Meeting the client's needs

"The University of Denver sophomore gymnasts, from left, Taylor Stanford, Danielle Kirchhof, Annamari Maaranen, Kristina Coccia and Amanda Johnason pose for a portrait on the University of Denver campus in Denver, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008."

When was the last time that you worked with 14 divas? I'm only kidding. I shot the DU Gymnastics photos for their media guide for the second straight year this past week. It was a rather long day but the girls were great. Having my friends as subjects for a commercial shoot is always great. I know them, they know me, and that allows us to get some great images.

I was really pleased with the images from last year so it took me a little while to come up with something better than the previous year. Last year I shot them on top of a parking garage with downtown Denver in the background. This year, however, the client (DU media relations) wanted everything shot on campus to go along with their branding initiative. It can limit ones thought process but as a marketing guy I can understand how it can be difficult to brand an image of the girls at say Red Rocks or downtown.

In addition to the media guide cover and class shots to go on the inside cover I 

had to produce individual environmental portraits around campus for all of the girls. These images would be used on their bio pages. The girls had class throughout the day so I had to shoot them in small groups between 10am and 3pm before moving onto the class and cover shots. 

The individual shots such as this one of Kelly all turned out great.

I had my good buddy Mike assisting me throughout the entire day which was a huge help. The more and more I use an assistant the more I realize how much of a help it is and how it can keep the flow of a shoot going. Additionally, having a voice activated light stand (Mike) is great. He has come a LONG way from when I met him this time last year and it has been great to have someone to talk shop with on a daily basis. We also both share an obsession with sushi and Kona grill happy hour which we have visited almost every week since March.

After individuals we set up the class (Frosh., Sophs., ect) shots outside of their gym with the copper walls of the Ritchie Center as a backdrop. I have been waiting to try out a particular lighting scheme and I thought this was the perfect assignment for it. I used 4 heads and 3 packs for the shot. THe main light was 1,000WS though a HUGE home made beauty dish that I made the night before. Mike and I made smaller versions of the beauty dish a few months ago for our speedlights using a plastic plant bowl, a CD/DVD case and a parabolic mirror. Those were around 14 inches in diameter but the one that I made for the shoot was probably around 30+ inches. It made for a great semi-soft source that created the perfect look. I also threw up two kickers off to each side as well as a head on the background. The top image is an out take from the shoot. The final images were nice and "smiley" as requested by the client and without the kickers and flare in the image.

The cover was shot up on top of the law school parking lot. I had the girls roll a balance beam (read: heavy beast) up to the top on some 4-wheel dollies that I brought. I wanted to achieve two different looks but one got somewhat scrapped when I realized that I didn't have enough power to light the girls with a soft source. I could have just used hard light and looking back I should have just tried it but I had a plan and I was on a time limit so I didn't want to sway from my schedule. We mad a few frames and then moved the beam all of 60 feet to get a different look with Williams Tower in the background. The final image looked great but the client still "shopped" in some mountains and the Denver masthead. Most importantly to me the shoot finished on schedule with the time that I was allotted and the client was pleased with the images. I turned the cover and class images around overnight so that the client could go to print the following day.

The most important thing when working on any assignment is to finish on time, early if possible, and produce images that meet the clients needs and vision. I accomplished all of that with this assignment so therefore I can call it a success. 

-JCE

www.jcedmonds.com

D3 to the rescue

"The Florence High School football team sprints through a tunnel of students and parents as they take the field prior to their game against Manitou Springs High School at Manitou Springs High School in Manitou Springs, Friday, Sept. 26, 2008." The Gazette, Justin Edmonds

Have you ever shot in a cave? No really I'm not exaggerating, I did shoot in a cave tonight. Well it wasn't technically a cave but it should have classified as one. Thankfully for me I had the Nikon D3 on my side. Don't worry I haven't switched from Canon but I do have to give Nikon their props on their latest flagship camera. It performed with outstanding results tonight while I was shooting prep football at Manitou High School (read: a cave).

Kirk, one of the staffers, was working the desk tonight so I borrowed his D3 for the game. I don't know how I would have shot the game if I didn't have that camera because the lighting conditions pushed the limits far beyond anything that I have ever seen. In the MIDDLE of the field my settings were 1/640th, f2.8 @ 12,800 ISO. No that is not a typo. Near the end-zones I was at 1/320, f/2.8 @ 25,600 ISO. Now do you believe that I was shooting in a cave? You will probably think that I'm nuts but the files at those high ISO's looked stellar and for the newspaper I didn't even blink when I filed my images.

Now I'm a tried and true Canon guy but the Nikon D3 definitely has Canon beat at the moment. I was a little sad when I gave Kirk his camera back this evening and I'm sure the entire staff is going to cry, literally, when they have to send each of their D3's back to Nikon on October 6th.

Funny enough the image above was shot with my 30D. I get a few funny looks when I work the sidelines with long glass on a Nikon and then two Canon bodies around my neck. My Canon stuff is wayyyyyy better than the company issued D2H bodies (gross) so they encouraged me to use my gear when I can. Everything is covered under insurance so I don't have anything to worry about.

I have judo at the Olympic Training Center in the morning and then CC football in the awful light at high noon. I shot the Denver Gymnastics individual, class and team photos this past Wednesday so as soon as I'm doing editing them I'll be sure to put something up.

I mailed winter internship applications to Baltimore, Chattanooga, Columbus, Cedar Rapids and St. Louis today so keep your fingers crossed.

-JCE

www.jcedmonds.com

Long day, well worth it

Click here: 2008 Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Multimedia Presentation

(Edit: the multimedia presentation was sized for The Gazette's settings which turned out to be too big for my blog so you have to click the link above and you will then be directed to the proper URL which hosts the presentation)

I finally got the courage to do a multimedia project today. Considering that it is only my second ever attempt at doing so I'm pretty pleased with my results. I can say that being able to use the proper (expensive) equipment from the paper was a big help this time around.

I kept going back and forth on whether or not I was going to do one. I didn't even have the audio gear when I went to the event. However I arrived at 10am when I thought it was supposed to start but it turned out that they were only rehearsing. The paper is only three blocks from the park where it was being held so I just walked back to get the recorder, mic and headphones.

It was difficult trying to decide when exactly to shoot and when to record but it was so much easier this second time around. The event really lent itself well to multimedia because there was a lot of things to shoot and there was a lot of great audio everywhere.

While I was shooting as the event started I took off my hat and stuffed it into my belt pack out of respect but not five minutes after doing so it fell off somewhere and I never found it. Considering that I have had that all black Braves hat since 2004 I was really pissed. However I was even more pissed when I got in the car and looked at my hair in the mirror, I couldn't have looked more ridiculous. Only god knows what people must have thought of me with all my gear and nappy looking hat hair.

It has been a ridiculously long day so I'm going to shut it down now. Thankfully my assignment tomorrow isn't until 1pm so I can sleep in. Leave some comments and let me know what you think. I really want to improve upon my next multimedia project but I need some feedback on this one in order to do so.

-JCE

www.jcedmonds.com

Every assignment is a learning experience

"Doris Donley, a childhood sexual abuse survivor, photographed at her home in Colorado Springs Monday, Sept. 8, 2008. Donley now serves as a resource to other victims through a workshop, "Beyond Abuse," that she helped organize and run." The Gazette, Justin Edmonds

There hasn't been much exciting going on around here and even with the day off today I decided to lay low. I did want to post this portrait that finally ran this week. When I got the assignment I have to admit that I was a little nervous because the subject matter was rather touchy. However when I was greeted at the door by Doris I quickly realized that it would be a much better experience than I had anticipated. She admitted that she was a little nervous but that is often the case so I wasn't too rattled. 

I wanted to learn a little bit about Doris's personality before I made my images because I thought that it would help me relay a message on to the readers. We sat down in her living room for a few minutes just talking about the program that she helped develop and how she is using that as a medium to help other victims cope with their experiences.

As we chatted my mind began to develop several portrait idea that I thought would work. They all involved lighting her with either hard light or semi-soft light from a beauty dish. Neither of those scenarios happened though because I couldn't get my pocket wizards to fire the lights. I later found out this week that it was a firmware problem and after re-installing the previous firmware I haven't had any problems.

I had to quickly think on my feet while still holding conversation with the subject. The last thing I wanted to happen was for her to get rattled because I couldn't get my equipment to work.

The living room had huge glass windows and it was an overcast day so I opened them all up, asked her to sit on the couch as she usually would and shot wide open with my 85 to try and isolate her from some distracting elements in the room. After working it for a minute or two I decided to go outside and get a different look. I asked her where she usually sits outside and she quickly pointed to a bench in the front yard that she and her husband sit on regularly.

I posed her only enough to provide her with a little direction and then continued to shoot wide open with the 85. I really tried to work this environment quickly as possible and thankfully the soft light from the overcast day and green trees and bushes in her neighbors yard really worked well with her blue sweater and skin tone.

While I was packing up my gear in the living room we had a few more minutes to talk about her family and Colorado Springs. I was honored when she thanked me and said that I made the experience comfortable for her. Working with a subject has been one of the toughest things that I have had to learn as a photographer and that little comment, unbeknown to her, was a huge confidence boost in my ability to work with a portrait subject.

I had to overcome touchy subject matter and equipment failure and I passed the assignment with flying colors. The image may not be the most spectacular portrait in the world but it was an assignment that taught me something and I can be proud of that.

Week three at The Gazette starts tomorrow and I'm anxious to see what the week brings me.

-JCE

www.jcedmonds.com

Crazy (good) game in Denver

For those of you who watched the Chargers at Broncos home opener today you know what I'm talking about. Unfortunately I don't have any images for you today because I spent the afternoon assisting Jay Drowns from The Sporting News. 

Jay was a great guy and an awesome photog to work for. My style fit very well with his which always makes me pleased because I felt as though I was able to add something to the assignment other than just downloading cards and schlepping one of his 5 cameras (yes, that's not a typo). At first I thought that it was a lot of gear for just your everyday game but if I had the gear I could see myself doing the same thing. Each lens is a tool and you always need the right tool for the job. Just because I know that you're curious, we brought a 16-35, 28-70, 70-200, 300 and 600 on a mix of Canon Mark II's, IIN, and III's. You can't carry all that by yourself and thankfully for me it keeps me employed.

I watch a LOT of Sports Center so I'm able to provide various tidbits throughout the game that's helpful when you're looking that shot. However I'm really just there to lend a helping hand and be another set of eyes. I really enjoy assisting because it opens my eyes up to things that I don't notice when I'm shooting. I already know that the next time that I shoot football that I'll be a better shooter because I assisted someone else today.

I'm back at work tomorrow. Obama is coming to Pueblo which is about an hour south of the Springs so I'm anxious to see if I get sent down to cover it. Only one way to find out...

-JCE

www.jcedmonds.com

Stuck in the mud

"An Air Academy Kadet leads a group of runners up a steep and mud covered portion of the course during the Kadet Invitational cross country meet at Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs Friday, Sept. 12, 2008." The Gazette, Justin Edmonds

It started raining last night at 6pm and didn't let up until after one this afternoon. At first I wasn't so thrilled about the rain because expensive camera gear and water don't mix too well. My didn't appear to get any better when I went to my first assignment at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Sarah you'll be proud of me, I shot Lucky the elephant painting. It ended up being super lame because the only people there were the reporter, video guy from one of the news stations, three zoo keepers, myself and of course the elephant. I don't care if the elephant can do a backflip, anything that happens inside a dark, smelly cage with a few onlookers isn't a story if you ask me.

After that I drove the North side of the springs to cover a manhunt for a suspected kidnapper who took a woman from Taos, N.M. Thursday evening. THe woman got away but the suspect was still on the loose. I arrived on the scene to three SWAT members with guns drawn and a K-9. After two hours or so and a few images later the search was called off and I went back to the office. I moved two images and then drove all the way back to the North side for prep cross country at Air Academy HS.

I didn't quite know what to expect with this sport since I've never shot it before but I really had a great time. The rain and poor weather made for some great images. I wanted to show the grittiness of the sport so I asked around and found a mud covered hill near the end of the course that the runners would have to contend with. The light was really flat so I decided to throw an SB-800 off to the side with a warming gel to add some edge to the runners. I was really hoping for a huge crash as they slipped trying to run up the mud covered hill but they all managed it pretty well.

The results sheet wasn't even close to being done by the time I left so I wasn't able to identify any of the runners, I'll have to do that tomorrow when I do my second edit. Luckly for me Mark told me that Air Academy senior Allie McLaughlin would most likely win the race, she did so in course record time, so I was able to get an image of her and moved that when I got back to the office.

I have an assignment on a girl scout's final project in the morning and the CC football in the afternoon before heading down to Denver for the weekend. I'm technically off on Sunday but in fact I'll be assisting Jay Drowns for the Sporting News at the Broncos home opener versus San Diego.

-JCE

www.jcedmonds.com

It doesn't get much better than this

I had a great day.

When I walked into the office Mark told me to check my mail box and to my surprise I had my Denver Broncos season credential waiting for me. I knew that this could possibly be coming but I didn't just expect it. The day was off to a good start and I'll take the good days when I can get them.

Stu handed me a portrait assignment for the day and then asked if I was in pretty good condition. Wait, huh? What does my physical condition have to do with photography? The wheels inside my head were churning as I waited to hear where he was going with this. He just wanted to see if I was up for covering an assignment on a hike (read carrying two cameras and extra stuff while trekking up a mountain) with out "Out there" reporter Dave Phillips. I briefly met Dave the other day and he seemed like a really great adventurous guy so I agreed. I mean I'm 22 so the physical conditioning wasn't a concern so I'm still a little puzzled why Stu asked me if I was up for it or not. Anyway, look for that soon.

On my way back from my portrait assignment I got a call from another staffer, Jerilee, asking if I had time to swing by another assignment that had just come up. I didn't have anything else planned so I stopped back by the office to figure out where I was going and quickly headed off. 

In remembrance of the September 11th attacks that occurred seven years ago (man time goes fast) 150 second graders had made American flags in their classes and were going to walk along a major road and display them for people driving by. Although it wasn't really spot news it was a little unexpected so I got a little rush on my way to cover it.

I "really worked it" as Mark said as he was looking over my stuff when I got back. I pride myself in shooting until I really get some images that show several different perspectives of the event. I made some nice images but most of all they were storytelling and that is the most important thing for the reader.

I made quick feature before I got back to the office of some guys painting a football field for homecoming. The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind is hosting Iowa School for the Deaf on Saturday and if I didn't already have two assignments I would go cover it on my own just to see what it would be like.

I made sold images at all three assignments that I shot today and that is all I can ever ask for. The Broncos season credential was like putting a cherry on top

It's been raining pretty hard since I got off at 5:30 and hasn't let up one bit. Tomorrow is going to be a soggy one but that should make for some good gritty pictures at cross-country tomorrow afternoon after a morning at the zoo.

-JCE

www.jcedmonds.com

America's Next Top Model?

[Edit: my cable and therefore my internet went out as I was typing this so it is just now getting posted]

It may not come as a surprise to many of you who know me but I get asked on a daily basis if people tell me that I look like Tiger Woods. The guy is an amazing player, fantastic role model for kids and is an inspiration to myself so I take it as a huge compliment. To be honest I don't totally see it but I must be wrong because I would say that people comment on my similarity to Eldrick at least 8-10 times a week. I got asked three times today alone. The above picture was taken by my professor last year during a lighting demonstration and I just so happened to have my TW getup on that day. 

So when DAVE BLACK called me up and asked if I wanted to be a faux Tiger Woods model for him for a shoot that he was doing for Nikon I gladly accepted the gig. I met Dave at Mr. Clarkson's Sports Photography Workshop this past June and he is good friends with my boss at The Gazette, Mark Reis. I have to be honest, I've never done any modeling before and don't really plan to do any in the future (I like to be on the other side of the lens) so I didn't really know what to expect. Dave just wanted me to hit drives with good form. I'm a 3 handicap so it was pretty straightforward for me to do what he was hoping for. 

We shot the images this morning at Patty Jewitt Golf Course here in Colorado Springs on the lesson tee. Dave wanted to use the signature Tiger "look" so I of course showed up in black pants, shoes, belt, a red shirt and black TW hat. Tiger might be to only other person to own as much Nike golf apparel as I do and I made sure to bring a slew of pants and shirts every color of the rainbow as well as white Nike golf shoes, belt and TW hat. [Note to self: buy stock in Nike apparel]

Dave had nearly everything set up when I arrived and we got right to work trying to get that perfect image of impact which turned out to be a little more difficult than I think both of us anticipated.

After about 15 balls or so we got yelled at by a greenskeeper mowing the fairway. Apparently I was a little too good and was hitting them too far into the fairway. Dave talked to a few different course personnel the day before and we had given the go ahead to hit into that area. The greenskeeper apparently wasn't on the same page because he proceeded to yell at us and told Dave, "Tell Tiger junior over here that he needs to tone it down, NOW."

It was quite a sight because Dave couldn't have been more of a gentleman and apologized profusely to the guy but he didn't care. After another minute or so of banter on the guys behalf he left and we both shared a chuckle out of it. A course ranger came over soon there after and couldn't have been nicer about the situation. He even brought us back a bunch of the balls that I had hit off into the distance.

We did a few more shots, changed positions, changed clubs, hit a few more and finished up shortly before 10am. In addition to being one of the greatest sports photographers in the world I quickly learned how great of a person he is. While we got all the gear put away in his truck we talked shop which was a treat for me because I always learn something talking to great photographers such as Dave. Sure Tiger Woods is my "hero" if you will but I really look up to photographers like Dave, Mr. Rich Clarkson, Donald Miralle, Vincent Laforet and others alike whom I can actually talk to. Lets be honest, I'm probably not going the have the chance to talk shop with Tiger but I can with these great photographers and that is why I think our profession is so great. The photography community is small and everyone knows each other. Photographers are willing to share their insights with other shooters and the last time I checked Tiger wasn't giving Phill any tips.

I had a great time modeling today, if you consider me hitting golf balls as modeling. I would probably be out doing that anyway but today I got to learn something as well. I'll post a pic or two when Dave gets the images back from the client and sends me a CD.

Back to work tomorrow.

-JCE

www.jcedmonds.com

The day that wasn't

"A Doherty spike just slips by the outstretched arms of Colorado Springs Christian's Summer Greager (7) and Lauren Santarelli (10) in the third game of girls volleyball action at Doherty High School in Colorado Springs Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008. The Lions from CSCS fell to the Spartans 25-17, 25-23, 25-19." Photo by Justin Edmonds, The Gazette

Today was just one of those days where nothing really goes right and you can't really do anything about it. I had two assignments today: prep volleyball and a standalone feature for metro.

In an effort to finish my day earlier than expected I wanted to try and find a feature before my volleyball assignment. Last night I searched the internet for things going on in the city that the paper wasn't already covering. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that the nature center at the park less than a mile from my place was having their annual honey harvest for kids. I thought this would be perfect; you can't really beat people in funny looking hats and little kids in awe of what they are doing for a easy feture pickup.

I wasn't so happy when I got out of bed early to attend the event only to realize that it wasn't anything more than some kids looking at bees inside a plexiglass box. I made all of three images before getting out of there.

On my way to the office I noticed a dozen police officers standing next to their motorcycles' outside of a center that houses an hotel, parking garage and two banks. I made a U-turn, parked in the library lot above the officers and got out to see what was going on. Again....nothing. They just stood there for a good 25 minutes while I waited for something to happen. I at least was hoping that they would all leave in unison so that I could get a slow shutter pan of all of them. I called the office and nothing turned up on the scanner so I just left. McCain and his hockey mom of a VP were in town and they were just the motorcade waiting for the event at the airport to finish. Whatever!

I made a quick stop by the office to grab the strobes and a 400 before going to Doherty for volleyball. Kirk wasn't on the desk today because he was shooting that old guy running for president so I couldn't use his D3.

I arrived with 50ish minutes before the varsity match and began setting up my strobes on the ends of the stands. I put both of them up but it was an absolute headache because I couldn't get my pocket wizards to fire consistently. One would fire but the other wouldn't...so I moved. I tried different channels. I moved the PW's. I stood in different places. Same thing. Repeat. Same thing. Ahhhhhhh. I was so frustrated.

After dealing with that mess for the first game and a half I finally decided to scrap the idea. I got out my trusty Canon, bumped that sucker to 3200 ISO at 1/640 and pounded away on the shutter trying to make up for the time I spent dealing with the strobes that weren't. I made some safe frames just to cover my ass but by the time I was done with that the game was over. I made a bunch of 'pedestrian' images and nothing more. I couldn't have been more disappointed in both the gear and myself. I wanted to shine on my first sports assignment and that just didn't happen.

I didn't have too much time to sulk though because I still had to find a feature. I drove around a completely different way back towards the office hoping that I would see something new and interesting but it wasn't there. The sun was shining and it was warm so I wanted to show that in the image. I wanted people outside enjoying the warm weather because it has been pretty chilly the past week since I arrived. If anyone would be outside I knew that college kids would so I drove over to DU's bitter rival CC to find something. 

FINALLY something caught my eye. A group of guys were "tossin some disc" and they were soon joined by a larger group that joined in and they started a pickup game of Ultimate. I was shooting backlit with some really nice sunlight and a backdrop of some tall, lush, dense trees that made the background go dark.

I got a few funny looks (from some hot girls at that) as I laid completely on the ground in slightly damp grass so I get a more of a unique perspective. I made some decent images, got their names and headed back to the office.

Tomorrow is another day but it comes with pressure as I already know that my 7am assignment is running A1. I'm looking forward to redeeming myself come dawn. Night.

-JCE

www.jcedmonds.com

Grinding it out

"Ben Maggard from Bo Steel company welds a new entrance awning into place outside of Regina's Shoebox on Tejon St. in Colorado Springs Friday, Sept. 5, 2008." Photo by Justin Edmonds, The Gazette

On my way to an early afternoon assignment, that ended up producing some rather pedestrian images, I saw a bright flash of light that caught my eye. I quickly pulled into a parking spot on Tejon Street and walked over to what turned out to be a guy welding a new entrance outside of a shoe store. I thought that it would be perfect for a standalone daily feature for the Metro section of the paper and worked the scene for a few minutes. The image isn't anything spectacular but is something that I'm looking for while out and about in the city.

I have prep volleyball tomorrow that is supposed to include two powerhouse teams which should be fun. The staffers each have a D3 on loan from Nikon Professional Services until October 6th and since Kirk is working the desk tomorrow I'm going to try and borrow his D3, bring a 400 and see what I can do. If not then I'll be bringing strobes to the gym so either way the files should look nice and crisp.

The Metro section also needs a strong daily feature to run on the cover so I'll be cruising the city looking for something in good light after volleyball. Tomorrow is another unknown day as a photojournalist and I can't wait.

-JCE

www.jcedmonds.com

Welcome to the real world

"A shoot off of the foot of Liberty's Javier Salome (17) strikes the Cheyenne Mountain defensive wall in the first half of Metro league action at District 20 Stadium in Colorado Springs Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008." Photo by Justin Edmonds, The Gazette

Well as Sarah put it, I started my "big boy job (internship)" at The Gazette on Tuesday morning. I spent the first few hours completing boring, but necessary, paperwork and learning how, where and when to file images. I got a chance to meet nearly all the staffers which was really great. Everyone is really nice and anxious to help me out when I pepper them with silly questions about this and that.

 I felt somewhat intimidated at first because for the first time in a while I wasn't the big fish in the little pond, it was exactly the opposite. They can all hold their own and while I'm still very confident in what I can do I was a little nervous about how I would stack up against all their experience. Day one was slow and I didn't end up shooting anything but that was probably good because it gave me a chance to get to know the system and wrap my head around things

I quickly realized that I was of the team when one of the staffers asked me to look at her images and help her pick out the final images that she would file. Mark, who was a little under the weather from his trip to Beijing, told me yesterday that I would find myself as one of the crew but I didn't think that it would happen this quickly. Carol probably didn't think twice about asking me for my opinion but in a very subtile way it helped me relax a bit. I helped he pick a few winners and then finished editing my stuff.

(Rewind a little) I didn't have an assignment for the day so I set off to "hunt" for a standalone feature. I found nothing for the longest time but a fire truck raced past me so I flipped a U-turn and followed them to a scene of a traffic accident. Everyone was ok but the two cars weren't in very good condition. I was playing with the company Nikon D2H's that I got and I have to say that it was a little different shooting something with different gear. I worked the scene (probably too much), got names and then headed back towards the office. 

I decided to stay out a little bit longer and I quickly noticed a military style hat up over the ridge while I was driving. I pulled over into the nearest place I could in some random funeral home driveway and walked across the street to the Evergreen cemetery. A small memorial for a WWII veteran was taking place. I made a few images before heading back to the office.

(Now back to the rest of the day) After editing and filing I decided to go shoot a soccer game that Kevin was already assigned to so that I could get some practice. I wasn't off to a good start when I couldn't get my pocket wizards to fire. I wanted to do a goal remote but that got scratched because of the PW situation and I was too lazy to go get my 250 ft spool of hardline out of the trunk. I was a little trigger happy and blasted off nearly 800 images w/o paying attention. It was a pain in the ass to edit down today. I was flustered because I really wanted to show the staff what I can do and I didn't think enough to just shoot. I only filed three frames since it wasn't my assignment and I wasn't really pleased with anything in particular.

Today was a little different as I had my first assignment. I had to shoot a mechanic who received the Tech of the Year award after fixing a family's car for a Make-a Wish child. I thought it would be another lame grip and grin but when his co-workers busted out the silly string I was happy because it mad for a nice image.

The benadryl  that I took is kicking in and I can barely type this because it's knocking me out. I'll talk about my place, my new city and the paper more soon.

JCE

www.jcedmonds.com