Jayrod Witcher, 13, left, looks at Jajuan Brown, 13, right, in excitement as they ride the scrambler ride during the Strawberry Festival in Holland, Ohio, on Friday, June 13, 2014.
It's been another month at The Blade, and I'm really starting to feel at home in Toledo. I can finally easily navigate around the city and surrounding areas without a GPS, I have favorite local haunts, and I'm really getting into the flow of the paper. I've especially learned a lot of practical working photojournalism skills this month. Above all else, I'm learning to budget time efficiently. Getting between assignments on busy days, getting all the names I need, and editing when I can for deadlines has made me streamline my workflow and cut tons of unnecessary time off my work days.
I've had several unique assignments this month. One of my favorites was the annual Duck Tape Festival held in Avon, Ohio (see first few photos below). Thousands come out and hundreds make their own duct tape creations. I just spent an afternoon at the festival, but I had a lovely time getting to see a festival I probably wouldn't have been aware of without my job at The Blade.
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(From left to right) Lisa Vulpitta, Marina Kahl, John Kahl and Randy Lear model their America themed Duck Tape dresses to the crowd during the Duck Tape fashion show. More than 340 people participated in the fashion show, breaking the Guinness world record for most people modeling duct tape in a fashion show.
Lilli Tippy, 12, of Avon, Ohio, fully dressed in clothes made from Duck Tape with her Duck Tape horse named Oreo, prepares to go on stage during the Duck Tape fashion show.
Macy Trout, 11, stands for a portrait to showcase her "galaxy" costume made from Duck Tape to go with this year's "Out of this World" theme.
Nancy Saunders, left, dressed as Duck Tape Dorothy, poses with Brad Hartger, right, dressed as a Yuengling beer tap.
Natalie Miller handles a male American kestrel, the smallest falcon in North America, as he flaps his wings during Wild for Wildlife held at the Toledo Botanical Gardens on Sunday, June 1, 2014.
A fox pokes out of the bushes at Willys Park in Toledo, Ohio, on Thursday, June 12, 2014.
Brittany Jonhs, left, and her mother Michelle Allen, right, bow their heads in prayer during a vigil held for Elaina Steinfurth at Federal and Leonard Streets in Toledo, Ohio, on Monday, June 2, 2014, to commemorate the first anniversary of the little girl's death.
Fire Chief Luis Santiago embraces the Dickman family after placing the wreath for James Dickman during the Toledo Fire Department's annual memorial service held at Chub DeWolfe Park in Toledo, Ohio, on Tuesday, June 10, 2014. James Dickman perished earlier this year while responding to a fire.
Barb Aldrich, left, presents firefighter Kevin Gordon, right, the Life Saving Award as he happily thanks her for it during an awards ceremony to recognize the accomplishments of Toledo firefighters held at the City Council Chambers in Toledo, Ohio, on Tuesday, June 10, 2014.
Hadiya Hardiman, 13, center, climbs down the stairs of the fire safety house while it is filled with artificial smoke as Kelly Norris, right, steals one of her shoes to make a point that one can't go back into a burning house for anything one might forget during Safe Kids Day 2014 held at ProMedica Wildwood Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, and put on by Safe Kids of Greater Toledo on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Maizy Lepkowski, back left, works with Noah Hill, 6, back right, as Brandon Lowery, center left, works with Austin Hinesman, 6, center right, as Carter Opial, 6, right prepares to kick the ball during the soccer camp held at the Municipal Park in Perrsyburg, Ohio, on Thursday, June 26, 2014.
Kelli Kilpatrick, left, looks up at her subject as she paints while her two daughters, Callie Elder, 4, right and Sarah Elder, 7, top, sort through paints together to work on their own paintings near the Maumee River during the open air art festival held all over Waterville, Ohio, on Thursday, June 5, 2014.
Hayden Parseghian, 5, center, runs in a circle with other children as they all pretend to be airplanes while The Wanna Bees preform during First Friday held in downtown Perrysburg, Ohio, on Friday, June 6, 2014.
Kristina Bergstom, back, and Greg Zeroun, right, paint walls at the home of Leroy and Doloris Jones at 2038 Parkside Blvd. in Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday, June 21, 2014. The Fuller Center Bike Adventure bikes across the country, averaging about 76 miles per day, and helps fix homes and speak to church groups and civic organizations along the way.
Steven Franchi attempts to tame the mechanical bull, but falls off shortly after getting on during the Strawberry Festival in Holland, Ohio, on Friday, June 13, 2014.
Austin Nemire, 15, a sophomore at Sylvania Northview, climbs into his USAC HPD Midget sprint car at the Toledo Speedway in Toledo, Ohio, on Monday, June 30, 2014.
People view various video displays during the Art of Video Games exhibit reception and grand opening at the Toledo Art Museum in Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday, June 21, 2014.