04.19.10

Sean Proctor at MDN. It made me smile on a day when I just wasn't feeling up to snuff.

04.18.10

04.17.10

04.14.10

04.13.10

Junior Brittni Merchant, right , draws a cross in the dirt before every at bat to express her faith. Her sister, Macy, draws the number four, which she chose to wear to honor a late friend and a mother of a friend who is battling Lou Gehrig's disease. Away from softball, the two are extremely close. "(Macy)'s my best friend, my rock. She's everything and she's awesome," Brittni said.



Love both B&W and Color. Couldn't choose. Let me know what you like. :)

04.12.10

04.11.10

[No photo]

04.10.10

04.06.10

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04.01.10

03.30.10

03.27.10

Brighton sophomore Mark Lauzon watches the ball as he starts his swing during a home run derby-style game of wiffle ball on Saturday afternoon with three friends at West Point Village. "Three home runs, no big deal," he said with confidence. "But that's not all it is about. It's about hanging out with friends and bringing some character to the game."

03.26.10

03.25.10

Quintin Smith, 10, swings at a high-flying pitch from his father Hal in their backyard Thursday afternoon in St. Louis, Mich. The Smiths are preparing for little league season, which starts in the first week of April. Quintin swung at about 100 pitches, he said, hoping to better his offensive game, as last year he only hit three pitches. He hit one of every four pitches today. "He's just trying to dust the cobwebs off of the old bat," said he said. "I had a few good ones, and one even cleared the house. I just want to get better before this season. I want to be a good batter."

03.24.10

Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis smiles while scouting Central Michigan University football players during Pro Day on Wednesday at the Indoor Athletic Complex. Weis was the former Notre Dame head coach and was only recently named the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs.

03.17.10

03.16.10

Davenport junior Zak Gonzalez throws a pitch during the fifth inning during the baseball game against Central Michigan. CMU won the game 11-5.

03.15.10

03.14.10

03.12.10

Indiana junior Rachel Kauffman looks up frightened and cold while two students attempt to keep her warm while searching for a solution for her fully-impaled leg. Kauffman landed on a tree limb in a simulation Friday at Mill Pond Park for RPL 365: Wilderness First Responder. The scenario had 13 victims spread across the park during a simulation of the Chile earthquake. Each had a different ailment; one victim died, but most survived and were treated appropriately. "Oh my god. I can't even imagine the pain," Kauffman said. "I've never even broken a bone. It would be absolutely horrendous. When they came to help, my first reaction was to scream."

03.09.10

03.07.10

03.05.10

03.04.10

St. Patrick's Day is a day of merriment and green drinks. Hopefully nobody drowns in green beer.

03.03.10

03.02.10

03.01.10

02.28.10

Neil Blake and Libby March. Two of my best friends. Fantastic photojournalists with great storytelling abilities. These two and I make up the Trifecta, a name we gave ourselves as whole to help strive for better photography and understanding of our work and what we can do with our photography. Each of us were awarded an individual award at the Michigan Press Photographers Association conference this weekend in East Lansing.

Even more amazing is we were each given an award for Michigan's College Photographer of the Year. Neil was named top honors. I was first runner-up and Libby as second runner-up. Another wonderful friend of mine, Sean Proctor, was also in the running, and we all wanted him to receive an honorable mention for his work, which was close to happening.

We have all worked very hard for this. Late nights in the Woldt Lab, constantly pushing each other to become better storytellers. I can't say enough about my closest friends and the work they produce. I am continuously inspired every day to shoot as I see them doing the same. It's addictive, but it's our lifestyle and I wouldn't have it any other way. I learned so much this weekend from seeing so many great pictures and talking with professionals. It's truly wonderful to immerse yourself into what you love around people who truly understand it.

I love all you all — Neil, Libby and Sean. You are my best friends. Thanks so much for being so supportive of not only my, but our collective works as photojournalists. Rat Pack for the win! (Secondary photo courtesy of Kent Miller, a professor that has helped guide us and without him, none of this would be possible.)

Here are links to our winning works:

Neil Blake, College Photographer of the Year
Jake May, College Photographer of the Year, First Runner-Up
Libby March, College Photographer of the Year, Second Runner-Up

Neil Blake, Sports Picture Story, Honorable Mention
Libby March, Feature Picture Story, First Place
Jake May, Feature Picture Story, Honorable Mention

02.19.10

Sophomore thrower Jake Maloney embraces senior thrower Charity Sunderman after she threw her second consecutive record-breaking throw of 62 feet, 6 inches, which broke Kari Taylor’s record, 60 feet, 6 and one-half inches, by nearly two full feet. The toss made Sunderman an NCAA Provisional qualifier for the first time in her career. "It didn't hit me right away," she said. "But once I realized I broke the school record, I was like 'Oh my God! I totally just did that.' It's like the best day of my life."

02.18.10

Friendship.

02.12.10

Lansing freshman Virginia Bernero is the daughter of Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, who has announced running for governor of Michigan recently. "It's going to be very hectic, but very exciting," Virginia Bernero said. "It's definitely a new chapter in our lives."

02.11.10

Gymnastics Coach Jerry Reighard and his wife Nancy, assistant gymnastics coach, laugh while fighting over a piece of foam in the foam pit at the gymnastics practice room Thursday in Rose Arena. The two met in 1972: Nancy on the women's gymnastics team at CMU; Jerry on the men's team. Every day after practice, Jerry walked Nancy home to her dorm room in Sweeney Hall. The two have been married for 36 years. "I was in love with her. That's why I did it," Jerry said. "And I still love her just as much today. I just know her a bit better now, that's all."

02.07.10

02.06.10

Seven-year-old Sophia Putman, of Allendale, smiles as she takes a break from activties, sitting on the ground watching others play inflatable games and make music videos. Putman's face was painted, but she said she wasn't really a fan until she saw the final result. "I didn't know what I wanted, so she gave me makeover in her own way. I didn't have a clue what to expect, but I love it," Putman said.

02.03.10

01.31.10

Westland junior Dessi Tzankova, right, flips through the pages of a commemorative Elvis Presley book, reading facts of his life and looking at pictures of the singer with Renee Ringel, a 45-year-old Mount Pleasant resident, at her home Sunday afternoon. Elvis is Ringel's favorite musician. Tzankova and Ringel were paired through the Best Buddies program, a non-profit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. "Renee is outgoing, fun-loving, caring, talkative and actually sometimes shy," Tzankova said. "Everywhere we go, someone knows her by name. She make a big impact on people."

01.30.10

Caption to come soon.

01.29.10

Intergalactic Human Sled Racing in Grand Haven, Mich.
1. We're in the lead.
2. Come on guys, let's kick it up.
3. Lost the sled, still being pulled by teammates. Ouch.
4. We lost, but man was it fun.

01.28.10

Macomb junior Jamie Favazza texts a friend while driving down West Broomfield Road on Thursday afternoon. The Michigan Senate approved legislation Tuesday that will ban texting while driving. Officials say Granholm is expected to sign the legislation when it comes to her desk.

01.27.10

Garageband. We've all been there. Maybe I should start one? Lol.

01.26.10

Brian Manzullo, Central Michigan Life editor in chief, copy edits pages at his office desk in Moore Hall 436 late into the production night.

01.25.10

American Sign Language. It has become my three-hour routine Monday nights. She is signing the word "university."

01.24.10

Bananagrams. A great game with good friends.

01.23.10

Classical Academy sophomore Avery Adams, 16, juggles three tennis balls while walking around a basketball court early Saturday morning at Morey Courts during CMU Up All Night, where about 60 high schoolers stayed awake until 7 a.m. playing basketball, volleyball, tennis and other activities. "When I am worried about something or anything troubles me, I juggle," Adams said. "It's a release for me. There's nothing else to think about. All my focus is there, which makes this a perfect stress reliever."