UA Football Preview Tab

Earlier this month, I shot the University of Arkansas' football media day. Most of the planned work for this shoot was to fill our annual football preview tab and the cover art. The issue, which took a TON of work from the sports department, hit the racks and doorsteps today inserted in everyone's Sunday Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The writers and design team for our sports department deserve all the credit for their work on this annual heartache.

So here are the portraits I shot for the issue along with a few fun shots of players preparing for other photographers/videographers.

Best of the week: Aug. 18-26

Most of the photos posted on this entry consist of wild art hunting through the past week. But also dropped in are my work from stories about a new concourse opening at Northwest Regional Airport (XNA) and Wal-Mart's home office working to prepare for the impending damage caused by Hurricane Irene along the east coast.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/18/11--
University of Arkansas sophomore Stacy Evans watches as her team tries to roll grapes down a measuring tape into a shot glass outside the Engineering Hall on the Fayetteville campus on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011. Evans is one of 50 students participating in three-day peer mentor training program for the Freshman Engineering Program. The peer mentors will work with 700 freshmen in the engineering school with classes beginning on Monday.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/18/11--
University of Arkansas sophomore Audria Eoff watches as her team tries to roll grapes down a measuring tape into a shot glass outside the Engineering Hall on the Fayetteville campus on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011. Eoff is one of 50 students participating in three-day peer mentor training program for the Freshman Engineering Program. The peer mentors will work with 700 freshmen in the engineering school with classes beginning on Monday.




Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/24/11--
Charles Richardson of Fayetteville stains wood framing the Butterfly House at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks in Fayetteville on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011. The Butterfly House is scheduled to be completed and opened in about two weeks.




Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/22/11--
Brian Flowers (left), 7, and Kylie Donckers, 6, both of Bentonville watch as a DVD drops into a bin from a conveyor belt during a behind-the-scenes view of what happens when books are checked in at the Bentonville Public Library on Monday, Aug. 22, 2011. The children, part of the Library Lessons for Homeschoolers, meets weekly with Sue Ann Pekel on Mondays at the library.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/24/11--
Patricia and Alan Fortenberry, both of Springdale, tour through the new concourse at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) in Highfill on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, during a grand opening preview for the concourse. The concourse adds 54,192 sq. ft, 11 new gates and the first moving sidewalk in the state.




Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/24/11--
Joshua Youngblood and Catherine Wallack, both with special collections for the University of Arkansas library, ride the moving sidewalk inside the new concourse at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) in Highfill on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, during a grand opening preview for the concourse. The concourse adds 54,192 sq. ft, 11 new gates and the first moving sidewalk in the state.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/24/11--
Visitors tour through the new concourse at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) in Highfill on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, during a grand opening preview for the concourse. The concourse adds 54,192 sq. ft, 11 new gates and the first moving sidewalk in the state.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/25/11--
Merv Fleshman, recreations manager, stitches material for the netting surround the basketball courts inside the Jones Center for Familes on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, in Springdale. The center performs semi-annual maintenance during the week following spring break for area schools and the week following students' return to school after summer break. The pools, courts and ice rink will continue to be closed for maintenance through Monday.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/25/11--
Whitney Erickson, recreations supervisor, sharpens ice skates inside the Jones Center for Familes on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, in Springdale. The center performs semi-annual maintenance during the week following spring break for area schools and the week following students' return to school after summer break. The pools, courts and ice rink will continue to be closed for maintenance through Monday.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/25/11--
Charles Harris of Houston drags cables to set up the Wacky Worm ride at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Fayetteville on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011. The fair opens to the public on Tuesday and the midway, operated by Murphy Brothers Exposition, opens on Wednesday.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/26/11--
Charlie Russell (left) and Diane Purkey, both of Tahlequah, Okla., clean the inside and outside of Purkey's food trailer on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, as part of their setup for the 27th annual Frisco Festival which started later in the day. The festival continues in downtown Rogers today (SATURDAY).



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/26/11--
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. meteorologist Lucas McDonald monitors current weather conditions at his workstation inside Wal-Mart's home office in Bentonville for Hurricane Irene as it approaches the east coast on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/26/11--
John Petrovic (cq) with assett protections monitors current weather conditions at his workstation inside Wal-Mart's home office in Bentonville for Hurricane Irene as it approaches the east coast on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/26/11--
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. employees monitor current weather conditions at their workstations inside Wal-Mart's home office in Bentonville for Hurricane Irene as it approaches the east coast on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/26/11--
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. meteorologist Lucas McDonald discusses the company's plans inside Wal-Mart's home office in Bentonville for Hurricane Irene as it approaches the east coast on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/26/11--
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. employees monitor current weather conditions at their workstations inside Wal-Mart's home office in Bentonville for Hurricane Irene as it approaches the east coast on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/26/11--
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. meteorologist Lucas McDonald discusses the company's plans inside Wal-Mart's home office in Bentonville for Hurricane Irene as it approaches the east coast on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011.

Senior Walk

I'll first preface this post for those unfamiliar with Senior Walk at the University of Arkansas. Senior Walk is a listing of the graduates (about 140,000 total currently) for each year etched in the sidewalks going across the campus in Fayetteville. It's rather unique.

Earlier this week, reporter Chris Branam and I went out to the campus to talk with officials on the deterioration and planned solutions for the older sections and the story ran in today's paper.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/18/11--
Senior Walk on the Fayetteville campus of the University of Arkansas on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011, east of the Old Main entrance



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/18/11--
A crack cuts through names listed on the 1880 Senior Walk on the Fayetteville campus of the University of Arkansas on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011, including John N. Tillman (center), the first graduate to serve as president of the university.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/18/11--
Jay Huneycutt, campus planning and capital programming director, looks over the 1896 Senior Walk on the Fayetteville campus of the University of Arkansas on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011, outside Old Main.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/18/11--
Cracked concrete separates the 1907 and 1908 Senior Walk on the Fayetteville campus of the University of Arkansas on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011.

Back to school

Well, it's back-to-school time here in Northwest Arkansas. So here's a couple photos from the first day back at Holcomb Elementary School (Monday) in Fayetteville and also a few from move-in at the University of Arkansas (Sunday). I also threw in a couple pics from an Ultimate tournament that I shot for some wild art on Sunday as well.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/15/11--
Roberto Garcia holds onto his son, Gael Garcia, 6, while the pair says their "goodbyes" on Gael's first day of first grade on Monday, Aug. 15, 2011, at Holcomb Elementary School in Fayetteville. Students at many Northwest Arkansas schools returned to classes on Monday to begin the 2011-12 school year.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/15/11--
Joannie Hance watches as her son Parker Hance, 5, hangs his backpack on his hook to start his first day of kindergarten on Monday, Aug. 15, 2011, at Holcomb Elementary School in Fayetteville. Students at many Northwest Arkansas schools returned to classes on Monday to begin the 2011-12 school year.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/14/11--
University of Arkansas freshman Mary-Beth McGarity, 18, of Sheridan unloads her belongings into a parking space in the lot outside Reid Residence Hall on the Fayetteville campus on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011. Classes begin for the university on Aug. 22.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/14/11--
Jon Lezon (from left), helps Kevin Kaminski, 19, and his son, Luke Lezon, 18, all of Flower Mound, Texas, move belongings while riding the elevator in Maple Hill West Residence Hall on the Fayetteville campus on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011. Classes begin for the university on Aug. 22.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/14/11--
University of Arkansas freshman Kevin Kaminski, 19, of Flower Mound, Texas, pulls boxes of belongings through the entrance to Maple Hill West Residence Hall on the Fayetteville campus on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011. Classes begin for the university on Aug. 22.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/14/11--
University of Arkansas freshman and volunteer Abigail Rose of Rogers helps direct other freshman in the move-in process in the lot outside Reid Residence Hall on the Fayetteville campus on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011. Classes begin for the university on Aug. 22.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/14/11--
University of Arkansas graduate student and volunteer Daniel Byram helps carry items for incoming freshmen in the lot outside Reid Residence Hall on the Fayetteville campus on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011. Classes begin for the university on Aug. 22.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/14/11--
Nick Welch-Bolen (left) of Fayetteville tries to defend as Casey Hooper of Fayetteville leaps to make a grab during an Ultimate tournament game between "Nick & the Beanstalks" (green) and "Pank" (pink) at Walker Park on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011. The eight-team tournament is the culmination of the eight-week summer league for the Fayetteville Disc Association.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/14/11--
Todd "Toad" Erickson (left) of Fayetteville makes a catch for a score over Sam Borgstadt of Fayetteville during an Ultimate tournament game between "Nick & the Beanstalks" (green) and "Pank" (pink) at Walker Park on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011. The eight-team tournament is the culmination of the eight-week summer league for the Fayetteville Disc Association.

IT'S ALIIIIIIIVE!!!!

Well, after nearly a year being buried six feet deep, this blog is being resurrected. I'm not saying I'll be posting daily. But I hope to at least have a "best of the week" post. With that being said, this return post is just that. For those of you that are friends of mine on Facebook, I'll always post on there when I make a new post to the blog. If you're new to reading this blog, you'll often see me use the term "wild art." These are just fun little "slices of life" feature photos from around the area.

Most in this post are wild art. But as for the Dinosaur World photos, a small roadside theme park near the Beaver Lake Dam which operated from 1960 until 2005. The 65-acre park features about 50 life-sized concrete dinosaurs. And fire (suspected arson) destroyed the main building which housed a restaurant and gift shop. Although I've driven by the park anytime I've gone out to the dam, I hate that the park closed before I moved out here. Just the nostalgia in me, I suppose.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/07/11--
UA football practice
quarterback Tyler Wilson during practice on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/07/11--
Doug Kinsey of Fayetteville patches a crack to prepare for painting underneath the awning separating the outdoor tennis courts at the George M. Billingsley Tennis Complex on the Fayetteville campus of the University of Arkansas on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011. Kinsey and his brother, Blake Kinsey, both of Eckco, Inc. in Fayetteville, have an expected completion of painting both the indoor and outdoor courts by Aug. 15.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/07/11--
Jake Bilderback, 13, of Huntsville carries a bag of ice on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011, to his grandfather, Carl Bilderback of Tontitown, while helping his grandparents set up their concession trailers for the 113th annual Tontitown Grape Festival. Carl and his wife, Debbie, with C&D Concessions, have six different food and drink trailers staged on the grounds for the festival which runs Tuesday through Saturday.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/07/11--
Nina-Rose Stephenson, 7, waits for customers at the Fayetteville Farmers' Market at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011. Nina-Rose was helping her mother, Amye Stephenson, both of Berryville, sell peaches and nectarines from A&A Orchards in Berryvile.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/08/11--
Paris Middle School secretary Vicki Furstenberg maneuvers the ropes course behind Paris High School on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Paris Middle principal Martha Dodson led the faculty on the ropes course as part of team-building exercises to prepare for the upcoming school year. Students return to classes on Wednesday, Aug. 17.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/09/11--
Shannon Banks-Yocom of Bella Vista helps Leah Scheele, 4, of Bella Vista on her stroke during the Bella Vista Junior Sports Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011, at the Kingsdale tennis courts in Bella Vista. The three-day camp, presented by Bella Vista Community Church, exposed about 60 children to tennis, basketball, volleyball and Bible stories.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/09/11--
A caveman sculpture guarding the entrance to the closed Dinosaur World is seen on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011, near Beaver Lake. The building was destroyed by fire last week.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/09/11--
The charred remains of the building at the closed Dinosaur World is seen on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011, near Beaver Lake. The building was destroyed by fire last week.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/10/11--
Selia Perez (left), 9, watches as her brother, Cody Lunsford, 6, both of Springdale gets his hair trimmed by Anna Gail Thompson on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011, inside the House of Hope Rescue Mission in Springdale. Thompson, who works at JR's Salon in Springdale, was offering free "back-to-school" haircuts at the center free of charge.



Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER --08/10/11--
Jordi Castro (left), 8, pushes Amber Mate, 7, both of Rogers, across the floor during a relay race during the Rogers Activity Center's Summer Day Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011. This is the last week of the camp as students return to classes at Rogers Public Schools on Monday (AUG. 15).