Elaine Bradley, drummer for Neon Trees and also a drummer/vocalist/guitarist for Noble Bodies, poses for a portrait Friday, Sept. 29, 2017 in Provo.

This month was full of changes. Not just for me, but in many different ways. There was some good and some bad, but I suppose I'll start with the most pressing changes

Earlier this month the Daily Herald went through yet another surprise round of layoffs. Fortunately, I survived the cutbacks again, but a few of my co-workers weren't so lucky: including my good friend and fellow photographer, Dominic Valente (Disclaimer: Shortly after getting laid off, Dominic was offered a full-time photo position down in Phoenix, hurray!). Dominic, myself and Sammy Jo Hester comprised a small but mighty photo staff of three, but now that Dominic's gone, it's obviously down to just two. Besides sadly having to say goodbye to my best friend who made the transition to moving to a state where I knew nobody so much better, losing a third of our photo staff will change how photographers operate at the newspaper. 

Besides Dominic, we also lost a few other members of our editorial staff, so the whole reporting side of the newspaper is in a state of flux. Writers are changing beats, editors are changing duties, and what assignments we photographers shoot is at an all-time premium. Fortunately between myself and Sammy we can divvy up the day into morning and night shifts, but we can't cover everything we used to cover. Having two photographers working the night shift allowed us to pivot off several assignments so we'd have all of our bases covered (especially on nights where we'd have sporting events and news events happening at the same time). But, sadly modern science hasn't quite figured out how to make somebody able to be in two places at once. 

Fortunately, my boss (Sammy) has been wonderful in making sure we don't get overloaded with assignments. The management too has been reasonable, understanding that a smaller editorial staff will mean that we can't stretch nearly as far. Though, the one place I'll have to stretch a bit further is writing. The ownership of The Herald really pushes everyone on staff to have written bylines, so it seems I'll be writing more and more as time goes by. Vice versa, writers are having to take more pictures since we can't cover as many assignments, so it seems our duties are homogenizing a bit.

Despite the craziness and uncertainty of the work changes that came this month, September was a decent month in photos for me. For starters, I got to take portraits of a celebrity. Pictured above and 13th in this blog post (I liked both photos enough that included them both, my apologizes for my failure as an editor, haha) is Elaine Bradley, most notably know as the drummer for the rock band Neon Trees. What I didn't know is that the band actually came together in Provo, Utah. So, we were able to do a feature on Elaine (who's also a member of the LDS Church, which furthers a local news angle), and I was assigned to find a location to do a portrait shoot with her. I'd consider myself a Neon Trees fan (though I was an even bigger fan back in my high school years when they first released their music), so it was pretty neat to get to spend time with the drummer from the band. Elaine gave me total freedom and 40 minutes (which, for shooting any sort of famous person is tons, and I mean tons of time) to shoot some “grungy” portraits of her that went with her quirky personality. 

Additionally, I got to do a photo story on an elderly bodybuilder for one of the newspaper's Monday Close-Ups. It was especially rewarding to get to photograph Doug because I found his website shortly after I started this job a year ago (and I'd actually see him at my gym a lot too), but wanted to wait to do a story on him when he'd actually be competing in a bodybuilding competition locally so I could shoot it for the story. Well, this August was the first time since last year he had competed in Utah, and I finally got to create a Monday Close-Up on him. Though I was only able to squeeze in two shoots with Doug, I was relatively happy with how the photos turned out. Doug has a wonderful, funny personality, and it was fun to get to know somebody I'd see at the gym all the time and get to know him even better through a newspaper story. Doug's story begins with the photo immediately below and continues for seven images total. Read the full written story here: provodh.com/synvz.

It's been an all-over-the-place month, and now that the dust is beginning to settle I'll have to work on recalibrating my work/personal life balance. Though it won't be nearly the same as last Fall, I'm excited to spend my favorite time of the year in Utah.

Doug Graham holds a pose as other competitors ready their poses during the Viking Championships at Cottonwood High School in Murray. At 66 years old, Graham has a vibrant competitive spirit. “As soon as I lean into it [the pose], it’s over," he said. "Everyone’s got to have a calling card, you’ve got to bring something nobody else has.” he said.

Doug Graham works his chest muscles as he works out at VASA Fitness in Orem. Graham explained that some of his friends tease him with things like, “’You’re in pretty good shape, for an old guy,’ and I say, ‘since when did I get an asterisk?’”

Doug Graham checks in with an organizer about his music selection for his routine later that night during the Viking Championships at Cottonwood High School in Murray.

Doug Graham gathers his things and walks out of one of the spray-tan booths during the Viking Championships at Cottonwood High School in Murray.

Doug Graham works out backstage just before going on stage during the Viking Championships at Cottonwood High School in Murray.

Doug Graham makes his way out of the changing room backstage during the Viking Championships at Cottonwood High School in Murray. 

Doug Graham leaves the gym after his work out at VASA Fitness in Orem. "I’m not building a legacy here, I’m doing it because I want to stay in shape and add some years to my life,” Graham explained. 

Dusty Anderson, of Salt Lake City and dressed as Oden, talks with his son, Corbin, 8, dressed as Thor, as they walk about during the opening day of Salt Lake Comic Con on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.

Eli "Pompadour", dressed as Ruby Rhod from "The Fifth Element", poses for a portrait during the opening day of Salt Lake Comic Con on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.

Chelsea Rule, of Orem and also known as Elise Rockett of Beehive Broads Burlesque, poses for a portrait during the Provo Pride Festival on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 around the Historic Utah County Courthouse in downtown Provo.

Maribel Fraustro, left, of Ability 1st Utah, talks with an "employer" as she and others receive payment from their "jobs" during a poverty simulation as part of the kNOw Poverty Summit on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017 at Utah Valley University in Orem.

Elaine Bradley, drummer for Neon Trees and also a drummer/vocalist for Noble Bodies, poses for a portrait Friday, Sept. 29, 2017 in Provo.

Michael Reedy-Scott, 5, of Salt Lake City, waits for the football team to arrive for the Cougar Walk during pregame festivities before BYU takes on Utah on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo.

Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Talon Shumway (21) gestures towards the referees after dropping a pass with a lot of contact from a defender during a game between Brigham Young University and University of Wisconsin on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo.

Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Danny Davis III (6) makes a deep catch while guarded by Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Micah Hannemann (7) during a game between Brigham Young University and University of Wisconsin on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo.

Meghan McKenna holds her hands over her head in frustration after a play during a game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Utah Utes on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo.

Timpview middle linebacker Braxton Whitney (7) sighs as the Thunderbirds trail the Chargers 17-0 at halftime in a game between the Corner Canyon Chargers and the Timpview Thunderbirds on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 at Corner Canyon High School in Draper.

Offensive line coach Garry Pay holds his hand on the shoulder of fullback Mj Patane (9) as the team prays before a game between the Lone Peak Knights and the American Fork Cavemen on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017 at Lone Peak High School in Highland.

Lone Peak players make their way off the field to meet with their coaches before a game between the Lone Peak Knights and the American Fork Cavemen on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017 at Lone Peak High School in Highland.

Attendees pass by portraits of members of the First Presidency before the afternoon session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City.

An attendee's foot rests underneath a curtain as he listens to a speaker during the morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City.

Rosie Escamilla, of Mesa, Arizona, stands under the cover of the conference center with her son, Angel, 11, as rain drizzles down before the morning session of the 187th Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City.