I've had the opportunity to shoot quite a few high school sports around town. Here's a few favorites...
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Red Mango
The frozen yogurt chain Red Mango hired me to photograph one of their chain owners at his franchise. These were a few of my favorites from the day.
National Saudi Day
Western hosted National Saudi day on campus earlier this week and I spent some time hanging out with the good folks as they handed out Arabic coffee and treats to curious students.
Trashmaster Classic
Every year Friends of Barren River Lake & Parks organize the Trashmaster Classic in an effort to clean up the shores of Barren River Lake.
Football: WKU vs. Morgan State
Western took on Morgan State last weekend in their first home game of the year.
The first half was pretty exciting as Western's Antonio Andrews ran back the opening kickoff on his way to a record setting 5 touchdowns. The stands pretty much emptied by the third quarter as the game ended in a 58-17 WKU route of Morgan State
The first half was pretty exciting as Western's Antonio Andrews ran back the opening kickoff on his way to a record setting 5 touchdowns. The stands pretty much emptied by the third quarter as the game ended in a 58-17 WKU route of Morgan State
Mammoth Cave Naturalization Cermony
For only the second time in it's history, Mammoth Cave hosted a U.S. Naturalization ceremony officially recognizing 39 new U.S. citizens.
Traditionally held in courthouses, some ceremonies are now being held in National Parks around the country.
Traditionally held in courthouses, some ceremonies are now being held in National Parks around the country.
Naperville's Last Fling
Every year Naperville's Last Fling marks the end of summer and thanks to a couple weddings I had back in Chicago I was able to squeeze in a few hours at the soggy fest this year.
Volleyball: WKU vs. Virginia
So This is College....the sequel
I guess it was an omen, leaving school and never changing this blog name, that I would eventually return.
Having left halfway through the Photojournalism program at WKU to take a job in Chicago, it was always my goal to finish the degree. With each passing year that goal seemed more like a romantic idea rather than concrete reality.
The layoffs at the Sun-Times changed all of that.
So, after a few long discussions it was settled and my wife and I packed up the biggest truck we could find and headed down I-65 towards Bowling Green.
There were some growing pains as I relearned how to be a student, but exploring the campus was and remains a fun escape while the constant activity continues to be a source of inspiration.
So here's to starting over and fresh perspectives.
Cheers.
Having left halfway through the Photojournalism program at WKU to take a job in Chicago, it was always my goal to finish the degree. With each passing year that goal seemed more like a romantic idea rather than concrete reality.
The layoffs at the Sun-Times changed all of that.
So, after a few long discussions it was settled and my wife and I packed up the biggest truck we could find and headed down I-65 towards Bowling Green.
There were some growing pains as I relearned how to be a student, but exploring the campus was and remains a fun escape while the constant activity continues to be a source of inspiration.
So here's to starting over and fresh perspectives.
Cheers.
Lost soul
On September 2 Western's campus was rocked by the news of a shooting just off campus. The victim, WKU freshman Larry Thomas was airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center where he died from his wounds the next day.
Just over a week after his death two people were arrested in the case.
Larry's parents Galinda and her husband Tariq Shabazz, walked with WKU students through campus in his memory.
"I can't even say that these arrests bring comfort," said Tariq Shabazz, "now these parents will have to go without a son as well."
Just over a week after his death two people were arrested in the case.
Larry's parents Galinda and her husband Tariq Shabazz, walked with WKU students through campus in his memory.
"I can't even say that these arrests bring comfort," said Tariq Shabazz, "now these parents will have to go without a son as well."
DJ fest
A few from DJ fest held inside of Diddle area on Western's campus..
9/11 Memorial
A few from a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the September 11th attacks.
Smalls BBQ
I was assigned to photograph a new BBQ place on Chicago's north side last week called Smalls BBQ.
The joint is run by Chef/Owner Joaquin Soler, left, and his business partner Dan Scesnewicz.
As the name states, the place is tiny. No seats, all kitchen, with a counter that wraps around the 8x12 foot area left to order and eat if you so choose.
Joaquin ran a famous BBQ truck from which he would offer up various smoked meat sandwiches and other Bar-B-Cued culinary treats, but when he found this space he jumped at the chance to have his own restaurant.
Ribs and Elotes
Brisket Sandwich
So if you find yourself along Irving Park in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood I would HIGHLY suggest following the glorious smell and find the bright blue building that houses Smalls.
Thanks for having me Joaquin and best of luck!
The joint is run by Chef/Owner Joaquin Soler, left, and his business partner Dan Scesnewicz.
As the name states, the place is tiny. No seats, all kitchen, with a counter that wraps around the 8x12 foot area left to order and eat if you so choose.
Joaquin ran a famous BBQ truck from which he would offer up various smoked meat sandwiches and other Bar-B-Cued culinary treats, but when he found this space he jumped at the chance to have his own restaurant.
Ribs and Elotes
Brisket Sandwich
So if you find yourself along Irving Park in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood I would HIGHLY suggest following the glorious smell and find the bright blue building that houses Smalls.
Thanks for having me Joaquin and best of luck!
"See What You Missed" at the Chicago Photograhy Center
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We were given an open ended assignment to photograph whatever we wanted. After thinking about it for awhile I couldn't imagine a better group to hang out with than the lovely folks over at Crossover Health and Fitness in Aurora.
Crossover started as a running group to help homeless residents at Aurora's Hesed House learn to set and achieve their goals. The program has grown to a full fledged gym and has seen its share of success stories.
Co-Founders Curtis and Amy Nelson were gracious enough to let me spend a few mornings as they worked out with the group.
Here are a few of my favorites from my time with them.
Thanks again guys!
Spring Training Film
Found some old film that never got developed...This bit was from my spring training trip to Arizona to cover Chicago's baseball teams when they still had hopes for a decent season.
June- A month in review
To say June has been a month of learning would be an understatement. Let me just say first and foremost the support that has been shown by not only the photo community, but the community at large has been incredible. Myself and the 27 other photographers that lost jobs at the Sun-Times at the end of May are incredibly grateful to everyone who has lent a hand or a kind word. Witnessing this level of support has been truly awesome.
So let's start at the end of May. May 30th at 9:39 a.m. to be exact:
In a hotel conference room a few floors above the Sun-Times office 28 photographers are dismissed in one fell swoop in favor of wire, freelance and reporter-provided photography. In total, over 600 years of experience and Chicago knowledge, with an average of over 21 years apiece, was kicked to the curb without so much as a thank you.
As soon as the HR packets were passed out and explained to deaf ears and glazed over eyes a majority of us traveled to Billy Goat Tavern which has harbored years of the city's journalists, their triumphs and tribulations.
Glasses were raised as the legends watched from picture frames on the wall and other media outlets began to trickle in and report the news of the day.
It was a surreal atmosphere, the community here in Chicago is a rather tight-knit one even between the two daily papers. Friends would come down, partly to report, partly to share in the sorrow, but all with the inauspicious knowledge of what this meant for the profession we hold so dear.
Before it could all fully sink in, I was off to a previously scheduled freelance assignment photographing a conference at McCormick Place in Chicago.
The lack of down time gave me the opportunity to process the events of the previous day while limiting the time I had to dwell on the negative emotions.
As the days passed and the news spread, support grew, and the Chicago Newspaper Guild held a protest outside the Sun-Times office.
Once again, it was an experience knowing this protest is not one I am being sent to cover, but take part in.
I have found the feeling of the immediate aftermath similar to the feeling of having the covers torn off before I was ready to get out of bed. I knew full well that eventually the alarm would go off, but I just wasn't ready for it quite yet.
Events that I would cover regularly, now seem different without that warm blanket. I knew what images I needed to come back with and I knew where I had to be to get them. I went beyond that of course, but at least it was a starting point to orient myself and "warm-up" if you will.
I photographed a Cubs game for a client who wanted me to focus on a certain player. "Just him?" was my response? "Well this should be fun!" and off I went, free of the worry I would miss that key play at the plate or big catch in the outfield.
My biggest freedom though has been time. Time to float and time to play.
On top of everything that has taken place over the course over the past month, I was asked by CNN to photograph as many of the 28 laid off photographers as we could wrangle up. It was a humbling experience, an honor, a daunting task and probably the most nervous I have been before a shoot in a very long time.
Photographing one photographer is a task by itself, photographing 23 of the 28 Sun-Times photographers, a lot of whom I have learned from and looked up to since I've started my career, not to mention one being Pulitzer Prize winner John H. White is unheard of. No pressure.
Nerves aside, I could not be happier with how the photos turned out. It was so much fun photographing all these great people and aside from the much expected ribbing from the veterans, everyone was great in front of the camera. Here are a few of my favorites and some outtakes.
Check out the time lapse for a full behind the scenes look at the shoot. Thanks for looking!
STM28 Photo Shoot from Brian Powers on Vimeo.
So let's start at the end of May. May 30th at 9:39 a.m. to be exact:
In a hotel conference room a few floors above the Sun-Times office 28 photographers are dismissed in one fell swoop in favor of wire, freelance and reporter-provided photography. In total, over 600 years of experience and Chicago knowledge, with an average of over 21 years apiece, was kicked to the curb without so much as a thank you.
As soon as the HR packets were passed out and explained to deaf ears and glazed over eyes a majority of us traveled to Billy Goat Tavern which has harbored years of the city's journalists, their triumphs and tribulations.
Glasses were raised as the legends watched from picture frames on the wall and other media outlets began to trickle in and report the news of the day.
It was a surreal atmosphere, the community here in Chicago is a rather tight-knit one even between the two daily papers. Friends would come down, partly to report, partly to share in the sorrow, but all with the inauspicious knowledge of what this meant for the profession we hold so dear.
Before it could all fully sink in, I was off to a previously scheduled freelance assignment photographing a conference at McCormick Place in Chicago.
The lack of down time gave me the opportunity to process the events of the previous day while limiting the time I had to dwell on the negative emotions.
As the days passed and the news spread, support grew, and the Chicago Newspaper Guild held a protest outside the Sun-Times office.
Once again, it was an experience knowing this protest is not one I am being sent to cover, but take part in.
I have found the feeling of the immediate aftermath similar to the feeling of having the covers torn off before I was ready to get out of bed. I knew full well that eventually the alarm would go off, but I just wasn't ready for it quite yet.
Events that I would cover regularly, now seem different without that warm blanket. I knew what images I needed to come back with and I knew where I had to be to get them. I went beyond that of course, but at least it was a starting point to orient myself and "warm-up" if you will.
I photographed a Cubs game for a client who wanted me to focus on a certain player. "Just him?" was my response? "Well this should be fun!" and off I went, free of the worry I would miss that key play at the plate or big catch in the outfield.
My biggest freedom though has been time. Time to float and time to play.
On top of everything that has taken place over the course over the past month, I was asked by CNN to photograph as many of the 28 laid off photographers as we could wrangle up. It was a humbling experience, an honor, a daunting task and probably the most nervous I have been before a shoot in a very long time.
Photographing one photographer is a task by itself, photographing 23 of the 28 Sun-Times photographers, a lot of whom I have learned from and looked up to since I've started my career, not to mention one being Pulitzer Prize winner John H. White is unheard of. No pressure.
Nerves aside, I could not be happier with how the photos turned out. It was so much fun photographing all these great people and aside from the much expected ribbing from the veterans, everyone was great in front of the camera. Here are a few of my favorites and some outtakes.
Check out the time lapse for a full behind the scenes look at the shoot. Thanks for looking!
Downtown Naperville
We have had a bit of a miserable spring here with temperatures struggling to get over 70 and the sun barely peeking out from behind the clouds.
I took a walk around Downtown Naperville this afternoon as people enjoyed the warmer weather even without the sun making much of an appearance.
I took a walk around Downtown Naperville this afternoon as people enjoyed the warmer weather even without the sun making much of an appearance.
Flooding in Peoria, Ill
The Illinois River, which normally sits at around 12 feet, crested at over 29 feet in April and broke all previous flood records. While downtown Peoria saw a lot of water, it was the smaller towns along the river that felt the effects of the flooding the worst.
Some homes had been rebuilt in the mid 2000's with all living areas being on the second floor above a garage, but most of the older homes had basements full with water and could not begin pumping until the water receded on its own.
The people of Peoria were incredibly welcoming to this stranger with a camera and I can only wish the best for all those I met and those dealing with losses from the flood.
Some homes had been rebuilt in the mid 2000's with all living areas being on the second floor above a garage, but most of the older homes had basements full with water and could not begin pumping until the water receded on its own.
The people of Peoria were incredibly welcoming to this stranger with a camera and I can only wish the best for all those I met and those dealing with losses from the flood.
Midwest Photo Summit 2013
So this is a bit delayed, but at this past Midwest Photo Summit put on by the Illinois Press Photographers Association I was honored to be named Runner-Up Photographer of the year. I am also happy to say that a few of my long term projects garnered some attention including an ongoing project of mine out at the Jericho Circle housing project in Aurora which received first place honors in the News picture story category. A story I worked at Mooseheart Child Cities new maternity home for underage mothers was awarded first place for feature picture story and placing second in that same category was a story I did on a family from Aurora that was able to move out of a homeless shelter and into their own apartment before Christmas.
A big congrats to Photographer of the year Scott Strazzante, Sports Photographer of the year Andrew Nelles, and all the other winners this year.
Here is a look at the portfolio I submitted for judging...
The story on the Maternity Home at Mooseheart was also recognized in the National Press Photographers Association's annual Best of Photojournalism contest receiving third place in the Best Published Picture story category for smaller markets. Here is a look at that story:
A big congrats to Photographer of the year Scott Strazzante, Sports Photographer of the year Andrew Nelles, and all the other winners this year.
Here is a look at the portfolio I submitted for judging...
The story on the Maternity Home at Mooseheart was also recognized in the National Press Photographers Association's annual Best of Photojournalism contest receiving third place in the Best Published Picture story category for smaller markets. Here is a look at that story:
Georgia Dreamin'
Spent last week walking the woods of Northeastern Georgia with Jordan and some friends looking for rocks to climb.
