I knew before last week ended that I'd have to get a weather photo today as we are in the midst of a heat wave. The problem is that this is DeKalb county. You can drive and drive and see nothing. You can walk downtown, but everyone is just scurrying to get back inside to air conditioning. Also, we've gone to the local pool way too much. I needed a new location so I asked my editor. She told me that there was a beach in Sycamore at the local RV resort. What the what? There's a beach in Sycamore? So I got this while stood on the sandy beaches of Sycamore, Ill.
On Friday evening, Marine Cpl. Chris Piatt was welcomed home with an escort by the Warriors' Watch Riders and local police and firefighters. The parade was to be a surprise, but Piatt heard a local radio station asking for supporters to line the streets of both DeKalb and Sycamore for his return home. After hearing this, Piatt felt the need to put on his uniform. It was great to see a community come out to greet the soldier, especially one dressed in uniform and thankful for the support.
I pass Greenwood Cemetery in Hinckley every day to and from work. The cemetery is located on a small hill with large pine trees and I've always thought of how it would make a great image. Finally, last night on the way home after the storms I captured this. I was glad to see the final moments of daylight after the crumby weather, because the first day of summer is sort of like a holiday in my mind.
The spring season is over and it's time for player of the year portraits. Here's a couple from this week.
An assignment today brought me to the home of Eileen Bosshart who is 78 years old. She is the legal guardian of a 44 year old man who has cerebral palsy and profound mental retardation. Bosshart has been caring for this man for 26 years and told me, "I enjoy every moment of it. He's a special little guy." The story is running this weekend because of Mother's Day. This image isn't the best from the take and I wasn't sure if I was going to process it for print but I did.
Got this rundown situation today without anybody blocking my view, which includes defensive player, on deck batter, or umpire... Amazing!
I finally got my photo of the ball off the bat for the game winning home run yesterday. I think the anticipation was more exciting rather than the photographic result, but oh well. I also thought that 1/6400th of a second would have eliminated the blur on the ball.
This post doesn't have much to do with the photo, but about the music selection played during prep/college games. A couple days ago I heard this playing between innings:
Hot and dangerous
If you’re one of us, then roll with us
‘Cause we make the hipsters fall in love
And we’ve got hot-pants on enough
And yes of course because we’re running this town just like a club
And no, you don’t wanna mess with us
Got Jesus on my necklace
I’ve got that glitter on my eyes
Stockings ripped all up the side
Looking sick and sexy-fied
I think this planet is doomed.
I had the privilege of covering the DeKalb County Spelling Bee this morning. I enjoyed it from start to end and there were a lot of photos to be made. This one probably won't make the paper, but I like it.
Early deadlines make for crumby photos or at least less opportunities for better ones. While covering a regional basketball game last night I had to send in what I had from the first half to make deadline. The team I was covering had a solid 21 point lead and I felt safe sending what I had thus far. With a bad wireless connection sending my photos at a snail's pace, I decided to shoot the remainder of the game for entertainment. Well our team we were covering blew their lead and the game was decided in the final seconds, but they prevailed, 61-57. The coach was frantic for the entire fourth quarter and after they won I got what you see above. I'm not sure if the coach is relieved, but I think a drink may help.
