Still got the (photoshop) skills

More wedding photos. I'm almost done.



I took a break from my normal editing to post this photo of Brenna and Stephanie. Carly wanted the photo with Stephanie's sasha colored red, so I triewd to see if I remembered how to do it. Turns out I haven't forgot everything I know.

In fact, the photo turned out pretty good. I like it a lot better this way. I'm excited to be done with the first editing round, but now I have to go back and decide what photos I need to re-edit for print.

Which then turns into buying frames. Which means more money...sigh! Oh well. As soon as I finish I'll post a link of all the photos.

Wedding photos part deux

After months, I'm back to editing wedding photos.



I started editing wedding photos again. I just wish I hadn't stopped because I can't remember my workflow now. To be honest, it's quite the cluster*$@&.

I'm going to wait to get things organized before I add too many more. That way I don't use up my space on flickr.

Hopefully I'll have some time this weekend to get some photos since Stephanie will be gone for a good portion of it.

From the Vault 1

My first Tuscola Review photo.



Here's my first installment of "From the Vault." I can't guarantee how often I'll put up photos from it, but I'll try to keep going until I run out of them.

The reason I chose this photo over so many others, besides the fact it was my first in Tuscola, is because I actually like the photo.

I've been told it should have been cropped tighter, but I think if you cropped it tighter you lose the story. That being, that Mrs. Cottle is teaching a parenting class to high school students.

My argument says, tighter loses the teenager on the right. You would also lose the banannas which I think add to the foreground. The pots and pans add to the idea that you're in a home economics classroom. Some might say it's messy, but you're working in a classroom with very few clean backgrounds, so I decided to use it to my advantage.

Plus, the look on Mrs. Cottle's face and the look on the girl's face portrayed her personality perfectly. She really had a way with children.

Certainly not a profile picture, but one I like nonetheless.

Your thoughts?

You're face is gonna stick that way

Little kids are the best.



Minus the fact that you get an onslaught of requests to 'put me in the paper' from little kids, they rock. Mainly because they will do anything to get in the paper. Plus, after a few minutes, they completely forget you're there.

It's kind of funny how little kids really look up to grown ups. It's even more funny I'm calling myself a grown up.

I've apparently got a little bit of a cult following in town. I imagine when the town only has 4,500 and you're one of the few people who shows up at everything, it's bound to happen.

I've just noticed a lot of kids who I don't know saying hello to me by name. Must mean I'm doing something right.

I'm going through my archives tonight, so hopefully I'll be able to post a few photos 'From the Vault.'

Dry as a bone

Stephen came prepared.


Stephen got a new nickname after Friday. Pancho Gurerro. His long pancho looked funny to me. Unfortunately, you can't see the length from the photo. Trust me, it looked funny.

And I uploaded the photos as I said I would.

State Finals

Mike Adams (top) sits with an umbrella during the rain delay while fans and players wait during the first game of IHSA state baseball finals Friday in Joliet. The rain delay lasted three hours and three minutes Friday. Tuscola lost 10-2. They will play for third and fourth place Saturday morning.
Well, it's been a real-long time. But I have been busy, and it's not like anyone was knocking my door down wondering where my posts were.

I covered baseball this weekend. I've got a lot of photos to share. I'll be posting even more later today on my flickr account.

Oh, and if you didn't know already, you can check out the Tuscola Review's blog site we set up a little while ago.

I'm going to start going through a bunch of old files, so don't be surprised to see some old archived photos starting to pop up here. Maybe I'll try to do like one a week or something. No promises though.

2008 IPPA Conference

Judges pine over who will be crowned the 2008 Miss Tuscola.

I got to go to the IPPA conference this past weekend. There were so many ideas rolling around my head after seeing Rod Mar speak Saturday morning.

I had gone out with a group of Illinois photographer's Friday night and didn't get home until 4 a.m. I was seriously considering not even going to the conference because I had only a few hours of sleep, but luckily Max and Stephen were there to make me go. It helps that my car was still in Champaign from the night before.

I'm so glad I went though. I haven't seen a speaker that's motivated me so much. I've really needed it. I became so complacent over the past few weeks I put some photos I'm not proud of in the paper. I think that needs to be the goal for the most part. To always be proud of what I've done.

So many of the things Rod said hit close to home and I'm glad to have found his blog. I wish I could remember some of the specific things he said, but unfortunately I don't. The basis for everything though, was to always be thinking about smart photos. He laid a lot of his success on his ability to think while he's shooting instead of just shooting wildly.

I got this photo during last night's Miss Tuscola pageant. I really like it. I think it tells part of the story most people never really think about. And the lighting is dramatic, so that helps. I'm not sure if I would have shot this photo if I hadn't gone to the conference.

The other thing I've done to try and keep myself motivated is to put little notes on my camera and lenses to myself. They're more like motivators than notes I guess. The one I have on the back of my camera says "Is this your best?" I think it's something I need to continually remind myself of.

I'll probably change it up a bit later, but I'll stick to that one until I'm always doing my best.

Happy Easter

I wish I had a web cam on my computer.



I've had to use Dana's computer while at Steph's because my battery is dead on mine. I forgot the charger too. I really need a new battery because mine suddenly dies on me all the time now. The thing that really sucks now is that it's going to cost me $120 for a new one. I can't wait until we get a new laptop too. Mostly because it will come with a built in web cam and a copy of photo booth. The effects are well worth it. I spent a good 20 minutes taking photos with it.

It's amazing how different you can make yourself look. I had to keep myself from laughing in most of the photos. Good stuff all around. Can't think of a better way to waste spend my Easter.

Self Portraits

When the wife is away...



I'm bored. I miss my wife. Yeah, I know it sounds lame, but it's true. I wanted to shoot photos all day, but didn't have any good ideas. So I decided on a few self-portraits. I could have done a better job on these, but I was just playing around anyway. One thing I really noticed is how badly my camera needs cleaned. The sensor is rife with dust. Hopefully I can get it done at the IPPA conference in 2 weeks.

Oh, and don't tell Stephanie I miss her...she might start thinking I like her or something.

Wedding Crasher

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Grabiec.



It took me a few days...or almost a week, to post photos from Jay's wedding last weekend. I've been busy and lazy. The combination of the two isn't good for blogging. Anyway, I hope Jay and Jill like the photos as much as I did.

It's always great when you get to photograph a wedding and the bride and groom are fun people that want interesting shots. The boys definitely got creative, which helped me get creative. My three favorite photos are the one above, the "Reservoir Dogs" photo and this shot of Jill. I also really liked this one of Jay and his brother. Congratulations.

Finally!

Somebody in New York has finally seen the light like I have. The song "Danny Boy" has been banned for an entire month due to being overplayed and the fact it was written by an Englishman who never set foot on Irish soil. If I had a nickel for everytime the song was sung to me I'd probably take that bag of nickels and hit somebody with it. I even had a teacher who sent me a limrick using the the song because I wasn't showing up to class. I consequently dropped that class like a bomb.

Remembing my own mohawk

Coolest mohawk I've seen on an elementary student.


I shot this photo last week without knowing what I would use it for other than I think mohawks are cool. Turns out it was kind of useful. Gives me an illustration to complain about the story where a kindergartner was suspended from school for having one. In fairness, it was a private school. You send you're kid to a private school you open yourself up to this stuff. Read your policies carefully people.

How come my initials aren't there instead?

Just some random graffit.



CAP is hot....or CHP is hot...I'm not sure. This was just some random graffiti I found while doing our Street Sense section. Who marks up the Dollar General Store anyway. With gray marker on steel nonetheless. The photo was enhanced to bring the letters out if you couldn't tell.

Beer on the brain

I've started brewing my own beer with my Mr. Beer kit. Thanks Mom and Dad for the money for my birthday which allowed me to buy this kit. Probably not what they had in mind.




I have beer in my closet. No seriously, I do. And not that crappy Bud Light or Guinness crap. Okay, so it's not crap. And I did just drink a few Guinness so I can't complain. But I did start my own brew of beer tonight. Well, actually it's Mr. Beer's brew, but I put it together.

Stephen mentioned beer brewing a few weeks ago and I started thinking that sounded like a great idea. So on my day off I did the only possible thing I could think of. I impulsively ran to the Tanger Outlet Mall where I had seen a brew kit.

Turns out it can be quite simple. Right now I have 2 gallons of Pale Ale fermenting in my closet. (To keep direct sunlight away.) If I stick with this I'll update you on recipes I use and new techniques I'll try.

The key to a good beer is sanitization from what everyone says. I'm a little worried abut that because I didn't sanitize the boiling pot, but I figure hell, I'm boiling it, should be good enough. Plus the basic instructions weren't entirely explicit about that. The indepth instructions were though.

I'm proud of myself. I actually read the entire instruction before doing it though. I never do that. I typically read as I go. Just wish I would have read the book before going.

The fermentation process takes between 7-10 days and then there's the carbonation period. I need to get some bottles before bottling day though.

I'll keep you up-to-date on how things go though.

Lamest wife ever

I posted a photo of Steph for two reasons:

1. I haven't shot a photo of her in a long time.
2. She fell asleep on the couch at 8:45 p.m. tonight and I needed to make fun of her. Lame!!!

If I was really mean I would have shot photos of her sleeping, but I'm not that cruel. Not tonight at least. Wake up old lady.

Tis the Season

Basketball season isn't quite over yet.


Tuscola squeeked out a win in Friday's regional championship game in Chrisman. Quite the display too. Clayton Meyer pulled out a three point shot in a last-minute play to put Tuscola up by two. Now I get to go to Parkland College Wednesday night for the sectional tournament. Should be a good time.

I was really worried it was going to be on Tuesday because it's my birthday, but I don't have to worry. Tuscola will be playing Fisher one Wednesday.

New Stylee ( the extra 'e' is for added effect)

I think I embarrassed Joel when I shot this photo, but once he sees it in the paper I think he'll like it.


This marks two weeks in a row I've been ecstatic to see it come out. We're trying some newer things with the issues and I think they're turning out great. I just hope other people think so too.
I still can't say design is my favorite thing in the world, but I'm slowly learning from things that Jeremy and Rodney in the office do. Thanks for the help with all the projects guys.

Going home

Basketball's not all that bad I guess. Or maybe I'm just too tired to care



It's 10:30 p.m. I'm finally leaving the office. There's some things I love about the news and somethings I dislike. The hours, not so much. The thrill of a job well done and capturing a great moment - unbelievable.

Regardless, I'm tired and heading to bed.

Wishing I was outside

Football season was so long ago. I want it here again.



After another long hiatus I'm back. Nothing new to really report. I'm working a lot and going through some older photos. Maybe one of these days I'll finish my wedding photos. Regardless, here's an old shot of John Wienke from the first football game of the 2007 season. It seems like such a long time ago, but it really wasn't. Only a few months. How I wish I was outside covering football games instead of basketball in low-lit gyms. Stephen, Eric and I are planning to get together soon to put together our side business for weddings. Should be a good time.

If I come across a few photos tonight I'll post another one or two. I feel so neglectful when it comes to the blog.

Wind storm, ice and powerline, oh my!

Sitting in a snow storm waiting for the utility company to repair a powerline might make you see funny things like this.



Work has been pretty exhausting lately. Lots to do, lots to do. Didn't help the weather turned insane earlier today. It was near 60 when I went out in the middle of the day. The next thing I know I go to leave and it's near single digits with gushing winds.

A powerline was called down west of town and I headed out to get photos of either firefighter moving it or utility men repairing. it

Unfortunately I couldn't sit around long enough for the utility men, but I did get a photo of it catching the grass on fire. Kind of crazy to see a fire sparking the ground and catching about a 5 foot wide area ablaze.

I probably sat there for about 10 minutes until I got bored and started shooting random pictures. This one was my favorite.