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Flips and fire trucks

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on June 7, 2011| Leave a Comment »

After I cruised sat around in street rods for a few hours on Saturday, I headed over to Penn Park, where several William Penn High School students had organized a block party.

When I last shot a block party (in Atlanta), my favorite photo was of a small girl dancing on the tennis courts. My favorite photo from this block party? This kid doing back flips — without running or any jump starts or anything. He just… flipped.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Yonti Ritter, 10 of York City, practices a back flip on the basketball court during a block party on Saturday, June 4, 2011, at Penn Park. Students in William Penn High School's service learning class planned the block party to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity.

If only I had the confidence to attempt that and trust myself to land on my own two feet — which he did, every time.

(And check out those two kids on the right. What do you think they’re thinking?)

Awesome.

Also, apparently, being in a fire engine is something to call home about. Literally.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Makiasha Daniels, 10, talks to a friend's mom's friend on the phone as she sits in the passenger seat of one of York City's fire engines on Saturday, June 4, 2011, at Penn Park. Two York City firefighters brought the engine to the block party so children of all ages could explore it. "I'm in a fire truck, I'm in a fire truck," Daniels repeated on the phone.

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World War II veterans visit D.C. via Honor Bus

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, Washington, D.C., York on June 6, 2011| Leave a Comment »

For one of my last York Dispatch assignments, I accompanied World War II veterans, Northeastern High School juniors and dozens of volunteers to Washington, D.C. The students had organized the entire trip so that local World War II veterans could visit the U.S. National World War II Memorial and see the changing of the guard in Arlington Cemetery, free of charge.

I shot photos and, despite some mic/audio problems, put together a video. Yet, although I spent a full 10 hours with the group, my favorite picture from the day was taken just before the buses departed the school.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Volunteer Sandy Brenner (in maroon shirt) hugs Mary Blymire goodbye before Brenner and World War II veteran Junior Aughenbaugh, right, all of Mt. Wolf, board one of two buses destined for Washington, D.C., on Saturday, May 7, 2011, in the Northeastern High School parking lot. Brenner was one of about 40 volunteers and Aughenbaugh was one of 57 York-area World War II veterans to visit the U.S. National World War II Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery free of charge as part of an "Honor Bus" trip organized by 12 Northeastern High School juniors.

It was a long trip and a good day.

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Street rodding

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on June 5, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The York Expo Center was converted into one big used-car lot this weekend.

By “used cars,” of course, I mean street rods.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Ozzie Payne, of Pontaic, Mich., fills out his personal and vehicle information on the safety inspection form for his 1935 Chevrolet Master 51 Coup on Saturday, June 4, 2011, at the York Expo Center. The 38th annual Street Rod Nationals East Plus show, hosted by the National Street Rod Association, has taken over the entirety of the York Expo Center grounds June 3-5, 2011. About 3,500 cars were registered to display, and all were originally made before 1981.

I had two challenges going into this assignment (besides my not applying sunscreen). First, my editor asked me to turn in at least eight themed photos from the street rods that would be an easy visual in print and easily click-through-able in a slideshow on-line. I thought about focusing on grills or fenders, but quickly realized that these street rodders keep their cars way too polished (reflective).

So, I focused on dashboards. Even some of those were too reflective, but the cool part is, I can now say I’ve been behind the wheel of 11 cars whose individual values exceed at least three years of my annual salary.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. (Click on the image above to view more dashboards.) The dashboard of Dan Watson's 1938 Dodge Sedan. Watson is from Shiloh, Pa.

The second challenge was finding something to cover. As I wrote in my first graf, the show was basically one big used-car lot, with the street rodders hanging out in lawn chairs next to their cars as attendees strolled and looked around. Not a lot of action.

Fortunately, I found some action: Vehicle safety inspections.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. New York state safety inspector Bob Warner and Florida state safety inspector Rick Leary check over the 1932 Ford Coupe of Don and Linda Elliott, of Chalfont in Bucks County, Pa. About a dozen volunteer members of various states' National Street Rod Association Vehicle Safety Inspection crews performed 23-point inspections for the street rods. The service was free of charge at the show, and strictly voluntary for the drivers.

Bam. Done.

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Talent: Mr. NHS

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on May 28, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I figure I shouldn’t blog just all the backlog from my York Dispatch days — I should also start blogging assignments from my York Daily Record/Sunday News assignments and so avoid even more backlog. (Yes, I’ve discussed this with my editor, and I have full approval.)

So here’s an assignment I shot last night: Mr. Northeastern High School.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Wearing their swimwear for the second fashion component of the Mr. NHS competition, Forest Miller and Marquis Whitfield exit the dressing room for the Northeastern High School auditorium on Thursday, May 26, 2011.

When I first read the assignment, I wasn’t sure whether this was a serious pageant-like talent show. I was assured otherwise as soon as I arrived.

The story… and the extended caption:

The 10th annual Mr. NHS competition at Northeastern High School featured 10 senior boys who competed for the crown by campaigning during the previous week, performing in two choreographed group dances, displaying a personal talent and showcasing casual, swimwear and formal fashion. The competition, held on Thursday, May 26, 2011, in the school auditorium, raised money to benefit Leg Up Farm in Mt. Wolf.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Northeastern High School senior Sam Benton walks the stage wearing a bicyclist's outfit in the casual fashion component of the Mr. NHS competition on Thursday, May 26, 2011, at Northeastern High School.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Northeastern High School senior Marquis Whitfield performs a spoof version of "Part of Your World" from "The Little Mermaid" as the first personal talent performance in the Mr. NHS competition on Thursday, May 26, 2011, at Northeastern High School.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Northeastern High School senior Sam Benton catches up with teachers Dan Leiphart and Emily Knezic before taking the stage for his baton-twirling talent in the Mr. NHS competitiong on Thursday, May 26, 2011, at Northeastern High School. Benton was crowned Mr. NHS this year.

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Diptych: The tools we use (IV)

Posted in Diptych, Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York on May 26, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The last of the tools-themed diptych posts. You’ve seen one of these already.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. These furrowing gears on farmer Andrew Flinchbaugh's 12-row corn planter dig rows into the earth where corn seeds are dispersed via another gear on the machine, on Tuesday, May 3, 2011.

The extended caption:

Andrew Flinchbaugh, whose family runs Flinchbaugh’s Orchard & Farm Market in Hellam Township, is working “around the clock” to plant 800 acres of corn. April’s rains created poor planting conditions, as wet ground would compact too easily and prevent the seeds from taking root. Flinchbaugh said he has planted about 2 percent of the crop so far.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Farmer Andrew Flinchbaugh drives the tractor attached to the 12-row corn planter -- whose gears churn up rows of earth, disperse the corn seeds into those rows and cover them back up -- on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. Flinchbaugh said Tuesday was his first real day of corn planting, as April's rains meant poor planting conditions.

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Diptych: The tools we use (III)

Posted in Diptych, Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York on May 26, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I’m now/finally blogging all the backlog from the past few weeks, so I’m starting by resuming this series of tools-themed diptychs.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Full-time artist Marion Stephenson works on an oil painting of a dancer that may, depending on when it is completed and how quickly it will dry, be one of her contributions to The Degas Project.

The extended caption:

Stephenson was one of 30 York Art Association artists who came to the Greater York Center for Dance Education to photograph and sketch costumed dancers on Sunday, April 10, 2011. The artists had three weeks to create artwork based on their sketches, photographs and observations that will be on display in the dance studio 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, May 8.

Photographing (and taking video) of Stephenson working on her art was part of an extended assignment, the first installment of which you can also view on my blog.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch.

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Quick break from reality: Back to Poynter for #pcf11

Posted in 2010 Poynter College Fellowship, Journalism, Photography, Photojournalism, Travel on May 24, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I know it’s been just about 12 days since I last posted and since my first day at my new job, which means I’m even more behind on blogging. (Eep.) But I’m half-at peace with that because I had to wrap up some projects at my internship, I changed newsrooms with no days in-between, Jeff came to visit for a few days and I just spent four days in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Things should normalize now that I’ll begin my regular work schedule. In the meantime, I’m glad I could spend a few days at The Poynter Institute to help out this year’s crop of college fellows.

May 19. Walking back to the hotel with the fellows after dinner at Red Mesa Cantina.

It was wonderful to meet the fellows — some of whom are, surprisingly, older than I am! — and see Sara Quinn and Al Tompkins again. Two other fellows from last year, Abbey and Graham, joined me to talk to the fellows and coach them along on their projects. I’m really excited to see how the projects turn out.

Speaking of projects, I’m also pretty excited about having been a part of this:

May 21. Yep, that's me, getting in touch with my inner gymnast, with the help of fellow Cliff Davis and St. Petersburg Times deputy photo editor Bruce Moyer. The photographer for this conceptual shoot is John Pendygraft. Photo by Sarah Vasquez.

I don’t know how much I can say about this conceptual photo shoot, except: Details forthcoming. And a behind-the-scenes video, too.

Anyway, back to real life and my regular work schedule — and, hopefully, a more regular blogging schedule.

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The last day

Posted in Internships/Careers, Introspection, Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, The York Dispatch, York on May 12, 2011| 2 Comments »

Today’s my last day as a photo intern at The York Dispatch.

Not gonna lie - I'm going to miss the Dispatch newsroom's downtown location.

Tomorrow, on Friday the 13th, I start as a photojournalist at the newsroom across town — The York Daily Record/Sunday News.

As I wrote in my cover letter, I really think I’ve grown as a photographer since I’ve come to York, and I hope that growth continues. I’m excited to start growing some roots here in Pennsylvania and to learn and contribute at the Record. And I’m grateful to the editors and staff at the Dispatch for offering me the opportunity to come here in the first place and for enabling my growth.

I’m fairly behind in blogging some Dispatch assignments — the past week has been a flurry of assignments and projects — but even as I begin working at the Record, I’ll be sure to get caught up and take care of the backlog.

Funnily enough, it’s been a year almost to the day since I graduated from college and began a new chapter in my life. Today, that chapter closes; tomorrow, a new one opens. I’m feeling some trepidation, but more than anything, I’m excited and ready to take on this challenge and opportunity.

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Diptych: The tools we use (II)

Posted in Diptych, Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York on May 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Tooling Dynamics customer service representative Linda Myers, in pink, chats with Souriau USA Inc. purchasing manager Randy Witt, wire planner Candida Perez and new product planner Becci Sharp on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, during a tour of Tooling Dynamics' facilities. The machine behind the group is a Swiss turning machine, which feeds in length of rods and cuts and shapes them into various parts.

The extended caption:

Tooling Dynamics — a company specializing in metal stampings, tool and die design and more — held an open house and tour 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, for its various customers and vendors. The company recently received the 2010 York Entrepreneur Award.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. A strip of electronic connectors is systematically photographed by a vision system for on-line inspection at Tooling Dynamics on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. The vision system, developed and built by Tooling Dynamics, is used for quality control to ensure that each connector is precise. If the system detects that a connector is not aligned properly, it automatically stops the strip from advancing so a technician can address the issue.

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Diptych: The tools we use (I)

Posted in Diptych, Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York on May 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I was originally saving these photos and some others for a “tools we use”-themed “vignettes” blog post, but realized that that many photos in one post would have been a little unwieldy. So instead, I’ll have a mini-series of “tools we use”-themed diptych blog posts.

Here’s the extended caption for this first installment:

A 4-H community garden is taking root in an empty lot at 234 South Pershing Avenue in York City. At least 15 garden beds will be available, with more beds built specially for the Healthy World Cafe’s use. Community members interested in using a garden bed or two can sign an agreement and pay 10 dollars on a first-come, first-serve basis.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Shovels lean against a fence at the new 4-H community garden at 234 South Pershing Avenue on Monday, April 18, 2011. The 10-dollar fee to use one of 15 garden beds in the lot includes the use of shovels, rakes, hoes and other tools that are kept in two lockable sheds on-site.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Marilyn Hoffman, of West Manchester Township, fills a wheelbarrow with soil to top off the garden beds at 234 South Pershing Avenue on Monday, April 18, 2011.

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Corn planting

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York on May 8, 2011| 6 Comments »

Tuesday, I spent a bumpy hour bumping my head against the roof and windows as I rode in the cab of a bumpy farm tractor with a local farmer.

This is the photo that ran on A1:

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Farmer Andrew Flinchbaugh drives the tractor attached to the 12-row corn planter -- whose gears churn up rows of earth, disperse the corn seeds into those rows and cover them back up -- on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. Flinchbaugh said Tuesday was his first real day of corn planting, as April's rains meant poor planting conditions. Flinchbaugh, whose family runs Flinchbaugh's Orchard & Farm Market in Hellam Township, is working "around the clock" to plant 800 acres of corn. He said he has planted about 2 percent of the crop so far.

This is another photo I turned in:

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. (Same caption as above.)

I’m torn over which one I’d choose, if I had to make that decision. These two would/should never run together in a two-picture package, so it’d have to be one or the other. So which is it: A slightly more artistic shot that emphasizes the corn planter? Or a shot that shows the farmer’s slightly preoccupied face and not much else?

What do you think?

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Merging the arts

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York on May 5, 2011| 1 Comment »

Some more photos from a few weeks ago:

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Dancer Jeanne Mallory of Dover poses as York Art Association artists Pat Koscienski of Lewisberry, Suzanne Collins of Stewartstown and Brett Grieman of Spring Garden Township take pictures on Sunday, April 10, 2011, at the Greater York Center for Dance Education.

From the extended caption:

Thirty artists from the York Art Association came to the Greater York Center for Dance Education to photograph and sketch costumed dancers on Sunday, April 10, 2011. Over the next three weeks, the artists will create paintings based on their sketches, photographs and observations that will be on display in the dance studio 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, May 8.

I’m blogging these now because they’re now published in this week’s York Weekend section. Making pictures of artists making pictures was a little challenging, so I tried to have fun with it and work the situations for creative pictures.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Dancer Nicolette Blouse of Manchester Township poses as York Art Association artist Suzanne Collins of Stewartstown sketches her on Sunday, April 10, 2011, at the Greater York Center for Dance Education.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Dancer Alex Snell of York Township poses for York Art Association artist Suzanne Collins of Stewartstown on Sunday, April 10, 2011, at the Greater York Center for Dance Education.

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Pit bull country

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York on May 3, 2011| 1 Comment »

A few photos from a few weeks ago that I never got around to blogging until now:

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Damu, an American pit bull terrier, hangs onto the spring-pole rope at Cold Springs Farm & Pet in East Manchester Township on Sunday, April 10, 2011. Damu belongs to Stephanie Feld of York City, who was one of several dozen pit bull owners who came to Cold Springs for the semiannual Bully Boneanza.

From the extended caption:

Pit bull owners brought their dogs to Cold Springs Farm & Pet in East Manchester Township on Sunday, April 10, 2011, for the semiannual Bully Boneanza event. Twice every year, Lori and Bill Carpenter host the event in conjunction with Bad Press (Breed Anti-Defamation, Protection, and Rescue Society, Inc.) so pit bull owners can bring their dogs to a place where they will be comfortable. Bad Press cofounder Lori Zimmer, of Camp Hill, said pit bull owners are often ostracized by other dog owners at dog events and parks because of pit bulls’ bad reputation.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. David Heffelfinger, of Port Clinton in Schuylkill County, tries to get Damu, an American pit bull terrier, to let go of the spring-pole rope at Cold Springs Farm & Pet in East Manchester Township on Sunday, April 10, 2011. Damu belongs to Stephanie Feld of York City, who was one of several dozen pit bull owners who came to Cold Springs for the semiannual Bully Boneanza.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Bailey, a pit bull belonging to Jewel Holden of Spring Grove, and Roxy, a pit bull belonging to Bill Carpenter of East Manchester Township, greet each other at the semiannual Bully Boneanza event at Cold Springs Farm & Pet in East Manchester Township on Sunday, April 10, 2011.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Nighster, a rescued 3-year-old American pit bull, relaxes as his owner John Heffelfinger, 9 of Port Clinton in Schuylkill County, plays Gameboy on Sunday, April 10, 2011, at Cold Springs Farm & Pet in East Manchester Township.

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Yom HaShoah: Holocaust Remembrance Day

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York on May 2, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I began Sunday in a Methodist church and ended it in a Jewish temple. And went to a baseball game in-between.

Anyway, back to the Jewish temple. Sunday was Yom HaShoah, otherwise known as Holocaust Remembrance Day. A local Reform temple held an evening service, during which the congregation also rededicated its Holocaust Torah scroll.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Holding Temple Beth Israel's Holocaust Torah scroll, Elliott Weinstein waits in the back of the sanctuary before bringing it before the congregation at the beginning of the Yom HaShoah service on Sunday, May 1, 2011, at Temple Beth Israel. The Torah scroll, which dates back to the mid-18th century, is one of about 1,500 scrolls that were saved from the Nazis' destruction during World War II. Weinstein was president of the congregation's board 20 years ago when he and Rabbi Kenneth Cohen acquired one of the Holocaust scrolls via the Czech Memorial Scrolls Trust.

The service also featured a Holocaust survivor.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Holocaust survivor John Freund, who now resides in Toronoto, speaks to the congregation during the Yom HaShoah service on Sunday, May 1, 2011, at Temple Beth Israel. Freund said 1,000 Jews shared his hometown of Pisek in former Czechoslovakia; following the Holocaust, only 40 of the 1,000 were still alive. Temple Beth Israel's Holocaust scroll also hails from Pisek.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Helen Zell of Spring Garden Township lights one of the candles during the Yom HaShoah service on Sunday, May 1, 2011.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Mitchell Grossman of Spring Garden Township reads the Mourners' Kaddish with the rest of the congregation during the Yom HaShoah service on Sunday, May 1, 2011, at Temple Beth Israel. The Mourners' Kaddish is a part of the Jewish prayer service that, despite being referred to as a prayer for the dead, does not mention the dead and instead praises God.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Arlene Domue of Spring Garden Township points out a few features of Temple Beth Israel's Holocaust Torah scroll after the conclusion of the Yom HaShoah service on Sunday, May 1, 2011, at Temple Beth Israel.

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The baptism of Takoda Allen Schultz

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York on May 1, 2011| 2 Comments »

This is possibly the most adorable thing I have ever photographed.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Assisted by the child's great-grandmother Ruby Olson, Rev. Mke Langford performs the sacrament of holy baptism via a seashell upon a still-asleep 10-month-old Takoda Allen Schultz on Sunday, May 1, 2011, at Messiah United Methodist Church. Gage Schultz and Lauren Kelley, of York City, had their son Takoda receive the sacrament of holy baptism. Kelley, a member of the Native American tribe Haliwa-Saponi, had the child dressed in his grass-dance regalia for the occasion.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Lauren Kelley, of York City, holds her newly-baptized 10-month-old son Takoda Allen Schultz during the final blessings on Sunday, May 1, 2011, at Messiah United Methodist Church.

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High school soccer: West York defeats Susquehannock 1-0

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York on May 1, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Thursday morning brought buckets of rain and a tornado, but the sun was shining by afternoon, and roads that had been brimming with water in the morning were completely dry.

By evening, the sky had clouded over again, which made for a completely gorgeous backdrop for girls soccer.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. West York's Lauren Gay gains possession of the ball during the first second on Thursday, April 28, 2011, at Susquehannock High School. West York won 1-0 in double-overtime to clinch the team's second consecutive York-Adams League Division II title.

And, once the sun had set, the stadium lights weren’t too shabby, either.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. West York's Jess Noll attempts to pass the ball to Raychel Johnson and past Susquehannock's Katie Steines during the second period on Thursday, April 28, 2011, at Susquehannock High School.

(No, I didn’t just make “pretty sky!” pictures. Yes, I do have more action shots. Check ’em out.)

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Professional baseball: Revs defeat Riversharks 8-2

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York on April 30, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday was the York Revolution‘s season opener.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. The Camden Riversharks, umpires and York Revolution stand at attention as members of the York Youth Revolution bring the American flag onto the field before the season opener on Friday, April 29, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

I’d covered the team’s first exhibition game last week, so inwardly I was worried about making the same “first game”-y pictures. Fortunately, the fanfare was much different and more grand than it had been last week. And I didn’t make still pictures of the opening ceremony after all because my editor had me on video duty:

The most exciting moment of the game? For at least a few people, this was it:

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. After diving into the crowd behind home plate, York Revolution catcher Octavio Martinez shows the ball that he successfully caught bare-handed after Camden Riversharks outfielder Drew Macias' bat in the third inning of the Revolution's opening day game on Friday, April 29, 2011, at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

I happened to be shooting from the stands when Martinez caught that ball for the Riversharks’ final out of the third inning. Otherwise, I’d never have made this shot — and I wished all the more I had a 300mm for less depth of field. (With the access we get in the stadium, a 400 would be almost excessive except for far outfield action.) I’m shooting the game tomorrow, though, and will probably be borrowing Bill’s (manual) 300.

A few more shots:

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. The Spring Garden Band and Sovereign Bank Stadium are reflected in band member Michael Bubb's tuba as the band performs outside the stadium before the York Revolution's opening game on Friday, April 29, 2011.

(more…)

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Aftermath of a fire: What remains

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York on April 27, 2011| 2 Comments »

When I first arrived at the 600 block of Wallace Street, where yesterday an unattended cooking-fire consumed three homes, this was all I saw:

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Citizens Public Adjusters solicitor Douglas Dardaris leans against the porch rail of 624 Wallace Street as a bassinet, mattresses and other items that Anthony and Katie White's family once used lie on the curb outside their fire-destroyed home at 622 Wallace Street in York City on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. The Whites' upstairs neighbor had left her cooking unattended, which started the blaze that consumed three rowhouses and displaced seven adults and three children.

So I went to an adjacent rowhouse that had suffered water damage from the fire hoses, and I made a few pictures there. Upon my exiting that house, I met its owners/former residents, the Follers, and got to know them a bit. Soon, a pregnant woman approached us, and I found out quickly that she had lived in one of the fire-destroyed homes.

I asked her if I could make a few pictures of her around the area. She said no, that she was too emotional for the time being. I let the matter rest and continued to listen to her share stories with her former neighbors.

Then, her husband and daughters pulled up in a van, and her older daughter ran out, in tears.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Mariah White, 4, collapses in her mother Katie's arms, in tears after seeing the family's fire-destroyed home on the 600 block of Wallace Street the day after the fire, on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. Katie White said Mariah took the fire hard on Tuesday. The Whites had been living in that home for two years, since Mariah was two years old.

Then, with no protest or objections from Katie or her husband, I began to follow them and make pictures as they went through their house once more to salvage any playthings to comfort Mariah.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Debris and damaged belongings litter the water-soaked carpet of the White family's master bedroom in their fire-damaged home on the 600 block of Wallace Street on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Katie White bends over to pick up an undamaged slinky in her fire-damaged home the day after the fire, on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. Katie White is nine months pregnant with her third child and first son, whom she and her husband Anthony will name Darius.

The Whites have no renter’s insurance. Friends and neighbors helped them remove most of their salvageable items yesterday after the fire was extinguished. For now, they are staying with family — and Katie said they probably won’t return to their old home even after the repairs are made, because their growing family needs more space.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Anthony and Katie White try to salvage playthings and memorabilia from their fire-damaged home on the 600 block of Wallace Street on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. The majority of what property they were unable to retrieve on Tuesday, after the fire happened, was water-soaked from the fire hoses.

(more…)

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Aftermath of a fire: Water damage

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York on April 27, 2011| 1 Comment »

Yesterday morning, a four-alarm fire destroyed three homes in York City and displaced seven adults and three children. Bill and John covered the fire itself and the immediate aftermath. This morning, I headed over there to see if anything else was happening.

At first — not much.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. The interior of Edward and AnnaMae Foller's home suffered severe water damage from the firefighting efforts at the adjacent rowhouse on the 600 block of Wallace Street on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. The Follers -- Edward is 77 and AnnaMae is 75 -- had lived in their home since 1958 but are now staying in a hotel suite while their home is checked for moisture levels from the fire hoses. The Follers' home was protected from the blaze by a brick wall.

The fire had destroyed three rowhouses on the 600 block of Wallace Street. The house adjacent to those three had suffered water damage from the fire hoses, so I looked around in the house and followed the restoration technicians at work in there.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Belfor Property Restorations technician Dylan Simkins checks the moisture content of the third-level ceiling of Edward and AnnaMae Foller's home on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Belfor Property Restorations technician Dylan Simkins checks the moisture content of the third-level floor of Edward and AnnaMae Foller's home on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

Then I went back outside, and found the Follers themselves talking to another Belfor technician. Then a very pregnant woman approached us as we talked, and I quickly learned that she was one of the displaced residents. Then — well, that’s another blog post coming up soon.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Two sooty handprints are imprinted on an upright wall above the stairwell that connects the second and third floors of Edward and AnnaMae Foller's water-damaged home on the 600 block of Wallace Street in York City on Wednesday, April 17, 2011.

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The six-digit tattoo

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York on April 26, 2011| Leave a Comment »

It’s not every day that you meet a Holocaust survivor.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Holocaust survivor Severin Fayerman shows the tattooed serial number he received in Auschwitz when he was 19 years old. Fayerman, a Pole who later founded a multimillion-dollar hardware business in Reading, Pa., said he never removed the tattoo because he now sees it as "a badge of honor" and a testament to the horrors of the Holocaust.

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