Dedication

Relief

Sometimes, you just need to take a break.

Five years....

Today marked the five year anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq. In that time, 3,990 service men and women have died. Some photos from our local coverage.


Vietnam veteran and Marine Chuck Gunther holds one of the many crosses he has repaired Monday, March 17, 2008, in preparation to be used in Arlington South in Naples. Each cross has the name and age of a service man or woman who has died in Iraq.





Volunteer Marnica Andrews places flowers at the base of each cross at Arlington South next to the Naples Pier on Wedensday, March 19, 2008.

Love, At First Sight

I was covering a tennis match last week when someone pointed out to me that the children of the two players were sitting next to each other. It appeared they couldn't care less how well-known their fathers are or how well they were doing in the match.



Jade Krickstein, 4, right, gives her attention to Jack Martin, 5, instead of watching the tennis match between their fathers, Todd Martin and Aaron Krickstein during The Oliver Group Champions Cup on Friday, March 14, 2008 in Naples, Fla.

It is a beautiful thing.

Yesterday, I saw first-hand evidence of why we, photojournalists, do what we do. It was a beautiful and moving moment that echoed a beautiful and moving moment.

I want to share it here, even though it isn't really my moment to share.

My good friend and colleague, Greg Kahn, handed me his iPhone while we were sitting in the office. He received a message from a woman whose son was killed in action during the war. On January 28th, he posted a photo from the funeral to his blog and the soldier's mother found it and commented on the photo. Today, he received another message, from the soldier's wife.

Please go read them here:

http://gregkahn.blogspot.com/2008/01/my-heart-broke-today.html

I'm writing this, and pointing you in this direction, because it touched my heart, and it touched his.

Funerals are so hard to photograph, as I know it was for Greg. I think they are difficult for most journalists. We worry that the people we are photographing will feel like we are just there to take... to show their pain to the world, rather than share in it. Even though, every funeral I've ever covered, I have shared the pain. I have cried, either during or after.

I told Greg, I live to work for days like he had yesterday. He was given a gift from the soldier's mother and wife. One that said they understand and appreciate that he handled their most horrible day with respect, giving them the space they needed to grieve with dignity, yet still capturing a moment that makes them want to remember.

Good job, Greg. Keep up the great work.

International Festival

Sometimes you just feel like your missing a piece of yourself. I'm lacking a certain amount of intimacy in my pictures lately....

President's Day Feature

"Go out to the beach this afternoon and look for a feature. Maybe there will be people doing stuff since the kids are off for President's Day."

Ok. Here you go.

I guess it wasn't cute enough. It didn't run in today's paper. But that's ok. I'm publishing it here.

Nessy

Tonight, there was a Loch Ness Monster sighting at the YMCA pool. I noticed it while I was shooting, but it was really funny back at the office to see how similar this swimmer actually looks to the famed Nessy. If you'd like a quick comparison, follow this link: Loch Ness

Irony

We got a call saying that Domestic Animal Services had picked up 25 roosters from a home that was suspected of fighting them. There was nothing too dramatic to photograph when I got to DAS. They were all just sitting in their cages. But, I thought it was ironic that they were all transported in the boxes that say "I love my pet" considering the circumstances and when next week, they will all be euthanized. I think I'm the only one in my office who thought this picture was funny. They ran a mug shot of one of the birds.

Basketball in a dungeon

I just LOVE shooting basketball in dimly lit gyms. God, it was dark in there. I should have lit it. But, I didn't, and this is the best I got tonight. The girl on the left was told by one of her coaches to stop crying and have some respect for herself after they lost the tournament. I thought that was a bit harsh.

Feeling bold

Yesterday my photo editor, Judy Lutz, blew my mind. Every once in a while she does this. She is a little unpredictable, and at times, I totally love it. My assignment was to photograph preparation for this weekend's Everglades Seafood Festival. So, I photographed carnies setting up rides. (Ah, how I love the carnies.) I had plenty of pictures that had decent light and decent composition that would have worked fine. And she chose this one. I looked at her with a look on my face that said, "are you sure?" Because, normally, we run a pretty safe ship. Safe is not to say boring or bad photography is used, just safe. But yesterday, Judy said was feeling bold. And she said we shouldn't "spoon feed" everyone all the time. I was sooooo happy. Because really, I shot this picture for me. And today, it is in the paper, for everyone.

Devil in the Deep Blue Sea

Tonight was the annual Mardi Gras-style parade at one of our MANY retirement community mobile home parks in Naples. I could not decide which of these pictures I liked the best. I was going to only post one. But, maybe you can help me. I know what I think. I like the first one, but the pole drives me a little insane. Not like... I'll be committed... insane. More like... give me some Paxil.. insane. I like the portrait, but it lacks something dynamic. What is your opinion?

I had a great time for the hour I was with these folks. I told them that I wanted to move in to their park. They said it could only happen if I married someone who was old enough to live there. I guess I'll just have to visit.

Mitt

Yesterday, I photographed Mitt Romney as he stumped through Naples. I can't decide if his hair is more like that of a baptist minister (yeah, i know, he's Mormon, whatever) or a car salesman. Is that harsh? Anyway, he was nice enough to deal with and his security guards weren't jerks, so that's a plus.

NDN Half Marathon

Alright, so since my rant, I've fallen off the map. I guess it took a lot out of me to write all that down. But, I'm back. hopefully for good.

Over the weekend I shot the Naples Daily News Half Marathon with my co-workers, Greg Kahn, Michelle Cassel and Michelle Le. It was the first time I ever shot it. I don't know how I've gone five years working here and avoided getting up at the butt-crack of dawn at least once for this assignment. I was always secretly glad that I didn't have to shoot it, but next year, I may just volunteer. It was a lot of fun. And I love doing assignments with other photographers. We all have our own approach and I love seeing how others work.

My end of the year tirade

I don't think I realized when I got in to this profession how profoundly my life would be impacted. Not just by the people who's stories I tell, or the things I see that so many others will NEVER see first-hand, but also by the people I work with day to day.

I am so lucky to have made very good friends since moving to Naples. I wonder if our profession is unique in the way it brings us together? We share dreams, ideals, passions. Not like working in a cubicle where you isolate yourself from others all day crunching numbers or entering data. We are curious people. We want to know about other people's lives, which inevitably leads us to knowing everything about each other. Or trying to.

The photo staff at the Naples Daily News has always been a family. We band together and have tried to be a united front in the face of some major BS that is happening everywhere. But, our little family is shrinking. Our staff is down to four. From nine. I realize this problem is not unique to NDN, and I'm used to the revolving door. It's a smallish paper that obviously lends itself to the exit of some great people as they move up the ladder of the profession. But this year... Sheesh. I've said goodbye a lot. Most recently, this morning. And I'm pretty damn of sick of it, really. Not only do we say goodbye to our friends, but the void that is left because their positions aren't being replaced is a GLARING daily reminder of their absence.

This was originally going to be a blog about how I will miss you, my friends, bidding you good cheer in the upcoming year and wishing you all the very best in your upcoming endeavors. And it still is. But, it's morphing into this:

WARNING: a rant is about to occur.

I just got done talking with a co-worker about how we're all running on a shoestring. Not just the photo department, but the entire newspaper. How do you put out a product that people want advertise in, let ALONE, pick up and read if EVERY department is down to less than half staff? We've lost two city editors in a matter of two weeks, only have two features writers, no graphics person at all, and all we do is respond to press releases and go to meetings, because that's what our skeleton crew has time for.

It seems to me the bean counters are fulfilling their own prophecy (the one about newspapers dying and no one is reading them anymore) by not reinvesting in their employees. And reinvestment does not only mean to put money into the people CURRENTLY on staff, but also hiring new staff so we can replenish each other's work. We can collaborate on ideas and get back to JOURNALISM, not just telling you on the website that there is an accident at the corner of yada yada and yada yada. Or that a new restaurant is opening up on Friday.

Reader polls tell us what readers want. So, ok, maybe they want to know that that bistro is opening up... but shouldn't we also be giving them what they NEED to know? Most of the time, the reader may not know what they NEED to know. So, it's our job to tell them.

For instance, my friend showed me the current issue of National Geographic this morning. The main story is about High-Tech waste and how all of our old t.v.'s, computer cases and monitors are being sent to Ghana, polluting the area and all the ramifications that occur because of it. Did I know anything about this? No. Did I need to know? Yes. Would I have ever thought once about it before I saw the article? No. But am I glad that NOW, I do know? Absolutely.

The point, blondie?

How do we tell them anything, if there is no one to write the story? Or if the writer/photographer doesn't have time to research the story? If all I'm doing is reacting, then I'm not really being a journalist, am I?

So, here is the scenario. Most journalists didn't get in to journalism for money. Obviously. We got in to it for the purpose, the calling. But, if we are relegated to being reactive, rather than proactive, by simple virtue of lack of time (not for lack of drive), AND we aren't being paid enough to add a certain amount of quality to the REST of our lives, then WTF is the point? It gives one pause, and it makes it at least understandable when you see people leaving to work for the Sheriff's department, or to do PR for the city, rather than bleeding your last drop in to the newspaper.

Forgive me. I am usually optimistic. I'm an idealist. I think there is a way that things SHOULD be, and there's always a possibility of achieving that. But, I'm feeling pretty beat. Don't get me wrong, I'm not giving up. NO NO. I can't jump ship. I thought about it, believe me, but I can not. I don't know what my life would be without journalism. Not to mention, if EVERYONE jumps ship, then who is left to push against those who are trying to sink it?

My one piece of hope, of solace.... is that those friends of mine, the ones who have left this paper, and the ones still here, AND those of you I have linked to the left, still want to do good work. And YOU are still fighting the good fight. Let's work as hard as possible in 2008 to show the collective THEM that journalism isn't dead. Newspapers ARE NOT dead and show them every day why they still need us.

Now, for pictures. A few of those I will miss, but who are continuing to inspire in work and life.


Jessie Bonner, Tristan Spinski


Jakob Schiller (being held in the arms of his biggest fans)


Jimmie Presley


Tracy Boulian, Garrett Hubbard, David Ahntholz


Darron Silva, Tracy Boulian


Garrett Hubbard