Big Red Blues

While Nebraska's loss to Kentucky for the right to play Oklahoma in the regional final was hard to watch, the Husker's accomplished something that no other team was able to do: Get me to watch women's basketball.

I covered several games this year and found myself enjoying the sport, not just the assignment.

Connie Yori led Nebraska further than any other Nebraska basketball team by making it to the Sweet Sixteen.

I not only covered some of the games -- I also rooted for the team. I jumped on the bandwagon and look forward to watching them next year.

Lost opportunities

Day 3: 03/27/2010
I'm not sure if I'm being hard on myself or if I'm a hack. I archive all my work and revue my results at the end of every week. This past week I know I worked hard, but the best picture I took was from a freaking press conference. A press conference? I'm having trouble letting that sink in.

I know that it will take time to get back to full strength. Yet there is a part of me that expects more -- it keeps me up at night. Did I do enough?

Joel Sartore would ask if I have any irons in the fire. He's a big advocate of working on long-term projects. If I was allowed to offer an excuse I would say that I am just trying to learn my job and get comfortable with my equipment. But in the end there is no place for excuses. I could have got up early and done some enterprise photography. I could have looked for a story that deserves more attention. Instead I was happy to let my assignments dictate my opportunities.

My goal for the coming week is to look beyond my assignments for success. Hopefully the next time I revue I won't find that my best picture was given to me in the form of a "photo opportunity."

Bracket Buster

Day 2: 03/26/2010
Kansas State pulled out a squeaker in double overtime against Xavier, knocking out yet another of my elite eight picks. Denis Clemente calmly sank two free throws with 11.6 seconds remaining, sealing the Wildcat's victory. I photographed Clemente in Lincoln on Feb. 2, as Kansas State crushed the Cornhuskers. The shot may not be the best basketball photo I've ever taken, but Clemente was definitely the best player I saw this year.

Today is a new day

I returned to photojournalism a few months ago after 12 years in hibernation. I'm shooting for the Omaha World-Herald and am trying my hand at both still and video photography. I hope this will become a forum for friends, family and fellow photographers.