BUSY day....but productive day

I didn't get around to posting yesterday (Wednesday) mostly because I was just drained after work.

I had five assignments yesterday starting first with a presentation at the Jones Center for Families. I'm not posting anything from this as their really wasn't anything wonderful in the art that came from it.

Next, I went to the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks for the Little Sprouts program's costume parade.

Following that, I had to rush over to Leverett Elementary where a first-grade class was touring a mobile art museum in a trailer from Little Rock.

Next took me to the Community Clinic (for lead art from the story associated with the presentation at the Jones Center) to shoot a patient there for a prenatal visit. This was actually very interesting. I had never actually witnessed a nurse using a listening device to check on the baby's heart rate. Very interesting to experience.

And finally UA had a vigil on campus for the University of Central Arkansas shootings on Sunday that left two students dead.

Two days worth

I didn't get around to posting yesterday (Sunday) so here's a sampling of two days worth.

Started the day yesterday down at Razorback Stadium (less than 12 hours than when I left there). I went to pick up some wild art of folks cleaning the stands following the Hogs' loss to Ole Miss the night before. Man, it looks like these fans were raised in a pig sty.

Later I went to the Jones Center for Families for their annual Fall Festival.

And today began at Drake Field, the former main airport for Fayetteville.

Following that, I went over to campus for their annual Hot Dogs for Homecoming.

And lastly, I went over to The Nature Conservancy to shoot a rare cave crayfish that was found recently in Yellville and has not been identified yet.

Almost...

Well, with this being my first Saturday starting a new week, it was an odd day. I had difficulties keeping in the back of my mind that I wouldn't be off on Monday.

Started the day with an armed truck robbery. We had minimal information, but luckily, we were able to track down the truck. And I pulled off a basic image, but it was enough to compliment the story, I suppose.

Then the bulk of my day was dedicated to the Arkansas vs Ole Miss football game. The game marked Houston Nutt's return to Fayetteville where he served as head coach for the past 10 years (I think).

What, for the most part, was a lack-luster game between the Razorbacks and Rebels turned into one of the most crazy endings I've ever had the opportunity to cover. After the Rebels took a 23-14 lead with about 2 minutes remaining -- and no timeouts for the Hogs -- Arkansas didn't give up. A late touchdown (with about 1:30 left) made the score 23-21 and they were forced to attempt an onsides kick. Despite pulling off the improbable and recovering said kick, the Razorbacks were unable to capitalize with the winning score and Nutt returned to Fayetteville to collect his first win against his former squad.

Overall, I felt like I had a decent shooting night.

Interesting find

OK, yes, I'm posting on a day off but I really had to post this one. My parents found a humorous juxtaposition on my blog today that I didn't catch. Upon pointing it out to me, I have to admit this is one of the funniest accidents I've made. Thanks, Mom and Daddy. Well played.

*For those having trouble finding it, look at the photo with the title for the previous post below it.*

Jase, where the hell are all your new posts?

Yes, once again, my middle name of Slacker has come into play. I know, I know. I haven't posted anything since last Friday. Sorry. I've been busy. OK, no I haven't. I've been lazy.

So, first off, I went to the new tunnel that runs underneath one of our busy highways that's part of a walking/biking trail through Fayetteville. I really enjoyed the symmetry that the lights in the tunnel created. I'm gonna try this again, though. Try to make it better.

Then I spent the next few hours in the rafters at Bud Walton Arena with my photo editor, David Gottschalk. We went to hang our strobes for the upcoming Razorback basketball season. After we got all four of 'em mounted, I hung around for about another hour fine-tuning the power and angles of the light to where I liked it. So I posted one of my test frames from the catwalk.

And finally, my only assignment on the day. I had to go to Har-Ber HS for a football portrait.

First trip to Gentry

I went first today to shoot inside a culinary arts class. There really wasn't a lot to shoot here, so I made do with what I had.

And the evening took me to my first trip to Gentry for a high school football game against Shiloh Christian School. I left the game with 5:00 remaining in the first half (had to get photos moved over for Sports) and Shiloh had built a 49-0 lead. Since starting work here a year ago last weekend, I've covered a total of five HS football games. The first two -- the only two last year -- were at Shiloh Christian School in Springdale. With my weekends moving to Thursday-Friday, this will be my last high school football game (unless asked to change my schedule). How fitting for it to be Shiloh once again.

Murderous return to work

I returned to work with my first day back since Dan Hale's departure and the first day on the job with our new photographer, Will Moore. I'll definitely miss Dan and Amelia, but I'm glad to have Will on board.

Started the day in the Washington County Courthouse for a jury selection for a murder trial. Jerry Donald Sykes, 55, is accused of capital murder, kidnapping, robbery and theft in connection with the death of his 56-year-old girlfriend, Sandra Stokes, on March 2, 2007. Read more here. The jury selection took very little time and they quickly moved into the trial.

After some lunch, I moved over to campus to work a portrait of Catherine White, a runner for the UA cross country team. With rain outside and very little time to work, I had to make do with the environment I was given.

Then I went over to indoor tennis facility to get some shots of No. 1 player, Blake Strode (pictured on the right of the frame).

My wiener is better than yours

Today I got to shoot something I've wanted to shoot for years but have never had the opportunity.

As most of my readers know, I have a dachshund, Molly, and my parents have had dachshunds since before I came around. So I have a little bias in thinking these are the best canines in the world.

The Bella Vista Animal Shelter hosted their second annual Wiener Takes All wiener dog races today. The proceeds went to benefit the shelter.

The races (12 of them in all before the "championship" races) ran about 6 or 7 badger dogs at a time. Now, when I say ran, that doesn't necessarily define ALL of the participants making their way to the finish line. In every race that I watched, only about 3 or 4 max actually ran towards the line. The rest -- in some cases all but one -- meandered around the start line or chased one another in circles. Pretty much the funniest and most fun assignment I've had in quite some time.

Insects galore

I went first to the Springdale Farmers' Market today because we always shoot over at the Fayetteville Farmers' Market and never the Springdale one. I now know why -- no one goes there. It took me a while to find SOMETHING to shoot and that was belittled to rather nothing.

From there, I was off to the UA Insect Festival. Yes, I said Insect Festival. Holy crap, there were a lot of kids there. Oh yeah, and there were a lot of insects there as well.

Boo!

Started off the day trying to find some Fall colors with some enterprise shooting. Well, my search fell empty. So I ended up finding these guys changing summer flowers out with some fall flowers.

Then, I went to Lake Fayetteville in hopes of finding some evolving leaves there. Nope. So I made the best I could out of a guy fishing from the pier.

From there, I went to the two Halloween stores in Fayetteville. I really liked the frame posted here that I got from one of the stores. I just like all the political masks looking as if they're laughing along with the couple in the picture.

And finally I had to visit with one of the 15,343 Fayetteville mayoral candidates, Steve Clark.

Finishing off the week

I drove down to Fort Chaffee Sunday morning for change of command ceremony for the Army National Guard based there.

Later it was on to First United Methodist Church in Rogers for a blessing of animals service in honor of the Feast of St. Francis.