Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed collides with L.A. Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella just after being tagged out at second. The Arizona Diamondbacks lost to the Los Angeles Angels 7-1 at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ, on Thursday, June 18, 2015.
Arizona is nothing like Ohio, but that was my hope. After spending 22 years in Ohio, I was looking for a drastic change of pace for the summer months. Ohio will always be my home, but Arizona offers something much different from cows, cornfields and humidity.
I've only been in Arizona for three total weeks now, but I feel pretty well settled. At the end of May I took a 2,300 mile road trip out to Phoenix to spend 10 weeks interning for the Arizona Republic as a Pulliam fellow for the photo staff, i.e. a photo intern. On my way out, I stopped at Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon to get a taste for the Southwest. I've been in the Southwest and Phoenix specifically a few times, but I'm looking forward to experiencing the area as a resident for a short while.
June 8th was my first day at the Arizona Republic. I am one of 17 interns recruited from across the country, though oddly most are also from the Midwest. After a day-long orientation and two days shadowing photographers and figuring out the newspaper's workflow, myself and one other photo intern from Kent State University were thrown into the mix.
My first week consisted of mainly of portraits and event coverage. During the week, a few staffers asked me what I'd like to improve upon this summer. Among other things, I said I'd like to broaden my sports-shooting abilities. Somebody must have heard me loud and clear, because I photographed almost exclusively sports during my second week. I got to shoot a few mainstream pro sports, which I've never done before. I photographed the Arizona Diamondbacks MLB team twice, as well as the Mercury WNBA team and the Arizona United USL soccer team once each. Getting to shoot pro sports is a huge milestone for me. It's a humbling experience entering a massive arena and covering a major televised event with other photographers from outlets like the Associated Press, USA Today, Getty and others. I've seen that sports-photography workflow is as fast paced as the sports themselves - viewers want to see pictures, now.
So far the summer has been a breath of fresh air for me. I'm surviving the heat so far. The high averages between 110-117 degrees on a daily basis and the temperature doesn't dip below 100 usually until after midnight. But it's a dry heat, right? Well, it is, but it's still well over 100 degrees. I'll take it over humid Ohio, though.
So far it's been quite an adventure living so far away from home in a city of 1.5 million people placed in the middle of the desert. I'm excited to see where the rest of the summer will take me!
Nicolas Boyce, 6, of Mesa checks out the arachnid station as part of the flashlight tours at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ, on Saturday, June 13, 2015.
Left to right, Mary Logue shows a toad by flashlight to Dylan, 6, and Justin, 8, Brown during the flashlight tours of the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.
Visitors wearing light-up jewelry walk along the trail by flashlight during the flashlight tours at the Desert Botanical Garden.
UC Davis guard Corey Hawkins, center, speaks to the media after the training camp. The Phoenix Suns held a training camp at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, AZ, on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
VCU guard Treveon Graham, left, and UC Davis guard Corey Hawkins, right, joke on the sidelines after a drill at the Phoenix Suns training camp.
Chris Bowman, front right, takes a sip of his drink while he chats with Frank Cleveringa, front left, while Andrew Sundberg, back left, and Wasim Munawar, back right, enjoy their meal at Olive and Ivy restaurant located at 7135 E. Camelback Rd. in Scottsdale, AZ, on Thursday, June 11, 2015. Unlike some other businesses, restaurants have bounced back well after the recession.
Iban Deoltoro, left, laughs as he and his brother Valentine Deoltoro, right, pick up palm leaves and Francico Cotiy climbs down the palm tree after trimming it near the intersection of N. 7th St. and E. Palm Ln. in Phoenix, AZ, on Tuesday, June 16, 2015.
Co-owners of Arizona Family Florist, Cheryl and Brad Dunham, pose for a portrait in their Lux store for wedding floral arrangements at a warehouse at 2050 S. 16th Street, Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ, on Friday, June 12, 2015. The warehouse houses their multiple businesses.
Linda King of Glendale, AZ, front, works on a floral arrangement as Debbe Villaman of Tempe, AZ, back, groups flowers at 2050 S. 16th Street, Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ, on Friday, June 12, 2015.
Linda King of Glendale, AZ, brings a floral arrangement into the freezer.
Jacet Aparicio, right, picks up debris from his parents' white truck after it was struck by another vehicle and crashed near the intersection of N. 19th Ave. and W. Sunnyside Dr. in Phoenix, AZ, on Saturday, June 13, 2015. Aparicio explained that his parents called him soon after the crash to come help them.
Arizona United's Long Tan (29) looks off towards the goal during their match versus the Seattle Sunders at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, AZ, on Saturday, June 20, 2015.
Arizona United's Dennis Chin (15) kicks the ball in the air while guarded by Seattle Sounders' Pablo Rossi (55) at Scottsdale Stadium.
Arizona United players celebrate Long Tan's goal, the second of the night. Arizona defeated Seattle 2-1 at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, AZ, on Saturday, June 20, 2015.
Mercury's Mistie Bass (8) takes contact from Sun's players as she goes up for a shot at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, AZ, on Friday, June 19, 2015.
Mercury's DeWanna Bonner, left, is congratulated by Monique Currie (25) after making a critical shot late in the fourth quarter at the US Airways Center. Phoenix lost to Connecticut 90-78 in double overtime.
L.A. Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun slides under Arizona Diamondback shortstop Nick Ahmed in the first inning. The Arizona Diamondbacks took on the Los Angeles Angels at Chase Field inPhoenix, AZ, on Thursday, June 18, 2015.
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (44) looks off towards the ball after his hit, which led two to runs for the Diamondbacks in the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ, on Sunday, June 21, 2015.
Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder David Peralta (6) goes for a deep catch, but misses as fans look on at Chase Field in Phoenix.
L.A. Angels third baseman Taylor Featherston, center, is congratulated by his teammates in the dugout after scoring the his first major-league run for his team in the first inning.
L.A. Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson slides as he is tagged out at second by Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed to end the 5th inning.
Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder David Peralta (6) high-fives teammates after the 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ, on Sunday, June 21, 2015.
Jim Smith, left, and his son Jacob Smith, 7, enjoy popcorn before the Diamondbacks game against the Padres at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ, on Sunday, June 21, 2015.
Spectators round second base after the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the San Diego Padres 7-2 at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ, on Sunday, June 21, 2015.
A child rounds third base after the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the San Diego Padres.
Gary Taylor, right, videos as he rounds third base after the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the San Diego Padres 7-2 at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ, on Sunday, June 21, 2015.