Branson Thurgood, 8, of Saratoga Springs, returns fire with his water gun as a water-gun fight ensues during the Splash Bash Water Party as part of Saratoga Springs' Splash Days on Wednesday, June 12, 2019, at Sunrise Meadows Park. A few thousand children got soaked with suds and water during the annual event, according to Corrine Prestwich, assistant civic events coordinator with the city of Saratoga Springs. "Our splash bash is one of the highlights of our splash days," she said. The Saratoga Springs Fire Department held a foam-zone for younger kids, and also sprayed their fire truck's hose into the air to douse older children, all the while others took part in water-gun fights. Water-ballon launches, provided by the local Kiwanis Club, as well as water slides added to the wet fun. "We get a lot of great community support from our youth council and volunteers that really make it happen and keep all the kids safe," explained Prestwich.
It's summertime once again in Utah County.
With school out, sports seasons over and families on vacation, things have slowed down a bit. Many of my assignments featured Utah summertime staples: water fights, foam pits, city celebrations, carnivals and American flags. To me, the Beehive State is filled with Americana, and summer is a wonderful time to explore themes of patriotism, the great outdoors, family and carefree kid fun. Summer has grown on me as a favorite time to photograph in "Happy Valley". What assignments I did photograph were generally fun, however, scrounging together stories to fill the newspaper becomes more of a challenge when things are slow.
That challenge was exacerbated by a corporate decision in June that frankly left me a bit beside myself: We will not be hiring another photographer at the Daily Herald. I will be a one-man band in the photo department from here on out.
Despite being the sole photographer/photo editor at the newspaper, I can fortunately say that I am not totally alone in my job of filling the paper with solid visuals. Fellow editors have stepped up with helping coordinate freelance photographers for assignments, and reporters have been more willing to take their own photos for stories, or reach out to the community for provided art. From here on out, utilizing freelance photographers and reporters taking their own photos will be the only way that the newspaper can move forward. I will still cover as many visual bases (both on assignment and in the newsroom) as possible, but it is simply impossible for me to adequately photograph a community of over 600,000 people by myself. I am excited to help coach our reporters to take better pictures, although doing so out of sheer necessity has left me a bit sad.
After over two months of trying to do everything in terms of visuals at the newspaper, leading the hiring process and asking for updates week after week, I do have to say that this decision hurts. We have already had to forgo covering so many things in the community with continual cutbacks, and I am afraid this is simply just another setback in an industry that continues to spiral downward – especially in small-and-medium-sized newspapers. I am fortunate to at least work with people in the newsroom that have my back and the community's best interests in mind, and we will do the very best we can with what we have.
Members of the Provo Fire and Police Departments along with the Utah County Sheriff's Office keep American flags within the flames as they're retired during the Freedom Festival's flag retirement ceremony held Friday, June 14, 2019, at Memorial Park in Provo.
Jovie Shepherd, 4, of Provo, wraps her arms around her father, CJ, as the audience prays during the Freedom Festival's flag retirement ceremony held Friday, June 14, 2019, at Memorial Park in Provo.
Pleasant Grove shortstop Brock Watkins demonstrates his throwing mechanics as he poses for a portrait Wednesday, June 5, 2019, at Pleasant Grove High School. A senior, Watkins plans to play for Brigham Young University's baseball team in the fall.
Malissa Craig, of Santaquin, left, jokes with Tawni Shipley, of Provo, while she unloads a tree limb into a dumpster in which Chad Bishoff, of Spanish Fork, has been compacting tree limbs while employees from Zions Bank along with their families and friends volunteer to fix-up the home and property of David and Debbie Bethers on Monday, June 10, 2019, in Springville.
Ticket taker Robert Hoffarth looks out over the carnival's midway as he awaits the next customer during Springville's Art City Days held Thursday, June 6, 2019, near the Springville Civic Center.
From left, Reese Barron, Avrey Arbuckle and Kelsie Reed, all 13-year olds from Springville, laugh together as they spin around on a ride during Springville's Art City Days held Thursday, June 6, 2019, near the Springville Civic Center.
South Summit's Zane Young readies his boots before competing during a preliminary morning go-around as part of the Utah High School Rodeo Association Finals held Thursday, June 6, 2019, at the Wasatch County Event Complex in Heber City.
Pleasant Grove center-back defender Cameron Pennock juggles the ball as he poses for a portrait Wednesday, June 5, 2019, at Pleasant Grove High School. A senior, Pennock will soon serve a mission in Gilbert, Arizona.
Cody Lemley, 16, of Graford, Texas, attempts to extend his vertical jump during a practice session as part of The Dunk Camp held Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at Norton Performance Training in Highland.
Nate Patterson, 14, of American Fork, right, and American Fork freshman Alec Jackson, second from right, react with their friends after a dunk during The Dunk Show held Thursday, June 27, 2019, at American Fork High School. This image, as well as the previous one, were a part of my most recent Monday Close-Up – See more about The Dunk Camp here: provodh.com/6sbcy
Ryan Wood, of Pleasant Grove, second from right, Beckham Rosenthal, 11, of American Fork, right, and Tricia Beck, of Lehi, left, work with other volunteers to clean and move tables as part of a service project undertaken by employees of Nu Skin, along with their family and friends, on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, at Amelia Earhart Elementary School in Provo. Nu Skin held roughly 30 such volunteer efforts throughout the valley, and also around the world, as part of the company's annual "Force for Good Day".
Jenny Phillips, founder of The Good and the Beautiful, poses for a portrait Friday, June 14, 2019, at the curriculum company's warehouse in Lehi.
Stella Earl, 7, right, catches a beanbag on her racket as she participates in an activity along with Eleanor Taggart, 7, center left, and other students as part of Orem Elementary's garden club on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at the school in Orem. The club came about from a $3,000 grant from Fuel Up to Play 60, which is sponsored by the NFL and the National Dairy Council. The program is required to have both nutritional and physical components, and this activity helped students polish up their racket fundamentals for sports like tennis.
The Mountainland Friendly Callers program pairs homebound seniors with volunteers that call at least once a week to help the seniors that the program serves fight loneliness, and gives them a social connection that they otherwise might not be able to foster. (Left image) Johna Lew poses for a portrait Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at her home in Elk Ridge. Lew and Carol Ann Heuer have been talking to each other for roughly the past six months as part of the Mountainland Friendly Callers program. (Right image) Carol Ann Heuer talks with Johna Lew, of Elk Ridge, on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at Heuer's home in Provo. The two have never met in person, and they talk to each other once a week. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald (These two images ran together in print as a diptych to illustrate this story)
The National Parks fiddler Megan Taylor Parks performs during the first show of the final season for the Provo Rooftop Concert Series held Friday, June 7, 2019, in downtown Provo.
Fans listen as The National Parks perform during the first show of the final season for the Provo Rooftop Concert Series held Friday, June 7, 2019, in downtown Provo.
Claire Fehrenbacker, 4, of Springville, stands on her tiptoes as her mother buys ride wristbands for Claire and her siblings during Springville's Art City Days held Thursday, June 6, 2019, near the Springville Civic Center.