Syracuse's Nathan Kaufusi crosses the finish line in celebration after his team won their heat of the 6A boy's 4x4-meter relay during the UHSAA State Track and Field Championships on Friday, May 18, 2018 at Brigham Young University in Provo.
Ok, so this should be the last blog post with the majority of the pictures being related to high school sports for a little while.
Though I'll only be able to keep that promise for a month or two until the next volley of prep sports start up. Because I work for a daily newspaper with 33 high schools in our coverage area (and me being "the night-shift guy"), I shoot a lot of sports. Utah County teams had a tough year (none of "our" schools got near the championship games in baseball and softball), but with so many schools in so many sports, there was plenty of the "thrill of victory" and "agony of defeat" sort of moments to photograph.
This month was mainly comprised of such sporting events, peppered with several graduations and with a feature/news assignment every now and then. The last 31 days I found myself spending more time in the viewfinder waiting for decisive moments to make a picture come together. Generally I find myself especially draw to compositionally-driven photographs, but it's been a long-term goal of mine to pair decisive moments and thoughtful compositions more cohesively to really take my skills to the next level.
As for blog layout this month, I decided to intermix all of my images in a more portfolio-presentation style. Typically I order my photos generally in categories (sports with sports, features with features, portrait with portraits, and so on), but I decided to mix things up a bit to keep images more varied and fresh.
On the project front, I did a story on a local school district's Title VI Indian (Native American) Education program for my Monday Close-Up this month. The written story and more photos from that quick project can be seen here: provodh.com/iynsr. I also began working on a longer-term rodeo project that I hope will come together in the following months.
Ella Donovan, 4, looks questioningly at her sister, Addision, 6, both of Springville, as Ella checks to see if she is tall enough to ride the slides in the activity-pool area after a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at the Clyde Recreation Center in Springville. The aquatic center opened to the public on May 24.
Spanish Fork pitcher Jordyn Bate sports her three state-championship rings as she poses for a portrait Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at the Spanish Fork Sports Park. A senior who also plays as an outfielder, Bate has been selected as the Daily Herald's 2018 Utah Valley Softball Player of the Year.
Timpview's Josh Pearce serves the ball to Brighton's Redd Owen during their 5A first singles match in the UHSAA 5A/6A Boys State Tennis Championships on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at the Liberty Park Tennis Center in Salt Lake City.
Axel McBride sings "We Are the Skyhawks" with the rest of Salem Hills High School's concert choir during the school's graduation ceremony Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Salem. This year Salem Hills High School graduated 382 students.
Rep. John Curtis listens to a question during a post-debate media scrum after Utah's Republican primary debate for the Third Congressional District seat held Tuesday, May 29, 2018, at KBYU Studios on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
Audrey Pestana, 9, dressed as Marie Antoinette painted by Vigee Le Brun, waits her turn to speak during the Portrait Stories living art show presented by Mrs. Nielsen's fourth-grade class Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at Ivy Hall Academy in Provo. Students took the stage dressed as famous painted portraits and held the pose depicted in the painting as other students described the original work of art.
Springville's Sean Holloway celebrates as he crosses the finish line after winning his heat of the 5A boy's 200-meter race during the UHSAA State Track and Field Championships on Friday, May 18, 2018 at Brigham Young University in Provo.
Orem's Devin Robins (6) heads the ball while guarded by Juan Diego Catholic midfielder Christian Carabajal (8) during a UHSAA quarterfinals match between the Orem Golden Tigers and the Juan Diego Catholic Soaring Eagles on Saturday, May 5, 2018, at Orem High School.
Lone Peak's Maddie Moss hugs a teammate after the Knights were announced grand champions after the UHSAA 6A girls golf championship Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at Meadow Brook Golf Course in Taylorsville.
Pleasant Grove forward Carson Ecalono (8) watches as the ball gets loose from him during the 6A boy's soccer state championship match between the Pleasant Grove Vikings and the Herriman Mustangs on Thursday, May 24, 2018, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy.
American Fork pitcher Ryan Hardman poses for a portrait Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at American Fork High School. A senior who also plays shortstop, Hardman has been selected as the Daily Herald's 2018 Utah Valley Baseball Player of the Year.
Skyridge midfielder McCoy Evers (4) and midfielder Austin Wallace (44) celebrate Evers' goal that increased the Falcons' lead over the Thunderbirds 3-1 late in the second half during the UHSAA 5A boys soccer tournament Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at Skyridge High School.
Soon-to-be graduates make their way toward the UCCU Center before Utah Valley University's 77th Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, May 3, 2018, in Orem.
Timpanogos center fielder Derik Eaquinto (17) watches after being tagged out as Olympus' Hayden Curtis (9) throws to first base, but can't quite make a double play, during a 5A state playoff game against the Olympus Titans on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at Kearns High School.
Lone Peak's Dominic Bentil reacts atop the winner's podium after claiming first place in the 6A boy's 200-meter race and making a new state record in the event during the UHSAA State Track and Field Championships on Friday, May 18, 2018 at Brigham Young University in Provo.
Pleasant Grove defender Tyler Ashby (13) and head coach Chris Ecalono celebrate Ashby's game-tying goal during the 6A boy's soccer state championship match between the Pleasant Grove Vikings and the Herriman Mustangs on Thursday, May 24, 2018, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy.
Cole Griffin, former Skyhawks point guard, dunks a basketball as he plays with friends before Salem Hills High School's graduation ceremony Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at the school in Salem. This year both the boys and girls basketball teams at Salem Hills High School took home the 4A state championship.
From left, Kenedee Bodily, Aryanna Lundahl and Kameron Hitesman, all soon-to-be graduates of the cosmetology program, take a selfie together before Mountainland Technical College's graduation ceremony held Thursday, May 17, 2018, at the UCCU Center in Orem. The graduation is the institution's first since it changed its name from Mountainland Applied Technology College (MATC).
Phoebe Clark, 6, of Orem, looks back as she runs away with a shawl during a dance class held by Alpine School District's Title VI American Indian Education program Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at Mountain View High School in Orem. More from this Monday Close-Up can be seen here: provodh.com/iynsr .
Pleasant Grove head coach Chris Ecalono cheers after being doused in water by his players after the Vikings won the 6A boy's soccer state championship over the Herriman Mustangs in a penalty shootout Thursday, May 24, 2018, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy.
Amanda Davis Arthur, one of Kiplyn's cousins, holds a candle while Amazing Grace is performed during a vigil held for missing people in Utah, including Kiplyn Davis, who has been missing for 23 years, on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.