Fireworks before the 4th

Early firework display in Bay City. I guess they just couldn't wait. Here's some photos that weren't really for the story but just fun to shoot.

MLB and Little League

Yesterday I got to shoot my first MLB game in Detroit. It was exciting to be so close. I didn't shoot as many action shots as I would've liked but hopefully I'll get another chance to try. Then today I got to shoot a Little League game. What a difference. The pros a very calm and collected, almost stoic where as the 9-12yr olds weren't. Whether they did well or not, these kids showed exactly how they were feeling.  For shooting, I liked the emotional elementary school kids better.

Boat Nascar

This Sunday I photographed the River Roar in Bay City. The River Roar is basically Nascar on water. After I got yelled at for going into the pitt area, where I wasn't supposed to be I walked around and practiced panning with a buncha boats. Anyway here are some of my non-panning favorites.

Mis Hermanas

My sisters and I getting ready for Alexis's graduation.

Practice

First practice where I got to meet the whole team. We'll see what Friday brings.

Feature Hunting Part Deux

This is a photo I like, don't think the paper will use it for anything. Oh well, I like it.

Feature Hunting

Today was a slow day for me. I only had two shoots both which were not as interesting as a photographer could hope for. They also didn't take too long. Once I completed them I went around Saginaw and met someone I think could be a potential story. His name is Isaac Gracia and he coaches 9-12yr baseball. He started up his team to keep kids off the street. This is his first year doing this. I'll see what happens at tomorrow practice...hopefully I can go.

Sunday and Monday otherwise known as my weekend

This weekend I got to explore Bay City with a friend from school who came to visit me. it was nice to see a familiar face and fun to just walk around.

God Bless America

Women crying upon the return of their husband after a year in Afghanistan.
Women dressed for a country music festival.

KCQ Country Music Festival

Today I got patted on the head by Neal McCoy and yelled at by Wynonna Judds people for being too close with a long lens. I also saw many shirtless men, girls in tank tops, and lots of cowboy hats. I went to a country music festival.

919th

I got to photograph three assignments today, and once the computer I was using decided to stop freezing, I got the photos uploaded. Here are three of my favs. I discovered that it was much harder going into this just covering the broad event rather than just focusing on one particular family.

bubbles

Alexis's general reaction to anything

Even if you tell them to look at the camera...they never do

I feel old

She wore all white and carried a bouquet of half a dozen red roses. No my sister did not get married, instead she graduated high school. Here some photos from those. It was interesting, as her sister I thought I would have more access....I thought wrong. Oh well. I got those photos that my parents and grandparents will like.

Weekend shots

I got to shoot baseball and softball again along with a quick stint at a local arts fair. Here they are. Tomorrow I leave for home to see my sister graduate. Those photos are still to come.

Trying to give up the 17mm

Today I had to shoot a golf tournament, and I committed to ultimate community newspaper crime. I hardly covered the locals. If you should ever work for a community paper always remember people like to see themselves, i.e. shoot the locals. I also did not shoot tight enough.

So my editor gave me three things to work on:
1.) Shoot tight, especially for sports, meaning I have to stop loving the 17-35mm so much
2.) Watch my backgrounds, meaning I'm getting sloppy because people have poles coming out of their heads
3.) Remember the locals, meaning I must pay attention to the area I live in and who I'm delivering news to.

Because of my flops there won't be any golf photos instead here is a portrait I took of a mother who's son was murder and the case was never solved. I liked the photo but I think the paper will choose another.

Now I smell like an ashtray

First spot news of the summer. Nothing crazy, luckily there was no one in the house when it caught fire. Now I'm off to hunt for an egg laying turtle.

Sweated Through 3 Baseball Games

Today was my first solo day at the paper. I got to shoot three assignments on deadline, woot woot! The first was a baseball league for disadvantage children, then the next two were softball and baseball championship games for local high schools. It was a balmy 87 today, so I can't wait for a shower. Here's some of my photos from the games.

My mug shot

My mug shot/employee badge photo.

1st assignments

On my first day I got to photograph a truck driving instructor. On my first day I also got to drive a truck. Should you ever get the chance to drive a truck, do it. Here are my other two assignments, and after tomorrow I will be doubling the number of assignments under my belt. It's baseball and softball. With deadline. One right after another. I hope I can do this!