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Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

Mood and photography, or: the National Building Museum

Posted in Diptych, Photography, Travel, Washington, D.C. on January 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I went to Silver Spring/Washington, D.C., for the day yesterday. One thing Jeff and I did was return to the National Building Museum to try to see the LEGO exhibit.

I really, really, really love LEGOs. When we were growing up, my younger brother and I were at peace only if we were drawing together or playing with LEGOs. Then, for about two years in high school, I devoted my free time (what little I had after schoolwork and the newspaper) to writing and producing a stop-motion LEGO movie. A friend/co-producer and I got so far as to record the full 100-something-page script with a cast of 30ish students, but the actual filming never took off.

Anyway. I really, really, really love LEGOs.

Unfortunately, the LEGO exhibit stipulates that tickets cannot be sold on-line or over the phone — and only so many tickets can be sold per hour. So when Jeff, his brother and I arrived at the museum in the late afternoon on Dec. 28, the tickets were sold out.

On the plus side, it was a beautiful day:

The National Building Museum, as seen from the Judiciary Square Metro station on Dec. 28. This photo was taken with an iPhone and processed with the ShakeIt app.

When Jeff and I returned yesterday, we were successful in getting tickets, admiring the LEGO sculptures and playing with millions of LEGO pieces available at the end of the exhibit.

On the minus side, it was an ugly day:

The National Building Museum, as seen from the Judiciary Square Metro station on Jan. 7. This photo was taken with an iPhone and processed with the ShakeIt app.

Long story short: Weather affects light, which affects mood, which affects photos.

(I really wish I’d been able to complete at least some decent footage for that LEGO movie.)

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It’s official: A six-month photo internship with The York Dispatch

Posted in Internships/Careers, Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, Travel, York on November 29, 2010| 2 Comments »

I have a few photos from Missouri and Thanksgiving I really should blog, but before that happens — I’m excited to announce I’ve accepted a six-month photo internship at The York Dispatch.

Front page courtesy of the Newseum.

So, after Christmas, I’ll be driving up to Pennsylvania via Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia and Maryland. Then I’ll spend the next six months photographing for one of two newspapers in York, Pa. (That’s right — the other daily is The York Daily Record, with which The Dispatch has a joint operating agreement.)

York is a small town. Population-wise, it’s less than half the size of Columbia, Mo., where I went to college. I’ll be there for six months, and I’ll be joining a staff of two photographers.

Needless to say, the next six months will be very different from this past summer in Atlanta, and I’m very excited and honored to have been offered this internship.

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So long, Columbia

Posted in Photography, Travel on November 21, 2010| 1 Comment »

COLUMBIA, Mo. —

Well, this evening I’m leaving Columbia, and so is Jeff. We’re off to our respective homes — him to Maryland for Thanksgiving, and me to Texas for however long.

I spent two weeks in Columbia. Overall, it’s been a good two weeks and a good break.

Sunset over Broadway in downtown Columbia, a few evenings ago. This was taken through Jeff's newly-washed windshield as we drove downtown.

I still have a few more photos to blog from this trip. Those will come soon — but without the “COLUMBIA, Mo.” dateline.

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Ice cream at Central Dairy

Posted in Food, Photography, Travel on November 20, 2010| Leave a Comment »

COLUMBIA, Mo. —

A few evenings ago, Jeff and I hightailed it out of Columbia and drove south to Jefferson City, where Central Dairy awaited.

Trucks, in the back of the dairy lot.

Jeff only buys Central Dairy milk (when he’s in Missouri), but neither of us had been to the ice cream parlor before. There’s a Central Dairy building in downtown Columbia — it’s now an appliance store — but the parlor in Jefferson City has been around since at least the 1950s.

The storefront of the Central Dairy ice cream parlor.

We ordered the banana split to share.

Two scoops each of strawberry, vanilla and chocolate ice cream, topped with marshmallow sauce, chocolate sauce and nuts.

We almost finished it — but not quite. I’ll just say that that banana boat and wax paper were full of ice cream carnage, and leave the rest to your imagination.

But it was very, very good.

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For all who serve and have served…

Posted in Photography, Travel on November 11, 2010| Leave a Comment »

COLUMBIA, Mo. —

It’s Veterans Day, but I opted to watch the International Picture Story category judging for College Photographer of the Year, rather than watch and make pictures of the Veterans Day parade that began literally right outside the building.

Nevertheless — happy Veterans Day, and thank you to those who served and have served.

The Eternal Flame of Freedom in the courtyard of the Harry S. Truman Museum in Independence, Mo., on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. According to the museum, the Tirey J. Ford American Legion dedicated the eternal flame to fellow legionnaire and President Truman in 1991.

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Recently on the barbecue tour: Arthur Bryant’s of Kansas City

Posted in Food, Missouri, Photography, Travel on November 10, 2010| Leave a Comment »

COLUMBIA, Mo. —

As I previously wrote, I’m taking a break from Houston. That doesn’t mean, however, that I’m taking a break from barbecue.

My flight on Sunday landed in Kansas City. Passing up on Kansas City barbecue would have been incomprehensible, especially since I’ve already sampled barbecue from two Texas establishments. After some heated discussion with Jeff, who’s very firm with his opinion of Kansas City barbecue, we decided on Arthur Bryant’s. Jeff’s first pick, Oklahoma Joe’s, is closed on Sundays, and I wanted Bryant’s over Gates because of the appeal of eating in an older location.

Arthur Bryant's on Boulevard Ave.

Jeff had already decided on our order: the beef and pork combo, with fries.

The beef is on the left, the pork on the right.

My informal barbecue tour so far had not featured shredded meat or a lot of sauce — until Bryant’s. Both of the above are why Jeff is not a fan of Bryant’s. While wolfing down the food, he mourned how the taste of the meat was lost in the sauce.

I didn’t mind it. It was tasty in its own right, and I didn’t think the meat was lost in the sauce. That said, I didn’t douse my portion in Bryant’s signature vinegar-based sauce, but rather ate it as it was served.

The remnants of another party's meal.

But, as I’ve written before, I’m no barbecue or meat expert. Bryant’s was good but not mind-blowingly good. I think generally I prefer a good steak over slow-cooked meats.

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On a jet plane

Posted in Photography, Travel on November 7, 2010| 3 Comments »

COLUMBIA, Mo. —

It’s been almost exactly a year since the last time I traveled via plane. (Related: happy first anniversary to my brother and sister-in-law!) Hobby Airport in Houston has changed in aesthetics since then — for the better.

Early morning flight, early morning light.

One thing that’s neat about flying between Kansas City and Houston is, the flight path goes over the Houston metropolis. In my earlier college years, I usually flew between St. Louis and Houston, so this view is not one I’m used to seeing.

Flying over the south loop area.

Unfortunately I was on the wrong side of the plane to see downtown. But I did spot something familiar…

A few hours later, I was in Kansas City to eat barbecue (more on that later), in Independence to pay my respects to Harry S. Truman (more on that later) and — now — in Columbia to watch the College Photographer of the Year judging (more on that later).

More on everything later, in general!

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For the love of Texas barbecue, part 2

Posted in Food, Photography, Travel on October 19, 2010| 2 Comments »

A little more than a week ago, my dad and I went to Lockhart — known as the “Barbecue Capital of Texas” — and sampled sausage, brisket and ribs at Smitty’s.

This past Sunday, my mom took my younger brother back to College Station (I’d taken him back home to Houston after I was done shooting the Texas A&M-Missouri game). I accompanied them, largely because of the promise of dinner at Rudy’s.

Rudy's of College Station.

My dad had sung Rudy’s praises enough for me to ready myself for another meat fest. What my dad didn’t know — until I told him the other day — is that Rudy’s is a chain restaurant. Which, inexplicably, is a little disappointing. You’d think, or at least I’d have thought, that you could find the best barbecue only at local, often run-down venues whose proprietors wouldn’t dream of opening another location.

But Rudy’s barbecue was pretty good, and their ribs were more tender than the ones we had at Smitty’s. And their “Sissy Sause” was an excellent accompaniment to their meats.

Bread, brisket, ribs and containers of coleslaw and potato salad, served in shallow crates at Rudy's "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q in College Station, Texas.

Bottles of "Rudy's Sissy Sause" line the windows of Rudy's "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2010, in College Station, Texas.

A single rib and a few slivers of brisket were enough to fill me up, even though the only other food I’d had that day was a bagel at 8 a.m. Another meal of Texas barbecue was meat overload — yeah, I’m weak — and I decided to go vegetarian for a few days.

That is, until the next night when I saw a piece of leftover chicken marsala in the refrigerator.

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Missouri football in Aggieland

Posted in Journalism, Missouri, Mizzou, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, Travel on October 18, 2010| 3 Comments »

I’m pretty excited that I’ve now shot college football on Texas soil. (Apart from last year’s Texas Bowl game…)

Members of the Missouri football team take the field for some pre-game drills at Kyle Field in College Station on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010.

Jeff and I shot Missouri’s game against Texas A&M in College Station on Saturday. It was only my second time on A&M’s campus — my younger brother is a sophomore there — but I was looking forward to witnessing the Aggie spirit.

Also for the first time:

  • I used my new full-frame camera.

Texas A&M junior wide receiver Jeff Fuller catches the ball for A&M's first and only touchdown against Missouri on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010, at Kyle Field. Note: This photo has been highly sharpened, due to some backfocusing.

  • I didn’t have a lens longer than my 70-200/2.8.
  • Which meant I shot a lot more features than I have ever before at a football game.

Will Lowe of Houston, right, is reflected on the side of a car as he watches the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets -- the university's student military organization of 2,002 members -- marching to Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010. Texas A&M is one of five U.S. colleges classified as a senior military college and, apart from the service academies, produces the most military officers of all U.S. schools.

  • It was a sunny, clear day. (With the exception of a cloudy daytime game, every other football game I’ve shot has been at night and/or indoors.)

Travis Nault, center, stands ready to sing the Aggie War Hymn as Wendell Nault, left of center, and Kevin Kenefic, right of center, remove their hats before the Texas A&M-Missouri football game at Kyle Field in College Station on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010.

Largely because of all of the above, I had a blast photographing the game — but mostly, the game outside of the game.

(more…)

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For the love of Texas barbecue

Posted in Food, Photography, Travel on October 9, 2010| 8 Comments »

Yes, it’s been about five weeks since I last updated this blog. No, I’m not dead.

Rather, I’m back home in Texas. I am available for freelance work, have been working steadily on a few projects and am applying for jobs and internships. Speaking of projects, tomorrow I’ll post a picture story I completed in the last week of my internship in Atlanta — so be on the lookout for that!

In the meantime, today my dad and I made a pilgrimage to Lockhart, Texas. Officially “The Barbecue Capital of Texas,” as declared by the state legislature in 2003, Lockhart is a small town south of Austin. It has four barbecue restaurants. We went to Smitty’s.

Dad savors the last bite of lunch at Smitty's.

Yeah. We drove almost five hours roundtrip from Houston for this:

Pork ribs, brisket and sausage - and, of course, cheap white bread. What's up with barbecue and cheap white bread?

On the trip back, I realized I’m not a big-enough food — or meat, or barbecue — aficionado to be making these kinds of trips. I’m certain many foodies are game for pilgrimages to the meccas of their various food interests, but I’m just not cut out for that. I know when food is bad, but after a point, meat is meat. Barbecue is barbecue. It’s good when it’s good. If one barbecue place is better than another, I wouldn’t know the difference.

Shame on me, as a Texan? Maybe.

(Check back tomorrow for my picture story!)

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Appalachian fog

Posted in Photography, Travel on August 2, 2010| 10 Comments »

One of the 31 Poynter College Fellows with whom I became friends-for-life happens to live in Roanoke, Va. — and this past weekend, I visited her.

In addition to visiting the Mill Mountain Star, driving around Roanoke and having a small dinner party, she, Jared and I hiked what I later learned is one of the most photographed spots on the Appalachian Trail.

Otherwise known as McAfee Knob.

Almost there!

Items of note:

  • This was my first time hiking in the Appalachians.
  • This was my first time hiking on the Appalachian Trail.
  • This was my first time hiking east of the Mississippi, period.
  • It was foggy. Very foggy.

Fog on the trail.

That last item is noteworthy for a few reasons. First, it is important for you to know that I used to associate fog with axe murderers. Having grown up in the valley-less Houston, I first encountered fog a few years ago during a nighttime drive on a two-lane Tennessee road that wound itself down and through a valley. And it was scary. I was convinced that, at any moment, the fog would fade away to reveal an axe-wielding maniac waiting to assault our oncoming vehicle.

(more…)

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Photographing the 2010 Summer Redneck Games

Posted in Atlanta, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Journalism, Photography, Photojournalism, Travel on July 12, 2010| 7 Comments »

Saturday was a little messy…

© 2010 by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (Click on the image above to view the full photo gallery at ajc.com.) A girl batters around inflatable boxing gloves in the mud pit in the Summer Redneck Games in East Dublin on Saturday, July 10, 2010. Saved for last, the mud pit is the most popular and anticipated event in the Redneck Games.

…which is a given when you photograph the Summer Redneck Games.

It’s a one-day event in East Dublin, Ga., that began in 1996 after Atlanta hosted the summer Olympics. The self-proclaimed rednecks put their own spin on competitive sports and just have a good time.

© 2010 by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (Click on the image above to view the full photo gallery on ajc.com.) Becca Bostwick of Thomaston throws a toilet seat as part of the Redneck Horsehoe event during the Summer Redneck Games in East Dublin on Saturday, July 10, 2010. Each year, the event features competitive events including watermelon seed-spitting and toilet seat-throwing.

It was definitely a cultural experience. After the ceremonial torch — consisting of a six-pack of Budweiser cans — was lit, I asked the torchbearer a few questions. When another reporter asked if he considers himself a redneck, the man responded, “Of course I am! Anyone born in Georgia, Alabama — any of the southern states — is a redneck.”

The day was hot and sunny, and I sustained severe tan lines, muddied clothes and camera, physical threats and a few come-ons. By far one of the more memorable and exciting assignments I’ve done so far for this internship!

Be sure to check out the full photo gallery!

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Night at Bonnaroo

Posted in Photography, Travel on June 14, 2010| 3 Comments »

This past weekend, I fled the heat and grime of Atlanta and spent almost three days in the heat and grime of Tennessee. There, my sun roasted in the sun, my hair practically oozed with slick oil and my toes became dirt magnets — all in the name of music.

It’s this thing called Bonnaroo.

But Jeff and I hardly took photos. We ate copious amounts of festival food, ran into a few other friends from Missouri and — of course — went to quite a few good concerts. Like Stevie Wonder. And The Avett Brothers. And She and Him.

I did take this photo, though.

Can you believe it? Three revolutions on the Ferris wheel cost $6 per person. But we rode it anyway.

And that’s really about it. I’m just glad I was able to scrub all the dirt, sweat and sunblock out of my skin.

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XXVII: Quick stop in the Lone Star State

Posted in Analog, Photography, Travel on June 2, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Whether I’m driving or hiking, I always try to avoid taking the same route on the return leg of the trip. I’d like to chalk this up to my love of exploration, but this might also have something to do with my need for a change in scenery.

We’d driven through the Oklahoma panhandle en route to Santa Fe — so, on our way back to Missouri, we went through the Texas panhandle instead.

And visited Cadillac Ranch.

120mm, BW400CN.

And ate at The Big Texan. Again.

120mm, BW400CN.

And in a few hours, we were leaving Texas.

Check out a few more photos I didn’t blog here!

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XXV-VI: Scenes from Santa Fe

Posted in Analog, Photography, Travel on June 1, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I figure I oughta blog the remaining film from Santa Fe/etc. before I head off to Atlanta for the summer. So, here we go again!

The Loretto Chapel. 120mm, BW400CN.

Known for its “miraculous staircase,” the Loretto Chapel is now a popular wedding destination with pricey packages.

After visiting with the Santa Fe New Mexican director of photography (who is a former NPPA president!), we had crepes downtown.

Nutella crepe. 120mm, Portra 160VC.

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Thank you, #pcf10

Posted in 2010 Poynter College Fellowship, Internships/Careers, Introspection, Journalism, Photojournalism, Travel on May 30, 2010| 1 Comment »

The 2010 Poynter College Fellows disbanded more than 48 hours ago, and already I miss everybody.

That said, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, when I arrived in St. Petersburg a little more than two weeks ago.

Our official group photo.

  • I had driven almost 20 hours from Missouri to St. Petersburg, Fla. (with help from my parents, who drove down with me).
  • I also missed my own graduation ceremony to arrive at the Fellowship on time.
  • I had just completed a very rigorous final semester of college, during which I also had a part-time job and worked editing shifts at the paper.
  • I had just packed, moved and cleaned my apartment in almost exactly 24 hours, with help from Jeff and my roommate Shelby.
  • I was/am on the brink of beginning a summer photo internship at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in early June.
  • And — I will admit — I felt a little burned out on journalism.

In the trip from Missouri to Florida, I spent the majority of my waking hours wondering what the hell I was doing. Why couldn’t I have just taken a break during the three weeks between graduation and my internship? Why couldn’t I have actually walked in my graduation ceremony and mugged for the camera with my fellow graduates? Why did I want to apply for a fellowship that would mean an intensive two weeks of even more journalism after my intensive four-year collegiate experience?

But 24 hours into the fellowship, I knew why.

From bottom, clockwise: Megan, Charlotte, Isaac, me, Jaclyn and Nezile. Photo by Eli Francovich.

The fellowship brought together 32 young journalists from vastly different backgrounds, with vastly different experiences and with vastly different perspectives — and I couldn’t have asked for a better group. I would be lying if I said I didn’t learn something from every single person there. There was no cutthroat competitiveness or need to do better than everybody else.

(more…)

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XXIV: New Mexican sunset

Posted in Analog, Photography, Travel on May 12, 2010| 1 Comment »

I might be biased… but New Mexican sunsets are the prettiest.

Sunset, coming out of Cochito Pueblo after leaving Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. Portra 400VC, 120mm.

Having spent three full summers in New Mexico, plus a few others here and there, I’ve seen quite a few sunsets in the Land of Enchantment.

Sunset along I-25. Portra 400VC, 120mm.

I’ve also lived in Texas, Missouri and Maryland. They have nice sunsets, too. But they can’t beat New Mexico.

Santa Fe. Taken at f/3.5 and 1/15, I think, from a rest stop on the side of I-25 from the south. Portra 400VC, 35mm.

And how can you beat coming home to a city at the base of the Rocky Mountains?

You can’t.

But I’m also pretty biased.

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XXIV: Tent rocks

Posted in Analog, Photography, Travel on May 11, 2010| 3 Comments »

I’m in the midst of my last week at the University of Missouri, which means I have an exam, a paper, and a project to complete; a room to pack; and an apartment to clean.

But here are some more spring break pictures! After visiting Chimayó, Jeff and I went to Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, which is only a few miles from Bandelier National Monument — but to get there, you have to drive almost two hours in the other direction.

The last five miles before you arrive at the national monument are a gravel road that’s being paved over this summer.

Part of the canyon. BW400CN, 120mm.

And to get to the tent rocks themselves, you have to hike — and sometimes climb — through a slot canyon.

It’s not a very narrow slot canyon, but you definitely have to do a bit of rock scrambling at points. Portra 160VC, 35mm.

But when you emerge from the canyon and hike/climb up a bit more, you see these:

Look to the lower right quadrant for the “tent rocks.” Portra 160VC, 35mm.

And there’s a wonderful horizon:

(more…)

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XXIV: Chimayó color

Posted in Analog, Photography, Travel on May 6, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Some artwork that Jeff found. Only in New Mexico. Portra 160VC, 35mm.

We spent only the morning in Chimayó. After exploring the Santuario and the surrounding area, we ate lunch at Rancho de Chimayó.

Prickly pear lemonade, with chips and salsa, to start off. Portra 160VC, 35mm.

After an afternoon siesta, we went to Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument — but most of that film has not yet been scanned.

I’m working on it, I swear!

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A day at the Texas Renaissance Festival

Posted in Photography, Travel on May 4, 2010| 3 Comments »

This post is about six months late — but better late than never, right?

The final joust.

Last Thanksgiving weekend, my sister-in-law Emily and I went to the Texas Renaissance Festival, where I spent much of the morning working on a multimedia project about an on-site brewery. The rest of the day, we wandered around the grounds. Emily had never been to a “RenFest” before, and I hadn’t been to the Texas edition since I was pretty young.

In addition to the fair ladies…

One of the ladies whose honor was being defended in the final joust.

…there were those whose costumes were just to shock…

Wondrous.

…and those who performed for the thousands of people who attended.

A member of the Clan Tynker performing group plays with fire.

There was also death.

(more…)

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