Pickle

John and I spent a couple hours yesterday canning pints of pickles. I got a great deal on some little cucumbers at the Armada flea market Tuesday and found a nice brine mix up near Sandusky earlier this summer so we gave it our best shot. I love dill pickles so much I can eat a jar full at a time and not think twice. John wouldn't walk across the street for one. I'm hoping the Joe man shares my pickle passion. He couldn't wait to get his hands on one.

It's hot again

Here's a scene from the local pond where people flock to cool off and get away from the heat. I'm ready for fall.

Triathlon

It was pretty choppy in Lake Huron at 7:30 that morning.

Floatdown

Eva

It's been 54 years since the Machine Gunner stepped foot on the midway. The Texas native gave up a government accounting job and signed up for a life travel and long hours all in the name of love. The widow of a carney still knows her stuff. "It’s a living; you’ve got to pay your bills. There aren’t too many people who will hire an 86-year-old woman."

I bet she's a pretty good shot.

Keith at the rodeo

Today I got an e-mail from a good photographer friend and with it good news that he was now full time staff at his home town paper. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling that he's found a place in this crazy world even if it is just for the moment. Tonight I shot the rodeo at the local fair and couldn't help but think about how much Keith loves to shoot this kind of stuff. When I pushed the shutter on the first frame I couldn't help but think of him and the nice vertical moments he always manages to grab. The light was glorious out there tonight. Just right for kicking up a little dust.

Boat Night

It's a pretty good time.

Before the rain

The light was really nice and the air was so thick my skin stuck to everything...

Then I was so wet everything stuck to me...

I can't wait for the party tomorrow night.

And what a fine place it is.

It's been a long couple of days as the only photographer working and normally this would cause quite a bit of frustration which would eventually lead to anger but the assignments this weekend were really all about celebrating who we are as a country and where we are going. It's nice to just take a step back sometimes and appreciate the individuality of our great country and what allows us to maintain it. The first frame is of a woman giving me a tour of her neighborhood which she has worked for several years to try and take back from the drug dealers and the gangs which use her street on a daily basis.


The second two are from the Lexington Parade. there were so many people lining the street for such a little town.

And this last guy just got back from California after serving in the military and couldn't wait to leap into the water of the St. Clair River.

Fireworks take 4

I've been photographing the fire works every year since I have started at the paper and every year they keep getting a little better. I tried to stay away from the lights in the sky and pay a little more attention to what was happening on the ground. Here are a few frames from the night after the rain moved through.

It's summer time

The sun is hot, the light is beautiful and this photographer is elated. It's kind of a reward for all those cold dark winter days. The pools opened yesterday and I spent a little time making some pictures of those brave enough to tackle the deep end. and one little boy who just made it off the ladder.

This morning after kissing Joey good bye for more than five minutes I made some frames at a women's invitational. I've never really been a fan of women's golf but this morning the light was nice and the ball was in the right spot. I think it made a pretty nice little picture.
After golf I got in my car and headed home to grab something that I forgot and on my way I saw this doe standing in a wheat field. She was watching her two fawns getting a drink of water in a nearby ditch. When I got out of the car to make a picture the fawns slipped back into the cover of the wheat. But I managed to grab this frame.

It's spring

I spent the day riding in my car with the window down looking for life as the sun warmed the earth. The little numbers on my dash ready 68 degrees at one point. Three weeks ago I thought my skin would be wind burnt until May.
The the birds and the bees are starting to do their thing and it's time for babies, our baby. Today was my last day at the paper until the spring moves aside for summer. I'm pretty excited about the weeks to come. I'll be off the locals beat but I'm sure there will be plenty of action at home in my living room. I'll be sure to share some of those stories here. Life is about to get so much sweeter.

Thaw

That's right it's in the 40's today and has been for the past couple of days. It makes sitting in my car feel like one of the best places on earth. Liz and I were out hunting down a weather story when we happened to drive by Mark's place. I guess the sunshine and mild temps inspired him to get out and take down the garland with his dog Daisy. It wasn't until after I made a few frames from beyond the sidewalk that I discovered he had also not gotten around to cleaning up his yard.

Keep on driving

“When you’re about to give up…don’t give up, just keep on driving,” the Rev. Roger Carson preached to members of his church and the community Sunday. I spent part of the afternoon listening to messages of perseverance and keeping a faith. “He may not come when you want him, but he’s always on time.”

Snow day

It's winter, It snows in the winter, I make photos of people living in the winter... I caught Jordan and his grandfather in a snowball fight outside in their front yard. The little guy could bring it.

Samuel

When I called the office this afternoon I was told I needed to shoot a portrait of Samuel Chapman, 76 a man who had marched in a Civil Rights movement through the streets of Port Huron in his younger years. When I walked in the front door I looked to the right and seen the walls covered in photographs of his children and grandchildren and the light was wonderful coming in the south window, I knew this was the place he needed to be. I listened to the words that made up his faded memories, he often paused to chase the words through his mind before apologizing about not being able to recall all of the details, but I'm sure the pride he felt while marching is as vivid as the birth of his children. I just love hearing stories from those who have lived a lifetime.

Ice

So every winter like any other season right of passage the ice starts to flow and usually makes all the way to the southern end of the county before jamming up the St. Clair River. Today was different, it's jammed nearly all the way to Lake Huron. According to Ralph, one of those super cool guys that has worked a million years as a photographer at the paper, the ice hasn't piled up this far north in nearly 30 years. Here's a look a look south and nothing but ice as far as the eye can see.

Warm Face

Hundreds of people lined up this afternoon at one of the outlet malls to pick up a box of food and a toy for their kids from Santa himself. The unemployment rate in our country is almost 20 percent... When I hear the numbers they are just numbers but this afternoon the figures became a lot of people waiting in the cold for a chance at a better Christmas. Allen was the one taking the tickets at the door and ost people were just as excited to get to him as they were for the few minutes out of the cold.

Buck Pole

It's opening day for firearm season in Michigan. I drove about 70 miles up to the corner of M53 and M46 to get a gander at the morning's hunt.

Poisoned chocolate

What ever happened to good old trick or treating? My sister and I along with my cousins would pile into my aunt's Astro van and leave the side door open so we could jump out at each driveway to fetch the loot. Before that, Dad would hitch up a trailer to the lawn tractor and we would make our way down the street making sure we didn't miss any houses that had their porch lights on. If no one came to the door we wouldn't leave the porch without looking in the window. Come on who doesn't hand out candy to kids!

Now it seem everyone piles into their Caravan or Town and Country and has to go to these new Trunk or Treats when it's light outside and in a safe environment. Half of the fun is running though the mud and wanting to eat a piece in the sugar filled pillowcase before my dad could convince me that all the chocolate bars were poisoned. He always had to eat them just to make sure.