For weeks now, word has been spreading quickly throughout town that members of the Westboro Baptist Church, a outspoken anti-gay religious group, would be picketing at both the Montana State University campus and the Bozeman High School this past Monday. Bozeman is a small mountain community but their response to such a group was a monstrous, united message that intolerance has no place here. This was shown in spades as the racist family of three from Topeka, Kansas got out of their white SUV and were immediately drowned out by a sound wall of hundreds of marriage equality supporters. As a member of the media, these are tricky subjects to document. While my job is to document and tell the story as accurately and as un bias as I can, the reality is I strongly disagree with the message these people were trying to push. So my challenge was look past my own opinions and try to make images that would tell the story while minimizing my spread of their message by showing their hate signs. It was an exercise in observation, patience and careful composition. Being able to remain calm during such chaotic situations (where many things at once are happening), helped me see beyond what was on the surface and perhaps show something unexpected. The first image in this slide show I think really spoke to that notion. As both sides screamed at eachother, I stopped and watched as the couple’s 11-year-old son. He stood there alongside is parents hiding being his sign with the world screaming all around at him. You could tell by his face that he was incredibly uncomfortable. I wondered what was going through his mind and whether he ever doubts his parents intentions? Who knows? Seeing his reaction so different from his outspoken parents struck me that maybe there was some hope for him. There are lots of things in this world that I don’t agree with and many people who can say things that can make my skin boil. But despite my disagreements, I appreciate that we live in a country where an individual can speak their mind for better or for worse. I was proud to see my community take a stand. -M
Photos from 2014 Bozeman Run to the Pub 10K/Half Marathon Race
EditorialLast Saturday on assignment for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, I watched hundreds of my fellow Bozemanites run in the 2014 Bozeman Run to the Pub 10K/Half Marathon Race. The event is popular and runners were decked out in copious amounts of green to keep in step with the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. The best part is the race ends downtown where everyone drinks beer afterwards in the street. Race organizers provided buses to take runners to the starting line which really cut down on the hassles of moving cars. It looked like a lot of fun. Makes me consider running it myself next year. Overall a great way to spend a Saturday. Here are some favorite photographs from the day. Cheers! -M
Life around Bozeman Montana – Editorial Photos from February 2014
EditorialSome favorite editorial photographs of mine from February 2014 at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Thanks for stopping by. -M
Bozeman Montana in Photos – January 2014 from the Bozeman Daily Chronicle
EditorialA collection of my favorite editorial photographs in and around Bozeman Montana January 2014. Thanks for looking. -M
Best Photographs of 2013 Mike Greener Photography
EditorialHere we go. Another year in the bag. I feel thankful. The year 2013 was another year of positive growth though at times I fought it kicking and screaming. The evolution of my photography continues and my love for Montana continues to grow. I’ve really been enjoying life here in Bozeman, Montana. Here are some favorite images from 2013. Looking forward to the new adventures of 2014. Happy New Year everyone! -M
Color Portraits for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle Business Journal 20 Under 40
EditorialA big marathon portrait session I just completed published today in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. I had little time to come up with a concept so, in a pinch, I opted for color and a homemade ring flash. These were a lot of fun to make. There are a lot of awesome talented folks living around these parts. Be sure to check out the stories on the Business Journal website. Color! Boom! -M
Bozeman Montana in Photos for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle November 2013
EditorialI’m playing catch up. Here are some more favorite photos from my time at the newspaper during November 2013. -M
Life in Bozeman Montana from October 2013
EditorialA long overdue update. Thanks for looking. -M
Bozeman Montana in the Fall – Photographs from September
EditorialFall has arrived in Montana and I have been loving it. It is easily my favorite season. As you can see it is also very busy. I’ve been having fun. Here are some favorite photographs from assignments I did for my staff position at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle during the month of September. Thanks for looking. -M
Native American Heritage Day at Montana State University for Bozeman Daily Chronicle Viewfinder
EditorialLast week I photographed some of the activities around town that were giving appreciation for Native American Heritage Day. It was a chance to recognized all of the diverse tribal nations both here in Montana and throughout the country and that unified idea to uphold their native cultures was shown in the multi tribal dancing outfits and teachings to the public. You couldn’t ask for a better weather day. I hung around Montana State University watching fancy dancers, listening to speakers, listening to native music and then ventured over to Chief Joseph Middle School to watch kids learn to put up teepees. Ingredients that made for a fun day in Bozeman and for a festive Sunday Viewfinder photo page in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. -M
Photographing Hate and the Importance of Freedom of Speech
EditorialFor weeks now, word has been spreading quickly throughout town that members of the Westboro Baptist Church, a outspoken anti-gay religious group, would be picketing at both the Montana State University campus and the Bozeman High School this past Monday. Bozeman is a small mountain community but their response to such a group was a monstrous, united message that intolerance has no place here. This was shown in spades as the racist family of three from Topeka, Kansas got out of their white SUV and were immediately drowned out by a sound wall of hundreds of marriage equality supporters. As a member of the media, these are tricky subjects to document. While my job is to document and tell the story as accurately and as un bias as I can, the reality is I strongly disagree with the message these people were trying to push. So my challenge was look past my own opinions and try to make images that would tell the story while minimizing my spread of their message by showing their hate signs. It was an exercise in observation, patience and careful composition. Being able to remain calm during such chaotic situations (where many things at once are happening), helped me see beyond what was on the surface and perhaps show something unexpected. The first image in this slide show I think really spoke to that notion. As both sides screamed at eachother, I stopped and watched as the couple’s 11-year-old son. He stood there alongside is parents hiding being his sign with the world screaming all around at him. You could tell by his face that he was incredibly uncomfortable. I wondered what was going through his mind and whether he ever doubts his parents intentions? Who knows? Seeing his reaction so different from his outspoken parents struck me that maybe there was some hope for him. There are lots of things in this world that I don’t agree with and many people who can say things that can make my skin boil. But despite my disagreements, I appreciate that we live in a country where an individual can speak their mind for better or for worse. I was proud to see my community take a stand. -M
August in Bozeman
EditorialA sampling of some favorite images from the past month working at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
Hyalite Canyon Viewfinder for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle
EditorialLast week I was assigned to come up with a series of photos for publication on our occasional Viewfinder photo page. It’s always a fun assignment because it offers us staff photographers a chance to go off and explore. Summer time usually translates to me being busy with photographing weddings and therefore the opportunities for me to get out into the wilderness are few. With this Viewfinder assignment, opportunity knocked. I decided to head up to Hyalite Canyon just outside of Bozeman, Montana. It is a beautiful place right in our backyard and I’ve had little time to check it out. So I spent a day watching, talking to and photographing locals and tourists alike who were enjoying this local resource. I was another reminder of why I love living in Montana. Thanks for looking. -M
July Editorial Update
EditorialFor the past two months my world has been wedding photography. Things have been going great but the combination of my full time job at the newspaper in addition to the full time workload of the weddings has been very successful in keeping me busy these past summer months. Hence my slowness in updating my photo blog. Here is some work I made throughout the month of July at the newspaper. Thanks for looking. -M
June in Southwest Montana 2013
EditorialAnother fun month has come and gone. Here is some recent work from my staff photographer position at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Happy 4th of July everyone!
Return to the Wild: Nursing an Injured Golden Eagle Back to Health
EditorialThis was a cool assignment. Last week I got to watch the release of a golden eagle back into the wild. The raptor was rescued by Montana Raptor Conservation Center director Becky Keanon January 25th after it was injured by a cable snare trap and Wednesday marked it’s successful nurture back to health. After a four month road to recovery, Montana Raptor Conservation Center volunteer Jocelyn Barker is shown releasing it back into the wild outside of Bozeman near Middle Cottonwood canyon Wednesday afternoon. Before the birds can be released, they must be banded and have a sample of their feathers saved on record. So you can imagine my humor watching the raptor center volunteers trying to recapture the bird in its pen with a blanket. It’s harder to catch a wild eagle than one would think. These volunteers were pros and were able to safely capture and release the eagle without any harm to it. It was a pretty cool thing to witness this healed bird soaring on the mountain winds once again. What a feeling it must have felt to finally fly again after 4 months cooped up. How great for the Bozeman community that they have such dedicated raptor enthusiasts that provide such a service.
Mike Greener wins in the 2012 Society of Professional Journalists Pacific Northwest Excellence in Journalism Contest
Awards, EditorialAnd here is the winning portrait and a link to my winning portfolio.
Montana in May – Part One
EditorialThings have been trucking along here at the newspaper over the month of May. As of late, I’ve found that I’ve been up close and personel with a lot of animals on assignments lately. I adorned a bee keeper suit as I photographed a guy and his bee colonies, I’ve had my head chewed on and nuzzled by a friendly farm horse and later huddled close to a fallen tree as hundreds of wild bison trotted feet from me as federal authorities hazed them back into Yellowstone National Park. It’s never a dull moment in my line of work. I’ve been enjoying myself. More photos to come. Thanks for looking.
Rounding Out April in Bozeman, Montana
EditorialA quiet month of photos but fun to make all the same.
Magic Tigers – Behind the scenes with Bozeman Magician Jay Owenhouse
EditorialI don’t know about you guys, but when I was a kid I loved seeing the illusions of magicians. I was given a simple paper folding magic trick once and I eagerly would volunteer to make a dollar bill disappear then reappear for anyone willing to appease me. I loved the misdirection and the reactions I got from people. For years, like so many, I’ve seen big time magicians wow audiences on television and on tour and I always was interested in the idea that these individuals were still carving out a living in illusion in a time where people are being bombarded with new technology and entertainment of the 21st century. When I moved to Bozeman last year, it became known to me that Jay Owenhouse, a national name on the magic circuit, lived in Bozeman and that he used tigers for his performances. I had to meet this guy. Over weeks and weeks of trying to line up our schedules, I finally was able to hang out with Jay for a week leading up to his tour kick off performance at the Montana State University Brick Breeden Fieldhouse last Saturday. I was interested in his unique occupation and the fact that someone in this small little Montana town had two tigers as pets. I wanted to document his relationship with his big cats and try to show our readers what it was like to prepare for a magic show. Time was against me, as always. Between daily assignments and not enough hours in a day, these images are what I was able to come away with. It was really cool to watch the relationship/passion this guy has for his craft and with these beautiful animals. If you ever get a chance, it would be worth checking out his show. You always want more time or more access to work on stories but overall I was pleased with many of the images I made of him. Thanks for looking, -M
Portraits from the 2013 Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club’s Bicycle Swap
EditorialI had some fun making these photos. This past weekend, as part of my newspaper‘s monthly photo page called the “Viewfinder” I decided to pack up the photo studio and bring it over to the Gallatin County fair grounds this past Saturday and make portraits of Bozeman locals and their new old bicycles. The Viewfinder can be anything. It really gives us photographers a chance to get creative and do photo studies. It’s an opportunity and challenge I look forward to. But sometimes it can sneak up on us due to the busyness of the daily newspaper. Combing the events calendars looking for ideas, I stumbled across an add for the bike swap being hosted by the Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club. Bingo! I remembered how excited I was as a kid to receive my first bike. It was a feeling of freedom and independence. A simple machine that would serve as a reliable companion accompanying me on countless adventures throughout my youth. Waking up early on Saturday morning, I set out to try to capture that feeling in a well lit portrait series. These are the results. Thanks for looking, -M