Myron Gebhardt, a Provo Parking Enforcement Officer, enters vehicle information into an app on his phone before issuing a parking ticket while a vehicle he just ticketed is reflected in his vehicle window Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016 during a patrol in the area surrounding BYU's campus in Provo. Gebhardt enters the information and any pictures of evidence into Citewrite, a mobile-phone app used by police to issue citations. The information and pictures can then be seen by whoever the ticket was issued to as well as the authorities.
It's been just about two months since I moved to Provo, Utah and it's been quite the ride at the Daily Herald. Here's some of my work from the second half of August when I started this job up until the end of September (an October post will soon follow).
To begin on a scary note (I promise the rest is all good stuff), in my second week at the newspaper, Lee Enterprises sold the newspaper to Ogden Newspapers Inc. (based in West Virginia, not Ogden, Utah) and everyone had to reapply to their jobs. As most know, in the journalism industry when a paper is sold, it's generally bad news. In fact, layoffs practically always come with a sale, especially for the photo department. After a very, very scary few days (holy crap, I just moved 2,000 miles away from home and now I'm going to lose my first job in less than two weeks) and a lot of thoughtful vouching by paper's leadership team, all three of us on the photo staff are still here. The Daily Herald has a reputation for being a solid photo paper, and thankfully the new company appreciated that. The newspaper sadly lost two from the editorial department and two from the advertising department, but most of the newspaper has been relatively unchanged. Frankly, we dodged a bullet, and I'm so unbelievably grateful to have this job.
Speaking of the job, it's great! I work with two young and extremely talented folks, Dominic Valente and Sammy Jo Hester, who have become close friends. We often bounce work off each other and it's been a wonderful place to continue to grow as a photographer. I get to photograph a healthy variety of everything, including some longer-term projects, called Monday Close Ups.
Each month we have to find a story to photograph and write about, and it ends up on the front page each Monday (one story for each photographer, and one story by a reporter and we cover the pictures). I did my first Monday Close Up on Cougar Tails, which is a donut treat served at Brigham Young University athletic events. You can see more of it here: http://provodh.com/j8uea.
It's actually quite enjoyable to write a story to accompany my pictures. I think it leaves me with a deeper understand of something than if I only took pictures of it. I also have to write and photograph 2-3 stand-alone stories a week. For those, I shoot a general assignment and then write around 200 words for a mini-story to run with the pictures, typically for the lead story on the front page.
Work jargon aside, the bottom line is I couldn't be happier with my job. It's a bit difficult adjusting to a new community so far away from home, but I don't think I would be any happier elsewhere. I can finally say I got a full-time job doing what I love, and I think that's pretty amazing. I look forward to using this as a new beginning to reevaluate my shootings skills and push myself into new ways of shooting and becoming a better photojournalist.
Springville centenarian Ora Hardy sits for a portrait in her home on Thursday, August 18, 2016. Hardy was born on May 10, 1916, and lives in her home by herself.
Jaden Giles, 9, climbs while his sister Jordan Giles, 13, stretches and others participate in the one-mile run during the Courageous Kid’s Invitational on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 at the track on the campus of Brigham Young University. The event was started five years ago by Lionheart founder Tammy Bowers, who's son, Landen Lion Bowers, had a heart transplant. Bowers was involved with track and field in college and always wanted her son to participate, so she started the event to allow children with special needs to enjoy the sport.
Chris Martin of Coldplay dances as he sings amidst confetti Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City.
Timpview wide receiver Kyle Van Leeuwen (19) reaches, but can't reel in the catch while hit by Alta cornerback Zach Alsop (24) during their football game Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 at Alta High School in Sandy.
Timpview players listen to their coaches talk in their locker room before their football game Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 at Alta High School in Sandy.
Lone Peak wide receiver senior Payton Freeman (6) tires to reel in the catch in the end zone, but it is called incomplete, during their football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 at Lone Peak High School in Highland.
Fans watch the game between the Knights and the Miners from the baseball field's outfield fence during the football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 at Lone Peak High School in Highland.
Timpview tackle Jacob Jefferies (74) waits for teammates to gather in the showers of the locker room for pre-game meetings with coaches before the football game Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 at Alta High School in Sandy.
Timpview midfielder Tiana Tolman (16) jumps to hit the ball with her chest while guarded by Alta midfielder Kaity Morton (18) during their soccer match Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 at Timpview High School in Provo.
Bringham University fans cheer while a cardboard-cut-out of Ken Jeong (who starred in "The Hangover") sits idly by during the volleyball match Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 at BYU's Smith Fieldhouse in Provo.
Salem Hills' Megan Treanor (2) celebrates after the Skyhawks scored during a volleyball match between the Salem Hills Skyhawks and the Springville Red Devils on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 at Salem Hills High School. Salem Hills swept Springville 3-0.
Bingham defensive back junior Tanner Merrill (9) intercepts the pass intended for Lone Peak wide receiver senior Tyler MacPherson (2) during their football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 at Lone Peak High School in Highland.
Bingham wide receiver senior Dylan DeVoogd (15) concentrates as coaches talk through the first half in their lockeroom at halftime of the football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 at Lone Peak High School in Highland.
Grizzbee of the Utah Grizzlies picks his nose on the sidelines Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 during the Mascot Bowl held at Skyridge High School in Lehi.
Rocky of Rocky Mountain Raceways pushes off Skyridge Parker's David Donaldson (17) as he runs the ball up the field Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 during the Mascot Bowl held at Skyridge High School in Lehi.
American Fork outside linebacker Hunter Fry (89) gathers himself while he relaxes with his teammates before heading out to begin the second half during halftime at a football game between the American Fork Cavemen and the Lehi Pioneers on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 at American Fork High School.
Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) runs the ball into the end zone for his fifth touchdown of the night during a game between the BYU and the Toledo on Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
The BYU band takes the stands before the game Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016 inside Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Sam Baldwin (45) is consoled by a teammate after Toledo pulled away from BYU with a touchdown late in the fourth quarter during a game between the BYU and the Toledo on Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Jerry Larriva, 13, has his sombrero picked off his head jokingly by Benjamin Lopez as they wait to perform Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 during Festival Latinoamericano in downtown Provo.
Adam Dove, a senior Fine Art Illustration major at Utah Valley University, paints a piece of glass alongside other artists Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016 at the Art Institute at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi. Each artist will paint individual parts of each panel, then they will be eventually be put together to create the final piece.
Jeff Hill, left, and Jim Brau pose for a portrait with their financial calculators Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016 outside the N. Eldon Tanner Building on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo. The duo are the hottest professors in America, according to ratemyprofessors.com. Hill is a professor in the School of Family Life, and Brau, also a former Army Ranger, is a Joel C. Peterson Professor of Finance.
Calvin Cook, 16, of Provo, sleeps in his hammock as other students mill about their campsite Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016 at Timpooneke campground in American Fork Canyon. The group was a collection of students from Walden High School who were climbing Mount Timpanogos as part of Walkabout, a backpacking trip put on by the school spanning three days.
Sharon Offley, assistant donut crew supervisor, takes fried Cougar Tails off the conveyor belt once they're out of the proof box and through the automatic fryer Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016 at the Culinary Support Center on the campus of BYU in Provo. Offley has been creating Cougar Tails since their creation in 2006. See the full story here: http://provodh.com/j8uea.
Mark Allen, founding member of Protect American Fork Canyon and American Fork Canyon Alliance, holds up a sign as he speaks to the tour crowd Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 near Yankee Mine in American Fork Canyon.
American Fork police officer Diego Garcia consoles Marisela Gonzalez, the wife of the deceased worker according to a family friend at the scene, as she sits nearby the scene of a trench collapse Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 located at 530 S. 860 E. in American Fork. Responders stated that one construction worker is dead and two others were involved in the accident.
Cyrus Chapman, a sophomore at Independence High School, reaches for the last bit of rope as he completes the single-rope bridge Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 at the Provo River in Paul Reams Park. Students combined several skills they learned in the JROTC program to cross the roughly 60-foot expanse above the river.