Why????

Thursday June 21, 2007, 1:02 a.m.

New London - New London police hold the scene of a shooting outside of Ernie's Cafe on Bank Street. Blood like an oozing puddle of molasses stains the sidewalk. A 23 year old man, shot in the face, was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. This is the third shooting at this bar since 2004, the last one occuring six months ago. As a journalist I am left asking "why?" Not why was I woken at 12:30 in the morning to go cover it, but why did it happen at all? What happens in a person's mind that tells them that violence is the only solution? My sleep deprived brain tries to utter a prayer for the victim and his family, record the scene, and move on.

Juneteenth

Saturday June 17, 2007

Norwich, CT - I had never heard of Juneteenth before moving to New London. The name "Juneteenth" made me giggle a little bit. This of course was before I found out that Juneteenth is the African American holiday celebrating the end of slavery. And a day of celebration it was.

New London, CT

Friday June 15, 2007

Groton, CT - Well after a week of truly craptastic assignments I managed to nab this shot at the Ella T. Grasso Southeastern Technical High School's graduation. Their parents will be so proud. And just think this is the best photo I have taken all week. This was also at the beginnig of my shift which tonight is a "desk" shift where I play photo editor on the copy desk until midnight. My cup runneth over...

Postcards from Burlington

May 27-31, 2007

Burlington, VT - Eat your heart our Ansel Adams! Moonrise over Camel's Hump, I know what a strange name for a mountain. Here are some shots from vaca. Some of my best, and some of the stranger things that I saw.

A sunset cruise on Tuesday night, the only night that we had a proper sunset. I now know that I missed my true calling. I am going to buy a sailboat and run tours for the rest of my days and die a happy man.

Hula-Hoop crossing???? How great would it have been if I could have caught someone crossing the road while hula-hooping.

Crow Bookshop, just a cool used book store with good colors.

Why does Burlington have Flying Monkeys on the roofs of the waterfront buildings...I have no idea, but this is my kind of city.

Nevermind Burlington, Em and I spent some time on the Moon! Actually this is Huntington Gorge. This crack in the rock was only about a foot long, the gorge stretches for over a quarter mile.

One more from the sunset cruise. Yes, I want to go back. Reality is just not as much fun sometimes.

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.

Favorite photos from the Equality Ride

Tuesday May 1, 2007 - Here are some of my favorite photos (well most of them anyhow, some may have gotten lost in the 3000 images that I took) from my time aboard the Soulforce Equality Ride bus last week. I find myself wanting to go back. It was great to have a such an engaging assignment and to be surrounded by such passionate and spiritual people.

This is a photo of Bronwen Tomb of New London. Bronwen had been writing a live blog for The Day's website and is the reason that we went on the trip. I just love the look on her face in this shot, and so did all of my editors.

Rider Joey Heath got a little emotional as we left the hotel on the final day in Minneapolis. It was difficult for me to shove my camera in the face of someone crying...but it had to be done.

This is a portrait of rider Robin Reynolds. She was just awsome to get to know. I have met few people in my life that are as spiritual and as filled with the holy spirit as she is.

Here is Robin doing what she does best, explaining how God has worked in her life to those who may or may not understand. At Calvin College many of the riders took part in a campus knitting group. When our writer asked Robin if she knitted her reply was "KNIT...I don't knit...I politic!"

These are the religious tattoos of transgender rider Angel Collie.

This student (left) lost her job at a day care center for interacting with the riders in this positive manner. Just think you can still lose your job for shaking hands with a gay person.

This is just a fun parting shot of Bronwen and rider Greg Johnson. This was our final day at Mankato State University. It sums up the joy found at the end of the road.


Here are the links to The Day's online slideshows and the article about the trip:

Standing up for Equality

Portraits of the Equality Riders

Story: Evangelizing for Equality

Vigils, Arrests, and not a lot of sleep...

Tuesday April 24th, Grand Rapids, MI, - All is going well. The riders for the most part have been well received. The only arrests occurred during an act of civil disobedience. I am a little unsure how I feel about this. On one hand I do not like conflict, on the other I do not like the circumstances that create it. Well, I am here to observe and not pass judgement, so there we are. Cornerstone University has been the only place that was un-thrilled to have the Equality Ride stop by, so naturally that is where the riders have spent the most time. The place we have spent the least amount of time...sleeping.

Boots on the ground

Sunday 4/22/07 - Grand Rapids, MI

Well I made it. Here I am with the reporter Karen Crompton on our way to Chilis for lunch after arriving at our hotel. We have met up with the Equality Riders who are taking a quiet day after some long hours on the road. We have a church service and vigil tonight so it looks like after getting up at 4:30 a.m. this morning, I may be up until then tomarrow. After a long morning in the air, taking a quiet hour to myself just seems like a good idea. For anyone looking for more info on the 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride click HERE

Gone Fishin'

4/21/07 - Saturday - I can hear Louis Armstong and Bing Crosby crooning away in the backgound as I post this one. Today was opening day for trout season, and unlike years past, the weather was perfect. Just like the song. It is one of the fun moments on the job. Just go out and take pictures of people fishing...and I get paid for this. Well it is off to Grand Rapids tomarrow, but for today...

"I'd say no more work for mine, On my door I'd hang a sign, Gone fishin' instead of just a-wishin'"