Back Focus
a blog by photojournalist Jerry Burnes
Fort Instagram, North Dakota
One of the many perks of being out of grad school has been a fresh thought process and the time to experiment a bit more.
A few months ago I started really getting into Instagram again. I always had it downloaded but just never remembered to try it out or always viewed cell phone photos with a skepticism.
Things changed. So on the the North Dakota road trip I made sure to take out the iPhone here and there and snap off a few shots. I’m still trying to figure out my favorite filter but I quite enjoy how simple photos look all that more artsy through the app.
This will be the post essentially wrapping up my road trip posts. It was a lot of fun, as was some Instagram/iPhone photography. Will have to take it out to Chicago sometime soon now that I’m back in Illinois.
It’s been quite nice having what I’m doing in the moment and time on my mind, rather than thinking constantly about school while shooting.
That said, hopefully this will be one of many Instagram photo blogs I can work into on here.
Road Trip Days 3-4: Richardton, North Dakota
After Bismarck we headed a bit more west to the small town of Richardton, with a population of just over 500 people.
I’ll admit I was skeptical about what a small North Dakota town would offer photo-wise, then I saw the scenery. I was told by a resident that when the trees aren’t completely full, you can see about eight miles across the flatland.
Along with the scenery I caught a few good breaks. First there was a small solar eclipse that was somewhat visible in Richardton. I grabbed about three usable photos but I like this one the most. We came across the Mayer family in town that had a sheet of shading glass to look through. Which is what I used to shoot through for the bottom picture.
The other break was a beautiful sunset and blue skies with some great clouds floating around.
If you’re confused by the candles, we stopped at the Assumption Abbey in Richardton, which is a monastery for Catholic monks. The monks gave us permission to wander around the chapel area, which was beautiful as well. Anyways, the candles are lit for people who come in privately to pray for others. Happened to just be one lit when we were there.
Tomorrow we head up to Minot and, weather depending, Williston. So hopefully some oil boom photos will be coming soon.
© 2012 Jerry Burnes
Road Trip Day 2: North Dakota
After passing through Minnesota we hit North Dakota Saturday night.
For a while parts of Minnesota and North Dakota weren’t that different as far as the scenery went from parts of western Illinois. Then we got deeper and further from Fargo and came across some good spots.
I’ve noticed since going to Starved Rock in Illinois a few posts ago that I’ve been really interested in getting some scenic shots. Part of it is because North Dakota and nature shots are new to me, the other might be the girlfriend wanting to hang some self-made photos in an apartment when we move.
Either way North Dakota gave me some really scenic shots, especially as the sun changed and hit the flood lands on the side of I-94. The farmlands were beautiful with some rain clouds as well.
Then, of course, there’s the World’s Largest Buffalo in Jamestown. It weighs about 60 tons and is on a farm where the buffalo do actually roam.
Also saw what was a sacred albino buffalo, but unfortunately wasn’t close enough to get a photo of it.
So far though, loving North Dakota.
© 2012 Jerry Burnes
Road Trip Day 1: Wisconsin
Day 1 of our post-grad road trip took us to Menomonie, Wisconsin after a stop quick stop at UW-Madison to pick someone up.
Madison was beautiful and the rest of Wisconsin wasn’t much different than I remember. It was kind of nice being in a state and city where I can be more touristy than I am while in Chicago (shot the “Welcome to” signs just for the hell of it).
The trip of Wisconsin really took off when we visited the Leinenkugel’s Brewery in Chippewa Falls. It’s a tour I’ve always wanted to go on and it was free, with five free 5-ounce samples. The last picture you see on this post is actually part of the original brewery.
Next stop is Bismark and Richardton, North Dakota. Should have some photos from Minnesota on the way back, too much construction to go through the Minneapolis/St. Paul area while driving through.
Starving for scenery
With graduation finally out of the way I’ve been itching to get out of DeKalb and out of Illinois. Accomplished one of those two things last weekend by heading out to Starved Rock in Utica, IL.
Last time I traveled out there it was early Spring so everything was still brown and dead looking. This time was much more green and lively.
Had a limited time to stay and hang out but tried to make the most of it. Either way it was really good to get out and enjoy nature without feeling the guilt of not doing any graduate school work.
On a road trip the next few weeks to North Dakota to see some of my girlfriend’s family. Have a few more posts to get to today and hopefully will be caught up on stuff from there.
Now that my time is up at the Star, I have to find my own adventures. Which should be fun.
© 2012 Jerry Burnes
Raining Cats and Dogs
I hate rain. Especially when I’m shooting a sporting event for the first time in a while.
After one mishap with rain and a camera I’m a little paranoid. Thankfully this game worked out and everyone went home dry.
Nothing too amazing in the Northwestern-NIU softball game except for Adrienne Monka blasting two home runs in a big victory for the ‘Cats.
© 2012 Jerry Burnes/Northern Star
Invisible Keg
Among the many people retiring or leaving NIU after this semester is the great Larry Bolles, the director director of the Office of Community Standards & Student Conduct.
Bolles has been a Huskie for 34 years and I’ve had the pleasure to talk to him on many occasions while on assignment. He’s typically wearing a big smile and usually has a story to tell.
Northern Star writer Chelsey Boutan wrote a nice piece on Bolles that covers one of the best college stories I’ve ever heard of—the Invisible Keg—as a sidebar. Worth a read for that much alone.
As far as the photo went I had a short time to piece this all together and his office wasn’t quite big enough to drag the soft box and such into. I also felt very cliche with the legs on the desk photo, but knowing the personality of Bolles, I thought it fit him best.
As I look at things again now I really like his facial expression in the bottom photo.
No complaints with what ran with the story, but always nice to have two portraits I like this much.
© 2012 Jerry Burnes/Northern Star
Sideline Story
Shot the J Cole and Big K.R.I.T. show at the NIU Convocation Center last night, in what I believe to be my last show there.
Never really heard of either of these two, minus J Cole being Grammy nominated.
Rap and R&B shows can be really tricky sometimes at the Convo because of the generally dark backgrounds. Of course, Big K.R.I.T. had to wear pretty much all black just to make it more difficult on us.
Show-wise, I wasn’t terribly impressed with either. Thought the Wiz Khalifa and Lupe Fiasco shows this year and last were far and away better. Just me though.
Anyways, I felt really “off’ tonight while shooting. Just didn’t seem as if I had the shots I wanted to go back to the office with but so goes life. At least my decision-making process was easier this time around.
Here’s the best of the best from tonight. I included a link below for the rest of the images from the show.
© 2012 Jerry Burnes/Northern Star
Taxed Out
The tax man came Tuesday and so did some protestors in DeKalb.
By the time I saw it happening it was mostly over, but still worth it to grab a few shots for the Star.
Kind of glad I went out of town for most of Tuesday. Felt good to find something going on and get a feature photo run in the paper.
Think I’m finally getting back to feeling like a journalist, rather than a stressed out, last semester grad student.
© 2012 Jerry Burnes/Northern Star
Barnum & Bandits’ Softball Circus Catch
Shot the Friday Night Lights game at Rosemont Stadium last night, hosted by the Chicago Bandits, between Marengo and Richards high schools.
Typically not a fan of shooting high school softball but in the first inning right fielder Reed Karstens gave me all I needed.
Karstens made a sliding attempt but the ball popped out of her glove. With patience not typically reserved for high school players she snagged with her bare hand while still on the ground.
I was surprised that only one shot of the sequence had to be nixed because it was too soft.
Because of the backgrounds at the stadium and Richards’ black uniforms had me a little overexposed once I had to move to the field, so some editing work had to be done.
Realized I could also get used to a team photographer gig. Was fun getting on the field and such before and after, while wandering pretty much anywhere I wanted during the game.
That’s the life.
© 2012 Jerry Burnes/Chicago Bandits
