Kucinich Supporters

Kucinich Supporters, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

I am back!

I'm now snug and secure in Nashua, New Hampshire interning at the Nashua Telegraph. So far work has been slow, only two assignments, buts once the Iowa Caucus is over, New Hampshire is going to be even more inundated with politicians and the media. I'm excited to be part of such an important and unique election, this is really one of the most diverse and crowded elections (candidate wise) the US has had in decades.

As of right now, there's no clear leader on either side of the aisle so it seems each candidate is really pushing it into overdrive to garner any kind of support they can. I saw a Keith Bedford photo recently of Huckabee doing the whole "I'll wear camo and orange vest and look like a hunter too!" sort of deal. It seemed desperate, but it happens every four years and I can't wait to capture these important (or silly) moments myself. I'll be sure to keep you posted over the next week.

This photo is from a Kucinich house party in Milford, NH. He was speaking, and this family looked quite tired. His campaign is quite inspiring. Very grass roots, diverse in age and unabashedly optimistic. Its a fiercely competitive campaign and New Hampshire is a fiercely independent state. I have a feeling it just might pan out for Mr. Kucinich at the polls on January 8th.

Thanksgiving

_mg_9650_tone.jpg, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

A long overdue post, lots of photos have been sitting on my computer for awhile.

This is of my brothers during Thanksgiving at a family friend's house on the Chester River in Maryland.

More to come.

Leaving

Leaving, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Union Arts

Union Arts, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Lowell Jacobs is the owner of Union Arts arts space in Athens.

Purple

Purple, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

I have a love affair with the light at the Smiling Skull Saloon in Athens. Whenever I'm there the mood is just right. About a year ago I made a photo from a similar angle under the same light but with different people. As creative rut or just me revisiting my old haunts?

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Kids before the big Halloween block party

Back on the horse.

Mayoral Debate, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

A lot of what I've shot this quarter has been speakers in fluorecent light. Blame a really busy quarter in school, blame me, blame the photography gods.

For some reason tonight I could feel (pardon the really lame imagery) a new wave coming. I suddenly feel more motivated than I have in the last few weeks. Expect better work from me soon.

This shot is from the Athens City Mayoral Debate. Two candidates are two older guys from town. The guy in them middle is an Ohio University student (photography major no less). He's in way over his head.

Halloween in Athens

Halloween in Athens, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

10. 26. 2007

Halloween Party

Athens Ohio.

Cole Ranze

Cole Ranze, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

A portrait of Cole Ranze, who was photographed during the very first Eddie Adams Workshop 20 years ago. In the shot, when he was three years old, he was wearing clown make-up and had a toothpick in his mouth. We did a recreation of the original portrait.

Bob Woodward at OU

Bob Woodward at OU, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bob Woodward speaks at a press conference in Ohio University's Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday, October 3, 2007. Woodward was on campus to give a public lecture and receive the Scripps School of Journalism's Carr Van Anda Award.

SDS Rally

SDS Rally, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

OU Sophomore Paul Loomis leads a march from the Civil War Monument on the OU campus towards Cutler Hall, where he planned to meet with administrators.

Glove Hat

Glove Hat, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Demo Derby 2

_MG_5207_tone.jpg, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Demo Derby

_MG_5341_tone.jpg, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Albany Independent Fair

Albany, OH

Back in Athens

_MG_5042_tone.jpg, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Posting for the first time in a while. I'm back at school ready to start another year. This is my shirtless housemate Craig during a late afternoon bike ride.

American Legion 2

American Legion 2, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

This guy had just been taken out of the game in the 9th inning because his arm started hurting.

American Legion Baseball (and my thoughts on sports)

American Legion 3, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

I was sent today to cover an American Legion baseball game that had a team from our area playing the state playoffs. I hadn't covered sports in a long time, let alone one as difficult to shoot as baseball.

It should be said, that I don't love to shoot sports. I've found that people who like to shoot sports just so happen like to watch sports too. And that is totally understandable. To me, football is all spectacle, basketball kinda gives me a headache (it just doesn't stop) and golf is...well its golf.

I've also found that my sentiments are shared within my group of friends. There's no personal interaction with your subjects. You just sit and watch a game, to me (and many others I know) its passive and devoid of what many enter the field of photojournalism to do.

But many people I know who do sports, do them very well. And they do it because they truly love it. And if thats the case, I'm all for it. It just isn't for me.

I've shot a good amount of basketball, and a little football, but very little baseball. Football and basketball have a good linear motion to them, a progression that you can follow and adjust too easily. Baseball, I've found...doesn't. Out of all sports its probably my favorite, and I like to watch it, but its terribly hard to shoot. Not to mention the lens I was using was a borrowed manual focus 300 2.8. Despite the heat, a little sunburn, technical setback and an overall lack of knowledge of how to shoot this game, I walked away with a few frames I liked.

This is after Mike Kerdock (#24) hit a home run and his team met him at home plate to congratulate him. The bat boy wanted a piece of the action too. This was the team I was not sent to cover. They beat the team from my area 18-4. Ouch.

Ballet

Ballet 4, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

I was sent to cover a rehearsal for a local ballet troupe's production of "Macbeth" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" The lighting was all florescent, but it was bright where I needed it and overall I'm glad with how the shoot turned out.

Man Man behind the scenes.

Here's a little video taken from Pitchfork about one of my favorite bands, Man Man. It's awesome to see a bit of the creative process of such a talented and out of this world band.

Roy's Place

NightlifeZ072507_d, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

From a feature story I shot last night. Roy's Place, in Gaithersburg, Md has an open jazz jam session every Sunday night as a way to entice customers to come to a not so great part of town. They welcome any professionals or talented amateurs to come play. The man on the left is the band leader, the man on the right is a psychologist.

Cure Autism Now

From a freelance assignment on the 4th. The Cure Autism Now Fun Run in Potomac, MD

The past week or so.

Here's a smattering of shots from the last few days.


Rooftop hangout:


The Lady:


My best friend is home from Russia:

And I'm back...

After a good while of doing not a whole lot on the work end, I shot an assignment for Education Week, a weekly newspaper read in almost every K-12 school in America. My assignment? Go to one of the most powerful judicial bodies in the world, wait for a verdict in a landmark civil rights case, and make cool pictures. My editor literally told me to just try and make some "funky" images. I couldn't have been happier with this assignment when i was first asked to do it. A few hours in the sun, later I a few images in kinda dig.

Revisted

Today I spent time with Brian Rigg, a cemetery caretaker, and his girlfriend Cindy. I did a story on them last quarter for my class. It was a transport back a few months and its odd to think the person I was only back in February. I feel that I've grown a considerable amount this year at school. As this year comes to a close its good to reflect and revisit some old chapters.
Cindy has begun to start start a garden, mostly pumpkins and melons. As I was driving up, the irony hit me instantly. Grown next to decay.

Here's Brian

They watch a lot of TV.

Matt's Gettin' Married.

Kidnapped from Melissa's birthday.

Dith Pran

OU hosted Dith Pran, a Cambodian journalist who reported during the Vietnam war and survived the deadly Khmer Rouge regime that brought on the deaths of1.5 million of its own people.

Warm Days

Prom Weekend

Risa at home.

Bible Thumper

Brother Micah, a preacher known around the country for his confrontational views on religion descended on Athens today. He said everything from marijuana smokers are sorcerers to all Muslims are terrorists to Mother Theresa is currently in hell. Needless to say he drew quite a crowd.

Clarksburg, WV

On the way home this weekend

SDS Taping

SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) wrapped police tape around the Civil War Memorial on the Ohio University campus to protest the so-called "Free Speech Zones" on campus, i.e. predetermined, specific places where organization can hold public gatherings, protests ect.

Cucumbers

vegetables.

Chairs

A scan from my Rolleiflex

Risa Holga

A shot from a roll of film I ran through my Holga.

American Landscape

Stacy Hall's Farm

Shade, OH

20th Post

So to celebrate.....a dog.

Rob

He asked for a picture.

Softball

Our intermural team is kicking some ass.

I got a new camera...

I've made the switch from Nikon to Canon and I am very happy with the results. Here are some shots from my new 30D. I've mostly been shooting my friends for the last day or so.