Horse

Went and hung out at a local horse stable while researching a story for July.

Slow and rainy day at a doubleheader

Mike and Renee Allen, of Midland, watch their daughter Lindsey Allen's softball doubleheader against the Saginaw Heritage Monday afternoon from their van with their two dogs, Izzy and Taz. "They come to pretty much every softball game," Renee said about the dogs who attend the H.H. Dow High School games. "This is the best place, you've got to love the outfield. We can sit in the van and get out of the rain" she said. The Allen's park in the outfield to watch nearly every home game their daughter plays.

yard sale

Drove out to the annual Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival to photograph a story about yard sales during the three day event. Unfortunately, as soon as I got there, it began to pour and most people closed up shop. It was a bummer because I was getting into a groove and was gonna have some fun.

20,000 quilts

This local Midland Quiltmakers group has reached 20,000 quilts made for charity and delivered around the world.

Faye Tennant, from Midland, jokes with friends Tuesday morning at the Church of the Brethren during the weekly Midland Quiltmakers meeting. Tennant has been attending the meetings for 10-12 years and helped the group make 20,000 quilts as a form of charity. Alone, Tennant has made 3622 quilts, for every hundredth quilt, she makes it an angel theme. "People who come to my house say 'What is this, a business?'" she joked. "I've got boxes all over the place, but they're all neat." Although she meets with the other quilters in an old nursery at the church, Faye says she completes a lot of work at her home quilting studio, often completing 5 quilts in a day. On Monday, 24 quilts were picked up by Mary Ann Howard of the Saint Catherine's Guild to be distributed to the Pregnancy Aid of Midland County.

Loons Home Opener

Mud Boggin

On my day off today I headed north for about 2 hours to hang and shoot the mud bog action for fun.

Mud Boggin'

I decided to spend my day off with some friends and fellow staffer, Nathan Morgan, and Hearst Fellow, Shaminder Dulai, north of Midland at a mud bogging event. More photos to come soon.

Bored

I'm bored of how I've been shooting. I've been shooting with a wide angle A LOT! Time to step it up!!!!! UGH!!!!!

Beer...stickers

Local Drug Free Youth program went around for a program called Sticker Shock putting labels on alcoholic beverages at local grocery stores warning of underage drinking.

Fashion

Northwood University is having a fashion show on April 16 with the theme being "green," using recycled material and old garments in some of the designs.

Driving around

Drove around the other day and came across this little scene. I stopped and made a quick photo out my window, but really want to head back and catch someone in their garden or putting up another bird house. Pretty cool spot.

Here's one reason

why i LOVE my job. CONGRATULATIONS RYAN WOOD and Midland Daily News 2008 staff!!!!! Baller status.

BOP results:

Ryan Wood took third place following Dallas Morning News and Rocky Mountain News for Newspaper Picture Editor of the Year.

Midland Daily News took third for the Best Use of Photography by Newspapers with less than 75,000 circulation.

BOP Third Place Newspaper Picture Editor of the Year 2009

And the 2009 Season begins

Today I shot the Great Lakes Loons take the field at Dow Diamond for their first practice at home for the 2009 Season. The home opener is Monday, April 13.

Localization

Well, it was a bummer watching MSU fans see their team lose to North Carolina Monday night. On the positive side, I picked NC to go all the way. Baller!

Pow! Right in the kisser...

Pug Dog

Back to shooting

So, after about a week and 3 days as photo editor, it's good to get back to shooting! This is from a play a local church was putting on. Tried to just have some fun with it. The play was a little creepy, but nonetheless.