January 24, 2011 by Chris Dunn
If a train is going westbound at 20 miles per hour and a tractor-trailer is heading southbound at (I’m not sure how many) miles per hour…
Never mind, I’m not going to try constructing one of those math problems.
I was en route to an 8:30 assignment this morning when my editor called and said a car hit a train at this-and-this intersection on the other side of town. When I arrived at that intersection, I saw nothing but found it hard to believe that the accident would have been cleaned up already — and then saw flashing lights about half a mile down a side street.
Turns out it wasn’t a car that hit the moving train — it was a tractor-trailer.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. A UPS freight tractor trailer crashed into a train at the rail crossing on Zarfoss Drive near West Market Street on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011. West Manchester Township police officer Keith Roehm said the truck driver, Monte Poff of Red Lion, was headed southbound on Zarfoss when he didn't see the rail crossing lights because the sun was in his eyes. No personal injuries were sustained, although the train lost a brake and dragged the truck about 130 yards before it came to a compete stop.
Train: 1, tractor-trailer: 0.
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York | 6 Comments »
January 23, 2011 by Chris Dunn
Well, the Steelers defeated the Jets tonight, and are moving on to the Super Bowl.
Tonight, as part of my Sunday late-ish shift, I was sent to photograph fans watching the game at a bar.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Pittsburgh Steelers fans Mike and Kim Harkins, of Dallastown, cheer and New York Jets fan Joey Rivera, of Red Lion, grimaces, after the Steelers made a run during the second quarter of the American Football Conference championship game. Rivera, the Harkins and dozens of other fans gathered at Tailgaters Grille and Drafthouse on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011, and watched the Steelers win the AFC championship to move on to the Super Bowl.
This isn’t the first time I’ve had to make pictures of sports fans cheering on their team at the local watering hole, and since the Super Bowl game falls again on my Sunday shift, this probably won’t be the last time, either. That said, these kinds of assignments always present a few challenges:
- As a photographer wanting to get fans’ reactions to the game, you absolutely need to stick around for a while to make sure you get enough reactions to enough plays. This is because…
- …Chances are, frames with really good moments are also going to have quite a few mid-blinks or arms in front of faces, etc.
- Also, sports bars typically have multiple TV screens installed, which means fans at any given table will at any given time be looking in any given direction, depending on whichever screen they choose to watch. This can make for some pretty odd-looking photos, what with people looking in all directions.
All of this means… you absolutely need to stick around for a while. (Which you should do anyway.)
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York | 4 Comments »
January 23, 2011 by Chris Dunn
Thanks to Abbott and Costello, I’ve been familiar with the word/name “Susquehanna” for more than half my life. And now I’m living in a county whose eastern border is the Susquehanna River itself.
I’ve been in York for just over three weeks now but have crossed the river various times — and was always struck by its icy beauty. Therefore, on Friday, I set out to make some pictures of the Susquehanna.
It was a frustrating trip. I did find access points, but they didn’t have the view of the river I wanted. In Wrightsville, the river was blue and flowing; what I wanted was the icy surface that I’d seen near Harrisburg. So I headed up north via Rte 441.
An industrial plant next to the Susquehanna River and on Rte 441 between Marietta and Bainbridge, Pa.
I did find Three Mile Island.
Three Mile Island, as seen from Rte 441.
Per a friend’s suggestion, I made my way to City Island, which is a mile-long island in the middle of the river next to Harrisburg. Not too many good vantage points there, either, unfortunately. I desperately wished it were legal for me to pull over on the shoulder of one of the many bridges spanning the Susquehanna. One day, when it’s less windy, I’ll take the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge from Harrisburg.
The Market Street bridge over the Susquehanna River, as seen from City Island.
Perhaps on my next days off, I’ll try again to find some good access points. Many of the ones I did find were private/corporate property, so I’ll have to do some research and find more public areas along the river. And maybe rent a helicopter so I can get exactly the shots I want. (I wish!)
Posted in Pennsylvania, Photography, Travel | 1 Comment »
January 22, 2011 by Chris Dunn
Just about two months ago, in November, I was in Missouri to be with friends and Jeff. At one point, Jeff and I made a daytrip to a few small towns in central Missouri.
One of them was Arrow Rock. It was a weekday, so the town was still. But we did find a pretty cool tree (whose carpet of yellow leaves is featured heavily in our current Facebook profile pictures).
When I went driving around the Susquehanna River yesterday, I encountered another cool tree — err, its shadow, at least. Hence, another diptych.
A little outside of downtown Arrow Rock, Mo., on Nov. 19, 2010.
Near a boating deck along the Susquehanna River in Wrightsville, Pa., on Jan. 21, 2011.
Posted in Diptych, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Photography, Travel | 2 Comments »
January 21, 2011 by Chris Dunn
I spent a good chunk of today driving and making pictures. I’ll blog the majority of those later, but first, here’s a diptych for ya.
Three nights ago, I was coasting down the hill toward my apartment complex, saw a picture, pulled over into a parking lot and made that picture. Earlier today, in the late afternoon, I saw the same picture — and made it again.
Jan. 18.
Jan. 21.
Posted in Diptych, Pennsylvania, Photography, York | 2 Comments »
January 21, 2011 by Chris Dunn
I had my first night shift last night, which meant I shot high school sports. Specifically, high school wrestling.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Spring Grove's Paul Smith, left, wrestles Red Lion's Rustin Lehr in the 189-pound bout at Spring Grove Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011. Rehr defeated Smith 2-1 in their match; Spring Grove defeated Red Lion 46
High school sports, especially wrestling and swimming, are known to feature poor lighting conditions that frustrate the hell out of photographers. John warned me about Spring Grove’s gym: For varsity bouts, they turn off all the lights in the gym except for a single spotlight above the mat.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Red Lion's Austin Holloway, top, wrestles Spring Grove's Toby Allison in the 135-pound bout at Spring Grove Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011. Holloway defeated Allison 7-6 in their match
Fortunately, the mat is white, so it’s basically one big bounce card or reflector or what-have-you. That said, the exposure on the edge of the mat isn’t so great — but I never felt tempted to pull out my flash. I was pretty happy with my first time shooting high school wrestling, but I know I won’t be so fortunate in every gym. (Alas.)
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Spring Grove's Mike Hartman, top, wrestles Red Lion's Patrick Kluyber in the 145-pound bout at Spring Grove Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011. Hartman defeated Kluyber 4-0 in their match.
Continue Reading »
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York | 1 Comment »
January 20, 2011 by Chris Dunn
Every month, The York Dispatch produces a short video featuring three dogs and three cats available for adoption at the York County SPCA. It’s a small service for the community, and I’m told that the videos do help bring animals from the shelter to good homes.
Of course, this means that every month, a Dispatch photographer needs to shoot video and take photographs of three dogs and three cats. Today, I went with John to see how it’s done.
Crissy poses for York Dispatch photographer John A. Pavoncello at the York County SPCA on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011, for the Dispatch's monthly "Take Me Home" video featuring three dogs and three cats.
I’ve never been to an SPCA or shelter before, since I haven’t been in a situation where I could own a pet, and seeing all the lonely cats and dogs kinda broke my heart.
“It’s best to make them look as cute and sad and pathetic as possible,” John told me before we entered the building.
Some of the animals were shy and needed some coaxing — but others were immediately curious about John and me.
Jade inspects York Dispatch photographer John A. Pavoncello's video camera at the York County SPCA on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011, for the Dispatch's monthly "Take Me Home" video featuring three dogs and three cats.
To view past “Take Me Home” videos, go to the Dispatch video homepage and click through the categories, which are in tabs on the upper righthand side of the Flash viewer, until you get to the correct category.
Posted in Pennsylvania, Photography, The York Dispatch, York | 1 Comment »
January 20, 2011 by Chris Dunn
Yorkers know when it’s tax season — because the Statues of Liberty are on the streets, waving signs, dancing and having a good ol’ time.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Dressed as the Statue of Liberty, Freddie Frederick, of York City, waves to passing drivers at the corner of North George Street and U.S. Route 30 on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. One office's lead tax preparer, Kate Williams of York City, said the wavers bring in about 90 percent of her office's customers.
Every year, from January through April, Liberty Tax Services employs people to dress as the Statue of Liberty and attract attention and customers to their offices. My editor sent me out yesterday to shoot some video of these Statues of Liberty, just for fun. Check out the finished video, which he edited.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Statue of Liberty robes hang in the back room of the Liberty Tax Services office at 30 11th Avenue on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Dressed as the Statue of Liberty, Freddie Frederick, of York City, waves to passing drivers at the corner of North George Street and U.S. Route 30 on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. Frederick said he has been waving every January-April season for Liberty Tax Services for about three years.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Steaven Smith, of York City, dances to music via his CD player as he waves to pedestrians and passing drivers at the corner of North George Street and West Philadelphia Street on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. Smith, who is originally from New York City, said he loves his job because it represents his hometown and because he loves to dance. As to the music to which he dances and hums, Smith said he listens to anything from Young Jeezy to Mary J. Blige.
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York | Leave a Comment »
January 19, 2011 by Chris Dunn
It seems like evening falls much more quickly here in York than it does anywhere else I’ve lived. (For the record: Texas, New Mexico, Missouri, Maryland and Georgia… so far.)
As I coasted down a hill on my drive home from the newsroom yesterday, I suddenly decided to make some pictures, so I pulled over into a parking lot to the right. Light was fading fast, so I had to be quick with setting up my tripod.
Taken from across a highway, with a 70-200mm. Thank goodness for ISO 6400.
Weather permitting, I think I’ll spend some time on my next days off making pictures of the surrounding land.
Posted in Pennsylvania, Photography, York | 1 Comment »
January 18, 2011 by Chris Dunn
On Sunday, my editor told me to check out the 28th annual Dirt Trackin’ Show at the York Fairgrounds Expo Center. Even though the show’s website gave no indication thereof, I expected to shoot some pretty dirty, gritty racing, and therefore prepared for the worst by wearing my oldest jeans and a worn sweater.
I knew I was wrong as soon as I entered the expo center. Instead making my way through large crowds cheering on dirt-churning racecars, I saw there were about 200 racecars on display and very few people walking around. Vendors and local drivers whom I met confirmed my fears: Sunday was turning out to be the slowest day of one of the slowest show weekends they’d seen in years.
But some people were out to have fun anyway. Here’s one.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Vicki Wallace, of West Manchester Township, wedges herself into the seat of small block modified car as the car's driver Daryl Dissinger, of Hummelstown in Dauphin County, gives her verbal instructions at the 28th annual Dirt Trackin' Show at the York Fairgrounds Expo Center on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011. Dissinger's car is pink because it is sponsored by the Dillsburg Cancer Center.
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York | Leave a Comment »
January 17, 2011 by Chris Dunn
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which means the Crispus Attucks Community Center here in York hosted its 27th annual MLK Day breakfast and day of community service.
Yep, 27th. MLK Day became a national holiday only 25 years ago, but one of the organizers told me the CA began the breakfast two years prior. Here are a few snaps from today; check out some more in the York Dispatch gallery.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Berta Palmer, of York City, performs a dramatic monologue as former slave Harriet Tubman for the more than 500 people who came for breakfast and community service at the Crispus Attucks Community Center on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day on Monday, Jan. 17, 2011. Palmer began and ended her monologue by singing parts of the spiritual "Go Down Moses."
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Michael Ortiz, 2 of York City, and his mother Atya listen to speakers while eating breakfast at the Crispus Attucks Community Center on Monday, Jan. 17, 2011.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Amarjaa Goodling, 9 of West Manchester Township, hands a plate of food to Jimmya Coates, 10 of York City, before breakfast was served to more than 500 people at the Crispus Attucks Community Center on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day on Monday, Jan. 17, 2010. MLK Day 2011 committee member Lesia Richards said the meals were free to the public.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Voni Grimes, 89 of York City, performs "Lift Every Voice and Sing" on the harmonica during the 27th annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Day breakfast at the Crispus Attucks Community Center on Monday, Jan. 17, 2011. Grimes, who attended segregated schools in York, is a local community leader who has promoted athleticism and has had a gym named after him.
Continue Reading »
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York | 3 Comments »
January 15, 2011 by Chris Dunn
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens are playing right now in the AFC playoffs. In anticipation of tonight’s game, my editor sent me to a local sports merch store on Thursday to photograph fans getting geared up.
Because York is about an hour north of Baltimore and, obviously, in Pennsylvania, the local fandom is split pretty evenly between the Steelers and the Ravens. This meant I had to make sure to get Steelers and Ravens fans in the store — no matter that it was noontime on a weekday.
I spent about two hours in the store, waiting for Ravens and Steelers fans to come in, and got one Ravens fan (who had to cross county lines in search of a Ravens T-shirt fitted for women). Finally, when a grandmother entered with her two young grandsons, I knew I could get the assignment done. With the grandmother’s permission, I followed the boys as they searched for shirts they could wear while watching the game.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Darius Kuentzler, 10 of Manchester Township, tries on a youth-sized version of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley's jersey at Bleacher Bums in York Galleria on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011. Kuentzler was visibly disappointed that the store's selection of youth-sized Steelers jerseys included only Woodley's and Ben Roethlisberger's numbers.
(Darius did eventually find a jersey he liked — Willie Parker’s. He also got quoted in the accompanying article.)
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, York | Leave a Comment »
January 12, 2011 by Chris Dunn
A schnauzer and a Yorkie/Maltese mix.
Okay, okay — they’re not really mine. They’re my roommate’s dogs, and they’re great.
Although, one of them (the one in the foreground of the photo) can be rambunctious. Last night, while my roommate was still at work, I thought I heard a knock at the door… and as soon as I opened the door, the dog bolted out into the snow. Wearing a sweater, pajama pants and flip-flops, I had to chase him through two inches of snow before some younger girls out playing helped me round him up.
Lucky for him, he’s the cutest little furball, so I couldn’t be too mad at him.
Posted in Photography | Leave a Comment »
January 12, 2011 by Chris Dunn
This morning, I headed out the door at 6:45 for my first weather feature in Pennsylvania.
The entire northeast region of the U.S. received a blanket of snow last night, and York got about 3-4 inches. As the early-shift photographer, I was assigned to get some snow-related art around my apartment complex before the paper went to press. (The York Dispatch is an afternoon paper, remember.)
I was able to catch the guy who plowed, salted and shoveled an entire section of the complex before he left.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Justin Myers shovels sidewalks at the Apartments at Waterford early on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011. Myers, who owns his own landscaping and installment business, said he has been plowing, shoveling and salting roads and sidewalks at the apartments and at another nearby business since 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 11.
(I, uh, really need to control my camera tilt when using an off-camera flash. This is not the one I submitted for print, though.)
And photographed another guy brushing and scraping his car.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Ryan Wenrich, an engineer at Adhesives Research, scrapes and brushes off his car at the Apartments at Waterford on Wednesday morning, Jan. 12, 2011.
Then, before I had to go back inside to file photos, I traipsed around some more and admired the sky.
Natural vignetting. Natural sky (underexposed).
Then I went inside, thanked the powers-that-be that I have excellent snow boots and sent my photos to the paper.
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York | Leave a Comment »
January 10, 2011 by Chris Dunn
The Pennsylvania Farm Show opened in Harrisburg on Saturday, and my editor Randy, his wife and I went to check things out.
The annual show, now in its 95th year, is the culmination of all the county fairs and is essentially Pennsylvania’s state fair. (Given the time of year, everything is indoors in the massive Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex.) Agricultural produce and stock are judged and auctioned, there’s a rodeo, local vendors set up booths, etc.
I’m going back today, and later I’ll blog more photos from Saturday and today, but here’s what’s running on today’s A1 in The York Dispatch:
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Lawson Neutzel, 6 of Seven Valleys, sits in a pen with two of his family's Yorkshire pigs at the 95th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011. The Farm Show will run through next Saturday, Jan. 15.
I’m glad this is A1’s photo — because a pig ran me over while I got this shot.
More precisely, the pig, which of course weighed more than I did, barreled me over while I was talking to Lawson’s mother for the caption. Neither she nor I saw the fat porker coming. I guess it escaped from its handlers en route to its pen or the auction ring.
I’ve never covered a county fair or anything involving so much livestock — besides a few rodeos — but if getting run over by a pig is the worst thing that happens to me, I’m completely okay with that!
Posted in Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch | Leave a Comment »
January 8, 2011 by Chris Dunn
For photographers, theatre tech crews and many other folks, gaff tape is what holds the universe together. Not duct tape.
Gaff tape, for those of you who may not be familiar with this essential item, is like duct tape but better. It’s a strong adhesive tape and can be ripped easily at 90-degree angles. Unlike duct tape, it doesn’t leave a residue, and its backing is a durable cotton cloth. Whenever I’ve had to borrow gaff tape, it was often either to tape ripped-up garbage bags around my equipment to protect it from rain or to secure a loose lens hood.
As of last week, I finally have my own gaff tape. How have I used it so far? Leaving notes for people.
The first time was when a reporter and I knocked on the front door of a homicide victim’s family and received no answer. The reporter wrote a note to slip under the door; I offered some gaff tape.
The second time was today at the Pennsylvania Farm Show (about which I’ll blog in more detail later). Trying to find people from York County at what’s basically a big state fair on opening day was pretty difficult — but eventually I did get in touch with Emily (through other means) and receive a call from another girl for whom I also left a note.
Thank you, gaff tape. So glad I finally have you in my life.
Posted in Photography | 2 Comments »
January 8, 2011 by Chris Dunn
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.)
Posted in Diptych, Photography, Travel, Washington, D.C. | Leave a Comment »
January 6, 2011 by Chris Dunn
This morning, I walked out to my car — and for the first time since I’ve had it, its windows were frosted over.
The front windshield, from the outside.
Of course I’ve seen frost before, and of course I’ve had to scrape car windows. But that was my roommate’s car several years ago, and when I had my car in Missouri, I also had covered parking for it.
The front windshield, from the inside of the car.
I’ve also never seen frost so light and pretty and snowflake-y.
The back windshield.
So yeah, I had to snap a few shots before I scraped it all off and drove to the newsroom.
Posted in Pennsylvania, Photography | Leave a Comment »
January 5, 2011 by Chris Dunn
It’s been almost a year since I last shot basketball, but on the evening of my second day at The York Dispatch, I tagged along with John to photograph a high school game.
This was my first time…
- shooting high school basketball
- using my new full-frame camera to shoot sports
- having a lot of mobility and access during a game
For example, there was a wheelchair-access space cut out in the bleachers right in front of one of the baskets. Because no one in the crowd had a wheelchair, a photographer could sit there and shoot. So I did.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Central York's Jalil Ford attempts a shot during the third quarter against Red Lion on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2010.
A drop-down curtain separated the full court from a half-court, so that made for a nice, clean background on one side.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Central York's Corey Hartz attempts a shot against Red Lion on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2010.
The gym also featured a track that ran above and around the entire court. I spent most of the first quarter up there, and wished the whole time that I had at least a 300mm lens.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Red Lion's Eric Althoff unsuccessfully attempts to score at Central York High School on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011.
One thing I’ll have to wrangle: how to avoid back-/front-focusing with my new full-frame. I’ll be experimenting with different focus modes and techniques every chance I get.
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Sports, The York Dispatch, Weddings | 2 Comments »
January 5, 2011 by Chris Dunn
I spent Monday and Tuesday shadowing the York Dispatch‘s two staff photographers. Monday was a series of wild-goose chases — checking this out, looking for features… you know, the typical newspaper photography experience.
Tuesday morning, a fire destroyed two homes in nearby Red Lion. It was later ruled as arson, and John and I were sent to follow up on it in the afternoon. Three men were on-site, boarding up windows of the duplex that housed two families. I figured out that two of them were hired by one family to cover up one side of the duplex, and the other was hired by the other family. So John followed the two men, while I followed the single one.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Blake Cooper hauls a piece of plywood to board up a lower-story window of 136 W. High Street in Red Lion on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. Cooper, who works for Major Restoration Services, said the fire damage at this duplex was among the worst he has seen.
In such a disastrous scene, there were beautiful colors and beautiful light. I did my best with both.
© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Blake Cooper screws in a piece of plywood to board up a lower-story window of 136 W. High Street in Red Lion on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. The fire, which was called shortly after midnight Tuesday and was later ruled as arson, was caused by trash bags filled with gas that were thrown onto the porch of 136 W. High Street and ignited.
It’s a horrific thing for the two families who lost their homes — and for those whose neighboring houses sustained significant fire damage — but I think I did all right with these photos. As Cooper said when I spoke with him, “One man’s loss is another man’s gain.”
Coming up next: high school basketball!
Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, The York Dispatch, York | Leave a Comment »
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