A Photoholic's Work

2010-11-26T20:49:00.000-06:00

Stepping Back - V

2010-11-08T10:00:00.002-06:00

I saved my favorite for last. The fall colors, the sky, the road and the early 1900s house with peeling paint all came together on this one.

Stepping Back - IV

2010-11-07T10:00:00.001-06:00

Stepping Back - III

2010-11-06T10:00:00.002-05:00

So this one might be in between, but it is farther back than say, the chipping paint on the rotting wood I would have shot otherwise.

Stepping Back - II

2010-11-05T10:00:00.002-05:00

Stepping Back - I

2010-11-04T22:13:00.000-05:00

Generally I shoot rather tight. Little to no wasted space and up close and personal. Knowing this, I'm challenging myself to go wide when the situation presents itself. So today, tomorrow and for the next handful of posts I have a series of photos that take a step back and scope out the whole scene.

Yogurt

2010-09-23T21:25:00.001-05:00

Very rarely do I crop photos into squares but sometimes it just feels right. I like where the shadow of the bowl fell and how the bottom right of the photo is a pure white that eventually darkens to reveal the photo's edge. It's lit with a single light with an umbrella on it - nothing fancy. This was one of the first few food shoots of mine at the magazine. So what did I learn? Ya gotta work fast with ice cream. Really fast, especially in the middle of summer.

Dougherty Ferry Car Fire

2010-09-14T20:01:00.000-05:00

First and foremost no one was hurt. The fire took place at the intersection of Dougherty Ferry and Carmen Rd. in Ballwin during evening rush hour on Tuesday, September 14. Traffic was stopped in both directions until members of the West County Fire Department were able to control the flames. The driver, Jay (first name given only), said he smelt oil, heard a bang and then quickly pulled off the road as flames emerged from the front of the car.

Leather

2010-09-11T21:47:00.000-05:00

Too bad the USB scratch and sniff device hasn't been invented, yet. This chair wasn't the subject of any assignment, it just happened to be there right by the subject. This serves as a self-reminder not to get caught up in the assignment to the point I miss making a (totally unrelated) photograph.

There is nothing significant about the chair. The lines of the plastic, the texture of the leather and the stitching combine with the light (and lack of light) for a simplistic image. Lack of light - I might explore this phrase further.

Food + Photography = Foodography

2010-08-22T20:36:00.000-05:00

Food photography is a pretty big part of the job. The magazine keeps readers in the know about new, unique or just plain tasty dishes and drinks around town. Naturally, photos are needed to visualize what the writers so eloquently describe.

I photograph the food on location at the restaurants. Transporting the food back to the magazine's photo studio just wouldn't work. If we did transport, dishes just wouldn't look the same as they would when they are delivered to your table. So, I take the studio to the food.

Have you seen the Domino's advertising campaign about photographing their pizza's right out of the box? They bash on food styling techniques showing pizza's with screws going through them and whatnot. Food styling is an actual job in and of itself that takes some painstaking steps to make food look fantastic, but I digress. While the commercial annoys me on several levels, that "out of the box" style food photography is what I do.

The chefs serve me a fully edible plate just as they would serve it to you. Ok, maybe there's a little more attention to detail, but hey it's going in a magazine. You would clean up your house before guests come over, right? Same thing, just with food.

Before the food is in front of me though, I've got a general idea of what my first few shots might be and have my lighting set up. I write that casually, but the light is what makes the photograph and takes time and careful consideration for appropriate results. With the right light and some compositional creativity, you get a picture:

If you are curious, the above mountain of fried oyster goodness was reviewed on STL Mag's food blog, Relish. There is another photo there too. Until next time, eat well friends.

Gateway

2010-08-20T21:47:00.000-05:00

As most if not all of my family and friends know by now, I landed a full time job that started at the beginning of June. As some may have noticed a slowing in blog posts, that would be the reason why. The job/gig/adventure has the title of staff photographer at St. Louis Magazine. The joy/thrill/euphoria of landing the position still grabs ahold of me, shakes and then pushes me out of a chair, letting me know I'm not in an Inception-like, lucid dream.

So now, I bring you (more) photos. I don't plan on posting things that will be seen in print. That's what the print version is for (and I guess the mag's website). However, there are far more photos made than what's in print. I find many of those photos fun to look over, and so I will share them with you. My hopes are that maybe, just maybe it will be fun for you too. Cheers!

Bird watching

2010-07-30T23:42:00.000-05:00

I've always been intrigued by hummingbirds. Their ability to hover in the air in addition to their incredible acceleration is, simply put, just cool. This was my first time time photographing birds, let alone hummingbirds. I think I'll try again, perhaps with some different techniques and see what happens.

Neglected

2010-07-29T20:41:00.000-05:00

Sunken Treasure

2010-07-02T17:58:00.004-05:00

And very tasty treasure at that.

Shots from the studio

2010-05-01T13:48:00.003-05:00

Walking through Pinnacles Youth Park

2010-04-30T18:10:00.003-05:00

Which one of these is not like the other?

Think that frog is hard to see in the picture? Try finding it within all the brush along the banks of the creek.

Note: cowboy boots do not make for good hiking boots.

Baseball, Beisbol

2010-04-27T20:25:00.003-05:00

Call me strange, but after some moderate to heavy usage I think a baseball develops its own sort of character. Maybe this is the baseball fan inside me speaking, but I love getting up close and personal to reveal the details, be it torn threads, scars, or dirt embedded deeply into the surface.

Shooting the Moon

2010-04-23T14:40:00.001-05:00

Mandatory springtime flower photos

2010-04-12T13:49:00.002-05:00

Because what's a photo blog in the Spring without a few flower photos?

Nationalism orchestra rehearsal

2010-04-08T22:13:00.002-05:00

I've been working for Maestro Alex Innecco (of Carpe Diem) this week. He and the 9th Street Philharmonic Orchestra will have a concert at the Missouri United Methodist Church this Saturday. For more info, check out the calendar page.

Fire at Maplewood Barn Community Theater

2010-04-05T22:02:00.003-05:00

COLUMBIA, Mo - While the Monday night line up on TV was in full effect, including the final game of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, the Maplewood Barn Community Theatre at 2900 E. Nifong Blvd. went up in flames. The call to dispatch came in at 7:56 p.m. on Monday, April 5, 2010. A total of nine units arrived at the scene, including seven from Columbia and two from Boone County Fire Departments. Columbia's Station Eight, located about four miles to the east, reported visible fire from their location. It took 45 minutes for the raging flames to be subdued.

The barn, which has existed for over 100 years, is a historical building, according to the Maplewood Barn Community Theater Vice President, Lee Wilkins Black. Black also stated that the barn had been the site of vandalism as recently as three weeks ago. She speculated that probable causes are either vandalism or bad wiring. "On top of being sad, there is anger," Black said.

Had the fire not completely leveled the barn, the next performance there would have been "Arsenic and Old Lace," on May 14, 2010.

Pool in Toronto

2010-03-30T15:47:00.003-05:00

Did some sightseeing north of the border in Toronto, Canada. As it would seem, bars there are similar to those in the US. Go figure.

Different looks

2010-03-30T15:35:00.002-05:00

I know there's been a lot of basketball, but hey it is still March and these aren't typical basketball photos.

First up is Missouri head coach Mike Anderson. He and his coaching staff were going over the game stats after losing to West Virginia in the tournament. This locker room shot didn't get published, but I think it is worth a blog post.

Secondly, we have the result of looking for that other type of shot. I wouldn't say it is entirely successful, but there is always next time. Also, I should point out this was during pregame warm-ups, so nothing spectacular was happening. They were practicing and so was I.

Missouri vs. West Virginia game photos

2010-03-21T19:53:00.002-05:00

Number 10 seed Missouri took on the number 2 seed West Virginia in the second round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament. West Virginia took down the Tigers with a final score of 68-59. Here's how I saw it:

Missouri vs. Clemson game photos

2010-03-21T09:38:00.003-05:00

The first round game of the 2010 NCAA Tournament for the University of Missouri and Clemson. Taking place at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York, the Missouri Tigers defeated the Clemson Tigers with a final score of 86-78.

Mizzou & West Virginia Media Day

2010-03-20T18:44:00.003-05:00

Around the arena

2010-03-18T20:01:00.003-05:00

A couple of round photos at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY.

More photos from Buffalo

2010-03-18T19:48:00.004-05:00

Had (a lot) of time to kill after the Mizzou practice today and found myself out on the floor when the Florida State Seminoles took the court. I chose black and white because, well, because I can.

Hannah Dolan, 8, stands among a crowd at the HSCB Areana in hopes of receiving an autograph from players after practicing for their first round match ups in the NCAA tournament.

Solomon Alabi of Florida State pauses during practice on Thursday, March 18, 2010.

Mizzou and the NCAA Tournament In 2010

2010-03-18T15:46:00.003-05:00

Well I am fortunate enough to be back covering the Missouri Tigers in the NCAA tournament again. They will take on the Clemson Tigers Friday, March 19, at 1:45pm. The game will take place in the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. Today there was a press conference and media practice, in which they ran through simple drills. Here are a few shots from the practice. Nothing special really, just some that I enjoy looking at.

An engagement

2010-03-11T21:54:00.004-06:00

And he waits.

And he asks. She accepts.

Alicia and Drew, engaged under the Burr Oak tree.

March 6, 2010

Rock Bridge State Park

2010-03-05T09:40:00.012-06:00

The above photo is a composite of two photos. They were of the exact same image and taken within milliseconds of one another, but exposed differently. This was done so that both the sky and the ground would be exposed as desired. The technique of combining multiple photos to display a higher range of captured light is called, HDR, or High Dynamic Range.

The spiderwebs are what caught my eye for this photo. A simple picture, but this took a bit of time to do. Camera on tripod, check. External flash connected to camera via off camera flash cord, check. Flash hanging from tree branch via gorilla tripod, check. After all that, it was a matter of timing as the wind was blowing the nearly four foot blade of grass back and forth. The sunset added a nice touch.

Downtown

2010-03-04T20:02:00.000-06:00

True/False Film Festival Parade, Part II

2010-02-27T17:18:00.001-06:00

The annual True/False Film Festival has once again started in Columbia, Mo. The city hosts the documentary film festival once a year with film makers and viewers converging from all over the nation. A celebratory parade, deemed the "March March," kicked off the weekend festivities with a parade through downtown. Here are some snap shots from the event.

True/False Film Festival Parade

2010-02-27T17:08:00.000-06:00

Watch out Jesse Hall!

2010-01-26T12:01:00.002-06:00

Wasteland outtake

2010-01-25T14:45:00.001-06:00

Mizzou vs. Illinois Basketball Game Photos

2009-12-24T02:02:00.000-06:00

Game: University of Missouri vs. University of Illinois
Location: Scottrade Center - St. Louis, Mo.
Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Title: Busch Braggin' Rights
Final: Missouri 81, Illinois 68
Photos:

Ice Hockey - CBC vs. SLUH

2009-12-22T01:32:00.006-06:00

Only having been a college graduate for three whole days, I figured what better for a self-assignment than a classic rivalry between St. Louis prep schools Christian Brothers College and St. Louis University High. The game took place Monday, December 21 at Afton Ice Rink in Afton, Mo. CBC had lost the earlier season match-up with a score of 2-1. However, that result was reversed with the Cadets winning 2-1 against SLUH for their second meeting of the season.

Understanding: 29 and Autistic

2009-12-14T11:37:00.007-06:00

At 29 years of age, most adults are married, have been married, have children, own a home or have a stable, self-supporting income. While this may be the norm, and certainly there are exceptions to the norm with people choosing to stay single, travel the world or do other expectation-breaking things, it is most certainly not the norm for Chris Atkinson. At the age of three in 1980, Chris' parents Nancy and Terry were told that the son they thought they would have was "dead." He in fact, was not dead, though he was diagnosed with autism, a developmental disorder that affects normal social and communication development in the brain.

Fast forward to present day, in which the disorder has become increasingly common, researched and treated, we go beyond the childhood that Nancy Atkinson fought for Chris to have in the public school system of Hallsville, Mo. Today, Chris functions primarily in a child’s state of mind, but no one can tell how much he truly understands. Though he can do things for himself, like brush his teeth, shower, change clothes and buckle his seat-belt, he cannot drive, cook a meal, write out a grocery list or most importantly communicate his needs or feelings. With few services available in the community for adults with autism, the 29-year-old Chris Atkinson spends most of his time in front of his TV and in his childhood home.

In the front yard of the Atkinson’s rural home, Chris paces an
exact route along the gravel driveway. He passes a dog that
doesn’t respond to his presence, the house he has lived in for
the past 29 years, and a basketball hoop that has never been
an after-school activity for him.

Though to an outsider’s eye Chris’ room might be messy,
but to him it is exactly and perfectly organized. He has a
place for everything, and if a stack of hats falls off the door
hangers or papers off the dresser, he places them back in the
exact same place they were before. His room is adorned with
Disney characters, posters of TV characters from the 80s and
90s, stickers, and ribbons he’s earned at horseback riding for
the developmentally disabled.

Despite the fact that he is overwhelmed by loud noises,
Chris turns his radio on at low volume, even if the TV is
also on. Be it radio or TV stations, Chris has the ability to
remember what time and channel, call letters included, a specifi
c show will be on. However, he does not have the ability
to express whether the show is still on the air, as is the
case with several older television game shows and TV series.

People with autism suffer from sensory overloads. Essentially,
the sounds or lights that are normal to everyone else
are terribly bothersome. Chris is sensitive especially to sound
but also to light. To combat this, he wears sound canceling
headphones and leaves the lights off as much as possible.

Before going on an early December morning walk for exercise,
Chris helps his grandmother put on her gloves
right after she tied his hood tight. Though the weather
was cold, walking is essential as Chris and Helen
have few opportunities for exercise throughout the day.

Chris and his grandmother Helen Lee walk the block of her
home early one morning. Chris has spent nearly every weekend
since birth at his grandmother’s house. While there, he
helps her with dishes, sweeps the floor and does other simple
chores as Lee’s health problems limit her mobility.

While apple cider is cooking, Chris socializes with staffers
at TouchPoint Autism Services. He attends a weekly cooking
class for the developmentally disabled, in which simple
snacks or foods are made during the hour long class. During
the class, Chris keeps track of the time to make sure he
leaves as soon as the hour session has expired.

Apprehensive and worried, Chris watches his older brother
Curtis attempt to figure out what is wrong with the VCR after
two tapes had been destroyed. Chris’ main vice is watching
TV and old movies, and at the time of the movies breaking
Chris’ mother Nancy was worried a meltdown was on the way.
Though the problem was solved with a new VCR, Nancy explains
the meltdowns as unpredictable screaming fits in which
Chris claws at his own skin. They can last up to 15 minutes.

In the dining room of his home, Chris focuses on his lunch
as his family socializes around him. The extent of Chris’
interactions at such family gatherings consists of responding
to simple questions, shaking hands and saying hello.
During social situations, people with autism act in one of
three different ways; avoidant, indifferent or awkward.

Chris is awake at 4:00 in the morning, out of bed at 4:30 and
in bed for the night at 9:00 or 9:01. The rigidity of his schedule
is an aspect of Autism in which every thing has a specific
place and every event has a specific time.

Guptill Wedding - November 13, 2009

2009-11-29T16:27:00.003-06:00

Congrats to my cousin Amy and her new husband John. Here are some photos from the wedding I took while not operating the video camera. Enjoy!

Bordom fosters wacky photos

2009-11-11T10:50:00.003-06:00

Two things about this post:
1. For the past couple of days I've decided to shoot only with my 10-22mm lens.
2. For the past couple of days I've spent almost 7 hours a day in a dark room looking at photos. The reason: College Pictures of the Year. It is a contest for college photographers and not only do I have entries, but I am also volunteering my time as a blog/web/audio assistant. To check out what has been going on, who's been winning and other things check it out at CPOY.

This is Matt. He has large eyes.

This is Chris. She is scared of what I do.

This is the Josh, otherwise known as the Hulk (from here on out, that is).

This is Mito after a sneak attack. She considered it very ninja-like.

This is Chelsea. She smiles a lot and likes to photograph head balls at soccer games.

Joe McNally comes to Campus

2009-11-04T23:57:00.003-06:00

Today photographer Joe McNally graced us with his words of wisdom, however depressing some of them may have been. One thing is for sure though, his humor translates far better in person than on his blog. Although his blog (you can find it on the right side column on this page) is still funny, he had everyone in the classroom this morning and the lecture hall tonight bursting with laughter. Good thing too, as some of the life experiences he spoke of were not as glamorous as some would think, even after photographing for National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, and Time among many others. Additionally, in the photo world he is known for his ability to imagine and then create amazing images with the help of sophisticated lighting set ups. Here are some snap shots from tonight's lecture:

(Pardon the grain here, but that is at 12800 ISO)

Mizzou vs Colorado game pictures

2009-11-01T13:50:00.003-06:00

The game between the Missouri Tigers and the Colorado Buffaloes took place in Boulder, Colorado on October 31, 2009. Halloween day proved frightening for Buffalo fans, as the Tigers were victorious with a score of 36-17. An outstanding one-handed reception by MU sophomore Jarrell Jackson tops the highlight reel. Click the arrows below to see more.

Missouri v. Oklahoma State Game Photos

2009-10-18T11:24:00.001-05:00

Underneath the Skin

2009-10-15T23:06:00.001-05:00

News video link for Picture Story

2009-10-07T12:00:00.002-05:00

Here's a link of a video job profile. We are entering into our next assignment in which we will use video to tell the story of someone's job. We were asked to search for examples and I found this:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/cinelanvideo/

Shy in the Rain

2009-09-30T00:41:00.002-05:00

This Claire Rash, 3, waits to be helped into her parent's car downtown at the Roots 'N Blues 'N BBQ Festival. Rain interrupted the festival but many attendees took cover in shelter or under umbrellas and waited out the rain.

One Day Story

2009-09-20T22:01:00.005-05:00

Also known as the Five Points of View assignment in my capstone class, this one challenges us to create a viable photo story in a 24 hour time span.

_________________

Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Environmentally hazardous materials are those considered to be flammable, explosive or reactive, corrosive or toxic. Such properties are found in easily accessible materials like cleaning products, paints, oils and batteries among others. To combat pollution through improper disposal of such materials, the City of Columbia conducts a Household Hazardous Waste collection. Employees, like Eric Vann, take products out of participant vehicles and organize them for recycling.

Pat Danner and her dog Frosty wait patiently as Columbia Public Works employees remove items from her trunk. Danner said some of the items she dropped off had been sitting around her home for nearly 30 years. Improper disposal of hazardous materials is considered as pollution and poses a threat to human, animal and plant health.

Waste products are categorically separated: cleaning products, pesticides and paint find either wooden pallets or plastic containers. Due to the toxic nature of items collected, employees must wear nitrile or chemical resistant gloves to protect themselves.

In a storage room for toxic materials like batteries, lead, and mercury, bins line the walls for specific separation by employee Anthony Brown. Mercury, which can be found in thermostats for example, can produce severe lung, gastrointestinal and nervous system damage, according to the EPA.

In all colors and amounts, the most common item dropped off is paint. Reusable products like paint are collected, condensed and made available to the public for free pickup the following Monday. On a previous Household Hazardous Waste collection, an estimated 60-70 gallons of latex paint was dropped off by participants.

Mizzou vs Illinois Football

2009-09-06T14:56:00.003-05:00

Game date - September 5, 2009

For the first game of the football season, I had the opportunity to travel to the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis for the annual Missouri v. Illinois match up. With the new semester, I am currently a photo editor at the Columbia Missourian, so my shooting is limited as I have other tasks to take care of. That said, I was able to shoot the first half of the game and maybe six or so minutes of the fourth quarter - these are the results. Enjoy.

An Emphasis In Enology

2009-08-25T15:50:00.003-05:00

Starting fall semester 2009, MU students will have the opportunity to earn a food science degree with an emphasis in enology. The program will have a required internship at any one of the numerous Missouri wineries in addition to structured classwork. The class will consist of two essential parts, viticulture and enology. Viticulture is the growing of grapes where as enology is the making of wine from those grapes.

This was the final story I produced for KBIA. I only gathered a bit of ambient audio for this but edited all the audio (of course, the photos are all mine).

You can view the story HERE.

Let me know what you think.

Prison Story

2009-08-25T15:34:00.003-05:00

Pardon the lack of updates. To make up for it, HERE is the completed "Life of a Prison, After Prison" story. This was my second to last published story for KBIA.

The Missouri State Penitentiary opened its doors in 1836 and closed in September of 2004. Older and capable of holding more prisoners than Alcatraz, the prison has since been abandoned and only tour groups, rodents and animals walk the grounds.

Here are a few more pictures:

If I could paint..

2009-08-04T16:08:00.004-05:00

It would look something like this:

The above was derived from this photo:

Thanks Photoshop filters.

Old Parts, New Life

2009-08-04T13:14:00.003-05:00

We all know about recycling soda cans, milk jugs and cardboard, but one company in Columbia, Mo, is extending that idea into the needs of the twenty-first century. At Mid-Mo Recycling, computers, monitors, cell phones, TV's and just about any other electronic devices can be recycled.

Here are a few photos from this multimedia piece I created for KBIA. Take a look-see and maybe you'll learn something new.

On a personal note, I had my wisdom teeth taken out this morning so I've got a nice opportunity to catch up on blogging. Enjoy.

Running to the '80s Audio Slide Show

2009-07-20T16:55:00.004-05:00

Nice Light

2009-07-19T23:23:00.003-05:00

So here are two outtakes from a story I shot last night. I like the lighting but they have little impact on the story of the assignment. It was an 80's run, with participants fully decked out in retro attire and attitude. I'll be putting together a slide show tomorrow so be on the lookout for that.

Play rehearsal

2009-07-17T18:02:00.002-05:00

These are from an assignment about a local musical that was written, directed, choreographed, performed (music and actors) by all Mid-Missouri residents. The play is called "Gumbo Bottoms" and goes on tomorrow night in Jefferson City.

Gaseous Nebula

2009-07-06T12:59:00.003-05:00

This gaseous nebula was seen in the Webster Groves district of greater St. Louis cluster on the 4th of July. Joking aside, I'm excited about my astronomy class this upcoming fall.

Prison Preview

2009-07-02T18:25:00.005-05:00

Here's a peak at a slide show I am currently working on. The piece explores the life after prison, of a prison. Stay tuned.

Mud volleyball

2009-06-22T12:56:00.001-05:00

Playing in the mud isn’t just for children, and participants of this year’s Mudball proved it. Mudball, or volleyball in the mud, was put on not only as a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri but also to generate awareness of the program. The event took place Saturday in three ankle-deep mud pits. Though the court sizes and nets were regulation standard, the playing surface was anything but.

Fair Tax Rally Man & PrideFest

2009-06-15T23:23:00.002-05:00

Just an average Joe, but not Joe the plumber, from the Fair Tax Rally last Saturday.

Also, check out my first slideshow for kbia.org - PrideFest - this too took place on Saturday, June 13. KBIA is the local NPR radio station and I am there this summer as a multimedia reporter. Stay tuned for more news from yours truely.

Air Show

2009-05-24T18:47:00.003-05:00

Crowds gathered at Columbia Regional Airport to see the 2009 Salute to Veterans Memorial Day Air Show. The show consisted of several aviation acrobatics, high speed jet-fighter passes, sky-diving acrobatics and many on-ground plane displays for all to enjoy.

Rival Tennis

2009-05-06T11:26:00.003-05:00

Hickman and Rock Bridge are the two major high schools here in Columbia. Yesterday I shot their tennis teams' last matches of the season.

This first shot, I was trying to show the two schools coming together for the matches. As it turns out, I get a very "east vs. west,"Capulets v.s Montagues" feel from this photo. I love it. Unfortunately, out of context, I don't know how successful it is.

Number two here, well, it's just a type of shot I enjoy looking at and making.

Justin Wheeler, Strongman

2009-05-04T09:01:00.003-05:00

Well that is the first draft of the slideshow. I've got some work to do as far as editing goes but I figure it's a good start.

Urban

2009-04-30T21:38:00.003-05:00

In a category I seldom find myself partaking in, here is one of the thousands of photographs I took on my trip around the US while covering the MU Men's basketball team.

Can you guess what it is?

(I'll inform you all in my next post what and where this actually is. That next post is coming tomorrow and is something I am very excited about showing and have been working on for a few weeks now...STRONGMAN!)

MU baseball

2009-04-27T15:53:00.002-05:00

What a fantastic way to spend a Friday night. The weather was a gorgeous 75 degrees, a few clouds in the sky and a fun game to photograph. This was my first outing to MU's Taylor Stadium and the Tigers won with a score of 18-7 against Texas Tech. Here are two photos that didn't run:

To see other photos or read the game story on the Missourian, click here.

MMA: Ben Askren

2009-04-22T08:51:00.002-05:00

Sometimes, between all the less exciting assignments, I get things I really enjoy. Yesterday granted me one of those opportunities. This is Ben Askren, former MU wrestler as well as US Olympian. He has a pro Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight this Saturday and here he is training for that event:

Strongman: who is he?

2009-04-20T21:18:00.002-05:00

Here is my attempt at being tactfully secretive. I'm working on this story for the Missourian and as my final project. I have to say I am full out excited for it on several levels, but won't go into that right now. So here's a glimpse. No they aren't top notch but I don't want to spoil anything just yet.

Pseudo mean-mugging

2009-04-13T11:18:00.002-05:00

This little guy was off to the side of a dance-off at Douglas Park for an Easter party. He wasn't mad at me, despite what you may read from his facial expressions. And yes, he is looking directly at me - so much for being a fly on the wall.

Flash Failure

2009-04-01T18:09:00.003-05:00

This is what happens when you sit right next to someone that has strobes in the rafters of the stadium:

This happened several times throughout the tournament, but none at more of such a great moment than this one.

For those of you that might not know how this happens:
The left side of the photo that looks normal is the correct exposure for the setting I had at the time. The right side of the photo is actually a different photographer's flash (that was placed somewhere in the rafters of the basketball stadium). What happened here was that other photographer took a shot at almost the exact same time that I did. So the results are half the picture being correct and half of it being dramatically overexposed because of his/her flash. It sucks that another photographer's shot ruined mine, but there is nothing you can really do about it. Nothing, that is, except to sit as far away from 'em as possible.

Something not basketball

2009-03-27T15:23:00.003-05:00

Ok, so it was on the road between basketball venues, but still, it's not basketball. Don't know exactly where but I'm thinking about 50 miles south of Salt Lake City, Utah.

I have pictures from last night's MU v. Memphis, so maybe I'll put those up here a little later.

This is Kevin A. Roberts, signing out from Glendale, Arizona.

MU v. Marquette pics

2009-03-24T22:21:00.002-05:00

Date: March 22, 2009
Where: Boise, Idaho in the Taco Bell Arena
Final score: Mizzou 83, Marquette 79

That's all from Boise, as far as basketball goes. Check back later in the week for pictures from Glendale, Az, when MU takes on Memphis.

MU v. Cornell pictures

2009-03-20T19:24:00.002-05:00

Well, after a 1,500 mile drive from Columbia, Mo, to Boise, Idaho, I have results for MU's first round game against Cornell. MU won 78-59 and will play again Sunday, March 22. Check back later for some road trip photos as well as some around the town photos.

Big 12 Championship games

2009-03-15T20:05:00.002-05:00

Well, if you don't know by now the Missourian sent me down to Oklahoma City to photograph the Big 12 Basketball Championship - men's and women's. The women's team was out after their first game but the men went on to win the whole thing. I was the only Missourian photog down there so the pressure wasn't just on the basketball teams to produce good results. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the games. There are tons more but right now I'm pretty worn out. Enjoy.

Crazy busy, but here's a sneak peak

2009-03-10T13:19:00.002-05:00

For the past two weeks, and last week in heavy doses, I've been working on a photo essay on the Rock Bridge boy's basketball team. They just won Class 5 quarterfinals and will play for the state championship this weekend.

My story is to be published on Thursday, March 12. It will be a HUGE, double-truck (that's when something takes up both sides of the inside pages of a newspaper). I am overly excited to see this published, it has been a lot of hard work and long hours outside of my normal photographing shifts.

Anyways, be sure to pick up a paper on Thursday if you are in town, if not check out the Missourian's website on Thursday. Check back for more posts on it, but for now, here's a sneak peak:

P.S. - I forgot to mention, I am heading out to Norman, Oklahoma, on Wednesday, March 11, to shoot the Big 12 Men's and Women's championship games as the Missourian's photographer. If I get time at the end of my days I'll throw some of those shots up here as well. Wish me luck.

A post of chex mix proportions

2009-03-01T20:18:00.002-06:00

Chex mix: an assortment of Chex cereals, chips, twisted "breadsticks", pretzels and crackers.

This post: an assortment of assignments including wrestling, basketball, a profile and True/False.

State wrestling at Mizzou Arena:

Rockbridge varsity basketball practice (just before districts):

Profile piece for VOX Magazine on the producer of the CAT station in Columbia:

True/False Film Festival general event coverage:

MU Men's basketball vs. Nebraska

2009-02-15T13:36:00.006-06:00

This was the second match-up between MU and Nebraska this season. MU lost that first game 56-51. But this match-up, on Valentines Day, left no doubt about who has become the better team. MU squashed Nebraska 70-47.

The Missourian has two stories up about the game but none of the pictures are included with those (as of the time I'm posting this). Can't say I like that but there is a "gallery" of the photos I took along with some of Jakob Berr's pics from the game (fellow Missourian shooter). If you want so see those click here.

This was the third time I've shot basketball and it was my first MU men's game. I also found out that the Missourian cameras we shoot with are a whopping 4 megapixels (the camera on my phone is a 2 megapixel). The problem is, those same cameras have a frame rate of 7 pics per second, so there is a benefit to using them.

Here are some selects:

MU Women's Basketball vs. Kansas

2009-02-08T19:32:00.002-06:00

Second time shooting basketball, first time at Mizzou Arena. I had a good time, but my legs were stiff as a board by the end of the night. Now I'm looking forward to shooting the men's game next Saturday. You can find the game story here and the player feature story here - both have at least one of the following pics there.

Enjoy.

Let me know what you think.

Lead abatement

2009-02-05T17:34:00.002-06:00

Shot this one today and have to say I am very pleased with the results. It is a class that primarily teaches trainees how to properly remove lead contaminated paint. While toning these I thought this story would be very cool if published in black and white, but that will never happen. O well, maybe I'll post some bw's up later.

Gotta love the hazmat look.

Basketball

2009-02-04T19:42:00.003-06:00

I try not to go into assignments blindly. This upcoming Saturday I am shooting women's MU basketball and having never shot basketball before I decided some practice was in order. Fortunately, the opportunity presented itself with a Hickman vs. Ozark game Tuesday, February 3. I apparently need to get tighter shots, but I was happy with my first time results.

This one ran in the paper and online (the crop is a little different but I prefer this):

This is a select:

A lot going on

2009-02-02T23:07:00.005-06:00

Missourian staff photo assignments are in full swing as well as other classes. I set my schedule up this semester to be photo-friendly for myself, but it leaves me with 5 classes Mondays/Wednesday and 4 on Friday. That said, I have Tuesday/Thursday "off," but actually have my Missourian shifts on those days. But I'm liking the schedule, it almost seems as if I'm just working Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Enough talk though. For my Electronic Photojournalism class I am building a website. It is in the beginning stages but take a look and let me know what you think.

These pictures were taken during Missourian shifts:

Trying to make the public library interesting:

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My first time shooting gymnastics. It was fun, but certainly need to bump the ISO up to 6400 or dare I say 128000 next time... we'll see. A flash would be perfect for gymnastics -you know where they will be and when they'll be there - too bad they don't allow it.

Orr Street Pottery Artist

2009-01-25T19:10:00.003-06:00

Story here

These pictures are my second of those published at the Missourian this semester. I am enrolled in the class Staff Photography in which I photograph at least two days a week for the paper. This story is about a woman named Yukari Kashihara and the pottery she makes. These pictures were published with the story online, and a few will go in the print edition on 1-26-09.

Forest Park - St. Louis, MO

2009-01-10T19:04:00.008-06:00

Good weather yielded a photo outing in Forest Park.

The Grand Basin, Art Hill, and the Art Museum - I tried HDR on this but that didn't work out so well. This photo is a layered combination of three different ones.

The Pagoda Circle and my first HDR attempt. Not perfect but a start to the process.

Steinberg Rink

The great St. Louis Zoo

The Planetarium with the moon as a proper companion.

Advanced Techniques Final project

2008-12-12T14:58:00.006-06:00

I worked with three other students in my class for this project; Chen, Christine, and Phoebe. Great teamwork leads to great outcomes, and we had exactly that.

THIS will take you to the project. It may take a bit to load, but be patient. Click on one of the three projects there to see our work.

The stories are focused on Hazel Kinder's Lighthouse Theater, a Branson style theater that whose goal is to display the talents of local performers. Check out the project to see, hear and learn what it is like inside. The theater's website can be found here: Hazel Kinder's Lighthouse Theater.
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I also have for you some selects. Some are in the show(s) but several are not. Enjoy and let me know what you think.

I'm proud of this one simply because I painted with light all by my lonesome. It was a 30 second exposure and I was sprinting the whole time with popping my flash to add some extra light. I'm sure I looked crazy while doing this.

This is Hazel Kinder. Saying she just runs the place is an understatement.

Multiple Flash Assignment

2008-12-04T12:34:00.002-06:00

If at first you don't come anywhere near succeeding, go shoot something else.

Larisa Rudelson counts the years she has been salsa dancing by the age of her son: four and half years. Rudelson is one of many others that salsa at the Cherry Street Artisan on Wednesday nights. Dancers’ skill ranges from those just learning basic steps and those that have been dancing their whole life.

Audio Slideshows

2008-12-02T15:23:00.001-06:00

Football in a minute by Max Gersh

http://videos.stltoday.com/p/video?id=2442593

Cousins galore!

2008-11-28T14:51:00.003-06:00

Not only does Thanksgiving bring loads of food to the table, but all the little cousins out to play as well.
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OMG, flash balance in use! Who'd a thunk it?

And flash bounced off a wall.

Available light. Non-existent front teeth.

Some of the little ones have gotten in a habit of brushing their teeth after each meal. Apparently the top of the steps to the basement works just as well as in front of the bathroom sink.

Painting with light

2008-11-06T16:20:00.003-06:00

These are the results of our painting with light assignment. My group consisted of myself, Val Mosley, Beth Suda, and Patrick Fallon. We traveled to Renz Correctional Center, an abandoned prison just outside of Jefferson City, MO. It was ruined as a result of the 1993 flood and sits today as a reminder of the devastation the flooding caused.

India Nite Slideshow

2008-11-02T17:58:00.002-06:00

India Nite

2008-11-02T01:46:00.003-05:00

After a long night of shooting, I can't go to bed without posting a little snippet of my evening. These are from India Nite in Jesse Hall. I'll most likely end up putting a quick slide show for this. Also be on the lookout for some fantastic painting with light pictures Val, Beth, Patrick and myself made tonight. At least one will creep you out for sure.

The night Obama came to campus

2008-10-31T01:02:00.004-05:00

Getting out to make pictures simply to make pictures and have fun was a nice change of pace. About 90% of me went to make pictures, 5% to see a possible future president of the US/world celebrity and 5% to hear him speak (by this time, nothing new is coming out of any candidate's mouth). The crowd has been estimated at 40,000 by the Missourian, and after personally counting everyone I'd say that's accurate enough.

Going into this I knew I was going to be challenged due to size of the crowd, the poor sight lines and that whole height issue. I brought with me my tripod, camera body, flash and following lenses; 10-22, 24-70, 75-300 <-- I'm laughing too. Whatever though, make do with what you have.

It was a fun experience. I was also glad to see so many different types of people coexisting in such tight spaces. I guess that is what happens with a unifying aspect.

Color Correction Assignment

2008-10-30T17:56:00.003-05:00

A little rushed and a lot stressed, these are the results. I turned the first one in as a select, but now I think the Joker would have been the better choice. This assignment required the use of a gelled flash to match the available light.

Nishant Jain and Prakash Jayabalan are two of the masters of cerimonies for India Night. They, as well as two others met in Memorial Union to discuss the script and the program itself. The event will take place Saturday Nov. 1st and features culturaldances, traditional music and skits.

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Sitting in the back of the room, Robbie Wood arrived just a bit too late. Had he been at Memorial Union a tad earlier, he would have particpated in the Comedy Wars Halloween costume contest. Wood said that this was a trial run for his costume, whos big night was merely 48 hours away.

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And just to make your mouth water a little bit, these are the fluorescent from Hot Box Cookies at 808 B Broadway. Thinking back, I don't know how I walked out of there not having tasted a cookie.

Bruce Levine has only been an employee at Hot Box Cookies for about a week, but that is only because it has only been open for just as long. The cookie shop is owned by three MU juniors, Corey Rimmel, Adam Hendin and David Melnick. Hot Box Cookies employs 26 people and sports a slogan reading "Custom Baked - Delivered Late."

Single flash assignment & studio/lab random pictures

2008-10-22T21:10:00.007-05:00

Note - for some reason the photos are far cooler when they show up on the blog than they actually are.

Single flash assignment

First is the direct single flash:

Creaking wood floors, extremely tall ceilings and desktop computers on the fourth floor of Jesse Hall means one thing to Maria Totoraitis: it’s time to work. As a senior Convergence student, Totoraitis is currently working in the KBIA newsroom. “I was the anchor tonight for the newscast and now I’m working on the podcast.” Several computers and two sound booths occupy the space. Students can record high quality audio segments in the sound booths.

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Second up is the bounced single flash:

Climbing four flights of stairs in Jesse Hall might be a good work out for some. For others, like Paul Otto, the fourth floor is home to KBIA 91.3 FM. Otto, a retired lawyer, has been volunteering at the station since June of 2004. He is on the air every Wednesday night from 6-9 and also said he fills in shifts for coworkers or open weekend shifts. As to how he got started at KBIA, Otto said, “there was an email out asking for volunteers and I answered it.”

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Studio/lab random pictures

Heavy Metal: take 2

2008-10-15T17:35:00.003-05:00

A bit of an Americana theme -

Do you prefer the above or the below?

Heavy Metal

2008-10-10T11:35:00.002-05:00

This is result #1 for the metal and glass assignment:

Not perfect but I'll get there.

The select for the Classmate Portrait Assignment

2008-09-30T01:27:00.003-05:00

Because I wasn't satisfied with the other results.

2008-09-27T13:00:00.004-05:00

First up is Jakob (the J is pronounced as a Y) Berr. He hails from Abensberg, Germany, a small city to the north of Munich, and is 27. A traveler of the world, Jakob met his wife, Saba, in Bangladesh on April 19, 2004. His interest in photography is rooted in his deceased father's hobby. Jakob has studied photography for a total of six years and has wound up at the University of Missouri because "I knew a lot about photography but not about journalism." After his time here has finished, he will return to Germany as is part of the student exchange program.

Editor's note: hopefully I will be able to re-shoot Jakob after he returns from MPW. I was not 100% pleased with my results and hope to incorporate what I've learned since then into new portraits. Also, as soon as I post this I am going to get a proper sensor cleaning tool.

Second up is some chick I found on the street... not really though. In what I will call a practice session, my girlfriend Sarah was kind enough to further my learning by posing for some photos.

Constructive criticism is highly appreciated.

2008-09-02T15:33:00.007-05:00

The first Advanced Techniques assignment:

Copy Stand and Meter Calibration

ABOVE: American Gothic by Gordon Parks

BELOW: Jackie Robinson Ralph Morse

Horse Show

2008-08-10T22:29:00.002-05:00

My sister took part in a horse show over the weekend. Since it was in town, I was able to attend.

2008-07-28T14:36:00.002-05:00

Opps, I forgot about PIG RACING! A nice 43 second video that will make you laugh for one reason or another, I guarantee it.

2008-07-28T14:30:00.002-05:00

DEMOLITION DERBY VIDEO!!!!
Check it out. There were some technical difficulties that forced me to exclude some interviews, but overall I think it turned out nicely. I hate it when my vision is altered by limits of technology, grrr.