Boone Life: Creature Comforts

This was my final project for my staff photography class that I put together for the Missourian. You can read the accompanying article I wrote here. I wish I could've spent more time on this, but given the amount of access I had (about three hours), I think it's pretty good.

Many thanks to the MU Children's Hospital and the families that let me shoot with them for their kindness.

Super Mysterious Boone Life Preview

WHAT COULD IT BE?

Antique Hoopsters

Probably the most fun I've had on an 8am assignment. These guys are inspiring. You can read the story here.

Let There Be (Christmas) Lights

I was assigned to shoot the lighting ceremony at Columbia College last night and wasn't sure what to expect. When I first arrived on campus I was a little worried because there were not too many people there. My strategy was basically just to find small children who were dressed festively.

THEN THE MOST AMAZING THING HAPPENED. The photo gods said, "Let there be Christmas lights!" and I jumped into an evergreen tree and made my favorite photo of the entire semester. It's the first photo and I hope you like it as much as I do.

The Powder Horn

In the Missourian's never-ending quest to put me in awkward situations, I shot (photos) at the Powder Horn sporting goods store on the day before deer season started. I did my best to chat with the customers, even though I had never picked up a real gun in my entire life.

(could it be? A vertical?) 

Elders.

The semester is drawing to a close and I wanted to share my favorite assignment of the year so far. I was lucky enough to spend the day with a couple of Mormon elders and learn about the missionary work they do in the city. It was a lot of walking, and a whole lot of learning.

Elder Tyler Hemenway straightens his tie Wednesday on Broadway. The elders dress up whenever they witness, usually in suit jackets. The ring on Hemenway's right hand bears the initials "CTR" which means "Choose the Right," a reminder to follow the ways of Jesus Christ. 

Elder Sean Marett (left) celebrates kicking a rock through Elder Tyler Hemenway's legs during their walk to Stephens Lake Park on Wednesday. The two kick rocks at one another when they are walking somewhere and there is no one for them to witness to. 

Elders, from left, Drew Anderson, Sean Marett, Tim Stewart, Andrew Judkins and Tyler Hemenway pray during their last district meeting on Wednesday at Stephens Lake Park. Elders are stationed to a certain district for six weeks and usually don't know their next location until a couple of days before they are supposed to leave. According to Marett and Hemenway, it's possible that at least half of them will be leaving soon.

Elder Tim Stewart and Elder Isaac Leffler watch a film about Joseph Smith on Wednesday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Old 63 in Columbia. Smith was founder of the Latter Day Saints and is considered a prophet. 

Elder Sean Marett looks up at a Beatles poster on the wall at Gumby's Pizza in Columbia on Wednesday. According to Marett, he used to have posters plastered all over his walls back home in Utah. Marett is in the midst of his two-year mission, so he will not go home or see his family until that time is over.

Elder Tyler Hemenway and Elder Sean Marett walk downtown on Wednesday in Columbia. They have a car, but they also have a small budget, so they try to walk as much as they possibly can. They usually walk about six miles a day. 

All images ©Taylor Glascock 2010 and Columbia Missourian

Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon

In honor of how friggin' excited I am about the release of Harry Potter 7 today, I'm posting some photos I took last week at the Daniel Boone Regional Library. Having worked in libraries for about five years, it brought back all kinds of memories. It was kind of hard for me not to participate, actually, and I think I freaked out the workers there with my enthusiasm. Merp.

(forgive the colors, this room was a nightmare)

Lines.

I've given myself a mission, and my lenses are helping me. I've been struggling to provide more context and environment in my photos, and it just so happens that the autofocus on my 50mm f/1.4 decided to quit working. I have an 85mm and a 28mm, so I'll make do for now. It's made shooting a little more challenging, but I think I needed it.

In this situation I was called by the Missourian to do a quick spot feature on some scaffolding that was being built for the Citizen Jane Film Festival.

It was just around 1 pm, and the light was terrible (hence the black and white), plus there was not much space to move around. Here are a few shots that I liked. I've been working on working situations from different distances and angles, and being limited to a wide angle has forced me to compose differently.

Cotton Candy.

I shot the Russell Elementary Fall Festival last week. Cute kids, nice light. You can see a gallery here.

A Question and a Concern.

I was recently given an assignment to photograph a woman breast-feeding as a part of a larger story about Missouri not reaching the Center for Disease Control's standards of breast-feeding. 

I was instructed to keep the photos tasteful, which I believe I did. However, one of the reasons the first photo didn't run was for a reason I didn't foresee. My editor told me that she didn't think my subject would want her legs to in the paper because they had hair on them. I said that if she made the decision to shave her legs/have a photographer be with her during such an intimate moment, that she wouldn't care.

The discussion ended shortly after, and a photo similar to the second ran instead. I think I should've fought for my photo more. I understand my editor's concerns and respect her opinion, but I love this photo and wish it could have seen print. What do you think?

Sarah Davis has been a member of La Leche League, an international organization that encourages mothers to breast-feed their childen, for seven years. 

Sarah Davis breast-feeds her 9-month son, Micah, on Friday at her home in Columbia. Davis has been a member of the La Leche League since the birth of her first child 7 years ago. Her three sons have never had a bottle, Davis said.

R-E-C-Y-C-L-E

A select and an outtake from this story. 

Mechanics at Work

In black and white. 'Cause I felt like it. You can see a slideshow of details I shot here.

Back to Farm Reunion

After shooting the beginning of a bike race at the Boone County fairgrounds, I drove back to downtown Columbia, picked up the reporter, then headed to Boonville. I wish I could've spent a little more time here, but I had more assignments. You can see the article here. Here are a few favorites.

All images ©Taylor Glascock 2010

Bikes (Yeah, Bikes)

A couple outtakes from a whirlwind 30 minutes on a crazy Saturday shift at the Missourian

All Images ©Taylor Glascock 2010

Missouri Contemporary Ballet

Monday, I photographed the Missouri Contemporary Ballet as an enterprise assignment for The Columbia Missourian. To my surprise, several photos ran as a standalone centerpiece for Tuesday's paper! I was really proud of this shoot, but as I was looking through my take, I realized that a lot of my images were a little soft. I don't know if this is an issue of back focusing or if I messed with a dial by accident, but this was super disappointing to me! A little sharpening proved to be a quick fix, but I want my images to be sharp right out of camera. Also, the light was beautiful in the studio, but I should have worked a little more with my strobe to bring out faces more.

What's interesting about this image and the last image is that I tilted them without realizing it. I was so focused on not cutting off any limbs that I tilted my body instead of taking a step back. To be honest, the tilt doesn't bother me, but I know it sends some people away screaming. Any way, I'd love your thoughts.

I know it's busy...but something about this appeals to me. I think the idea was good, but the execution could be better.