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.

Ireland

I went to Ireland and I shot pretty things, in the mean time, finding inspiration and reminding me why I love photojournalism. Sappy.


Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland


Connors Pass, Dingle, Co. Kerry, Ireland


Slea Head Loop, Co. Kerry, Ireland


Gianst Causeway, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK


The Dark Hedges, Armoy, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK

Graphic Portraits

Top caption:
Larry Bauder, an investigator for the Tri-City Ghost Hunters Society, sits in front of the projector screen Wednesday afternoon while audio evidence is played back for a sold out audience to hear during the Ghost Hunters presentation at the Alice & Jack Wirt Library in Bay City. Besides playing back recorded audio evidence, the group explained their goals and how their equipment works. Started in 2009 by Nicole Beauchamp and Mandy Moore, the group does research on haunted locations and investigations for anyone in need.

Bottom caption: Adam Federspiel, 22, of Midland, a senior at Central Michigan University, stands while waiting for the 12-mile Ride of Silence to begin Wednesday evening. The ride memorializes cyclists who have been injured or killed on public roadways, and promotes motorist awareness of cyclists. "My cousin was riding his bike in Redford when someone took a left, didn't see him, and he was struck and killed. I do it memory of him," Federspiel said.

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.

Softball coach detail

Shot Joe Albaugh, the Coleman High School softball coach, on Wednesday. After teaching for 26 years, and coaching 3 different sports--Football for 16, Baseball for 9, and Softball for 11--Albaugh is retiring. Here are a few details from the shoot. Yay details.

Arts for All at Creative 360

20-year-old Harley Steedley, of Midland, laughs as he feels around the table where he is volunteering, geared toward experiencing what it's like to have some form of impairment. as part of Arts for All Saturday morning at Creative 360, 1517 Bayliss St. Each person who comes to the table either puts on a blind fold or gloves, and performs a now challenging daily routine, such as finding coins or unlocking locks.


Midland residents 14-year-old Carolina Frey guides the hand of 20-year-old Harley Steedley, who has been blind for 9 years, as he sits down at the table where he will be volunteering during Arts for All Saturday morning at Creative 360, 1517 Bayliss St. "He's really nice, not different from other people, even though he needs help getting around," Frey, who attends Jefferson Middle School, said.