This weekend we made a trip to Chicago and the Shedd Aquarium to see the new Jellies that are on exhibit.

Aside from the whales and dolphins the jellies were the highlight of the trip. They’re really mesmerizing as they swim around. Quite beautiful and very cool.

The Shedd really photographing it difficult with some harsh lighting in some tanks but it really added to the beauty of things.

Surprisingly there weren’t that many people in the exhibit at the time so I had plenty of time to figure things. out and get some pretty cool shots. At least cool to me.

If you’re around or in Chicago I highly suggest checking this out. Really cool exhibit.

© 2012 Jerry Burnes

I’ve realized most of my posts in 2011 were centered around sports, granted that’s most of what I shot this past year.

I guess it goes along with my old blog title Bleacher Seats.

To fix this and challenge my photography more I’ve changed the name to Back Focus. That and I wanted a more “photo-y” name for my blog.

So hopefully a new blog name, a new look and renewed sense of what direction I want to take this blog will get a bit more diverse.

We shall see, but I’m excited to bring some different stuff to the table.

© 2012 Jerry Burnes

Been getting back in the groove of shooting regularly again. By that I mean its more like trying to find time in between grad school work.

I had the itch to shoot hockey  Saturday night so I headed over to Hoffman Estates for the NIU hockey game. It was definitely a good choice.

The Huskies lost 5-4 in a shootout but I caught a couple goals, a few good moments and more importantly, got a solid shot from a fight.

Coming into the game I had some questions of how good my photos would turn out. There were two basketball games that night so the Star’s 70-200 f/2.8 was out, leaving me with just a 24-70 f/2.8.

Was actually the best thing that could have happened. I still had a good amount of range and was able to really able to shoot the glass play.

© 2012 Jerry Burnes/Northern Star

Cole Hall reopened yesterday for the first time since the Feb. 14 shooting at Northern Illinois University.

I was a junior at NIU in 2008 when that horrific event occurred. Now I’m finishing up my master’s degree at the same school.

Amazing how time flies. Hard to believe it has been four years (almost) already. I’ll keep things short on here as far as my reaction going into the building. That all can be found in the column I wrote for the Northern Star.

Like many other alums I was really impressed with the $6 million renovations to Cole Hall. Hardly looks like the same building anymore. Which is good.

Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for NIU, because this school could really use a semester without a violent act.

Forward, Together Forward.

© 2012 Jerry Burnes/Northern Star

After a night in downtown Mobile, I did have an actual football game to shoot.

It was a bittersweet game as it was my last NIU game for the Northern Star. As with the senior players, I went out a winner, 38-20 over Arkansas State.

Mobile was nice for the game. Nice enough to wear shorts so that was nice.

Was hoping Danica Patrick would make another GoDaddy.com Bowl appearance, but alas, no deal. Shame.

In all I picked up some good shots, a few courtesy of wide receiver Perez Ashford.

Good way to go out. Three of the last four games I shot had NIU hoisting a trophy.

Not a bad way to end things at all.

© 2011 Jerry Burnes/Northern Star

I headed down to Mobile, Ala. on assignment this weekend to shoot NIU at the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

After a miserable bus ride we finally made it to Mobile, so I spent Saturday night taking in the sights of downtown.

It was the start of Mardi Gras festivities so everything was alive. That and the Crimson Tide of Alabama were in the National Championship game Monday night, and the New Orleans Saints were playing Saturday.

This city seemed so new, which it was, but I think you know what I mean. I see so many pictures of Chicago that its hard for me to find something new in the limited time I’m there. This wasn’t the case with Mobile.

I felt like there would have been a lot more to shoot during the day but $20 cab rides get a little pricey.

Anyways, hope you enjoy my favorites from downtown Mobile on Saturday night. Looks a lot like New Orleans. Maybe that’ll be my next trip.

© 2011 Jerry Burnes/Northern Star

This was an awesome year as far as sports shooting went. Had a lot of great opportunities during football season and I’m pretty sad its coming to end in a few weeks.

This football season alone I shot two Big Ten games (Michigan-Illinois and Minnesota-Northwestern),shot the entire Northern Illinois season, which produced the Huskies’ first Mid-American Conference Championship since 1983. Personally, I’ve waited seven years to see that victory.

Basketball season around DeKalb is generally pretty unexciting but Kim Davis gave me one of my favorite shots of the year during a loose ball scrum.

I also shot IESA State Wrestling for the Free Press in Wilmington and produced another one of my favorite shots in the 65-pound title match.

Overall a great year for my sports images. Hope you enjoy them. Sure there’s more I could post too. Looking forward to 2012.

© 2011 Jerry Burnes/Northern Star/Free Press Newspapers

This was a pretty depressing year as far as new photographs went in DeKalb. It was also a year of some variety.

I naturally (no pun intended) had the opportunity to shoot the Snowmageddon in early Februrary. Talk about a lot of photo opportunities.

That was followed by the three-year anniversary of the Feb. 14 Shootings at Northern Illinois University.

The third photo down was more recent, the shooting death of Steven Agee. The university had a memorial service for him in which the family, including his brother showed up to.

A few other things I had the chance to shoot was the one-year memorial to Antoinette ‘Toni’ Keller, who was murdered last October. My most interesting news of the year was also an event that came off my photo bucket list. A car trying to park at Johnny’s Charhouse jumped the curb and went right through the building. Oops!

In more bad news coming from DeKalb was the shooting of NIU football player Devon Butler, who missed the 2011 season due to the injuries.

Lastly was an event for Breast Cancer Awareness month, which was a laughing class. The point was to laugh, blow some bubbles and dance. Was interesting.

© 2011 Jerry Burnes/Northern Star

Really just doesn’t seem as if Christmas should be Sunday.

While I work on my favorite 2011 photos, here are the results of me being bored with my old D60 at my grandma’s house.

Happy Holidays everyone!

© 2011 Jerry Burnes

Last time NIU won the MAC Championship was 1983—28 years ago.

The Huskies’ past two trips? Two last second heartbreaking losses.

This trip? The tables were turned and NIU overcame a 20-0 halftime deficit to hit a field goal as time expired, winning 23-20.

It was a melee on the field afterward and I was regretting not having some sort of 24-70 or wide angle. The 50mm gave me some good shots but could have had better trophy shots.

Fun game though. Had some great action shots that you can see here.

Next and last game of NIU’s that I’ll shoot will be Jan. 8 in Mobile, Ala. GoDaddy.com Bowl here I come!

© 2011 Jerry Burnes/Northern Star