Photographer Alton Strupp I The Blog

The Power of the Written Letter

2011-10-13T15:24:00.003-04:00

I went to an assignment yesterday not really knowing what to expect. It was supposed to be about a woman that still wrote letters, a nearly extinct practice since instant messaging and email appeared. Simple enough. However, when I arrived, I stepped inside Margie Peach's home and within minutes she was crying. She asked me to read a letter that her late husband, Eugene Peach, had written her while in service on Sept. 25, 1950. It was quite sweet, just a man's ramblings about all of the things he missed, how much she meant to him, and how he couldn't wait to kiss her again. I teared up reading it. I planned on it being a relatively quick assignment, but I ended up sitting and chatting with Margie for more than an hour and being late to my next assignment. She teared up frequently as we spoke about her husband and the letters she had from him. I took a portrait of Margie with her favorite letter, still having conversation, she had this vulnerable moment and it was quite an impact on myself.
I love the power of letters. Something about them is so much more tangible and they have a certain longevity that you lose with emails. They aren't as easy to dispose. I've often thought of taking the time to write detailed letters to the people that have meant the most to me in my life. Noting all of the things I love most about them, what I remember, the impact they had. Seeing how important this letter was to Margie definitely reminded me just how powerful such a thing can be. I thanked her with a big hug before I left. I could tell it made her day. She made mine.

"I told him that I loved him very much and he was my soul mate," Margie Peach said as she reminisced about her last moments with her late husband, Eugene Peach, Tuesday in her home clinging to a letter he sent while in service. "They told me to let him go, but I told them that I just couldn't. How can you tell the person you love it's okay to die? I miss him so much." Eugene passed in hospice just over a year ago after suffering from Alzheimers. Margie still has many of the letters from the couple's 60 year marriage that Eugene sent to her while in service. To this day, Margie writes and appreciates the power of the written letter.

LEFT: An old photograph of Margie's late husband, Eugene Peach, and Margie's favorite letter that Eugene Peach wrote on Sept. 25, 1950.

Kaylie Washer - Senior Photos

2011-10-13T02:31:00.004-04:00

Recently I had a family friend ask if I would do their senior pics. It's not something I normally do. In fact, despite having a little brother and a little sister recently graduate, I have never shot anyone's senior photos before. Which is a shame, but my daughter's mother, Emily Rose Pearman (http://www.emrosephoto.com/blog) was always around to take care of it and they were in good hands. So yeah, just kinda went and hit up a few spots close to the house with Kaylie. Most are natural light, on a few I just popped a strobe in to an nearby umbrella for some fill light. I think they came out pretty darn good! haha. Hope you did too Kaylie. Thanks for being a trooper.

Just a recent favorite from a story

2011-10-12T18:39:00.007-04:00

I recently wrapped up a short video on Ethan Crough, 38. Crough lives in Columbus and is just over four feet tall. He was born with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism. His wife has the same type and they also have two dwarf children. Ethan is a super intelligent, articulate and motivated fella and I have no doubt there will be a book circulating by him someday. In case you didn't know October is officially "Dwarfism Awareness Month" in the state of Indiana, credit being to Ethan. He was prompted to initiate awareness efforts and wrote the proclamation over the past few months. So, voila. Basically, he's the man. He is incredibly driven to educate the public about dwarfism with hopes of reducing mislabeling, misconceptions and improper terminology (dwarfs do not like to be called midgets fyi) for future dwarfs. Inspiring to say the least. I didn't spend a lot of time with Ethan, but he did allow me to tag along at the grocery store to see how problematic it can be. Just thought I'd share. I may post the video soon. I'm trying to sit on it a bit.

"Sometimes you don't want to have to ask somebody for help to do something and just stand there and wait around," Crough said. "It makes you feel like you are a child." Crough often improvises when in a rush at the grocery.

Great Sand Dunes NP, Colorado - 2008

2011-10-10T01:45:00.006-04:00

In 2008 I had just finished my first photo internship at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Just a few months prior I learned I would become a father. It was a strange time. My mind is always a thousand miles an hour. I think at this time, I was approaching the speed of light. I had just wrapped up a few months of doing something that I had given up one path to pursue. I was deeply in love with taking pictures. Now, it seemed I would be giving up finishing a degree and bouncing around the country pursuing photo internships. I was truly in between places with a lot at stake. In time, I found a way to continue the pursuit. Much like my own ideas and preconceptions have changed, this place, the Great Sand Dunes National Park, is always changing. I spent a couple hours there wandering about on my return trip. I love sand. I love deserts. I love that they are never at all what they once were. They change rapidly. Essentially the same, down to the smallest grain, but as a whole, they are always redefining. Just backing up some images recently and came across these. Thought I'd share. I can't imagine a better place to go sit... and think.

Ten Years After

2011-09-25T23:22:00.003-04:00

I've definitely heard my fare share of "where were you?" stories working for the newspaper as we tried to reach out to give voice to those most affected by the attacks in 2001. It's still seems so unreal. Sitting there my senior year you could feel the weight of it all around you. I think it's the only event in my life that the sheer moment truly transcended the present. It was living history. As I'm sure the recession will/is coming to be spoke in reference as more of a period in history, it's defining beginning no doubt lies in 9/11. Everything that seems to be whirling around us today still brings back a bit of that same bad taste. It's like still living in a neighborhood where your old house burnt down and everyone else's homes were damaged just enough to slowly decay around them. No one seems able to make the needed repairs to make it stop. There's no where else to go. We are just ready to move on. Still, we can't forget. I don't consider myself overly patriotic in any way, but I know I teared up standing there listening to the speeches delivered in front of the Columbus City Hall.

Here's just a couple images from that day. It was pretty foggy and gray, which just added to the mood, but I still decided to go with the bw.

Dave VanDePutte, right, comforts his wife Karen VanDePutte on Sunday morning during the 9/11 service held outside City Hall 10 years after the historic attacks. "I'm glad we could remember all the fallen people that have given us this great nation to live in," Dave said.

Military color guard members prepare for a gun salute Sunday morning during the 9/11 anniversary service at City Hall.

Jell-O Wars summer fun... bc it's... not summer anymore

2011-09-25T19:52:00.002-04:00

Here's some stuff from a couple of assignments back when it was warm outside and people were outside and it wasn't raining everyday and stupid and I'm whining.
Jell-o Wars was an event hosted by The Ridge, a local congregation. Pretty fun. Pretty messy. I think there was something like 200 gallons of Jell-o mixed to cover the tarp that was close to 40 yards long. After all the water was mixed in, by the end, it was just a strange colorful sticky fluid. Luckily, the fire department came out to hose the kids off.

The Ridge youth instructor Randy Shaw, left, cheers on participants in the youth group's "Jell-o Wars" as Parker Hill, 14, and Jonah Fields, 14, lead their team with Mikaela Grout, 13, and Alexis Anders, 13, just behind.

Over 200 gallons of Jell-o was mixed to cover the plastic sheet for the youth's "Jell-o Wars".

The Ridge youth member Cody Guhman, 14, slides through the watery Jell-o mixture Sunday evening at Mills Race Park during the youth group's "Jell-o Wars" event.

The Ridge youth congregation try to avoid collisions as they do their best to adhere instructions walking across the tarp in groups by way of moonwalk, crab walk and wheel barrel.

Columbus North senior-to-be Jennifer Wyrick sits drenched on the plastic sheet during "Jello-Wars" Sunday.

"Jell-o Wars" participants make their way to the top of the Mills Race Park hill to take runs down the super sized slip-n-slide Sunday evening.

LEFT: Samantha Gilbert, 7, runs through the sprinklers set up near the "Jell-o Wars" event Sunday evening at Mills Race Park.
MIDDLE: Eli Gilbert, 2, runs through a sprinkler set up near the "Jell-o Wars" event Sunday evening at Mills Race Park.
RIGHT: The Ridge youth congregation member Emily Joslin, 11, gets sprayed down by the Bartholomew County Fire Department at the close of the "Jell-o Wars" event Sunday evening.

The Ridge youth congregation get hosed down by the Bartholomew County Fire Department at the close of the "Jell-o Wars" event.

Batholomew County fire fighter Mike Kutsko gets some hugs from The Ridge youth congregation after hosing down the teens following the "Jell-o Wars" event Sunday evening.

LEFT: The "Jell-o Wars" official champ bell Sunday evening at the close of the event.
RIGHT: The Ridge youth congregation get hosed down by the Bartholomew County Fire Department at the close of the "Jell-o Wars" event.

Stepping Up

2011-09-22T18:00:00.002-04:00

I could write a short story to tell you about my time spent with Justin Elmore, 17, and Mercedes Tobias, 18. Teen parents trying to make teen parenting work. Trying to make teen life work. Trying to make a teen relationship work.
I met Justin while he was working toward a GED in a local evening program. He explained that he had dropped out of high school so that he could help with the care duties of his son, Emmitt, while Emmitt's mother, Mercedes, worked on getting her diploma.
Mercedes is possibly the most organized and driven teenager I have ever met. She is beyond her years and seems to have been born an adult. Now a graduate, she works as a CNA and is attending community college.
For Justin, the transition was never as easy. Moving away from his hometown to be a stay at home dad at 17 is not what he had planned. Justin's own father being absent in his life, he's simply doing his best to be something he has never known.
Following Mercedes graduation the teen couple eventually had to let go of their dream of making it work, like most teen couples do, like most adult couples do. Who hasn't?
Each love that little boy more than anything and that's what is important. I can't thank them enough for putting up with me and all the stalking I requested permission to do. It was the most enjoyable time I've ever spent working on a project. Thanks guys.

Justin Elmore, 17, Mercedes Tobias, 18, and their son Emmitt, 1, share a moment in bed at the start of the day June 16, 2011. The young family often have a play session at the start of the day.

Emmitt enjoys some play time with Elmore. "He was adorable," Elmore remembers the day Emmitt was born. "I fell in love with him instantly."

Elmore rubs his head sleepily as he and Emmitt begin their morning routine. While Tobias was at school, Elmore's day centers around feeding, playing, naps and keeping the youngster happy and on schedule.

Tobias signs a graduation themed stuffed dog near the end of school at Columbus East. Through her pregnancy and final months in school, the determined mother never let having a child become an excuse.

Elmore pushes Emmitt in a stroller past Columbus East High School, where many students his age have been working toward their diplomas. While he struggled with school in Terre Haute, Ind., the responsibility of fatherhood has changed his perspective on the freedoms he once had. "You don't want to be up all night changing diapers and not be able to hang out," Elmore said referring to teenagers that think they would like to have a child. "I miss seeing people. I miss my friends. When you're a dad, there's no time for that."

Justin Elmore works on his GED studies outside the Sans Souci building June 13, 2011.

Elmore works on changing Emmitt's diaper as Tobias tries to choose and outfit for the infant before the family goes out job hunting May 31, 2011.

Tobias swings Emmitt around in circles early in the morning at the start of summer. Now a high school graduate, she will soon begin putting her CNA certification to use when she begins employment at the Columbus Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Elmore carries Emmitt in a stroller down the stairs from Tobias' apartment building as she makes her way behind them.

Chairs numbered for Columbus East High School students are set up prior to graduation.

Tobias gets a hug from her mother, Jennifer Tobias, on graduation day. Tobias graduated from Columbus East with a technical honors degree and a 3.0 G.P.A. with and is a certified nursing assistant. She will soon begin working at the Columbus Health Rehabilitation Center. "The hardest part through it all was just going to school," Tobias said. "There were nights where Emmitt would be up screaming and we would be up all night."

Justin Elmore and Mercedes dance at the 2011 High School Prom in the new Commons on May 7, 2011.

Elmore and Tobias sit outside the Columbus East and North Prom talking after taking a break from the commotion on the dance floor. "I'm still a kid at heart, but now I have this responsibility," Elmore said. "I'm always wondering about Emmitt and how he's doing."

Reflecting - "Stepping Up" motivations

2011-09-22T16:10:00.004-04:00

Most may not know, but since I was two, I have never known my biological father. The first time I ever spoke to him followed his own brother passing on when I was 19-years-old. I attended the funeral for a man that had made an effort to be in contact with me during my life, knowing I would likely have to encounter a man that should have. It was nerve racking to say the least. I've never been angry about it. I simply wanted to pay my respects and try to block out the elephant in the room in order to focus on what was most important at that time. However, it was impossible to not want to stare at a man that walked so much like me, similar in size, shape and appearance. Someone that deep down I had somehow always pondered. Someone that was by most people's standards a complete stranger, to this day, the only way I can describe it is to say it was completely strange. I shook his hand, walking in line with others expressing their sympathies. We stood eye to eye. I told him I was sorry about what had happened. He asked me my name.

I can't say how the absence affected me in my life aside from being exceptionally close and grateful for my amazing mother. Until recently, I learned the importance it instilled in me to be involved as a father. When Sonora's mother and I made the decision to parent Sonora apart from one another, a concerned part of me felt like my own father's presence was looming over me, like a tree acknowledging it's fallen apple. While being a separated father is something I am learning to accept, I do the best I can and hope that it's enough for my daughter to know how much I truly love her. I hope she knows how much I always loved her, how I often I think of her, miss her and how much I wish it could be different.

Reflecting on this is what drew me in to pursuing Justin's own struggles with becoming a father at a young age. In many ways, his own situation strongly mirrors that of my own mother and father, which were both teen parents. Enduring that struggle at a time in your life when you haven't even started out is bewilderingly difficult. I was much farther along in life before becoming a parent and still it has been difficult. Justin and I share the fact that our own fathers were absent during our lives. I feel we both share the extra feeling to do more for our own children, because growing up hearing about someone that wasn't around, you can't help but say, "I'll be better than that."

Just a short video I made a while back from some clips of Sonora's weekend visits.

Lights, camera... stand there and look tough

2011-08-22T21:12:00.003-04:00

I used to shoot athlete portraits pretty regularly at the Gillette News-Record. Having at least 6 large studio lights and 4 pocket wizards this was usually only limited by my brain. Once they acquired a vagabond II, man, the sky was the limit. Formerly a pretty big strobe user in my early days of portraiture, I almost solely rock the big guns these days. Not bc what I do can't be done with strobes, there's just usually not enough of them lying around the paper, or PW at my current locale, to generate the kind of power and have the amount of control that I like. Especially in broad daylight.

Alton Strupp | The Republic Nationally ranked Columbus East stand out quarterback Gunner Kiel will step back under center in his senior season as an Olympian.

As I forgot to shoot an image of it, here is a requested sketch of my light set-up for Kiel's shot. One umbrella light (Einstein) back left, one mini softboxed antique White Lightning held by Kamman aiming up through Kiel's arms at front left (acting as a fill to eliminate facemask shadows), and one large softboxed antique White Lightning light at right is main. These White Lightnings are from the 80s and have three settings, Hiroshima, Nagasaki and meteor impact. Which was great for this assignment in broad daylight. Especially for Kiel's where I could use the press box for some shade.

Alton Strupp | The Republic Columbus North senior Kyle Kamman will be back under center in 2011 for the Bulldogs. Notice, even with the big guns at full power I'm still getting a bit of shadow under his eyes from the sun. If I could go back, I would have pushed it just a little closer, or applied a grid, as it was nearly in my frame at this point.

A shot of Gunner helping out. This is at the start of my shoot, but I fined tuned it moving all lights closer to help over power the sun's shadows.

Just the finished product. A few hundred feet of extension chord later, all I know is that I gosta get some vagabond minis soon. Whew.

Livin the Dream... literally

2011-08-17T20:01:00.007-04:00

You know why I really love my job? I really love my job because I never know what's going to happen in a given day. I never know who I'm going to meet, or how it's going to go down. Thus was the case when I went to photograph a new solar panel facility south of Columbus a few months back. While the assignment was pretty crappy as they hadn't begun production and it was basically an empty building, this fella in attendance was a lithium battery manufacturer, DA Strupp meet Paul Baumann of the Enertek Corporation (http://www.enerteksolutions.com/).

Now, you know how you meet people sometimes and it's just like you've known each other for years? Paul and I were instantly giving each other shit, using profanity and talking girls. Soon, we discovered we had common interests in both photography and anthropology. That's when it happened. Paul informs me that he is doing a 6-week field test in the Summer Lake basin in Oregon with his batteries on some LED lights this summer.
"Have you ever heard of Paisley Caves?" Paul ask.
"Oh yeah, it's one of the oldest human sites in N. America found to date," I reply.
"Yeah. That's where I'm going to be."
I was intrigued and while we said we would keep in touch, I've said that a lot on assignments. Usually it doesn't happen. This time it was different. A few emails and calls over the next few months would land me seeing Paul again, this time picking me up at the Portland airport. Completely unsure of what to expect, or how it would go. Basically, just another day on the job.
Rewind 24 years : I think the first thing I wanted to be in my life was a paleontologist, you know, dino fossil hunter. Then I watched Indiana Jones and my interest shifted to archaeologist. Somewhere between that time and my sophomore year in college I think I just literally lost sight of these things. I was never introduced to anthropology in my early years of school. When I took my first class as a sophomore in college I was just blown away. I had no idea this amazing science of humans existed my whole life, but here it was. I changed my major within days.
It wasn't until my senior year that I would take an intro to photography class. I enjoyed it, but despite the encouragement of my professor, Tim Broekema, I simply saw it as a hobby. Nothing more.
After a year in graduate school pursuing experimental psychology (with hopes of applying the degree to a path of studying primate behavior and evolutionary psychology), something snapped. This wasn't me. I wasn't a lab guy. I was spending all of my time at this point taking pictures. Sleeping very little living a double life obsessing about photographs and trying to pass exams on linear regression. Yikes. Despite As and Bs, I walked away from a full ride with an apprenticeship masters degree. I contacted Tim Broekema and soon I was at WKU to go take more photography classes. I've never looked back.
During this visit to Oregon, the paths of two of my favorite things finally crossed with the proper balance, being my new career choice with photo, and my beloved hobby, anthropology, second.
I think I literally slept 6 hours over the span of my first 4 days in Oregon. Paul and I picked up right where we left off and were back to giving each other shit. 25 years of age between us, we were both here for the same reason. Pursuing childhood dreams. I camped out at the caves and stayed up late in to each night making my first attempts at photographing stars. Just me in a cave that people have been living in for over 14,000 years. Bats swooping in and nabbing insects hovering around LED lights I used to illuminate the rock.
At one point I had to just stop and all I could think to myself was this is it. Right now, I am completely living and breathing in a moment I have dreamed about in some form since childhood. I have grown up and somehow discovered an unknown talent and been blessed enough to discover and get a degree in a science I am utterly fascinated by and here I am, in this amazing cave, documenting the essence of it's longevity all through the night, watching it's secrets being unearthed through my camera during the day.
I think over the past few years I have struggled to find a direction with my photography. Something that is unique to me as a person. Not just daily moments and life, but something that I can document that I truly love. While it should have seemed obvious, as it was something I remember thinking about when I first switched gears, life happens and sometimes it seems all hopeless. Then, just when you're ready to give up, life throws you a bone.
I think of all the people less fortunate than I, be it life in general, or as minimal as not having a passion, and I don't know what I've done to deserve such things, but I'm so grateful for it. It felt like home to me, a place I've only known in my mind and I've never been more excited after so much searching, to know what it is for me personally, to be 'livin the dream'.
Just some general info here for now, captions later.
Paisley Caves is located in the Summer Lake Basin, the depressed area surrounding the rock formation used to be a ginormous lake thousands of years ago. At one time, even the rock formation itself was completely submerged. However, according to dated human fecal matter, humans were no doubt inhabiting the cave as early as 14,300 years ago. The lake itself at that point in time probably reached within a few 100 meters of the caves. Today, it's a very small body of water, only a few feet deep. The significance of this site is that this date predates the time period previously held for Clovis culture in the Americas. Clovis is a term used to describe a specific type of notched bifacial point, named after a site yielding some of the earliest finds from Clovis, New Mexico. The culture was traditionally held to have been in the Americas beginning at 11,500 radiocarbon years before present. Sites such as Paisley Caves and a host of others have began challenging this date in recent years.

Left: A camel vertebrae excavated from cave two at Paisley Caves during the 2011 field school.

Inmate Crocheting

2011-08-11T20:53:00.002-04:00

My solo Wednesday morning looked like a complete train wreck when I looked at the schedule. A 9am, 10am and two 11ams. Yikes. Lots of running. Yet, the 9am assignment sounded pretty sweet. Inmates crocheting as part of a Bartholomew County Jail class. Nice! Some part of me fantasized about shooting a bunch of tattooed dudes in striped outfits crocheting baby socks and while that wasn't reality, I was still pretty pleased with what I found. 40min of shooting a gem and some entertaining talk with an inmate named "Peaches" got me through the rest of the day with a smile. Plus, I'm pretty sure that if the officers would have left the room there would have been nothing left of reporter Chris Schilling and I, but hey, we never showed fear.

Bartholomew County Jail inmate Teareny Broughton is framed through the window of a locked down classroom in the jail while she works on perfecting her crocheting Wednesday morning.

Volunteer crochet instructor Melody Taube, from left, helps Amy Robertson start a piece as Teareny Broughton looks on as inmates participate in crochet class at the Bartholomew County Jail Tuesday morning.

Teareny Broughton works on a crochet piece Tuesday morning during the class offered at the Bartholomew County Jail.

Bartholomew County Jail inmate crocheters work on new productions as a table bears a host of items that the group has created Wednesday morning.

Left: Blankets, hats, gloves and other items crocheted my inmates at the Bartholomew County Jail sit on a table inside the crocheting classroom Wednesday morning.
Right: Janeta "Peaches" Kimball has a laugh while working on one of her crochet pieces Tuesday morning during class at the Bartholomew County Jail.

Bartholomew County Jail inmate Teareny Broughton, front left, works with volunteer crochet instructor Teri Iler, front right, as volunteer Melody Taube, back left, works with inmate Kristin Cross Wednesday morning during class.

Hot fourth for Uncle Sam

2011-08-10T22:24:00.005-04:00

I stalked this dude dressed as Uncle Sam for a bit on the fourth of July. I never really quite got the shot that I was after, but it is what it is.

Ceraland entertainment director Dakota Bowers cools down and takes a drink during some down time while managing an inflatable while dressed as Uncle Sam Monday during the fourth of July festivities at Ceraland.

Yep, that's me stalking dude walking and walking myself right in to a volleyball net in this gym : )

Artifacts

2011-08-10T22:11:00.003-04:00

Cummins, the largest industry in our area, recently acquired a historic building downtown to expand their office space. The building was formerly used and owned by the locally renowned visionary business family the Irwins. The Irwins were instrumental in setting in to motion the architectural boom that has brought so much international attention to small town Columbus. Regardless, basically I was assigned to go take some pictures in the Irwin's main office in the building which will be preserved. Eh, I shot some general overalls, but these were my favs. Not necessarily in the office per se, but in the building itself.

Light fixtures installed in the 1970s still in operation in the Irwin Management building in downtown Columbus.

Right: A clock still sits set in to the wall in the former office of the Irwins.
Left: Chairs with a small marble table sit in the waiting area outside of the main offices of the Irwin's inside the Irwin Management building.

A nameplate read's "Irwin's Bank" on a wall that formerly boasted a painting of Abraham Lincoln as seen in former pictures in the Irwin's conference room.

How I faired at the fair

2011-08-08T21:24:00.005-04:00

Last month we had the good ol' fair in town. Over the past few years I've spent fair season in the west. Montana, Nevada and Wyoming and I have to say, at least compared to the fairs in the towns of the west I attended, Columbus does it better. Sorry guys. Plain and simple, the midwest just has it figured out. There's something intangible about the way the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair felt to me and I can't quite put my finger on it, but something about it just has that romantic small town fair flare that makes it feel more like old friends getting together. Like you hope it to be when you romance the idea in your mind. Needless to say, I enjoyed myself. I spent as much time as I could at the fair and had a blast with Sonora the two nights we attended. I never managed to scrape up the energy for a overall night shot, but alas, there's always next year. Without further adieu...

Michelle Wesolowski, 14, waves to friends as she takes a ride on the Yo-Yo at sunset Thursday evening at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair.

Claire Dodd, 17, sprays off her cow Wyatt Thursday morning before the Cattle Show.

Owen Wischmeier, 3, buzzes his lips together to emulate the sound of a tractor as he jerks back and forth on the wheel of Larry and Saundra Phelps' 1953 McCormick Farmall antique tractor Monday afternoon at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair.

Lucy McClaine, 4, reaches through a fence to pet a dairy cow Wednesday evening at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair.

Emmy Frederick, 15, plants a kiss on her cow Benny before showing in the Cattle Show Thursday afternoon at the Bartholomew County Fair.

Kylie Arnholt, 13, left, and Kylie O'Connor, 15, work on shaving up Roo a six-month-old heffer that will be shown in 2011 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair. "We picked her for her dairy character," Arnholt said. "We'll get her ready here at home and once we get to the fair we'll wash her and put a special halter on her."

Abigail Gregory, 7, holds an ice bag on her head as she leans up against fans set up in the horse stall area at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair. According to local weather reports the heat index was expected to be near 110 and 115 degrees.

Peyton Koontz tries to get a bite off a donut suspended by a long pole as she looks to make a solid time during the Fun Show event continued Wednesday night following lightning Tuesday.

School bus driver Dixie Harris screams out as she falls in to the tub of water at the Dunk-a-bus-driver booth at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair on Tuesday evening. "Oh no," Harris said. "Is that my son? He looks serious."

"I like the challenge of going in to the deepest parts of the pits," Randall Lichtenberger, 26, said as he waited for the start of the Mud Bog event Tuesday evening.

Cameron Naylor, 5, raises his fist in excitement as he sits in the lap of his grandmother Irene Nester, 60, Tuesday evening at the start of the Mud Bog event at the fair. "I like when they go down deep in the mud," Naylor said. "If this next one's a Ford I'm going to be happy."

Mason Moran, 10, sits with face covered in pie as she dug in and won the the Pie Eating Contest in the youth division Thursday night at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair.

"You need to shave," Lindsey Morgan, 12, informs her boyfriend of two months Wyatt Whittington, 14, as the two escape the sun in the antique tractor tent Monday afternoon. "What if I grew a big curly mustache?" Whittington asked.
"I'd shave it off in your sleep," shot back Morgan.

Brilynn Martin, 4, from right, dressed as Red Riding Hood shares a moment with her mother Kristy Martin as they wait for the final round of judging in the Jack and Jill Pageant Sunday alongside Lucy Wilson, 4, and mother Melissa Wilson and other pageant contestants.

Brady Harrison, 11, from left, Chase Harrison, 7, from left, Nicholas Booth, 12, and Parker Harrison play on top of a show John Deere combine Thursday afternoon at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair.

Left: Alexander Burton, 10, is growing up with the fair being a part of his life like few other children. The fair business has been in his family since back to his grandparents according to the youngster. During the summers, Burton travels with the family helping out where he can at the various booths and games. "I love being out here," Burton said. "I love all the people and just meeting everyone that comes here. Plus, it's always cool going new places."

Right: Brendan Boewe, 11, brought 21 chickens to this years 4-H Fair. "This is my third year and I had four winners last year and two this year," Boewe said. In addition, Boewe won the junior showmanship competition, before moving to the senior and winning again, before placing fourth in the expert division. "I really enjoy raising them."

Left: Jerry Watkins, 54, has been attending the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair since his youth. Today, he's continuing the tradition with his own grandchildren. "I decided to bring them out for the Kids Day," Watkins said. "Not much has changed. The rides are different now, but this will go all the way through life with them, to when they have their own kids. Then they'll get to share in those memories too."

Right: Caitlin Artis, 14, stands beside her horse Daisy while dressed as a parrot for the Costume Contest Wednesday evening. "I already had a lot of this stuff so I just kind of looked at what I had and tried to see what I could come up with," Artis said. Artis placed fourth overall in the contest.

Melissa Osborne, 38, bags up cotton candy as the Yo-Yo is reflected in the fair stand glass near a tray stocked with caramel apples Thursday night at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair.

Tibetan monks and a sand mandala

2011-06-28T02:58:00.003-04:00

I had a strange assignment come upon me the other day. Yes. I have a red Batman phone in the drawer at the office and every time it rings I answer it inconspicuously and grunt in code. Then I grab my bag and head for the door. The message said to go to the Universalist Church. There I would find some Tibetan monks making some sort of sandy thing. Sure enough it was true. There they were, all the way from Tibet. Wearing medical masks and vibrating sand out of these funnels. The medical masks kind of surprised me. Turns out, they wear them to ensure that somebody doesn't sneeze and blow sand all over the place ruining the mandala. Which just sounds like some sort of hilarious commercial to me. I got to hang out while they worked on the mandala for about an hour before they took lunch. I was really hoping they were staying in some local hotel bc how funny would those pictures be. Well, they're staying in Bloomington at a Tibetan Cultural Center. Damn you Bloomington. Anyway, if you want to know more about the monks and the mandala ritual, read the captions.

Went black and white because I thought it added something and well, I'm exploring some new black and white toning techniques.

Tibetan monks Tenzin Thinlay, right, and Geshe Tenzin Choephel meticulously place grains of colored sand on to the mandala they are creating at the Unitarian Universalist Church. The monks are staying at the Tibetan Cultural Center in Bloomington, Ind. and are commuting to the Unitarian Church completing their mandala over a span of four days.

The beginnings of the monk's mandala created with nothing but colored sand. Mandala's can take weeks to complete, but the monk's will be finishing their current creatin over the course of four days. The traditional artistic pieces include traditional prescribed iconography that include geometric shapes and many ancient spiritual symbols.

Tibetan monk Tenzin Thinlay works on laying grains of colored sand in to place as he meticulously works on a mandala Thursday at the Unitarian Universalist Church. The mandalas typically take days, or even weeks to complete. Upon completion, they are destroyed to symbolized the impermanence of life.

Tenzin Thinlay uses the ridged surface of the metal funnel, traditionally called a "chak-pur" to vibrate the grains of sand on to the mandala Thursday afternoon.

LEFT: Geshe Tenzin Choephel takes a brief break from pouring the colored sand on the mandala Thursday in the Unitarian Universalist Church.
RIGHT: Powder like colored sand made from marble rock was brought by the monks from their homes in Tibet to be used to make the mandala.

Framed through chairs set up for visitors to watch the creation of the mandala, Tibetan monk Tenzin Thinlay uses the ridged surface of the metal funnel, traditionally called a "chak-pur" to vibrate the grains of sand on to a wood platform Thursday afternoon.

Some mag work...

2011-06-28T01:39:00.004-04:00

In addition to shooting for the paper we photogs here at The Republic are often commandeered to shoot assignments for our special publications department. They're not that special : ) Okay, they kind of are because they print on nice paper for one and for two, they do an awesome job of making our pictures look slick in the layouts. Not to mention you can't really beat the real estate you get with a full page photo in a mag. So it's always exciting to see it once it's finished. As the recent behemoth known as the Commons Magazine was just published, there will be much more to come soon. I thought I'd just share a few to illustrate the kinds of stuff we shoot. Lots of portraits and products mainly with the occasional architectural assignment.

Complete and shameless harassment

2011-06-19T20:02:00.002-04:00

You know how I know I love what I do? Because when I'm off work I do it more. It's like, okay, I've shot a few thousand pictures this week for the paper, but this weekend, I'm free, so I think I might... hmmm... go somewhere random... and shoot some more pictures.

A few weeks back I had a weekend to myself, as I usually have Sonora every weekend I took it as an opportunity to just go do something random. This idea landed me at the Louisville Reggae Fest. I went alone and unsure of what I'd come across, but nothing too surprising. Lots of Bob Marley shirts and posters. Incense. Lots of red, yellow and green. All to a reggae soundtrack. Personally, I don't listen to a lot of reggae, but like most music, it's always better live. Alas, it was a good time. Made some new friends and it made for some good people watching. For me and others as I was that weird white guy with a camera taking pics of ppl.

I didn't end up shooting as much as I might have hoped. Just snapped a couple portraits of folks here and there when they caught my eye. Most accepted. Most men did not. Go figure. I'll have to go drag next time and see if it helps my ratio.

These two folks were my favorite of the lot. They each had very different looks so the images couldn't be farther from each other in terms of mood and my choices for toning. Taken about 20 minutes apart. Just natural light.

UnCommonly Cool

2011-06-13T22:43:00.002-04:00

You know, I know we here at The Republic have seen enough of this place. I mean enough. Now it's time for all you in blogawood to see what all my whining is about.

Downtown Columbus recently saw the fruition of a lot of work and community planning in the official grand opening of the new Commons. Often described as "the living room of the community", the new building serves as a locale to host events mainly, but boasts a play ground unlike any thing I've ever seen and a shnazzy little local attraction titled "Chaos". It's not nearly as dramatic as the name implies, or destructive, but it is essentially a kinetic metal sculpture; the kinetic part means that it moves and serves as a mascot of sorts because everyone gets really excited when they crank it up.

I've been shooting portraits to bring focus on those who played key roles in making the Commons a reality for some time. Shooting lots of architectural shots too. All of us here have. You won't see any of that here as the official Commons Magazine is still due for publication, but man, it's going to be gorgeous. I can't say enough about the time and effort I've seen on everyone's parts that have had a hand in it.

This post is just to show off a bit of fancy coverage we did over the course of the opening weekend of the Commons. We released a special commemorative section highlighting the time line that brought Columbus from the old Commons to the new Commons. The pages listed below that ran in the section are only those that showcased people enjoying the festivities held just recently.

A special shout out to Amanda Waltz who lifted the heavy design load. Tommy Walker and Carla Terry for contributing their time to shoot. Photography credits go to them, Andrew Laker and yours truly. Much more to come.

Double Trouble

2011-06-13T12:48:00.004-04:00

Man, I gotta say, people that shoot family photos full-time for a living have a bone in their body that I may have broke, lol. Now don't get me wrong, I can enjoy shooting about anything, but pics of wee ones pose a different set of challenges... posing mainly and well, just keeping the peace.

As was the battle when I photographed my cousin Samantha's beautiful twin girls, Ava and Ella, at my mom's house a few weeks back to document them at their one year stage. Now these girls are adorable. We weren't gonna try anything too crazy as it was kind of just winging it and making use of my dad's fancy yard work, but man, poor Ella was teething and fighting tears most of the time : ( This led to double trouble bc for the brief instant that she wasn't bawling, Ava may not be doing her best.

It was pretty entertaining to say the least and I have to say we got an A for effort and some nice shots out of it. Whew. I was thinking the whole time, man, please let there be, please let there be! hahaha, thanks guys. It was fun, oh, and that's Cody! Sam's hubby! Can't believe she's Samantha Blackford now!

Nick and Linda Tucker Wedding - May 21, 2011

2011-06-03T00:03:00.008-04:00

I recently had the privilege to shoot my college buddy Nick Tucker's wedding to his awesome bride Linda Galaz. Now Linda Tucker. Obviously : ) The wedding was in Utica, KY, just outside of Owensboro. It had a true small town wedding atmosphere. Quaint and low-key.

I hadn't seen Nick in a few years. He's in the service if you're wondering why his arm is in a sling at various points during the reception. Just collateral details related to this guys service. He's always been a hard worker and I have no doubt that he'll succeed in his goals, both in service and being a great husband.

Weddings are always an interesting check point of sorts for me as a photographer. I don't shoot them often. Usually twice a year, or so. So it's always interesting to see how I've grown as I compare the most recent to the last. This wedding was the first one I've shot solo since the first wedding that I ever shot a little over three years ago, during the last semester I was enrolled in photo at WKU.

I want to send a special thanks to Linda and Nick for allowing me to shoot their individual couple portraits prior to the wedding. It gave us about an hour to go try something different at a spot I scouted out that morning with the vehicle they took to the church. It gave me just the time I needed to have some interesting portraits without all the pressure of everybody waiting around watching : ) Thanks guys. Just thought I'd throw up some of my faves from each portion. I wish you the best and I hope you enjoy the pics.

The month of May... I show you some pictures.

2011-05-30T23:47:00.004-04:00

Here are some pics from the past month... minus like a bazillion portraits and architectural shots. Our company puts out a few special publications and for the new Commons facility (aka Columbus downtown living room... aka Republic photographer dungeon of hell, lol) we're putting out this slick magazine. All glossy paper and the designer and editor have done a killer job on it, so I'm hoping to get some pdfs of the pages to upload once they're ready. Along with some images that maybe didn't make the cut. We've taken so many pics over there over the past month that when our other staffer, Andrew Laker, got sick, we said he had the "Commons" flu. pa dum dum psh. Yeah. Work does funny things to the mind.

Everything here was just shot on daily and other special pub assignments. Somehow I've managed to get through this month with unexpected storm coverage and wedding editing and still made time to do some enterprise work for a story I'm working on. More to come on that though soon.

Ka peesh.

Alton Strupp | The Republic Connor Boneham, 15, dunks a basket during a friendly, but intense, game of water basketball Sunday evening at Donner Pool. The pool officially opened Saturday and will be open for swimming Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.. Swim lessons begin June 6th.

Alton Strupp | The Republic Columbus East High School seniors throw papers in to the air Thursday during the school's annual last day of high school ritual unofficially marking their rite of passage to becoming graduates.

Alton Strupp | The Republic (Had to run this baby and bw bc lots of orange drove me crazy, plus, ain't autofocus a bia sometimes) Columbus East High School seniors throw papers in to the air Thursday during the school's annual last day of high school ritual unofficially marking their rite of passage to becoming graduates.

Alton Strupp | The Republic Craig Nentrup sweeps debris off of his mother, Nicki Nentrup's, roof Wednesday evening after a storm toppled a large tree just yards from her home.

Alton Strupp | The Republic Kaylyn Stirn, from front left, works with Margaret Scheibler and Sheldra Moore to pick up the pieces left over after Moore's brother's camper was blown from his residence and smashed in to a vehicle on Hessler Blvd. in the Rolling Meadow addition in Greensburg during Wednesday's storms. Homes in the neighborhood were pelted with hail with many roofs and garages suffering the brunt of the damage.

Alton Strupp | The Republic Trent Wirth, from left, Lauren Wirth, 16, Mason Nowels, 15, and Ryan Wirth all inspect the damage made after a branch broke off from a neighbor's tree, hitting a garage and taking down power lines during Monday evening's storm. "The neighbors said they saw sparks flying," Trent Wirth said.

Dolly Rolon, the resident of the home where the tree fell, did not have power after the branch fell. "It just sounded like something hit very hard," Rolon said.

Alton Strupp | The Republic Brandi Randall, from right, Tanis Copeland and Jane Belding walk past a Saturn vehicle that was nearly crushed by a fallen tree during Wednesday evening's storm as they browse the damage left along Pennsylvania Avenue.

Alton Strupp | The Republic Adycin Rager, 12, climbs along a nearly 150 foot Pen Oak?? that fell in her yard on Talley Road after Monday night's storm. Residents estimated that the tree was at least 50 years old.

Alton Strupp | The Republic **These pics are not related, lol, I just hate posting single verts.

(left) Purdue College of Technology graduates and family members make their way past an American flag hanging in a Learning Center lobby area Tuesday following the graduation ceremony.

(right) Maria Souza-Eglen, 24, stands for a portrait behind the stage curtains in the new Commons facility April 27, 2011. Souza-Eglen began doing theater over 12 years ago as a high school student in Columbus. "I thought I would grow up and teach english literature," Souza-Eglen said. "I started studying Shakespear and realized that it was intended to be performed. Not read."

Alton Strupp | The Republic

(left) Retired attorney Tom Bigley

(right) Alton Strupp | The Republic An American flag is reflected in Helen Miller's glasses inside her home May 16, 2011. Miller has been volunteering at the Camp Atterbury Museum since 1987 organizing commemorative services and coordinating other volunteers. Helen's late husban, James Miller, served in WWII and passed Feb. 3, 2008.

Alton Strupp | The Republic High school students dance in the light effects from the stage during the 2011 Prom inside the new Commons facility May 7, 2011.

Alton Strupp | The Republic Columbus high school students wave glow sticks as they dance during the 2011 Prom in the new Commons May 7, 2011.

Alton Strupp | The Republic High school students cheer near the stage during the Prom king and queen nominations May 7, 2011 in the new Commons facility.

Alton Strupp | The Republic Columbus North senior Luke Miller, left, emerges from the crowd as students pump their fist in the air during the 2011 Prom inside the new Commons on May 7, 2011.

Alton Strupp | The Republic Madelyn Surface, 5, peers through the fan-whirl-pool attraction inside the Commons playground May 23, 2011. Many of the installments in the playground area involve mechanical and physics themed entertainment.

Alton Strupp | The Republic (Had to go with bw for this one too... it spoke to me) Carol Freese shares a moment with five-year-old granddaughter Katelynn Mabis. Katelynn's parents, Maj. Chris Mabis and wife daughter-in-law Master Sgt. Kristi Mabis, serve in the military and grandparents Ron and Carol step in to provide stability for Katelynn while her parents serve their country.

Which ya like better? I think the clock adds to the story as the little girl is waiting for Mom and Dad to get home from deployment, personally, but thoughts? They cropped it out in the paper : (

For my dear friend and former fellow Gillette News-Record staffer Joy Lewis. This my friends, is a baby meat bunny... and yes, they are raised to be eaten and stripped of their little fur coats on a sweet little farm just west of town : )

Alton Strupp | The Republic "We come fishing down here once-a-week" Logan Bland, 14, left, said as he and friend Josh Wayne, 19, fish for bass, blue gill and crappie in Haw Creek near the Columbus Regional Hospital bridge Sunday evening.

Columbus on Japan

2011-05-08T21:22:00.002-04:00

Had the privilege to shoot an assignment centered on raising funds for the relief efforts underway in Japan. Columbus has a lot of close ties with the Japanese through it's main local industry in Cummins diesel engines and a large Japanese population to boot, well, for a town of it's size anyway.

A few skits and drum performances were the main attraction in an old theater with Japanese food, crafts and other what-have-yous for sale just outside the building.

It was inspiring to see so many people coming together for a good cause and the diversity just reminded me of why I love this town. It's different. For a place of it's size and location, it's very different, with just enough home mixed in to make it feel... like home.

I made sure and nab some safe shots for the paper, but continued a self assigned goal to shoot more loose and moody photographs. After looking through everything I've shot over the past couple years since deciding to pursue photojournalism, I realize that my photos are lacking a critical element. It's hard to define, but it's simply a mood. Something that makes you linger on a photograph, studying every detail, corner to corner.

It's easy to get caught up in trying to refine and work to death that tight shot that tells a whole story, filling the frame. We all heard it in those early days in pj classes "get closer, get closer". Truth is, I think there comes a time where you simply need to step back. Make some pictures for yourself. Have a little fun.

I think for some time I put too much pressure on myself to get the best photograph I could for the paper, a quick read that smacks you with the story all at once. That's great to have, I still plan on doing that, but I'm going to spend less time thinking I'm going to perfect something that is just that, because ultimately, I usually don't. It's been a strange journey trying to grow as a photographer without the influence of time with peers in a school environment, pulling from and being pushed in the way only that can offer. It's going slower than I would like, but slowly, I think I'm going to get this whole camera thing figured out : )

Tom Mizuno, from right, Kazuhiro Fujiwara, Yukinori Watanabe and Sam Miwa work food stations during the "We Pray for Japan" fundraiser Sunday afternoon outside the Crump Theater.

Participants in the "We Pray for Japan" fundraiser line the street holding donation boxes as visitors exit from Crump Theater Sunday afternoon.

Complaining that the sounds of the drums during the performance of the Dublin Taiko drum group hurt his ears, Kento Kurahashi, 6, stands with his head leaning against a support beam in a side stair well in the Crump Theater Sunday afternoon.

Yuki Shimizu folds up a Happi uniform, traditonally worn during Japanese festivals, following the "We Pray for Japan" fundraiser held at the Crump Theater Sunday afternoon.

Children enjoy noodles from the Japanese food stands set up during the "We Pray for Japan" fundraiser Sunday afternoon outside the Crump Theater.

Don't act so surprised.

2011-05-04T01:15:00.007-04:00

I'm not gonna give you a big line of excuses. I just haven't felt like blogging! It's been nice to step back from the constant need to update, update, update-enter this, enter that. I've just been... working. Adjusting to a new town and a new work flow, spending time with my daughter as much as possible and enjoying a slower pace. Long exhale.

Lots has changed since the last time I posted. I accepted a new job at The Republic newspaper, http://www.therepublic.com, and have relocated to Columbus, Indiana, an hour north of Lville and about 40 south of Indy. I can't say enough about this place and I'm planning on just dedicating a post to the town and all it has to offer soon. It's been quite the nice surprise : ) The people are great at the new job, still missing folks at the old job, but all things considered, I'm close to fam, healthy and getting by. No complaints.

Before I begin posting images, one interesting tid bit is that I have not shot a single sporting event since I arrived. Well, I did shoot a HS track practice the other day for about 20 minutes, but seriously, that's it! It's kind of crazy. I don't shoot half as much as I used to, which is good and bad, but I needed it to refresh. I feel refreshed. I've been shooting less, but thinking about shooting more and sometimes, that's just what the doctor ordered.

Here's some work from the Republic and documenting the life and happenings in Columbus, Indiana. Starting with a image I shot of some fire aftermath on my interview here.

Oh yeah, hi, I'm Alton Strupp and I take pictures. It's been so long that feels appropriate.

Bartholomew County firefighter Dave Howell works on extinguishing the left over aftermath after a early Monday morning fire claimed Chuck Baker's home at 700 East.

Bethel Holiness Church pastoral assistant Wesley Grissom, 28, has some fun with the letters used to display the church's sign messages Tuesday evening. Grissom has been changing the church's messages out for over a year. "The hardest thing is getting the messages centered on the sign," Grissom said. Most of the ideas for Bethel Holiness come from the book "The Missing Ministry" by W. Clayton Brumby, or from church sign websites.

Zack Childress, 11, peaks over the edge of the fishing balcony along East Fork Wednesday evening hoping for a catfish bite. His father, Scott Childress, caught two in the same spot early that morning. "The reason why it's good to fish for them now is because the waters a littler higher and really, really dirty, so the catfish come closer to the top." the young fisherman explained. Dad better look out for this youngster, he might be giving him a run for his money soon.

About 100 in attendance on Third Street bridge threw stones in to the White River as they yelled out the names of inspirational women Tuesday night in support of International Women's Day.

"So you think you want that one?" Carolyn Sands, center, said as her grand daughter, Ashley Dean, 4, right, warmed up to a cat held by Humane Society employee Ashleigh Fetter Friday afternoon. "We recently had a gray one disappear, I saw this one in the paper and he looked exactly like that," Sands added.

Harold Newland, 77, holds his head as he sits yards from a large puddle in the driveway of his home on Jewell Street on April 13, 2011. "The water was clear up in my yard," Newland said. "If I get stuck out there in this wheel chair I'm out there all day. I can't even get my mail." According to Newland, the county replaced a drainage pipe under Jewell Street near his drive roughly 10 years ago, temporarily alleviating flood issues. Now, despite their own efforts, nearby residents are experiencing flooding problems again. "I've done all I know to do," added Newland. "I can't ruin a $7,000 wheelchair just trying to go in my yard."

abby Hanner, 7, swings her way across the monkey bars at Mills Race Park on April 3, 2011. Many came out to take advantage of the warm weather last weekend, but according to local weather reports rain will be moving in to the area through Wednesday, with warm temperatures returning late in the week.

Dorel certified child safety seat technicians Dan Barga, left, and Emily Olds run through safety checklist while 4-month-old Jayden Wilcox sleeps in a car seat opposite that of his twin brother Gavin's usual seat Thursday morning.

Dorel staff and those in attendance to the opening of the new car seat inspection station listen as Dorel president and CEO Dave Taylor discusses the comapany's new venture.

(Portrait for one of our monthly magazines about active adult living) Magazines related to hobbies and interest sit on a coffee table in former Cummins CEO Jim Henderson's office April 14, 2011 as photographs and artists' portrayals of legendary men adorn the wall. Now retired, Henderson often stays as busy as he did in his past life as the CEO for the diesel company.

Mayor Fred Armstrong gives a speech before a crowd of hundreds in attendance for the unveiling of the Commons donor wall Tuesday evening.

Mayor Fred Armstrong gives his final wave to a full house crowd Tuesday evening after delivering his final state of the city address inside the new Commons facility during the building's opening public event.

Columbus SWAT team members prepare to enter through the front door of the residence that suspected car thief Rex Clark was hiding in after a five hour stand off Sunday afternoon.

Columbus native Rex Clark sits hand cuffed after being removed from a home by Columbus SWAT and Sheriff's deputies following a five hour stand off. Clark is suspected of stealing a Dodge Ram pick up on the evening of April 2, 2011.

The longest running volunteer group in the Columbus Regional Hospital's history met to make their final batch of surgical sponges Thursday afternoon. For more than 40 years, the volunteer group has met weekly to transform square cotton gauze pieces into bundles that were used to apply anti-bacterial solution prior to surgeries.

Taylorsville Elementary School second grade students water an Amaryllis Monday afternoon at the end of the school day. Many local schools participated in the Amaryllis Project which involved growing an Amaryllis flower from bulb and studying it's growth and development.

arkside Elementary student Jarrett Embry, 10, from left, holds still as he does his best to act like a wax statue of Peyton Manning as Seth Howell, 10, as Orville Redenbacher, Tiger Lee, 10, and Aditya Bhatnagar, 10, watch and attempt to make Embry crack out of character Thursday afternoon.

Civilian actor Susan Tappan, right, of Indianapolis acts distressed during a Vibrant Response 11.1 training exercise at Muscatatuck Urban Training Complex Wednesday morning. 3,500 military and civilian personnel from across the country to took part in the field training exercise simulating the response to a terrorist attack in the United States.

Soldiers participating in Vibrant Response 11.1 training carry a paid actor from a tent Wednesday morning.

U.S. Army North soldiers carry sheets of ply wood during a Vibrant Response 11.1 training exercise at Muscatatuck Urban Training Complex Wednesday morning.

Kaila Lifferth, right, takes some collateral damage as she plays with her son Oliver Lifferth, 2, on the mini uneven bars Tuesday afternoon in the Foundation for Youth gymnastics room. The Lifferths are planning on keeping it local this spring break and focusing on her children's interests. "We're going to check out some caves this weekend and then heading over to Brown County to look at some stones," Lifferth said.

Long-time Commons event light technician Chris Crawl stands for a portrait April 26, 2011 on the new cat walk inside the new facility.

Memory Lane

2011-02-20T01:15:00.002-05:00

So a few days ago I had the privilege to shoot my childhood neighbor, Nicole Combs, children for a little kids shoot. As I've been at the old homestead the past few weeks I've been trying to visit family, catch up with old friends and build up somewhat of a makeshift portfolio to prove, despite popular belief, I do have a heart and can shoot cute family photos :)

We basically stayed within about 8 miles of our childhood street, Sheperd Lane (shout out to Neal Pendley), and wandered about old farms. It was definitely a good time as her youngest put on quite the show, but most of all I enjoyed just kind of hearing what the word on the street was, literally, from a perspective that I know too well. All in all, I came out with somewhat of a mixed bag of photos that felt both vintage and urban, so I just went with it. It was a blast and I think I may have to bust out the bike just to go riding with the boys before I head back on the road for stable work.

Thanks ya'lls.

Jacks of all Trades

2011-01-19T23:23:00.004-05:00

It might be said, that a photojournalist is often a true jack of all trades. Sure, you could say they are masters of documentary style photography in some cases, but in a lot of cases, they're pretty darn good at shooting about anything.

On any given day, a photojournalist will shoot sports, lit portraits, candid events, products, scenics and spend time working their way into what is the heart of an in depth story. Often all in the same day for many small newspaper photographers. Sure, is there enough time to make everything jaw dropping, no. However, it will be presentable. With a few gems when the stars align.

Photojournalist will do all of this under the pressure of meeting tight deadlines. Shooting people that are not models. Shooting under the pressure of editors. Aside from the occasional portrait, we have to make real life look good. There's no, "Oh, I missed that, could you do it again?"

With this said, I'm not truly a big time pj elitist. I mean, I love shooting portraits and I love looking through some amazing scenic photographs. Hell, I like to shoot them too. I appreciate fine art photographs and all their abstract glory, but I still hold a higher regard for photojournalist over all those types of photographers. Am I likely biased? Duh. I'm aware of this and completely and utterly okay with accepting that while standing by my assessment.

Below are my top reasons why I love photojournalist.

1) They are not fair weather photographers. Rain, snow, ice, hail, and tornados don't run these wiry bastards off. They run after them.

2) Perfect morning and evening light, pshhh, they'll find a way to make a canid cool shot at high noon. You can even throw in a tornado here too. It would just make our job that much easier.

3) Need a portrait? Professional models, hours to dream it up, set it up? Please. We'll take your neighbor Bob in between work and taking the kids to softball and make him look like he was ready for the magazine rack.

4) We touch more than the shutter button and the on switch. Our fingers dance around the back of a camera spinning dials like it was world championship tango. Not because we can. Because we know it has to be done.

5) You know photoshop and bridge? Lightroom perhaps? We know photoshop, flash, final cut, soundslides, audacity, indesign, bridge, lightroom and photomechanic. You think FTP is an abbreviation for "F this party", for us it means, "hell yes, saved a trip to the office."

6) You wear your photo gear for a few hours a day. We rock it for 6 minimum. 5 days a week baby. We're not setting up shop and waiting for the sunset. We're climbing walls, laying in a cow pie, post holing it through the snow and by the time we get where we're going, we're chasing the next thing.

7) Penciling someone in for a date? Maybe scheduling a nice sit down lunch with friends? Haha, the scanner just went off and there's a fire across town. Screw lunch. They'll be lucky to get a phone call until after the job is done. We don't schedule work. Other people's lives are our work.

8) Got a nice few hours set aside to edit those pics up? Perhaps spend a little extra time on that little special frame? Well an obituary just got dropped off and needs to be scanned asap. Plus, some wire photos just came over from sports and there's a lady calling that needs to know where to find her dog's photo online. We're adaptable. Somehow, we find a way to get it done.

9) You've got that perfect location scouted out. Hell, you've shot there before. A couple hours to work it. We've got a story that just fell through and is going to hold for a day giving us thirty minutes to go get an image that can hold the front page.

10) Photojournalist need more than a paycheck. More than a beautiful shot. More than someone's approval that their work is good. What they need is immeasurable, always in question and constantly doubted and reflected on. What they need is both selfish and altruistic. It is sometimes beautiful and often painful. They need to share something that is not theirs. They need acceptance where they are the most foreign. They need a feeling of completion, knowing their work can never be complete. They need fill a hole in a page, nothing more than a hole, with something they believe in, or risk feeling like a hole has been left within themselves. They are addicts of a kind where the only fix lies in a fleeting moment. The camera is the pusher. The very thing that brings them joy, brings them pain. Simply put, they are sadistically addicted to an altruistic form of thievery where the harshest punishment awaits them in their own mirrors. Few understand. They know too well.

Not intended to offend, but as my time dwindles, I felt compelled to get this out while it was all still fresh and fertile.

Love you guys.