Meet my summer Holga and New York City

The last two months of this past spring semester were the hardest two months of my entire life, Red Sox experience included. I got to New York City for my summer excursions and was beyond burnt out.

So, I decided to buy a Holga and some 120 and make some fun pictures for myself. I just got my first roll back today and thought I'd post my five favorites (out of 12...also known as the five that turned out; shot on Ilford XP2 400). I just took in a roll of color film, which I'll pick up and post next week when I return from Boston. But for now, enjoy:

A jazz trio in Washington Square Park


When the weather isn't so great, the LaGuardia flight path pays us a visit.


Thanks to all the June rain, I can actually drown out the sound of a 747 30 seconds before it touches down.


Times Square, to which I have a curious attraction. I like the giant man "on the street" in the left, a byproduct of me not winding my film far enough.


People just chillin' in the middle of Times Square, where there are tons of folding chairs available for your sitting pleasure.

Meet the Boat Mitzvah

I worked a really fun gig at the end of May when I was back in Boston: A bat mitzvah...on a boat, which sailed around Boston Harbor. Ergo, "Boat Mitzvah."

I successfully avoided sea sickness, dropping things/self into ocean, losing my balance. And while I was working hard to not mess up in that respect, I made some nice pictures. It was pretty easy to do, though - this group knew how to have a good time. Here are a few of my favorites:


When I made this picture, I finally relaxed. This felt like THE picture of the event. And I got it.


The lady of the hour.

Whenever I look at this picture, Paul Simon's "Father and Daughter" starts playing in my head, though that wasn't the song to which they danced. (It was a rare James Taylor track...same difference, right?)


He was doing the ad-libs for "Shout!" and, may I say, he was KILLIN' 'em.


Like I said, these people knew how to enjoy a great party.

Meet Momma Sexton (again)

I think Mother and I have figured out this photographer/subject duo.

Here are my two favorites from when she drove down to Columbia to help me pack up my apartment for the summer and we did a quick "Facebook photo update" session.

Meet deliciousness

I've been baking these brownies for as long as I can remember. In fact, yesterday, when I called my mother for the recipe, she told me she bought the book that the recipe is in when she was pregnant with me. Yesterday, we had a guest stay at our house, so for that occasion, and because I was hankerin' to bake something I knew would turn out, I made these (all from scratch, frosting too):




(Doesn't it look like the plate is happy? I'd be happy too, if I were that plate.)

Meet Dean Elmore

While having a fun night out with a pile of BU/Daily Free Press photogs, we found ourselves in the same bar as Dean Elmore and some of the lovely gentlemen from his office. We said hi, we joined them and it turned out to be a really fantastic evening.

The best, most poignant part of the evening was when, while we photographers were photographing something or adjusting something photographic, Dean Elmore said, "You guys are so cool," and I said, "I think you're the first person ever to tell us that."


He is the coolest Dean of Students ever in the history of life. Seriously, if you don't go to BU, you need to be very jealous of us.

Meet a gaggle of BU photogs

When I was in Boston, I was able to put together a small assembly of BU photo students and alumni at BU's classy Dugout Cafe for a night of joy and merriment and shooting each other in the face with cameras. I do believe it was a 5:7 cameras-to-people ratio. It was a really lovely time and we eventually got around to talking about important things and hanging out with Dean Elmore, once we were tired of photographing ourselves photographing ourselves photographing...


Point-blank portrait session. She had a flash. I did not. Ow.


There are about 3829 photographs like this from that night, just different people and different backgrounds. This one features Brooks Canaday, Sarah Beth Glicksteen and Kristyn Ulanday.


Brooks, sporting the poor man's ring flash, a decidedly un-lightable roll of gaffer's tape.


Yes, we did rig some lighting at this event. Obviously.


Now tired of photographing one another, the photogs switch their focus(es) to photographing photography equipment on the table. It's the only way we could have gotten nerdier.


Dominick, eyes glistening from the the hope and opportunity stirred up while speaking with Dean Elmore, the excitement of the night and maybe a few other things.


It's Brooks! And he's happy to be here!

Meet the Sox v. Mets at Fenway

At the end of May, when I was in Boston, I was given the opportunity to go back to my old stomping grounds and photograph the Red Sox's game against the Mets at Fenway Park. I didn't get any award winners (I hadn't shot baseball since October 2007), but it was a gorgeous night for some baseball and, along with seeing the (highly talented) Boston photographer crew, I got a few decent (bloggable?) images. Thanks to Mike Ivins for inviting me back and to Brita Meng Outzen for lending me a 400.


Brooks Canaday, one of the photo interns and one of the Fenway crazies. Nice guy.


MLB hazing isn't humiliating, it's cute. (And that's a Japanese language/culture guide in that side pocket.)


Jacoby Ellsbury adjusts his pant leg after stealing third base.


Kevin Youkilis dives back to first base safely.


Pretty nice view of Fenway from the third base pit, eh?


The Green Monster guy watches to make sure he finishes changing the scores before the inning starts. The game score and some of the out-of-town games can be updated from inside the monster, but the slots further out have to be changed with a ladder from the outside.


Kevin Youkilis snags a throw from the pitcher to pick off Mets player Gary Sheffield.


Red Sox manager Terry Francona talks with the umpires about a home run call made from instant replay after a ball hit off the top edge of the Green Monster.


In anticipation of rain, the Fenway grounds crew put the tarp over the infield.


Boston photographers Matt Lee, Matt Healey and Winslow Townsend file images after the Mets game...


...so long, in fact, that the lights of Fenway are turned off.


The inside of Fenway park with the stadium lights turned off. Seems kinda lonely to me.

Meet Banana Bread

Things are finally beginning to settle down after the whirlwind of the past semester and a trip to Boston and a relocation to New York City (just for the summer, shall be back in Columbia, MO, for the fall). I have many photographs to share with you and thought I'd start off with a post showcasing the banana bread I made with the roommate tonight. I couldn't get over how photogenic it was - such pretty, textbook-definition banana bread. I'm only sorry that I can't post samples for you all to taste.

Meet Joshua

Joshua from Phoebe Sexton on Vimeo.

This is the final project for my Picture Story class, the capstone course in the Photojournalism sequence. I will come back and talk about this when I've had a little more sleep and a little more time, but for now, let me say that I think this is the best work I've done so far in my career. I don't think I could have shot this when I first got to Mizzou or even at the beginning of my semester. I plan to keep working with my subject on a long-term project and am forever grateful for his openness and candidness. I appreciate the trust he had in me to tell his story and hope I did it justice.

Meet "isolated"

I tried to make a picture of my mood. Do you think it is successful?

Meet an award-winning multimedia...ist(?)

I learned today (via Twitter, actually) that my LBC Gospel Choir project won first place in the Student Society for News Design (SSND) competition this year.

Announcement here:

http://ssnd.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/multimedia-winners-announced/

Analysis from one of the judges here:

http://www.innovativeinteractivity.com/2009/04/21/analysis-on-2009-ssnd-multimedia-entries-and-winners/

Hooray!