Cold in Colorado

Freezing. Frigid. Frozen. Brrr.

Thought the day before was cold, but -20 at 5 a.m. and -12 when I had the great idea to walk around the corner to take some photos. I actually felt my nose hairs freeze. Of course I forgot gloves because the string that my mom tied to the gloves, which run through my coat sleeves broke. How convenient on a day like today.

On a side note: I realized how long it takes for Nikon cameras become so cold you can barely hold them...about 30 min. And the battery that usually lasts 3 weeks is now 1/2 full (I'm an optimist) after a full day of shooting outside.

I love long underwear.

Mr. Mom

Jeremy suspects some of the stay-at-home mothers he meets think he is gay. Others, including some men he was fishing with, asked if he has a disability that forced him to drop out of the workforce in order to watch his children full-time.

Neither of which can be further from the truth.

See, Jeremy is proud of the fact that he knows how to iron, cook and clean. More over, he is proud that his children are loved by him 24/7 and that his house is the cleanest on the block. He and his wife have a great relationship, he says, despite not seeing a lot of each other. Jeremy happily stepped down from his chef position when his wife landed a great job as a controller for a multi-national corporation and stepped up as a father. He also volunteers as a youth wrestling coach at night.

This was a story that I was happy to have two full days to photograph. With recent cutbacks in hours, workforce and overall resources, it seems as though we journalists at smaller papers don't have a lot of time to spend on story. But, once in a while we can get away with it. It also helps to have great co-workers to pick up assignments so we can actually spend time with a subject instead of throwing a quick flash up for a portrait.

It was funny when I told Jeremy I had a lot of time on my hands and that I could just hang out for the day. He quickly snapped back: "Dude, veg out like broccoli. I'm just happy to be talking with a dude."

Snow Day!

Gotta love snow days, especially when you have a few hours to kill, a couple cameras and some compact flash cards in the pocket. Oh, the most important piece of equipment: a cupcake in the lunch box.

And the city desk loves it too, because well, they didn't have to beg us to go out and photograph weather art in Boulder County.

At least there's ice cream in Kansas

Kansas wasn't very kind to the Colorado Buffaloes' football team today. Here in Manhattan, "The Little Apple," Kansas State whooped up on the ol' Buffs 20-6. Needless to say, it was pretty boring. The only thing that was remotely interesting was the quarterback flip flop, which left one Tyler Hansen scratching his head as he signaled in plays.

As for me, it was a pretty bad day on the photo front, too. I found myself out of position a lot, my frames weren't coming together and otherwise came out pretty standard. I hate standard, because well, I came all the way here. I ran a lot, lugged all this crap up stairs, down stairs, and still came away with a feeling that I just didn't do that well.

Oh well, there will be more games and at least there was ice cream at the end.

A Sign of the Times

Bill Busch is dressed in a fresh pair of slacks, a finely starched white shirt with a gold Cross pocket pen and red power tie. He looks like he's heading into the office. Instead, I photograph him standing on one of the busiest street corners in Longmont - with a sign.

See, Bill Busch doesn't want a handout. He wants a job.

Sounds simple enough, right? But, for the 58-year-old professional who was laid off on Feb. 17, 2009, wanting a job and getting a job are a bit farther apart than he would like.

"It's getting down to crunch time," Busch says over the traffic noise.

There's desperate and then there's creative. Busch prefers creative. For this I am compelled to respect him. And, I'm sure to the thousands of drivers who passed him on this particular Tuesday the act looked desperate. But, they didn't stop to ask did they? It's a hard question to ask. I know, because I stopped to ask. Don't judge the book by a cover, for inside a desperate looking action just may be creative.

“I know the supply chain from start to finish,” says Busch. “Basically from the raw materials through manufacturing to the finished product in your hand.”

Who knows, someday soon I may be holding a similar sign saying: "I know the news photography business from start to finish..."

Friday Night Lights - Cheer Style

A cheerleader standing over my shoulder said "Wow how cool!" Next thing I know 20 cheerleaders are standing over me, trying to sneak a peek at the back of my camera. I said the first thing that entered my mind: "I never had this many cheerleaders gather around me when I was in high school." They all started laughing at me, just like when I was a teenager. If I would have only known back then the way through a cheerleader's heart was to hang a camera over my shoulder I would have joined the yearbook staff. And for all you geeks meandering the halls of a high school wondering how to get the head cheerleader to notice you, I'll sell you one of my old cameras.

Football is back, baby

I don't have much to say today other than football is back and I'm pretty excited about photographing preps, college and pro games. Out of all the sports I cover, football is far and away my favorite. It all started last Sunday when Jay Cutler, this time with the Chicago Bears in tow, came to Denver and mauled the Broncos. Tonight the defending Class 4A Colorado State Champs, the Wheat Ridge Farmers, came to Longmont and tilled some Niwot Cougars in the field. I don't know who's going to stampede away with the Centennial trophy thiw Sunday when Colorado faces Colorado State in the big rivalry game, but nonetheless, I'll be there. And what what would games be without the band? I shoot that too...sometimes. Come on fall weather. I'm ready.