NASCAR Photographers | Sylvania 300 at Loudon

"Kasey Kahne, driver of the #4 Red Bull Toyota, climbs into his car in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 23, 2011 in Loudon, New Hampshire."

"Kasey Kahne, driver of the #4 Red Bull Toyota, pulls out of the garage during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 23, 2011 in Loudon, New Hampshire."

"Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet, drives through the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 23, 2011 in Loudon, New Hampshire."

"A member of the #56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota takes tire readings during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2011 in Loudon, New Hampshire."

"Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 Haas Automation Chevrolet, leads Brian Vickers, driver of the #83 Red Bull Toyota, Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Budweiser Chevrolet, Clint Bowyer, driver of the #33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet, and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, during the at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 25, 2011 in Loudon, New Hampshire."

"Clint Bowyer, driver of the #33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, drive during the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 25, 2011 in Loudon, New Hampshire."

"Brian Vickers, driver of the #83 Red Bull Toyota, and Jeff Burton, driver of the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, race during the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 25, 2011 in Loudon, New Hampshire."

"Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 Haas Automation Chevrolet, races during the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 25, 2011 in Loudon, New Hampshire."

All I heard about from my late older brother about NASCAR in years past was how much they crash. "They can't drive," he would say.

Oddly enough, I've yet to see a major crash near my shooting position in five race weekends this year and last weekend was no different.

There wasn't much rubbin' 'n racin' going on so I was constantly searching for something graphic. I'm slowly realizing how different each track is and trying to find something visual even when, on the surface, you may think it doesn't have much to offer.

I enjoy the challenge.

-JCE

NASCAR photographers

Steamboat Springs wedding photographers | Carlyle & Michael

In 2006, while studying abroad in Rome, my interest for photography grew to a point where a group of friends convinced me that it was something that I should really pursue. Not only was Michael one of those friends, he was my roommate. This wedding meant a little bit more to me.

A quick conversation about his engagement, his new wonderful gal and the upcoming wedding happened during a round of golf last fall, and I've been looking forward to documenting their day since.

Fast forward to 11am on Saturday at Catamount Ranch Club and I thought all that build up was going to get muddled by the weather. Josh and I showed up a few hours early to get the photobooth set up but were halted by the torrential downpour. Seriously, it was like the armageddon of rain storms. After trying (unsuccessfully) to move on to plan B, C, and D for the photobooth location we headed back into town to start shooting the day. I'd have to get it set up during the dinner hour.

Over the course of the next four or so hours the rain dissipated and the clouds parted just before the start of the ceremony. What could have been disastrous turned into perfect weather. I'm not sure who was more relieved, myself or Carlyle.

The rest, as we say, is history.

Congrats you two!

-JCE

Colorado wedding photojournalist

Colorado wedding photographers | Tamara & Sterling

Just like their engagement session, Tamara was nervous yet excited and Sterling was calm and collected. Her yin to his yang, if you will.

The day had the perfect mix of excitement, anticipation and celebration at Cielo at Castle Pines. The weather held up and provided a dramatic evening sky that had almost a purple hue to it.

The party really got started when the music kicked in and let me tell you, THEY GOT DOWN! Just like Alicia's wedding (thanks for the referral A), even the little ones had more rhythm than most adults know what to do with. Young and old, everyone was on the dance floor having great time.

Josh did a great job shooting with myself and holding a light here and there.

-JCE

Colorado wedding photographers

NASCAR Photographers | Wonderful Pistachios 400 at Richmond

"Juan Pablo Montoya, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, practices for the Sprint Cup Series Wonderful Pistachios 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 9, 2011 in Richmond, Virginia."

"Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Power of Pride Chevrolet, practices for the Sprint Cup Series Wonderful Pistachios 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 9, 2011 in Richmond, Virginia."

"Aric Almirola, driver of the #88 AdvoCare Chevrolet, sits in his car during practice for the Nationwide Series Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway on September 9, 2011 in Richmond, Virginia."

"Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #6 Fastenal Ford, races during the NASCAR Nationwide Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway on September 9, 2011 in Richmond, Virginia."

"Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Budweiser Chevrolet, makes a pit stop during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Wonderful Pistachios 400 during the Wonderful Pistachios 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 10, 2011 in Richmond, Virginia."

The night before I flew out to the east coast for the race I hurt my back in the finals of our soccer league. Almost immediately after it happened I had flashbacks of Patrick's injury, as he did the same thing a year ago and ended up being down and out for the next nine months.

Consequently he was picking me up from the airport in Baltimore and driving down together to Richmond to cover the race. The last thing you need with a back injury is two, 3.5 hour stints in a plane and car seat but I took two Aleve and sucked it up.

When we got to the hotel I was walking like the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

The whole weekend was a painful challenge. Standing wasn't a problem but as soon as I would sit for a few minutes my back would lock up.

In an effort to make things easier I went "old school" and shot most of the weekend with just a wide and a 70-200 on two cameras. No belt back. No extra lenses. That strategy, I'm sure, proved useful during 14 hours at the track on Friday and 11 hours on Saturday. I was assigned to just cover pit stops during both races which I'm sure my back is happy about.

I'm guessing that it was just a strained muscle or something as it has improved every day.

Despite the constant pain all weekend, two crab cake lunches and two images in Getty's pictures of the week made it worth it.

-JCE

NASCAR Photographers