I have been a professional photographer for 22 years.
For the past 10 years Idaho Falls, Idaho has been my home.
Action motorsports photography is my specialty, but I am also strong at editorial, commercial and industrial photography.
In my free time I love acrylic painting on large canvas.
Currently I am a photographer for Communication Designs, which contracts for the Department of Energy at the Idaho National Laboratory and the Idaho Cleanup Project. I have radworker II training and hazwoper certification. This permits me to enter Radiation Buffer Areas, Radiation Areas and Contaminated Areas.
On top of this I am the chief photographer for American Snowmobiler magazine and contract with Yamaha Snowmobiles to provide photography for new model sleds.
I spend part of my time raising my family. My schedule is fairly flexible, so if one plans I can meet almost any deadline.
“Be passionate about what you want to do in life. If you don’t have a passion it shows. My wife often teases me that I live, eat and breathe photography. I admit that I do, almost to a fault, but without that drive I would not be fortunate to be making a living doing what I love. Keep a good attitude, strive for excellence and always try to grow as a photographer and as a person.”
- Kort Duce -
I think I am finished with my latest painting titled “Coq au Vin.” It is acrylic and mixed media on 48″x72″ gallery wrapped canvas.
I added a cloth napkin I made from duck canvas and added the stylish napkin ring. I am contemplating whether I should add some green leaves to garnish the cheese plate or not. Maybe an Eiffel Tower cheese knife too? Decisions to make. Oh well, I’ll at least sign my name.
Thank you for looking!
My latest painting is still drying. When it is dry I may add a few details and then I’ll sign it!
This one was fun to paint. Enjoy!
Recently I finished two paintings despite turkey travel, my 11-day YAMAHA photography shoot and our holiday joy !
“Cock & Bull Story” is my largest painting to date at 48″x72″. Much fun to work on. The sculpted bull’s head was made layering an acrylic binder called stucco. The lasso rope was made using some clothes line I purchased in Billings, Montana in November. I borrowed the idea of a leather glove and metal saddle star from one of my previous pieces.
I started this painting right before I left on my photography shoot for YAMAHA Snowmobiles. A 9-day trip to an unknown location in the Rocky Mountain West.
The secrecy of this shoot is on par with the classification office for the Department of Energy: very tight.
Despite the lack of snow the 2013 photography was a success.
When I returned from the YAMAHA shoot I had to process all the pictures I took and disseminate data. Much work and not very fun.
I started back up on “Cock & Bull Story” the week before Christmas. I figure it took me about 9 days to paint. A little too long probably, but it is 48″x72″. Gigantic. Huge. Would not fit in most homes!
“Northern Cheyenne Indian Girl” I painted before Thanksgiving weekend as a speed test. It took about 3 days…
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I am currently painting “Cock of the Walk” at 36″x48.”
Happy New Year!
Recently I finished my latest painting titled “In A Stew.” It is acrylic on a 48″x48″ plywood canvas made to look like a gallery wrapped cotton canvas with a depth of 1.5″.
Cans are attached to painting.
Before I could start this painting though, I had to paint “Chicken Soup,” which measures 24″x30.”
When “Chicken Soup” was complete I took a studio picture with my photography strobes and designed a label in Adobe Photoshop.
I made several test prints before settling on a HP thermal film print from Walmart. Very durable. It passed my finger grease, spit, smudge and water test!
While painting I bought several flats of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup. I lucked out because it was on sale; two for $1.00. The kids and I polished off 15 cans of soup. I needed more empty cans so we had a chicken soup party! My wife is now officially sick of chicken noodle soup. Can’t blame her.
I used a special can opener, which my parents gave me, that opens cans without sharp edges. Great for recycling and safety, but even better for my project because it allowed me to re-attach the lids. This makes the soup cans look real.
Enjoy!
The other night I documented the transportation of nuclear fuel rods stored in water basins at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC) at the Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) on the Department of Energy (DOE) site West of Idaho Falls, Idaho. The fuel rods from the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II) are being shipped to the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to be processed and decommissioned at Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF) .
Those last two sentences were difficult to get through, I know. That’s why most employees that work directly or indirectly for the Department of Energy (DOE) talk in acronyms. It is a whole different language. Acronyms that make “newbies”, like myself, ask the dreaded question: “What does that acronym stand for?” Most people look at you like you are nucking futs. Then they calmly tell you. Others simply do not know.
After 2.5 years of contracting for the DOE I am talking in slang. It is a BFD. I am part of the TEAM now. I am no longer the SNAFU!!!
Acronyms are everywhere today in our technological world! Most people know these acronyms: WTF?, LOL, OMG, LMAO, etc… We use them everyday while surfing the internet.
If I need to learn something, which is most of the time, I “google” it. That’s my information system. I am looking up acronyms all the time, or asking my wife what it stands for.
Damn. IMO we live in one beautiful and twisted world! I love it!
At any rate…
here R pics of HFEF-6 Cask
Now, let’s see how many people develop carpal tunnel syndrome from texting and answering emails on their phones.
Before you know it everyone will be wearing wrist braces, taking pictures of their naked lower half and sexting! Instant gratification!!!
Now I better go get my Weiner and Favre on!
Chicken Xing - Acrylic painting on 60"x48" canvas - by Kort Duce
I am pretty much finished with my latest acrylic painting titled “Chicken Xing.” I need to sign it and finish the last little details.
Details. Details. Details.
Some time in the next few days I’ll start my new painting titled “Mother Hen.” Not sure the size yet: either 24×30, 30×40 or 36×48. The largest size will probably win.
Below is a sketch of “Mother Hen.” Same color and style as the painting above! Bold colors and heavy texture.
"Mother Hen" sketch by Kort Duce. Soon to be an acrylic painting on canvas.
I feel like my rooster and chicken series is slowly coming together. I’ve completed much research and have at least 150 painting ideas. Should keep me pretty busy for quite some time.
As soon as I finish this painting I will start “Free Range Chicken.” I have a 60″x48″ canvas for this one, but I really want to paint this huge (like 90″x72″).
At any rate, below is that sketch posted again.
"Free Range Chicken" sketch by Kort Duce. Soon to be an acrylic painting on canvas.
Recently I documented spent fuel rods from the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) being transferred to the water basins at the Idaho Cleanup Project. CWI or CH2M Hill Corporation and Washington Group International (now URS) operate the Idaho Cleanup Project at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in eastern Idaho.
Read more about the Idaho Cleanup Project here. Or more about the Advanced Test Reactor here.
At the water basins they temporarily store spent fuel rods in a series of lockers located deep under water. The stainless steel pool is connected to several separate pool systems by a canal. This allows them to store different fuel types in different pools so there is not a reaction and subsequent explosion.
The water basins are 20-40 feet deep and hold about 3.5 million gallons of deionized water. Since being built in the 1980s the water has never been changed because it creates the shielding from the radioactive fuel rods being temporarily stored. The water is fairly clean, but is considered a radiation area (RA). The area surrounding the pools is considered a Radiation Buffer Area (RBA). One does not have to wear personal protection equipment (PPE) in an RBA. In many of the pictures the fuel handlers are donning PPE because they are in the RA. This PPE protects and contains potential radiation exposure because the handlers remove (doff) the protective clothing upon leaving the RA.
It is very interesting documenting this process. I have radworker II training so I am permitted to enter radiation buffer areas, radiation areas and contamination areas with proper personal protection equipment (PPE) without an escort. An escort is someone who must follow your every step and watch you. With an escort you are only allowed in RBAs.
Everyone in an RBA must wear a dosimeter to measure your exposure to radiation. Safety is the first priority. If people are exposed to too much radiation the facility will face large cash penalties and potential shut down from the federal government. Not good for the contractor! So everyone errors on the side of caution and safety.
A ton of paper work, procedures and safety checks are completed to ensure SAFETY. Check one. Check two. Check three.
Plus one needs to be aware of your surroundings so you are not loitering near objects with high doses of radiation.
The worst thing… in my selfish opinion, is the poor light. High pressure sodium vapor lights with creamy yellow walls, yellow paint on all the equipment and personal protective equipment dyed yellow. A pain in the ass to white balance. Plus it is what I call “available darkness.”
Dark and crappy light. I would love to use my off-camera strobes, but I am told the infra-red remote and radio remotes are not allowed around all their equipment. Plus you are in an RBA so the radcon techs would have to survey everything out.
On a side note: Before leaving the facility my photography and video must be reviewed by a derivative classification officer with the Navy, since they also store spent nuclear fuel rods in the water basins. If there is anything classified from the Navy’s perspective my images would be deleted and my compact flash cards destroyed. Of course they would copy the cleared pictures before doing this. Also, a derivative classification officer with the Idaho Cleanup Project also has to review the images before they are released for external use. This blog is obviously considered external use.
A big thanks to the derivative classification officers for taking the time to clear these pictures.
Enjoy!
Casket containing fuel rods from the Advanced Test Reactor.
Protective cover being removed from casket.
Casket with fuel rods ready for submersion in water basins.
Loosening casket container bolts.
Handling caskets containing fuel rods takes a team. Here the support team watches remote video cameras throughout the water basins and checks the procedures.
Casket containing ATR fuel rods being raised out of the water basin. Deionized water is being sprayed on the casket to contain any contamination to the water basins.
An overhead maintenance crane in the RA allows them to remotely lower the casket into the water basin.
Overall picture of the water basins.
A fuel handler uses a special tool to place a fuel rod in a stainless steel basket under 20-plus feet of water.
Video monitor showing the tops of the fuel rods ( a total of eight ).
Check one. Check two. Making sure the procedures are done correctly and safety is being followed.
Fuel handlers working in a RA must wear life jackets incase they accidently fall in the water.
A radcon tech enters the RA with the fuel handlers to check for high radiation levels. Here the radcon is measuring the radiation from a swab cloth.
30-foot deep water basin. Receiving pool.
Overhead crane in the radiation area.
Fuel handlers discussing procedures with their support team.
A fuel handler uses a special tool ( cable with hook ) to move a stainless steel basket to transport fuel rods under water.
Fuel handlers and the support team use multiple video cameras and monitors to watch and help with transporting fuel rods.
Fuel handlers place fuel rods and basket into a locker well under 20-feet of water.
In June 2011 my friends at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) called me about photographing an advertising campaign for their new Women and Infants Center. For the past year they advertised the remodel and construction of their new addition. The new NICU unit went from about 700 square feet to over 12,000 square feet. The remodel of the Women and Infants Center was way over due. Very impressive.
For the last year they used photography that their advertising agency in Salt Lake City provided. Construction workers, with hard hats, holding infants. Mothers, with hard hats, holding babies, etc… In fact, I received a contact sheet of those pictures for reference during my photography shoot. Good solid commercial work.
I wish they had contacted me about doing that earlier advertising campaign too. I believe there is much merit in using local models for a community our size (85,000 residents in Bonneville County and serving a greater community of about 250,000 people). Like community journalism people connect to local advertising if local people are used. Makes sense to me.
Right now there are about six billboards in Idaho Falls with my photography on them. The one pictured below is right on the corner of the street we live on.
In late July 2011 I documented an ARMY exercise at the Radiological Test Range at the Idaho National Laboratory.
From what I understand, it is the second time in the Army’s history that they trained with an actual radiological hazard. ARMY personnel and INL employees had to don PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) and wear dosimeters to count their exposure to radiation.
At the remote location they sprayed a radiological material with a half-life of 30-40 days. The radiological material was contained to an area about a square mile. Exposure was low to keep everyone safe, but it was hot. You needed PPE to enter the contaminated area.
I almost got suited up in my PPE to document everything, but I was there on the last day and things were slowing down. During the next exercise in 2012 I am going to don my PPE and document everything first hard.
by Kort Duce
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