State Supremacy

I'm such a procrastinator. More updates from non-studio work coming this week.

JRN 420: Painting with light

Grand Haven junior Jake May and Milford senior Matthew Stephens play a game of night soccer at the Woman's Soccer Field behind the Student Activity Center Friday night.



Milford senior Matthew Stephens is an avid golfer. "What I golf in one round, is the same score Tiger golfs in a tournament," said Stephens.

Nature's Wrath

Willie Randolph is the new track and field/cross country coordinator at Central Michigan University. Randolph was working in New Orleans as a track coach when Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Gulf Coast. He has a very heart warming story about his personal struggles during the storm and following months afterwards.

Check the whole story out here:
http://www.cm-life.com/2009/08/24/natures-wrath/

I designed this front page and I'm extremely happy with the way it turned out.

Sunsets and missed oppurtunities

"There will be times when you will be in the field without a camera. And, you will see the most glorious sunset or the most beautiful scene that you have ever witnessed. Don't be bitter because you can't record it. Sit down, drink it in, and enjoy it for what it is!" DeGriff

Much of the last month has been just that for me. It's been nice break to step away from the camera, but I found myself day dreaming about photography. I'm always approaching everyday situations and thinking about how I would shoot it or what I can do to make it look different.

Reegan

Grand Haven has become my second home this summer. It's such a beautiful town and the beach. I love the beach. I haven't shot much at all, but Jessica's niece Reegan loves the camera and is just to easy to photograph.

Work Stuff

I've been uninspired for a while and it makes it hard to shoot news type stuff. My mind has been on finding a fall story and creating my own studio. I really need to make some money and the weather has been so ideal for taking outdoor portraits. The problem is I've done nothing to market myself and I've been too busy with other things to even start.



I took this picture for a preview of an upcoming play and instead of shooting the dress rehearsal, I shoot a feature of the girls getting ready. I spent a lot of time waiting for some interaction as they all were dressing and sitting on their computers and then it happened.



It was extremely difficult to compose a clean frame, but this was honestly the best I could do. Neil the paper's adviser was not a fan of the photo because he wanted to see the face of the tattoo artist. This image is leaps and bounds more interesting than a plain photo of some guy laying down ink. Look at the irony of this photo, who brings their kid to a tattoo parlor and how often do you see them taking a picture of the tattoo.

Left Turns All Weekend Long

Three guys, one tent maybe is a more appropriate title but we won't go there.

Norm, Chris and myself ventured to Brooklyn, Mich. for a taste of NASCAR and of course to celebrate Norm's birthday.

We camped out for three days at the North Camp just outside of the race track. It was an adventure to say the least.

Free Bird was the official-unofficial song of the weekend, even though it was never once played.

Bloody Mary's for breakfast, Budweiser and Martini's for lunch and dinner.

Watched the Canadians get all excited about the Detroit Red Wings losing.

Didn't have a spatula so we went back to Camp Canada and stole theirs. Don't worry we gifted onto to someone else after we were done camping because they put up with our drunk debauchery.

Talked trash about Canadians all night in the dark only to wake up and see we were surrounded by them.

Burgers and dogs when we sometimes ate.

Walked more than 4 miles for a clean porta-john.

Wrestled Norm and won. The Canadian's wanted more and then he kicked the crap out of me.

Found our neighbor Sammie, passed out in our camp.

One word to sum up the event: Sammie!!!

It was an awesome weekend of three city boyz finding their little bit of country deep down inside of the. Thank god that side doesn't come out often.


P.S. How many Canadians does it take to screw in a lightbulb? "Ohhh no the lights are out? I'm scared." - HIMYM