Justin Bailie

A few weeks ago writer nd friend Aimee Brown emailed me and said we should go to the Gulf and see what’s going on; tell stories that are not being told; meet the people who live in this region and have been doing so for generations. We’ve been down here for almost a couple weeks now, working for a couple different outlets and it has been an amazing experience. People have opened their lives to us and told us beautiful stories of the lives they live. It affects me deeply to think how a people who at times, are so different in many ways from us up in the Pacific NW, are really the same. They are passionate, caring, tenacious in their will to preserve their home and really, just want to live a good life and spend time with friends and family. Basically, life on the bayou revolves around water and seafood. Living off the land, eating seafood 3-7 times a week until now. If hurricane Alex pushes water up into these bayous, it will devastate a beautiful and simpler and way of life that is being destroyed on a world wide level. This dependence on oil is not worth it. Just like everything else in this world that is rooted in extraction, it will not serve us or the natural world in the long run. And when I say the long run, I mean in thousands of years rather than 20. I don’t believe we need to run across the country or even across the state to make a difference, but getting up out of our comfort zones to do something can and will make change. Learn where you food comes from. Try to invest in our planets future by buying things that are sourced locally. I truly believe this is one of the easiest things we can do to help change the world. Apathy does not help anyone.

Portrait of shrimp fishermen Tony Billiot, age 73, and Albert Francis, age 27. Dulac, LA

Gulf Brown Shrimp. Dulac, LA.

Seafood gumbo from Bon Creole in New Iberia, LA.

Been hanging in Yosemite Valley for a few days to shoot some new stock images. Got lucky and caught some great blue bird weather and some stormy rain and snow. No matter how many times I come down here it just blows me away just how big and beautiful this place is.

El Capitan in Yosemite Valley during spring storm. Due note the climbers hanging in the port-a-ledge about 3/4 of the way up on the right hand side.

Photo of the Merced River during spring rain storm.

Photo of Yosemite Valley during clearing spring storm.

Hemispheres Magazine is using one of my rafting images for their opening spread of their 2010′ adventure issue. Really fun photo created while white water rafting on the Yampa River with adventure travel company OARS. The Yampa River flows out of Colorado into Utah through Dinosaur National Monument and eventually into the Green River. This is a great multi day trip through beautiful canyons and varied landscapes. Check it out sometime.

Whitewater rafting down the Yampa River.

Today, the New York Times is using an image I created last summer while on a multi-day raft trip assignment down the Wild and Scenic Rogue River in southern Oregon with adventure travel company O.A.R.S. This was an amazing wine and food focused trip with California foothill Chef Bob Anderson of  V Restaurant and winemaker Matt Hatcher of Hatcher Winery.

The article is in the travel section of the Times’ and can be viewed here.

It’s always great to know clients are digging your work. Mont-Bell is currently using an image I created last year for their website homepage while I was traveling in the Moab, UT area.  The photo was made right at sunset in Canyonlands National Park shortly after a crazy thunderstorm. Gotta love the Southwest.

Ran up to the base of Castleton Tower couple nights ago to camp. Super windy and kinda forgot it’s a bit of a sketchy approach. If you’re not into heights / exposure, it might not be the place for you.  Made it up and down without incedent. Well, except that I forgot I pulled my sleeping bag out of my pack earlier in the day and it stayed nice and warm…in the car. A bit chilly, but all things considered, it was a pretty warm night out. Amazing place with redonkulous views.

Also spent some time shooting in Arches NP, Dead Horse State Park and Canyonlands NP.

And what’s with all the assholes who pull over in the National Parks…and anywhere else for that reason get out of their cars for 2-3 minutes to take a photo and leave their car running???!!! Have they been living in a cave the past 10-20 years? What? You’re going to tell me that you burn less gas? Maybe with a few kinds of cars, this might be the case but most experts will disagree. And just as much of the point, what about all the rest of the people who don’t want to hear your stupid car running and the smell of big oil biz ignorance. And especially us dirtbags that are happily lounging, drinking our morning coffee, eating a little breaky watching the all entertaining gaper show pass by. One of the funniest things to me is the various looks you get from people who think you’re just some lazy ass freeloader working the system. Little do they know I’ve been up since 4:30 am working; now I’m just taking a break at the “office.” Great stuff I tell ya. Love it!

Also, I’ve run into a few people here in Moab who were good friends with the three climbers (Micah Dash, Jonny Copp and Wade Johnson) who were likely killed in a avalanche while climbing in China recently. Very sobering and sad. Just reiterates for me to live each moment fully; cherish family and good friends because you never know when times going to be up for you or them. Whether it’s on a mountain or just driving to work. So if there is something you want to say, something your going to do, want to do, dream about doing -  quit waiting. Do it now. Go live and again breathe deep.

Here’s a few more images. Dig em. And if you’ve never spent time in Moab. Put it on the list and give yourself some time. It’s big and there’s lots to do if you like to play outside.

Well, the workshop / raft trip ended up not happening for this round. No worries. Next year. Looks like I’m still going to have to go do the trip though minus the workshop.  =) Postponed until mid June.