Every fall, Nike sponsors a high school national cross country championship; they try to bring in as much talent as they can from throughout the country, so it’s organized into regional qualifiers. They chose to have the northwest qualifier in Boise (at Eagle Island State Park) this year, so I got to shoot it!

Probably the best thing about this assignment was getting to shoot a sport that I’ve competed in for the last ten years – high school cross country in Georgia, Division 1 Cross Country and Track and Field at Auburn, and now running on my own in Boise. Conveniently, that helps quite a bit with photographing racing – not only do I have the perspective of a runner artistically, but also I’m able to follow the entire race, rather than being pinned to just the couple of points that are close enough to walk back and forth from the start-finish area.

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The Championship division Women’s race:

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

And the Championship division Men’s race:

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

2009 Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest Photos

You can find more info about Nike’s high school cross country championships at the official web site: Nike Cross Nationals

Today I got to shoot a bit of the Bob Firman Cross Country Invitational at Eagle Island State Park!  I was originally planning on running in it but with how my legs were feeling today…  I took photos instead.

Boise State's team comes around a corner in the last 1000 meters of the Men's 8k race

Boise State’s team comes around a corner in the last 1000 meters of the Men’s 8k race


Two Northwest Nazarene University runners take the early lead.  One held the pace for the duration; the other fell back into the pack in the second of three laps.

Two Northwest Nazarene University runners take the early lead. One held the pace for the duration; the other fell back into the pack in the second of three laps.


At the end of the second lap, Boise State still had a pack together in the top ten runners

At the end of the second lap, Boise State still had a pack together in the top ten runners; they kept the pack together for the entire race to take the win.


These are some family portraits I made down in Cascade, Idaho recently.  I love working along Cascade Reservoir – it’s got a lot of great photo sports, especially with Tamarack Resort visible in the background.  And the natural rock formations made a great setting in themselves too!

Family Portraits in Cascade, November, 2008.  Copyright 2008 Israel Zion Shirk.

I’ve gotten a lot of questions from other photographers on how I did the lighting – the secret is to, when you have a day with otherwise not so great light, bring your own!  The great thing about dismal lighting is that it allows you to supplement the natural light with lighting that you’ve set up yourself – and then keeping both the natural light and artificial light in tune with each other.

Family Portraits in Cascade, November, 2008.  Copyright 2008 Israel Zion Shirk.Family Portraits in Cascade, November, 2008.  Copyright 2008 Israel Zion Shirk.Family Portraits in Cascade, November, 2008.  Copyright 2008 Israel Zion Shirk.Family Portraits in Cascade, November, 2008.  Copyright 2008 Israel Zion Shirk.Family Portraits in Cascade, November, 2008.  Copyright 2008 Israel Zion Shirk.Family Portraits in Cascade, November, 2008.  Copyright 2008 Israel Zion Shirk.