18 Nov 2011
blogging, mi amigos, travels Permalink

York, PA was once the capital of the United States.

November 18, 2011

It also was once my home – for college.

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Scott and I went up to my old college town to visit our grad school friend Chris Dunn in her new work town. So of course, I had to show them around campus.

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We found this squirrel inside the trashcan. He scared the pants off us at first. Scott put a stick into the lid to keep it open and our little friend eventually made his way out.

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Then we went to see my sorority house, wherein we scared the pants off some of the sisters. When I lived there, every so often we would get some random old-looking alumni poking around the yard and coming to the door to show off the house. We thought it was creepy, yet endearing. I totally earned the “creepy alumni” pearl today.

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We ended up back at Chris’s place and sat around discussing the merits and usage of ‘backs of people’ photographs and other news-y things. This was our ‘campfire.’ Chris is in the middle of a move. I’m just happy to spend time with a friend.

We capped off our evening with glow bowling, but I opted to fully enjoy it* instead of taking photographs.

Funny, in hindsight I wish I hadn’t.

* I have this strange theory that I don’t necessarily ‘fully enjoy’ experiences when I’m behind my camera. Not that I don’t enjoy being behind it – it just changes the way I see the events unfolding. I look for moments before they happen when I’m photographing, hitting that shutter just at the right time to capture something so fleeting. But when I’m just me, no camera in hand, I let time take its own course and I watch moments that could be photographs pass me by. Perhaps the fact that I still recognize those moments is why I feel like I wish I had taken some pictures that night. I see them in my memory, but not on my card. Alas, the perils of attempting to ‘just be normal’ for a moment.

01 Nov 2011
news, photography Permalink

Protesting for their families’ and countrymen’s lives

November 1, 2011

Protests are nothing new in Washington, DC. Neither are protests at the White House, held in the blocked off section of Pennsylvania Avenue. But this was the first one I’ve seen grow from maybe 50 people to hundreds in a matter of minutes, and the first one where I wished that the President really could hear them (he was out of town) and DO something about it.

Their grievance? The Coptic Christians in Egypt are reportedly being killed by the Egyptian Police and Military in a semi-covert effort to create a Muslim state. Whether this report is true or not, people are dying, and those who gathered on October 19th to shout are hurting.

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31 Oct 2011
blogging, internship, photography, writing Permalink

Backlog: Beauty in darkness

October 31, 2011

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Leaving work at 2 or 3am was never that bad in Seattle. To walk outside and see this skyline made every hour worth it. (And of course, the finished products of my efforts.)

I miss Seattle immensely. My job was quite possibly one of the coolest I’ve ever had, and I got to work with brilliant, wonderful people. Being home in DC – freelancing and job searching – has given me some great time to reflect on the experience. Every minute away from home was worth every minute exploring my temporary city. A city that hasn’t quite left my blood.

There are new opportunities on the horizon here, and I am excited to see where they lead. Every step forward is possible because of Seattle. Yes, also because of many, many other things… but Seattle was that last solidifying brick in my foundation.

19 Oct 2011
blogging, photography, travels Permalink

Backlog: Wedding-style

October 19, 2011

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Obviously, this is not me. Just something odd I saw on the beach in Seattle.

I feel like this statement is a recurring theme, but I have so much to blog! I’ve been pre-occupied with moving home, planning a wedding, getting married, finding freelance work and applying for jobs. Y’know, the little things in life.

But starting today, and every day (hopefully) for the next week or two, I’m going to catch up. So many stories, so many photographs to share. I can’t wait.

12 Sep 2011
blogging, projects Permalink

new look, new era.

September 12, 2011

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The Patriot Flag got tangled while flying near the Pentagon Memorial on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks in NY, DC and PA.

This is a test. Well, kinda. I’m in the process of re-vamping my site, my portfolio and, well… my career. I’m debuting my new look here. It’s still not quite right on my main portfolio site (specifically the still images gallery) but it will officially up and running soon.

Until then, poke around here and there and let me know if you come across anything that’s broken.

And I promise, there’s a TON of backlog coming. So many good things to share, so little time.

23 Aug 2011
blogging, grad school, internship, photography, travels Permalink

Vacation delay.

August 23, 2011

day213 :: year five

My internship ended on August 12th. Scott arrived that same day. We proceeded to go on vacation to the Olympic Peninsula. And now we’re home.

There are so many things I need [want] to post from my last few weeks in Seattle. Now that I’m home, I’ll start posting these projects and adventures here. I needed some time to process the entire West Coast experience. It was brilliantly amazing, and I am so thankful to all who helped me learn so much in such a short amount of time.

Seattle, you will always hold a special place in my heart – where it’s 75º and sunny every day.

27 Jul 2011
blogging, internship, multimedia, photography, sports, video Permalink

Another first: NBA (for charity)

July 27, 2011

Just a few days after my last sports video adventure, I got to cover an NBA-sanctioned charity basketball game at the Key Arena. Normally, this wouldn’t be a bigger deal than players showing up to support a great cause – which is always a good thing – but this is Seattle. And in 2008, the Seattle Supersonics were whisked away (well, as the fans say) to some far off land called Oklahoma. So basketball fans in this city are still a little hurt, and miss their team a lot.

Here, they tell their story.

(Look for cameos from former University of Washington player Isaiah Thomas and Isaiah Stanback of the Seahawks.)

And this is what it looked like from the court line on a 35mm lens. It’s the only place to watch basketball, in my opinion.

day188 :: year five