2009_01_30_Kansas sheds her light

2009_01_30_Kansas sheds her light

This past Wednesday I had the opportunity to travel about four hours west of Hutchinson to a small town near the border of Colorado called Marienthal, Kansas, where a fresh set of Vestas wind turbines is sprouting from the ground. I can't post any of the actual windmill photos since the paper is not publishing the story until later in February or even March, I'm not quite sure. They'll be up at some point in time though.

Here's just a little peak at the western Kanas sky. I was banking on an amazing sunset to really make the photos while shooting the wind farm and she didn't disappoint. At first I was a little worried as the sun dipped behind the clouds before it had a chance to really make the sky glow. But just as I was getting ready to call it a night it started to peak back out and eventually came out right before it dipped below the horizon.



Thanks for the light Kansas, I'll put it to good use.

be well,
Brad Vest

Listening to: I.H.O.J, Destroyer

2009_01_29_Desolation

2009_01_29_Desolation

Kansas is a very different place than anywhere that I have come from. Parts of it show a likeness to the flat and open parts of northern Illinois, but it's different. It seems more open, old, worn, and in some parts very desolate. Desolation is a theme that I seem to keep on seeing throughout where I travel for assignments and just around town in general. Parts about Kansas also seem to really sync with the economic perspective of the entire United States right now. While I've been here I've seen and heard commercials that say that Kansas is still going strong and it's doing much better than the rest of the United States. There are still parts however that seem very impoverished and showing the wear of the ages.



I am going to start exploring these parts of my city, Hutchinson, and the state more in depth. There are so many possibilities for photos here it is sort of mind boggling, maybe it's just because it is completely foreign to me, but I feel I am drawn to a lot of different subjects here.



Here are just a few shots of sort of a theme I am trying to build on while here, open spaces, desolation, deterioration, etc. etc.

Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest





Listening to: Chicago, Sufjan Stevens

2009_01_28_A hound's handshake

2009_01_28_A hound's handshake

If you've been keeping up with this blog you know how attached I am to animals, especially dogs. I just can't get enough. One of the best parts about wandering around everywhere for assignments is that it's not a rarity to see a lot of animals, birds, deer, and especially dogs. It's great to run into dogs because I've always had a dog around my entire life and while out doing internships like this it stinks to be away from my dogs at home, Maize and Holly.


Oh hello there. It was muddy outside, whatever though, jump on me all you want.

The other day way out on the west side of Kansas, about 30 minutes from the Colorado border. While shooting art for a story The Hutchinson News is writing about the new wind farm going up I ran into the a very cool dog whose owner lives very close to the windmills. While the writer interviewed the man to get his opinions on the wind farm, the money it brings to town, and such, I politely excused myself to wander around his property and take photos on the wind turbines to show the proximity of them to his property. Ahem, hang out with the cool dog.


He was sorta scared of my camera, I assume he has never seen one before. The initial fright turned to curiosity though.

I did take some pictures, but there really wasn't a great angle to capture the wind turbines and his property. I ended up just hanging out with the awesome dog that he had adopted from the pound as a puppy a year or so earlier. I love big dogs, and this dog was large. Most likely a cross between a golden retriever and a german shepherd if I had to guess.

The hound was really energetic and loved jumping up to my chest to be pet on the head. He also did this hilarious thing when I stopped petting him or when I was walking around to get better shots.... he'd latch onto my hands with a very gentle chomp. Just enough to hold on to as if saying, 'let me walk with you' or 'start petting me again please'.


Hand Shake.


Hand smell.


Gentle hand chomp.

What a great day.

Best,
Brad Vest



Overexposed the first frame since I was still set for indoor exposures. I think this turned out really cool though. That's a reflection of me in his eye.

Listening to: Campus, Vampire Weekend

2009_01_26_Wireless bradbook pro

2009_01_26_Wireless bradbook pro

I don't leave home without having at least one camera, this notebook (or an offspring to come), and a great pen. Nothing really beats a reliable pen. The wireless bradbook pro features wireless 0.1 capabilities. It can't connect you with the world, you need a writing utensil, and it doesn't beep when you get a message. It can go anywhere with you though, no wires necessary.


No signal at the Hutchinson Airport.

I know Moleskin(e)s are expensive, but I only go through maybe one every 3 months or so, in pages that is usually 3-4 a day. With the audio tagging on my Canon Mark III I usually only take notes if it's a very important subject, or if it is a noisy area where I am working. I do jot down a lot of ideas I have or projects I want to get started.

It's the size of a wallet, usually more valuable monetarily, and almost always of more importance if lost. I wouldn't want to lose my wallet or have it stolen, but chances are whatever is in the wallet can be replaced.


Customizable to each consumers need.

Weather is set to be amazing this week for January in Kansas, only two day's under 50, really looking forward to trotting around meeting some people and making some photos

Best,
Brad Vest


This guy has been with me since Seattle. The landscape has definitely changed, a lot.

Listening to: Zimbabwe, Bob Marley (live version)

2009_01_23_Tag em' and bag em'

2009_01_23_Tag em' and bag em'

It's begun, again. I received my new press credentials today. Time has been flying, it seems like just yesterday I was waiting at the Daily Illini for my first press tag and just this morning I was back at the Post-Intelligencer going through the introductions and receiving all of my credentials, papers, and such. I guess time flies when you're always on the move.

I know the time will go by just as fast while I'm here and I definitely need to make the most out of it. I've been kicking around ideas and brainstorming lately to get started on a few long term stories while I'm here. I've always had trouble with this and I am hoping to break into some pretty interesting stories while here. Make something that's worthwhile and has meaning.

So, here's to starting something new. As always, thanks for looking.

Cheers,
Brad Vest



Listening to: Walking on a Dream, Empire of the Sun

2009_01_23_X-Raying clementines

2009_01_23_X-Raying clementines

Not much to say. I enjoy the little things in life such as seedless clementines. Why does such a small piece of fruit have to have such big of seeds?

Seeds or not though, soooo tasty and easy to peal. I usually x-ray the slices out my front window while I chill out in the morning before heading to work.

Best,
Brad



Listening to: Pterodactlys, Fujia $ Miyagi

2009_01_22_Dodge City with a side of beef

2009_01_22_Dodge City with a side of beef

I've never seen as many cattle as I've seen while trotting around in Kansas so far. They're everywhere. Just the other day I was sent out to Dodge City, Kansas to shoot a high school basketball game in a tournament. As I was nearing the town I was hit by the overwhelming smell of cow, every single thing about a cow, all in one, all at once. I didn't notice the actual cattle at first just the huge plant with hundreds of freezer trucks waiting to be filled.



I arrived in town an hour or so early so I decided to check around and find the cattle. As I turned back to follow my nose I found a 'scenic overlook' on the outskirts of town. Not overlooking a majestic forest, mountain, or body of water, just a huge mass of cattle mooing and feeding.

It was an experience.

Best,
Brad Vest




Way to many cows to fit into a picture. This is just one of the many feed lots. It was crazy.

--2009_01_20_Obama for the inmates--

--2009_01_20_Obama for the inmates--

My second assignment for the Hutchinson News was to shoot the Reno County Jail Annex in downtown Hutchinson. The county closed down the annex for almost a year to do some repairs and restoration. Using mostly inmates to do the work it was done for a very small amount of money and is reopening soon. As I walked through the annex shooting environmental portraits and searching out subjects for my photos I saw that one of the two large bunking rooms for inmates was broadcasting the post Inauguration coverage. I asked the Sergeant who was touring me around if I could go in and make some photos and found it strange when he had to unlock to door to let me in since I couldn't see anyone in the room.



As I was making images I heard a rustling from the shower and a few whistles, turns out there was some last minute cleaning going on. I'm not aloud for legal reasons to show photograph the faces of any of the inmates, I made some quick pictures and then the man came out all finished up and we talked for a little about the cleaning and the annex, then he brought up the inauguration and we talked about its significance and historical value very briefly before he went to the Sergeant and updated him on his progress before getting back to work.



I love the number of assignments I seem to be getting starting out with this paper. I always seem to make my best images while I'm busy but still have time at assignments to work the situation a little more in-depth than just your regular everyday hit and run photography.

From Kansas with love,
Brad Vest

Listening to: Time to Pretend, MGMT

2009_01_20_Congratulations Mr. President

2009_01_20_Congratulations Mr. President

It's a special day. I wish I had the opportunity to be in DC for the inauguration, it looks like some amazing photos and stories are coming back.

Obama in Danville, Illinois in 2006.


I spent my Inauguration Day at a famous Mexican restaurant here in town called the Anchor Inn. One of the workers in particular was extremely touched by the peaceful transfer of power when Barack Obama was sworn in. Here are a few images over the years of Barack Obama and events surrounding him. At the end I have shared a few images from the restaurant on Inauguration Day. It's so refreshing to see people excited about this country again, people who didn't even vote for Barack Obama can't help but be caught up in this exciting time and transfer into a new era of United States rule.

Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest

Listening to: The sounds of a once again invigorated country

Public art along Pike street in Capitol hill in Seattle, Washington in 2008.


Election night celebration Rainier Avenue in Seattle, Washington.


Election night celebration on the corner of Pike and Broadway in Seattle's Captiol Hill neighborhood.



Guadalupe Ochoa, a waitress at Anchor Restaurant, crosses her heart during the Inauguration of President Barack Obama while preparing for lunch at Anchor Inn, January 20, 2009. 'I'll pray for him, and I'll pray for our country,' said Ochoa about the transition of power.
(Brad Vest/The Hutchinson News)


Guadalupe Ochoa, a waitress at Anchor Inn Restaurant, prays along with the Inauguration of President Barack Obama while preparing for lunch at Anchor, January 20, 2009. 'I'll pray for him, and I'll pray for our country,' said Ochoa about the transition of power.
(Brad Vest/The Hutchinson News)


Guadalupe Ochoa, a waitress at Anchor Restaurant, reacts as President Elect Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, at Anchor Inn Restaurant in Hutchinson, Kansas.
(Brad Vest/The Hutchinson News)

2009_01_19_Onward to Kansas

2009_01_19_Onward to Kansas

Following the wonderful breakup breakfast I headed on my way to Hutchinson, Kansas. The drive was uneventful and pretty long for one day. Once I was through Kansas City the few miles afterwards still had lights and signs of civilization as the sun was just dipping under the horizon. As I swung off the four lane highway with a little over an hour to go the lights seemed to disappear. The last leg of the drive was pretty rough, no lights, very few cars, and no idea if I was even heading in the right direction. The one thing that was spectacular though were the stars, without any light pollution so to speak the sky was as dark as I have ever seen it with the stars popping like holes drilled through a black lamp shade. (I have no photos of this, but I will eventually)

Either way I'm here, Hutchinson, Kansas. I'm slated to be here through the end of June so from here on out most posts will come from this strange and foreign place to me.

Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest

Crossing the Mississippi along with a flock of birds.


Kansas.


I don't normally do self portraits, however the light on the way to Kansas was a very intense orange and I couldn't resist. Pardon the scummy facial hair, it was a long week with little time for frivolities like shaving.


The only lights for miles around were the cars passing by me on the two lane highway towards Hutchinson.

2009_01_19_Breakfast fit for a farewell_bv

2009_01_19_Breakfast fit for a farewell_bv

I left for Kansas this past Monday. After the short week or so at home then a wonderful weekend in Champaign-Urbana it was time to head out to the next internship. As a farewell my friends that are still in town at school and I cooked a great breakfast to fill my up for my 10 hour trip back across the vast openness of the midwest.

It was an amazing little cook up at Aaron's apartment that he will soon be leaving, and even though a couple people in our core group are spread across the country I feel they were there in spirit celebrating, hanging out, and eating a massive plate of great breakfast food.

I'll miss everyone so much, again, as I head out for the next 5 months into the unknown. It's a very strange time to be trying to make it as a photographer, crap, make it as anything. Just remember what really matters; friends, family, great times, and pursuing your dreams.

Again, thanks for looking. Have an amazing day.

Best,
Brad Vest

Listening to: Birds without wings, David Gray



Erica works the light and the coffee cup. We love light.


Babs, you have to crack the huevos before adding them to the mix. Oh, that was just erica throwing them into the mix, acceptable.










Food coma sets in.

2009_01_18_Zumi Zumi

2009_01_18_Zumi Zumi

On Sunday friends and I headed over to Murphy's to hang out. It was a Sunday, but due to having no school the next day to honor MLK the bars were packed and we were relegated to the basement. The basement at Murphy's is horrendous and it seemed to have gotten worse over the past few months.

To top it off after we were situated a group of people moved into the booth next to use and started playing this came that I can only assume is called zumi zumi. I have never heard of this game, zumi zumi, but apparently it was all the craze with the table next to us at Murphy's. It's a pretty loud and obnoxious game which involves thumping the table and screaming numbers.

It was a great time though even with the unnecessary ruckus coming from next door. Nothing could have dampened my spirits while seeing some of my best friends. Great times.

Cheers,
Brad Vest



This is when babs was pretty close to destroying the zumi zumi game. (photo: Erica)


It was getting pretty rough with all the table pounding and yelling. Oh, there was a side of drama also so it seemed when someones boyfriend left the zumi game without saying goodbye. (photo Adam)


It nearly killed face.


Sway sweatshirts. (photo: Face)


This should be an advertisement for something. (Photo: Face)


We don't pose for photos often. That's probably a good thing.


It was another great night.

2009_01_17_Driving like a Blind Pig

2009_01_17_Driving like a Blind Pig

After my brief week at home I headed a little out of the way to go south to Champaign-Urbana to visit with a few friends there before heading out to Hutchinson, Kansas. Just as Seattle's weather tried to hold me back when I left there, I had to brave pretty treacherous roads to make it down to U of I. There was no way I was going to head out to Kansas without making it to see a few great friends first however.

The usual two and a half hour drive turned to be a close to four hour slick endeavor with a few snow drifts along the way. There were quite a few cars in the ditch along the way but as long as you drove slow it was pretty safe. There was one area where a ton of police cars were and such but it seemed to only be a fender-bender that was blocking a couple of lanes.



After arriving safely in town the weekend began as a few friends and I hit downtown Champaign for a great time.

Cheers,
Brad

Listening to: I love you more, The Streets.

The Blind Pig, a great little establishment in downtown Champaign.


I think Face was in awe, or shock, for a little bit over the fact that I was going to the famous land of Kansas. (photo: Adam JB)




The end of a very long night.

2009_01_16_Not enough hours in the day

2009_01_16_Not enough hours in the day

It was great being home for a tad between internships. I only had the chance to spend a little more than a week at home between traveling from Seattle and to Kansas. A month would have been nice, and a week was far to short. However, it was great to catch up with family and friends while I was home for that short period of time before heading off on the next adventure.

Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest

Listening to: Place to belong, Little Dragon

Giant slice of pizza from the new place in DeKalb.


Curious pup watching the grill.


Collision? or a little love?


Coming from Seattle where the weather is not exactly ideal in the winter, a little cold and rainy, it was a sunny day on the beach compared to the -10 to -20 degree weather northern Illinois was having when I returned.


Very, very cold.

2009_01_15_Chicago_bv

I'm in Chicago for a couple days. It's really cold.






5 days till I start in Kansas.

Best,
Brad Vest

2009_01_14_I've got that apocalyptic feeling_bv

2009_01_14_I've got that apocalyptic feeling_bv

One of my great friends, Pat Traylor, swung through DeKalb on his way to O'hare to catch his flight out to Guatemala on Wednesday night. We met up and had a great little send off party for Pat, along with one of my other great friends, Beck Diefenbach, who has a job with my home town's daily newspaper, The Daily Chronicle.

The night was very chill with a lot of photojournalism talk, a little photojournalism wallowing, and the appearance of the infamous flat pat who just had to say goodbye to 3d pat.

When all was said and done, after beck and I looked at images and bullshitted into the late hours of the evening it was time to head home. Walking from Beck's killer downtown apartment I walked out into what seemed to be the aftermath of an apocalypse. Zombies I presume. It was so peaceful and with the light inch or so dusting of snow DeKalb had that night I felt as if I were the last one on the planet making the short walk to my car. I strolled down the middle of the street taking photos, glancing at things in a new way, and thinking about just how fragile everything is when put into context.

It was the perfect ending to a great night.

Great seeing those two, it had been too long.

Cheers,
Brad Vest

2009_01_13_Going white

The blog is going white.

Like? No?

I'm a little in between.

Best,
Brad Vest

01_10_2009_Home, past the holidays_bv

--01_10_2009_Home, past the holidays_bv--

After ~2732 miles, a little over a day of driving, and a few seedy hotels I've finally arrived home, DeKalb, Illinois. In 9 days I'll be starting my second internship with the Hutchinson News in Hutchinson, Kansas. But for now it's nice finally spending more than a few hours awake in some other position besides being behind the wheel of a car.

necessary?


The last leg of the trip was uneventful as far as scenery goes. Along interstate 80 Nebraska is about as visually interesting as a beige piece of construction paper. Though it would be great to spend some time in that strange state making photos. After all, everywhere has amazing people and photos, you just have to look.

Dirty window, clean energy.


In this short time at home I have a lot of things to keep me busy, this little vacation is going to go by very quick. Home with friends and family, a trip to Chicago for a couple days, reorganize my stuff and get ready for the trip to Kansas, and finally a little get together down in Urbana with a few great friends.

Due to this and the fact that I'll most likely be off the internet grid for a while I may not be updating much over the next week. I'll be shooting as always, things will be up eventually.

Thanks for looking.

Best,
Brad Vest

Biggest full moon of the year. It would have been great to have a 400mm in the trunk and really take advantage of this guy, it was huge.


Sunset in the side mirror, oh man, mind blowing, original, awesome. (ha)






I love being home to see my family, but they knew I was coming home. It's always fun to see how the dogs will react.


Nice to see you too.

01_09_2008_Sad day_bv

--01_09_2008_Sad day_bv--

"Were it left for me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the later." -Thomas Jefferson



I saw this quote everyday as I climbed the stairs to the third floor of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer building to the photographers room on the third floor. The first time I saw the quote it really inspired me. Newspapers are full of the most talented journalists in the world. Newspapers do the most in depth, accurate, and insightful stories out of every media outlet. The fact that so many papers around the country are closing is scary as a citizen of a country with a free press. When papers have no money to cover stories that need to be told who will fill that gap?

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer went up for sale today by its parent company Hearst. The Seattle Times just went through another major round of layoffs and is not faring well either. Seattle could become a major metro city in the United States without a dedicated daily paper. Hopefully something changes and the Post-Intelligencer can continue in some fashion.

My heart goes out to all the amazing journalists and wonderful people at the paper I called home for four brief months.

seattlepi.com
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/395463_newspapersale10.html
http://www.kuow.org/program.php?current=TC

It's a sad day.

Sincerely,

Brad Vest

01_09_2009_Very slow moving h2o molecules_bv

--01_09_2009_Very slow moving h2o molecules_bv--

Forgive me, I'm going to keep this short, I'm exhausted. I was going to try and make it to Iowa today, but Mother Nature had other plans. I woke up this morning to about 3 inches of fresh snow on the ground in Wyoming. The roads were okay, but the beginning of the trip I had to travel pretty slowly due to the high winds, snow, and slippery curves.

I love snow, just not so much when I am going to be driving all day long. This is sorta like a very expensive digital holga shot?


Once I was out of the Elk mountain area of Wyoming the roads cleared up and I cruised for a few hundred miles until about 70 miles from Lincoln, Nebraska. At that point the roads became one big sheet of ice combined with 50mph gusts of crosswinds I decided to call it a short day and stopped in the small town of York, Nebraska. I'll hole up here tonight before completing the rest of the trip in the morning.

About 7 hours to go. Not to shabby.

Best,
Brad Vest

Listening to: Solo Impala, The Fashion

A lot of warning signs as I have made my way east the past few days.


It wasn't to great to drive in, but it was pretty gorgeous.


Energy in motion. I've passed so many of these on the way home, I love it.


That little guy was probably headed to a nearby farm like this one. It was so windy out today, these things were spinning like helicopters.


This was actually a lot less slippery than the final leg in Nebraska at night when I decided to call it a night and relax instead of drive 45mph behind semi trucks.

01_08_2008_running from the sun_bv

--01_08_2008_running from the sun_bv--

It's always fun to drive west into the sunset, but the rest on the eyes coming back east isn't anything to complain about either.


Two days in the books and two more to go. After close to 1,300 miles (would have been a couple hundred less if there were no flooding) I have just under a thousand left. Something like 946 or so. After the minor setback of Wednesday I made up some time today as I made my way through Salt Lake City and out onto I 80. With only a few more mountains left before the boredom of Nebraska sets in I spent a lot of today enjoying the sights and trying to make a few pictures.

641 mi – about 9 hours

The sun was hiding a lot of the day behind a blanket of clouds, but when it came out it made for some spectacular light. Between those brief moments of light I played around with the clouds and the mostly backlit conditions.

Here are some scenic shots along the route. Enjoy the clouds and mountains.

Thanks for looking,

Brad Vest

Listening to: Kids, MGMT

Utah, beautiful.


Devil's Slide.


25 MeH, Devil's slide.


The Great Salt Lake. My brother Jake, and I looked for this lake at 2am or so on our first road trip west. We were heading for San Francisco pulling an all night drive when we saw the exit sign for the lake overlook. We smelled fish and were wandering around a salt flat when some guy drove up on a motorcycle and told us we were about a mile away from water since the lake had receded so much.




A little peek from behind the mountains.


Rest stop.


Not that you can see to well, but there is a giant field of windmills. Awesome.


Seeing how many dead animals I've encountered along the road so far, after the sun goes down I usually find a fast semi and hide behind it as to not take any direct impacts from deer or elk.

01_07_2009_feeling the grasp of the northwest_bv

--01_07_2009_feeling the grasp of the northwest_bv--

Leaving Seattle was a really tough thing to do. Emotionally and literally. After packing up all my stuff in the morning and dropping off a book at a friends I started out heading west on I 90 thinking the little bit of rain wouldn't impede my travels. I was wrong. Snoqualmie pass was closed to traffic due to avalanches and heavy mud and rock slides. I figured I'd give 410 a try since it is a tad more south and less busy..... Shut down. As I was turning around on 410 I came close to becaming stranded in Enumclaw, Washington. Enumclaw is a town surrounded by rivers along with roads that were clogged with bumper to bumper traffic in every direction searching for a way out.





After a little weaseling, I squeezed out of the gridlock and over a small bridge up to it's neck in water.

With high hopes of at least getting somewhere farther than 30 minutes from Seattle after three and half hours of driving I started to head south on I 5 to Portland. From Portland interstate 84 heads directly east along the Columbian River through the mountains.



The river was about 2 feet from flowing over I 5. I assume this could have been one of the sections that ended up having to close to traffic.


I managed to make it to Portland and from there everything was smooth sailing. The route is a little out of the way, but it paid off as I worked my way west out of the rain and through the mountains. It was pretty close though. All the roads are traveled on today, are or were at some point in time, closed. Including interstate 5 which isn't even near the mountains. I took as best of photos from my car as I hurried out of the rain.

A different route than planned. But at least I am east of the first set of mountains.


I felt a little weird driving away from a huge news event. But I knew that if I didn't make it out today I may have been stuck for days in the epic floodwaters that engulfed the northwest. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/395143_stormonline08.html

Pretty glad that I was driving on the side of the road without the waterfalls and giant rock walls.


Currently I am in the border town of Ontario between Oregon and Idaho. I'm on the Oregon side. I wish I could have had more time in this state. Just the drive along the river had me itching to come back and do some hiking.

Front focused waterfall.


I tried something different here with a longer exposure to blur the road and trucks passing to bring in some lines while keeping the relative shapes of the mountains along the horizon.


A long tunnel through one of the mountains along Interstate 84.


Cheers,
Brad

Listening to: (song that popped on shuffle as I drove out of Seattle) The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts, Sufjan Stevens

Kinda excited to use these guys after a long day of driving.

01_06_2008_the long trip home_bv

--01_06_2008_the long trip home_bv--

Live in the moment.

My brief time here in Seattle has come to an end, for now. I honestly can't even begin to describe my feelings of leaving this place. I feel as if I am leaving something just as I was beginning to truly appreciate and understand some of it's intricacies. The hardest part is not the city, place, or the things here that this place has to offer that I have come to love, it's the people. I'll be leaving great friends and fresh friendships that I have developed in my time here. Feeling more and more at home as everyday passed while realizing it can only last a certain amount of time.



Today I embark on my journey home across the wide open tundra of the midwest to Illinois for a week with friends and family. From there I'll head off to Hutchinson, Kansas to begin my spring internship with The Hutchinson News.





Moving onto Kansas will be eye opening, foreign, and creativity inspiring place to this fresh-eyed wanderlust who'll be stomping its ground for the first time. I am really looking forward to making pictures and developing friendships in this new place. But for now I can't help but feeling the tug on the heartstrings as I leave this place, with people who've impacted my life so much.



I'll be back Seattle, one way or another. But for now this bird has a little more migrating to do before planting his feet. After all, it's the journey and the stops along the way, not the destination.

Stay tuned, the tide is changing.






Best,

Brad Vest

listening to: Once Around the Block, Badly Drawn Boy

Thanks for the drawing Anne, it was a fantastic 'last' night in Seattle. Time to go rock out in Kansas for a while and make some wonderful americana images.

01_01_2009_So this is the new year_bv

--01_01_2009_So this is the new year_bv--

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful, energetic, and safe night. I can only hope that everyone had as wonderful of night as I had in Seattle. Here are just a few images of the Space Needle fireworks last night. These were taken from the Republican Street steps about 50 feet from where a friend of mine lives in Capitol Hill.

I'll probably post a few more images from the night coming up.

To all in this new year may you find happiness, health, and good fortune.
Best,

Brad Vest