Portraits
Environmental portraiture adhering to general photojournalistic ethics
Randy Merrell poses for a portrait with a shoe last among various leathers and other boot-making materials at his workshop, Merrell FootLab, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2019, just outside of Vernal, Utah. Merrell’s journey as a boot maker began when he was a teenager and saw a pair of Tony Lamas in Salt Lake City — brown-lizard wingtips, pointed toes, buck stitching, burgundy uppers and one-and-quarter-inch heels — and he was smitten. Though Merrell helped found the footwear company with his namesake, Merrell, in 1981, he sold his share of the company in 1986 to return to his first love: creating custom boots and orthotics.
Elaine Bradley, drummer and vocalist for rock band Neon Trees, and also a drummer, vocalist and guitarist for Noble Bodies, poses for a portrait Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, in Provo, Utah. Neon Trees was founded in Provo, and Bradley helped form Noble Bodies with two other local musicians as a side project.
Local centenarian Ora Hardy sits for a portrait in her home in Springville, Utah, on Thursday, August 18, 2016. Hardy was born on May 10, 1916, and lives in her Springville home by herself.
Chris Tall, of Pleasant Grove, who performs as Vix Stellar, poses for a portrait before a bi-weekly drag show held by the Divine Sister-Misters of Utah County at City Limits Tavern in downtown Provo, Utah, on Friday, June 18, 2021.
Jasper Barber poses for a portrait at Nolen Park in Eagle Mountain, Utah, on Thursday, July 1, 2021. An 18-year old living in Eagle Mountain, Barber identifies as gender-fluid and uses they/he pronouns as well as they/them.
Arson, the Pleasant Grove Fire Department's dog, poses for a portrait in the arms of firefighter Shawn Sandberg on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016, at the Pleasant Grove Fire Station in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Arson is a 1-year-old Goldendoodle, and he occasionally tags along with firefighters on calls.
Vineyard mayor Julie Fullmer poses for a portrait Tuesday, March 6, 2018, at the Vineyard Public Safety Building in Vineyard, Utah. Fullmer is the first female mayor of Vineyard, which is now one of the fastest growing cities in America.
Ron Doty, 82, of Hemet, California, whose alias is “Colt Colton,” poses for a portrait after a shooting match held by the Hobble Creek Wranglers at the Garth Killpack Shooting Range in Springville on Saturday, June 13, 2020. Ron, who is a BYU graduate and was visiting the area with his wife for a family member’s baby blessing, chose the alias “Colt Colton” because his family came to Colton, California, in 1894. He explained the story of the coins in his hat to the Hobble Creek Wranglers after the shoot. “I was in Price with nine grandkids and I loaded almost 4,000 rounds of ammo so we’d have enough, he said. “They made me posse marshal. Every clean stage you shot, you got one of these coins.” He explained further that during a two-day shoot, a total of 10-12 stages is typical.
Orem TikTok influencer London Lazerson poses for a portrait with his Tesla, which is featured in several of his videos, outside of Kiln in Lehi, Utah, on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020. Lazerson quickly grew a following of over 2,000,000 on TikTok in a matter of months, and has created an online course for other influencer hopefuls: The Viral Blueprint.
Diane Thompson poses for a portrait during the last day of business at Diane's Wig Shop on Thursday, May 11, 2017 in Orem, Utah.
Gail Halvorsen, also know as the Candy Bomber, poses for a portrait in the cockpit of a Cessna 182 Turbo Skylane belonging to the Civil Air Patrol on Thursday, March 23, 2017, at the Spanish Fork Airport. Halvorsen earned his nickname by air-dropping candy to kids during the Berlin Airlift of World War II from 1948 to 1949.
Allan Anderson, 86, a U.S. Marines veteran and member of American Legion Post 72, poses for a portrait Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, in Orem, Utah.
Eric Dowdle, artist and founder of Dowdle Folk Art, poses for a portrait in front of a piece of art he created Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, at his art studio and retail store in Lindon, Utah. The piece of art was created for the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary, and toured the country.
Jonny Peay poses for a portrait outside of his family’s home in Orem, Utah, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020. Peay was born with Down syndrome, and recently graduated from the two-year Aggies Elevated program at Utah State University and additionally took some part-time classes at Utah Valley University.
Ken Sanders poses for a portrait at his book shop, Ken Sanders Rare Books, in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, June 24, 2021.
Fashion designer Kenneth Boggs, CEO and founder of Kenneth Boggs Suits, poses for a portrait at his business Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, in Provo, Utah.
Brian Stoll poses for a portrait as he holds a vial of Tramadol, which he takes to treat his severe back pain, at his home Sunday, July 15, 2018, in West Jordan, Utah. Stoll had previously used marijuana to treat his pain to better effect, according to Stoll, but he had to stop using pot to remain in good standing with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and get married to his then soon-to-be wife, Rachael, in the temple.
Gerry Jensen poses for a portrait with a photograph of her extended family at her family’s farm on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Benjamin, Utah. Her husband, Ronald Jensen, 87, currently heads up work on the farm, which was built by his grandfather in the 1860’s according to Gerry. Their son Eric currently lives on the property, another son, Ryan, lives next door, and Jensen stated that they and their siblings will eventually take over the family farm.
Brigham Young University senior Joshua Palmer, also known by his rap persona, Jee Mingus, poses for a portrait Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019, at the Harris Fine Arts Center on the campus of BYU in Provo, Utah. On Nov. 14 at Lowes Xtreme Air Sports in Provo, Palmer broke the world record for longest individual rap marathon by rapping for 30 hours.
Eli "Pompadour", dressed as Ruby Rhod from "The Fifth Element", poses for a portrait during the opening day of Salt Lake Comic Con on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Rozelle Hastwell, of the children’s “edutainment” project Mimi’s Playtime, poses for a portrait with Gabi-Roo, played by her daughter, Lorelei Hansen, at her family’s home in Springville, Utah, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020.
Nisha King, a sergeant in the Provo Police Department and a member of the Orem-Provo-BYU Metro SWAT team, poses for a portrait Thursday, March 8, 2018, at the Provo Shooting Sports Park near Provo, Utah.
"A lot of people try to be somebody else, something that they're not,” said SEPTA Correctional Facility resident Steven Hipps. “You go to prison and a lot of white guys try to act like they're black, try to fit in with all the black guys," explained Hipps from within the correctional facility in Nelsonville, Ohio. "They pretty much got power in most penitentiaries. I just kind of put it out there that I ain't on that shit."