ray j. gadd photography

Steelhead Fishin in the Sawtooths

skier2435 — Wed, 18 May 2011 23:17:03 +0000

It was zero degrees, my feet were numb beyond recognition, steam clouds billowed from my mouth with every exhaling breath and yet I could not help but embrace the shit-spitting grin I had on my face. I stopped my casting for a brief minute to take in the awe-inspiring beauty of the Sawtooth mountains surrounding me. My good friend Brad and I were taking turns fighting monstrous sea-run trout in the tiny upper confluence of the Salmon River. These fish had traveled nearly 900 miles past 8 dams to procreate in one of the most breath-taking landscapes I’ve ever come across to provide us with enough memories to last a lifetime. Between the two of us we pulled in a good ten fish ranging from 28 – 36inches both hatchery raised and native. While this was only my second year steelhead fishing, I know that this day will be one for the history books.

Bradley “Two Socks”

No matter whether I’m living in Ketchum, ID or clear across the country, I can guaruntee that I will be paying a yearly homage to Stanley to throw my fly line at those amazing fish. That of course is all dependent on their survival rate back to these coveted waters. Check out this PBS video for some insight on how the dams on the Columbia river watershed have depleted a run that was once epic in proportion to the numbers that run today.

http://video.pbs.org/video/1891112523?starttime=1200000#

Volcano Jump – Sun Valley, ID

skier2435 — Mon, 16 May 2011 15:42:23 +0000

I couldn’t help but notice this massive mound of snow being molded and sculpted in to a beautiful snow sliding playground as I drove by Dollar Mountain several weeks ago. Not long after I caught wind that Level 1 was in town ready to rock out a second year of shooting here in Sun Valley, Idaho.

I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to watch these talented gents throw down on this 110ft masterpiece dubbed the “Volcano Jump”. Hope you enjoy a few photos!

Stoked to see the footage in next-years Level 1 video! If it’s anything like Eye-Trip, I’m sure it will be rad.

Queen’s Cup Open 2011 – Park City Mountain Resort

skier2435 — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 04:29:18 +0000

For the past three years I’ve been venturing down to Park City for the Queen’s Cup Open to soak in the spring rays and to scope the gals pushing the limits of their individual skiing abilities. Good tunes, high-fives and tasty features offer up a fun, laid-back environment for a wide range of ages. It’s a neat opportunity to catch a few frames of these girls having a rad time doing what they love. Scope out photos from the time I could be there. For more detailed info on the comp and photos from some other talented photographers, check out the New Schoolers and the Freeskier articles.

New Schoolers Article

http://newschoolers.com/ns/content/readnews/id/3814/

Freeskier Article

http://freeskier.com/stories/6th-annual-queens-cup-results-recap-veronica-kelly-nadia-gonzales-take-top-honors

Big thanks to Becca Babicz & Annaleah De Masi for putting this event on and inviting me to join!

Urban Shredding in Sun Valley, ID

skier2435 — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:37:57 +0000

With the snow receeding rapidly here in the Wood River Valley, riders are scrambling to get their last fix of urban riding in for the season. I caught up with some friends who still had plenty of motivation to get the shots they were looking for. Sunny skies and warm temps offered up some rather photographer friendly conditions. Here’s a few shots for the session.

Thanks doods for letting me swing by to snap a few. Keep on keepin on.

What Kind of Cyclist Are You?

skier2435 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:08:25 +0000

The term cyclist a term covers a rather broad spectrum of individuals. Cycling can a means of transportation, a competitive outlet, or even a way of life. Often times a cyclist can be broken down based on the type of bike he or she rides while others choose to diversify their means of riding.

The greater Boise area lends itself to supreme riding across nearly every style. Endless miles of single track in the foothills offer epic views of the valley for cross-country and downhill riders while the green belt and an ever-increasing number of bike lanes give the roadie, fixie, and commuter riders their own space to spin. I’ve been fortunate enough to dabble in a wide variety of riding throughout Boise. Along the way I’ve photographed some very talented fellow riders. Below is a glimpse in to the many applicable definitions to the label of a cyclist.

With the weather warming it’s perfect time to find what defines you as a cyclist. Cheers!