Saturday, December 27, 2008

It Gives Me Warm Fuzzies...

Small note on recent blogging (or lack thereof)... life sometimes goes a little crazy (and cruel neighbors password protect their wireless internet), for one reason or another (I've been working on a big 5-piece multimedia project) obstacles get in our way (my computer has been sick) and we just don't get to everything on our list. (all excuses aside, I have missed blogging and it's good to be back)



Tis' the season to be giving... and this year in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the giving is going on all around me. Nothing like a disaster to remind people why we give to charity. I've been to several Christmas give-aways in the last few weeks, but one in Palo, IA had an unexpected outcome. I photographed a mother, overcome with gratitude, holding her little girl as she helped her child pick out a Christmas gift. The photo ran as lead art a few days later, and then the calls and emails started coming in. People wanted to know more about the family, many asking for an address so they could send money. I felt like a big bundle of warm fuzziness. The next Sunday, the paper re-ran the photo and published an article about the family. I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas present, maybe, just maybe, my picture made a difference in someone's life. :)

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

State Volleyball Tournament

Day one of the Iowa State Girl's Volleyball tournament in Cedar Rapids. I never realized how fast the volleyball really flew until I tried to follow it using a video camera set to manual focus. Not an easy task. :) The athletes and fans seemed to have a pretty good time though. I shot for about two hours and edited for 3 to create this piece. It's just over a minute long. Some of the cuts could use a little more attention, but I think it still does its job -- show the atmosphere of the Vball State tournament.


2008 Iowa state volleyball tournament, Day 1 from Gazette Sports on Vimeo.

Monday, November 10, 2008

3 Months at the Cedar Rapids Gazette

These are a few of my favorite photos and memories from the last three months at the Cedar Rapids Gazette in Iowa. They're not all great photos, but they are great memories.


Williamsburg High School's Curtis Stochl, 18, plays the sousaphone as his school competes during Bands Across the Prairie at Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008.


Incoming Coe College nursing student, Brittney Woodford, 18, of Mechanicsville, shovels debris outside the window of a flood damaged house on Third St. NW in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008. Woodford and other incoming Coe College students helped clear the homes to fulfill the college's required 20 hours of community service. "It's sad," Woodford said about seeing the damaged homes.


Annette Marsalli, 8, of Hiawatha, reads to therapy dog Guinness during the Reading to Dogs event at the Hiawatha Library in Hiawatha on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008. The program is designed to help and encourage kids to read. "I never imagined you could talk to dogs like a human," Marsalli said of the event.


Buena Vista University's (left) Jared Boysen runs in from the side as Coe College's Robert Welborn misses the pass from Coe College quarterback John McCarthy, allowing Buena Vista University's Andy Jacobson to intercept, gaining control of the ball during the first half of their game Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at Coe College's Clark Field in Cedar Rapids.


Cedar Rapid's Washington players (left) Dan Krotz, Saxon Dolan, Devon Reese and Jerome Strong prepare to tackle Linn-Mar High School's Jer Garman as he's pulled to the ground by Cedar Rapids Washington's Larry Johnson during their game Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008, at Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids.


A bee flies over wildflowers growing outside a field of soy beans on Campfire Rd. in Walker on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008.


(clockwise from left) Walker Bilden, 4, of Cedar Rapids, Peyton Boeckenstedt, 4, of Martelle, and Griffin Wisehart, 5, of Cedar Rapids, all future students at Cedar Valley Montessori School, play on a toy on Friday, Aug. 29, 2008, at the First Baptist Church/Church of the Brethren in Cedar Rapids. The Cedar Valley Montessori school will relocate to the First Baptist Church/Church of the Brethren after their building was damaged in the June 2008 floods.


(left) Morgan Elliff, 4, of Hiawatha, Marissa Bills, 4, of Marion, and Luke Schrock, 2, of Cedar Rapids listen while Erin Thomas, Education Director at the Cedar Rapids African American Museum, reads "We All Went on Safari," by Laurie Krebs, to a group of children at the Hiawatha Library in Hiawatha on Friday, Sept. 5, 2008. During the class, which was held in the Library due to flood damage at the African American Museum, the children learned to count to ten in Swahili, make paper plate snakes and dace to a Swahili song. The African American Museum in Cedar Rapids celebrates its five year anniversary this year.


(left) Riley Grignon, 2, points off to the distance while his mother, Marie Grignon, and sister, Noel Grignon, 5, share a kiss on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008, in Cedar Rapids. The recent flooding destroyed the family's home, forcing them to split up, living in two different homes.


Linda Sanders, of Cedar Rapids, sings during Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church's installation service for their new pastor, Damian Epps, on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2008, at their new long-term temporary location on 2nd Ave. SE in Cedar Rapids.


Earning first place in the men's varsity race, Lewi Manirumva, 18, of Washington High School, crosses the finish line followed by Iowa City West High School's Frank Canady, 17, during their cross country meet at Noelridge Park in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008.


(from left) April Keegan, 18, of Victor, Eric McElroy, 19, of Elberon and Brandi Collins, 18, of Belle Plaine, sit in the King Theatre foyer watching "Eagle Eye" as they wait for their friends to arrive on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, in Belle Plaine.


Coe College's Lacey Ganske (#15) jumps up to block the ball after Loras College's Natalie Roling (#2) hit the ball over the net during their game Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008, at Coe College in Cedar Rapids.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Illustrations

Here's something different... a couple October illustrations...



Saturday, October 25, 2008

It's All About the Shoes

This one's from a "media day" at the University of Northern Iowa. Media Days are these strange other-worldly type experiences. The universities invite the media to a one hour event where they can hear the coach talk about the upcoming season, and then the media gets to spend time with the players.
So... what that REALLY means is... 4 TV crews, 10 writers and 5 photographers meet for an all-out-to-the-death battle over the same 2 or 3 players. After I fought for my 3 minutes with this guy I moved on to the next one, only to come back and find him doing an interview by these really awesome purple chairs - that just so happened to match his ginormous shoes. I like his one. Yay purple! I hereby proclaim myself the victor in the "War of Media Day UNI" :)

Thursday, October 16, 2008

It's me!


My dad requested a photo of me and my car. I set out in search of the perfect backdrop - corn! It took some serious searching but I somehow managed to find some corn in Iowa. ;) So here I am with my car and my guitar. I'm a little worried about driving the car in the snow. I drove over a puddle earlier today and the car very nearly got stuck, I can't drive faster than 40mph on gravel or the car starts driving itself (very badly!) and making right turns on wet roads ... well ... let's just say I'm really glad my brother took me drifting in his car so I knew what was going on! Like I said, I'm a little worried about driving in the snow. Guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Harvest



Soybean harvests are VERY dusty - my gear and I were covered in dust. I really had fun shooting this. The combine operator even let me have a ride inside! Looking down at the blades it was like watching popcorn popping. :)

...also... the Boston Globe used this image in their online photo gallery! How awesome is that?!

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Silent City

This is a project that's all my own - it won't be published anywhere but here. Since I've been in Cedar Rapids, I've really missed using my own equipment to capture images - the cameras I use for work feel awkward, really dull, and the computer is horrible. So, on my days off I would grab my wonderful 5D and my 14mm lens and just drive to a spot and walk around. It was like spending an afternoon with an old friend, a welcome feeling here in this place where I really don't know anyone. There aren't any people in the photos and most are full frame. My goal was to show the devastating flood damage and my own isolation. So here it is... my work so far...

"Silent City" - an outsiders look at a devastated city

Boomtown

So... I've been really bad about updating my blog lately... these shots are a little old. They're from an event put on by the Iowa Pyrotechnic Association called "Boomtown." I have to say, it was the best fireworks show I've ever seen! They had fireworks of every shape, size and color - all perfectly timed to music. It was like the fireworks were dancing to the music. Very cool!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Golf...with everything in its place...

Let me start by saying that I have never, in my life, EVER seen a real game of golf. (unless you count the unforgettable "Happy Gilmore" and a 2 second channel surfing glimpse). I shot this practice like a little silver ball in a pinball machine, bumping back and forth from one player to the next, desperately trying to get a shot with more than two people in the frame. Just moments before they finished, the heavens opened up and some great god of kindness brought all 4 of the varsity players into my frame. I love this shot just 'cause each player is exactly where I would have placed them had I set up the shot. (I'll have to sacrifice a beach ball to the gods of golf for giving me a lucky hand with this one) I was so lost!

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Monday, August 25, 2008

Ironman


His name is Ron Ottaway, he's 71 years old, and he's the 70+ Amateaur World Ironman Triathlon Champion. Mr. Ottaway is quick to tell you he hasn't missed a day of running in 19 years. He jokes about how he's gotten slower with age, but then so has his competition. Words like 'dedication,' 'discipline' and 'commitment' creep into his casual conversations. All at once, he inspires and confuses me. Why would anyone, especially a semi-retired 71 year old man, voluntarily put themselves through this degree of physical strain? The three hours I spent with him wasn't really enough to convince me of anything... but I'll let you judge for yourself.

The video feels a little like my old a + b interview assignment but who knows... maybe I can continue this project and go with him when he competes in Hawaii this Oct.... ;-) (I know, it's a VERY LONG long shot)


Ron Ottaway, a 71-year-old triathlete from Jason Kristufek on Vimeo.

Flood Flowers

Sunflowers are sprouting up all over the once flooded neighborhoods in Cedar Rapids. I sloshed around in the mud and garbage while the rain poured down to take these photos. It was the most fun I've had since I've been here! :)


Friday, August 15, 2008

New Car, New Guitar

It's official, I have everything I need. Freedom in the shape of a new (used) car, and peace in the form of a new (used) guitar. Love may not have a price tag, but freedom and peace do. They even come with a payment plan! I've driven through an entire tank of gas and played until my fingers turned black. Ah! What a wonderful day!


Saturday, August 9, 2008

Iowa!

After two days of travel - flying across the country and driving through endless cornfields - I've arrived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Much of the city has a worn, functional feel to it. There's very little about this place I'd call "decorative."

Two hours ago the sky was a big beautiful blue - in just a few minutes, storm clouds came in and its been pouring ever since. I can't believe how fast the weather changed!!! My new neighbors probably thought I was insane staring up and the sky, shaking my head in disbelief. Can you believe these storms clouds?!! And in August too!!!



So - here's a bit of Iowa. This is a wildflower I discovered during my walk yesterday. I put it in an over-sized vase and completely forgot to water it -- hehe.... :) I kinda like the feel of this photo.



Monday's my first day at the Gazette. Wish me luck!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Pages from the Past

I finished my scanning project. It took longer than I thought and, honestly, I don't want to scan another image for at least a year! :) Despite the scanner issues and wrestling with 30 year old sticky plastic album pages, I kinda liked being the person who preserved these images for another generation. A word of advise though - always write down the person's name and info on the back of the photo, and NEVER EVER use any kind of tape in a photo album - some pearls of wisdom from someone who spent hours trying to peal tape from photos and compare faces to figure out names. :)



There's something incredibly charming about old photographs - their hazy image quality, yellow tint and completely out of focus faces unknowingly telling a story. I watched time speed by every time I turned the photo album pages. I think I learned a thing or two looking at all those faces. Even though the clothes and hair styles changed, it seemed like I was watching the same life playing over and over again. These are some of my favorites...





Wednesday, July 2, 2008

A Break From Scanning...

For the last month I've been working scanning and labeling old photographs - it is both an intriguing and frustrating job - I plan to post some of my favorite scans when I finish the job in a few weeks.  But today, I took a break from an endless day in front of the photo scanner, and visited with my cousin Kandice and her 3 kids.

By now, the kids are used to having "cousin Amanda" come around and take pictures with her big camera (the one they know they're not ever ever allowed to touch).  They're so used to ignoring me, it was a little difficult to get them to hold a pose (but then, when is it ever easy to get kids to hold a pose)  I've attached a small "photo reel" of the shoot and my 3 favorite images from the day.  The video is really cheesy and the photos aren't that great - but I think it's kinda fun - good for a few smiles.  





Saturday, May 31, 2008

Graduation Day

Went to my cousin's graduation last night. It was like looking for Waldo in a haystack!  But... after a few minutes... we found her!  I thought this shot was kinda fun - and it totally shows how crazy it was to find her in the crowd.  
Happy Graduation Dena!  Congrats! 

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Something old...something new

Not long ago, when I first discovered that photography was more than just blurry shots of smiling faces, I started playing with images.  For mother's day, I made my mom a medley of yellow roses.  It was fun tweaking my photos beyond all thoughts of normal.  So... I dug around and looked at my 'early work' as a photographer.... I don't know what other people might think of this stuff, but I think it's kinda fun so... I present to you -  "Medley of Yellow Roses," "Little Life," and "Orchard Spirit"


Friday, April 25, 2008

Visit from the Neighbors

Today, book in hand, I set out to enjoy the sunny weather and read a little.  Using a blanket I made myself a little "picnic" setting on the front lawn and sat down to read.  Ten minutes in, I'm attacked by allergies.  I run inside, sneeze 15 times and make my way back outside.... only, there's something about the front lawn I didn't notice before... something... not right... something... not good

My friendly (by that I mean scary as hell) neighborhood snake
 had come out to enjoy the sunny day as well.  Naturally, I followed my first instinct -- ran inside screaming, slamming the door and jumping up and down while rubbing my arms just to be sure no snakes had miraculously attached themselves to me - that done, I got my camera.
With great courage I stepped back outside (a couple car lengths between myself and the unwelcome neighbor).  I watched that snake for a good 1/2 hour as it ssssslowly turned around and dissappeared into the dirt.


Now I'm sitting inside, wondering if I have the courage to go back outside and get my blanket... awwww hell!  Blanket be damned!  I'm not going back out there!


in case you were curious - I think this is a gopher snake (harmless to humans).  But they look a lot like rattlesnakes - We have those here too!  Eh!