Tuesday, April 29

A day off.

I've got blisters on these fingers!

Before and after of Katie as she decided to pick up the guitar again. First, she had to cut those fingernails.

Go fast 2

Two and done at the Kansas Speedway for me this weekend. I could seriously down another cup of coffee and spend the day shooting out there again if there were another race. The track is a swarm of activity with so much to look at and everyone is taking photos of everything and no one minds if you photograph them.

The IndyCar Series style of racing is more precision orientated and a lot less bump and grind like NASCAR... so it made for a bit of a boring race. I spent a little less time trying to photograph a big wreck and more time shooting features.

Go fast

I had way more fun shooting NASCAR yesterday at the Kansas Speedway than I thought I would. Couple reasons, because one, man it's straight up adrenaline pumping through your veins when these cars wreck. And two, ear plugs. All about the ear plugs. It's a whole different world with ear plugs in, especially at the races when no one expects you to talk to them and everyone's so busy they're not going to bother you. Couple that with a nice muting blanket, drowning out the details around you. No reason to open your mouth except to crack a smile when approaching someone to photograph, showing them your camera. It put me in a calm, focused trance and I'm looking forward to patrolling the pits again today mid-race with my ears plugged up.

Chances are I'll be spending part of that time hovering around Danica Patrick's pit. She recently became the first woman to win an IndyCar race. This is such a boys-club, crotch grabbing, tobacco chewing sport, her victory means a lot more than the money she racked in. I know there's a lot of young ladies out there right now looking up to Patrick.

high deaf...

Playing around with the paper's new high def sony video cameras the other day... shooting video has a whole new set of technical issues to think about as opposed to stills.. so this is all new and a learning process to me, which is what it's all about.. if you're not learning, what are you doing?

This is the Replay. Band #1: Boo and Boo Too. Band #2 + #3: Bandit Teeth. Occasion: a benefit show for a replay worker, Seth, who has some hefty hospital bills after being randomly jumped in the mayhem following the KU championship. Lemme know whatcha think.

The video is here.

kate on the tracks

bee bopping to boston with an 8 track/radio

worth the wait

Spent two hours in the rain waiting around for this event. Totally fun to shoot. If I wasn't already wet enough, lying on the ground for this one finished me off. If these Nikons work tomorrow it'll be a miracle.

don pankey

It's beautiful. It really is. And a blessing, to be a photographer. I meet so many people all that time I otherwise would not. Extraordinary people. Ordinary people. From all walks of life and backgrounds. In each of them there is something unique.

Today I learned that one of these special persons, one I met through working as a photojournalist, one that I know was very much loved and had a good heart, passed away.

When I met Don for the first time, he was as vibrant as ever. Despite the chemo, despite the doctors' condemnations, despite all the hospital trips and medications and sicknesses he had been through in the previous six months. I sat in his dining room with him and talked. He rested his large elbows on the wooden table, leaned forward and was inquisitive. I had come there to hear his story, but ended up giving mine as much as he gave his.

Without me knowing it at the time, he was inviting me into his home. He never faltered at the idea to make me part of his family... have me stay for supper.. or come over early so we could talk over black coffee and doughnuts. I think he realized I had moved away from my family to pursue what I love.. so he was sharing his with me. For that, I will never be thankful enough. But I will try.

Don passed away Wednesday. This is something I honestly did not think was going to happen. He was so adamant about beating the cancer.. he and his wife were so confident.. I was just in Colorado too... and I didn't stop by to say hello. I hadn't heard that he was any more considerably ill. I guess I didn't want to feel like I was intruding...

In the time I've known Don, I considered him a guide to his sons. Which is what a father should be. He raised them well.. and I know they are proud.

Thank you, Don, for letting me into your family. My thoughts are with them.

jeremy rockwell

A snap during a fresh produce art collective meeting tonight... somewhat inspired by a painting of his ... and a Matt Mallams journal entry I saved in my desktop inspiration folder. The collective is opening a gallery Saturday, which I hope to attend.. but I might be working on a different story that evening. Here's some of rockwell's stuff.

records of an event

Mass Street last Monday after the championship...

Art

Had the pleasure of attending a Native American gourd dance at Haskell Indian Nations University. The gentleman in these two frames, Art, told me a little about the subtle dance. He says they dance for their ancestors, for the ones who pass down the tradition.. to honor them.

Dancers shoot a maraca-like instrument and he explained that each part of the instrument represented a part of a buffalo or Native Americans. As they danced, they barely lifted their heels off the ground, just slightly raising a foot... keeping pace with a large drum in the center of the dance circle. It was beautiful and I wish I could have stayed around longer.

Jayhawknation

Downtown still smelled like beer today when I walked down to get a pita. Fans had tables staked out at bars and restaurants eight hours before tipoff. After the Jayhawks pounded UNC, thousands, I'm going to guess 8 to 10 thousand people, flooded four city blocks. Streets were closed and that cheep beer flowed. Championship tomorrow... If they win, this town might literally shut down for a couple days and just drink itself stupid.

homestead

Photographed a family last week from a story about young farmers. It was a cold, brutal day... but great to be out there with them.. fighting runny noses and biting wind.. feeding their animals and trying to get an old pick-up to fire.

blackxmas

Here's a not-so-much of an outtake and a probably-couple-of-outtakes from my shoot yesterday with blackxmas... my favorite Lawrence-born band. Nothing comes close to touching the sound they make while packed into a small venue. The Replay. The Jackpot. And hopefully, one day, the basement where they practice. I go to watch their shows.. but eventually close my eyes and experience the music. I am left numb... wanting more.

It's a lyricless music and they'd like to sell it to movie scores.. And as I sit here typing and listening to their streaming music from a myspace page.. I can't think of a better suit. There's something about a properly pieced film, paired with just the right music.. you know your favorite movie during a stunning scene and the score complements it perfectly.. you feel like you're there.. or that you wish you had moments in your life that were so compelling.. The kind of moments where maybe nothing is really happening but you're drawn in and your heart beats a little deeper... for maybe a few seconds.

The kind of music you put into your cd player while driving down a familiar road and all the emotion comes rushing back.. you grip the wheel and drive faster..

We've been trying to get together for pictures for awhile now... but schedules kept conflicting. The spiral was Dalin's concept, who is in the center of the photograph. If there is a next time to photograph them, I hope to meet with them and piece together some ideas.. until then, I'm holding out for the chance to make some pictures during a basement practice.

Here's the bands myspace page. Go and listen. And if you can plug your computer into very loud speakers, turn out the lights, lay on the floor and close your eyes.. I urge you to do just that.