Meet some MPW outtakes

Below are some of my favorite pictures from the Missouri Photo Workshop in Festus, Mo., that didn't make my final edit. Enjoy!

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 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 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 more of the LBC fall concert

As you can see, today has been a photo-filled day and I finally made some time to go through my take from the LBC gospel concert that I shot at the end of last semester. I posted two photos right after the concert and those two images were probably my favorite of the evening, but below is a slideshow of the runners-up.

I'm still frustrated with this project. I still don't feel I have really shown the story. I keep missing the little telling moments that piece together an accurate portrait of this choir and this genre of both music and worship. Feedback is much appreciated. Also, I apologize for the graininess, but I was not able to check out a camera that could handle the church's low light, so I did what I could with my 20D and RAW files. I hope you enjoy:

Meet my ode to learning flash: labs in review.

I didn't think I'd survive it, but I've made it through all the individual assignments involving flash for Advanced Techniques. A look back on the painful process for all to enjoy (or lament), done in the style for competition submission (amped up contrast, saturation AND vignetting: the trifecta):


Flash? Really? But...but...I can do fine with available light...

And flash just makes me that much more conspicuous to my subjects! (This shot was an intentional
homage to the amazing and hilarious laundromat shot we saw in class.)

Yeah, Jimmy, the idea of juggling another piece of equipment and
technical calculation makes me feel dead inside, too.

It's going to be okay, Will. We're all scared. Just wait it out.

I feel your pain, Anjali. Trust me, girl, I feel. Your. Pain.

Jakob's fancy German Leica flash has the ability to reach a higher power (badumpching).
He wastes no time calling out for help.

A huge, special, wonderful thanks to Catalin for holding our hands and drying our tears through this painful process.