Kim Cook, Photographer

With recent assignments and Sturgis, I have become very familiar with my northern neighboring states.  I usually travel west of Denver, but this year it was north.    A few months ago, I got a call from Jordan, a very popular model in Denver.   She recently won an online vocals contest singing the Star Spangle Banner and is now in the spotlight for rising talent.  Even though she has a beautiful portfolio, she wanted photos that reflected her music.  We both agreed a very organic and spontaneous photo shoot was the answer.  We wanted vintage and country with a little bit of rock and roll.  We packed our bags and headed north into Wyoming and then to South Dakota stopping on a dime to set up shots.  Some worked very well, and others we just tried and moved on.  We trespassed, stood in cold streams, ate chips and coffee, fought high winds, drag raced,  changed on the side of the road, slept little and talked a lot.  We had a blast and got some great shots to boot.  Jordan is a super talent.  She is exceptional in front of the camera and her voice is soulful.  But it is her beautiful spirit and good grace that makes good company.  It is always a good feeling to come away from a  photo shoot with a new close friends from two states.  Thank you Matt, Nancy, Lucy, Chauncey, Suzie and Akela, for all of your help and support while we were in Spearfish.  Your hospitality was beyond any expectations!  Here are just a few the images we created.  I will post more when the final edit is completed and Jordan’s website is up.

Unexpected fog

Somewhere in Wyoming

A historical Barn was a perfect vintage backdrop.

Jordan in her Mother's vintage hat carrying her grandfather's lunchbox.

Jordan wearing her husband's military hat.

Country porch

At Suzy's Ranch

Mid July I was commissioned by a Norwegian financial paper, Dagens Næringsliv, to shoot a feature about the business of bones for their Saturday Magazine. I got the call on Monday morning and in less than twenty four hours I was meeting Eskil and Lars, the norwegian journalists, in Rapid City, South Dakota.  We met up with Peter Larson, the rock star paleontologist who was the first man to dig up a tyrannosaurus rex, Sue.  He served two years in prison for carrying currencies between countries,  after a long trial between the State of South Dakota, the Lakota Indians and Himself over the rights to the remains.  He and his brother, Neal, are on a new dig near Hulett, Wyoming for Allosaurus dinosaur fossils. I have never been on a dig before, nor have I heard about the big business of fossils until I talked with Peter.  I do know Peter and Neal are not in the fossil finding for money.  After spending a day with them, I discovered they are as passionate about their work as I am about mine.  They open their camp to other dinasaur enthusiasts to come out to the site for some time and help dig.  They only charge for expenses.  The story is under wraps for now, but I can share some images I took for the magazine.