Knife Thrower

I liked this assignment a lot, I actually love any assignment that places people out of their comfort zone and gives them a sense of accomplishment when everything is over.
As far as safety goes: Make sure you are using a telephoto lens and you are WAY out of range when shooting from behind a knife target with inexperienced throwers. While Offutt was a good shot, other participants seemed to be aiming for my camera. The reporter on the assignment just chuckled away in the background the whole time.

Jann Offutt of Columbus sends a knife towards a wooden target at a station teaching knife and tomahawk throwing during the Women in the Outdoors event at Alley Park on Saturday, March 25. (Copyright Ken Ritchie/Eagle-Gazette)

Make Up Help From A Witch

I was assigned to go to a dress rehersal and get a stand alone shot to promo a new play. Like most papers our size, we do these whenever we have a new local play, but there’s not usually a lot to it. I got to this assignment early because the director told our editor the wrong start time. While I was waiting I saw this shot and thought it would be much more of an attention grabber on the page than another photo of actors posing on a stage.

Regina Wiseman applies a coat of foundation make-up to the face of Christy DiPaolo before a dress rehearsal of The Unwicked Witch at the Liberty Center in Lancaster on Thursday, March 23. Wiseman plays the part of Wobble and DiPaolo plays Hobble in the production. (Copyright Ken Ritchie/Eagle-Gazette)

Look Younger After Lunch

Phyllis Haynes looks into a handheld mirror while Dr. Jason Lichten points out where the next series of Restylane injections will be applied to reduce lines on Haynes' face during a procedure on Friday, March 24. Haynes scheduled the procedure to add volume to her lips and decrease lines near her cheeks, mouth and between her eyes with the Restylane. In addition, she had Botox treatments to diminish "crows-feet" wrinkles around her eyes as well as lines on her forehead. (Copyright Ken Ritchie/Eagle-Gazette)Dr. Jason Lichten injects a needle of Restylane in between Phyllis Haynes' eyes during a procedure on Friday, March 24. Haynes scheduled the procedure to add volume to her lips and decrease lines near her cheeks, mouth and between her eyes with the Restylane. In addition, she had Botox treatments to diminish "crows-feet" wrinkles around her eyes as well as lines on her forehead. (Copyright Ken Ritchie/Eagle-Gazette) Dr. Jason Lichten loads a needle with Botox for Phyllis Haynes' procedure on Friday, March 24. Haynes scheduled the procedure to diminish "crows-feet" wrinkles around her eyes as well as lines on her forehead with the Botox treatments and had Restylane injections to add volume to her lips and decrease lines near her cheeks, mouth and between her eyes. (Copyright Ken Ritchie/Eagle-Gazette)

My paper dropped the ball with the presentation of this package. I came up with the idea to show that while these types of procedures are quick and popular, they are still a fairly drastic undertaking that should be thought through.

The higher ups in the newsroom all seemed to be on board, but then when the paper came out, they didn’t use ANY shots showing ANY portion of the procedure except for a much less interesting photo of the doctor and patient talking during the procedure.
Luckily, we are fairly unencumbered by squeamish editors when it comes to our newspaper’s online galleries. So when a package dies in print, I am able to resurrect it online.

Geo Kid

A lot of my subjects are happy to play along to turn an ordinary portrait into something more fun and visually compelling.
My idea for this shot was going to be Michael with a “conquering the world” look on his face while cupping the globe in his hands. Unfortunately, this kid was just into that age where it is much cooler to be withdrawn and uncaring.
So, while I was able to at least have him peer over the horizon, it was much less than I had in mind.

Eighth grader Michael Snider of Bloom-Carroll junior High School has qualified for the state geography competition, which is sponsored by National Geographic. (Copyright Ken Ritchie/Eagle-Gazette)

Barn Fire

Two firefighters are silhouetted against the orange flames of an inferno that destroyed Lowell Otenberger's barn at 6095 Chillicothe-Lancaster Road near Amanda on Thursday, March 9. (Copyright Ken Ritchie/Eagle-Gazette)

Fee Increases for the Veterans?

Fred Miller exits the Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Lancaster on Wednesday March 1. The Bush Administration is purposing changes in VA medical coverage including an increase in veteran's prescription co-pays. (Copyright Ken Ritchie/Eagle-Gazette)

New Stuff to Check Out

It's been a few weeks since my last post here but that's only because I've been up to other things.
First, if you haven't taken a look at my portfolio, please do so and let me know what you think.

Second, I have been working on audio slideshows at the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. We don't have good audio equipment yet, but I'm hoping once we show what we can do with this kind of storytelling, maybe our bosses will get us some real recording equipment.
Anyway, take a look at my second package about a small town barbershop in our county and again, tell me what you think.

Thanks.

Wrestling

We don’t cover a lot of wrestling in Lancaster. But, as a former Iowan, I do enjoy the chances that I get to shoot on the mat.

Fairfield Union's Rodney Tharp takes Jimmy Wilson, of Lakewood High School, off of his feet during their match at the Division II District Wrestling tournament at Watkins Memorial High School on Saturday, February 25. (Copyright Ken Ritchie/Eagle-Gazette)

Hanger Fees Some of the Highest in Ohio

Jerry Stephenson of Lancaster walks into his T-Hanger at the Fairfield County Airport on Saturday, February 25. Stephenson said that his rent of $202 is reasonable for the unit in which he stores his 1964 Piper Cherokee 180 aircraft. (Copyright Ken Ritchie/Eagle-Gazette)