{illtown}

onwards.

2011-06-08T08:56:00.008-04:00

Well, this blog hasn't had much activity in over a year. Or any. Time to close the books.

This blog serves as a record of a few years in photojournalism, including images from my first internship at a small-town paper, to The Dallas Morning News, all the way to time spent living in China to pictures shot while a photojournalism instructor in Florida. Someone learning or interested in the craft could look through 250+ posts on this blog about newspaper photojournalism, freelancing, projects, pushing my style and vision, struggles, successes, failures, hilarious comments, layoffs, jokes, etc.

Photojournalism taught me how to see the world. I will shoot pictures throughout my life. Now I'm interested in studying other ways to tell stories.

Today is my last day as a teacher. I will spend the summer backpacking abroad. In August, I'll be heading to film school to pursue a MFA in Film Production from Florida State University where I will study the craft of narrative filmmaking.

See here ... http://film.fsu.edu/Graduate-Programs/MFA-in-Production

Maybe I'll update this blog or start another one once school starts.

Check out my newly redesigned website for galleries, projects and short films.

www.benfredman.com

Thanks for looking.

Ben Fredman

greet.

2010-01-15T18:03:00.001-05:00

From a trip to NYC.

miamibeach.

2009-12-02T20:42:00.017-05:00

Been a while. I've been busy these last few months getting this journalism program up and running. In short, I teach multimedia and photojournalism in Newsroom I and II elective courses in a program in partnership with the SP Times. We put out the school newspaper and have launched an ever growing website. It's an interesting gig...I'm trying to be a source of inspiration and ideas as well as a teacher, director of photography, mutlimedia producer, web editor, photo editor, multimedia editor, page designer, IT technician, managing editor, copy editor and occasional problem solver.

We have a load of excellent equipment and some stellar students. I'm always blown away looking at the work produced...most of these kids never picked up a SLR or used a Mac before taking this class. They're doing a great work and hopefully learning valuable skills.

Check out our website at http://snntoday.snn.pcsb.org/ to see some of the work. We are using Joomla as our content managing system online. In the last few months, I have learned this CMS in and out. The Eyes of Lakewood has been a strong video series...teaching the kids the basics of video interviews and editing while gathering compelling stories. There are multimedia presentations and audio slideshows and picture slideshows as well.

Anyways, here are some pictures of my first vacation, benefits of being an educator...I spent the week relaxing in the Ft. Lauderdale and Miami Beach area. My winter vacation will be in Southern Florida, then NYC and Boston. For spring break I've got plans to backpack and shoot for a week in Costa Rica, Jamaica, or Puerto Rico...wherever I can get cheap tickets to. For my big summer trip, I'm planning to take six weeks, grab a backpack, some clothes and a camera and head to a remote region in northwest India between Tibet and Burma. We'll see how things come together.

Also, a shout to my friends John Tully and Brandon Kruse who have some awesome projects they've completed recently. Killer stuff dudes.

And the pictures...

friday night iPhone

2009-09-19T21:22:00.011-04:00

I still find myself on a high school football field on the occasional Friday night. Instead of shooting on deadline for a paper, I'm organizing and delving out cameras, advice and inspiration for my students.

We are waiting for long glass, two 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses for the students to use. For now, they're using kit lenses on Nikon D40's...hardly ideal for shooting action on the football field. However, I'm a fan of looking away from the obvious, to more subtle aspects of sports, and all stories for that matter. It's interesting, open to seeing. In addition, I'm explaining the idea that it's not the camera or lens you use but the things you see. So I goofed off for a half with my iPhone...showing my students along the sidelines, in hope of inspiration, the things I was seeing with my phone.

Dujiangyan dam.

2009-08-23T13:01:00.007-04:00

Been swamped getting ready for school on Tuesday...also archiving and cleaning out a very full hard drive. Here is a frame I liked from the area around Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province, China, where I went on many a day trip.

stateside.

2009-08-16T20:40:00.009-04:00

Changes.

This is a picture of three couples on various planes of St. Pete Beach, shot while relaxing and reading a book before my first day of training for a new gig.

Over coffee one morning in China, I saw a rather interesting job opportunity on the wonderful threads of APAD. A few weeks later, after a 36 hour block of traveling, I drove my newly purchased car to the beautiful town of St. Petersburg, Florida.

I'll be a Photojournalist in Residence with Pinellas County Schools, teaching photojournalism, multimedia and newsroom skills at Lakewood High School. I'm part of a program called Journeys in Journalism, a specialized education initiative in partnership with the St. Petersburg Times and the Poynter Institute. It's a change in pace for me, but I think it will be a rewarding and unique job. It's the first year for the program at the high school level...so lots of room to develop and shape the program. Not to mention the two months of vacation a year...more traveling? Certainly. Also, I'm living in St. Petes in the midst of a wonderful photo community. Can't afford a hotel for Geekfest 2009? You can crash on my floor. Funny, I've been a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan since I was ten despite never being to the area before. That's what growing up in New Mexico without a local team will do for you...

I'm planning to do some freelance work in the area, keep working on projects, etc. So hopefully no more month long lapses in illtown...

from the east.

2009-08-16T19:45:00.013-04:00

Yikes. It's been far too long since I've updated illtown. Trying to get back in the groove.

Here is a random post from my last month in China...two days after returning from my backpacking trip to Thailand, I boarded a plane south for Kunming, Yunnan Province, where I worked for a month in the city of Dali and small village Shaxi with Rustic Pathways, a company specializing in various programs for American teenagers around the globe. I was shooting for their catalog and basically helping to lead a program...in other words managing kids in a foreign country. I was a great experience, highly challenging yet extremely rewarding. For the catalog, I was mostly shooting PR-style-happy-kids-having-fun and such...

These are just some shots for me along the way. I found it challenging when out and about that most people would immediately pose and smile for the camera...with my limited Chinese, it was hard to explain my intention to shoot documentary photojournalism...so I took the chance to make some portraits of people.

My travels in Asia were simply incredible. I'm still going through the significance in my mind. It wasn't just about pictures, although that was a significant part. It was about the things I saw, learned, laughed at, ran from, ran to. The people I met. Twelve hour bumpy bus rides from hell with toothless men chain smoking next to me. Groups of villagers gathering to watch me eat noodles. Journal entries. Riding motorcycles through cloud covered mountains. Almost crashing motorcycles. Tutoring Chinese students, helping them learn English. Having conversations with people using nothing but gestures. Being in the midst of bike traffic jams. Trying not to get hit by buses, cars, taxis, motorbikes on the most unsafe roads I've ever seen. Being in places where nobody understood my language. The occasional injury. Fascinating conversations with brilliant people. Backpacking. Hiking. Learning some Chinese. THE FOOD. Spending time with my brother and sister in law. Books I read. Glee. Panic. Joy. Adventures, adventures, adventures. I wouldn't give the experience up for anything in the world. I'll be out and about again...so much more of the world to see, experience, photograph.

straw dogs.

2009-07-02T04:38:00.002-04:00

While riding roads of Thai villages, it’s impossible not to note ragged dogs dotting the winding path. Often, they prop their thin bodies in the middle of the road, rarely moving for anyone or anything, including my motorbike.

I found out the hard way they don’t like to be pet. Some have something along the lines of an owner, some food or water here and there, but they live in the streets. Most are alone, guarding their small section of territory.

These are the straw dogs. And these some photos I took of the ones that didn’t run away.

Since I'm blogging under a firewall and have to use proxy servers to post anything, this soundslider may not embedd or work properly. If it doesn't, maybe this will...

http://www.benfredman.com/misc/strawdogs/index.html

misc thailand...

2009-07-01T23:29:00.010-04:00

Finally an update. I've been busy as of late and discouraged by the firewall which has blocked blogger here. I've been using sneak proxy servers, but could not post photos. Then I came to realize I should try embedding soundsliders...I can't see them, but if they don't work on your end, leave a comment.

So far, it doesn't seem to be working. But try looking here...

http://www.benfredman.com/misc/thailand/index.html

Anyways, I spent a few weeks on a solo backpacking trip around Thailand. I explored, riding a motorcycle anywhere I could without crashing or getting stuck in mud. I visited temples, endured twelve hour bus rides, met rad people, laughed a great deal...had a fantastic time. Now I'm in Yunnan Province, China, doing photography and group leadership for Rustic Pathways, a group that brings American teenagers across the globe for various programs. Mid-July I'll leave here and hopefully go on a backpacking trip to far Western Sichuan to explore photograph a massive annual Tibetan horse racing festival.

erg.

2009-05-29T23:27:00.001-04:00

Well, I can't access my blog, or any blogs, without using a proxy sneak server. Now, I can't upload photos. So for the time being, not much here until the firewall eases. I'm off to backpack and travel for a few weeks. Photos to come.

one year later.

2009-05-12T05:14:00.010-04:00

Here is a project I've worked on during my short time so far in China. I spent some time documenting the ongoing situation in the Sichuan Province as we approached the first anniversary of last year's earthquake.

In addition, here are some photos from a ceremony marking the one year anniversary of the earthquake. Tianfu Square, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.

temples.

2009-05-02T06:39:00.019-04:00

Wandering Buddhist temples. Chengdu and Pongzhou, Sichuan Province, China.

polluted.

2009-05-02T06:29:00.003-04:00

Pongzhou, Sichuan, China.

dirty window.

2009-04-15T04:58:00.007-04:00

Headed to the countryside recently...many hours in a bus behind a dirty window, occasionally looking out.

garden.

2009-04-14T09:52:00.006-04:00

a foggy stroll...

bamboo.

2009-04-07T11:21:00.010-04:00

Passed Chengdu's Wangjiang Tower Bamboo Garden during my morning bike ride, stopped in to wander around.

view

2009-04-05T21:09:00.005-04:00

The view from my brother's apartment in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. I'm slowly getting in the swing of things...finally met my wonderful sister-in-law and enjoying being out and about.

east bound.

2009-03-27T08:34:00.008-04:00

I haven't been shooting much as of late, so sorry for the lack of new pictures. I've been busy living briefly in NYC...selling most of my belongings, hanging with family, making a book, printing promos and meeting with some wonderful people in the industry before I leave the states.

I leave for China on April 1, 2009. Look for more updates as spring rolls on...

here we go.

2009-02-27T18:41:00.027-05:00

This post has been long overdue. Fitting I write about this on the day one of America's best newspapers, the Rocky Mountain News, published it's final edition. The economy and the newspaper business is in utter turmoil.

Last month, I found myself on the wrong end of an involuntary staff reduction. I've got nothing to hang my head about. I'm happy with the work I did during my time here at the FLS. It came down to decisions and circumstances far out of my control. Sadly, I've witnessed many talented friends, colleagues and scores of people I've never met finding themselves in the same position.

I'm not gonna kvetch and whine. My time in newsrooms across America has been an incredible experience and given me the opportunity to see some spectacular things. When one door closes, another opens. I've come to the conclusion that this is a perfect time for me to explore the world, travel, continue to tell stories, and move into a freelance career. I'm young, have no debts, nothing to tie me down, there are no jobs here and the economy will most likely remain in the gutter for at least one or two years. So I'm planning a trip to China to live with my brother for a few months and work on a project. From there, I'm not really sure. Most likely I'll head to Israel — a nation that since my initial aspirations to be a photojournalist sparked my interest and curiosity.
-----
Oh yeah, here are a bunch of photos from a story I started here and never quite finished. It's found a home on my blog...

Parker's marina is a father and son operation led by Henry Parker Sr., 82, and his fifty-year-old son Henry Jr. Their livelihood depends on operating the marina, crabbing and collecting oysters. They've both been working at the marina their entire lives. However, a floundering economy, rising gas prices, decreasing crab and oyster population and increased county and government regulation have made for the toughest year since the 1936.

Best of luck to everyone out there...strange days indeed.

.nyc.

2009-02-16T20:08:00.013-05:00

Friends and family, NYC. Haven't seen my cousin and sister in years, they've been living in Israel.

J-train

dj solly

j sullivan

valentine

turn and face the strange changes.

2009-01-23T15:33:00.020-05:00

a tear drop for our new president.

***Sorry to post this a bit late. I'm still exhausted from what was a long, arctic, exhilarating and profoundly historic day. I can't really put it all into words just yet. I was one of millions drifting in that great sea of humanity. Here are some pictures.

descending.

from the hip, on the metro.

the crowd trickles in.

mother and daughter from portand, ore.

someone is always watching.

tales of brave ulysses.

an inauguration moment, introducing President Barack Hussein Obama.

relying on words.

whirlwind.

PreNaug!

2009-01-19T17:48:00.015-05:00

I've been in DC for some days off...will be working the mall side-by-side with millions for tomorrow's grand event. Here are some things from the last two days spent hanging with friends, catching the end of the concert, wandering around, shooting...pretty low key. Tomorrow should be incredible...

On a further note, Barack Obama will be in the White House and the Arizona Cardinals will be playing in the Super Bowl — Simply an amazing time...

metro's packed.

security's tight.

people everywhere.

jube.

I was on MSNBC last night. I was wearing a gray hat.

when you gotta go.

two women pose for their off-frame husbands, respectively.

Of course, protesters from every side of the political and social spectrum are out in full force. Always interesting and odd.

haircut.

2009-01-17T10:37:00.002-05:00

the linc.

2009-01-13T18:30:00.004-05:00

Flags. Everywhere.

2009-01-11T21:15:00.005-05:00

Religous Freedom Day Parade. Fredericksburg, VA

Abel Ndayihaya.

2008-12-27T07:47:00.012-05:00

Devout Christian Abel Ndayihaya spent last Christmas in a small tent with his wife and five sons in a refugee camp in Tanzania, where he had been living as a Burundian refugee for 35 years. Ten months ago, the family immigrated to America and moved to the Fredericksburg area. This year Abel celebrated his first Christmas in America, with a new home, a new job and a newborn addition to the family. I documented Abel and his family for a day and spent a bit of time with Abel at his job. This ran on Christmas Day in our region section with a fantastic layout. I'll post it as soon as I get the PDF's. They're wonderful people. Here is a link to the story.

hi mom.

2008-12-22T16:56:00.006-05:00

Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis hugs his mom in the stands after the Redskins 10-3 victory over NFC East rival Philadelphia on Dec., 21, 2008, at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

keep cool my skins.

2008-12-13T12:42:00.008-05:00

Starters of the Washington Redskins make their stand against the Cleveland Browns.

Nature's cruel. A few weeks ago, the Washington Redskins were 6-2. After beating the Cowboys and Eagles on the road, people were talking Super Bowl. The road since has been rocky. The Skins have no chance of making the playoffs. Next week will be their final home game, most likely my final time to FedEx Field this season. Womp-Womp.

team

2008-12-07T12:06:00.002-05:00

From cross country state finals.

bomb threat.

2008-12-03T20:28:00.000-05:00

at James Monroe High School. By the time I got there, things had settled down. Police had students back in school for second period.

black friday

2008-11-28T13:41:00.002-05:00

I don't get it, but people up line in front of target, best buy, kohl's and on and on for it every year. Four in the morning is for sleeping!

delegation.

2008-11-17T14:16:00.000-05:00

Members of a delegation from Princes Town, Ghana, sister city of Fredericksburg, pray before a forum and ceremony about recent DNA genealogical research linking Princes Town Chief Nana Ndama Kundumuah IV and an African American man from Memphis, Tennessee.

urban trail.

2008-11-17T12:12:00.004-05:00

On a cold and drizzly Saturday morning, I followed an "Urban Trail Ride" through downtown Fredericksburg. I rode my bike, easier than walking/running to get around. Our focus was on members of the United Horsemen's Assoc., a group dedicated to promoting the often-overlooked history of black cowboys. Here's a link to the story. Here's a link to an audio slideshow.

Juan.

2008-11-16T17:57:00.002-05:00

Juan Carlos Bonilla. World traveler, businessman, consultant.

state bound

2008-11-07T08:26:00.001-05:00

a night with the dems...

2008-11-05T11:08:00.010-05:00

Last night was amazing. What a historic evening for the good ole' USA.

I covered the official watch party for the Democratic Party of Virginia. My assignment was to get photos of Mark Warner's victory speech for his new U.S. Senate position and overall coverage of the event. I had my two company nikons around each arms for the coverage. I also brought out my 5D and a snooted strobe to try to see things a little differently and look beyond the stuff on stage.

It was an intense night. My deadline was 9:45 and Warner didn't get on stage until 9:55, so I literally shot him on stage for two minutes and ducked to the side of the stage and transmitted as Warner and the crowd roared behind me. I made our absolute final against-the-wall-deadline...crunch time at it's finest.

Here's some of a night with the dems.

stumping around.

2008-10-28T14:45:00.008-04:00

VP candidate Sarah Palin came for a rally in downtown Fredericksburg. It's the typical political madness of the day, I suppose. I've never covered one of these before, but it's always fun to try new things and see history unfold.

step out.

2008-10-24T10:55:00.002-04:00

WWII planes on display in Stafford, Va.

skins a rollin

2008-10-20T02:16:00.001-04:00

Good times @ FedEx...here's our slideshow from the game

high ISO times

2008-10-16T11:06:00.001-04:00

I've never been the biggest fan of shooting Friday night high school football action. Especially those nights when I'm in front of my computer trying to get rid of haggard red eye on an ugly direct-flash photo from a dimly lit field. Using our pool D3, and shooting at iso 6400 at 1/640, makes the whole experience much more enjoyable.

This was from last week, guy actually caught it.

winos throwing frisbees at the sun.

2008-10-13T14:44:00.008-04:00

Covered a wild one at FedEx, the red-hot Redskins lost to the previously winless Rams on a last second field goal. Here is a link to our online galleries we're doing from every game. Lots of action pictures, my more aesthetic side thinks I should try to push for more style into my coverage, however, I'm learning that in fast-moving, close games filled with incredible, game-changing completions, interceptions, multiple fumbles, sacks, last second 49-yard field goals and countless penalties, the number one priority is to tell the story of the game...and try to be in the right place at the right time.

It's a delicate dance. Party on.

take a deep breath

2008-10-07T11:11:00.003-04:00

mushroom party

2008-09-29T10:57:00.010-04:00

Took some pictures of a group identifying fungi in quiet Virginian forest. This is also my 200th post. It prompted me to look back through the archives, going all the way back to my first post from my first internship. Little did I envisage the things I'd see...

montpelier

2008-09-18T15:58:00.005-04:00

From a huge celebration festival for the re-opening of the newly restored Montpelier, James Madison's famed home in Orange County, Va.

entertainment

color guard

cut that ribbon, mr. governor

star

marine.

2008-09-06T09:05:00.003-04:00

Members of the 4th Marine Division, who fought on Iwo Jima and other island campaigns, visit the Marine Museum in Triangle, Va.

fredvegas pride fest.

2008-09-01T11:13:00.000-04:00

back in the day

2008-08-24T21:15:00.005-04:00

a recent high school reunion for classes as far back as 1935...

new college students on the river...

reenact this.

2008-08-18T11:24:00.000-04:00

infantry demonstration.

natural virginia.

2008-08-18T11:10:00.003-04:00

Took pictures of a group touring a preserve in central Virginia looking for rare and endangered plants...

rain, rain.

2008-08-15T09:15:00.002-04:00

during a brief downpour at a science camp where kids were launching rockets...among other things.

preseason skins.

2008-08-11T09:52:00.004-04:00

I've always felt strongly the NFL is America's best sports league, so I'm happy to have a whole bunch of Skins games to shoot this year. We'll be doing slideshows from games with a snazzy template and big pictures. Here's the first one.

raid.

2008-08-08T13:18:00.005-04:00

A regional force of 100 law-enforcement officers arrested more than a dozen people on drug and other charges yesterday in a dawn raid on four houses in Colonial Beach and Westmoreland County.

I was not allowed to shoot the actual raids, but I shot pictures at the command center in a parking lot at a Food Lion in Colonial Beach. Some of the defendants were brought for transport to the area jail...

summer gig.

2008-08-05T10:30:00.002-04:00

Bill and Minnie Walker have a home in Florida, but they spend their summer months as US State Park camp hosts. In return for a minimum of six hours of work, five days a week, camp hosts in Virginia's state parks can save hundreds of dollars with free campsites, free utilities and earn free camping days at parks across the US.

seeing red.

2008-08-01T10:42:00.004-04:00

The Fredericksburg Fair is in town. For a group project, I pitched an idea that each of us focus on a color at the fair and shoot. It was enjoyable but a real challenge for all of us. Finding the color is one thing, making the picture is another. We all pretty much shot on Monday and Tuesday evenings...mostly Tuesday. For more pics, plus an incredible flash presentation by Becky Sell, check it out here.

drown.

2008-07-31T11:05:00.003-04:00

Family members of drowning victim Norman Gill (from left) daughter Nesya, nephew Curtis and sister Nora, pray in front of a hearse carrying the bodies of drowning victims Gill and Oscar Jones Jr., shortly after both bodies were recovered on July 28, 2008. The two men were fishing on a Westmoreland County pond when their small boat capsized.

fight crime

2008-07-29T22:17:00.002-04:00

mcgruff.

lax.

2008-07-25T18:41:00.001-04:00

outtake from lacrosse camp.

hanging...

2008-07-25T08:24:00.000-04:00

with the boys and girls club.

hot horse.

2008-07-22T09:44:00.003-04:00

Traveling Fredericksburg for hot weather features, found this fanned horse at the fair, which starts next week.

long laps.

2008-07-20T15:05:00.011-04:00

Mike Payne of King George County is energetically exercising, losing weight, getting sponsors and donating money to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, all in honor of his brother who died of pancreatic cancer.

friends like these.

2008-07-18T15:19:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, I took pictures for a story about 20 Chinese students attending a music camp here in FredVegas. This was my favorite frame. I also did a good ole' fashioned audio slideshow for the next days paper, check it out here.

Wang Yi Chuan, 8, center, is teased by friends Li Zhi Rui, 9, left, and Gao Yuan Kai, 10, during a practice session at The Rappahannock Summer Music Camp on July, 17, 2008. The boys were three of 20 students from the Sichuan Province of China taking part in the camp.

construct.

2008-07-18T15:16:00.000-04:00

vigil.

2008-07-13T14:32:00.001-04:00

On July, 3, 2008, Yong Hui Zhang, 24, was attacked and abducted while making a delivery in downtown Fredericksburg for his family's restaurant, China Express. Three days later his body was found in a remote, wooded area of Sussex County. Zhang had been stabbed to death.

Yesterday, I photographed a vigil in Yong Hui Zhang's honor. His family has abstained from media attention, understandably. Last night, his sister, Jin Dan Zhang, seen in the first two photos of this slideshow, became the first member of the Zhang family we've been in contact with since her brothers disappearance.

This is an incredibly sad story. Read more here and here.

care.

2008-07-10T23:32:00.000-04:00

Dr. Anne Truong, a psysiatrist, comforts a patient before undergoing trigger point injection therapy to treat her shoulder pain at Truong's Rehabilitation Center in Spotsylvania County. Dr. Truong recently opened the specialized rehabilitation center to treat patients in pain or those who hope to restore lost function after an injury or illness.

carol and phil

2008-07-06T19:47:00.004-04:00

Single from a story I worked on for the paper, just ran today.

Carol Fisher jokes with her fiancé, Phil Haddick, at their apartment during a lunch-time game of Scrabble on June 20, 2008. "I just love this hair," she said. Each day, Phil returns to the apartment for his lunch break. Both Carol Fisher, 65, and Phil Haddick, 74, thought they were well prepared for her retirement. However, poor planning, a struggling economy and soaring gas prices have changed their dreams of traveling the country in thier RV. Last October, they traded the RV for a smaller, more economical travel trailer. After a few months, they came to the conclusion that they could no longer afford the traveling lifestyle, sold their travel trailer and moved into an apartment in Fredericksburg. Phil was forced to begin working full-time and Carol now works part-time.

born on the fourth of july

2008-07-05T11:42:00.012-04:00

caroline county celebration...

The highlight of my day was when I walked on scene around 6:00 p.m. and it had been raining and gross out, so there weren't many people around. Up walks Hickey The Clown, talking on his over sized inflatable telephone to God asking what's up with this nasty weather.

youths played in the rain.

people loved America.

boy scouts pried for money.

a man slept.

and of course, the masses lit sparklers.

mass v.2

2008-07-04T12:40:00.002-04:00

From an Anniversary Catholic Mass a few weeks ago...

lookingout

2008-07-03T21:32:00.003-04:00

Volunteering and building for Habitat For Humanity...

northern neck caboose

2008-07-02T21:09:00.004-04:00

An outtake from an assignment today...

grinding. lafayette.

2008-06-28T09:06:00.002-04:00

The FLS did a story about beautification and improvement legislation for Lafayette Blvd., a major route leading into FredVegas. Visually, we wanted to shoot pictures detailing some of the sights of the road. I shot a bunch of these with the Nikon D3's 4X5 crop mode for a design heavy page. Here's a few...

those in the back.

2008-06-22T22:27:00.001-04:00

Golda Bryant kneels and prays in the back of the church hall during the 150th Anniversary Mass celebration at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fredericksburg on June 20, 2008.

derby derby

2008-06-18T11:32:00.004-04:00

Just some outtakes from a recent soap box derby.

wrong side of the tracks

2008-06-18T11:00:00.001-04:00

the fallen, pt. 2

2008-06-13T19:09:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, the FLS team covered the funeral of fallen Fredericksburg Police Officer Todd Bahr, who was killed during a pursuit last Friday by a suspect of a domestic violence situation. I was stationed outside the church, very far outside, with a 400mm lens. A difficult situation to shoot in...
These are three photos from the day.

This one ran inside the Washington Post's metro section.

Motorcycles lead the cruiser carrying Officer Bahr's remains to the cemetery.

Today's 1A

the fallen, pt 1.

2008-06-13T18:55:00.004-04:00

June Brussock cries in front of a memorial for fallen Fredericksburg police officer Todd Bahr after a press conference at the Fredericksburg Police Headquarters on June 7, 2008. Brussock knew the fallen officer since she was six years old. "He was the nicest guy I've ever known," she said. "All he wanted to do was help people." Officer Bahr was shot and killed the previous night while pursuing a suspect of a domestic violence dispute.

heat wave.

2008-06-10T19:38:00.002-04:00

It's too damn hot these days.

dailies...

2008-06-08T09:52:00.007-04:00

I've been here just under two weeks.
bolt

bike race

winner of bike race, cooling off

slide

One of the challenging things I've been doing is graduation profile portraits for our region section. These are basically portraits of nine featured students. Portraits aren't my strong point, but I'm working on it. Some of these are easier and more visual than others. Some students have interesting stories, but conceptually are not all that visual. Time and weather are also constraints...

visit.

2008-06-04T09:18:00.004-04:00

My dad and sister came to visit before I started my job. These are some pictures from our visit to the Chancellorsville battlefield...my dad is a history buff.

climb

2008-05-29T13:23:00.006-04:00

From a middle school PE class.

salvation

2008-05-28T10:21:00.001-04:00

First day, first assignment...had a shot I liked. A sad story though. This ran secondary to a photo of people cleaning up the mess, respectably.

Salvation Army store manager Sharon Schweining watches as employees clean up ravaged donation bags outside of the store in Fredericksburg on May 27, 2008. Many items were stolen over the Memorial Day weekend, most of the discarded materials left behind are now unfit for sale in the store. "It's actually very sad when you think about it," Schweining said. "It's just taking revenue away from what we can put out into the community."

farewell texas...

2008-05-18T20:49:00.006-04:00

... and the Dallas Morning News. It was a memorable spring, a splendid final internship in a first-class photo department. I laughed, learned, grew. I’ll miss all my friends in Dallas and at the DMN. Thanks so much for everything!

goodbye rangers...

2008-05-13T15:48:00.003-04:00

I covered my last Rangers game the other day. I'm not the biggest baseball photography fan, but I really dug shooting them. Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is a beautiful stadium. I covered a few day games -- nice light, good weather, relaxed deadlines...it was a pleasure.

bike and baby fohawk.

2008-05-12T00:41:00.001-04:00

From an event outside the Grapevine Mills Mall.

children of war

2008-05-12T00:17:00.003-04:00

This was a portrait for an upcoming piece at the DMN focused on the Children of War. Various photographers are doing portraits for the piece, this was one of mine. The project explores the affect of war on the young in various circumstances, such as siblings and children of those serving or deceased, those planning to enlist and those who have experienced war first hand, such as these two...

Hamsa, 11, and her brother Maher, 13, pose for a portrait in their family home. They were originally from Basara, Iraq, and fled to Syria with their family in 2006 and recently arrived in the United States as refugees. Both siblings experienced the chaos of Iraq first hand, with nightmarish recollections of bombings, kidnappings, murders and fear.

em·ploy·ment

2008-05-06T13:35:00.007-04:00

noun
1. an act or instance of employing someone or something.
2. the state of being employed; employ; service: to begin employment.
3. an occupation by which a person earns a living; work; business.

I'll be heading to Fredericksburg, Va., in a few weeks to be a staff photographer at The Free Lance-Star. I'm thrilled to be heading to a newspaper with such a great reputation for photographic excellence. It's a fine newspaper with a talented staff, entering a new era...

onwards and upwards...

errol

2008-05-06T10:17:00.003-04:00

Errol Morris, American Academy Award winning documentary film director. Director of such films as The Fog of War, The Thin Blue Line and the soon to be released Standard Operating Procedure.

take a break, little man.

2008-05-06T10:10:00.003-04:00

With a sombrero and outfit hoisted over his shoulder, Jorge Fierro, 9, leaves the backstage area after performing during Cinco de Mayo festivities in the Texas Stadium parking lot in Irving on Sunday. Jorge is part of Siempre Ir Mas Alto, a Mexican folk dance group.

slide

2008-05-06T09:58:00.002-04:00

may day march

2008-05-02T11:59:00.003-04:00

grindin...

2008-04-29T21:16:00.008-04:00

rangers
pitch

managing the troops

solo homerun

frisco roughriders

fencer

on a plane

outtakes

2008-04-21T22:30:00.008-04:00

just two that would otherwise never see the light of day...

Members of the press interview Dirk Nowitzki after a Dallas Mavericks practice on April 20, 2008, in preparation for Game 2 of their first round playoff series against the New Orleans Hornets.

Mary Gillard sits in a yoga postiion while listening to music during Earth Day celebrations at Fair Park in Dallas on April 20, 2008. "It's just comfortable to sit this way," Gillard said. She recently began taking yoga lessons.

feist

2008-04-18T23:15:00.001-04:00

Feist opens for a packed crowd at the Palladium Ballroom in Dallas on April 16, 2008.

and the civic marches on.

2008-04-11T00:49:00.002-04:00

fanfare

2008-04-10T18:46:00.007-04:00

I covered the season opener of the Texas Rangers. It was a blast...I shot tons of stuff, here at the DMN we like to have lots of pics for online slideshows. It's a great outlet for stills that don't make the paper, although we got good play that day.

honor guard.

father & son.

lemme get.

fans.

next in line.

nascar

2008-04-08T22:41:00.007-04:00

This was my first time ever shooting NASCAR...or any huge car racing event for that matter. It was crazy. Loud, hot, busy, intense, etc. I had fun though, a great learning experience on huge event coverage. Things like this are hard for me...so much going on, things moving quickly...time running out...to add to all that you have to walk very far to get to different parts of the track. However, the staffers here did amazing work. One of the things I love about DMN is being able to peek over the shoulders of shooters here while they edit work...it's awesome/humbling.

Woke up to a photo page...Few things make as happy as a photo page. Basset hounds are one of those things.

cell phones -- concert

2008-04-01T14:24:00.005-04:00

I had an interesting assignment to shoot cell phone culture in the concert world. Apparently it's somewhat of a problem...people talking on their phones, texting and the like while bands play on stage. I was skeptical at first, but people are kind of out of control with the cell phonage.

On as side note this was a good example of a serious technical challenge. No flash allowed, and it was extremely dark. I was shooting on my 5D at 3200 with my 50mm f/1.4 or 28mm f/1.8 most of the time...If I had only a f/2.8 lens I would have been in trouble.

democratic blues

2008-04-01T12:17:00.006-04:00

I covered some Texas caucuses this week, which was a challenging but great experience. Because of the massive amount of people involved this election, a major story element was the problems in the validation and registration of delegates ... basically people stuffed in a school trying to get registered to caucus. It was packed, people were frustrated and the nearby convention couldn't start until everything was sorted out.

ouch

2008-03-31T13:41:00.005-04:00

Photographed a softball game the other day...had this to shoot in addition to action for another story.

Injured Princeton High School softball player Chanin Naudin watches her team take the field during a softball game on March 25, 2008, in Princeton. Naudin was recently spiked by a pair of metal cleats during a game. She required 27 stitches to close a four inch gash in her shin.

golf blues

2008-03-23T23:19:00.005-04:00

After struggling through the closing holes of the Denton Invitational Golf Tournament, McKinney Boyd High School's Brian Benshoof crouches in frustration as his competitors putt on the final green of the tournament.

rains it pours

2008-03-19T13:07:00.006-04:00

Yesterday, it rained and rained here in DFW, which leads to airport flight cancellations and flooding. I headed to points across the metro area looking for flooding, water rescues or anything that shows how this weather affects people.

In anticipation for more rain and possible flooding, Darrell Amlong pauses while cearing a path in front of his home near Ten Mile Creek on March 18, 2008. During the heavy rains of the day, the waters of the creek rose and threatened nearby homes. Amlong said his house has been flooded six times since he's lived in the area. "Usually I like the rain, it's nice to sleep to," he said. "But I get scared everytime it rains."