Merced Snapshots

I spent a beautiful afternoon in Applegate Park today, and after getting the more traditional person-in-fall-colors picture, I made my way down to the river for some more impressionistic shots. They might not reproduce well in the paper, so I thought I'd share some of them with you here!

While out looking for images for a long-term project I am working on, I came across a group of high school kids playing hoops at a park in Merced today. The sun was setting, and while exposing for the quickly darkening sky I popped an off-camera fill-flash on the guys to create these images.

We shoot high school sports almost daily here at the paper. There are always two things we are looking for: good action and reaction. I was shooting the Le Grand vs. Mariposa volleyball match in Le Grand Wednesday night. Towards the end of the game I stopped shooting action so that I could concentrate on the players on the bench, who were watching the last few points being played out. With Le Grand up two games, Mariposa put up a good fight in the third game, and it was going back and forth for a while. It made for some tense moments before they finally scored the winning point, putting the final score for the third and final game at 28-26. Le Grand won 3-0.

I was out wild-art hunting yesterday, or enterprising, or swinging by the b-line store, as it is also known in photojournalism circles. Basically, we cruise the streets or parks in search of something interesting to photograph, often on deadline for the following day's paper. One of my favorite stops for b-lines is Applegate Park, and yesterday was no different. I came across a group of men playing a sport similar to volleyball, called Sepak Takraw. Instead of using their hands and arms they can use their feet, chest, knee or head to move the ball, which is made of rattan. 

As Ramadan winds to a close, Muslims worldwide prepare to break the fast with the celebration of Eid, the last day of Ramadan, this Sunday.

Who's there?
Alpaca!
Alpaca who?
Alpaca picnic lunch!
 

 I lived in the Bay area before moving here last September. Sometimes I miss certain things about it. Like all the lush vegatation...only made possible by a constant blanket of fog...which I don't miss. This photo was taken from a car window while driving over the Panoramic Highway from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach.

When the Carson and Barnes Circus came to town in June it brought with it thousands of photographic opportunities for an avid shutterbug. I spent a lot of time backstage, where I captured this image of contortionist Kevin Sadrak, 18, as he was getting ready to enter the ring for his performance. I love the light in the picture, how the mist is lit up by the daylight coming in through the tent opening on the right. 

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Buhach Colony senior Eric Baker who was told he'd never walk again after he broke his neck and crushed his skull in a diving accident last fall stands long enough to accept his diploma between his teeth during the Buhach Colony graduation Thursday, June 4th, 2009.

With all the graduations happening that night, Marci and I were sent out to divide and conquer. James Burns had already been following Eric in his columns so we all knew he was going to try and stand. We just didn't know if he would.
One thing was for sure...We did not want to miss it! But I nearly did...
I bolted about 1/2 way through the Atwater graduation only to find my car blocked in. I had seen some people walk in after me. I had no idea if it was their car but I went after them...luckily it was.
When I pulled into Buhach I could hear the names already being called but there was nowhere to park! I finally parked on the grass and sprinted in there just in time to hear "Eric Baker". I hadn't even identified where the stage was yet. I just started running down an aisle, leaping over roped off areas and yelling out "Excuse me, I'm sorry". I got to the stage just as Eric was wheeling up the ramp. The crowds were going crazy!
It probably took him a good 2 minutes to stand but he did it! There was a huge crowd with enormous emotion pouring out from them.
People were talking about it for weeks after.
It's one of those moments as a photojournalist that I'll never forget.