Signing Day, Honestly.

My first shoot for the Chicago Tribune, where I am interning this summer, was about those high school football stars whose dreams do not always become reality.  Its signing day, but those signatures do not guarantee spots and scholarships, if the athlete's academics don't come through.  Interestingly, I just finished watching Hoop Dreams, a documentary that follows two Chicago high school basketball stars through the same type of academic and personal struggle to get college athletic scholarships.  Its becoming an even more common story with the ever increasing NCAA academic requirements.  Darius Moffett was kind enough to let us tell his story.   

The story and photos ran front page, A1:

Daddy Daughter Dance

This assignment for the N&O was very touching for me.  I was truly sad not to have my own dad there, because we have such a strong relationship.  I hope these dads and their daughters can find a similarly strong relationship as they grow up.

Raw "First Look" gallery of the event is here on N&O's website.

Natalie and Lance Schloot share a piece of cake at the Triangle Father Daughter Dance in Raleigh, N.C. on Saturday February 2, 2013.

Orthopedic surgeons at the Daddy Daughter Dance.

Lauren Bussey, 3, shares an apple with Grady Bussey, who says he is "over 3," while driving him around town in her hot new sports car.

Hunter Gerard, 9, gets shocked back into life.

Magic shoes inside a magic ship.

Callie Fillard, 3, fell overboard.

Security guards and people in cages.  Something is gettin' fishy about this dance.

Izabela Harrison, 7, watches the dance from high above.

Cupcakes and Skateboards

Below is a handful of frames from my first assignment work for the N&O.  Just trying to get warmed up and back on my feet shooting community events.  I met some really great people and even ran into a lady that I found and photographed on election night in the fall.  It was great to see her again.  The sense of community and unexpected friendships that I have developed as a photojournalist move me every time I go out and shoot.

The article is here.

The raw "first look" take is here.  

Don Henson tries to land a trick in Durham Central Park's Skatepark on Saturday Jan. 27, 2013.

Don Henson laughs after he fell attempting an advanced trick on his skateboard in Durham Central Park on Sunday Jan. 27, 2012.

Jamal Evans skates again for the first time in a few years.

Pablo Scolnik sells dog treats from his truck at the food truck rodeo in Durham Central Park on Sunday Jan. 27, 2013.  The profits go to Paws 4 Ever animal shelter.  

Sherri Mcare hands Talia Mcare a cupcake that they purchased from Stacey Lovelace at the Durham Food Truck Rodeo on Sunday Jan. 27, 2013. 

Alli Boksleitner picks up the last cupcake that she and her father, Rowland Boksleitner sold at the Durham Food Truck Rodeo on Sunday Jan. 27, 2013.  Rowland said that they did not expect such a large crowd, because the weather had promised to be unpredictable, so they ran out of cupcakes early.  

Marcus and his Car

I decided to put together a running blog of my intern adventures with the News and Observer this spring and with the Chicago Tribune this summer.  This will include photos from there and also updates on long term projects I am working on.

Marcus O'Loughlin looks past his fenced in play area, designated for children with autism, to the children outside.  This is an outtake from the story World Within Our Own

Marcus and a classmate in his autism-specific classroom long to be outside playing with the others.