Here is a project that almost wasn’t. After another long-planned Professional Portfolio final project idea went down in flames just days before the deadline, I found an event at the Higgins Armory in Worcester, MA. I’m somewhat satisfied with how it came out, but in retrospect I’ve thought of dozens, even hundreds of things I could have done better. I guess that’s a good thing.
Much has changed in the past few months. I volunteered at the NPPA Northern Short Course, where I had my work (honestly) reviewed by the best in the business, listened and learned during lectures covering everything from nonprofit photography to video lighting and made great friends with other young photojournalists. It was my first and definitely not my last NPPA conference.
My future seems more defined, and I like where it’s going. Starting in June, I will be interning with the Moline Dispatch & Rock Island Argus in Moline, IL. It’s a 50K circulation paper with a talented, small photo staff, and I’m very excited to working in a smaller community. No longer is there a black abyss after graduation- it’s now a straight, flat road to the Midwest. Real life, here I come.
I spent some time with Laser Fleet 413 in Newport, RI. Every Sunday they don drysuits and brave the frigid waters and freezing winds to do what they love. Having grown up racing single-handed boats, I loved talking to these sailors and being out on the water.
On feature-finding assignment for class, I made my way to the Common for some token sledding action. Whenever there are adults and kids shooting down an icy hill and then running back up for more, I like to be there. I do wish I’d had a longer lens (300 ƒ/2.8 or somesuch) but thus is life with your own equipment. I was happy to see some older folks enjoying the hill after thirty-odd years on the sidelines.
