peace,
Brad Vest
6 hours ago
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
2009_02_27_
2009_02_27_
Airplanes rarely venture near this place, just jet streams on the horizon.
Best,
Brad Vest
Airplanes rarely venture near this place, just jet streams on the horizon.
Best,
Brad Vest
Thursday, February 26, 2009
2009_02_26_mining preview
2009_02_26_mining preview
As you know I headed down into the Hutchinson Salt Mine this past Tuesday. I spent the entire day shift down in the mine with the workers. The Ad Astra photo page isn't inked until this Sunday so I can't share any of the actual photos. But here are just a few behind the scenes shots.
I had to tag up before heading down into the mine like every other miner. You leave one tag at the surface and keep one tag on you. This is in case of emergencies they know who is down in the mine. As I was going through the safety training the manager joked... 'for some reason they make them out of brass, so when you're stuck in the mine and burn up it's easy to identify you by the melted drop of metal seeing as brass melts at 200 degrees.' Haha, not very funny.
The self rescuer that turns poisonous CO into CO2. Granted it doesn't add any oxygen so if you're using this thing you better be moving quickly to the exit.
Sparkly salt ceiling.
I was shooting the powder man who's in charge of setting the explosives in each and just as we finished up the first wall it was time to move on to the next wall a few hundred yards away. The truck he uses the get around only has one seat in the front so I saddled up with my legs hanging over the side of the flatbed. Just as he was getting in the front he called back, 'you can sit on the explosives if you want'. Why not. Riding around with the powder man on top of around 1000 lbs of ammonium nitrate explosives, it was ironically comfortable.
ESCAPE WAY!
I turned a 5 dollar camera rain jacket into pretty much a completely sealed jacket to keep the abundant salt particles off my gear.
Since the camera was completely sealed with the bag and close to a full roll of electrical tape this made controlling the camera difficult. I do know how to control everything in the dark by touch, but the bag made the controls much more sluggish and slippery. It was tough when adjusting from a iso3200 @ 1/15th shot to an iso 640 shot @ 1/50th.
Best,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, Vampire Weekend
As you know I headed down into the Hutchinson Salt Mine this past Tuesday. I spent the entire day shift down in the mine with the workers. The Ad Astra photo page isn't inked until this Sunday so I can't share any of the actual photos. But here are just a few behind the scenes shots.
I had to tag up before heading down into the mine like every other miner. You leave one tag at the surface and keep one tag on you. This is in case of emergencies they know who is down in the mine. As I was going through the safety training the manager joked... 'for some reason they make them out of brass, so when you're stuck in the mine and burn up it's easy to identify you by the melted drop of metal seeing as brass melts at 200 degrees.' Haha, not very funny.
The self rescuer that turns poisonous CO into CO2. Granted it doesn't add any oxygen so if you're using this thing you better be moving quickly to the exit.
Sparkly salt ceiling.
I was shooting the powder man who's in charge of setting the explosives in each and just as we finished up the first wall it was time to move on to the next wall a few hundred yards away. The truck he uses the get around only has one seat in the front so I saddled up with my legs hanging over the side of the flatbed. Just as he was getting in the front he called back, 'you can sit on the explosives if you want'. Why not. Riding around with the powder man on top of around 1000 lbs of ammonium nitrate explosives, it was ironically comfortable.
ESCAPE WAY!
I turned a 5 dollar camera rain jacket into pretty much a completely sealed jacket to keep the abundant salt particles off my gear.
Since the camera was completely sealed with the bag and close to a full roll of electrical tape this made controlling the camera difficult. I do know how to control everything in the dark by touch, but the bag made the controls much more sluggish and slippery. It was tough when adjusting from a iso3200 @ 1/15th shot to an iso 640 shot @ 1/50th.
Best,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, Vampire Weekend
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
2009_02_25_Don Quixote for a day
2009_02_25_Don Quixote for a day
I felt like the obsessive fictional hero as I somewhat frantically drove around the four square miles or so of roads that surrounded the thirty-three newly constructed windmills outside the small Kansas town of Marienthal. However, instead of battling the windmills in a more chivalrous endeavor, I was dealing with something much more fleeting and obscure, the light.
After driving over four hours straight west into the vast, barren, brown land known as western Kansas and only being a few handfuls of miles from the Colorado border I was banking deeply on the fact that the sky would open up and give me one of her more fantastic sunsets to work with. After all, the sole reason I came all this way was to make a pictorial type photo, beautiful in its nature, of the windmills for the upcoming cover for one of the four sections of The Hutchinson News' yearly progress section.
When the light started to fade I knew it would either be a great sunset or there wouldn't be one at all. Clouds had started to roll in which is actually a great thing since clouds make the sky more dynamic and actually enhance the colors of the sunset. But, with those benefits also comes a huge downside, clouds can completely kill a sunset by blocking out the light. At the beginning it was great, the sun was parting the clouds and creating beautiful shades of color on the clouds and reflecting off the large reflective bases of the windmills.
I became worried though just as the sun was starting to get into it's peak position it was matted out by the clouds. I waited and waited but nothing changed the sun just stuck to the back of a huge set of clouds concealing all the light except for a few shades of not so fantastic grey. Just as I was about to call it a day she broke through right at the horizon line and lit up the entire cloud mass that used to be blocking here.
It worked out for some wonderful pictures and a great trip.
Thanks for looking.
-Brad Vest
After about 20 minutes of nothing but grey, the sun appeared again and gave a wonderful show of color for about ten minutes before continuing on to other parts of the western hemisphere.
This is the photo we chose to run for the cover of the wind progress section. It was so great to see the way we used the photos for the covers of each section. We went big! Each section front was just a photo, no text, no graphics, just a giant photo welcoming readers into the section.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Stork and Owl, Tv on the Radio
I felt like the obsessive fictional hero as I somewhat frantically drove around the four square miles or so of roads that surrounded the thirty-three newly constructed windmills outside the small Kansas town of Marienthal. However, instead of battling the windmills in a more chivalrous endeavor, I was dealing with something much more fleeting and obscure, the light.
After driving over four hours straight west into the vast, barren, brown land known as western Kansas and only being a few handfuls of miles from the Colorado border I was banking deeply on the fact that the sky would open up and give me one of her more fantastic sunsets to work with. After all, the sole reason I came all this way was to make a pictorial type photo, beautiful in its nature, of the windmills for the upcoming cover for one of the four sections of The Hutchinson News' yearly progress section.
When the light started to fade I knew it would either be a great sunset or there wouldn't be one at all. Clouds had started to roll in which is actually a great thing since clouds make the sky more dynamic and actually enhance the colors of the sunset. But, with those benefits also comes a huge downside, clouds can completely kill a sunset by blocking out the light. At the beginning it was great, the sun was parting the clouds and creating beautiful shades of color on the clouds and reflecting off the large reflective bases of the windmills.
I became worried though just as the sun was starting to get into it's peak position it was matted out by the clouds. I waited and waited but nothing changed the sun just stuck to the back of a huge set of clouds concealing all the light except for a few shades of not so fantastic grey. Just as I was about to call it a day she broke through right at the horizon line and lit up the entire cloud mass that used to be blocking here.
It worked out for some wonderful pictures and a great trip.
Thanks for looking.
-Brad Vest
After about 20 minutes of nothing but grey, the sun appeared again and gave a wonderful show of color for about ten minutes before continuing on to other parts of the western hemisphere.
This is the photo we chose to run for the cover of the wind progress section. It was so great to see the way we used the photos for the covers of each section. We went big! Each section front was just a photo, no text, no graphics, just a giant photo welcoming readers into the section.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Stork and Owl, Tv on the Radio
2009_02_25_hear that sound
2009_02_25_hear that sound
I miss the Puget Sound and that city that sits off her eastern side.
Best,
Brad Vest
I miss the Puget Sound and that city that sits off her eastern side.
Best,
Brad Vest
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
2009_02_24_Working in a sodium chloride mine going down down down
2009_02_24_Working in a sodium chloride mine going down down down
Right about now I'll be stepping onto an elevator and descending about seventy stories below the surface of the earth into a strange, dark, and dusty place, the Hutchinson Salt Mine. I'll be spending the day with the workers documenting their underground lives. I'm not quite sure what to expect except for really challenging lighting and a nice dry 65 degree day without the sun.
I lightened everything out of my bag except for the essentials and a lunch consisting of a couple pb and j sandwiches, a banana, a granny smith apple, and a bottle of water. That way it will be much easier to get around all day.
Lightened load, only the essentials.
Fully charged batteries for a full day of shooting. I marked them a while back so that I know which are spent and which still have a charge when I am sifting through my bag.
Other than that all I have to carry, among other things, is a certified breather that's about the size of mango, but in rectangle form. The breather only weighs about 3 pounds and in case of emergency it turns poisonous carbon monoxide into harmless carbon dioxide to allow for greater time to run out of the mine. Knock on wood, don't worry though, salt mining is actually very safe, especially when compared to coal mining.
Waiver and releases let you know what you'll be doing is exciting.
I also sorta enhanced the seals on my camera with some electrical tape and rubber bands to keep the salt dust from getting in where it shouldn't. If the mine is worse than I am anticipating as far as particles in the air and getting all over my camera I'm also bringing down two weather bags that fit around my cameras and lenses. I really don't want to use those though, they are a real pain in the butt.
Super seal, patent pending.
Other than that I guess there isn't much. I'm really excited to get down there and start making pictures. I'm leaving my apartment at 5am or so to get to the mine before the workers start to arrive to capture the whole process of one of their full work days.
So, if you need to get in touch with me tomorrow, good luck, my phone won't have much signal due to the interference of 700 feet of rock, sand, dirt, and salt.
See you topside,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Your rocky spine, Great Lake Swimmers
Right about now I'll be stepping onto an elevator and descending about seventy stories below the surface of the earth into a strange, dark, and dusty place, the Hutchinson Salt Mine. I'll be spending the day with the workers documenting their underground lives. I'm not quite sure what to expect except for really challenging lighting and a nice dry 65 degree day without the sun.
I lightened everything out of my bag except for the essentials and a lunch consisting of a couple pb and j sandwiches, a banana, a granny smith apple, and a bottle of water. That way it will be much easier to get around all day.
Lightened load, only the essentials.
Fully charged batteries for a full day of shooting. I marked them a while back so that I know which are spent and which still have a charge when I am sifting through my bag.
Other than that all I have to carry, among other things, is a certified breather that's about the size of mango, but in rectangle form. The breather only weighs about 3 pounds and in case of emergency it turns poisonous carbon monoxide into harmless carbon dioxide to allow for greater time to run out of the mine. Knock on wood, don't worry though, salt mining is actually very safe, especially when compared to coal mining.
Waiver and releases let you know what you'll be doing is exciting.
I also sorta enhanced the seals on my camera with some electrical tape and rubber bands to keep the salt dust from getting in where it shouldn't. If the mine is worse than I am anticipating as far as particles in the air and getting all over my camera I'm also bringing down two weather bags that fit around my cameras and lenses. I really don't want to use those though, they are a real pain in the butt.
Super seal, patent pending.
Other than that I guess there isn't much. I'm really excited to get down there and start making pictures. I'm leaving my apartment at 5am or so to get to the mine before the workers start to arrive to capture the whole process of one of their full work days.
So, if you need to get in touch with me tomorrow, good luck, my phone won't have much signal due to the interference of 700 feet of rock, sand, dirt, and salt.
See you topside,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Your rocky spine, Great Lake Swimmers
Monday, February 23, 2009
2009_02_23_partly organic
2009_02_23_partly organic
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: I've got it all (most), Modest Mouse
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: I've got it all (most), Modest Mouse
2009_02_23_Youth rodeo
2009_02_23_Youth Rodeo
As always, thanks for taking a look.
Best,
Brad Vest
Listening to: upon this tidal wave of young blood, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
As always, thanks for taking a look.
Best,
Brad Vest
Listening to: upon this tidal wave of young blood, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Sunday, February 22, 2009
2009_02_22_Ignoring generics
2009_02_22_Ignoring generics
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Once Around the Block, Badly Drawn Boy
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Once Around the Block, Badly Drawn Boy
2009_02_21_Five angry bulls and a puppy
2009_02_21_Five angry bulls and a puppy
Yesterday I had the chance to shoot a rodeo for the first time. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I definitely knew it would have its fair share of excitement. Turns out it was a little more exciting than I bargained for.
When I first got to the small rodeo I wandered around the outside took pictures and grabbed a coffee. I knew the best pictures would be in with the bull riding competitors that stay inside a fenced in area at one side of the large rodeo ring. The competitors enter the confined ring where they are safe from the large bulls, get dressed and prepared to mount the bulls. The bulls come in on the right side and follow a path around to the front into their holders before being released into the ring with a rider on top. After the ride, the bull is guided out on the left side of the small fenced in ring where the riders wait and out into the pen behind the building.... At least that is the plan.
He's a Blue Healer and he was awesome.
Young cowboy getting his gear ready for his upcoming ride.
I entered the confined ring and started making pictures as the riders prepared to start riding the bulls. There was a tiny puppy in the ring and that took up most my attention for a little while. Either way, I was shooting pictures of one of the younger riders getting his rope ready and all the sudden people were yelling and jumping all over the place. Apparently someone forgot to make sure the gates were chained together which allowed five angry bulls to bust through into the 'safe' area where the riders were getting prepared. As I looked left I saw three bulls running right at me. I ran across the area and leaped onto a large metal grate that riders climb up onto before lowering themselves down onto the bulls. I tried to make a few photos as soon as I was safe from the 5 pairs of horns that continually raced around the small area butting at anything that came near them.
The shutter was triggered as I ran across with the giant bulls chasing me down.
After I thought I was in a relatively safe position I turned and tried to make a few images of the bulls reeking havoc in the small 'safe' zone.
Bull runs full steam into the fence where guys scramble to the other side.
It was a very exciting experience and my heart was racing a little when it was all done. Luckily no one was injured, and who knows how, but the little puppy made it out unscathed also.
The little guy didn't even seem to mind after the whole ordeal was over.
What a great little kick to get the day going.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
One cowboy was scared out of his boot.
Listening to: Chicago, Sufjan Stevens
Yesterday I had the chance to shoot a rodeo for the first time. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I definitely knew it would have its fair share of excitement. Turns out it was a little more exciting than I bargained for.
When I first got to the small rodeo I wandered around the outside took pictures and grabbed a coffee. I knew the best pictures would be in with the bull riding competitors that stay inside a fenced in area at one side of the large rodeo ring. The competitors enter the confined ring where they are safe from the large bulls, get dressed and prepared to mount the bulls. The bulls come in on the right side and follow a path around to the front into their holders before being released into the ring with a rider on top. After the ride, the bull is guided out on the left side of the small fenced in ring where the riders wait and out into the pen behind the building.... At least that is the plan.
He's a Blue Healer and he was awesome.
Young cowboy getting his gear ready for his upcoming ride.
I entered the confined ring and started making pictures as the riders prepared to start riding the bulls. There was a tiny puppy in the ring and that took up most my attention for a little while. Either way, I was shooting pictures of one of the younger riders getting his rope ready and all the sudden people were yelling and jumping all over the place. Apparently someone forgot to make sure the gates were chained together which allowed five angry bulls to bust through into the 'safe' area where the riders were getting prepared. As I looked left I saw three bulls running right at me. I ran across the area and leaped onto a large metal grate that riders climb up onto before lowering themselves down onto the bulls. I tried to make a few photos as soon as I was safe from the 5 pairs of horns that continually raced around the small area butting at anything that came near them.
The shutter was triggered as I ran across with the giant bulls chasing me down.
After I thought I was in a relatively safe position I turned and tried to make a few images of the bulls reeking havoc in the small 'safe' zone.
Bull runs full steam into the fence where guys scramble to the other side.
It was a very exciting experience and my heart was racing a little when it was all done. Luckily no one was injured, and who knows how, but the little puppy made it out unscathed also.
The little guy didn't even seem to mind after the whole ordeal was over.
What a great little kick to get the day going.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
One cowboy was scared out of his boot.
Listening to: Chicago, Sufjan Stevens
Saturday, February 21, 2009
2009_02_21_A window on Kansas
2009_02_21_A window on Kansas
I didn't think of it at the time of making this image but while editing it reminded me of a project I like that Chris Hondros created while in Baghdad, Iraq. Hondros gathered images that he made from his travels inside of the US Hummvees that he was constantly traveling around in.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Our Swords, Band of Horses
I didn't think of it at the time of making this image but while editing it reminded me of a project I like that Chris Hondros created while in Baghdad, Iraq. Hondros gathered images that he made from his travels inside of the US Hummvees that he was constantly traveling around in.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Our Swords, Band of Horses
2009_02_19_Hostage camera situation
2009_02_19_Hostage camera situation
This past Thursday there was an armed standoff in downtown Hutchinson. It started out as a hostage situation, but by the time I got there the hostages were released unharmed and the only thing being held hostage apparently was my ability to make nice photos and the time in which I had to make them. A man confronted his ex-wife, who had just enacted a restraining order, at the law office with a loaded pistol and took her and the other people at the office hostage. He quickly released the hostages but stayed holed up in the office with police surrounding the building.
Police Officer with very large gun.
This was my first time covering something like this and I wasn't surprised at how hard it was to make photos while there. The first thing that hinders photos is proximity. With the cops pretty much shutting down an entire square block around the scene nothing was going to be tight with a 70-200mm zoom lens. I tried to overcome this shortcoming by using contacts that I had made in this small town. It just so happened that the scene was right across the street from a downtown loft that I shot an assignment in earlier this month. I made may way the loft talked with the owner and got permission to get up on top of his roof to shoot photos down at the scene. The top run on the ladder placed outside was as far as I got before a SWAT member politely stared at me, shook his head, and pointed down. Well it was worth a try right?
Either way, nothing really happened for a few hours and then my photo editor called me and told me that I had to move on to an assignment to cover an art walk that happens every third Thursday on the south side of downtown Hutchinson. We did have another photographer covering the scene from the other side of the block, but I was caught off guard to say the least when I was asked to leave an armed stand off to cover an art gallery. I mean, I was ready to sit there all night and wait for anything to happen, that's what journalists do.
Granted, I was going to go shoot this event, edit my photo for the feature section of the paper, and then rush back to the scene to hang out for the rest of the night. But just like anything that one waits for a long time and then ends up leaving, it happened without me. Just as I was getting back from shooting the feature walking into the Hutchinson news building 9 bangs were heard rolling from downtown, flash-bangs. In an instant it was over and I was 3 blocks away.
Keep in mind, even if I was there I probably would not have made any decent pictures of the relatively peaceful arrest at nighttime, luckily no one was injured. But it's those kind of moments that as a photojournalist I live to be there and cover. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen whether I'm there or not, and I want to be there.
Cheers,
Brad Vest
I got pretty bored and found a double reflection of me, woot.
There were a lot of pigeons trying to get a better look at the crime seen, they were also shooed back.
This is the feature photo that I went and hastily made.
Listening to: The Strain, Blockhead
This past Thursday there was an armed standoff in downtown Hutchinson. It started out as a hostage situation, but by the time I got there the hostages were released unharmed and the only thing being held hostage apparently was my ability to make nice photos and the time in which I had to make them. A man confronted his ex-wife, who had just enacted a restraining order, at the law office with a loaded pistol and took her and the other people at the office hostage. He quickly released the hostages but stayed holed up in the office with police surrounding the building.
Police Officer with very large gun.
This was my first time covering something like this and I wasn't surprised at how hard it was to make photos while there. The first thing that hinders photos is proximity. With the cops pretty much shutting down an entire square block around the scene nothing was going to be tight with a 70-200mm zoom lens. I tried to overcome this shortcoming by using contacts that I had made in this small town. It just so happened that the scene was right across the street from a downtown loft that I shot an assignment in earlier this month. I made may way the loft talked with the owner and got permission to get up on top of his roof to shoot photos down at the scene. The top run on the ladder placed outside was as far as I got before a SWAT member politely stared at me, shook his head, and pointed down. Well it was worth a try right?
Either way, nothing really happened for a few hours and then my photo editor called me and told me that I had to move on to an assignment to cover an art walk that happens every third Thursday on the south side of downtown Hutchinson. We did have another photographer covering the scene from the other side of the block, but I was caught off guard to say the least when I was asked to leave an armed stand off to cover an art gallery. I mean, I was ready to sit there all night and wait for anything to happen, that's what journalists do.
Granted, I was going to go shoot this event, edit my photo for the feature section of the paper, and then rush back to the scene to hang out for the rest of the night. But just like anything that one waits for a long time and then ends up leaving, it happened without me. Just as I was getting back from shooting the feature walking into the Hutchinson news building 9 bangs were heard rolling from downtown, flash-bangs. In an instant it was over and I was 3 blocks away.
Keep in mind, even if I was there I probably would not have made any decent pictures of the relatively peaceful arrest at nighttime, luckily no one was injured. But it's those kind of moments that as a photojournalist I live to be there and cover. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen whether I'm there or not, and I want to be there.
Cheers,
Brad Vest
I got pretty bored and found a double reflection of me, woot.
There were a lot of pigeons trying to get a better look at the crime seen, they were also shooed back.
This is the feature photo that I went and hastily made.
Listening to: The Strain, Blockhead
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
2009_02_28_ISBOP Story
2009_02_28_ISBOP Story
Picture Story—sty—A maximum of 10 images that
together tell a story.
I've posted this story on here a couple times. So if you'd like to see the entire 9 image story go here.
Best,
Brad Vest
Picture Story—sty—A maximum of 10 images that
together tell a story.
I've posted this story on here a couple times. So if you'd like to see the entire 9 image story go here.
Best,
Brad Vest
2009_02_18_ISBOP News
2009_02_18_ISBOP News
News—nws—A photographic report of a scheduled
or unscheduled news event.
News—nws—A photographic report of a scheduled
or unscheduled news event.
2009_02_18_ISBOP Portrait/Personality
2009_02_18_ISBOP Portrait/Personality
Portrait/Personality—pop—A picture of a person
that reveals the essence of the subject’s character.
Portrait/Personality—pop—A picture of a person
that reveals the essence of the subject’s character.
2009_02_18_ISBOP Pictorial
2009_02_18_ISBOP Pictorial
Pictorial—pic—A picture that exploits the graphic or aesthetic qualities of a subject with an emphasis on composition.
Pictorial—pic—A picture that exploits the graphic or aesthetic qualities of a subject with an emphasis on composition.
2009_02_18_ISBOP Feature
2009_02_28_ISBOP Feature
Feature—fea—A picture of a “found” situation that features strong human interest, or a fresh view of an everyday scene.
2009_02_18_ISBOP FEA
Feature—fea—A picture of a “found” situation that features strong human interest, or a fresh view of an everyday scene.
2009_02_18_ISBOP FEA
2009_02_18_IPPA Student Best of Photography
2009_02_18_IPPA Student Best of Photography
ISBOP is a photography contest between all the Illinois students and interns within the photojournalism community. Each year the IPPA, Illinois Press Photographers Association, gets together at some exotic locale (last year was Champaign, IL this year is Madison, WI) to discuss photography, listen to speakers, judge the contest entries, and of course have a much needed get together party.
I just sent off my disk of images shortly before the already extended deadline to get your entries into the mail. This will only be the second ISBOP competition that I have entered but I feel that I learned a lot from my last years entries and I am pretty happy with what I will be showing this year.
I entered the maximum 20 entries including a photo story entry. This year I am also entering into the student portfolio of the year competition, why not.
After gathering what I thought were my best images and editing those down to just 20 entries I know I still forgot some and overlooked a diamond in the rough here or there that I will stumble upon while looking through my archives sometime in the future. The process of having a few friends share my screen using Mac's Leopard operating system helped out a lot as they went through all my images that I had up and could talk directly to me while reviewing the images. It was just like looking over images being only feet away instead of hundreds of miles. I hope that the images that I sent are a pretty good representation of my 2008 year in work, and I am excited to hopefully be able to make it up to the conference at Madison in late March.
Either way, I figured I would share the images that I sent off to the competition here on my blog and get any feedback you have to offer. I know there are a couple that I had a hard time leaving in there, but the images meant something to me and the way that I shoot.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
I'll start out with the sports photos. Here's what I entered in the sports action category and the sports features category.
Sports Action—spa—A photograph that captures
the competitive spirit; peak action.
Sports Feature—spf—A photograph that increases understanding and appreciation for individual and team sports or celebrates the role athletics play in the lives of amateur and/or professional athletes and fans.
ISBOP is a photography contest between all the Illinois students and interns within the photojournalism community. Each year the IPPA, Illinois Press Photographers Association, gets together at some exotic locale (last year was Champaign, IL this year is Madison, WI) to discuss photography, listen to speakers, judge the contest entries, and of course have a much needed get together party.
I just sent off my disk of images shortly before the already extended deadline to get your entries into the mail. This will only be the second ISBOP competition that I have entered but I feel that I learned a lot from my last years entries and I am pretty happy with what I will be showing this year.
I entered the maximum 20 entries including a photo story entry. This year I am also entering into the student portfolio of the year competition, why not.
After gathering what I thought were my best images and editing those down to just 20 entries I know I still forgot some and overlooked a diamond in the rough here or there that I will stumble upon while looking through my archives sometime in the future. The process of having a few friends share my screen using Mac's Leopard operating system helped out a lot as they went through all my images that I had up and could talk directly to me while reviewing the images. It was just like looking over images being only feet away instead of hundreds of miles. I hope that the images that I sent are a pretty good representation of my 2008 year in work, and I am excited to hopefully be able to make it up to the conference at Madison in late March.
Either way, I figured I would share the images that I sent off to the competition here on my blog and get any feedback you have to offer. I know there are a couple that I had a hard time leaving in there, but the images meant something to me and the way that I shoot.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
I'll start out with the sports photos. Here's what I entered in the sports action category and the sports features category.
Sports Action—spa—A photograph that captures
the competitive spirit; peak action.
Sports Feature—spf—A photograph that increases understanding and appreciation for individual and team sports or celebrates the role athletics play in the lives of amateur and/or professional athletes and fans.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
2009_02_17_Sub Astra
2009_02_17_Sub Astra
This Sunday The Hutchinson News published another Ad Astra that I had shot. This time was quite different than the other two that I've had published before. It wasn't planned at all really until the day before and the Ad Astra was to be based around an event instead of an idea.
For this Ad Astra I simply covered The Hutchinson Invitational wrestling tournament that has been held at the Hutchinson Arena for the past thirty-four years.
I shot like crap and didn't come away with many images that I liked. It was a huge event and there were a lot of images that I was seeing, I just didn't produce.
I'm coming up with other ideas for these Ad Astras that I think will make more meaningful images and short visual stories. By the time I leave here I hope that I have the chance to publish at least a few more of these photo pages with completely original ideas and thought out visual stories. It would be a shame to not make some inspiring short stories with the great space that is provided every week.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Three Peaches, Neutral Milk Hotel
This Sunday The Hutchinson News published another Ad Astra that I had shot. This time was quite different than the other two that I've had published before. It wasn't planned at all really until the day before and the Ad Astra was to be based around an event instead of an idea.
For this Ad Astra I simply covered The Hutchinson Invitational wrestling tournament that has been held at the Hutchinson Arena for the past thirty-four years.
I shot like crap and didn't come away with many images that I liked. It was a huge event and there were a lot of images that I was seeing, I just didn't produce.
I'm coming up with other ideas for these Ad Astras that I think will make more meaningful images and short visual stories. By the time I leave here I hope that I have the chance to publish at least a few more of these photo pages with completely original ideas and thought out visual stories. It would be a shame to not make some inspiring short stories with the great space that is provided every week.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Three Peaches, Neutral Milk Hotel
Monday, February 16, 2009
2009_02_16_Vision on a daily basis
2009_02_16_Vision on a daily basis
I've been thinking lately about changing up a few things, well adding actually. You'll still see the same types of posts that I have been all along, but now I'm also going to whole heartedly try and post a stand alone picture each day. These photos won't be necessarily be explained in depth, or have any reasoning behind them except for the fact that it's a photo I love that I've made that day, or very recently. Sometimes titled sometimes not, but always a photo.
It will just sort of be a daily vision, a work that grows each day, a photo for no other reason than the fact that I made it and want to share it. These probably won't be from assignments or work related in any way, just something I've made and want to share.
v1
Best,
Brad Vest
Stairway to everyone's heaven
Listening to: Mykonos, Fleet Foxes
I've been thinking lately about changing up a few things, well adding actually. You'll still see the same types of posts that I have been all along, but now I'm also going to whole heartedly try and post a stand alone picture each day. These photos won't be necessarily be explained in depth, or have any reasoning behind them except for the fact that it's a photo I love that I've made that day, or very recently. Sometimes titled sometimes not, but always a photo.
It will just sort of be a daily vision, a work that grows each day, a photo for no other reason than the fact that I made it and want to share it. These probably won't be from assignments or work related in any way, just something I've made and want to share.
v1
Best,
Brad Vest
Stairway to everyone's heaven
Listening to: Mykonos, Fleet Foxes
Sunday, February 15, 2009
2009_02_15_A long walk through one of the many moments of time
2009_02_15_A long walk through one of the many moments of time
For now I usually have Sunday and Monday off each week while I work Tuesday through Saturday. I was relatively productive today cleaning up a tad, getting my images ready for the Illinois Student Best of Photography, contest coming up near the end of March.
After spending the first half of the day in the apartment I was starting to get a little case of cabin fever and decided to head out for the rest of the day on a long walk with my camera and Einstein's Dreams, I headed south towards Carey Park following whatever caught my eye on a zig-zag discombobulated course. Eventually I did end up at Carey Park, found a nice spot along the Arkansas River, (remember that's Our Kansas here, they even pronounce it like that on the radio) and read a couple of the fable like excerpts from the novel.
Wandered back as the light was starting to slowly fade below the horizon and walked in the door just as the batteries on my half charged ipod disappeared.
It was a great day.
Best,
Brad Vest
A memorial in downtown Hutchinson with Abe Lincoln (?) on top standing tall. I waited a while for a flock of birds to fly by, or something, but nothing ever came to fill a little of that empty space.
Listening to: To go home, M.Ward
For now I usually have Sunday and Monday off each week while I work Tuesday through Saturday. I was relatively productive today cleaning up a tad, getting my images ready for the Illinois Student Best of Photography, contest coming up near the end of March.
After spending the first half of the day in the apartment I was starting to get a little case of cabin fever and decided to head out for the rest of the day on a long walk with my camera and Einstein's Dreams, I headed south towards Carey Park following whatever caught my eye on a zig-zag discombobulated course. Eventually I did end up at Carey Park, found a nice spot along the Arkansas River, (remember that's Our Kansas here, they even pronounce it like that on the radio) and read a couple of the fable like excerpts from the novel.
Wandered back as the light was starting to slowly fade below the horizon and walked in the door just as the batteries on my half charged ipod disappeared.
It was a great day.
Best,
Brad Vest
A memorial in downtown Hutchinson with Abe Lincoln (?) on top standing tall. I waited a while for a flock of birds to fly by, or something, but nothing ever came to fill a little of that empty space.
Listening to: To go home, M.Ward
2009_02_15_Four walls and a roof
2009_02_15_Four walls and a roof
So, this is where I live. It's nothing much and nothing original, but it works. The Hutchinson News has a deal with one of the local landlords to keep one of his apartments open for the paper's yearly intern rotation. This made things very easy when I decided to take the internship in which all I had to do was call him up and let him know when I'd be getting into town. The other nice thing is that it's furnished, so I didn't have to lug much stuff with me on my drive to Kansas.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
The Main Place, top third window from the right.
I forgot to drop off a pair of shoes when I swung through Urbana, Illinois on my way out to Kansas.
Living room with flags and news pages trying to un-bland the wall a tad. More have been added since this photo was taken. My entertainment system holds my film cameras, boxes of photo paper (I may build a pin-hole camera while I'm here) and my portfolio building supplies. Very entertaining.
I've never liked glass tables. Maybe I just don't understand the reasoning behind wanting to see whats under the table? As a kid I always wanted a glass table though, with a fish tank underneath it.
Looking towards the kitchen out of the living room. There's no coat rack or anything so the chairs are usually the easiest place for cold weather clothes and such.
Not much, but its got a stove and full size fridge.
A couple Seattle reminders in the kitchen. Um, no I didn't just staple that drawing to the wall??
Comfy bed and a small bag of Jasmine I nabbed from Seattle.
I guess I was lucky that furnished also included towels.
Tracking a wild animal.
Broken space needle snow globe.
Listening to: some older Minus the Bear tracks
So, this is where I live. It's nothing much and nothing original, but it works. The Hutchinson News has a deal with one of the local landlords to keep one of his apartments open for the paper's yearly intern rotation. This made things very easy when I decided to take the internship in which all I had to do was call him up and let him know when I'd be getting into town. The other nice thing is that it's furnished, so I didn't have to lug much stuff with me on my drive to Kansas.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
The Main Place, top third window from the right.
I forgot to drop off a pair of shoes when I swung through Urbana, Illinois on my way out to Kansas.
Living room with flags and news pages trying to un-bland the wall a tad. More have been added since this photo was taken. My entertainment system holds my film cameras, boxes of photo paper (I may build a pin-hole camera while I'm here) and my portfolio building supplies. Very entertaining.
I've never liked glass tables. Maybe I just don't understand the reasoning behind wanting to see whats under the table? As a kid I always wanted a glass table though, with a fish tank underneath it.
Looking towards the kitchen out of the living room. There's no coat rack or anything so the chairs are usually the easiest place for cold weather clothes and such.
Not much, but its got a stove and full size fridge.
A couple Seattle reminders in the kitchen. Um, no I didn't just staple that drawing to the wall??
Comfy bed and a small bag of Jasmine I nabbed from Seattle.
I guess I was lucky that furnished also included towels.
Tracking a wild animal.
Broken space needle snow globe.
Listening to: some older Minus the Bear tracks
Saturday, February 14, 2009
2009_02_14_Frying peppers
2009_02_14_Frying peppers
Red and jalapeño peppers with onion.
Mexican rice with chicken, black beans, chopped tomato, and the fried peppers. So good.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Electric Feel, MGMT
Red and jalapeño peppers with onion.
Mexican rice with chicken, black beans, chopped tomato, and the fried peppers. So good.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Electric Feel, MGMT
Friday, February 13, 2009
2009_02_13_sueños
2009_02_13_sueños
Shared a good book with a friend today?
Thanks,
Best,
Brad Vest
Listening to: I'm still waiting, Bob Marley
Reading: Einstein's Dreams
Shared a good book with a friend today?
Thanks,
Best,
Brad Vest
Listening to: I'm still waiting, Bob Marley
Reading: Einstein's Dreams
Thursday, February 12, 2009
2009_02_12_Befriending an ass
2009_02_12_Befriending an ass
Another day, another small farm. As expected there was the staple of any farm, a great farm dog. This time it was an excited, younger yellow lab that loved puddles. As the owner of the farm walked the reporter and I around the outside of his farm I took photos and played with the hound as the reporter conducted her interview.
A cool farm dog, as expected.
Cool farm dogs always enjoy puddles, it's a guarantee.
I wanted a few more closer photos so we backtracked around and went in with his cattle and sheep herd. I didn't know this but I guess donkey's are a great animal to protect smaller animals such as sheep from fox and coyotes. They become the dominant animal in the herd and protect them from predators. This herds protector was named sneaky for very good reasons.
Not expected, really friendly farm donkey.
Sneaky was a very nice, curious donkey. It was a great assignment.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Post War, M. Ward
Whats this here thing you're holding??? Ah! What was that sound?
This donkey was extremely curious about my cameras. While I'd be kneeling down shooting pictures of my subjects all the sudden I would get a lens full of donkey nose.
Donkey nose.
Sneaky was a very proper name for this donkey. I'd be shooting and turn around, donkey. For what I assume is a 300 plus pound animal, it was very surprising how quietly she got around.
Oh, the cattle had little afros and long puffy hair on their bodies. This is a Highlander calf going mop top with blond highlights.
Another day, another small farm. As expected there was the staple of any farm, a great farm dog. This time it was an excited, younger yellow lab that loved puddles. As the owner of the farm walked the reporter and I around the outside of his farm I took photos and played with the hound as the reporter conducted her interview.
A cool farm dog, as expected.
Cool farm dogs always enjoy puddles, it's a guarantee.
I wanted a few more closer photos so we backtracked around and went in with his cattle and sheep herd. I didn't know this but I guess donkey's are a great animal to protect smaller animals such as sheep from fox and coyotes. They become the dominant animal in the herd and protect them from predators. This herds protector was named sneaky for very good reasons.
Not expected, really friendly farm donkey.
Sneaky was a very nice, curious donkey. It was a great assignment.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Post War, M. Ward
Whats this here thing you're holding??? Ah! What was that sound?
This donkey was extremely curious about my cameras. While I'd be kneeling down shooting pictures of my subjects all the sudden I would get a lens full of donkey nose.
Donkey nose.
Sneaky was a very proper name for this donkey. I'd be shooting and turn around, donkey. For what I assume is a 300 plus pound animal, it was very surprising how quietly she got around.
Oh, the cattle had little afros and long puffy hair on their bodies. This is a Highlander calf going mop top with blond highlights.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
2009_02_11_National Geographic photographer and a storm chaser
2009_02_11_National Geographic photographer and a storm chaser
Today while out on assignment in McPherson, Kansas I decided to swing by Jim Richardson's studio in Lindsborg, Kansas during the hour between assignments. I wasn't expecting him to be in town given the life of a National Geographic photographer, I was hoping so though. Even if he wasn't at his office I was really looking forward to looking at some of his gallery work and getting a taste of some terrific photography.
I lucked out though and he happened to be in town working in his office which is in the back of his gallery. I introduced myself and we got down to talking about today's photography, jobs, and a my plans and his advice for getting into today's market. It was a sobering talk as always in today's world, he had a lot of great advice for me, outstanding points on breaking into international photojournalism, and how to market myself along the way.
Richardson then showed me some of his new work that he is currently editing through and some challenges that came up while shooting and the shots that meant the most to him.
I'll be heading back to Lindsborg in March to meet up with Richardson again and run through my portfolio with him after he gets back from a trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, DC. I know my shots will be torn apart, but that's the process of getting better, having someone at the top of their game look at your photos and show you how you could improve.
I'm really looking forward to it.
Best,
Brad Vest
Oh, also, at the second assignment of the day I met a veteran storm chaser based out of McPherson, Kansas. We exchanged information and I'll hopefully be chasing a few storms with him in the upcoming months, documenting the trips and photographing the life of a storm chaser on the road. Awesome.
Listening to: Decatur, Sufjan Stevens
Today while out on assignment in McPherson, Kansas I decided to swing by Jim Richardson's studio in Lindsborg, Kansas during the hour between assignments. I wasn't expecting him to be in town given the life of a National Geographic photographer, I was hoping so though. Even if he wasn't at his office I was really looking forward to looking at some of his gallery work and getting a taste of some terrific photography.
I lucked out though and he happened to be in town working in his office which is in the back of his gallery. I introduced myself and we got down to talking about today's photography, jobs, and a my plans and his advice for getting into today's market. It was a sobering talk as always in today's world, he had a lot of great advice for me, outstanding points on breaking into international photojournalism, and how to market myself along the way.
Richardson then showed me some of his new work that he is currently editing through and some challenges that came up while shooting and the shots that meant the most to him.
I'll be heading back to Lindsborg in March to meet up with Richardson again and run through my portfolio with him after he gets back from a trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, DC. I know my shots will be torn apart, but that's the process of getting better, having someone at the top of their game look at your photos and show you how you could improve.
I'm really looking forward to it.
Best,
Brad Vest
Oh, also, at the second assignment of the day I met a veteran storm chaser based out of McPherson, Kansas. We exchanged information and I'll hopefully be chasing a few storms with him in the upcoming months, documenting the trips and photographing the life of a storm chaser on the road. Awesome.
Listening to: Decatur, Sufjan Stevens
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
2009_02_10_Reuben Reuben I've been thinking
2009_02_10_Reuben Reuben I've been thinking
Spent a few hours on a farm today for a story running in the near future for The Hutchinson News. Farms are always so fun, I loved spending time at my mom's family's farm while growing up and still enjoy trotting around amongst the animals.
Things that are almost guaranteed on a farm.
Mud, a cool dog, and curious farm animals.
Cheers,
Brad Vest
Listening to: How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm, Andrew Bird
He was a mix between something and an Australian Sheep dog, he was awesome.
Adolescent calf hams it up for the camera.
Full grown cow also interested.
I should probably get a pair of boots.
Spent a few hours on a farm today for a story running in the near future for The Hutchinson News. Farms are always so fun, I loved spending time at my mom's family's farm while growing up and still enjoy trotting around amongst the animals.
Things that are almost guaranteed on a farm.
Mud, a cool dog, and curious farm animals.
Cheers,
Brad Vest
Listening to: How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm, Andrew Bird
He was a mix between something and an Australian Sheep dog, he was awesome.
Adolescent calf hams it up for the camera.
Full grown cow also interested.
I should probably get a pair of boots.
2009_02_10_Countryside PDF
2009_02_10_Countryside PDF
Here's how my second Ad Astra looked when it ran in the paper this past Sunday, February 8th.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Fisher of Men, M. Ward
Here's how my second Ad Astra looked when it ran in the paper this past Sunday, February 8th.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Fisher of Men, M. Ward
Monday, February 9, 2009
2009_02_09_Scary times
2009_02_09_Scary times
Failure to act "could turn crisis into catastrophe," President Barack Obama during his first prime-time press conference.
New York Times article on the press conference.
Best,
Brad Vest
Failure to act "could turn crisis into catastrophe," President Barack Obama during his first prime-time press conference.
New York Times article on the press conference.
Best,
Brad Vest
2009_02_09_Laundry day
2009_02_09_Laundry day
For the first time in a long while I don't have easy access to a washer and dryer. I don't think I'll mind going to the laundry mat though; my camera, ipod, a good book, and a close coffee shop should get the job done. Not to mention the interesting people that could be met.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
My change stash is going through a quarter famine.
Oldest dryers ever, they get the job done quickly though.
Listening to: Walking on a dream, Empire of the Sun
For the first time in a long while I don't have easy access to a washer and dryer. I don't think I'll mind going to the laundry mat though; my camera, ipod, a good book, and a close coffee shop should get the job done. Not to mention the interesting people that could be met.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
My change stash is going through a quarter famine.
Oldest dryers ever, they get the job done quickly though.
Listening to: Walking on a dream, Empire of the Sun
2009_02_09_Passport to where?
2009_02_09_Passport to where?
I finally applied for my passport today. It's not that I haven't been to a lot of places, I just haven't been to anywhere besides the US and Canada. And I don't think I would change that, I've been to some of the most amazing places, but I think it's time to get a little further from the homeland.
Things will be changing soon, to where? Not quite sure. But it's nice to know that a week or two from now I'll have the ability to go anywhere in the world in an instants notice.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Fisher of Men, M. Ward
I finally applied for my passport today. It's not that I haven't been to a lot of places, I just haven't been to anywhere besides the US and Canada. And I don't think I would change that, I've been to some of the most amazing places, but I think it's time to get a little further from the homeland.
Things will be changing soon, to where? Not quite sure. But it's nice to know that a week or two from now I'll have the ability to go anywhere in the world in an instants notice.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Fisher of Men, M. Ward
2009_02_09_Kansas countryside
2009_02_09_Kansas countryside
I happened to acquire another Ad Astra space for this weeks Sunday paper. I was originally thinking of doing a photo story on the geese migration that is taking place. After a few days of not coming up with much I switched over to an Ad Astra about my new surroundings, the Kansas countryside.
Since this was just more of a fun, go out and shoot the countryside, type of assignment I wrote a short paragraph about how I came up with the idea and why it ran as an Ad Astra for The Hutchinson News. Here's the brief intro I wrote for the paper.
Country Views, By Brad Vest
"I've spent the past six months of my life either on the road in in Seattle, situated in the Pacific Northwest where mountains, water, and forests are limitless. After arriving in Kansas for the first time in my life a little under three weeks ago, I was caught off guard by the natural beauty of the wide open landscape and the peacefulness that comes with it. I want to be out in the countryside as much as possible while here. I want to familiarize myself with my new surroundings explore them, and make images that represent this new place. Here are just a few images I've made so far while exploring this new, wonderful environment."
I'll download the PDF at work on Tuesday and throw that up here so you can see how it ran in the paper again like my last Ad Astra about the Reno County Landfill.
The rest of the photos are down below, some of them published some did not.
Best,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Exclusive first listen of Animal Collective on NPR
Some sort of hawk?? Circles a wheat field in search of small creatures.
Like a lot of rural areas it's almost more rare to see a sign without bullet holes riddling the entire sign. I don't quite understand shooting signs, I doubt it's very difficult to shoot stationary targets that are reflective.
I ran across a gaggle of some sort of guinea fowl while driving around, 15-20 of them or so just walking around in the middle of the road.
A tractor track imprinted on one of the numerous dirt Kansas country roads.
I happened to acquire another Ad Astra space for this weeks Sunday paper. I was originally thinking of doing a photo story on the geese migration that is taking place. After a few days of not coming up with much I switched over to an Ad Astra about my new surroundings, the Kansas countryside.
Since this was just more of a fun, go out and shoot the countryside, type of assignment I wrote a short paragraph about how I came up with the idea and why it ran as an Ad Astra for The Hutchinson News. Here's the brief intro I wrote for the paper.
Country Views, By Brad Vest
"I've spent the past six months of my life either on the road in in Seattle, situated in the Pacific Northwest where mountains, water, and forests are limitless. After arriving in Kansas for the first time in my life a little under three weeks ago, I was caught off guard by the natural beauty of the wide open landscape and the peacefulness that comes with it. I want to be out in the countryside as much as possible while here. I want to familiarize myself with my new surroundings explore them, and make images that represent this new place. Here are just a few images I've made so far while exploring this new, wonderful environment."
I'll download the PDF at work on Tuesday and throw that up here so you can see how it ran in the paper again like my last Ad Astra about the Reno County Landfill.
The rest of the photos are down below, some of them published some did not.
Best,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Exclusive first listen of Animal Collective on NPR
Some sort of hawk?? Circles a wheat field in search of small creatures.
Like a lot of rural areas it's almost more rare to see a sign without bullet holes riddling the entire sign. I don't quite understand shooting signs, I doubt it's very difficult to shoot stationary targets that are reflective.
I ran across a gaggle of some sort of guinea fowl while driving around, 15-20 of them or so just walking around in the middle of the road.
A tractor track imprinted on one of the numerous dirt Kansas country roads.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
2009_02_08_Fly like an eagle
2009_02_08_Fly like an eagle
Yesterday I had the chance to drive to Wichita, Kansas to cover the release of a rehabilitated American Bald Eagle, Trapper John, back into the wild. He was named Trapper John because he was injured when he landed in a steel hunting trap that injured one of his legs. He had been fully rehabbed at the Eagle Valley Raptor Center which has rehabbed hundreds of injured birds.
The hood keeps the birds surprisingly calm, once the hood came off before the release the Eagle became very stressed and nervous.
I found it strange that they would decide to release the eagle in Wichita, the largest city in Kansas, out of all places that Kansas has to offer. Releasing in such a densely populated area brought quite the crowd out though. The release was right along the Arkansas river, pronounced 'Our Kansas' to most people in this area. When Ken Lockwood helped loft the eagle into the are that was it, Trapper John took off and kept flying till he was out of site, north along the river.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Good flying Trapper John.
On the way home I stumbled across a controlled brush fire that one of the farmers had set to burn out a patch of around 8 acres of prairie. I got there right as it was finishing up, I really want to shoot an entire burn like this. Shot from the car window as I was looking for people to photograph with the fire, sorry for the tilt haha.
Listening to: Anonanimal, Andrew Bird, probably my favorite song on the album.
Yesterday I had the chance to drive to Wichita, Kansas to cover the release of a rehabilitated American Bald Eagle, Trapper John, back into the wild. He was named Trapper John because he was injured when he landed in a steel hunting trap that injured one of his legs. He had been fully rehabbed at the Eagle Valley Raptor Center which has rehabbed hundreds of injured birds.
The hood keeps the birds surprisingly calm, once the hood came off before the release the Eagle became very stressed and nervous.
I found it strange that they would decide to release the eagle in Wichita, the largest city in Kansas, out of all places that Kansas has to offer. Releasing in such a densely populated area brought quite the crowd out though. The release was right along the Arkansas river, pronounced 'Our Kansas' to most people in this area. When Ken Lockwood helped loft the eagle into the are that was it, Trapper John took off and kept flying till he was out of site, north along the river.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Good flying Trapper John.
On the way home I stumbled across a controlled brush fire that one of the farmers had set to burn out a patch of around 8 acres of prairie. I got there right as it was finishing up, I really want to shoot an entire burn like this. Shot from the car window as I was looking for people to photograph with the fire, sorry for the tilt haha.
Listening to: Anonanimal, Andrew Bird, probably my favorite song on the album.
2009_02_08_Pete Souza was here
2009_02_08_Pete Souza was here
I'd be lying if I told you I'm exactly where I want to be. I'd also be lying if I told you that I'll find this place anytime in the near future. All I do know is that I'm in a great spot right now as I pursue one of the toughest careers to break into, so a little inspiration goes a long way as I start out into this brave new world.
One of the photographers I have followed of late has been Pete Souza. He's an amazing photojournalist that has just been named President Obama's White House Photographer.
Even the most talented and passionate photographers have to start out somewhere on the road to 'making it'. Souza just so happened to start out in a small town in Kansas named Hutchinson. Souza worked at The Hutchinson News from June 1979 through November 1980. So for a mere 17 months Souza trotted the same halls that I will be trotting for the next 5 months.
The old developing room at the Hutchinson News.
Red light, off.
Obviously things have changed a lot since then. The shift from film to digital, the struggle for newspapers to stay alive, and just about everything else in the world has changed substantially. It's nice to know that such an great photographer had his humble beginnings at the same paper that I am also starting to etch my beginning from. Granted, he was still souping his film and enlarging his prints, I'm just glad I had a chance to still do all the dark room work.
Tough to get that water to a nice 68.5 degrees.
Before being named Obama's Chief White House photographer Souza followed Obama from his humble beginnings in the Illinois Senate all the way to his rise to become the 44th President of the United States. He published an amazing book named The Rise of Barack Obama, it's an intimate set of images following an awe inspiring story.
From Hutchinson Souza went straight east.
I'm not quite sure where I'll be going after here, but I can guarantee it will be in one of these directions.
The direction that I hope to follow will lead to becoming a freelance documentary style photojournalist focusing on the environment and environmental interactions. This would include; environmental disasters, human conflict based around environmental resources, pristine and impacted ecosystems, use and abuse of resources, focusing on natural ecosystems dealing with human impacts, and other types of events based on people around the world and their unique interactions with the environment. The problems that need to focused on are numerous and vastly important in today's world.
Get inspired, I have.
Cheers,
Brad Vest
Absorbing inspiration in the old revolving dark room door.
Listening to: Masterswarm, Andrew Bird
I'd be lying if I told you I'm exactly where I want to be. I'd also be lying if I told you that I'll find this place anytime in the near future. All I do know is that I'm in a great spot right now as I pursue one of the toughest careers to break into, so a little inspiration goes a long way as I start out into this brave new world.
One of the photographers I have followed of late has been Pete Souza. He's an amazing photojournalist that has just been named President Obama's White House Photographer.
Even the most talented and passionate photographers have to start out somewhere on the road to 'making it'. Souza just so happened to start out in a small town in Kansas named Hutchinson. Souza worked at The Hutchinson News from June 1979 through November 1980. So for a mere 17 months Souza trotted the same halls that I will be trotting for the next 5 months.
The old developing room at the Hutchinson News.
Red light, off.
Obviously things have changed a lot since then. The shift from film to digital, the struggle for newspapers to stay alive, and just about everything else in the world has changed substantially. It's nice to know that such an great photographer had his humble beginnings at the same paper that I am also starting to etch my beginning from. Granted, he was still souping his film and enlarging his prints, I'm just glad I had a chance to still do all the dark room work.
Tough to get that water to a nice 68.5 degrees.
Before being named Obama's Chief White House photographer Souza followed Obama from his humble beginnings in the Illinois Senate all the way to his rise to become the 44th President of the United States. He published an amazing book named The Rise of Barack Obama, it's an intimate set of images following an awe inspiring story.
From Hutchinson Souza went straight east.
I'm not quite sure where I'll be going after here, but I can guarantee it will be in one of these directions.
The direction that I hope to follow will lead to becoming a freelance documentary style photojournalist focusing on the environment and environmental interactions. This would include; environmental disasters, human conflict based around environmental resources, pristine and impacted ecosystems, use and abuse of resources, focusing on natural ecosystems dealing with human impacts, and other types of events based on people around the world and their unique interactions with the environment. The problems that need to focused on are numerous and vastly important in today's world.
Get inspired, I have.
Cheers,
Brad Vest
Absorbing inspiration in the old revolving dark room door.
Listening to: Masterswarm, Andrew Bird
Saturday, February 7, 2009
-2009_02_07_Andrew Bird and a chicken sandwich
-2009_02_07_Andrew Bird and a chicken sandwich
After work today I lackadaisically walked home with my camera slung over my shoulder shooting things on the little over a mile walk home, so relaxing. Nothing beats just wandering around ipod on, or off sometimes, and just seeing.
I'm trying to walk to and from work a different way every day to explore as much as possible and discover new things on different routes. I'm scoping out certain photos that don't look amazing right now, but know that if I time it right the light will really make a gorgeous photo. What I love about this town is the numerous amounts of alleys and back streets, beautiful little pathways strewn with graffiti, garbage, wires, clutter, and other strange colorful things.
When I got home I decided to slip into my weekend off, Sunday and Monday, by running through the new Andrew Bird album, Noble Beast, while cooking dinner. The album as a whole is a little more subdued as far as rhythm and pace goes, but it's wonderful. I highly recommend acquiring it.
green peppers and onion along with a spreadable avocado.
roasted red pepper chicken with green peppers, onion, tomato, avocado, and a little parmesan cheese.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Souverian, Andrew Bird Noble Beast
After work today I lackadaisically walked home with my camera slung over my shoulder shooting things on the little over a mile walk home, so relaxing. Nothing beats just wandering around ipod on, or off sometimes, and just seeing.
I'm trying to walk to and from work a different way every day to explore as much as possible and discover new things on different routes. I'm scoping out certain photos that don't look amazing right now, but know that if I time it right the light will really make a gorgeous photo. What I love about this town is the numerous amounts of alleys and back streets, beautiful little pathways strewn with graffiti, garbage, wires, clutter, and other strange colorful things.
When I got home I decided to slip into my weekend off, Sunday and Monday, by running through the new Andrew Bird album, Noble Beast, while cooking dinner. The album as a whole is a little more subdued as far as rhythm and pace goes, but it's wonderful. I highly recommend acquiring it.
green peppers and onion along with a spreadable avocado.
roasted red pepper chicken with green peppers, onion, tomato, avocado, and a little parmesan cheese.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Souverian, Andrew Bird Noble Beast
Friday, February 6, 2009
2009_02_07_Tough decisions
2009_02_07_Tough decisions
Cutting through relatively redundant images is always difficult. The light changes so quickly during sunsets I always take a lot of photos throughout the sunset's progress. Sometimes the early light is best, sometime the light waits till the moment right before the sun dips beneath the horizon to show its true colors.
Well, I went through a few hundred images from a recent assignment tagging every single one that even remotely peaked my interest, now I just have to narrow those 90 or so down to about 10. Out of those, maybe 3 will be published.
Here's to looking for the needle in a haystack.
Best,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Post War, M. Ward
Cutting through relatively redundant images is always difficult. The light changes so quickly during sunsets I always take a lot of photos throughout the sunset's progress. Sometimes the early light is best, sometime the light waits till the moment right before the sun dips beneath the horizon to show its true colors.
Well, I went through a few hundred images from a recent assignment tagging every single one that even remotely peaked my interest, now I just have to narrow those 90 or so down to about 10. Out of those, maybe 3 will be published.
Here's to looking for the needle in a haystack.
Best,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Post War, M. Ward
2009_02_06_Turning trash into treasure
2009_02_06_Turning trash into treasure
So here is the Ad Astra page which I have talked about. It runs in the paper every Sunday and unbelievably the photo department gets the front page each week for a full photo page. I know, the column on the right does run every week, but still, this is a ton of space to just let the creative juices flow outta the printers.
I'll also have this Sunday's page revolving around my change of scenery and exploring the countryside of the local Kansas area. I'll post those images along with the pdf of how it ran in the paper on Monday.
Cheers,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Andrew Bird has a new album! Noble Beast / Useless Creatures Andrew Bird on NPR
Reading: I'm looking to get back to reading often. I sorta slipped off when I went to Seattle, so any suggestions for books is much appreciated.
So here is the Ad Astra page which I have talked about. It runs in the paper every Sunday and unbelievably the photo department gets the front page each week for a full photo page. I know, the column on the right does run every week, but still, this is a ton of space to just let the creative juices flow outta the printers.
I'll also have this Sunday's page revolving around my change of scenery and exploring the countryside of the local Kansas area. I'll post those images along with the pdf of how it ran in the paper on Monday.
Cheers,
Brad Vest
Listening to: Andrew Bird has a new album! Noble Beast / Useless Creatures Andrew Bird on NPR
Reading: I'm looking to get back to reading often. I sorta slipped off when I went to Seattle, so any suggestions for books is much appreciated.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
2009_02_05_Tempting pregnant heifers
2009_02_05_Tempting pregnant heifers
The range of assignments that I've been getting here so far is wonderful. I've chased windmills, tracked down geese, explored a landfill, trotted through factories, and just today I had the chance to go a little northeast of Hutchinson and shoot a story about a woman and her cattle.
Now these may not sound like amazing assignments to non photographers. But, don't be mistaken, nothing is better than going to really weird, complex, and unique places. Creativity just seems to flow while on assignments like this, and even if you don't come away with great images at least you spent the day doing something completely different and entertaining.
Today was great. There were around 80 cattle, most still pregnant but some had already had their calves which were now running around and giving baby 'moos'?? Since the cattle were pregnant they had to be coaxed over by the owner with a bag of feed to allow her to check in and make sure they were all doing well. I tried to coax them closer with a handful of dead grass, they were not interested.
I had to fight back the urge to just start running after the calves, they were so hilarious, like big puppies.
Either way, I have a few different things I am working on. But I've been pretty busy with assignments and just general shooting. I'll have a few more things up soon though.
Thanks for looking.
Be well,
Brad Vest
The range of assignments that I've been getting here so far is wonderful. I've chased windmills, tracked down geese, explored a landfill, trotted through factories, and just today I had the chance to go a little northeast of Hutchinson and shoot a story about a woman and her cattle.
Now these may not sound like amazing assignments to non photographers. But, don't be mistaken, nothing is better than going to really weird, complex, and unique places. Creativity just seems to flow while on assignments like this, and even if you don't come away with great images at least you spent the day doing something completely different and entertaining.
Today was great. There were around 80 cattle, most still pregnant but some had already had their calves which were now running around and giving baby 'moos'?? Since the cattle were pregnant they had to be coaxed over by the owner with a bag of feed to allow her to check in and make sure they were all doing well. I tried to coax them closer with a handful of dead grass, they were not interested.
I had to fight back the urge to just start running after the calves, they were so hilarious, like big puppies.
Either way, I have a few different things I am working on. But I've been pretty busy with assignments and just general shooting. I'll have a few more things up soon though.
Thanks for looking.
Be well,
Brad Vest
Sunday, February 1, 2009
2009_02_01_Talking trash, making pictures
2009_02_01_Talking trash, making pictures
In my first week at The Hutchinson News I had the opportunity to shoot a regular weekly photo page that comes out every Sunday in a special section, Ad Astra. I'm really excited about having this open photo page every Sunday to share with the three other shooters at the Hutchinson News. For a paper to still have a space reserved just for photographic creativity is a far in few between now-a-days.
This week I was told to just go hang out at the Reno County (that's right, I live in Reno County, not as cool of cops though) Landfill and make some images while the sun was setting. I tried to make images that make the reader recognize beauty in something that one would never think of having beauty, a trash dump.
The last load of garbage comes in just under the 5pm deadline when the landfill closes its gates for the day.
I love the sky out here and I am really excited about the summer storms, giant clouds, and rolling wall clouds that I'll hopefully be able to experience while out in the vast, open space.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
A flock of seagulls is scared up off the trash as a land grader makes a pass covering some of the days trash.
Landfill machinery works into the early evening seen through one of the large mesh fences made to catch blowing trash.
A seagull flies off with a treat.
The Reno County Landfill at sunset.
A seagull comes in for a landing on the flattened waste.
Powered parachutes enjoy the unusually warm winter day as they fly near the Reno County Landfill.
In my first week at The Hutchinson News I had the opportunity to shoot a regular weekly photo page that comes out every Sunday in a special section, Ad Astra. I'm really excited about having this open photo page every Sunday to share with the three other shooters at the Hutchinson News. For a paper to still have a space reserved just for photographic creativity is a far in few between now-a-days.
This week I was told to just go hang out at the Reno County (that's right, I live in Reno County, not as cool of cops though) Landfill and make some images while the sun was setting. I tried to make images that make the reader recognize beauty in something that one would never think of having beauty, a trash dump.
The last load of garbage comes in just under the 5pm deadline when the landfill closes its gates for the day.
I love the sky out here and I am really excited about the summer storms, giant clouds, and rolling wall clouds that I'll hopefully be able to experience while out in the vast, open space.
Thanks for looking,
Brad Vest
A flock of seagulls is scared up off the trash as a land grader makes a pass covering some of the days trash.
Landfill machinery works into the early evening seen through one of the large mesh fences made to catch blowing trash.
A seagull flies off with a treat.
The Reno County Landfill at sunset.
A seagull comes in for a landing on the flattened waste.
Powered parachutes enjoy the unusually warm winter day as they fly near the Reno County Landfill.
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