Editorial: For SVPN
SVPN July 2018 Cover Image
We shot this cover image at Linda & Clay Bowling's "Homestead" residence in Starweather in preparation for the upcoming Vitner's Dinner to be held there as part of the Sun Valley Center for the Art's annual fundraising event, the Wine Auction. This is a multi-image focus stack for front-to-back sharpness, and was achieved without strobes. Instead, it was painstakingly light painted with incandescent shop lights to fill in areas that lacked lighting, something that became rather humorous once a massive storm cell moved in and bulbs started exploding in the rain. Always an adventure!
SVPNJuly 2018CoverHomesteadBarnBlaine CountyBowling ResidenceIdahoJuly 2018 CoverJune 2018Linda BowlingSVCFTAStarweatherStill LifeSun Valley Center for the ArtsSun Valley Property NewsTableThe HomesteadVitner's DinnerWineWine AuctionWine BottlesWood River Valley
SVPN July 2018 Cover Image (Full Image Without Masthead)
Here is SVPN's July 2018 cover image without the masthead and text, titled "Wine Dinner at the Homestead."
SVPNJuly 2018CoverHomesteadBarnBlaine CountyBowling ResidenceIdahoJuly 2018 CoverJune 2018Linda BowlingSVCFTAStarweatherStill LifeSun Valley Center for the ArtsSun Valley Property NewsTableThe HomesteadVitner's DinnerWineWine AuctionWine BottlesWood River Valley
SVPN Oct/Nov/Dec 2017 Cover Image
For the this SVPN cover, the aerial photoshoot we had planned was cancelled due to wildfire smoke, so we rebooted an old favorite to celebrate the season. For this single-exposure image, I used a remotely triggered flash to light local fishing rockstar Natalia Ferris during an epic Sun Valley sunset. Cheers to an adventurous fall!
SVPNFishing for a SunsetCover ImageFly FishingNatalia FerrisBald MountainGirls Who FishFisherwomanSun ValleyIdahoBlaine CountyWood River ValleyHulen MeadowsBigwood RiverSunset
SVPN Oct/Nov/Dec 2017 Cover Image (Full Image Without Masthead)
Here is SVPN's October/November/December 2017 cover image without the masthead and text, titled "Fishing for a Sunset."
SVPNCoverFishing for a SunsetCover ImageFly FishingNatalia FerrisBald MountainGirls Who FishFisherwomanSun ValleyIdahoBlaine CountyWood River ValleyHulen MeadowsBigwood RiverSunset
SVPN September 2017 Cover Image
This cover for SVPN Magazine's September 2017 spurred a fantastic tribute to one of the greatest western photographers our country has known: the dearly missed David Stoecklein. I shot this of his son, Taylor, a few years back on their family’s ranch in Mackay. This image, “Late Night at the Ranch,” was achieved with a single exposure using four light sources: ambient light inside the barn, a studio softbox to light Taylor, a handheld flashlight to “paint” light on the barn, and starlight to decorate the sky.
SVPNCoverSeptember 2017BarnCowboyFallIdahoLight PaintingMackayNightOctober 2012StarsStoecklein RanchWestern
SVPN September 2017 Cover Image (Without Masthead)
Here is SVPN's September 2017 cover image without the masthead and text...
SVPNCoverSeptember 2017BarnCowboyFallIdahoLight PaintingMackayNightOctober 2012StarsStoecklein RanchWestern
SVPN August 2017 Cover Image
The August 2017 Cover Image features Isabella Boylston, a world-class ballerina, prior to her performances in Sun Valley August 22-24, 2017
Isabella BoylstonRed DressJuly2017AthleteBalletBallet in NatureBellaBlaine CountyBoulder MountainsCoverEditorialEnvironmental PortraitFearless PhotographyFieldIdahoJuly 2017MountainsSVPNSteve Dondero PhotographySummerWood River Valley
"Ballet in the Boulders" SVPN August 2017 Cover Image (Without Masthead)
Photographing the uber-talented Isabella Boylston for the August cover of SVPN Magazine was both an honor and far too much fun. Born in Sun Valley, Isabella is the youngest principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre in NYC. She is bringing some of the world’s best dancers back to our hometown for two historic performances after the eclipse. This natural-light shot was taken at sunset in Idaho’s Boulder Mountains, just north of Ketchum.
Isabella BoylstonRed DressJuly2017AthleteBalletBallet in NatureBellaBlaine CountyBoulder MountainsCoverEditorialEnvironmental PortraitFearless PhotographyFieldIdahoJuly 2017MountainsSVPNSteve Dondero PhotographySummerWood River Valley
Ballet on Water
When first asked to photograph Isabella Boylston, a world-class principal ballerina based in NYC, three goals immediately came to mind: do something unique, juxtapose ballet in New York City with Nature in Idaho, and make Isabella stand on water. After shooting the August SVPN Magazine cover of Isabella in a red dress against the Boulder Mountains at sunset, we woke at 4am the next morning to photograph sunrise over Pettit Lake. It was a risky endeavor…I had thousands of dollars’ worth of lighting gear in the middle of a lake, and even the slightest breath of wind would have killed the shot. Worse yet, what if Isabella got hurt, right before the unprecedented ballet festival that she brought to Sun Valley Aug 22-24?! Fortunately, the weather gods delivered a windless morning, and neither a light nor a dancer took the plunge. Instead, Isabella braved the cold and gracefully brought the vision to life on the water’s surface.
Isabella BoylstonOn WaterAthleteBalletBallet in NatureBellaEnvironmental PortraitFearless PhotographyIdahoJuly 2017LakeMountainsPettit LakeReflectionSVPNSawtooth MountainsStanley BasinSteve Dondero PhotographySummerWater
SVPN July 2017 Cover Image
Another fun and challenging cover for SVPN's July 2017 Issue
Blaine CountyCommercialCover ShotEditorialIdahoJune 2017KetchumPoolSVPNSteve Dondero PhotographyStylizedSummerSun ValleyUnderwaterWaterWineWood River ValleyZenergyWater Into Wine
"Water Into Wine" SVPN July 2017 Cover Image (Without Masthead)
When SVPN Magazine asked me for wine-related ideas for their July cover, I pitched them a vision for an elegant underwater scene. Our town has been wading through a 100-year flood for many hard weeks, so I envisioned something upbeat, but that could pay homage to the flood victims and be dedicated to our incredible community that rallied together to support them. This photo—“Water into Wine”—is the result, and can now be seen on newsstands around Sun Valley, Idaho. Between the challenges of photographing underwater and the many long hours in Photoshop to make it match the vision, it is probably the toughest single image I have ever attempted. I hope you enjoy!
Blaine CountyCommercialCover ShotEditorialIdahoJune 2017KetchumPoolSVPNSteve Dondero PhotographyStylizedSummerSun ValleyUnderwaterWaterWineWood River ValleyZenergyWater Into Wine
SVPN September 2016 Cover Image
Always exciting to land a cover shot, in this case, the image for SVPN's September 2016 "Art Issue."
Bald MountainBaldyBlaine CountyEnvironmental PortraitIdahoJohnny FuegoJuly 2016KetchumNightOutdoorPondStand Up PaddleboardStarsSummerSun ValleySun Valley Golf CourseSUPSVPNWaterWood River ValleySVPN September 2016 Cover Image
SVPN September 2016 Cover Image (Without Masthead)
I had way too much fun shooting this image for the September cover of SVPN's “Art” issue. To light the water, we stuffed remotely-triggered flashes into dry bags & strapped them to the underside of the paddleboard. We then leveraged the early light of the moon to bring the landscape & Bald Mountain to life. Jonny Fuego was a ninja at standing still on the board for the long exposure, despite the wind & numb feet. I had the warmer duty of shooting from atop an ant hill & fending off sprinklers & a pair of curious raccoons bent on climbing my tripod. On the actual cover image, you’ll notice we ran with the green water that naturally occurred when it was lit, since it helped pop the magazine. Compositionally, though, I personally prefer a more subdued blue for the water when viewing as a standalone image. I hope you enjoy the result!
Bald MountainBaldyBlaine CountyEnvironmental PortraitIdahoJohnny FuegoJuly 2016KetchumNightOutdoorPondStand Up PaddleboardStarsSummerSun ValleySun Valley Golf CourseSUPSVPNWaterWood River ValleySVPN September 2016 Cover Image
SVPN October/November/December 2016 Cover Image
BarnBald MountainBaldyFallIdahoKetchumLeavesOctoberSnowSun ValleySunriseHorsesAutumnBlaine CountyWood River ValleyWinterRiver RunSki MountainSun Valley Sunrise
First Snow
Something magical happens when seasons collide. Fall changes to winter in Sun Valley, Idaho.
BarnBald MountainBaldyFallIdahoKetchumLeavesOctoberSnowSun ValleySunriseHorsesAutumnBlaine CountyWood River ValleyWinterRiver RunSki MountainSun Valley Sunrise
From Idaho Landscapes
SVPN July 2016 Cover Image
Always exciting to land a cover shot, in this case, the image for SVPN's July 2016 issue.
SVPNCoverGarden TourBlaine CountyDockFlanigan HouseGardenJune 2016KetchumNorth ValleyOutdoorPondSBG Garden TourSawtooth Botanical Garden Garden TourSummerSun ValleyWaterWood River ValleyYard
SVPN July 2016 Cover Image (Without Masthead)
Here is a version of SVPN's July 2016 cover image without the text and masthead. I stood on a ladder for over 3 hours, with my tripod precariously balancing on a makeshift platform over a pond, but worth it in the end for the evening’s epic light show.
SVPNCoverGarden TourBlaine CountyDockFlanigan HouseGardenJune 2016KetchumNorth ValleyOutdoorPondSBG Garden TourSawtooth Botanical Garden Garden TourSummerSun ValleyWaterWood River ValleyYard
