Perrysburg city workers TJ Haas, left, hands a newly-filled water container to Dave Mysinger, right, as Andy Hartman, back, fills a 275-gallon drum with water at the baseball field at Perrysburg High School on Sunday, August 3, 2014.

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In 13 weeks I took 27,887 photographs and drove 5,322 miles while working for The Toledo Blade. I feel genuinely lucky to have had the opportunity to work for The Blade and get to do what I love most, all summer long. All the photographers on staff made me feel welcomed in a city with which I was quite unfamiliar. I got to photograph a wide variety of assignments and had just enough work that I wasn't ever bored, but rarely felt overworked. I cannot thank the photo staff and the editors at The Blade enough for giving me the internship-I really do feel as though I've grown in more ways than one. I learned how daily assignments flow at a newspaper. Often I found myself working to make deadline and budgeting my time on assignments to get exactly what the paper needed while making sure I had enough time to transmit and get to the next assignment on time. I feel that I've gotten much more efficient with my shooting. I also lived alone and had to buy and cook my own meals for the first time in my life, which was entirely another adventure in and of itself. I feel like people my age have to scramble to find any sort of job they can to make ends meet during the summer months. I was fortunate to find a job that not only paid the bills, but that gave me deep personal satisfaction and fortified my choice of study in college. Does it really get any better than getting paid to work your dream job?

The image above and the next six below are some of my favorite photographs I made from the Toledo water crisis. Late in the evening of  Friday, August 1, the Toledo water plant found dangerous toxin levels in the city's drinking water. The city of Toledo funnels its water supply from Lake Erie. It was found that a strong concentration of algae in the lake near Toledo had been releasing a toxin that had made its way through the water plant filtration process and made the water dangerous to drink. The public was alerted through the media early Saturday morning and by mid-morning of the 2th, Governor John Kasich had declared a state of emergency in the city of Toledo. 500,000 people in the greater Toledo area were left without drinkable water. People then flocked to numerous water distribution centers that cropped up and tried their best to get bottled water and stay away from the drinking water. Restaurants closed and many people had trouble going about their daily routines until the water ban was lifted mid-morning on Monday, August 4.

It was a rush to cover this breaking news story. I jumped from spot to spot photographing and transmitting images frantically as I made sure to try and catch everything while still making decent images. It gave me a good idea of the hectic newsroom environment during spot news events. It made for a few very long days, but it was an invaluable learning experience. 

After the water crisis images are photographs I made from July to the end of my internship on August 7. Constructive criticisms are always welcome. 

All photographs are copyrighted by The Toledo Blade are not to be used without explicit permission from the publication. Photographs are available for purchase atThe Blade'swebsite.

Plant operator Tim Eckman pours a sample of water to test for various chemicals and water qualities at the Oregon Water Plant in Oregon, Ohio, on Sunday, August 3, 2014.

Citizens of Toledo and surrounding areas line up for water at Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday, August 2, 2014..

Sargent Chris Fitzgerald, center, and other police officers and volunteers load water into citizens' cars at Waite High School in Toledo, Ohio, on Tuesday, August 2, 2014.

Simeon Washington, left, 15, a junior at Central Catholic High School, hands water to Osama Dudar, right, of East Toledo from a Salvation Army van full of bottled water from the American Red Cross at Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio, on Tuesday, August 2, 2014.

Kathy Wielfaert, left, of West Toledo, walks away with two two gallon jugs of water in her arms at Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio, on Tuesday, August 2, 2014.

Connie Elter, left, and Dawn Szych, right, play with Myah Brown, center, 11 months, Szych's granddaughter, in a small pool at Szych's home at the corner of Eleanor and Walker Avenues in North Toledo, Ohio, on Monday, August 4, 2014. Prior to today, Brown received bottled water baths and today they decided to celebrate the water announcement by hanging out in their pool with clean water. 

Spectators enjoy the fireworks display at the Star Spangled Banner celebration held at Fort Meigs in Perrysburg, Ohio, on Thursday, July 3, 2014.

(Left to right) Samuel Ellis, 7, covers his ears with his hands as his mother, Francine Ellis, holds him as Lydia Ellis, 9, and Joseph Ellis, 11, both cover their ears as a cannon fires during a recreation of July 4, 1813 at Fort Meigs in Perrysburg, Ohio, on Friday, July 4, 2014.

Hannah Grohowski, center, marches with other reenactors during a recreation of July 4, 1813, at Fort Meigs in Perrysburg, Ohio, on Friday, July 4, 2014.

Crystal Lanning lays outs while reading a book as she soaks up the sun at Inez Nash Park in Toledo, Ohio, on Friday, July 11, 2014.

Susan White, center, and Elizabeth Curtis, 5, right, both from the neighborhood, collect bricks to use for landscaping and keepsakes from the pool with another member of the neighborhood as a demolition crew works at the deconstruction site of the Sylvan Pool at 6422 Longfellow Rd., in Sylvania, Ohio, on Tuesday, July 15, 2014. The community run pool opened in the 1970's and recently fell into a state of disrepair when the community couldn't get enough help to work on it. A private residence will be put in its place.

Holly Hopewell looks through a variety of hand-crafted wind chimes during the 22nd Art on the Mall at Centennial Mall on the University of Toledo's main campus on Sunday, July 27, 2014. 

"Doctor Claydo", formally know as Clayton Chortie, left, makes a balloon dog for Gracie Smith, 2, center, as her father Jeff Smith, right, watches as rain pours down during the First Friday celebration held in downtown in Perrysburg, Ohio, on Friday, August 1, 2014. 

Troy Cousino, 13, left, and Ford Frick, 12, right, do handstands at the pond at Three Meadows Park in Perrsyburg, Ohio, on Monday, July 21, 2014. 

Courtney Hall, 8, left, rests underneath the table of the Hall's drink stand at the corner of Bennett Road and West Crawford Avenue in north Toledo, Ohio, as Jacob Hall, 11, looks for customers from the cover of his umbrella and Zach Hall, 13, right, holds up a sign to attract customers on Monday, July 28, 2014. The Halls started the drink stand with the help of their mother who bought the first batch of all the drinks and supplies for about $6. Their mother allowed them to continue the stand if they could fund it themselves. The Halls have been out on the corner selling drinks for about three days and have already made $60. They plan to keep the stand going from about 12-5 p.m. until school starts back up on August 18.

Missy, a 3-month-old female brindle-white pit bull mix with canine parvovirus, is held by Jen Martinez, a Vet Tech at the Humane Society, in the containment room at the Toledo Area Humane Society in Maumee, Ohio, on Friday, July 18, 2014. Parvovirus is a highly contagious virus between dogs, but has a high survival rate if caught and treated quickly. Missy came into the Humane Society on July 10 and has been recovering since.

Glenn Thomas, left, starts his run of the time-trial course in his 1957 Cyclops as Brent Myers, right, starts the timer and another car waits behind Thomas during the Midwest Micro/Mini Car Gathering next to the Commodore Building in Perrysburg, Ohio, on Saturday, July 26, 2014.  

Beth Bright zooms around a corner in her Dominos Pizza electric citicar, one of two ever produced, during her run of the time-trail course at the Midwest Micro/Mini Car Gathering next to the Commodore Building in Perrysburg, Ohio, on Saturday, July 26, 2014. 

A view of the Shipman Garden from the top floor of the manor house at Wildwood Metropark in Sylvania, Ohio, on Thursday, July 24, 2014.

Cameron McMaster, 10, brushes dirt off a Detroit dark reed beet at Chuck Sattler's garden located at 1204 Michigan Ave., in Maumee, Ohio, on Friday, July 25, 2014. 

Aaliyah Spearman, 7, left, and her brother Larry Spearman III, 8, right, are held by their mother Whitney Mack, center, during the annual 2 Mile March and Rally 2 Stop Gun Violence in Toledo, Ohio, on Sunday, July 27, 2014. The march went from the intersection of Central and Detroit Avenues to the Intersection of Detroit and Indiana Avenues.

Enyjah Reeb, 6, looks over at the crowd during the annual 2 Mile March and Rally 2 Stop Gun Violence in Toledo, Ohio, on Sunday, July 27, 2014 as she crouches among other Thunderbolt cheerleaders.

Jequalla Crosby, 15, center, holds hands together with a few of her friends as they all huddle together during the annual 2 Mile March and Rally 2 Stop Gun Violence in Toledo, Ohio, on Sunday, July 27, 2014.

A fan extends his glove to catch a deep foul ball. The Toledo Mud Hens took on the Norfolk Tides on Tuesday, July 29, 2014, at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio.

Bryce Thoss of Clyde, Ohio, takes the impact of a water balloon during a between-inning game. The Toledo Hud Hens took on the Louisville Bats at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday, July 19, 2014. 

Louisville Bats catcher Tucker Barnhart, left, fails to tag out Toledo Mud Hens designated hitter Ben Guez as he slide into home base for a run. The Toledo Hud Hens took on the Louisville Bats at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday, July 19, 2014.

Toledo Mud Hens right fielder Tyler Collins races towards first base after connecting with the ball, but is tagged out at first. The Toledo Mud Hens took on the Norfolk Tides on Tuesday, July 29, 2014, at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio.

(From left to right) Gus Dimmerling, 17, senior quarterback/wide receiver from Perrysburg High School, Lamar Carswell, 17, senior running back from St. Francis High School, and Jared Rettig, 17, senior quarterback from Lake High School, pose near Steinecker Stadium in Perrysburg, Ohio, on Sunday, August 3, 2014.

Perrysburg high school running back/linebacker junior Chase Banks, 16, left, works on a bag drill with wide receiver junior Jake Myers, 16, right, during practice. The Perrysburg high school football team began their two-a-day practices at Steinecker Stadium in Perrysburg, Ohio, on Friday, August 1, 2014.

"All-Star Gold" catcher Adam Ponzio, left, tags out "All-Star Blue" left fielder Matt Kavanaugh, 15, " as he shouts in pain from getting an injury from sliding home. All-Star Blue" defeated "All-Star Gold" 16-12 at Rivercrest Park Fields in Perrysburg, Ohio, on Saturday, July 12, 2014.

 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.

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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.

All photographs are copyrighted by The Toledo Blade are not to be used without explicit permission from the publication. Photographs are available for purchase atThe Blade'swebsite.

(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.

Toledo Mud Hens first basemen Jordan Lennerton, left, tags out Syracuse Chiefs center fielder Brian Goodwin at first base to close out the first inning. The Toledo Mud Hens lost to the Syracuse Chiefs 9-3 at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio, on Friday, May 16, 2014.

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After finishing my sophomore year at Ohio University, I took a week off and then started a summer photo internship at The Toledo Blade in Toledo, Ohio, on May 9th. So far, it has been an awesome experience working at The Blade. Since Toledo has a population of roughly 284,000 and the paper covers much of the city's surrounding areas, there's always a wide variety of assignments to cover-which is exactly why I love newspapers. From day one The Blade has had me jump right in to photographing daily newspaper assignments. I've gotten to shoot some minor league baseball and a lot of high school baseball and softball on the sports side. 

Going into work is never a drag. Yes, sometimes a day jam-packed with assignments or an event that turns out to be a bit lack luster can wear me out, but then I realize that doing all these things never feel like "work" at all. I'm getting to do what I love more than anything else all day, and I feel so genuinely blessed to have that privilege.

Everyone at The Blade has welcomed me with open arms, and the photo staff have been great to work with and help me grow as a photojournalist. I've already made some good friends at the paper, and my only regret so far is that I have only three months to spend here. I'm looking forward to photographing everything I can get my hands on and to make the summer count.

All photographs are copyrighted by The Toledo Blade are not to be used without explicit permission from the publication. Photographs are available for purchase at The Blade's website here.

Carla Nash, Nevaeh Buchanan's paternal grandmother, holds her hand to her mouth as tears well up in her eyes as she addresses the crowd during a vigil held at Saint Mary's Park in Monroe, Michigan, on Saturday, May 24, 2014 to mark the five year anniversary since her 5-year-old granddaughter was abducted and later found dead. 

Molly Baldwin, 8, leans in to place a flag at Historic Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio, on Friday, May 23, 2014. She is joined by siblings Isaac, 13, left, Maragaret, 5, Mark, 6, behind Molly in a cap, and Gabriel, 15, who holds Joise, 2, on his shoulders. Placing the flags has become a tradition for the Baldwins and their dad, Anthony Baldwin, right.

Billy Power holds an old photograph of Corporal Harold Reed in his home in Toledo, Ohio, on Monday, May 19, 2014. Both Power and Reed served in the armed forces during the Korean War, but Reed perished in the Chosin Reservoir during the conflict. Power has spent decades tirelessly working to ensure that the body of Reed be brought home to the United States and laid to rest with the rest of Reed's family. 

Marines Cpl. Kenneth Arp, left, Sgt. Marshall Grayson, center, and PFC. Austin Adams, right, carry the flag-covered casket of Cpl. Harold W. Reed to his final resting place on Saturday, May 24, 2014, in Ottawa Hills Memorial Park in Toledo, Ohio, 63 years after Reed's death and burial in the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea during the Korean War.

Director of Adult Faith Formation Margaret McCready, left, and Financial Clerk Deb Grisier stand in Gesu Roman Catholic Parish in Toledo, Ohio, on Tuesday, May 13, 2014. The two explained that being a godparent in a religious sense is to ensure that a child's spirituality is fostered.

Sisters Lacey, left, and Lindsey Lake view mixed-media collages made by Candra Boggs during the Maple and Main Arts Festival in downtown Sylvania, Ohio, on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Caught in the rain without an umbrella, Mckayla Mejia, 13, covers her head with a plastic grocery bag while walking with other students from Toledo School for the Arts towards the Valentine Theatre in downtown Toledo, Ohio, on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, for a rehearsal for the school's upcoming showcase.

Irene Kaufman, standing front right, and Stacia Dimit, standing back right, help guide participants how to prepare stuffed grape leaves during a cooking class held at the Greek Orthodox Church on Superior Street in Toledo, Ohio. Marlene Zissoff, front left, works with Cathy Bryant as Donna Titsworth works independently.

Jack Budas, 5, left, and Samantha Budas, 7, center attack their father Dave Budas with fishing rods they crafted as Ella Archer, 7, checks her own fishing rod during the Maple and Main Arts Festival in downtown Sylvania, Ohio, on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Anthony Wayne Generals pitcher Mason Zimmerman, left, cheers on his teammates from the dugout as assistant coach Tim Pedro, right, spits out two sunflower seed shells on Thursday, May 29, 2014.

Napoleon Wildcats pitcher Zach Willeman is tagged out at home by Anthony Wayne Generals catcher D.J. Komisarek. The Anthony Wayne Generals defeated the Napoleon Wildcats 10-5 at Napoleon High School on Monday, May 19, 2014.

Anthony Wayne Generals center fielder Josh Schwerer reacts excitedly after scoring a run. The Anthony Wayne Generals defeated the Napoleon Wildcats 10-5 at Napoleon High School on Monday, May 19, 2014.

Toledo Mud Hens pitcher Drew Verhagen winds up for a pitch during the Toledo Mud Hen's game against the Charlotte Knights at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday, May 31, 2014.