Scenes from the road

Lancer pride

For the second year in a row the Lady Lancers battled to the state semifinal game.  And, like last year, they fell short of their ultimate goal. Still, as a photo staff we enjoyed watching their run at the title.  Maybe next year....

Crankers

I'm not sure who started it, but Crankers became our late night refuge when I was in school.  I like the fact that it's almost never busy, and that it's almost always open.  Sean, Justin and I stopped by after rock climbing the other day.

Winter Scene

I make a conscious effort each winter to avoid complaining about the weather as much as the next guy.  I understand that talking about the weather is way to relate to people and acknowledge what we all have in common.  The snow falls on the good and the bad.  It's the ultimate common denominator.  So it's natural to bring up the "horrible" weather in conversation.  The snow.  The shoveling the driveway for the eighteenth time.  The car accidents.  The sub 20 degree days.  It's common.  And to be honest, I often use it as an icebreaker while on assignment.

But like warm summer days at the beach, there is a beauty to winter too.  It's different. There is a sharpness to it.  And I fear that in focusing on the negative we'll miss that.  Some of the best times I've had this year was snowboarding down a mountain in New Hampshire with my brother and best friends.

I don't want to paint a false reality either.  It would be wrong to gloss over the real pain that weather can cause.  I went to a fatal car accident and a fully engulfed house fire recently that were both due to the frigid temperatures.

I guess my hope is that as we long for summer, we won't miss what today has to offer.  And, since spring starts this week, maybe I'm making a moot point anyway.

The Game

I felt it as I woke up on Saturday. The energy. It was game day. The Game was played in Ann Arbor and as I headed north from a family gathering in Ohio I saw a solitary figure standing over the highway waving on Ohio State fans up to the Big House.  I wasn't sure I wanted to stop to shoot a feature, but I followed John Tully's rule that if you do a double take, you have to stop. I found the nearest exit and spent a few minutes talking to Darrell Ash. Even though he cheers for the grey and scarlet and I cheer for the maize and blue we share a passion for the game and his excitement was infectious. I wish that there was a different outcome at the end, but I couldn't have asked for a better game.

Storm Winds

The storm rolled through Midland just before 5 p.m. on Sunday. The same front that spawned tornadoes in Illinois knocked over hundreds of trees in a neighborhood in Midland. No one was injured, but the homes did not escape the damage from the trees as they fell.

Fall

Snaps from the past few weeks.

These guys

Just found this photo from last spring of Sean and Jake on a texting break in the kitchen. This year brought Jake back to the Mitt to work at the Flint Journal and I for one am glad he's back. This weekend Sean is out visiting the other member of the Ratpack, Libby March, who is the only one out of state now. We miss ya Lib, but I'm secretly jealous of you living near the ocean and the mountains.

Playoffs

Before the storm

It was a perfect Michigan day for golf.  On the course today I was able to relax for a few minutes as I focused on each frame. ISO, aperture, breathe, repeat.  I was comfortable, in the zone as I talked to parents and joked with coaches.  Now the storm begins.  I'm off to the Eddie Adams Workshop.  See you on the other side.