Kalamazoo Gazette: Week 1

Just as I was starting to be ok with cashiering all summer and giving up on the hunt for a second job I applied for a last minute internship opening at the Kalamazoo Gazette in Michigan. Well, I got the internship, put in my two week notice at work, packed up my car and moved to Kalamazoo last Sunday. So far I'm really enjoying the paper. Here are some of my favorites from assignments this week and a few from around my apartment.





One of the first things I shot here with one of the staff photographers. A feature on Camp Discovery, a camp funded by the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan. The camp is tailored to children with Epilepsy.



Photos from my first assignment on my own: a youth fishing program run by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.





This small town, Colon, Mich., about an hour south of Kalamazoo is known for how they celebrate the Fourth of July. There is a boat parade, a street parade, and tons of fireworks.





A feature from an assignment about a group of families that traveled together to China to adopt young girls.



My apartment.







Expect more consistent updates from now on. I'm enjoying shooting pictures again, although I enjoyed my break after this semester to recharge. I'm also hoping to start on a personal project here soon. I have a few ideas. Let me know what you think!

PS: You can check www.mlive.com/kalamazoo for more from the newspaper

Art House

My friends Robert and Graham turned their house into an art gallery for their last night there. It was a very cool experience. Most people brought something to hang on the walls and there were "audio exhibits" all night.

Persevering with Love

This is my final story for Picture Stories. It is a continuation of my story on Mildred and Bill. They are such wonderful people and I love photographing them. Mildred is so inspirational in her perseverance of living life fully. I look forward to spending more time with them and continuing this story. Let me know what you think and what I should look for as I continue the story. Feedback greatly appreciated.

Softball: WKU vs. Belmont

Today I shot a softball game for the College Heights Herald and had an ok time. I had trouble shooting at the field because there were nets almost everywhere I tried to shoot. I think I did an ok just working around them but I want to try again. Tomorrow I'm shooting high school softball and some more lacrosse. I've really stared to like shooting sports this semester. Let me know what you think!











Wow I actually shot some verticals! Weird!

Track and Field

Yesterday I shot WKU's Track and Field Invitational Tournament. I really wasn't enjoying it until the steeple chase. That was fun. All of my pictures are from that event because I wasn't really happy with anything else I shot. Tell me what you think!



I couldn't decide how to crop this one. Any ideas?

Love

This week our story topic was "love." My story is on Bill Ferkler and Mildred Livesay. Both Bill and Mildred were married for 40 years and two months before both their spouses died of Cancer. Bill's daughter introduced him to Mildred and they started dating. They dated for 10 years before they were married three years ago.

Mildred is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a disease of the central nervous system that inhibits the brain's ability to send and receive messages. Because of her MS Mildred needs constant assistance. She lives at the Bowling Green Retirement Village, but Bill lives in his own house. They only really see each other on weekends when Bill takes Mildred back to his home. Even though he is not with her constantly he is practically on call 24/7. If Mildred ever needed him during the week he would be there in a heart beat.

This is the first story in a long time where I really just enjoy being with the people. I think their story is important and I am going to continue shooting to develop it to where it needs to be. Here is Bill and Mildred's story so far.

Immigration

Last week our story topic was immigration. I shot Pastor Julius Ayeni of Living Springs church in Bowling Green. He is from Nigeria and his congregation consists of several African immigrants. I only ended up spending one day with Julius, but here is what I got.