Thanks!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Think Snow!
It's nearly the middle of December and I have yet to even slip on my ski boots. We are finally starting to get some snow here in southwest Idaho but we could use A LOT more. So take this moment to do your best snow dance and help bring thoughts of powder shots to the inland northwest!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Friday, December 11, 2009
A Cold November, and December...
After yet another lengthy break away from the ole' web log I have once again returned to inundate you with stories from this small town journalist (Please, hold your applause till the end).
Over the past two months I have ebbed and flowed through the proverbial ups and downs most anyone encounters on this roller coaster called life. I have seen things that have made me smile and experienced a hand full of heart-ache along the way. Let's see... Where to start?
As I recall I last left you hanging on a happy note about how my job has been something spectacular as of late. While that largely remains the case, over the past couple of months I have taken a couple of careening detours from the yellow brick road of journalistic joyfulness.
I won't delve into the details of these aforementioned detours because I'm not here to complain. Truthfully, I don't have much to complain about. I've fought with my equipment, struggled with my horrendous hours, stressed out about my mounting credit card debt but none of this is new.
Bottom line: I can still find things to enjoy about my job and I guess that is enough for me.
So here it is. The quick and dirty run-down...
There have been a number of truly great assignments lately but I can't talk about it all - I'm not that patient and I'm sure you aren't either. Instead here are a few of my favorite photos from the past two months...
As some of you may know, I have had the opportunity to cover the Boise State Broncos all season but unfortunately I won't be making the trip down to Glendale, Ariz., for the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. I am not terribly dejected about being denied the opportunity to shoot the game but I am however incredibly disappointed that I will miss the chance to see my Iowa State Cyclones line up against my second favorite school - the Minnesota Golden Gophers - in the Insight.com Bowl, which is a few days prior to the Fiesta.
Had I been selected to go down to represent my newspaper I would have no doubt had the chance to cheer on my Cyclones as they participate in their first bowl game since 2005. Big Bummer indeed but I suppose my co-worker and roommate Dave Southorn (who is from Minnesota and whose father attended Iowa State) will be down to cheer 'em on for me.
Before I go I just wanted to share one more thing that weighed heavy on my heart over the past months...
On Sunday, Nov. 15th my grandfather Charles Edward Litchfield passed away at the age of 76. I traveled back for services later that week and although I had the opportunity to reconnect with family whom I hadn't seen in years, it was with a heavy heart that I did so. As I now know him, my grandpa Charlie (or Tuna as he was affectionately referred to by many) was an extraordinary man.
For much of my trip to Iowa I tried to spend time just listening to those who knew him better than I share their stories. Quickly I came to realize that he had a bigger heart than I ever knew and cared greatly for his family, his friends and of course, his Cubs. After only a short time I was overwhelmed with feelings of regret for having never taken time to know better the man for whom I was named after. Although I have regrets I am tremendously thankful for the times we did share. I will always have a special place in my heart for bottled pop, Cubs baseball on WGN and the serpentine sounds of an old ford pickup as it picks up speed.
He was a great guy and I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the fact that he raised my father to be a great man himself. I can now see some of my grandfather's greatest traits in my father and I am more thankful than ever to be my father's son.
After he passed away my dad and I acquired the bike which was considered one of Charlie's most prized possessions...
A 1951 Schwinn Phantom.
The bike was always something I quietly admired and now knowing that it meant so much to him makes it priceless to me.
I'm also happy to report that it has now been outfitted with a new set of replica Schwinn Typhoon whitewall tires and a new fully functional horn assembly. The bike rides like a dream and as I get older I know that its importance will never fade, even if its paint job does.
As always, thanks for stopping by!
Over the past two months I have ebbed and flowed through the proverbial ups and downs most anyone encounters on this roller coaster called life. I have seen things that have made me smile and experienced a hand full of heart-ache along the way. Let's see... Where to start?
As I recall I last left you hanging on a happy note about how my job has been something spectacular as of late. While that largely remains the case, over the past couple of months I have taken a couple of careening detours from the yellow brick road of journalistic joyfulness.
I won't delve into the details of these aforementioned detours because I'm not here to complain. Truthfully, I don't have much to complain about. I've fought with my equipment, struggled with my horrendous hours, stressed out about my mounting credit card debt but none of this is new.
Bottom line: I can still find things to enjoy about my job and I guess that is enough for me.
So here it is. The quick and dirty run-down...
There have been a number of truly great assignments lately but I can't talk about it all - I'm not that patient and I'm sure you aren't either. Instead here are a few of my favorite photos from the past two months...
As some of you may know, I have had the opportunity to cover the Boise State Broncos all season but unfortunately I won't be making the trip down to Glendale, Ariz., for the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. I am not terribly dejected about being denied the opportunity to shoot the game but I am however incredibly disappointed that I will miss the chance to see my Iowa State Cyclones line up against my second favorite school - the Minnesota Golden Gophers - in the Insight.com Bowl, which is a few days prior to the Fiesta.
Had I been selected to go down to represent my newspaper I would have no doubt had the chance to cheer on my Cyclones as they participate in their first bowl game since 2005. Big Bummer indeed but I suppose my co-worker and roommate Dave Southorn (who is from Minnesota and whose father attended Iowa State) will be down to cheer 'em on for me.
Before I go I just wanted to share one more thing that weighed heavy on my heart over the past months...
On Sunday, Nov. 15th my grandfather Charles Edward Litchfield passed away at the age of 76. I traveled back for services later that week and although I had the opportunity to reconnect with family whom I hadn't seen in years, it was with a heavy heart that I did so. As I now know him, my grandpa Charlie (or Tuna as he was affectionately referred to by many) was an extraordinary man.
For much of my trip to Iowa I tried to spend time just listening to those who knew him better than I share their stories. Quickly I came to realize that he had a bigger heart than I ever knew and cared greatly for his family, his friends and of course, his Cubs. After only a short time I was overwhelmed with feelings of regret for having never taken time to know better the man for whom I was named after. Although I have regrets I am tremendously thankful for the times we did share. I will always have a special place in my heart for bottled pop, Cubs baseball on WGN and the serpentine sounds of an old ford pickup as it picks up speed.
He was a great guy and I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the fact that he raised my father to be a great man himself. I can now see some of my grandfather's greatest traits in my father and I am more thankful than ever to be my father's son.
After he passed away my dad and I acquired the bike which was considered one of Charlie's most prized possessions...
A 1951 Schwinn Phantom.
The bike was always something I quietly admired and now knowing that it meant so much to him makes it priceless to me.
I'm also happy to report that it has now been outfitted with a new set of replica Schwinn Typhoon whitewall tires and a new fully functional horn assembly. The bike rides like a dream and as I get older I know that its importance will never fade, even if its paint job does.
As always, thanks for stopping by!
Monday, November 2, 2009
A Day Unlike The Day Before
Today I was again reminded why I love my job.
Now granted I don't love every aspect of the work that I do but then again, who does? There are small things that drive me a little nuts from time to time but at it's most fundamental level my job is what I believe I was born to do.
On a good day I get to meet people from such vastly different walks of life that it's often hard to remember what kind of person I have convinced myself I am or exactly what socio-demographic I feel I should fit into.
Thing is, in my past I have never felt comfortable being put into one category or another. My circles of friends has always looked like a Venn Diagram, and so have my interests.
And that's why I think I fit so well into this niche I've found. Every day I meet different people and every person that I meet presents me with a completely different personality; challenging my ability to communicate with, understand and of course photograph them. Truth be told, the actual act of taking a picture is often secondary to the experience of being at an event or meeting a person or group of people. Rather, it's simply a tool to gain access to slices of life most often only read about or pass in fleeting glimpses. Or maybe a tool that enables me to see slices of life that people often overlook. However you want to frame it it is something that I am aware of and thankful for.
I would argue that what makes some photojournalists so great is that they have a truly exceptional ability to relate to all walks of life in all situations. In some respects they just happen to know a little bit about a lot of things but whatever the case may be they find something they can identify with in their subjects.
I think the reason I have found so much happiness in this line of work is because this is what I have done nearly my entire adult life. Learning about the people I meet and the things they do and in the process learning about myself. The picture taking has pretty much always been an afterthought.
Now I am not saying that everyday is lived under a rainbow with sunny skies and yes, many days do feel like work. But every now and again I get a day like today...
I arrived into work an hour early fueled by a half a pot of coffee and an angelic 12-hour slumber... and not just any old 12-hour slumber. This was the kind of sleep that mattress companies advertise can only be achieved by sleeping in their beds. You know, bed in a field of rolling hills at daybreak with a man and a woman embracing as if they had literally spent the night sleeping on clouds. Mine was just like that, except instead of a beautiful woman it was my smelly 60-lb Lab.
I digress...
After unloading my camera, computer, lunch and coffee cup I sat in my swiveling seat and awoke my computer from hibernation. As I looked at a blank slate of assignments for my shift my mind began to race in search of tasks to accomplish over the course of the next eight hours.
I starred at the computer for a minute more and then began typing about what else...? You guessed it... The weather. I had a pair of photos I had taken from a trip to a pumpkin patch a few days back and thought that I would attempt to dictate a defense for why I loved the changing of the seasons.
Fortunately for humanity my attempt at defending the goodness of pumpkins was interrupted by an assignment at an antique store in Caldwell. The antique store was under new management and... Well that's not really important. I snapped a few photos of the kind folks at Avalon Antiques and then begrudgingly began my journey back to my cold grey cubicle.
I drove about six blocks before encountering a man standing on the corner of a busy intersection near downtown Caldwell. Not entirely unusual except that drapped over his shoulders was a gigantic piece of cardboard donning the phrase: "NO ON THE JAIL BOND". As it turns out the man was one of more than a couple who was hired by a candidate to display the signs in the days leading up to Tuesday's election.
Naturally, I stopped to talk to the guy and was surprised to find that he was only in it for the money and was actually intending on voting in the opposite position for which he was advertising. So we talked for about 20 minutes and as I thanked him and turned my back he softly said, "The Lord blesses you". I thanked him again a walked away happy to have met him.
I arrived back in the office with a small spring to my step feeling as though I had just experienced a truly unique character. I mean, who gives you their name followed by the statement "I have a misdemeanor" and concludes the conversation with "The Lord blesses you"?
So I sifted through my photos for a few minutes before being dispatched out to photograph a 19-year-old who had recently arrived back in her home state after spending the last two months in an Intensive Care Unit in Seattle for injuries she sustained after falling from a window on the campus of the University of Idaho in September.
I walked through the doors of Trinity Mission Health & Rehab - an assisted living facility in Nampa - and immediately grief and anxiety hung over my head like a black umbrella. The swelling of self pride I had previously carried was swiftly deflated as I entered a dimly lit room and passed by the privacy curtain to see a beautiful young woman lay nearly lifeless. She was surrounded by her mother, step-father, brother and sister who, considering the circumstances, were surprisingly upbeat and supportive.
I visited with the family for about 15 minutes before thanking them and gracefully making my exit. As I walked down the halls of the facility towards the front door I noticed that every patient looked to have lived a long life, and although choices had been made and likely could have been avoided I found it overwhelmingly unfair that Amanda Andaverde was not going to get the opportunity to reach her potential.
Although I will admit it sounds like the proverbial emotional roller coaster ride, today was just one more day at the office. Nothing like the day before and hopefully nothing like the day after...
Now granted I don't love every aspect of the work that I do but then again, who does? There are small things that drive me a little nuts from time to time but at it's most fundamental level my job is what I believe I was born to do.
On a good day I get to meet people from such vastly different walks of life that it's often hard to remember what kind of person I have convinced myself I am or exactly what socio-demographic I feel I should fit into.
Thing is, in my past I have never felt comfortable being put into one category or another. My circles of friends has always looked like a Venn Diagram, and so have my interests.
And that's why I think I fit so well into this niche I've found. Every day I meet different people and every person that I meet presents me with a completely different personality; challenging my ability to communicate with, understand and of course photograph them. Truth be told, the actual act of taking a picture is often secondary to the experience of being at an event or meeting a person or group of people. Rather, it's simply a tool to gain access to slices of life most often only read about or pass in fleeting glimpses. Or maybe a tool that enables me to see slices of life that people often overlook. However you want to frame it it is something that I am aware of and thankful for.
I would argue that what makes some photojournalists so great is that they have a truly exceptional ability to relate to all walks of life in all situations. In some respects they just happen to know a little bit about a lot of things but whatever the case may be they find something they can identify with in their subjects.
I think the reason I have found so much happiness in this line of work is because this is what I have done nearly my entire adult life. Learning about the people I meet and the things they do and in the process learning about myself. The picture taking has pretty much always been an afterthought.
Now I am not saying that everyday is lived under a rainbow with sunny skies and yes, many days do feel like work. But every now and again I get a day like today...
I arrived into work an hour early fueled by a half a pot of coffee and an angelic 12-hour slumber... and not just any old 12-hour slumber. This was the kind of sleep that mattress companies advertise can only be achieved by sleeping in their beds. You know, bed in a field of rolling hills at daybreak with a man and a woman embracing as if they had literally spent the night sleeping on clouds. Mine was just like that, except instead of a beautiful woman it was my smelly 60-lb Lab.
I digress...
After unloading my camera, computer, lunch and coffee cup I sat in my swiveling seat and awoke my computer from hibernation. As I looked at a blank slate of assignments for my shift my mind began to race in search of tasks to accomplish over the course of the next eight hours.
I starred at the computer for a minute more and then began typing about what else...? You guessed it... The weather. I had a pair of photos I had taken from a trip to a pumpkin patch a few days back and thought that I would attempt to dictate a defense for why I loved the changing of the seasons.
Fortunately for humanity my attempt at defending the goodness of pumpkins was interrupted by an assignment at an antique store in Caldwell. The antique store was under new management and... Well that's not really important. I snapped a few photos of the kind folks at Avalon Antiques and then begrudgingly began my journey back to my cold grey cubicle.
I drove about six blocks before encountering a man standing on the corner of a busy intersection near downtown Caldwell. Not entirely unusual except that drapped over his shoulders was a gigantic piece of cardboard donning the phrase: "NO ON THE JAIL BOND". As it turns out the man was one of more than a couple who was hired by a candidate to display the signs in the days leading up to Tuesday's election.
Naturally, I stopped to talk to the guy and was surprised to find that he was only in it for the money and was actually intending on voting in the opposite position for which he was advertising. So we talked for about 20 minutes and as I thanked him and turned my back he softly said, "The Lord blesses you". I thanked him again a walked away happy to have met him.
I arrived back in the office with a small spring to my step feeling as though I had just experienced a truly unique character. I mean, who gives you their name followed by the statement "I have a misdemeanor" and concludes the conversation with "The Lord blesses you"?
So I sifted through my photos for a few minutes before being dispatched out to photograph a 19-year-old who had recently arrived back in her home state after spending the last two months in an Intensive Care Unit in Seattle for injuries she sustained after falling from a window on the campus of the University of Idaho in September.
I walked through the doors of Trinity Mission Health & Rehab - an assisted living facility in Nampa - and immediately grief and anxiety hung over my head like a black umbrella. The swelling of self pride I had previously carried was swiftly deflated as I entered a dimly lit room and passed by the privacy curtain to see a beautiful young woman lay nearly lifeless. She was surrounded by her mother, step-father, brother and sister who, considering the circumstances, were surprisingly upbeat and supportive.
I visited with the family for about 15 minutes before thanking them and gracefully making my exit. As I walked down the halls of the facility towards the front door I noticed that every patient looked to have lived a long life, and although choices had been made and likely could have been avoided I found it overwhelmingly unfair that Amanda Andaverde was not going to get the opportunity to reach her potential.
Although I will admit it sounds like the proverbial emotional roller coaster ride, today was just one more day at the office. Nothing like the day before and hopefully nothing like the day after...
Monday, October 26, 2009
One Week Later
It's been a week since the marathon and I have now had ample time to collect my thoughts and put together a post... So here it goes...
A week ago yesterday I celebrated the culmination of 4 long months of training by running in the Des Moines marathon. There was a lot of stress in the week leading up to the race as thoughts of airborne viruses and injuries raced through my head but I am happy to report that I made it to the starting line in great condition.
On the day of the race I woke up around 5:30 AM to give myself a couple of hours to eat and get loose. After enjoying a couple cups of coffee and running through the hallways of our hotel, Jessie and I left the comfy confines of the Super 8 and stepped out into the cold and dark morning air; surprised to find frost on the windshield of the car.
We made it down to the starting area about 45 minutes before the start and took care of some last minute "business".
The forecasters turned out to be right as the weather report held true to the guarantee of sunny skies and temperatures in the 60's (although at 8AM it was still a little chilly).
The race went almost exactly as I had envisioned. I started out a little fast running splits about a minute faster per mile than I had originally planned but I felt great. At that point I hadn't run in almost 5 days which seemed like an eternity after having run 4-5 days a week for 15 weeks.
There were supporters lining nearly every mile of the course which was truly remarkable. And the course itself was gorgeous! Beautiful tree-lined streets, sunny boulevards, nice neighborhoods, and wonderfully scenic lakeside trails.
Around mile 18 I started to hit "the wall" and began dropping off about :15 seconds per mile pretty much the whole way home. Regardless of the loss of energy towards the end I was able to bring it in at 3:36.
Garmin Connect - DSM Marathon
I tried not setting up too many expectations and instead vowed to just "run my own race". Having that mantra running through my head as more experienced runners blew by me in the final miles served me well. However, in the last 10 miles I realized that finishing in under 3:30 was possible so I set my sights on that but honestly the time doesn't mean a whole lot to me; just knowing that the hard work payed off and I was able to finish my first marathon was enough.
Immediately afterward I claimed to have run in my last marathon. Now, a week later, I am giving that a second thought. I found the entire experience to be immensely rewarding and I am pretty certain that I would like to give it another go. With that said, I know it is going to be tough to match the enjoyment and emotions from running this race because of the amount of support I received from family, paired with the experience of enjoying my home state with my girlfriend for four days.
And I swear, ice cream tastes a million times more delicious after you've finished a marathon.
In the days following the race Jessie and I made a few trips out to my grandfather's lake house for some much needed rest and relaxation. Looking back on the entire experience almost brings me to tears because the whole thing went so well. I got to see old friends, spend time in my hometown, go to a football game, eat at many of my old haunts and most importantly spend some much needed time with my best friend. Makes me wish vacation came around more than two weeks every year but I guess that is why it's so great; because you don't get to do it every day.
Special thanks to everyone who made the trip more enjoyable!
Now it's back to the grind. I've got the first week back under my belt and I will say that it does feel good to get back into a routine.
As always, thanks for taking the time to stop by a see what's up!
Check back for more soon!
A week ago yesterday I celebrated the culmination of 4 long months of training by running in the Des Moines marathon. There was a lot of stress in the week leading up to the race as thoughts of airborne viruses and injuries raced through my head but I am happy to report that I made it to the starting line in great condition.
On the day of the race I woke up around 5:30 AM to give myself a couple of hours to eat and get loose. After enjoying a couple cups of coffee and running through the hallways of our hotel, Jessie and I left the comfy confines of the Super 8 and stepped out into the cold and dark morning air; surprised to find frost on the windshield of the car.
We made it down to the starting area about 45 minutes before the start and took care of some last minute "business".
The forecasters turned out to be right as the weather report held true to the guarantee of sunny skies and temperatures in the 60's (although at 8AM it was still a little chilly).
The race went almost exactly as I had envisioned. I started out a little fast running splits about a minute faster per mile than I had originally planned but I felt great. At that point I hadn't run in almost 5 days which seemed like an eternity after having run 4-5 days a week for 15 weeks.
There were supporters lining nearly every mile of the course which was truly remarkable. And the course itself was gorgeous! Beautiful tree-lined streets, sunny boulevards, nice neighborhoods, and wonderfully scenic lakeside trails.
Around mile 18 I started to hit "the wall" and began dropping off about :15 seconds per mile pretty much the whole way home. Regardless of the loss of energy towards the end I was able to bring it in at 3:36.
Garmin Connect - DSM Marathon
I tried not setting up too many expectations and instead vowed to just "run my own race". Having that mantra running through my head as more experienced runners blew by me in the final miles served me well. However, in the last 10 miles I realized that finishing in under 3:30 was possible so I set my sights on that but honestly the time doesn't mean a whole lot to me; just knowing that the hard work payed off and I was able to finish my first marathon was enough.
Immediately afterward I claimed to have run in my last marathon. Now, a week later, I am giving that a second thought. I found the entire experience to be immensely rewarding and I am pretty certain that I would like to give it another go. With that said, I know it is going to be tough to match the enjoyment and emotions from running this race because of the amount of support I received from family, paired with the experience of enjoying my home state with my girlfriend for four days.
And I swear, ice cream tastes a million times more delicious after you've finished a marathon.
In the days following the race Jessie and I made a few trips out to my grandfather's lake house for some much needed rest and relaxation. Looking back on the entire experience almost brings me to tears because the whole thing went so well. I got to see old friends, spend time in my hometown, go to a football game, eat at many of my old haunts and most importantly spend some much needed time with my best friend. Makes me wish vacation came around more than two weeks every year but I guess that is why it's so great; because you don't get to do it every day.
Special thanks to everyone who made the trip more enjoyable!
Now it's back to the grind. I've got the first week back under my belt and I will say that it does feel good to get back into a routine.
As always, thanks for taking the time to stop by a see what's up!
Check back for more soon!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
One Week Away!
This time next week I will hopefully be celebrating the successful completion of my first marathon. The nerves are starting to build now as I look forward and worry about things like the weather on race day or look backwards with concerns about the training I've put in. I've been nursing a couple injuries for the past few days and I'm hoping that the wounds will heal in time to run the race. A steady dose of ice and pain killers over the next couple of days outta do the trick.
In addition to running in the marathon, I will be turning this trip into a nice little vacation back to the home state of Iowa. I'm particularly excited because my girlfriend Jessie will be making the trip with me giving me the opportunity to share with her all sorts of things (mostly restaurants) I enjoyed during my time in Iowa. I'm also looking forward to seeing some old friends. To those of you who may be in Iowa, hope to see you soon!
Hopefully I can find the time to post a couple updates during the trip.
So here we go... A couple more days of work and then it's off on a week of vacation!
Oh and when Sunday rolls around, if you wanna keep track of my progress check this out...
HERE
Cheers!
In addition to running in the marathon, I will be turning this trip into a nice little vacation back to the home state of Iowa. I'm particularly excited because my girlfriend Jessie will be making the trip with me giving me the opportunity to share with her all sorts of things (mostly restaurants) I enjoyed during my time in Iowa. I'm also looking forward to seeing some old friends. To those of you who may be in Iowa, hope to see you soon!
Hopefully I can find the time to post a couple updates during the trip.
So here we go... A couple more days of work and then it's off on a week of vacation!
Oh and when Sunday rolls around, if you wanna keep track of my progress check this out...
HERE
Cheers!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Kind of Cool New Find...
I just realized that the data that my shiny little wrist top computery doodad collects can be shared from the website Garminconnect.com. I thought it would be a cool way to share my training.
This was from a run on Wednesday, which happened to be my last long run as I am now starting to taper off the mileage as the race gets closer.
Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled
Shared via AddThis
This was from a run on Wednesday, which happened to be my last long run as I am now starting to taper off the mileage as the race gets closer.
Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled
Shared via AddThis
Monday, September 21, 2009
A Contrast In Personalities
On Saturday I started my afternoon out at the Albertsons Boise Open which is arguably the biggest golf event in Boise. There were no sightings of golf elite like Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson. This is a Nationwide Tour event, which is like the minor leagues to the PGA. Even though big name golfers rarely come through, this tournament is still something I look forward to every year.
In years past I have spent entire afternoons meandering the course at Hillcrest Country Club but unfortunately this year I was unable to spend so much time out there. The reason? I had to drive out to New Plymouth, Idaho to cover The Big Nasty Hill Climb, an event I had never before covered.
People come from all over the northwest to attempt to do battle with gravity and race up a super steep 600-foot hill on their high powered hill climbing dirt bikes. It really is a truly unique event that I have never covered and so I was very excited to see it for myself.
Let me just say that I was not disappointed.
I watched as men over the age of 75, women in their mid 20's and just about every other demographic in between attempted to safely scream this highly rutted mountain. After watching the first person attempt a run on "The Big Nasty" I couldn't help but smile and laugh.
It really takes a unique kind of person to attempt such a feet and after spending most of my morning rubbing elbows with the yuppie elite of Boise at a golf tournament I really enjoyed the stark contrast in personalities that I experienced in one day.
I made a quick little video of the whole hill climb experience. Check it out...
In years past I have spent entire afternoons meandering the course at Hillcrest Country Club but unfortunately this year I was unable to spend so much time out there. The reason? I had to drive out to New Plymouth, Idaho to cover The Big Nasty Hill Climb, an event I had never before covered.
People come from all over the northwest to attempt to do battle with gravity and race up a super steep 600-foot hill on their high powered hill climbing dirt bikes. It really is a truly unique event that I have never covered and so I was very excited to see it for myself.
Let me just say that I was not disappointed.
I watched as men over the age of 75, women in their mid 20's and just about every other demographic in between attempted to safely scream this highly rutted mountain. After watching the first person attempt a run on "The Big Nasty" I couldn't help but smile and laugh.
It really takes a unique kind of person to attempt such a feet and after spending most of my morning rubbing elbows with the yuppie elite of Boise at a golf tournament I really enjoyed the stark contrast in personalities that I experienced in one day.
I made a quick little video of the whole hill climb experience. Check it out...
Friday, September 18, 2009
Apparently There are Potatoes in Idaho
About two months ago I picked up a freelance assignment with the Associated Press here in town. I won't divulge the details of the story since it hasn't yet hit the wire but I wanted to share a little personal experience from the shoot.
After living here in Idaho for well over two years I have yet to do a single assignment that has had anything to do with a potato. Which is shocking seeing as how the only thing Idaho is known for besides potatoes is our former foot tapping senator Larry Craig.
In July I traveled down to Kimberly, Idaho to the University of Idaho Kimberly Research Center where a small cohort of scientists study a handful of experimental varieties of potato. It was neat to see a potato field for the first time and having attempted to grow potatoes in my own garden it was neat to see what a professionals plants look like (mine were over run by pumpkins and have long since failed).
The cool thing about this research lab was that they were experimenting with these varieties of potatoes in an attempt to build a better french fry. The assignment called for me to photograph these scientists and visually convey the work that they were doing. I was delighted to find that these two women truly LOVED french fries!
They had taken the stereotype to the tenth degree, decorating every corner of the office with every kind of potato nick nack you can imagine. There were posters on the walls, a Mr. Potato Head on every countertop...
...and a potato shaped bar of soap in the bathroom. One of the scientists was even wearing french fry earrings for God's sake...
It was fun to meet people who took so much pride in something that so many Idahoans hate to hear about... "Yes, I am from Idaho... Yes, there are potatoes".
With any luck the story will run nationally within the next few days.
After living here in Idaho for well over two years I have yet to do a single assignment that has had anything to do with a potato. Which is shocking seeing as how the only thing Idaho is known for besides potatoes is our former foot tapping senator Larry Craig.
In July I traveled down to Kimberly, Idaho to the University of Idaho Kimberly Research Center where a small cohort of scientists study a handful of experimental varieties of potato. It was neat to see a potato field for the first time and having attempted to grow potatoes in my own garden it was neat to see what a professionals plants look like (mine were over run by pumpkins and have long since failed).
The cool thing about this research lab was that they were experimenting with these varieties of potatoes in an attempt to build a better french fry. The assignment called for me to photograph these scientists and visually convey the work that they were doing. I was delighted to find that these two women truly LOVED french fries!
They had taken the stereotype to the tenth degree, decorating every corner of the office with every kind of potato nick nack you can imagine. There were posters on the walls, a Mr. Potato Head on every countertop...
...and a potato shaped bar of soap in the bathroom. One of the scientists was even wearing french fry earrings for God's sake...
It was fun to meet people who took so much pride in something that so many Idahoans hate to hear about... "Yes, I am from Idaho... Yes, there are potatoes".
With any luck the story will run nationally within the next few days.
A Long Road to Run
A lot has changed for me since this time last year; granted I'm still shooting for the newspaper, working the same old nights and weekends schedule I have been for the past 2 1/2 years.
So let me rephrase that, a lot has changed in my life outside the office.
Let me explain...
Around this time last year I was really into mountain biking and over the course of the summer I managed to rack up around 500 miles of trail riding. This year, however, I've sort of set aside the saddle and swapped it out for a pair of running sneakers. In fact, I've become so enamored with the sport that in the past three months I have run about 450 miles all with the hope of finishing the Des Moines Marathon in October.
I've set out in the dark of morning and of night. I've gone running in the heat of the afternoon and been caught in the rain once or twice. I've cruised through runs of 15 and 20 miles and struggled through arduous outings of only four or five. I've had bloody toes, sun burnt shoulders, sore knees, hamstrings, calves and of course the occasionally inflamed Iliotibial Band. As weeks have fallen from the calendar I have found my longest distances turning into "short" and "easy runs". Through it all I can't help but look back and say that I have arrived at this new place a more confident, content and happy person.
I've learned a lot about myself throughout this journey but what I've found most inspiring is that a year ago I never would have thought I'd be able to do something like this. The human body and mind truly are amazing and often are capable of accomplishing tasks we never imagined were possible.
Although these past few months have been challenging I can't take all the credit for following through with them. I have had a pretty super support system of friends from other states, fellow runners from across town, my folks who live just down the street and a very special someone who, at times, may not understand this silly thing I do, but has always been beyond supportive.
So here we go... One month from today I will celebrate my four months of sacrifice and suffering with a 26.2 mile run around the city of Des Moines and a couple days of post run fun around the rest of the state of Iowa. Am I excited? Of course! I'll try to continue to post my progress as the race day nears.
As always, thanks for stopping by!
So let me rephrase that, a lot has changed in my life outside the office.
Let me explain...
Around this time last year I was really into mountain biking and over the course of the summer I managed to rack up around 500 miles of trail riding. This year, however, I've sort of set aside the saddle and swapped it out for a pair of running sneakers. In fact, I've become so enamored with the sport that in the past three months I have run about 450 miles all with the hope of finishing the Des Moines Marathon in October.
I've set out in the dark of morning and of night. I've gone running in the heat of the afternoon and been caught in the rain once or twice. I've cruised through runs of 15 and 20 miles and struggled through arduous outings of only four or five. I've had bloody toes, sun burnt shoulders, sore knees, hamstrings, calves and of course the occasionally inflamed Iliotibial Band. As weeks have fallen from the calendar I have found my longest distances turning into "short" and "easy runs". Through it all I can't help but look back and say that I have arrived at this new place a more confident, content and happy person.
I've learned a lot about myself throughout this journey but what I've found most inspiring is that a year ago I never would have thought I'd be able to do something like this. The human body and mind truly are amazing and often are capable of accomplishing tasks we never imagined were possible.
Although these past few months have been challenging I can't take all the credit for following through with them. I have had a pretty super support system of friends from other states, fellow runners from across town, my folks who live just down the street and a very special someone who, at times, may not understand this silly thing I do, but has always been beyond supportive.
So here we go... One month from today I will celebrate my four months of sacrifice and suffering with a 26.2 mile run around the city of Des Moines and a couple days of post run fun around the rest of the state of Iowa. Am I excited? Of course! I'll try to continue to post my progress as the race day nears.
As always, thanks for stopping by!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Something New...
The past few days have been a bit arduous but I thought I'd share just a couple things. I shot another Boise State game which was far less than exciting as Boise State walloped Miami (Ohio) on Friday night. Nothing super exciting to share from that experience...
Yesterday I shot an event that was sponsored by the Idaho Meth Project. There were hundreds on hand to take in the music from local bands, the fare from local vendors, and the stories from local people recovering from addiction to methamphetamine. Truth be told, it felt more like a Hispanic fiesta rather than a celebration of methamphetamine recovery in that the event was promoted by the local Mexican media representative, Bustos Media and all of the music, live dancing and food were all Latin American inspired.
None the less, it turned out to be a pretty fun afternoon in the park...
I also went out to O'Connor Fieldhouse in Caldwell on Friday to put together a slideshow from the model train expo. I interviewed a couple of really interesting people whose interviews I tried to incorporate into the slideshow in a sort of This American Life style production. Didn't come together quite that well but you can check it out for yourself...CLICK HERE.
As always, thanks for checking in!
Yesterday I shot an event that was sponsored by the Idaho Meth Project. There were hundreds on hand to take in the music from local bands, the fare from local vendors, and the stories from local people recovering from addiction to methamphetamine. Truth be told, it felt more like a Hispanic fiesta rather than a celebration of methamphetamine recovery in that the event was promoted by the local Mexican media representative, Bustos Media and all of the music, live dancing and food were all Latin American inspired.
None the less, it turned out to be a pretty fun afternoon in the park...
I also went out to O'Connor Fieldhouse in Caldwell on Friday to put together a slideshow from the model train expo. I interviewed a couple of really interesting people whose interviews I tried to incorporate into the slideshow in a sort of This American Life style production. Didn't come together quite that well but you can check it out for yourself...CLICK HERE.
As always, thanks for checking in!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Ready For Some Football?
Football season is here and for me it started off with a bang. I shot the Boise State vs Oregon game last Thursday. The game was broadcast on national television and if you tuned in you likely saw the fiasco that ensued after what was an ugly start to the season for both teams. It was an exciting game to cover and I can only hope that the rest of the season provides as much drama and excitement. Here are a few photos from the game...
A Little Catching Up...
It's been quite a while since I've made the time to put together a post and I have a ton of stuff to talk about. So I'm gonna put up some pictures and give you a quick run down...
The summer is finally coming to an end and as you are all aware, football season is in full swing meaning that fall is only a few short weeks away (something which I am super excited about).
There has been a ton, I mean A TON of activity in the waning weeks of summer. It all started off with a short vacation to north Idaho to hang out on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene. It was a beautiful way to start what would turn out to be a busy and semi chaotic month.
On the week that I returned home I had the opportunity to cover the Caldwell Night Rodeo, which to many rodeo aficionados, is one of the biggest rodeos out there. It is actually a great event because it takes place outdoors and really does have the feel of an old western rodeo. Oh and the fans are always entertaining...
Coming in on the tails of the Caldwell Night Rodeo was the Western Idaho Fair, which was as entertaining as always. There were young children herding around their livestock and children running around riding rides and playing games... Good times.
I saw a few other things that made for decently interesting photo opps.
The summer is finally coming to an end and as you are all aware, football season is in full swing meaning that fall is only a few short weeks away (something which I am super excited about).
There has been a ton, I mean A TON of activity in the waning weeks of summer. It all started off with a short vacation to north Idaho to hang out on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene. It was a beautiful way to start what would turn out to be a busy and semi chaotic month.
On the week that I returned home I had the opportunity to cover the Caldwell Night Rodeo, which to many rodeo aficionados, is one of the biggest rodeos out there. It is actually a great event because it takes place outdoors and really does have the feel of an old western rodeo. Oh and the fans are always entertaining...
Coming in on the tails of the Caldwell Night Rodeo was the Western Idaho Fair, which was as entertaining as always. There were young children herding around their livestock and children running around riding rides and playing games... Good times.
I saw a few other things that made for decently interesting photo opps.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Grandparents Support Group
Tonight I traveled out to Caldwell to sit in on a support group session for grandparents who are raising their kids' children. I had a hunch that this may be a nice assignment and I turned out to be right...
Deep in the basement of the Grace Lutheran Church around a horseshoe shaped arrangement of card tables and folding chairs sat a group of grandparents who came together to share their unique stories of circumstance to like minded peers.
Laughter often mixed with moments of uncomfortable honesty as a pair of boisterous grey-haired women bantered back and forth telling jokes at the expense of each other. You can't help but smile while they go on about their struggles bridging the age gap with their grandchildren or defending their sons and daughters with the argument that they were once young and made mistakes too. You smile because they laugh, but also because you know that they do what they do because of their love for the children they've adopted.
At one point a heavy canvas curtain cracked open and a pair of young girls made their way through a maze of steel chairs. They approached their grandparents, Donna and Jim Johnson, and interrupted a grown up conversation about finances and fundraisers and shared with them a pair of pictures that they had drawn. On the two matching pieces of thick yellow construction paper the Johnson family had been drawn as a bowl full of fish. Grandma was the big clown fish and, of course, grandpa was the big blowfish. The family shared a laugh and even the reverend who was attempting to lead the discussion stopped to join in.
It was a great moment that made my night. These kids had been given a second chance by their grandparents after circumstances forced them from their parents. You just sort of got a sense that everything was going to be alright. And that's why I was smiling.
Deep in the basement of the Grace Lutheran Church around a horseshoe shaped arrangement of card tables and folding chairs sat a group of grandparents who came together to share their unique stories of circumstance to like minded peers.
Laughter often mixed with moments of uncomfortable honesty as a pair of boisterous grey-haired women bantered back and forth telling jokes at the expense of each other. You can't help but smile while they go on about their struggles bridging the age gap with their grandchildren or defending their sons and daughters with the argument that they were once young and made mistakes too. You smile because they laugh, but also because you know that they do what they do because of their love for the children they've adopted.
At one point a heavy canvas curtain cracked open and a pair of young girls made their way through a maze of steel chairs. They approached their grandparents, Donna and Jim Johnson, and interrupted a grown up conversation about finances and fundraisers and shared with them a pair of pictures that they had drawn. On the two matching pieces of thick yellow construction paper the Johnson family had been drawn as a bowl full of fish. Grandma was the big clown fish and, of course, grandpa was the big blowfish. The family shared a laugh and even the reverend who was attempting to lead the discussion stopped to join in.
It was a great moment that made my night. These kids had been given a second chance by their grandparents after circumstances forced them from their parents. You just sort of got a sense that everything was going to be alright. And that's why I was smiling.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
The Case of Robert Manwill
On July 24th a young boy, 8-year-old Robert Manwill, went missing from his mother's home in Boise. After only a day or two the city of Boise rallied around the Police Department and the family and helped in a search effort which went on for ten days. After numerous vaguely detailed press briefings speculation began to run wild and citizens (and media members) began expect the worse. On Monday, August 3rd they found his body on the banks of a canal one town over.
Finally the family has some closure as they have now found their son, unfortunately, the case has officially been declared a homicide and police have yet to make any arrests (although there are credible leads).
On Friday evening the family made one of their first public appearances since Robert was found last Monday. Community members teamed up with local businesses to put on a vigil in honor of Robert, which turned out to be very moving. The mother and father were both visibly emotional as dozens of green balloons were released into the evening sky.
I caught a moment of the mother reacting to the display as a neighbor attempted to console her. It was a very moving scene and as the family prepares to lay to rest their son you can't help but look at the photo and feel the pain they are experiencing.
Finally the family has some closure as they have now found their son, unfortunately, the case has officially been declared a homicide and police have yet to make any arrests (although there are credible leads).
On Friday evening the family made one of their first public appearances since Robert was found last Monday. Community members teamed up with local businesses to put on a vigil in honor of Robert, which turned out to be very moving. The mother and father were both visibly emotional as dozens of green balloons were released into the evening sky.
I caught a moment of the mother reacting to the display as a neighbor attempted to console her. It was a very moving scene and as the family prepares to lay to rest their son you can't help but look at the photo and feel the pain they are experiencing.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Meet Levi...
A few weeks back I came up with the idea to do a story about a football player with the local af2 (minor leagues to "big time" arena football) the Boise Burn. My fascination with these athletes is that the majority of them don't get payed enough to be full time athletes and so many have part time jobs. Before doing any research I had hoped to find a player who in his spare time worked as a plumber or a roofer or some other blue collar job. Unfortunately, I didn't find such a player. However, I did meet Levi Madarieta, a 5-year arena football veteran who happened to have a pretty interesting story to tell.
Initially I wanted to follow him on his journey through the rigors of a typical "work week" but after starting the project I began to struggle to find the time to tag along with him because of the time constraints of the daily schedule.
I was able to hang out with him about three or four times. Up until the Saturday before the package was supposed to run the story continued to evolve. Originally I wanted to do a mix of video, audio and stills but then I had an epiphany...
On Saturday, July 18th I attended an SPJ narrative writing workshop here in Boise. I'll admit that I've never been much of a writer but I have always had interest in it and so with a little bit of trepidation I decided to sign up... And I am so glad that I did. The guest speaker was Pulitzer Prize winning feature writer Tom Hallman Jr.. Tom turned out to be a very inspiring speaker who made the world of narrative story telling, which was once such an unknown to me, seem so clear. I left feeling as though learning to write well would be my next greatest challenge and after a few weeks I still feel the same way.
So anyway, I was inspired by the event and decided to try to write some copy about Levi. It turned out to be a pretty challenging exercise but I really enjoyed it.
This is how it read...
--------------------------
BOISE - It's three hours before kickoff and inside Qwest Arena the lights are off and the seats are empty. In a narrow hallway beneath the bleachers workers shuffle from one end of the arena to the other, preparing for the hordes of fans that will soon help bring the place to life. The hustle and bustle is interrupted momentarily as workers stop to say "hey" to a man who makes his way through the hall.
He feels butterflies in his stomach as the sounds of laughter and loud music grow closer; knowing full well that once he walks through that door, it's time to go to work.
At 29, he's not exactly young for a football player but after five years in the af2 - three spent as a starter for the Boise Burn - Levi Madarieta is in better shape than ever before, and most importantly, he still loves what he does.
"I'm still able to do it at a high level and perform well and so why not," said Madarieta, I love to do it."
Even though he speaks with a breath of ambition about his future in professional football, he understands the reality of his situation.
"In this league you're either trying to go somewhere and move up to bigger and better things or if you're like me, you play because you love it."
With a laundry list of injuries from broken fingers and ribs to a complete reconstructed ankle, Madarieta has experienced plenty of painful setbacks, but throughout it all has remained positive.
“My body has taken a beating over the years but it’s worth it to me" he said, "on Sundays when I wake up and I can't really move I don't exactly love it, but when the weekend rolls around I remember why I do it."
--------------------------
Not necessarily a masterpiece but for a first try I feel pretty good about it.
I also produced a short slideshow about the guy that you can check out HERE.
Initially I wanted to follow him on his journey through the rigors of a typical "work week" but after starting the project I began to struggle to find the time to tag along with him because of the time constraints of the daily schedule.
I was able to hang out with him about three or four times. Up until the Saturday before the package was supposed to run the story continued to evolve. Originally I wanted to do a mix of video, audio and stills but then I had an epiphany...
On Saturday, July 18th I attended an SPJ narrative writing workshop here in Boise. I'll admit that I've never been much of a writer but I have always had interest in it and so with a little bit of trepidation I decided to sign up... And I am so glad that I did. The guest speaker was Pulitzer Prize winning feature writer Tom Hallman Jr.. Tom turned out to be a very inspiring speaker who made the world of narrative story telling, which was once such an unknown to me, seem so clear. I left feeling as though learning to write well would be my next greatest challenge and after a few weeks I still feel the same way.
So anyway, I was inspired by the event and decided to try to write some copy about Levi. It turned out to be a pretty challenging exercise but I really enjoyed it.
This is how it read...
--------------------------
BOISE - It's three hours before kickoff and inside Qwest Arena the lights are off and the seats are empty. In a narrow hallway beneath the bleachers workers shuffle from one end of the arena to the other, preparing for the hordes of fans that will soon help bring the place to life. The hustle and bustle is interrupted momentarily as workers stop to say "hey" to a man who makes his way through the hall.
He feels butterflies in his stomach as the sounds of laughter and loud music grow closer; knowing full well that once he walks through that door, it's time to go to work.
At 29, he's not exactly young for a football player but after five years in the af2 - three spent as a starter for the Boise Burn - Levi Madarieta is in better shape than ever before, and most importantly, he still loves what he does.
"I'm still able to do it at a high level and perform well and so why not," said Madarieta, I love to do it."
Even though he speaks with a breath of ambition about his future in professional football, he understands the reality of his situation.
"In this league you're either trying to go somewhere and move up to bigger and better things or if you're like me, you play because you love it."
With a laundry list of injuries from broken fingers and ribs to a complete reconstructed ankle, Madarieta has experienced plenty of painful setbacks, but throughout it all has remained positive.
“My body has taken a beating over the years but it’s worth it to me" he said, "on Sundays when I wake up and I can't really move I don't exactly love it, but when the weekend rolls around I remember why I do it."
--------------------------
Not necessarily a masterpiece but for a first try I feel pretty good about it.
I also produced a short slideshow about the guy that you can check out HERE.
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