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.

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

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.