The Draw of the Lens

"If both feet are on the ground, it's not a shot," and during my fall quarter at UC, I took my first photojournalism class. Those words were never spoken in that classroom. Nothing spectacular, just an introduction to the photographers by whom I am already inspired and learning the basics of the camera. No shooting, no editing. I was able to come away with so much from that class after reading the text, especially in the area of what it takes to truly be a photojournalist. It put a spin on everything I had ever known, and it actually made me question what in the world I wanted to do with photography, and why I was interested in the first place.
I had been shooting long before this class, and I'm still shooting now in anticipation of my first techniques class. Moreso than sitting at a desk, listening to a professor ramble, I have recently found more inspiration ever, in the form of the internship given to me by GoBearcats.com. I was approached by the university's sports communications office, and the rest is history. I cannot say how much I love what I'm doing now. If I have ever been sure that sports photography was something that I wanted to make a career, that time is now. Currently, I shoot men's and women's basketball, and in late winter/early spring, I am very, very excited to start shooting Bearcats baseball. The opportunity itself is amazing and is helping me accomplish the feat of three internships before I graduate, but the experience is what I find most satisfying.
I scroll through my pictures since the day I bought my DSLR until today and I cannot believe how much my photography has changed and improved. Gradually throughout the baseball season I can see myself developing and the eye growing stronger for what will make an incredible composition. But looking from September to now, I have taken the biggest leap. The things I have to owe it to are the fact that I can sit, game after game, on the sides of the court practicing and learning what will work and what will not. I have fairly beginner lenses, which I believe has helped make me stronger. When you don't have all the equipment in the world you have to learn to make it work with what you have and I've done exactly that. Dim lighting and sports action with a slow shutter speed and not a very wide aperture has caused me to look for what will make the shot and catch that exactly. Timing and sight. That's what makes the shot for me. But the biggest impact of all, has been from the few times I have worked with Brett Hansbauer. Brett has experience all across the board, and is also UC's contract photographer. Some of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten have been given to me by him.
"If both feet are on the ground, it's not a shot," spoken by Brett.
That has got to be one of the simplest, yet wisest things I have ever heard. I took it to heart and I can't believe how much it has helped. Looking back at some of things I took during the Reds season make me wonder, "What the hell is that!?" Everything I have learned has only reaffirmed my love for photography and makes me so excited for baseball to roll around...

Brace Yourself, Bearcats

At this point, I feel like Brian Kelly has all but picked out a piece of real estate in South Bend. He may have for all we know. But what I do know, is that I'm getting ready to face the fact that he may never be back on the Nippert sidelines, and leading the Bearcats out of the tunnel at the Sugar Bowl. Donning some Notre Dame navy in a possibility of 72 hours, the Bearcats could have a new Fearless Leader.
Ultimately, do I want Brian Kelly to stay in Cincinnati? Absolutely. He has been a major key to the university accomplishing things it's never done before. He has helped us find our way to two BCS Championship games, two back-to-back Big East titles, and filled Nippert Stadium to the brim in many consecutive games. Not to mention, an undefeated 2009. He is a great coach. It's obvious. He will always be seen as a great coach, but in Cincinnati he'll soon be the great "coach that was." Enjoy the memories we had.
Now, I'm not pushing him out the door, but I'm saying all indicators point to the greener grass at Notre Dame. The main factor I think will play into this decision? Money. Notre Dame is any football coach's dream job. Notre Dame is all about the legacy, years and years of excellence. Notre Dame is the pinnacle of NCAA football. And sure enough, they will most likely shell out any amount of money to bring in wins. Their key to bringing in wins is landing BK. I wouldn't blame him for wanting to go. He goes down in the books as a head coach at Notre Dame. Who wouldn't want that on their resume? At the same time, Notre Dame is also not the school to boost your career if you're a college head coach. Notre Dame expects perfection. If Brian Kelly gives them anything less than that, he'll be a has-been coach in a matter of five years. His genius, his talent, in my opinion cannot be appreciated at a school where winning is all that matters. He will not be appreciated. The continuation of their legacy is what is important, and he is their stepping stone to reach that point. He is only a means by which to achieve their goal.
Since I am pro-BK in Cincinnati, I can honestly find so many more reasons for him to stay. He has made this program more than just a stepping stone. If he leaves, then that statement is completely retracted. We have risen above to stand with the best of the best, we're playing the defending National Champions for crying out loud! When did you ever imagine you would look up on a screen and see a C-Paw versus a Florida Gator. I'll tell you - NEVER. It's overwhelming to see but it's a constant reminder of how good this team that Brian Kelly has led truly is. We are able to compete with the teams built on legacy. We were built on faith. Faith from fans in our team, in our program and in our coach. Kelly is a god here. He is cherished and honored. What he has done has influenced people to donate money to a new practice complex for goodness sake. Which brings me to this - who says we can't be a BCS school? We've made it to a BCS bowl game two years in a row. A Big East school. Who says we can't be the new kid on the block who is going to stick around for years to come? Any college football fan cannot tell me that they want to see OSU, Oklahoma, and Florida in the bowl games year, after year, after year. It's like the Yankees for me. Repetitiveness causes less competition and less excitement in any sport. Why couldn't we become the new in-demand team? A legacy starts somewhere. It could be starting right here, right now in Cincinnati.
How long Coach Kelly could keep a job in South Bend? With the history of past coaches, it might not be long. Kelly could have a lifetime job here. He could have a statue on this campus. He is loved and appreciated here. Hello - someone took the time to write "Please Stay BK" in the snow on the football field. Could there be a more desperate plea? I want him to be here. I want him to see this team through the Sugar Bowl, and through many more years of successful Big East Championships. I want UC to become a dominant force in NCAA football. A respected and highly honorable team. After Kelly's possible departure, it will be hard for me, I'll admit it. I'm not bandwagon. I've been a UC fan and destined to be a Bearcat since before I can remember, and I've been attending games since the age of 13 or 14, watching losing team after losing team in the Conference USA days and the early Big East days. I'll always be a Bearcat, but this will be a very bitter moment for me just as the departure of Huggins was. I'll get through it. Will I forget it? No. If Brian Kelly wants to go, by all means go. I'm done with rumors, I'm done with speculation, get it over with, UC needs to get a new coach, and continue doing what we do best these days - winning. I believe these boys are going to succeed and show you exactly what you could be leaving, BK.

Sights and Sounds in the Life of a Soxsider

Da Bears, da Bulls, Giordano’s pizza, and Navy Pier. All essential staples to the identity of the great American city that is Chicago. But to gain a real sense and experience of the people and culture of Chicago, you have to witness a Major League baseball game. If you’re one of those fans that says, “You’re from this city. You should root for each team to succeed for it’s your hometown,” try stating that to a true Chicago baseball fanatic. Wrigleyville and the Southside are two very different worlds. Get a passport before you cross the border.

I chose to start this endeavor by being a part of the South Sider Nation. My first trip to U.S. Cellular Field came in the summer of 2008, a long-awaited trip to see Josh Hamilton and the Rangers. This was not only my first American League ballpark, but also my first outside of Cincinnati. The stadium appeals to the eye from the outside, and the structure reminds me quite a bit of Great American, although it seats a few thousand more. As for the name, I still heard whispers of “New Comiskey Park” rather than anything U.S. Cellular.

I arrived far too early for the gates to be open, so I wandered around the Southside to catch some of its ambiance. A few blocks south of the park is a Chicago sports store called “The Grandstand.” Walking in there with opposing team apparel on isn’t a great conversation starter, but it was interesting to see what the employees of this family-owned business had to say. The biggest piece of conversation that can be discussed in Chicago White Sox history always comes back to Shoeless Joe Jackson. This specific man, and for whatever reason I can’t recall his name, praises Shoeless Joe. He is Chicago’s Pete Rose. When we notified him that we were Cincinnati natives, the comparison of Rose and Joe was inevitable. The people of Chicago believe that Pete Rose should never be in the Hall of Fame as long as Shoeless Joe is not admitted either. He reigns as baseball royalty in the Southside.

I have since this visit been to U.S. Cellular again, this time in miserably cold weather, to once again see the Rangers. The stadium itself holds much charm both as a welcoming venue for any fan, and as a sanctuary for “Soxsiders.” Across the street is a parking lot where Comiskey once stood, and a plaque remains where home plate was placed. Just outside the main entrance is the White Sox Champions Brick Plaza with a tribute memorial to the 2005 World Series. Inside the park there are various murals, and on the outfield plaza stand sculptures of ChiSox greats such as Carlton Fisk, Nellie Fox, and Luis Aparicio. Part of the old-world baseball charm can be experienced as they play, “Let’s go, Go-Go White Sox,” a fight song that originated in the late 1950s. You can’t help but either sing along, or be amazed at the masses of people that love this song.

White Sox fans are diehard, and in my opinion some of the most underrated fans in Major League baseball. As compared to the number of people that show up in the Queen City in forty degree weather, I was amazed. The pride in their team as they cheer on every single one of their players is astounding. Memories of the 2005 World Series hold strong, everyone still wearing jackets and hats that bear the word “champs” just as the banner in center field does. As far as hospitality measures, the self-proclaimed Soxsiders are far more welcoming than their northern counterparts. We’ll leave that be until I write about my trip to Wrigleyville.

U.S. Cellular Field may be a newer venue, but it is still home to a legion of fans loyal to, and the legacy of the Chicago White Stockings. It is definitely worth a stop on anyone’s ballpark tour.

The Start of It All, Riverfront

It’s such a shame and I honestly wish that I could remember more about the times that I spent at Riverfront Stadium. I always had admired it as a crucial part of my city’s skyline, a beautiful piece of architecture. I have vague memories back when an aerial shot of Ft. Washington Way was a tangled, webbed mess of tar, and Riverfront was home to not one, but two of Cincinnati’s teams. At this age, baseball was just another sign of summer, another thing that just happened with the changing of the seasons.

I was the kind of kid who wanted to go to the games because of an obsession with ballpark food, and of course being smitten the players. I could understand what was happening around me, but it wasn’t that I had an interest in following and appreciating the game the way I do now.

A specific game I can remember going to was before the construction of Great American Ballpark started. This was during the era in which price ranges for seats at the park were designated by their color, and we had garden seats. Seeing as they were tables in centerfield, closest to the designated spot for GABP, they were the first to go. I had all the food I could eat, and I remember getting the biggest thrills from the announcer, with his elongated and over-pronounced style of introducing Barry Larkin and Aaron Boone. I think it was then that I fell in love with baseball. Not yet the game, as that would take many more years, but the ambiance, the feeling it gave me to have a group of people all coming together for one single purpose.

In 1996 I got my first taste of sponsorship in baseball in my hometown, when Riverfront Stadium was renamed Cinergy Field. That’s also when I started to realize I had become pretty nostalgic at the age of eight. I could never bring myself to call it Cinergy, and I still can’t. Something about the corporations being involved in every aspect of the game anymore kills a bit of the old-world charm, don’t you think?

As a fifth grader, I had the privilege of taking a field trip downtown, and being given a tour of the stadium. I saw the Reds clubhouse, I sat in the dugout and the announcer’s booth, I saw marks on the stadium where the flood lines in 1997 reached, and finally I got to roam around the field wherever I wanted. Ran, cartwheeled, typical of an 11-year-old girl. The field was set up for the Bengals’ season, as this was before the creation of Paul Brown Stadium, and I stood in one end zone and stared to the top row of seats. I felt tiny, and enormous all at the same time. I thought to myself, “Is this what they feel like?” It was the biggest adrenaline rush. It was one of those days that you’ll always remember what you were wearing, how everything smelled.

In the final moments of a Riverfront stadium that still stood, I think I had realized something about this pastime had caught hold of me. I woke up early on December 29, 2002 to see the institution that held my first and only memories of baseball crumble to the ground. I wanted so badly to be there, but it may have been good that I wasn’t. I still have the recording of the implosion, and even to this day, it brings a tear to my eye just the same as it did that morning. I was 14. Riverfront fell at a ripe young age of 35, still a mystery to this day why they felt the need to build a new stadium. Maybe I should research it.

As much as I love Great American Ballpark, and as much as it has become my summer home and I know the park inside and out, I do miss Riverfront Stadium. I loved the way it looked coming around the bend on I-75 through Kentucky, and I thought the stadium’s construction was just stunning. It is ingrained in my head, and in many of other Cincinnatians. Memories of World Series passed, and a Super Bowl-worthy NFL team still exists, and can’t be forgotten with the falling of bricks.

Getting back on top of things, I hope

Since I took my news writing and reporting class back in winter quarter, I have slacked on writing absolutely anything. After learning everything this year I would really hate to lose it all by not putting anything out. I haven't picked up any news stories lately, but I am working a bunch of selections about my baseball experiences. You can look for those coming shortly. They may not be things I could publish, but at least it keeps me writing in my down time during the summer.
I'm officially half-way done with college. The last two years have gone pretty fast, and saying that I'm close to being done is a huge wake-up call to me to start getting things in order. I think I have finally decided on what path I would like to take as far as internships and my final goal for college go. I'm currently working on the news track at UC, with a minor in Spanish, with my eye on sports journalism after I graduate. Considering I am not a communications major, I am not allowed to receive a public relations certificate, but I'll take all the classes anyway. If I can conquer the news track early enough, I'm going to start working on the photojournalism track as well.
I don't know how all of the interests will merge into one career, but we'll see what unfolds. I'm hoping to find internships in the sports field, but that's quite a competitive area. In the meantime, I'm working on a lot of my photography this summer, and hopefully keeping up with this blog. We'll see how it all goes!

I'll Be Back Soon, I Promise

I'm running around like crazy with finals week coming up. Cannot wait for this quarter to be over, as it brought tons and tons of stress. I'm trying to get better about timeliness, and not wasting the free time that I have. And now that I mention it, if I was able to keep my room clean I think I would have a lot more free time on my hands, haha. I'm working on getting organized, the room renovations and furniture buying is finally finished. I'm very excited about things in store for me in the near future...new jobs, new school quarter, the summer!, and looking at internships for next year. I'll be a bit more attentive to this blog...I promise!

Change Doesn't Come from Washington, Rather Ben Self Helped Bring It to Washington

Soapbox Media, a Cincinnati website and e-zine, held their anniversary party last week to celebrate their first year in business. Local journalists and the members of Soapbox mingled over drinks and appetizers, while the highlight of the night, Ben Self, gave an impressionable speech that hits home for these journalists.
Ben Self is a founding member of Blue State Digital, a firm that focuses on technology and media for companies, non-profit organizations, and politicians. He had a hand in revamping the online abilities of the DNC and its voter file. Self gave a speech on the impact technology and interactivity had in Barack Obama’s election. Blue State Digital was a dominant force behind the online grassroots organization and support of Barack Obama. The abilities given to the public by the websites allowed for involvement in the campaign and donations as well. He stressed the importance of the internet in today’s business and economic world, and how its communication developments can be used to produce results never thought possible.
“This was fundamentally different than any other campaign,” said Self. “$770 million was raised for the campaign, over half a million of that raised online,” he continued.
Online donations totaled about $500 million, and on average the donations were less than $100 each.
Self stressed that the online media in recent years has been used to spread false rumors about people, and that candidates were no exception to this. He focused on how these same tools can be used to promote candidates in a positive light and reach out to the public, voters specifically.
“Through websites like mybarackobama.com, you can form a local group, and even move the events offline,” said Self.
Ben Self focused on the point of making it easy for users to interact, and that email is one of the most underestimated and important part of not only communicating, but this campaign. To make it easy on users you must, “Be authentic, be transparent, talk to people regularly, and be relevant.”
René Brunelle is a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati, and while studying, she interned for Soapbox Media. She now is a freelance writer for the ezine. Brunelle attended the anniversary party, and agrees with Ben Self’s ideas and attitude toward internet media.
“I would never have expected a website to have a big impact on an election, and quite frankly I think it’s pretty dynamic because the last election I didn’t think it played a big part at all,” said Brunelle.
Internet media is currently in the works to find its place as major source for news in the world, and Brunelle says that it’s incredibly important, especially when thinking of the viral markets and creations like blogs and Twitter.
She agrees with Ben Self’s points that people expect to interact with you, and these websites are not a place where you want the information to be heard, it’s where they can interact with it. She says it’s becoming a major staple in an industry dominated by print because it’s easy to communicate, it’s fast, and it’s astounding how many people turn to the internet for their news, and mostly because it makes their voice heard.
“Interactivity is incredibly important because it makes it easier for journalists to build on ideas supplied by their readers,” said Brunelle. “It’s not just journalists talking to journalists, it’s the general media as well,” she continued.
It’s safe to say that the success of the campaign was directly related to the support given by online users. Internet media is becoming more common by the day, and has become a staple in aspects of the media ranging from entertainment to politics, as the success of Ben Self’s technology and the campaign of Barack Obama have shown.
“I don’t say technology solves all of your problems as an organization, but it focuses passion. Technology can be used to take the passion and build to something bigger with more results than you ever thought possible, “said Self.

For more information on these organizations, you can visit Soapbox Media at soapboxmedia.com and Blue State Digital at bluestatedigital.com.

The Economy's for Animals Too

Watching the drip from a wet nose slide down a chain link fence in anticipation of a pat on the head can make anyone emotional. The thought of this becoming more common during the economic downfall tugs on heartstrings.
Mankind and its best friends are both affected by the economic recession. As the wallets become thinner, and the bank accounts shrink, even pets are becoming sometimes unaffordable. It seems like an inexpensive luxury: food, toys, and an occasional trip to the vet. When the animals become too much to handle, they end up in many rescue centers and shelters.
The SPCA is a nationwide animal shelter. It offers homes to those animals given up or found on the streets, and also veterinary services. The majority of pets that come through are cats and dogs. The Cincinnati chapter has its main office on Colerain Avenue, and has just opened a new facility in Sharonville.
Karen Terpstra, vice president of operations for the SPCA Cincinnati, has seen a few fluctuations recently. She does not think the economy is the absolute reason, but has heard many stories of its effects on the influx of animals.
“You hear about foreclosure being a reason, a few mentioned that they lost a job and couldn’t afford it. Sometimes they move in with family members, or into a residence that doesn’t allow big dogs, which all reflects the state of the economy,” said Terpstra.
Soon the cost of the necessities, immunizations, and medicines could be unaffordable.
“We operated a food bank and expect to be doing so again,” said Terpstra. “Even the human shelters sometimes offer food for animals too,” she continued. On the note of immunizations, regardless of cost, “It’s a lot cheaper to prevent disease than to treat it.”
In 2007, the SPCA Cincinnati took in 15,021 animals, and in 2008 it rose to 16,598. Terpstra mentioned that they saw an 11 percent increase in animals coming in during the last year, and also a 19 percent increase in animals being adopted out.
Jenna Burck, a culinary student at Cincinnati State, has volunteered over the years at various animal shelters. “Seeing the number of animals that come through these places without a home is incredulous,” said Burck. “But the fact that it’s becoming more common right now, no doubt in relation to economics, is crazy.” Burck herself is an owner of four cats, one she recently took in from the street. “I think the increase in adoptions could be that it is relatively inexpensive from the SPCA, as compared to a breeder.”
For more information on the SPCA, volunteer work or adoptions, you can visit their website at www. SPCA.com

Retail Boom or Bust?

Melissa Teter stands inside her store in Kenwood Towne Center, waiting for the usual midday boom in business that doesn’t exist anymore. Could this widespread trend in retail be here to stay?
“Sales are way down and people are being laid off all over the place,” said Melissa Teter, an assistant manager at Pacific Sunwear in Kenwood Towne Centre. Melissa is a graduate of Miami University with a B.A. in political science. Teter knows that the malls will revive themselves once the economic status of the country improves. She says that it is only a matter of time before business is booming again. In the meantime, all they can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Cincinnati’s malls are an example of the effects this economy has had on businesses, retail in particular. Northgate Mall in Colerain is owned by the Feldman Mall Properties, and the company reported a total $78.9 million loss in 2008. Large chain stores left such as Champs, Whitehall Jewelers, The Disney Store, among others. JC Penney, an anchor tenant, relocated to the new developments in Stone Creek. Northgate Mall declared bankruptcy in Fall 2008.
The Cincinnati Mills Mall, located in Fairfield, has been sold three times in seven years, as told by Greg Kathman, a development director of the area. In December, he announced that the property had been sold once again. The mall itself is only half-occupied and lacks any anchor stores.
Evidence of the economic crisis in retail became apparent during the Christmas shopping season in 2008. Gallup.com reports that Americans had planned to spend 29% less on the holiday season than a year ago in 2007. Bloomberg.com says that some retailers experienced a boom in January. Ethan Harris is co-head of economic research at Barclays Capital Inc. As quoted on Bloomberg.com, Harris said that January discounts may have brought in consumers, but he does not think it is sustainable.
June Phillips is a second-year student at the University of Cincinnati, and a hairdresser at Mastercuts in the Tri-County Mall. She feels that the economy is hitting the malls harder than she could have expected.
“Our sales in both retail and cuts are dropping quick,” she said. “Not only that, but customers give very little tips too. They’re being cautious about where every piece of their money goes.” Phillips is one of five girls that work in the salon, and one of the few designated as part-time.
“Most of the girls’ hours have been cut back,” said Phillips. “With declining business, it’s all you can do to help the store’s budget.”
Scotty Chang, 25, also works in the Tri-County Mall. He is an assistant manager for Hatworld/Lids. He found that sales were worse during Christmas than he had expected, and hours are slowly diminishing for employees as well.
“I knew the economy was bad, but I figured we’re a hat store, and people would be buying smaller,” he said. “The difference that still continues between now and last year’s sales is ridiculous.”

"Yes we...will?"

With an approval rating of 79%, Obama surpasses the par set by his predecessors. But during the biggest economic hardships in decades, how will he hold up to such high expectations?
Now is the time when his plans for our country will be put to the test. Now is also the time when we question whether these efforts will pay off or not. Who better to judge than the American public? The New York Times and CBS News did exactly that.
The New York Times and CBS News teamed up to conduct phone interviews of about 1,000 adults to gather their opinions on Obama a few days before the inauguration. The poll was based upon opinions of the country’s well-being five years ago and today, jobs, and the economy. According to the study done between January 11th and January 15th, 2009, the current optimism in Obama stands at an extraordinary 79%. We have not yet experienced what he has to bring to the table, but it seems that even though we have optimism, this rate may change depending on how soon the effects take place.
Phyllis Harden was one of the Americans who participated in the poll, and also voted for Obama in November. “It’s going to take a couple of years at least to improve the economy. I think anyone who is looking for a 90-day turnaround is delusional,” as quoted in the New York Times.
“I think those of us who voted for McCain are going to be a lot happier with Obama than the people who voted for him,” said Valerie Schlink, quoted in the New York Times. Schlink, a Republican for McCain, also participated in the poll. Torey Lacey, a criminal justice student at the University of Cincinnati, voted for Obama in the fall yet holds a similar opinion to Schlink. “I think everyone that voted for Obama expects the same things. Those for McCain may now see how Obama may or may not hold up to his campaigns, and in the end will be impressed,” said Lacey.
Although it is refreshing to see such high hopes after the disappointing approval rate of George W. Bush, this rate for a president-elect is not uncommon. The same type of polls taken in previous years just before inaugurations by CBS, show the same patterns. George W. Bush and Bill Clinton entered their first terms with levels of optimism at 64% and 70% respectively. Ronald Reagan entered at 69% and Jimmy Carter at 69%. It seems common, and almost patriotic, to have high hopes for any new leadership offered to our country.
Before each inauguration, the polls show a heightened confidence in each and every president. It seems as though we are all rooting for Obama, and even more our country as a whole, to take a turn and create greener pastures for ourselves. Republicans, Democrats, Independents all seem to be on the same page when it comes to the willingness to give Barack Obama a chance to make changes happen.