Blog // Indiana Daily Student
Thursday, June 26, 2014
On the evening of June 25, 2009, I was sitting in my South Bend apartment watching CNN when the news broke that pop singer Michael Jackson – a native Hoosier – had died. I got a call a little while later from Brad Zehr and Carrie Schedler, colleagues from the Indiana Daily Student, who said they’d be heading up to cover the story for the student paper. At the time I was a summer photo intern at the South Bend Tribune, but I drove over the next morning to cover the story for the IDS. After I arrived and saw the large number of mourners gathering, I called back to my Tribune editor to tell them I’d have photos for them as well. The scene was surreal. Throughout the day, I saw three or four different impersonators with each one depicting a different Jackson era. Several fans brought Jackson albums and memorabilia. At one point, a City of Gary truck pulled up and a couple workers started trimming the overgrown grass around the house. Although it was strange at times, I was amazed by the number of people who showed up to reminisce about Jackson at the childhood home he hadn’t lived in for decades.
Anthony Wilson, an impersonator from Calumet Park, Ill., dances on Friday, June 26, 2009, in the front yard of Michael Jackson’s childhood home in Gary, Ind. Fans gathered at the home to remember the pop star by playing Jackson’s music and dancing. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Rudy Clay, the mayor of Gary, Ind., looks through items at a makeshift memorial for Michael Jackson on Friday, June 26, 2009, at the pop star’s boyhood home in Gary. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Categories: News | Tags: Indiana Daily Student, South Bend Tribune | Comments (0)
Monday, November 29, 2010
With Indiana firing football coach Bill Lynch on Sunday, I thought I’d leave you with a shot of the coach from last season. This is a frame I took at a school pep rally last year as Lynch addressed a crowd of incoming freshmen. It’s one of those “alone in the spotlight” kind of images that I tend to make from time to time. I have to admit I have quite a few Lynch shots. The coach has been on the hot seat for a few years now. When I was the photo editor at last year. He led the tour and held doors open for us as we went in and out of the new offices and rooms. Jim Tressel and Bret Bielema wouldn’t hold a door open for you.
Indiana football coach Bill Lynch speaks to a group of freshmen during the Traditions and Spirit of IU pep rally on Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Assembly Hall.
Categories: Sports | Tags: Football, Indiana Daily Student | Comments (0)
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Right now I’m in a bit of a holding pattern between internship gigs so I thought I’d take a look back at some of my stuff from last year’s Indiana football season. (Today is also apparently IU’s football media day, which is great timing.) Last season was my first shooting IU football full time. IU is definitely not known for it’s football program, but it made for an interesting fall semester as I embarked on a few road trips with the football writers to cover the team, including a 13-hour drive to Charlottesville, Virginia to see the team lose 47-7.
IU quarterback Ben Chappell walks off the field after failing to pick up a first down during a football game against Virginia on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va. IU lost 47-7.
IU coach Bill Lynch argues with an official during a football game on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Iowa City, Iowa.
Categories: Sports | Tags: Football, Indiana Daily Student | Comments (0)
Friday, July 23, 2010
Last July I covered the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was my first time covering the race although I had shot infield features that May at the Indy 500. I was flying solo as the only photographer covering the race that day for the Indiana Daily Student. It was … well … an interesting experience. I got to the track at about 4 a.m. to avoid traffic, parked in the infield and took a nap in my car. It can be very challenging to photograph inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Unless you work for a big publication, you have no access. There’s also a bunch of security guards (yellow shirts) who hassle the crap out of you at every turn. Walking into the media center I got stopped so I could show some obscure sticker on the back of my credential despite carrying two bodies and having a 300 mm lens thrown over my shoulder. Apparently I didn’t look legit enough. Moral of the story: the bigger the event, the worst the access. This means a smaller opportunity to get good moments. I would much rather shoot a high school basketball championship game than the NBA Finals. Sure, it’s cool to say you shot something like that, but oftentimes the access is better, less stressful and allows you to capture more moments at a smaller event.
Driver Jimmy Johnson, left, soaks crew chief Chad Knaus with champaign after Johnson's team won the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 26, 2009, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Pole sitter Mark Martin, far right, waves to fans as he makes his way into the pagoda for driver introductions before the start of the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 26, 2009, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Categories: Sports | Tags: Auto Racing, Indiana Daily Student | Comments (0)
Friday, July 16, 2010
Watching a YouTube video of a wedding photographer backpedal into a fountain the other day reminded me of one of my most embarrassing moments. A couple years ago Barack Obama made a surprise visit to the Little 500 bicycle race at Indiana University. At one point I got in front of him in the infield of the track, about 8 feet away from him and backpedaled to get him in the frame with a long 70-200 lens. I didn’t realize there was a chair directly behind me and – yep you guessed it – I went down. Even better: I have a shot of him pointing at the chair (second frame down). I guess I can tell my grandchildren that as a journalist I stood toe to toe with Obama … before falling over a chair in front of him. I recovered and got a couple decent shots out of the day (last two shots).
Categories: Miscellaneous | Tags: Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University | Comment (1)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Fans try to stay warm during the Men's Little 500 race Saturday at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Temperatures dipped into the 40s during the race.
There’s a lot of hype going into this year’s Little 500 race because of the possibility of showers on Friday and Saturday. This could affect both men’s and women’s races depending whether they are rained out, pushed back, or postponed to another day. Regardless of the weather, I’ll be ready. If it does rain, it won’t be the first race I’ve shot in the rain.
One day removed from a surprise visit from then-presidential candidate Barack Obama, the 2008 men’s race kicked off with 40-degree temperatures and fickle rain. It made for a miserable day for what fans attended the race, the riders and members of the media in the infield covering the event.
In my four years at Indiana University-Bloomington, this was the second and last time I covered the race for the Indiana Daily Student, the school’s campus newspaper.
Categories: Sports | Tags: Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University, Little 500 | Comments (0)
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., speaks to reporters after a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, at the American Legion Mall in Indianapolis. Bayh was considered as a possible vice presidential candidate for Obama before Joe Biden was chosen.
Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., exits the stage after speaking in front of 35,000 during a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, at the American Legion Mall in Indianapolis. Bayh was considered as a possible vice presidential candidate for Obama before Joe Biden was chosen.
Categories: News | Tags: Black and White, Evan Bayh, Indiana Daily Student | Comments (0)
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Potential new members, right row, speak with Zeta Tau Alpha sisters, left row, during 14 Party on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at the Zeta Tau Alpha house. The two-day event allows potential new members to meet women from different chapters.
Potential new members speak with Zeta Tau Alpha women during 14 Party on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at the Zeta Tau Alpha house. The two-day event allows potential new members to meet women from different chapters.
Categories: News | Tags: Indiana Daily Student | Comments (0)
Monday, January 11, 2010
IU forward Bobby Capobianco, right, reaches out to grab a rebound in front of Illinois center Mike Tisdale during the second half of IU's 66-60 loss to Illinois on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, at Assembly Hall.
IU guard Devan Dumes (33) tips a pass intended for Illinois forward Mike Davis during a game on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, at Assembly Hall.
Categories: Sports | Tags: Basketball, Indiana Basketball, Indiana Daily Student | Comments (0)
Monday, January 11, 2010
IU guard Jori Davis reacts as she draw contact from Illinois center Jenna Smith (13) during a NCAA women's basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at Assembly Hall. IU won 50-48.
A lone fan watches the action from an empty section during a NCAA women's basketball game between IU and Illinois on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at Assembly Hall. Bad weather and Christmas break contributed to an extremely sparse crowd at the game although the official attendance was listed at 1,350.
Categories: Sports | Tags: Basketball, Indiana Daily Student | Comments (0)
