College Football is here!

As of September 3rd the college football season began.

This is a very exciting time for me. While I love my baseball by about this time the Royals have shown there true colors and I begin to shed the blue and white and move to the Maize and Blue that I love so dearly. Now I realize that I live in Missouri and should; by default, be a die hard Mizzou fan and while I respect Pinkel and the organization as a whole I’m not much on MU football I just never have. Maybe its because I was always expected to like them because of my physical location maybe its because when ever I remember them I remember them sucking… I’m not quite sure. Note: That statement could confuse most because I’m a Royals fan and at the age of 22 I have only witnessed one maybe 2 winning seasons…but I digress.

I don’t know what it is about college football that gets me so excited but I love it. I think its one part atmosphere, one part inexperience, all parts allowing me to escape life for a day and live vicariously through other young gentlemen my age (or younger) living like rockstars. Though I’m pretty sure its just watching the young potential and the development on the field I enjoy the most. With the exception of the current wildcat scheme that the NFL has been running you never see they trial and error and chance in the NFL that you see with college teams. I love watching fourth and ones and all the make or break two point conversions. They make the moment exciting and really move the game to a different level for me. Plus its makes the NFL draft actually exciting.

I believe last year spoke volumes for why I love college football when I and 4 of my MSU college buddies trecked across the midwest to Ann Arbor for Michigans opening season game. There is nothing quite like and opening day in sports especially when you have 109,000 of your closets friends with you cheering on your team. It didn’t matter that they lost it would have been awesome if they one but at least I got that experience under my belt that feeling of being at a complete catotic event just for the game of sport.

So as wildcat offenses being defense splits develop, I will be watching in my garage Boulevard Wheat in hand. Hating on those Damn Buckeyes, Booing  Tebow and his Gators, and quietly but excitedly watching the Wolverines and “In Rod We Trust” slowly regain there respect ( I hope).

-Chris

Newsy!

After a long exhausting summer it looks as though some things are starting to look on the up and up with my current acquisition of a job at the local Kansas City station KSHB-TV. I found out that I was hired on during my fathers stint at the hospital and hadn’t really given it much thought. I was happy to tell him but not really looking towards the future.

Now that I realize I must begin to learn and move on I’m excited to rejoin the working world. My starting position will be a production technician and I starting training as a camera operator. My job stability at this position is one that I feel will take me as far as I want it. I’m a vacation relief worker which I believe means two things: 1. if you don’t work out its a heck of a lot easier to get rid of you because well “sorry we just can’t afford to have you around” and 2. We are going to work your butt off and not have to offer you benefits.

I’m ok with these options because I’m just thankful to have a job and look forward to proving myself in a company I have never worked for and meeting people of what I consider a decent sized city. Plus, you can’t be upset with a nice foot in the door. I knew I needed to start somewhere so that I could start making those allusive “contacts” and you never know where this will take me.

As I progress in this job I hope to give fun little updates through out and begin to blog on a regular basis again as I try to adjust back to life and gain my new responsibilities with a little time for relaxation and new time management skills.

Quietly Peacefully -

Chris

Boating Missouri

My parents recently purchased a new boat and like any good son living in my parents basement I decided I needed to get my boating certification. I completed the 3 1/2 hour exam this afternoon and I realized that I have many thoughts about the process.

The Missouri boating certification was established on January 1st 2005 for any individuals who are born on or after January 1st 1984. The certification exam can be taken either at a local water patrol office or at a supporting business such as Bass Pro Shops, it is also available online at the previously mentioned website. If you want to go to an actual class it is only offered once a month and the location changes cities when the course does occur. I found this to be very inconvenient because if you want to get certified and you buy a boat you most wait a month and hope the class is in your area. But once  I realized the class was offered online I was ok with this…

They state that the class in total takes about 3.5 hours yet if you go into the class it states to last about 3.5 hours over two days which equals 7hours and that is in fact how long it took me to complete the course online. Now don’t get me wrong the course was easy to do online and very convenient, you can stop and start when you want and it will pick up where you left off which I liked but I did question the content.

Some things were very useful such as which side to pass a boat on which is the stand on vessel and the give way vessel etc…But several of the units dragged on for no apparent reason. The basic set up was 7 chapters with various units ranging from 1 to 21 units in a chapter and at the end of each chapter you took a quiz. You have to score at least 80% on the quiz to move on (each quiz being 10 questions). If you failed the quiz you had to redo the entire section all over again. If the section took you and 1hour too bad AGAIN.  I realize they just want to make safe boaters but is the really necessary? I found some of the sections harder than when I tried to receive my drivers permit and I find a car much more dangerous than a boat! But maybe that’s just me.

I found myself frustrated by participating in a unit and reading/doing interactive diagrams then getting a 3 minute video at the end of the unit that talks to me verbatim on what I just did. I guess this is repetition but kinda overkill don’t you think. They also spent A LOT of time on rules of the ocean but this permit doesn’t work in any other state but Missouri so why are you telling me rules of the ocean and what I should do about Nun Bouys? I have to take another test to boat in that state anyway! It talks about navigation at night and what lights you need and what light means what and I liked this. But the section on carbon monoxide being bad just made me feel dumb. Do people born after 1984 really not know what carbon monoxide does to you? I don’t believe this.

I’m glad I have my certification. I think I will be a better boater for it. I believe it still could use some work and could really be tightened up an hour on rules of the ocean and 25minutes on things such as drunk boating, carbon monoxide and how to fill and not fill up your boat followed by videos of each seemed unnecessary.

I’m also undecided about how I feel about only young people needing to get a certification. I feel that some adults that beat me by age by only a few years could use a little training themselves. But until this certification is tightened up nothing will change except I hope a new generation of safer boaters…

Photo Adventures

I recently acquired a new camera via graduation from MSU. I finally have been able to mess around with it enough that I have pics I would like to post.

First off the camera is a Nikon D60. Most images are shot with the 18-55mm VR lense.I believe all the pics that I post today will be outside pictures meaning no flash was used just good ol’ adjustment to the F Stop and shutter speed.

Note: While I would like to take credit for these shots being out of the “can” they are not. I have infact photoshopped some of them. I just couldn’t help myself.

Well that is all I got for now. I took about 300 pictures in a week but these are the ones that I enjoyed the most so far. I still need to sift through some of them.

A new Beginning

As I step into a new chapter and a new city I have realized that there is a lot to learn. I have a world of freedom that I must learn to handle I place where I’m judge of whether or not I succeed or fail. I have a job market that can be very unforgiving but I must not let myself make excuses.

I’m exhausted from 4 years of academics but feel that I cannot take a break. It seems that I have time opportunities in freelance but this can be very much a feast or famon position but something that I will not be picking in choosing.

On the same line of being picky do I find a part-time job that will suffice in an income? I believe the answer is yes which leads me to the same question. Where do I look for this part-time work. Do I go back to the always faithful and coffee shop gig? Or do I try to find something more related such as a tv station?

So I hunt and trudge and find that the television market is just not a place that it once was when I took this as my lifes work. Stations are struggling and looking for ways to cut corners and at times not firing individuals but just asking them to step down.

All of this is very mind bending but I hope that I will find something. A little potential in this big city of Kansas City; I left friends, contacts, and income in Springfield, Mo I just hope that I made the right choice. While I realize it is too early to make that decision I hope that I find a positive answer sooner rather than later.

Treasure Hunt…

For this photo assignment we had to go on a hunt for photos from several different topics given it us. We also could not photoshop these pics they had to come straight out of the can. This is what I got.

Note: The cut line underneath the photo was the category we received.

So Yummy?!

Springtime...Who doesn't love these guys right?

Hardwork. Look at Lyla workin it.

Books...Oh My GOD! They know how to read!

Light. Spacewalking

Not category I just like this one for some reason...

Welp. That is what I got on my scavenger hunt hoped you enjoyed. I was supposed to have fashion faux pax as well but just never found one…

Earth Day 2009

Today is Earth Day and with Earth Day starts the Missouri State Public Affairs Conference which infact involves Earth Day by the topic being on Sustainability.

So in honor of this I attended one of the panel discussions this morning. The discussion that I attended I did find rather intriguing because it dealt with alternative energy and the idea of trying to ween ourselves off of the fossil fuels that we now use. Three panel members from various backgrounds discussed what they thought the best way to handle the situation. I have to admit that I found it entertaining that two members came from a government supported background while the other was the complete opposite which presented a 2 against one discussion. I feel that they all had very interesting things to say but I’m not sure I felt like they really answered the issues of moving away from coal etc… While I am one of the individuals who feel that we need to start harnessing alternative energy but I don’t know if I like the idea of nuclear energy. I realize that it doesn’t necessarily make sense but what I have read I’m not sure I like but who knows I guess.

Alright now to step on a small soap box. As I started to research the Sustainability conference I picked up a schedule of events booklet felt it and it appeared to be a newspaper/recycled paper product. I then went off to my photojournalism class to talk about what we needed to capture for the event and my professor Andy Cline brought to our attention that the booklets they handed out didn’t say anywhere that they printed these booklets on recycled paper. What is up with that! So you have a conference on Sustainability tout that you are a campus trying to be more sustainable then you print booklets and no where in the booklet tell us that it was printed on recycled paper! Now maybe it is but seeing that one it doesn’t say it anywhere and two the fact that the News-Leader slapped their logo on the front I some how doubt it.  I don’t know I realize it is a small thing but the fact that probably a couple thousand of these where printed off maybe just maybe you could have not over looked that fact.

Ok I step off of my box and move on too the pics that  Igot of the event. They aren’t great but it was a panel discussion which is just a boring thing to capture anyway.

Panel members Mark Cisson (l), Dianne Munns (c), Wayne White (r), discuss alternative energy topics.

The public affairs conference brought in several students to find out about sustainability.

On April 22nd MSU starts the Public Affairs Conference on Sustainability.

I don’t know if you can tell in the photo above but I tried to go for a part black and white part color photo…

This is the two against one. Wayne White an organic fruit and beef farmer looks on at the other panel members. I love capturing emotion when they look like they hate things...

The competition...

Well it is Earth day .I’m hungry. And need to turn off these damn electronics and hit the road on my bike so catch you all later.

A Kauffman walk-through

While I wish I would have remembered my camera for this occasion I didn’t so all of these pics came from my T-Mobile G1 phone…gotta do what you gotta do right? So forgive me for some shots that need zoom or are straight up just to close nothing I could really do about it but I think I made some of them work.

I went to the recent Royals vs. Yankees game on April 11th at 6:10pm. It was my first time to the new Kauffman Stadium since the 250 million dollar remodeling and I have to say I feel like they got much of it right. From all the different food vendors and beer vendors which seriously feels like they have a vendor of some sort every 15 feet…which means no waiting in lines and I’m always OK with that. To truly being able to enjoy every aspect of the game for only 7 bucks. That is right you can purchase a 7 dollar GA seat and sit basically anywhere in the outfield have access to the Rivals Sports Bar and whole outfield concourse leading me to the conclusion that I won’t pay more than 7 bucks this season for a Royals game because I saw no reason to Saturday night…

Sec. 417 Row. MM Seat 6

Standing room only seats...

These standing room only seats are sprinkled throughout the outfield the fence line is among grass area with a bar shelf for you to rest your food,drinks,or arms.

Budlight party deck...aka Rivals Sports Bar

The Bud-light party deck is the Rivals Sports Bar it appears to be a “private” event but actually if you walk around to the stair case you realize it is a restaurant for everyone that opens 2hours before game time.

Interior of Rivals Sports Bar

One thing that I took away from my visit to Kauffman is how much you can do at the stadium that doesn’t envolve the game it really seems to be twothingism…which I like.

Mini Rivals in outfield area by the resturant has a condensed menu of what the offer in the resturant.

Kids area in left field. Consists of the Little K, Mini Golf, Carosel, Pitch Challenge and Batting Cages.

I wanted to play mini – golf really bad it wasn’t very busy and looked like a lot of fun..But we decided not too.

9 hole mini-golf

The new and improved Little K with astro turf.

I was very excited to see all the activities for Families it really makes it a fun experience for everyone.

Brand new Royals Hall of Fame which will open in June and be a interactive venue.

The hall of fame is in center left field one area is where the venue will be the rest is suites for hall of famers and suites for fans.

Hall of Fame suites for fans and players.

Just one of several food vendors in the outfield area...Plus a little KC flavor.

A picnic area off of the food court in the outfield even away from the field fans can still catch the game.

A closed area for fans that features a full service buffet...we couldn't get in they had a body guard.

A freakin Irish Pub...they have like 5 of them...I had a Harp. 8 bucks really isn't bad for a beer import at a ballpark

Exterior of Kauffman Stadium.

I would have liked to capture more photos but my G1 battery eventually died and nothing else could be done. I’ve always loved Kauffman stadium and I was so excited they chose to just remodel then to build new. I think they really thought of everything and I can’t wait to visit it more.

Sports Photography?!?

The exciting world of sports has a variety of different variations of what exactly it is. For some we find that the competition of Cheese rolling is considered a sport.

For others the American past time of baseball and hitting a homerun is considered sport.

So, when I looked around this week and tried to decide what I wanted to take pictures of for sports photography. I took advantage of a lovely spring afternoon in Springfield, Missouri and chose the game of Washers. It also didn’t help that apparently every Missouri State athletic team was away this week literally everyteam left on Wednesday and won’t come back until Tuesday…

On a warm and sunny April 4th afternoon I found three gentlemen participating in the game of Washers in the park across from my apartment this is what I captured.

John Rainford, (22) has been playing Washers for nearly 4 years now.

Dane Montgomery, (23) is new to the game of washers and hoping to learn from Rainfords experience.

After an exhausting 35 minute match Montgomery shows experience doesn't always matter winning 11 - 9

Kevin Price, (22) a wily veteran gets his time to shine.

The world of sports is an adventorous one and as you can tell it doesn’t really matter what you call sports as long as you are having fun. With that thought I will leave you with this.

Personal Profile

Hmm…I really need to find a time to post something that isn’t just related to photography but I haven’t really found the time so here I go again.

For this piece the idea was to get personal profile piece of someone. While I’m not sure in the world of newsphotography this would work I chose my father. I find him a very compelling person and recently he has been in a battle with Mesothelioma a cancer of the lung caused by exposure to asbestos.

Through much research it has been confirmed that he was exposed to asbestos during his service in the Vietnam war where he was in the navy and was on several naval ships and decommishioned others.

The treatment that works the best for this type of cancer is a very high dose of chemotheraphy that he does in cycles every 21 days. While I was home I felt that taking shots of him while go through his treatment made it one more of a light-hearted event for both of us and some good pics.

Note: I was using a Nikon point and shoot that I was unfamilar with so bare with some of the pics.

Jim Dolt a cancer patient at the Kansas City Cancer Center reclines in his chair during a 6 hour chemotherapy treatment.

Just a little FYI I waited until later in the day to take pictures so not to disturb patients and the staff.

Jim socializes with other patients in the treatment room. Several patients exchange tips and tricks on how to cope.

I did my best to move around the little area I had to work with for different angles. I think I did alright with this.

Jim tries his best to stay at high spirits with the other patients while at KCCC.

Final Shot:

Jim looks on and waits for a nurse to come and change his ivy drip.

I think I learned quite a bit on this photoshoot and even with the situation at hand enjoyed it what I got from it.