October 2012 at AnnArbor.com

I don't have many thoughts for this month. I really enjoyed my sports shoots for the month. I love hockey and I love soccer. I just wish the NHL would be playing. Stupid Bettman.

Here are images from RIT vs U of M Hockey, high school soccer play offs that went into shoot outs, and halloween.

September. Back at AnnArbor.com

I am back at AnnArbor.com. I have a temporary part time position. It feels nice finally having a title that doesn't have the word intern in it. The only bummer is that I am not shooting as much.

I had lost my grandmother at the end of September. It has been hard on our family since she was a very close person in our lives. I had heard the news while out on assignment. I was shooting a lengthier assignment and I decided to take a few minute break to clear my head, but that wasn't the case this time. I got the phone call that she passed away. I went for a glass of water, sat for a few minutes, and suppressed it because I needed to finish the assignment. The bowling picture below is on of the images I made after the news. Photography is what I needed to get me through that day. Every time I put that camera to my face, it seemed that the only thing that mattered is what was going on in my frame. One of the worst things about the timing of the death, it was the morning of my sister's baby shower. It is her first baby.

Here are a few images from football games, cyclo-cross, swim meet, ground keeper job shadow, and bowling for developmental disabled people

August. Trip to Ukraine. Adventures with a Point and Shoot.

July I was helping running a camp and since last year I broke my camera while camping I did not bring it for a ride this summer.

In August I went on a trip to Ukraine to celebrate 100 years of PLAST, a Ukrainian Scouting Organization I belong to. Because I was worried about theft, I borrowed my dad's point and shoot. Now that I have been to Ukraine, I feel comfortable enough to bring my DSLR next time.

It was interesting using the point and shoot. The zoom blew. After zooming in a bit, things would just have poor quality, but I managed deal with what I had and just had fun with it.

I got to see the the western parts of Ukraine. Kyiv, Ivan- Frankivsk, Kaniv, Carpathian Mountains, and Lviv. The Carpathian Mountains reminded me of Hunter, NY. Just beautiful scenery.

While there I met up with family. What an awesome experience. I was the first of my family to go back to the village and see family. I got to see the property where my grandfather was born. All the family welcomed me with open arms. It got overwhelming sometimes because all they wanted to do was hang out with me and my trip to Ukraine was to do other things as well, but I love them.

Over all, I loved my first trip. It will not be my last. I can't wait to go back.

 potrait

 potriat

 Portrait

Portrait

June at The Saginaw News, The Final Month.

The last month in Saginaw was great. I had a lot of fun. Between meeting great people at the Bavarian Festival in Frankenmuth, a great trip to high school state championship baseball, and over photographing a press conference. The organizers were awesome at the Bavarian Festival. If I ever change careers and want a 9-5 job, I am looking at Frankenmuth. What a great community. Friendly people and very accepting. I traveled a lot of miles between high school regional in soccer, baseball, and softball. It was fun to see Michigan on the road which I do not see very often. I am usually traveling in southeastern region.

Here are some images I shot from the Bavarian Festival, Jazz on Jefferson, high school baseball state championships, and a press conference about a drive by shooting where a little girl was hit.

May at The Saginaw News

May was good. Found out today that the photo of the man throwing the toy to the dog during a Dog Dock competition won first place in Feature photo for May 2012 Region 4. That was cool to see. I am more proud of the photos I shot that did not win. It is funny how other people like the other photos you take. I got to use the other language I know during this particular month in Saginaw. Ukrainian. You can tell from the photo where the flags are. It was from a Quidam practice with is a Cirque Du Soliel traveling show. That is where I spoke with one of the performers. All those years of going to school 6 days a weeks to learn the language finally paid off... kind of.

Here are some of the photos I took for that month. Culinary Arts program for high school, high school baseball, Cinco de Mayo, Dog Festival, inspirational sports story, Habitat for Humanity, police award ceremonies, and soccer.