>The Great Feature Hunt Part II
>The Walker…I think it would be cool to go back and shoot more of this guy.
>It’s like f/8 and being there…
>But it’s 400mm and in your face.
Nathan Morgan assigned me a portrait of the 100th Eagle Scout from a troop in Midland. Originally he planned on a more documentary approach to the assignment, but the kid wasn’t going to be around, so portrait it was. He told me to go ahead and have some fun with it, so I busted out the $8+ grand lens…The 400mm f/2.8. Minimum focus distance. Wicked! Totally want to do a portrait series using that thing.
>While recently I’ve been… Part II
>Taking pictures. Here’s some.
Special Olympics.
Dance practice.
Debate team. They talk fast.
Funny ski feech.
>Squirrel!
>Nathan Morgan asked if I could find a weather feature or pictorial while I was dropping dumping photos from earlier assignments. I told him I’d see what I could find, but after scouring the events calenders, I found nothing. So I walked down to the Tridge hoping to find something weathery over there, but instead I found a squirrel. So I shot a squirrel. And wrote a ridiculous caption.
A fox squirrel nibbles on a nut securely gripped between its paws, its face lightly dusted with fresh snow Monday afternoon by the Tridge. The fox squirrel is the largest species of tree squirrel native to North America, thriving best among oak, hickory, walnut and pine trees that produce winter-storable foods. Sometimes being referred to as raccoon squirrel, or monkey-faced squirrel, they are also mistaken for red squirrels and grey squirrels, despite physical differences such as size and color. Fox squirrels rely on their agility, both climbing and jumping, to escape predators.
>Ice Racer
>Spent the morning out on Ross Lake in Beaverton, Mich. ice racing. It was a bit nippy (-9 when I pulled up), but it was a lot of fun. And cold.
Holy solar flares, batman.
>One Chance Election Party
>Got the super cool gig of heading down to Detroit with Sara and cover to two big Election Night parties, Rick Snyder’s and Virg Bernero’s, both for CM-Life and for MDN. Sara took Bernero’s, I got the Snyder party. It was a pretty fun and interesting time. A lot of people. A lot of expensive cash bar going on.
The one that ran.
Plymouth resident Jerry Vorva, right, whistles while Kalamazoo resident Susan Brown pumps her fist and cheers during Governor-elect Rick Snyder’s victory speech Tuesday night at the Westin-Book Cadillac hotel in downtown Detroit. Vorva, a former state representative, volunteered in the Snyder campaign. “Our kids go to school together,” Vorva said, “He’s a genuine man.”
Slideshow.
>Lazy Sports Update: Meridian v. Farwell Football
>High School Football.
Meridian’s Cameron Hobbs rests with his helmet halfway off his head Friday evening during the first quarter against Farwell at Meridian High School.
Farwell’s Mitch Hamming pitches the ball off as Meridian’s Jimmy Van Nortwick closes in for the tackle Friday evening at Meridian High School.
Meh. Sports. All I shoot lately.
>Dirty Dog Run
>
Saginaw resident Lori Williams looks back at her friends as her dog, Finnegan, a one-and-a-half year old Plott Hound and German Shepherd mix, trots off eager to play.
Saginaw resident Lori Williams tries to calm down Finnegan, her one-and-a-half year old Plott Hound and German Shepherd mix, to take a photo as he attempts to wrestle away from her Saturday morning after finishing the 2nd Annual Dirty Dog Run together “It was fun, really pretty,” Williams said, “and now he’ll be tired out the rest of the day.”
Saginaw resident Rita Seston, left, plays with Craigg, her 12-year-old Border Collie, while Saginaw residents Bret Stone, takes a photo of Lori Williams, and her one-and-a-half year old Plott Hound and German Shepherd mix, Finnegan, Saturday morning following the completion of the 2nd Annual Dirty Dog Run. “It was nice, because it wasn’t super competitive, everyone was out for fun,” Seston said. “It’s a good cause, they’re both rescue dogs (Craigg and Finnegan), so we all donated more than just the entry fee for the race.” The event, held at the Midland City Forest and put on by SOS (Stray or Stranded) Animal Rescue of Midland, raised money for the Spay/Neuter fund, aimed to help low and fixed income families in the Midland County area to spay and neuter their pets.
>Lazy Update IV: Midland Explorers
>This guy really likes to make plays and this face.
Midland Explorers shortstop Eddy Ketelhut picks up a ground ball and throws it to first base Monday afternoon during the second inning of play at Emerson Park against Saskatoon.
Midland Explorers shortstop Eddy Ketelhut dives to the ground and tosses the ball in a failed attempt to throw a Chicago/New York baserunner out at first Wednesday evening at Currie Stadium during the ISC 2010 World Tournament.
Stupid yellow pole…
>Lazy Update III: Lady Antebellum
>
Dylan Dice, 14, of Midland, sits against a wall just outside of the Midland County Fairgrounds Grand Stand and listens as The McClymonts play Sunday evening, prior to Lady Antebellum taking the stage, during the first day of the Midland County Fair.
I wish I could have gotten a better quote than “it’s nice,” but the kid walked away…
>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.
>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.
>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.
sean proctor | photojournalist 