Favorites from the last few months

Maybe I’ve been slacking with keeping my blog up to date or maybe I’ve been super busy.

I’ll chalk it up to a little of both.

I’ll start with some of my favorite frames from April.

As the school year was winding down, I shot a ton of sports. But I also had a few non sports assignments that yielded some nice images.

I’ll start with church photos. I’ve covered a lot of services around Easter. However, this was the first time I ever covered a traditional Holy Thursday mass.

And I had never covered an Easter service quite like this one.

Night to Remember is always fun.

I went out to get election prep photos. It’s easy to get ones like this.

With a little patience, I was able to get something a bit more interesting.

Election judge Winnie Lierman sets up voting booths Monday, April 3, 2017, at Broadway Covenant Church in Rockford. Lierman has been serving as an election judge for two years. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Firefighter training always makes a good standalone feature. But remember your gloves. I couldn’t believe how cold it was with the light rain. My fingers went totally numb. I should know better by now.

Firefighter recruits climb out of a second story window and down a wet ladder Wednesday, April 5, 2017, while training in the rain at a home in the 200 block of Summit Street in Rockford. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Alright. On to sports. Here are a few portraits I shot.

Stockton senior Hayden Fox, 18, was the NUIC baseball MVP last year and the football MVP this season. Photographed Thursday, April 20, 2017, in the locker room at Stockton High School. [MAX GERSH/THE JOURNAL-STANDARD STAFF] ©2017

I got to work on a super cool story about this girl who is competing in track and field with one leg. I only got to hang out with her for a little bit, but she’s definitely someone I want to connect with next season.

Harlem freshman Kelsey Johnson leaps a hurdle Thursday, April 13, 2017, during a track practice at Harlem High School in Machesney Park. Johnson uses a prosthetic on the lower half of her right leg. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

And then we’ve got soccer. I shot a lot of soccer. We had several strong teams this year.

North Boone goalie Theresa Weiss (35) dives to block a ball as Byron’s Meghan McCarey (5) moves it to kick Tuesday, April 25, 2017, during a match at Byron High School. Byron won 4-2. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Hononegah’s Julia Barenbaum (15) trips over Guilford goalie Kacie Barker (0) as she dives on the ball Tuesday, April 18, 2017, during a match at Hononegah High School in Rockton. Hononegah went on to win 5-0. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Hononegah’s Bella Tarara (11) moves between Guilford’s Selena Vila (10) and Ashlee Figueroa (6) to kick in the Indian’s third goal Tuesday, April 18, 2017, during a match at Hononegah High School in Rockton. Hononegah went on to win 5-0. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Hononegah’s Lauren Phillips (2) bumps the ball away as Guilford’s Mackenzie Pass (4) tries to kick it Tuesday, April 18, 2017, during a match at Hononegah High School in Rockton. Hononegah went on to win 5-0. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Hononegah’s Julia Barenbaum (15) reaches back for a five from a teammate after scoring for the Indians on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, during a match at Hononegah High School in Rockton. Hononegah went on to win 5-0. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Hononegah’s Joy Hueber (23) kicks at the ball near the face of Boylan’s Madisyn Smith (4) on Thursday, April 6, 2017, during a match at Hononegah High School in Rockton. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Freeport’s Josie McDermott (2) heads the ball Wednesday, April 12, 2017, during a match against Boylan at Freeport High School. The Pretzels went on to win 2-1 in two overtime periods. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Freeport players surround Allison Hasken (14) on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, after she scored a goal to take the lead over Boylan with one minute left in the second overtime period during a match at Freeport High School. The Pretzels went on to win 2-1 in two overtime periods. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

As May rolled in, I was still covering a ton of soccer.

Freeport’s Allison Hasken (14) receives a yellow card after pulling Boylan’s Fiona Fulling (3) to the ground Saturday, May 20, 2017, during the Class 2A girls soccer regional final at Woodstock North High School. Boylan won 2-1 after two overtime periods. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Freeport’s Madeline Hasken (12) cheers with Jessica Redington (8) after she scores on Boylan on Saturday, May 20, 2017, during the Class 2A girls soccer regional final at Woodstock North High School. Boylan won 2-1 after two overtime periods. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Boylan’s Fiona Fulling (3) and Madisyn Smith (4) jump on Allyson Viederis (17) after she scored the Titans’ second goal on a penalty kick Saturday, May 20, 2017, during the Class 2A girls soccer regional final against Freeport at Woodstock North High School. Boylan won 2-1 after two overtime periods. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Stillman Valley goalie Didi Estrada (0) hits the ball away as Johnsburg’s Madeline Hauck (5) tries to head it toward the goal Tuesday, May 23, 2017, during the Class 1A supersectional at Hampshire High School. Johnsburg won 3-0. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Stillman Valley’s Alexa Ballard (4) gets emotional while head coach Erin McMaster talks to the team Tuesday, May 23, 2017, after losing to Johnsburg 3-0 in the Class 1A supersectional at Hampshire High School. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Stillman Valley’s Becca Brown (1) comforts Sydney Hughes (9) while head coach Erin McMaster talks to the team Tuesday, May 23, 2017, after losing to Johnsburg 3-0 in the Class 1A supersectional at Hampshire High School. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Stillman Valley’s Alexa Ballard (4) and Paige Lockard (24) react as the walk off the field as Johnsburg players celebrate Tuesday, May 23, 2017, after the Class 1A supersectional at Hampshire High School. Johnsburg won 3-0. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

A Huntley penalty kick slides by Hononegah goalie Alyssa Darling (1) Friday, May 26, 2017, during the Class 3A girls soccer sectional final at Huntley High School. After remaining tied through two overtime periods, Hononegah won 4-2 in a penalty kick shootout. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Hononegah’s Erin Mercer (21) celebrates with Claire Miller (4) after she scored to tie the game with less than a minute a half left in the second period Friday, May 26, 2017, during the Class 3A girls soccer sectional final against Huntley at Huntley High School. After remaining tied through two overtime periods, Hononegah won 4-2 in a penalty kick shootout. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Hononegah goalie Alyssa Darling (1) stops a penalty kick in the shootout Friday, May 26, 2017, during the Class 3A girls soccer sectional final against Huntley at Huntley High School. After remaining tied through two overtime periods, Hononegah won 4-2 in a penalty kick shootout. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Hononegah’s Brynn Jacobi (8) reacts after the Indians fell to Barrington 4-1 on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, in the Class 3A girls soccer supersectional at Barrington High School. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Hononegah goalie Alyssa Darling (1) dives to cover the ball as Barrington players rush toward the net Tuesday, May 30, 2017, during the Class 3A girls soccer supersectional at Barrington High School. Barrington won 4-1. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Sure, I shot a few sporting events other than soccer.

Harlem’s Megen Johnson (23) tags out Belvidere North’s Morgan McNulty (3) as she tries to steal third base Wednesday, May 3, 2017, during a game at the Harlem Community Center in Machesney Park. Harlem won 7-0. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Hononegah’s Alicia Repka and Belvidere North’s Gianna Sagona sprint to the finish line in the 3200-meter run Thursday, May 4, 2017, during the NIC-10 girls conference track meet at Beloit College’s Strong Stadium in Beloit, Wis. Repka edged out Sagona by half a second for third place behind Boylan’s Grace McLaughlin (first place) and Delaney Appino. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Boylan’s Kyle Flynn (3) dives past Hononegah catcher Payton Guth (21) to score Friday, May 5, 2017, during a game at Hononegah High School in Rockton. Boylan won 7-3. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

And what would the end of the school year be without covering a graduation or two?

Sports slowed down in June and I got a chance to work on a few other things. But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t able to shoot a few sports feature stories.

Rockford native and Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet laughs as his friend, Joshua Patterson, misses every shot in the three-point contest Friday, June 23, 2017, during the Fred VanVleet Fan Fest at the UW Health Sports Factory in Rockford. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

As always, when severe weather hits, I go out into the field. I can’t make pictures from a basement!

We had an iconic downtown building succumb to a fire. In the following days, we documented the teardown. I was there as they took down the large sign.

Workers separate the brewery sign into three pieces after it buckled while trying to lay it down Friday, June 30, 2017, as demolition of the Hanley building continues in downtown Rockford. [MAX GERSH/RRSTAR.COM STAFF] ©2017

Lastly, I worked on a story about a couple with a few bee hives in their back yard.

Phew. I think that gets me all caught up. As always, keep up to date with my latest work on my Instagram page.

Max Gersh’s Instagram.

Favorites from the last few months

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