Turkey Vulture

Nearly ten years ago while traveling through Missouri on a road trip I saw a turkey vulture for the first time. Since then I see them everywhere in northern Illinois. I am fascinated by turkey vultures because they remind me of dinosaurs. I also like to pretend they are thunder birds flying way up high looking for children to carry away. Anyway, I called up a local animal rehabilitation center and the director there confirmed that yes indeed turkey vultures are fairly new to the area. I then stopped by the center to get some up-close images and I almost got more than I bargained for. At one point during my visit, Vinny, a 23-year-old turkey vulture, and I were left alone in his enclosure and he hopped down from his perch and started biting my shoes and pants. I thought "oh great, this damn bird is going to bite me with it's bacteria filled mouth and I'll have to go to the hospital and endure a series of painful injections." Well I climbed up to higher ground and just kept lifting my feet. When I was finally rescued I learned Vinny just wanted my shoe laces.

Red, White and Blue

Receded

I meant to post some photographs of the flooding in DeKalb County when it happened, but I didn't so here you go. The above is from today and the rest are from April 18.

Slacking

So I have been slacking uploading anything new. So here's two that I shot recently.

Fake Field Goal

On Saturday the Northern Illinois football team hosted Central Michigan. In the fourth quarter as the Huskies appeared to settle for a field goal attempt the ball was instead tossed to the kicker, Mathew Sims, and he ran it in for a 14-yard touchdown run. Avery Cunningham of the Chippewas took exception to this and hit him in the end zone. Sims didn't see it coming and was rattled for a moment but remained in the game.

Stonehouse Park

I visited Stonehouse Park over the weekend. The 40-acre, Earlville-based "agritainment" venue has been caught in a whirlwind of problems in the past year, from neighbors' complaints about late-night parties and drug use to permit violations and now financial hardships. During my visit the owners were working on maintaining the property and I followed them for a bit and then I saw a group participating in live action role playing. The group had rented park for the weekend as many other different groups have done in the past. While LARPing is interesting, I definitely would love to have seen a music festival there.

Good boy, Walker.

Some time ago while surfing the internets I saw a stencil of a little girl with an All Terrain Armored Transport. I loved it so much that I had to make a photograph with the same elements, so I made this for fun.

Long Exposure

If you live in the Chicagoland area you are aware of the wild weather we had last night. On my drive home I decided to pull over to capture some lightning. Within 10 minutes two motorists stopped to ask if I needed any help, which was really surprising to me. Anyhow, I decided to press the shutter as one of the vehicles drove off after I assured them that I was fine and in those thirty seconds I got this image.

Dog in a Suit

While covering an assignment in 2007 at a PetSmart in Crystal Lake I saw this dog that reminded me of a Beagle on stilts. I learned that the dog was an American Foxhound. Nearly a year later I got one myself. He barks a lot, but that is what he was bred to do. My wife and I have always said that he'd look great in a suit, so I made this for her.

Kids

I was told once that I should photograph adults the way I photograph children. Apparently I spend more time and get closer to children rather than with adults. I didn't disagree and it's true, but kids are so much more interesting to me. They don't hold back and I think that's why I'm more interested in capturing their images.

Malta Days

Since high school sports are done and everybody has graduated it is now time for festivals. Today I was in Malta and I feel I may have missed out on some moments because of the weather. You see I use sunscreen when it's sunny and today it created a problem. Somehow it got into my right eye and I couldn't see clearly and it got all red and cracked out looking so I left the festival a little earlier than I wanted to. Stinking sun and beautiful weather.

 

May Work

I have not posted in some time so I just wanted to put something up from my daily assignments. A photo from a story about autism awareness. Dad took his daughter outside to play and she just wouldn't let go of the snow globe.

This child received a new bookcase and a set of books and was just so thrilled about Elmo. Tickle-Me-Elmo must have come out like 15 years ago.

Grad in glasses.

Soldier homecoming party in DeKalb at Sullivans.

Collision during a soccer match.

Rain Delay

Before tonight's game between the Northern Illinois and Northwestern baseball teams there was an hour and a half rain delay. Both teams entertained themselves and the crowd, myself included, with interpretations of bull riding, battle scenes, a wedding and a fashion show that just got weird (above). I believe this was the last 'show' before the tarp came off the field. Yes, there were children in the stands. Go college baseball.

POY

I haven't posted for some time now and I decided to post some more portraits of student athletes. Taking a portrait of someone that I just met is always weird. I'm not sure that will ever change. I wonder how the subject feels about being photographed. 

Year-End Chess Tournament

I went to a chess tournament this afternoon. The DeKalb Chess Club was holding a year-end tournament in the basement of a church on New Year's Eve day. Adults and kids were participating and I mainly focused on the children because of their expressions. Happy New Year.

Good-bye Toledo! Good-bye Toledo!

Last Friday morning I began a 300 mile journey to Ford Field in Detroit for the Mid-American Conference football championship game between Northern Illinois and Ohio. About 100 miles into the trip my check engine light began flashing and I had a cylinder misfiring. Since my car seemed to run fine above 55, I continued my drive and hoped that the car would last. Thankfully, I arrived on time and was ready to work. Unfortunately NIU wasn't ready. The Huskies turned the ball over 3 times and trailed by 20 after the first half. The second half started with another fumble on their first drive. Somehow they turned it around and won on a time expiring field goal. I decided to focus on Nathan Palmer, who had a pair of receiving touchdowns during the second half, instead of the field goal. I wish I had used a wider lens, but woulda, coulda, shoulda I guess. Palmer was named the MVP so I'm glad I focused on him. Now with the game over it was time for my 2000 Civic with 291K miles to head back home. I am happy to report that I made it back, but my car, aka Black Beauty, is toast. Best car ever.

Basketball Preview Tab

Our theme for this year's basketball prep tab is "Where I grew up." This photo illustration came to me during my drive to work yesterday. I know Lebron tosses powder into the air and I know Jordan did too, so I just needed a child old enough to understand what I was looking for. Fortunately for me, our features editor has a 10-year-old son who had three different Bulls jerseys to choose from and he completely understood what I was wanting him to do. So after two weeks of worrying what our cover would be, I came up with this idea and shot it within 2 hours. Stress over...for now.

Sideline Portrait

During a game last weekend I snapped this shot of the Kaneland quarterback resting on the sideline. I was thrilled with the results because my ISO was 2500 and the light just looks good. I want to be a better portrait photographer.

Fire

Yesterday I was called to a house fire in Genoa. I was in DeKalb at the time and I could see the smoke as I got into my car. I expected to see huge flames when I arrived, but all I really saw was a lot of smoke and a lot of people watching as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze. I knew why I was there, but I wonder sometimes about the bystanders. A few years back I went to a fatal accident and I recognized one of the bystanders from another tragic event. Apparently he listens to a police scanner and if he hears of something that sounds bad he checks it out. I realize in a way that I too do the same thing, but that's not why I do what I do.

Quidditch

Last Wednesday night I went to a Northern Illinois University Quidditch practice. When I saw the request I wasn't sure what to expect. I thought "is this for real." Sure enough it is. The participants all have to hold brooms and they run around throwing balls through hoops. There is also a snitch that runs outside the game field with a seeker from each team chasing after. To be honest, it took me a couple moments to control my giggles when I first arrived.