Meet my Andykins

While visiting Boston, I always sleep on the couch of my good friend Andy and in my time with him, there's at least one impromptu photo shoot, if not more. At the beginning of the summer, we managed to work in two, one while he was ironing his clothes for work and one while we were playing on a nearby playground. Love this kid.

Meet Holga fun, part 2

I got the second roll of my Holga photos back the other day. The roll was Fuji Reala ISO 100, a film I've known to be a bit hyper-saturated. Unfortunately, as indicated by ten of the 12 images, I have lost my sense of light metering and had no idea how much light was really needed for a proper exposure with such a low ISO. I blame my extensive work last semester with the Nikon D3 and nighttime/indoor photography. The good news is, however, that I made two pictures that were properly exposed. So, here they are:

This is the view from out my bedroom window, during a sunset that peeked through after one of our many summer rain storms.

This is the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. This landmark, like a lot of the points of interest I've seen in the city, was one I stumbled upon almost accidentally. Everywhere you go here, there's something historical or interesting or both. (The other day while waiting for my bus to Boston, I found myself standing outside the death place of Nikola Tesla, one day before his birthday.)

Meet New York City Tourism

About a month ago, I had a delightfully touristy day with my friend and Mizzou colleague, Cassie, who is also in the city, but being far more productive than I as she works as an intern at a magazine. We walked the Brooklyn Bridge, got some ice cream at Brooklyn Ice Cream factory, took the Staten Island Ferry, saw the Statue of Liberty and spent 40, uh, lovely minutes on Staten Island, waiting for the boat back to Manhattan.












(A Canon 20D isn't quite as good at a high ISO as the 5D Mk II...)

Meet ISO 6400

The hooligans of Daily Free Press past assembled at the end of May for an alumni event, but I couldn't get there until after the gig I was working that evening. I showed up just after midnight, after the party had relocated to a rooftop in Beacon Hill, which had absolutely no light.

Using a borrowed 5D Mark II set at ISO 6400, I made these three pictures in what, to the eye, looked like almost pitch black settings (safety note: the rooftop had a very high ledge; don't be worried). I had to focus using distance, since I couldn't tell and the auto focus certainly couldn't tell if anything through the lens was in focus. Not the greatest shots, but pretty cool that I was even able to make them.


The Boston sky at midnight.


Dave, lit by his iPhone.


I think this is a fairly accurate portrait of beloved former editor, Dan Atkinson.

Meet Sarah at the Seashore

My favorite part about visiting (or living in) Boston is easy access to the seashore. Growing up in Iowa didn't afford many opportunities to visit and splash around in a vast body of water (shocking, I know), so if the weather is decent, I try to say hullo to the Atlantic when I'm in town. Earlier this summer, my friend Sarah took me to a nice beach in Nahant, which is north of Boston. It was a perfect day to kick around in the waves.

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.