Backlog: Everything.

I am so far behind on all the awesome things I want to blog. But priorities are with finishing my Master’s project report (and thus my degree), my internship at NPR, and trying to secure as many things as possible with the wedding. Okay, that last one is a little frivalous. But only a little.

In the meantime, enjoy a few photos from my Project 365. The theme is obvious.

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The Washington Revels: Maritime Voices

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Just a preview from my last-minute shoot with The Washington Revels on Saturday. Stage photography has always been a favorite niche of mine, somehow a cross between sports and studio work. The lighting was not ideal – direct down lights – and the men were all wearing hats, but I think I managed to get some really nice frames.

This one made me laugh out loud, so I deemed it “Picture of the Day.”

Happy Anniversary.

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Thirty-three years ago, my parents got married. I wonder if the future they imagined on that day looked anything like it is now. They’re so happy, so perfectly strange and silly, so full of love.

I’ve got the best role models.

Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad.

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Crosspost: Pachyderms On Parade

Originally posted on the Intern Edition blog for NPR.

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Every year, right around the end of March, rumblings of the elephant walk start to surface.

Yes, that’s right. The Elephant Walk.

In advance of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus opening at the Verizon Center this week, the streets of DC turn into a pre-circus parade of elephants, clowns and other entertaining animals. It’s really a clever way to generate interest in the event while masking it’s true intent – moving the massive pachyderms from the circus train’s station in Southeast, up past the Capitol for a photo op, and on to the final venue in Chinatown.

Since I’ve lived in the city, I’ve tried to get to the elephant walk to see the spectacle. And every year, I’ve missed it. This year was a close call – those elephants walk fast! I followed @DCElephantWalk on Twitter to keep updated with their location, and still I barely made it to the Verizon center to see the parade. Thankfully, the clowns were out and about afterward to meet with the crowd.

Some love the elephant walk. Others decry it as animal cruelty. I opt to put aside my adult brain and indulge my inner 10-year old.

I love elephants. And I love a good photo op.

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Man overboard.

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Seen at 9:00am (ish) on my way to work. I think it was outside of Hooters.

Not a sprinkle was out of place, not a smudge in the frosting.

I do not know its fate. I hope that someone hungry found it, cleaned it off, and didn’t go hungry for an entire day. I know it sounds gross to us, but it was fresh, and there are quite a few homeless people who hang around the Gallery Place area for whom this may have been like finding pure gold. I wish I could do more (or anything, really) to help them.

I wish I could do more to help so many.

But all I can do is take pictures.

My first 3rd place.

The NPPA Student Quarterly Clip Contest results were announced today.

“Of House and Home” won 3rd place in Multimedia.

Amazing. Really, really amazing.

And thank you to the judges, too. It’s nice to read / hear some of the reasoning why a particular photo or story won in a category. I’m pleased to see that my love for this story and connection with my awesome subject was visible to them, too. Here’s the [edited] comment about my story.

Judges’ comments for the category

We were very impressed with several of the entries, although two stood out above the others. After the first two places were decided, we had a difficult choice for third place. […] Third place was a tougher call, but it won based on the depth of connection to the subject and the intimacy achieved in both the visuals and the audio. This is a tough story to cover, and the photographer found an excellent subject and stayed with her.

Peter Southwick, Associate Professor of Journalism and director of the photojournalism program, Boston University
Joe Lippincott, adjunct professor of journalism, Boston University
Dominick Reuter, freelance photographer and director of technology for photojournalism, Boston University

Thank you.