Multimedia Madness

Last semester, I started my first multimedia project with a group during the Morel mushroom hunting season.

This semester, I worked at the Columbia Missourian as a reporter. I was sad I didn't get to take pictures for a class, but excited to be working as a journalist. I quickly found out that I could take pictures for multimedia projects! A co-worker, Stefanie Kienstra and I became addicted to multimedia and did several projects together. I worked with Missourian staff photographers Truth Leem and Michael Pittman, who had been in my previous photo classes.

The first one was an ROTC swimming challenge. The participants were in the water by 5:30 a.m. and were tested in many different things. They had to jump blindfolded off a diving board, swim with all of their equipment and had to pass several conditioning tests.

Our last project covered the event at Mizzou when Frank Warren, creator of Post Secret, came to speak. I'd been a fan of Mr. Warren and his project for a few years and Stef and I were more than tickled to interview him.

Just Horsing Around

A brown bear sticks his tongue out after bathing in the water on a hot day. Although a little overexposed, I love the bear's sense of humor in this photo.
This duck gracefully lands in a pond at the zoo.
A jaguar goes to lay down with his friends.
Three jaguars look on as ones intimidates with his mouth.
Two elephants link trunks at the St. Louis Zoo.
A giraffe chows down on an afternoon snack of grass.
An orangutan thinks he’s hiding himself under a blanket and away from sightseers.
A black bear cleans out his claws in the sunlight.
Probably my favorite part of the zoo, the penguin habitat is always fun.
This penguin glides under the water as his friends are being fed.
A puffin sputters around.
Looking at the light, a penguin glows.
Camp Cedarledge equestrian center has over 30 horses to ride for girls in the summer. The horse of this close up is named Jewel.
The shadow of a rider and Jack, my favorite horse.
The biggest horse in the barn, Lester, makes some eye contact.
Looking up at Lester, he perks his ears and sniffs at the camera.
SMILE: A gorgeous horse’s teeth.

Located inside of a horse’s nose is an air pocket. The pocket is soft and clean. Despite this knowledge Stacie Boren, Director of Camp Cedarledge, must be forced to put her finger up this horse’s nose.One event of the bi-summer horse show is called the Sit A Buck. Competitors sit on a horse with a dollar bill under them and ride bareback until the buck falls out.

Randomness

“If fruit was supposed to be suspended in air, God would have given it wings.” My grandmother’s reaction on showing her my studio work.
Mya Lin’s Vietnam memorial has moved so many people, it went on tour. A smaller replica of the memorial travels through the United States. In my hometown of Festus, Missouri, a citizen searches for the name of his son.
Despite America’s reputation of free speech, only two spots exist where unlimited free speech exists. One such space is Columbia’s Speaker’s Circle. One can stand in the middle and scream “BOMB!” In this photograph, religious zealots gather to protest the sins of college students. One student falls to his knees sarcastically proclaiming, “Finally! Someone to tell me about my sins!”
A boy runs across Tiger Tail beach on Marco Island, Florida. This beach is known for its massive amount of sand dollars on the sand bars. Getting up early on a vacation morning to hunt for the dollars before the tide comes in is a family tradition of mine.
The Ronald McDonald House gives families whose children are in hospitals a place to live. The two St. Louis locations are home to many families who have cancer children staying long-term in a hospital. Volunteers take turns cooking dinner for the families each night.
This sunset photo was taken atop Virginia Avenue Garage in Columbia, MO.

Rockin' Out and the Big Apple

Spring Break 2008 I went to New York City to visit my friend Adrienne. This is John Lennon's memorial in Central Park.
Another view from Central park.
A bird’s eye view of Columbus Circle in New York City can only be seen from the seventh floor of Macy’s department store. The store has a total of eight floors and stretches more than an entire city block.
An unknown fan is hoisted into the air at the Lucky Boys Confusion concert at the Blue Fugue in Columbia, Missouri.
Stubhy, lead singer of Lucky Boys Confusion hugs the mike as he sings, “Bossman,” a song featured on gum commercials.
Zach Denison, Jake Fischbach, and Devin Burrow generated the band, “Providence.” The rock band concentrates on inspirational lyrics and have been playing in Columbia, St. Louis and Kansas City for the last three years.
Bassist Jack Fischbach rocks out at the Blue Fugue in downtown Columbia.

Football and Volleyball

Julianna Klein tore her ACL early into the season of her sophomore year. While rehabilitating, she plays with a ball while watching her teammates practice
A Tiger volleyball player spikes a ball over two Iowa state players
Tiger middle blocker fights for the ball.

In 2007, the Mizzou Tigers were the heroes of college football. Climbing in rank to number one, the Tigers’ only losses were to Oklahoma.
Finally getting their defense together, the Rams put pressure on Orton.
Pass interference? Bears defender illegally stops Eric Bassey, Rams receiver from catching the ball in the November game. The Rams lost, 27-3.

The St. Louis Rams ended the season with at four wins and sixteen losses, sadly disappointing their fans. Here quarterback Kyle Orton of the Chicago Bears takes his time while throwing.

Favorite Cardinals Moments

With one hand barely on a bag, fans await for the call from the umpire.
Known as the Cardinals’ secret weapon, third base coach, Jose Oquendo motions a stop.
Caesar Izturis taps the ball.
Pitcher Brendan Ryan makes it to first base before the Pirates firstbaseman can catch the ball.


Pitcher McClellan stretches out as he pitches the ball against the Brewers.
Mizzou graduate Neal Boyd won America’s Got Talent this last season with his powerful vocals. The singer attended the Cardinals vs. Brewers game and was asked to make an impromptu performance.
Chris Duncan swings powerfully at the fence.
July 4th 2008 was a classic game against the Cubs, fireworks provided.
A drunk fan gets captured after running out on the field in support of her team.
Theriot tries to beat the stellar Cardinals infielding, but fails.
Jim Edmonds was a long-time outfielder to the St. Louis Cardinals, winning eight Golden Gloves during his career. After being traded, the Cardinals staple ended up with the Chicago Cubs, the biggest rival. Fans were split with admiration and shame for Edmonds. His first return to Busch Stadium could have gone bad or good, but being the classy fans the Cardinals are, they gave him a standing ovation. One fan screamed, “We love you Jim! Now strike him out!”
Pujols rounds up a stray ball in a game before batting.
Cubs swinger Alfonso Soriano gets ready for the pitch, sure to be a strike.
Former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder So Taguchi sprints to first base, but cannot beat the ball.
So Taguchi bunts and then sprints off to first.
Scott Roland slides into first and awaits a call of safe or out.
Albert Pujols hits one to the fence.

Opening Day 2008 Tiger football studs Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin prepare to throw out the first pitch while Truman and Fredbird bow down.