Adoption

OK, long overdue for a new post. This was one of the best assignments in a long time. This kid lost his mom to cancer, and over the past 8 years, has lived in 8 different foster homes - until now. He was adopted yesterday! His new dad decided to adopt him after he lost his wife. He and his wife had talked about adding Christian to the family, and so after her death, he decided to make it official. What a great family.

Wedding bells are ringing

One of my best friends got married at the beginning of the month. She looked radiant, confident, beautiful. It's fun to shoot a couple who are so relaxed, in love and in the moment.

Choo-choo

Met an interesting man named Dick Maddock this week. He is enamored with anything to do with trains, and has built a miniature railroad system around his property. I was thinking - wow, to have a hobby where you invest so much time and money into, but then I realized - my job is my hobby and I do the same thing...

Retirement is for me

A gray, boring Friday afternoon in search of a front page photo - waiting for 7 p.m. to come so the Friday night football game can start and praying for the rain clouds to move on. I happened upon this lady after a friend tipped me off on a fun feature photo. Wish I was retired - I could make any day a lazy one taking a nap with my dog, enjoying the cool weather.

The Big Day

I really do like shooting weddings. Such an important day in at least two persons' lives - happiness, sadness, nervousness...trying to capture it all is a tad daunting, but when all is said and done, it's pretty humbling – and fun. Here are the new Lark and Jesse Masten!

Linemen and tackles and balls - oh my!

Just finished the high school football tab. Why does it always feel like it never comes out the way I envision it? The players were super polite, and as always - funny. Portraits are just not my forté. I always feel like it's not unique enough, or the lighting isn't right, or I'm wasting their time or or or...I do want to get better at them, which hopefully will come in time. I can't believe fall is around the corner, and I'm about to stand in the snow covering football games. Brrr...

It's raining cats and dogs

Every time I have to go to the local animal shelter to do a story, I get worried that I won't be able to leave empty-handed. All these animals looks so sad and pitiful in their kennel and cubby holes. I hate having to see them look at me, saying, "Take me! Take me!" It breaks my heart. Lucky for them, the shelter just got a remodel and it's a bit better. TVs for the dogs in their sound-proof rooms, and the cats have an outdoor atrium area where they can lounge around. Even though I have two pets already, and I would probably get my head cut off for adopting anymore - it still breaks my heart to leave them, closing the door as they bark and meow their little heads off.

Sunset waterskiing

Back from Minnesota and back to the daily grind. One night after dinner, we went out on the boat as the sun was setting, leaving an orange sky as a backdrop. With the cool air whipping around, and the boat smoothly traveling over the glass-like lake, it was almost enough to put me to sleep.

Ruedi from the sky

I went on a hike up over Ruedi Reservoir - just what I needed after working 50 hours in 4 days. So, rode with Tucker in the backseat of John's Jeep, freezing our asses off, at 8 in the morning for an hour up to Basalt and the Frying Pan Road. But it was totally worth it. Four hours later, Alyssa, John and I were back in the Jeep, refreshed, tired and hungry. What a great Sunday.

Fire eating Feugo

Mountain Fair in Carbondale sure is a different event than the regular old festivals around the county. This year I shot the fire dance - where Feugo ate and breathed fire for a few minutes straight. Yuck! Can you imagine the lighter fluid taste in your mouth? But it sure was cool. I'd never seen anything like it. They also threw the fire sticks around, juggling it and flinging it between their legs. Ooohs and aaahs filled the night air.

I heart cowboys

I love shooting rodeos, mainly because that lifestyle is so foreign to me. Growing up in the 'burbs of Chicago, there surprisingly weren't all that many cowboys/girls around. Found this little guy working on making his rope nice and sticky for the mutton bustin' event. He was back with all the bull riders who were stretching out and getting dressed to compete. He thought he's one of them already - mimicking everything they did. He's never taken home a trophy, but unfortunately tonight wasn't his night once again.

Summer of Jazz

Shot the last Summer of Jazz tonight. What great music. Rebirth Brass Band. They had everyone off their feet, dancing, despite the ominous thunderheads accumulating above us. I think I am more creative around creative people - whether it be musician, artists, writers, actors, etc. Sometimes I get upset when I have to shoot an event when all my friends can just relax, drink and have fun, but tonight I was ok with that. I enjoyed watching others having fun, dancing and singing. Plus happy people make for happy pictures.

Festival Shmestival

Covered the Burning Mountain Festival for the fourth consecutive year. These small town festivals crack me up, especially the beauty pageants. It's totally more for the parents (moms!) than the kids. Here's a shot of the youngest girls backstage, getting ready for the crowning.
And then, trying desperately to get something different from past years - something other than a cute kid in a parade - I shot through some stained glass of some old-timers greeting each other in the middle of the park.
Only three more festivals to go ... kill me now.

Hiking with some chicas

So the sports reporter and I had an assignment to go on a hike with a women's hiking group. We brought along Tucker and Gunner to get them some exercise. What a blast! It was one of those assignments where I thought - I love my job. Hiking along a river, chatting with the gals and shooting pictures - and it was early in the morning so it wasn't even hot yet! Plus the scenery was beautiful. Just happy to have one of those starts to the day that puts you in a great mood.

Piano recital

I had to shoot a piano recital for the weekly paper here - talk about torture, until this little guy sat near me. He was so nervous and excited because he was about to perform. He kept tightening his tie, pretending to play the piano on the chair next to me and he couldn't sit still. Then one girl got up to play "The Phantom of the Opera." At first I couldn't tell if he was covering his ears or was just relaxing. Looks like he was impatiently relaxing.


Then he played his piece, got up and wasn't sure what he was supposed to do, so he looked to his mom, made a quick bow and ran off stage.

Roy and Twila

Walking around Bryan's new neighborhood in Denver, I came across Roy and Twila sitting on their front porch. The afternoon wind was whipping around, cooling down the muggy air a bit, as rain clouds hovered above but never released. Roy, in a dirty wife beater, sat in the corner - ivy framing him on the porch. Twila, a small, elderly lady who liked to talk, sat swinging on the porch swing, with her walker resting in front of her. I stopped and talked with them. Twila bought the house 43 years ago with the money she earned working at a rubber factory for 30 of those years. I took their picture, and left before realizing my lens was on manual focus. So - these shots aren't perfectly in focus, but I still liked them, kind of.

X Marks the Spot

After going to the Farmer's Market, meeting Bryan's new neighbors and dog, helping put his room together and going for a run - I am almost as tired as Tucker.
A little moving in action.

Chaz

Looking through photos to add and delete from my portfolio, I came across the photo story April and I worked on about this little boy named Chaz, who has a multitude of problems. He was adopted from Cambodia to American parents who didn't know about all his maladies. I think about him a lot. Despite all his problems, he smiles and laughs through it all. Something we probably should all do a bit more.

To read the story:
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20070513/SUNDAY/105130042&SearchID=73287144934954
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20070514/SUNDAY/105140032&SearchID=73287144967344