the good and the bad

I've been busy. School started, which means four classes (had to drop one to prevent committing homicide), assistant photo editor duties and weekly assignments. It's enough to make me sympathize with the boy in my first health care rally photo.
Though I haven't been sleeping much, I've fully moved in to my new apartment, which is a good feeling. Everything was going great until it was broken into last Wednesday. A few valuables and invaluable sentimental items were stolen... I was lucky in that I had my camera gear with me at school with my bike. On the bright side I've got one senior portrait lined up along with a wedding gig in the next week, and then my job will start paying me. I know, it's a novelty concept, getting paid to take photos.

In other news, we have been working really hard at The Met to ramp up our photo department with better images, more dedicated shooters and MULTIMEDIA. This has caused more late nights and for Drew and I to spend more time with each other than any married couple I know... Let's just say my tendency to curse has only gotten worse in the last few weeks.

Enough writing though. Here's a few from the health care rally yesterday at North High School in Denver.

Caleb Aex, 2, struggles with fatigue during the health care rally at North High School in Denver Friday, August 28. His mother, Bridget Beatty, center, whose husband is a registered nurse says, "we want [health care] to be more affordable."

Merle Smith listens to speakers at the health care rally.

Phillip Penson, left, of Denver, argues with Dan Davidson, right, of Loveland after a health care rally held at North High School in Denver. A little over 1,000 people attended the event with approximately 50-60 individuals there in protest. A number of people stopped to argue political issues with each other and while voices were raised, no serious incidents were reported.

Ed Quayle holds his son, Brian Quayle, 2, while waiting for the health care rally to begin. Quayle says he currently has good health insurance but is facing a ten percent pay cut that will make it difficult to pay for all of his son's medical needs who has severe cerebral palsy.

to bow and to bend, we will not be ashamed

Sometimes, after a long day, or a long week... (You know what I'm talking about, all your muscles are sore, and your eyes slip out of focus every 2 minutes.) I just want to sleep for a year and then when I wake up, pick up my camera, leave my cell phone, computer and everything else behind and drive. Just drive and drive and never look back.
Maybe someday I will. I also haven't completely ruled out all the other careers I would like to pursue: firefighter, EMT, boxer, astronaut, teacher, professional ultimate frisbee player. Only time will tell what I choose.

It's interesting to me how very different we think we all are from each other but at the end of the day, we are so very much alike it can be almost shocking. I guess hanging out with a multitude of differing people all the time gives me perspective. Here's one example:

I took both of these images this weekend, one at the AIDS walk/run and the other at a very small Baptist church in Berthoud. I liked them both, and it was only until I saw them together that they seemed to somehow interact.

my support

This summer has been tough for me because I've been working a lot, but most of that work has been unpaid. It's been great, and I've learned a lot, met some really great people, grown as a photographer... But not having money is hard. I just turned 21 this summer, and I'm starting the transition into more complete independence, but I couldn't really do that this summer. I didn't have a steady enough schedule to fill my free time with a paying job (IF I could have found one). I do senior and family portraits and odd jobs here and there... But it's been rough. And I couldn't have done it without my mother. She's truly become one of my best friends, and she's a constant well of encouragement and support.
It's a common occurrence for me to find myself at her dining room table with my head in my hands, wondering with a worn out drawl if I'm choosing the right thing. These are usually at the end of a long week after enduring many late nights and early mornings, and after having taken thousands of photos. She tells me every time how proud she is and how she knows it's hard, but that I am doing the right thing, even if I have to do it for free for a while. My mother who is an extremely talented artist and a wonderful woman with keen insight, who paints the world in only the brightest of tones. I love her, she is my guide, my rock, my inspiration.

gathering sunflowers this morning for her best friend's birthday bouquet.

grown cowboys

My first day back with Loveland they had me shoot a professional rodeo. I took the 400 with me and I have come to this conclusion about bringing 400s on assignment..
They're like taking a baby out with you:
-You always have to be holding it wherever you go, and it's heavy to the point that it's slightly awkward and uncomfortable after a while but not to the point where it's unmanageable but even if it is, you will hold it anyway.
-You have to go where it wants to go and you can never fully do what you want because you always have to have it with you.
-Once you finally get settled wherever you are and start playing with it, you will probably have fun.

little britches

I just got back from three days in Pueblo at the National Little Britches Rodeo championships. I stayed with my friend Dawn who's interning at the Pueblo Chieftain there, and it was a blast! I love the rodeo scene, and I took a couple thousand photos. I'm attempting to make an audio slideshow of the event, but here are two photos for now.