As this industry evolves, we’re having to constantly adapt and learn new skills. Sometimes those turn out to be frustrations. Other times they’re an absolute joy. At the end of 2018, I studied and passed my my Part 107 remote pilot certificate exam and took to the skies for The Villages Daily Sun. At first, we used the drone for basic aerial imagery. We were providing a new perspective for common sights, as well as seeking things that looked interesting […]
My newspaper covers an area spanning three counties. Within our coverage area is the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla. It is the second busiest national cemetery in the country. It also happens to be turning 30 years old this year. For this year’s Memorial Day project, I was tasked with photographing 30 voices related to veterans or veterans services. This included cemetery care takers, families of deceased veterans who are buried in Bushnell, honor guards and so on. This […]
I’ve been part of many creative sports portrait shoots. My football portraiture pushed boundaries and set new standards and expectations for my paper. Shortly after moving to Florida and starting my career with The Villages Daily Sun, I was asked to do an over-the-top portrait shoot for our local high school basketball teams. The photo team worked with the sports department and our executive editor to brainstorm the theme. It didn’t take long for us to land on the theme: The […]
There’s a first time for everything. Last Saturday, it was my first time hanging a remote camera for hockey. Don’t get me wrong. I’m no stranger to remotes in general. I’ve used them at other sports like basketball and soccer. Heck, I’ve even had a remote on the wing of airplane back in 2007. All that being said, in the 6+ years that I’ve been at the Rockford Register Star covering the Rockford IceHogs, the AHL affiliate for the Chicago Blackhawks, I’ve […]
I don’t get to vacation often. When I do, I tend to prioritize doing and minimize resting. You know, making the most of it. In mid April, my wife and loaded up the Subaru and headed east. All the way east. Well, New Jersey. About 14 hours of driving through the night. (Side note: We were kept awake the whole way by listening to Rainn Wilson’s strange life story in his book, “The Bassoon King.”) Why New Jersey? We were […]