So Long...

The last post was my 100th post on this blog. And this will be my last. For the two people and a few dogs and cats that read this I'm moving to greener pastures, called WordPress. To be short nicer looking blogs, better interface and other nerdy stuff like that. So thanks for reading this one, but please make sure to read the new one, I hope to pour more effort into the new one, showing more pictures, writing more posts, as opposed to just some snaps a little text. Time for a fresh new start.

johnnysimon.wordpress.com

The Kid Pt. 2

The Kid Pt. 2, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Removing his pants before beginning a set with his band The Sad Bastards at the Smiling Skull Saloon.

The Kid

The Kid, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

The Kid, an Athens, Ohio musician, local character and all around nice guy. This Saturday he hosted the second annual Gun and Knife Show, a benefit that showcased many local musicians.

Look for a piece about the show and the Athens music scene in the upcoming re-release of Soul of Athens later this month.

Mexico 2

Mexico 2, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Puebla.

Old City, beautiful city, delicious (food-wise) city. Many bright walls.

Mexico 1

Mexico 1, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Slowly going through all the film I shot in Mexico. 5 rolls Kodak 160VC

I was there for about a week with my girlfriend and her family who took me along. No Cancun or Cozumel here. Mostly cities, and one small beach town. Lovely food, beautiful architecture, and terrible, crippling traffic.

Here's one shot from leaving Mexico City. The elusive empty street.

Saturday

Saturday, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

It's very nice to be back at school.

From a party this weekend.

Jesty Beatz Show

Jesty Beatz Show, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Ohio University's own hip hop star came back to Athens for a show at 19 South this Friday. As much I don't listen to his music, and have never been to this bar (I would say it is slightly notorious) the show was mostly enjoyable. After entering the door, it seemed like this would be something difficult to shoot. The size and density of the crowd was overwhelming to say the least. At times like this I find it almost best to completely tune everything out and realize you are there to make a picture, you need to do what you're there to do, don't let the sweaty drunken masses get in the way of that. Despite a lens that wouldn't stop fogging up I managed to get some alright shots and call it a night.

Hostage Situation

Hostage Situation, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Jeez what a let down.

At around 7 last night there was a call about a hostage situation in a Nashua neighborhood. What had happened was a murder fugitive from Florida had made his way up north and was squatting at someone's house (relation wasn't clear). When I arrived that situation was pretty much diffused. The SWAT team had thrown tear gas into the house and were able to arrest him. What I ended up seeing was people not being allowed back into their houses. They hadn't been able to go back into their houses (some still had their stove's on) for four hours. What I happened to come upon was a bunch of cold people patiently waiting. Not as juicy a story as I had thought.

"I fell in love with a female assassin"

From the UK newspaper The Independent, via PDNPulse

Photojournalist Jason P. Howe writes about his experience documenting the FARC and the paras in Columbia, and how his lover ultimately became as violent and entrenched in war as the people he set out to document. An astonishing read.

"Watching her take the pistol from her belt, unbutton her jeans and slip into bed I somehow couldn't quite equate the woman in my arms with the bodies I had seen in the local morgue, their heads shattered by gunshots at close range, murders she confessed to having committed. High on a combination of the heady tropical climate, local rum, grade A cocaine and in the arms of nubile 22-year-old, fantasy and reality became blurred. It felt like I was living in a Quentin Tarantino movie."

Full text here

By the river.

By the river., originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Another one from the river today. This was my first spot news assignment in awhile. For the last few months, when I'm called to a breaking news event its usually a car accident or fire in the middle of the night. This time I spent two hours in the middle of the day watching the entire story unfold. For an hour...nothing. Not a word from the EMS, police, or firefighters. It was a good deal of waiting from something to happen. The woman in this shot kind of just showed up. No real explanation. There were some others like her as well. One guy even owns a police scanner and just goes when he hears something interesting. Like some weird blood lust. Do they just want to see a dead body? I was judging then in my head a lot but then I realized I was kind of doing the exact same thing. It's good to keep things in perspective and think about how to separate yourself from the gawking masses.

By the river.

By the river., originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Emergency workers suiting up a diver to retrieve a body from the Merrimack River in Nashua.

Discarded Bread

Discarded Bread, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

A quick snap walking home from lunch today.

Drum Stick Guys

Drum Stick Guys, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Goal!

Goal!, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Helvetica

What could be more boring than a documentary about fonts? If it was about the minutiae that only a type designer could understand, than yes it would be quite boring. But what if it was about the font that is so ubiquitous in our visual culture that some designers consider it the type equivalent to air?

Helvetica, a documentary released by Red Envelope (Netflix's distribution company) focus on the creation, usage, praise and rejection of Helvetica, the ever present san-serif that can be seen in the logos for countless corporations and brands. Watch this movie alone just to get a kick out of the fact that Target, American Airlines, Crate and Barrel, the Gap, the IRS, EPA, the NYC Subway and countless other governments, corporations and designers are using the exact same font.

Why?

Because it works. One of the most interesting things I heard was one designer saying that some fonts only make you feel one way. They are overly designed to communicate only one emotion, but the success of Helvetica is its universal nature and in essence can communicate anything you want to. From clean, comforting design to crushing bureaucracies, it has been used to communicate and helped usher in a new age of modernism and simplicity in design.

One of the most interesting parts was on the rejection of Helvetica. Some dismissed it as simply boring, while Paula Scher saw Helvetica as a supporter of the Vietnam and Iraq war. An image of corporate conformity that strangles creativity.

But then again, the film shows that ironically, corporate conformity is only one of its uses. Its a blank slate that can be shifted and molded to fit whatever message people have. As I find myself more interested in design this was truly an eye opening film. To watch this then go out on the street, it's as if you're looking a the world with a completely different set of eyes.

Robot Competition

Robot Competition, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Robot Competition

Robot Competition, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Playoff season is here...

hollis_prelim3.jpg, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Bow senior Marc Simpson attempts a shot against Hollis-Brookline in a preliminary game in Hollis Thursday, February 28. The Cavaliers defeated Bow in a game that included over 60 fouls. The team will now advance to the Class I quarter-finals at UNH this Sunday.

Playoff Season is here...

hollis_prelim2.jpg, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Bow senior Marc Simpson attempts a shot against Hollis-Brookline in a preliminary game in Hollis Thursday, February 28. The Cavaliers defeated Bow in a game that included over 60 fouls. The team will now advance to the Class I quarter-finals at UNH this Sunday.

Quarter Finals

Quarter Finals, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Campbell High School fans react to a referee call in the Cougar's game against Hillsboro-Deering in Plymouth Sunday February 24.

Winter Carnival

Winter Carnival, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Merrimack, NH

I got to walk on a frozen lake today. Two months here and that was still something I had yet to do. Mission Accomplished.

Retirement Home Ball Room

Retirement Home Ball Room, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Merrimack senior Meagan Finken dances with junior Steve Everitt at the Courville Nursing Home in Nashua Thursday February 21. The Merrimack High School Dance Club entertained the nursing home residents with a sampling of dance styles both old and new.

Martial Arts

ap_MG_1844_tone.jpg, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

I did a quick multimedia piece on a local martial arts instructor yesterday (still editing) which I'll post soon. This is a little side action that won't make it into the final cut.

Cabbies

Cabbies, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Mike Kilduff, of Nashua, is a cab driver who frequently works the late shift, picking up many people leaving bars and night clubs. Compared to a normal nine-to-five job, Kilduff loves what he does. On driving a cab, he said that "it's one of the most interesting jobs I've every had...cause it always changes."

Teenage Hillary Volunteer

Teenage Hillary Volunteer, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Since graduating from Alvirne High School last month, seventeen-year-old Matt Lavigueur of Hudson has committed his time and energy to the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. He campaigned for the senator in the New Hampshire primary as well as in the most recent Massachusetts primary. "If you want to see some crazy stuff you should join a campaign," he said about his many hours calling voters and campaigning door to door.

Teenage Hillary Volunteer

Teenage Hillary Volunteer, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Swim Championships

Swim Championships, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Swim Championships

Swim Championships, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Swim Championships

Swim Championships, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Small Town Politicin'

Small Town Politicin', originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

New Hampshire: A Look Back

Since it's Super Tuesday and the race is getting smaller every day...let's look back the campaign season, only a month ago. Remember a month ago? Fred Thompson? Bill Richardson? Who were they? Here's a little gem I found from NY comedian Eugene Mirman.

Arena Football

Arena Football, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

I went to cover the open tryouts for the Manchester Wolves arena football team yesterday afternoon. I was expecting some sort of scrappy little tryout, kind of like a grown up Bad News Bears, but it was mostly guys in their mid-late 20s and some pushing their mid thirties. One kid was even my age (20). I was shooting for a multimedia piece that was supposed to run today, but it seems the Telegraph's trusty online staff forgot to put it up.

whole story: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080203/NEWS01/804624466/0/SPORTS09d

Giants Fan.

Giants Fan., originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

It's odd to find a Giants fan in these parts.

Basketball Practice

Basketball Practice, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Been in a bit of a lull here recently, Here's a shot form a practice I shot.

Went skiing yesterday with Yoon and Noah up north. Having not been in a long time (about 6-7 years) it was such a great time. We're going to try and do it somewhat weekly. Knowing how much I would probably fall down (and I did, a bunch) I left my digital camera at home and took my old film body along. I'd like to get that roll developed and scanned as soon a possible, whenever that may be.

With all that said, I am very sore this morning.

Swimming Pool

Swimming Pool, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Humane Society

Humane Society, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

From an assignment today about a new batch of puppies that came into the local animal shelter.

Romney HQ (Peace before the scrum)

Romney HQ, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

2nd Place Mitt

Romney in 2nd place., originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Mitt Romney came in second in the New Hampshire Primary tonight. And overall it wasn't too eventful, he's still high on confidence and so are his supporters. I even walked past one person saying "He WILL be the next President of the United States" will so much certainty is was scary.

My day wasn't that busy, but the 15 (or less) I spent shooting his speech was crazy. I think I spend a few hundred frames snapping away like mad. If I covered more of these things I'm sure I would have more control, but I might not see politics like this for years, so I made my time worthwhile and shot as much as I could.

Rewind

img_1306_tone.jpg, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

A shot from last week on New Years Eve.

Today is the New Hampshire Primary. I don't know if this is going to be the craziest day ever or business as usual.

Pictures to come, I'll be posted at Mitt Romney headquarters tonight. It seems his edge is lessening, many news organizations are projecting a McCain win in New Hampshire. We'll see.

Peggy Smith Funeral

Peggy Smith Funeral, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Brenda Murphy of Milford, NH sings along with the congregation during a gospel song at the funeral of Rev. Peggy Smith at Grace Fellowship Church in Nashua on Saturday January 5, 2008.

Young Obama Volunteer

Young Obama Volunteer, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

"Thirteen-year-old campaign volunteer Madeline Novin of Nashua waits for a Barack Obama event to begin at Nashua High School North on Saturday January 5, 2008. She is one of many area teens who will be unable to vote in the primaries and general election, but remain interested and active in the political process."

It's been a good few days. I got to cover the beginning of an Obama event today and for fun I photographed the rally outside the New Hampshire Primary Debate this evening where I later lost my keys in the snow (I found them!) Tomorrow it's Hillary and maybe something Monday and Tuesday I'm on Romney detail.

It's crazy up here...cameras and journalists everywhere. Tonight Noah and I got some food after a cold evening's worth of photography and simply watched the debate and laughed at all the madness that we're surrounded by. More pictures to come.

Bill Richardson

Bill Richardson, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Former Definitely Current New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson at a campaign stop at Leda's Lanes Bowling Alley in Nashua, NH.

Kucinich

Kucinich, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Dennis Kucinich at a house party in Milford, NH

Tarmac

img_1460_tone.jpg, originally uploaded by Johnny Simon.

Logan Airport, Boston, MA