Is it hot around here????

Friday, May 25, 2007

Old Lyme - It is that time of year again...back to the beach. Lets see if we in the news world can limit ourselves to one beach photo a week in the coming summer months. For my sanity I hope so. Speaking of my sanity, I will be running as fast as I can home tonight to pack for a few well earned days in Burlington, VT. A little mid-week get-away. I doubt highly that I will live blog during that time because I will be trying to avoid computers and cell phones AT ALL POSSIBLE COSTS!!

My day with the President

Wednesday May 23, 2007 - New London

President George W. Bush was the keynote speaker at the Coast Guard Academy's graduation this morning, and I, as usual, was right in the middle of it. I was swimming in the press pool for most of the day and even got to ride in the President's motorcade. It was quite an afternoon.

This is the best part of good access, normally I would have been looking at the backs of everyone head all day.

Tim Cook, International Man of Mystery, a legend in my own lunch time.

A banner Presient...get it..."banner"..."President"... yea, I know, don't quit your day job...or job at The Day for that matter.

This is as close as I got to the President all day...and I was looking the other way. Kidding of course, I already got the shot I wanted and all I would have got from this angle is the hand railing...which might have been cool...oh well.

So I was considered "Local Media Pool" which means "Back of the Bus", here is my veiw of the motorcade. My van was only followed a tumbleweed, an ice cream truck, and that guy from Laugh-in wearing the yellow raincoat on a tricycle...just kidding, but I was in the last press van.

"Is there a photographer in the house?" The President was rumored to be around today, but I could not find him through the throng of cameras.

And last but not least, the President showed his approval by revving the engines on Air Force One, sand-blasting the crowed at Groton-New London Airport. Note to self: watch out for jet wash.

Musical Saturday

May 19, 2007

New London - The Ancient Mariners of Connecticut perform before the Jibboom Club parade as part of New London's Maritime Day celebration. This use to be a big deal in New London back when whaling was still a big deal in New London. The Jibboom Club parade saw New London's streets lined with people. Now, not so much. This was the first year in roughly half a century that the parade was held. Personnaly I just like the name "Jibboom".

Stonington - Earlier and several towns away I took this shot of musician J.C. Hatfield performing at the Stonington Vineyards Wine and Food festival. J.C. is lit with a new remote, off camera flash technique that I am working on. I am controlling the lighting from my camera roughly 40 yards away. Pretty cool.

May Update

You will have to pardon me, I have been a bit busy as of late and have not had the time to update my blog. Anyhow here are some photos that I have liked from the past few weeks.

Friday May 4th - This is a fencing demo from from the World Youth Day festival in Norwich. The sun set wonderfully down the end of the street that we were on giving me some great lighting and shadows to play with.

Wednesday May 9th - The Holland American cruise ship Maasdam did its annual return to New London. This is one of the largest ships to dock on the Thames River so we usually make a pretty big deal of it when it comes to town. I took this shot from the forward wall of Fort Griswold in Groton. The roofer in the foregound really clinched what would have otherwise been a shot of a big boat.

Friday May 11th - Yes, this is a cute kid shot, but I still like it. It was about the only shot that I liked from North Stonington's Bicentennial Celebration kick off ceremony. What was neet is that I used this photo in a slide show talk that I did that night, so the audience got to see it before it ran in the paper the next day. Ah, digital technology, you've got to love it.

Saturday May 12th - This is just a nice shot from Mitchell College's graduation. The graduation was held indoors this year due to renovations at the school. Lighting and emotion, you can't go wrong.