Last day

Friday was my last day freelancing for the Midland Daily News, where I've been learning the ropes of photojournalism since April '10. I've had the chance to shoot some pretty sweet assignments and work with some awesome photographers and people. Thanks a bunch to Ryan, Nathan, John, Thomas, Nick and Neil for all the advice along the way.

Christmas. Hoops.

It's Christmas season. As Nick King told me, everything is either Christmas-related or a hoops game. I shot both in one day.









And a funny picture of bagpipes in kilts.

Santa brought snow. Fireworks, too.

Light from fireworks save the day (or I guess night)

Tissue

Canned

A demonstration and some science kids

Hat Lady

It's like f/8 and being there...

But it's 400mm and in your face.

Nathan Morgan assigned me a portrait of the 100th Eagle Scout from a troop in Midland. Originally he planned on a more documentary approach to the assignment, but the kid wasn't going to be around, so portrait it was. He told me to go ahead and have some fun with it, so I busted out the $8+ grand lens...The 400mm f/2.8. Minimum focus distance. Wicked! Totally want to do a portrait series using that thing.

A Derby Mom and a Dedicated Usher...

(Not the music artist)

While recently I've been... Part II

Taking pictures. Here's some.


Special Olympics.


Dance practice.


Debate team. They talk fast.


Funny ski feech.

While recently I've been... Part I

Taking pictures of sports


Basketball.




Wrasslin'.

Squirrel!

Nathan Morgan asked if I could find a weather feature or pictorial while I was dropping dumping photos from earlier assignments. I told him I'd see what I could find, but after scouring the events calenders, I found nothing. So I walked down to the Tridge hoping to find something weathery over there, but instead I found a squirrel. So I shot a squirrel. And wrote a ridiculous caption.


A fox squirrel nibbles on a nut securely gripped between its paws, its face lightly dusted with fresh snow Monday afternoon by the Tridge. The fox squirrel is the largest species of tree squirrel native to North America, thriving best among oak, hickory, walnut and pine trees that produce winter-storable foods. Sometimes being referred to as raccoon squirrel, or monkey-faced squirrel, they are also mistaken for red squirrels and grey squirrels, despite physical differences such as size and color. Fox squirrels rely on their agility, both climbing and jumping, to escape predators.

Ice Racer

Spent the morning out on Ross Lake in Beaverton, Mich. ice racing. It was a bit nippy (-9 when I pulled up), but it was a lot of fun. And cold.



Holy solar flares, batman.

Lazy Sports Update: Meridian v. Farwell Football

High School Football.


Meridian's Cameron Hobbs rests with his helmet halfway off his head Friday evening during the first quarter against Farwell at Meridian High School.


Farwell's Mitch Hamming pitches the ball off as Meridian's Jimmy Van Nortwick closes in for the tackle Friday evening at Meridian High School.

Meh. Sports. All I shoot lately.

Dirty Dog Run

Saginaw resident Lori Williams looks back at her friends as her dog, Finnegan, a one-and-a-half year old Plott Hound and German Shepherd mix, trots off eager to play.


Saginaw resident Lori Williams tries to calm down Finnegan, her one-and-a-half year old Plott Hound and German Shepherd mix, to take a photo as he attempts to wrestle away from her Saturday morning after finishing the 2nd Annual Dirty Dog Run together "It was fun, really pretty," Williams said, "and now he'll be tired out the rest of the day."


Saginaw resident Rita Seston, left, plays with Craigg, her 12-year-old Border Collie, while Saginaw residents Bret Stone, takes a photo of Lori Williams, and her one-and-a-half year old Plott Hound and German Shepherd mix, Finnegan, Saturday morning following the completion of the 2nd Annual Dirty Dog Run. "It was nice, because it wasn't super competitive, everyone was out for fun," Seston said. "It's a good cause, they're both rescue dogs (Craigg and Finnegan), so we all donated more than just the entry fee for the race." The event, held at the Midland City Forest and put on by SOS (Stray or Stranded) Animal Rescue of Midland, raised money for the Spay/Neuter fund, aimed to help low and fixed income families in the Midland County area to spay and neuter their pets.

Lazy Update IV: Midland Explorers

This guy really likes to make plays and this face.


Midland Explorers shortstop Eddy Ketelhut picks up a ground ball and throws it to first base Monday afternoon during the second inning of play at Emerson Park against Saskatoon.


Midland Explorers shortstop Eddy Ketelhut dives to the ground and tosses the ball in a failed attempt to throw a Chicago/New York baserunner out at first Wednesday evening at Currie Stadium during the ISC 2010 World Tournament.

Stupid yellow pole...

Lazy Update III: Lady Antebellum

Dylan Dice, 14, of Midland, sits against a wall just outside of the Midland County Fairgrounds Grand Stand and listens as The McClymonts play Sunday evening, prior to Lady Antebellum taking the stage, during the first day of the Midland County Fair.

I wish I could have gotten a better quote than "it's nice," but the kid walked away...

kids. dogs. kids. dogs.

Saturday was my real assignment day. Shoot a kids triathlon (what is with Midland and running?) and then shoot a dog...



Madison Marciniak, 12, left, and Torri Tatro, 13, both of Bay City, check the roster while waiting for their age group to start during the Tri-Kids-Try triathlon Saturday morning at H.H. Dow High School while their friends Lauren Bedell and Betsy Moultrhop wait. Bedell not participate in the event. "She's our cheerleader," the other three said.



Sam Yoder, 8, of Midland, cools off and relaxes with an ice cream treat Saturday morning after finishing the Tri-Kids-Try triathlon at H.H. Dow High School. "It was really good," he said about the event, "I came in 12th, and I had a wipe out on my bike, but I kept my spot."



Local author Clara J. del Valle points out shoppers to her bearded collie Gisselle Saturday afternoon at the Midland Mall Barnes & Noble during the signing of her book, "Gisselle's Adventures in Color." Gisselle is a certified therapy dog who has been participating in childrens reading programs as well as a retired show dog. Gisselle and del Valle will be signing books again at the Dow Gardens Friday, Aug. 20 at 10 a.m.

Back to the grind

Finally, after almost two months since my last assignment, I started working again. My first real assignment (for Midland) was on Saturday, but I was nervous...Like. First day of work for Midland nervous...So I went out to RIVERDAYS with Libby, who has there to shoot The Verve Pipe, ran into Nathan and Thomas, and snapped a few frames. The best way to get over shooting anxiety is to just shoot...Doesn't matter if they're portfolio images or anything, but it helps.





Nothing super incredible. The light was nice, though. But it worked, and I wasn't as nervous any more. Cool.

Dog Show Grooming

"I've spent so long grooming him, I forgot to groom myself," Adele MacAskill said as the Old English Sheepdog judging started Saturday afternoon during the Midland Michigan Kennel Club dog show at the Midland County Fairgrounds. Rudy, who is 17-months-old, is new to the dog show circuit, the MMKC show being its third, and holds a junior herding level. "He can herd ducks. Sheep are next," MacAskill said.