The York Fair has come and gone, but I’ve only now had a chance to post this photo.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. A view of the York Fair attractions, taken on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, at the Toyota Grandstand.
Archive for September, 2011
‘Til next year
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 28, 2011| 2 Comments »
Family fun with the York Revolution
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 22, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Shot the York Revolution-themed “Date Night” centerfold feature for FlipSide a few weeks ago. I figure since the Revolution are now in the post-season, it’s time I finally blogged a few photos from that feature.
(I wasn’t officially aware of it until this assignment, but FlipSide’s “Date Night” feature usually entails a family-friendly setting — not necessarily a date night for a couple!)
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Frances Heindel, 5 of Red Lion, gets York Revolution mascot DownTown's attention before the Revolution's game against the Road Warriors on Friday, Aug. 19, 2011, in Sovereign Bank Stadium.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Amber Losing of Dover Township watches as her son Blake, 6, and Brinly, 9, cheer after the Road Warriors' offensive turn ended in the top of the third inning on Friday, Aug. 19, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Sienna Rivera, 8 of Springettsbury Township, and Metta Pfaff, 10 of Springettsbury Township, watch as the York Revolution's unofficial mascot, Boomer, snatches the hat off his trainer, Jeff Hoke, on Friday, Aug. 19, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.
The 2011 Freedom Division Playoffs: Corey Thurman
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 22, 2011| 1 Comment »
Last night was the first game of the 2011 Atlantic League Freedom Division playoffs. The York Revolution will be playing best-of-5 against the Lancaster Barnstormers.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution leftfielder Val Majewski, far left, ambles in the dugout as he and other members of the York Revolution team wait for the start of their first playoff game agains the Lancaster Barnstormers on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.
Here’re two shots I have of starting pitcher Corey Thurman in two very different circumstances.
Sweat in the third inning:
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Sweat beading on his brow, York Revolution pitcher Corey Thurman, center, high-fives outfielder Chris Walker as he returns to the dugout after pitching in the third inning against the Lancaster Barnstormers in the first playoff game on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.
Rain (and maybe some sweat) in the sixth inning:
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution pitcher Corey Thurman exits the field after being relieved during the sixth inning in the first playoff game against the Lancaster Barnstormers on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.
The Revolution won last night’s game 3-2. I’m shooting tonight’s game, as well, and hoping for no rain.
Greyson Chance
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 17, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Shot a Greyson Chance concert at the York Fair earlier tonight.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Rising teen pop star Greyson Chance performs a free concert at the Toyota Grandstand stage on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, at the York Fair.
He’s 14 and actually talented, and I’d like to think the fame hasn’t gone to his head yet… despite the hordes of tween and teen girls who rushed to get front-row seats.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Hundreds of teenaged girls scream as rising teen pop star Greyson Chance arrives onstage at the Toyota Grandstand, where he gave a free concert at the Toyota Grandstand stage on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, at the York Fair.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Rising teen pop star Greyson Chance performs a free concert at the Toyota Grandstand stage on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, at the York Fair. Chance's set included covers of Jay-Z, Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga.
When lightning strikes
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 17, 2011| 4 Comments »
Lightning struck a duplex in a 55+ community a few nights ago. Nobody was hurt, the electricity was out and a couple’s kitchen was destroyed — but thankfully, their spirits, kindness and sense of humor were still intact*.
* Read the caption.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. (Left to right) Mary Elliott of Windsor Township helps her mother Catherine Kowalczyk, 78, salvage the remnants of her freezer on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, the day after lightning struck Catherine and her husband Henry's home on the 300th block of Winners Circle, caused an electrical fire in the kitchen and displaced the couple from their home. The Kowalczyks, who will soon celebrate Henry's 80th birthday and their 56th anniversary, are currently displaced because of the damage in their kitchen. "See what happens when she cooks," Henry Kowalczyk joked, referring to his wife.
Liquid Hero
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 17, 2011| 1 Comment »
Everybody gets excited when a new brewery opens up in town.
I get excited when, on my way to a biz portrait assignment about the brewery, I see really nice light on a really cool building… which happens to be where the brewery is.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. (Left to right) Matt DePrato and Joshua Hoke pose for a portrait outside of Liquid Hero Brewery on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, in York. DePrato, Hoke and friend Christian Quinlivan have founded Liquid Hero Brewery, which they plan to open to the public in October, with two brews on tap and several more thereafter. The brewery, located on East North Street across from Sovereign Bank Stadium, will sell growlers to-go and kegs to local businesses, as well as souvenir mugs, pints and T-shirts. DePrato and Hoke say White Rose Bar & Grill will probably debut the brewery's first pour, its American Ale.
Pop champagne: Revs clinch a spot in the 2011 playoffs
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 16, 2011| 4 Comments »
After shutting out the Bridgeport Bluefish in a doubleheader last night, the York Revolution won the second-half Atlantic League Freedom Division title and clinched one of four spots in the league playoffs.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution third baseman Vince Harrison pours a can of Bud Light over team manager Andy Etchebarren's head in the team locker room after the Revolution clinched a spot in the playoffs and shut out the Bridgeport Bluefish in a doubleheader on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.
The games themselves were remarkable as well, despite the low crowd turnout. Scott Grimes became the first Revolution player to hit for the cycle.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution outfielder Scott Grimes returns to the dugout after hitting a homerun in the sixth inning against the Bridgeport Bluefish and becoming the first Revolution player to hit for a cycle, on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.
To get to the playoffs, the Lancaster Barnstormers had to lose their game last night (which they did) and the Revolution had to win at least one of their two games (they won both). Here’s a moment I captured after the Revs won the first game and before the Lancaster game wrapped up:
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. (Left to right) York Revolution outfielder Chris Walker and pitcher Corey Thurman hug and exchange words after the Revolution defeated the Bridgeport Bluefish 8-2 in the first game of a doubleheader in their drive to clinch a playoff spot on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.
And here’s a moment after the Revs won the doubleheader:
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution team manager Andy Etchebarren addresses the team before cracking open dozens of bottles of Champagne and cans of Bud Light in the team locker room after the Revolution clinched a spot in the playoffs and shut out the Bridgeport Bluefish in a doubleheader on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution pitcher Kris Regas, outfielder Jose Herrera, catcher Salvador Paniagua and pitcher Lorenzo Barcelo celebrate with Champagne and beer in the team locker room.
All in all, a good night, despite the 12.5-hour shift and getting champagne in my eyes. (It stings.)
NYC (X): Chinatown at f/1.4
Posted in New York (City), Photography, Travel on September 15, 2011| Leave a Comment »
This is the last of the New York City blog posts (from my three-day trip in July), and boy, it was a long time coming.
I’d shot Times Square at f/1.4, then switched back to a more functional aperture, then switched back to f/1.4 for a few more shots in Chinatown. Here they are.
© 2011.
© 2011.
The cutest damn thing you will ever see
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 14, 2011| Leave a Comment »
I was sick all day yesterday, so naturally today for my first assignment at the York Fair, my editor sent me to the live-birthing station.
Everybody say, “SQUEEEE!” for piglets!
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Five piglets nestle together on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011, after nursing with their mother, who gave birth to her seventh litter on Sunday in the Animal Birthing Center inside the Toyota Arena at the York Fair. A cow, two pigs, two sheep and four guinea pigs are on display, along with their newborn offspring, at the Animal Birthing Center. All the animals are on display courtesy of their respective farms, with one pregnant pig remaining to give birth.
That’ll do, pig.
Moving on, here are some humans:
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Cousins Alaina Harlacher, 4 of Dover Township, and Bryson Harlacher, 3 of Wellsville, watch a projected video of a cow giving birth at the Animal Birthing Center in the Toyota Arena on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011, at the York Fair. Alaina's mother Jennifer, who is five months pregnant, said she anticipates her daughter to ask a few more questions about pregnancy and birth. The video, showing Thomasville dairy farmer Leroy Walker's cow giving birth on Sunday, was playing on a continous loop.
Some thoughts
Posted in Introspection, Journalism on September 11, 2011| 3 Comments »
Ten years ago, my world suddenly became bigger.
I was in the eighth grade at a prep school that maxed out at middle school. Finding and getting into the right high school, and keeping up my grades so I wouldn’t get kicked out of the National Junior Honor Society, were my priorities as of Sept. 10, 2001.
The next day, Sept. 11, was yearbook picture day. As eighth grade students — the graduating class, the oldest students in the school — we could wear casual formalwear for our yearbook photos, in lieu of the everyday uniforms. So that morning, I chose a purple dress that I’d worn a few months ago for a friend’s Bar Mitzvah.
The lights were off in our first-period science class as we worked on some activity about genetics. Suddenly, my homeroom teacher walked into the room and, without a word to our science teacher, turned on the TV. The first tower was on fire. News commentators weren’t sure whether a plane really had flown right into the building. We didn’t know what was happening, but we knew it was important.
Then we had our photos taken. We returned to our second-period English class just in time to watch the second plane hit.
In the days and weeks to come, my world expanded. By Sept. 10, 2001, I’d already known for three years that I wanted to be a journalist, but I’d never known much more than that. After Sept. 11, I began watching more news broadcasts, reading more news magazines, poring over the sections of the newspaper that weren’t the comics, consuming online news. The world became a bigger place, much more complex than I’d previously imagined. I started questioning whether I really wanted to be a journalist, whether I had the fortitude to produce stories in any situation, whether I could even comprehend the world enough to be able to do the job.
Looking back, it seems silly that a 13-year-old girl would be so sheltered and scared and uncertain, especially since her life was never in immediate danger of harm or upheaval. But that’s what happened after Sept. 11.
I taped an American flag on my bedroom window.
Our yearbook photos had to be retaken. We never saw the proofs from that original session. I was mid-blink in my photo from the second session.
One Sunday that October, I was reading a book in bed when my mother came in to tell me we invaded Afghanistan.
I asked one of my best friends at school if she was of Iranian or Iraqi descent. (As if it mattered.)
My rabbi’s sermons gradually became more political. I started questioning what he was saying, then began tuning him out, then stopped going to that synagogue three years later.
Today, the world continues to grow, from my perspective, yet shrink. Everything became confusing, messy, incomprehensible, on Sept. 11, 2001. Now, 10 years after I suddenly doubted myself and everything that was happening around me, I’ve made it. I’m a journalist. I’ve gradually grown to understand and to put pieces together, but the world will never make complete sense to me.
But that’s okay. I think, in this post-9/11 age, that’s the norm. For decades, a common question was, “Where were you when JFK died?” Now, it’s “Where were you when 9/11 happened?”
I was wearing a purple dress, in my eighth grade science class, and completely oblivious to the world outside.
College football: Alabama defeats Penn State 27-11
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News on September 11, 2011| 6 Comments »
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State students Corey Lee, Tracey Edouard, and David Bennett cheer as two planes perform a flyover at Beaver Stadium before kickoff against Alabama, as a tribute to 9/11, on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011.
Shot Penn State football yesterday.
Against Alabama.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Alabama's C.J. Mosley (No. 32) tries to recover a loose ball after Alabama's Mark Barron, far left, blocked Penn State's Derek Moye for an incomplete pass during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011.
It’s been a while since I seriously shot a college football game, and Penn State presented a few challenges. One challenge was the crowded sidelines, although fortunately the field officials were aggressive about keeping the privileged spectators behind the photographers and standing up for those of us who were working the game.
Another challenge was… it’s been a while since I seriously shot a college football game.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State's Devon Smith blocks Alabama's Wilson Love as Penn State's Justin Brown, No. 19, rushes the ball in the fourth quarter at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011.
I know I can shoot better than this, and I will. But I think I’m already doing better than I was doing mid-season in 2009 — so that’s good at least, right?
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State's Khairi Fortt, No. 11, and Eric Latimore, No. 56, take down Alabama's Eddie Lacy during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011.
High school football: William Penn defeats McCaskey 41-33
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 10, 2011| 1 Comment »
Most Friday nights this season, I’ll be shooting video on the sidelines of two different games for two different highlights reels. Last night, though, I was shooting stills.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News and GameTimePA. William Penn cheerleader Zhane McMillion, center, jumps as she, fellow cheerleaders and the football team greet their fans after William Penn overcame a 27-14 halftime deficit and defeated McCaskey 41-33 on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, at McCaskey in Lancaster.
The game had its share of odd moments, some of which I’m posting here. The more functional photos can be found along with the wrap-up article.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News and GameTimePA. McCaskey's Dante Heard, far left, chases a loose ball from an incomplete pass during the second quarter against William Penn on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011. William Penn overcame a 27-14 deficit at halftime and defeated McCaskey 41-33
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News and GameTimePA. William Penn's Jared Posey holds onto the ball as a McCaskey defender unsuccessfully tries to bring him down during the third quarter on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. McCaskey's Avery Wilson leaps over William Penn's Jared Posey after Posey was taken down by McCaskey's Aaron Swinton during the third quarter on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011.
High school tennis: Dallastown at Northeastern
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 9, 2011| 4 Comments »
Trying to catch up with my blogging. Shot high school girls tennis last week. I’ve always laughed at people who managed to bring down their shutter speed enough to get motion blur in sunlight… but now I’ve done it. And I’m kinda okay with it, because I like the photo.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Dallastown's Tori Davis returns the ball against Northeastern's Cara Glatfelter on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, at Northeastern High School. Davis defeated Glatfelter 7-6 (7-1), 6-2.
Floodwaters
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 8, 2011| 3 Comments »
I haven’t blogged in a week (I think?). It’s been kinda busy around these here parts. Today was the first day in I-don’t-know-how-many that rain hasn’t fallen steadily, but that didn’t mean we were any less busy.
Yesterday was my day off, but my editor called me in. Before going to the office to pick up a videocamera, I stopped by York College.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York College students and faculty are stranded due to the flooding of Tyler Run Creek and the closure of the foot bridges on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011. Constant rain has caused the creek to overflow on campus, resulting in about 18 inches of water in the commuter lot located off of South Pershing Avenue near the South Newberry Street campus entrance on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011. A campus safety official, who declined to be named, said the department tried contacting students whose cars were parked on the lower part of the lot before the creek flooded the lot.
Armed with a videocamera, I then made my way to Seven Valleys and Glen Rock — not an easy task, due to road closures — to record footage for two videos that I produced that night.
Then, today, my editor told me, “Yesterday, it was about the water. Today, it’s about the faces.”
So a reporter and I went to two boroughs along the Susquehanna River, which is expected to crest overnight on Friday and which is prompting people who live along the river to evacuate.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Janella Englehart, who lives with her father Martin, 74, in the Wrightsville home where she and her seven siblings grew up, brings a few more items from her kitchen and living room to the front door ofof her house on Wilton Circle in anticipation of rising waters from the nearby Susquehanna River on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. (Left to right, in the motor boat) Rich McDave of New Cumberland, Chad Bowman of New Cumberland, Deb Bowman of Lewisberry and Rebecca Cummins of Harrisburg ride out in a motorboat after helping Rob Jackson - who lives in Mechanicsburg and is rowing the boat in the background - remove valuables from his deceased parents' home in Goldsboro on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, as floodwaters from the Susquehanna River rose to the second story of the house.
One man’s summer house along the river was swamped, but he and his friends stripped the carpeting and relocated the more valuable items in the house. Then he decided to have fun while he still could.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. DeWayne Boyer of Ashton, Md., laughs in response to one of his friends' remarks as he walks around in chest-high water on what used to be the patio of his summer house in Goldsboro on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. With the help of family and friends, Boyer stripped the carpets and relocated valuable items in his family's summer house in the 70th block of Water Street in Goldsboro on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, as the Susquehanna River's floodwaters flooded the house's basement.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. (Left to right) DeWayne Boyer of Ashton, Md., playfully threatens to pull his brother-in-law Brett Cook of Laurel, Md., into the water with him before diving into the overflowing Susquehanna River, which flooded the basement of Boyer's summer home in Goldsboro, on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. Boyer decided to take one last dive into the river before treating his friends and family who helped him move items out to dinner.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. DeWayne Boyer picks up a floating goose egg as he walks in chest-high water on what used to be his patio near the deck stairs of his summer house in Goldsboro on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011.
Football season: Ready, set, march!
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 1, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Here’s one more pre-season-y assignment I had yesterday, complete with a video:
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Catholic sophomore Emily Dugan and fellow marching band members dance part of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" during practice behind the school on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011. Members of the York Catholic Marching Band are gearing for their field performances in the upcoming football season. The band will perform at the season opener against Kennard-Dale High School on Friday, Sept. 2, 2011. The band consists of 36 members, including the color guard, and will have four songs on the roster throughout the season.
Are you ready for football season?
Football season: Ready, set, go!
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on September 1, 2011| 2 Comments »
Tomorrow night, high schools all over York County will be kicking off their first games of the 2011 football season.
Today, the paper’s football preview tab was distributed. Splashed on the cover is a sportrait — my first.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News and GameTimePA.com.
When I first showed this particular take to my editors, Brad’s response was something along the lines of, “He shouldn’t be throwing footballs in the school lobby. That’s dangerous.”
All facetiousness aside, taking the sportraits indoors was my only workable option at the time. Red Lion’s stadium was closed and a mess because they were getting their turf replaced. The sun was still shining too brightly at 4:30 p.m. for me to use any lights, and the team’s practice field was spotted with large patches of dirt and teemed with the defensive players as they practiced that day.
So we took the sportraits indoors. The photo used for the cover was a three-strobe setup, not including my on-camera 580EXII, which I used to fire off three slaved Nikon flashes. Two strobes were bounced off umbrellas onto Klinefelter, with the third on a tripod on the stair landing above him.
Here’s another option I shot:
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News and GameTimePA.com.
The locker room shoot was a challenge. I had to turn off the overhead lights so they wouldn’t interfere with the lighting. But because I was using strobes-only, I didn’t have a modeling light — which meant we were working in complete darkness. I told Klinefelter that, when the red focus-assist beam on my on-camera flash lit up, he should look directly below that light. As for myself, I had to guess at where he was in the dark and rely absolutely on that focus-assist beam and my camera’s center-point focus to get Klinefelter’s face in focus.
Fortunately, Klinefelter was patient and accommodating as I adjusted the strobes and stumbled around in the dark. The final photo is a tad underexposed — but I’d rather have it a little darker than have the metal locker doors and fixtures blown out. It was a two-strobe setup, with one strobe right behind me and another to Klinefelter’s left. Looking back now, I wish I’d tried putting the third strobe behind Klinefelter as an accent light.
Next season, right?
Words and Light 