning we met our Curious Fawns. I always try to keep my camera within reach when I have it in the car. As it happened it was just out of reach this time, but Ethan could reach it and came to my rescue. I stopped the car, rolled down the window, and started taking photos.

As is often the case with wildlife, they were just a curious about us as we were about them. They stayed still for several minutes roughly 150 feet from us. Before long they lost interest in us and wandered into the sticks and out of sight, not in any particular hurry.

Keep your equipment handy, you never know when a moment like this will present itself!

Technical Specs:

  • JPEG image with Nikon D7000 @ 400 ISO
  • Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom Nikkor Lens @ 200mm
  • 1/40th of a Second @ ƒ/13
  • Saturday, June 30, 2012 @ 08:33
  • Near Goldendale, Washington, USA

Technical Difficulties

Aside

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Unfortunately the host server for the Kroll Images home page and blog was hacked earlier Wednesday. This required a rollback to two weeks ago and the deletion of all updates since that time. The past two Image of the Week posts were victims of this, as well as the post scheduled for this week. Fortunately, I do have backups of the text of the past posts and will recreate and repost them as soon as possible. The Image of the Week post scheduled for Thursday, April 11th was completely lost so it may be delayed from it’s original posting schedule of midday Thursday, but should be posted before the day is out.

Thank you for your patience and understanding!