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."

01.22.10

Flint Northern High School student Mytekeya Johnson, 17, smiles as she dances down a Soul Train line on Friday night at the Martin Luther King Jr. CommUNITY Ball in the Bovee University Center Rotunda. "I like it here. It's cool. Straight up, this dance is nice," Johnson said.

01.21.10

Isabel Faith Jones, 4, sits on a pile of mat carpets cross-legged while waiting to grab a toy during jazznastics, a class that combines dance instruction with basic gymnastics, Thursday night at Vision Studio of Performing Arts, 131 E. Broadway St. The class is for girls ages 3 to 5. "It's so much fun," she said. "When we get to play with the toys, I cheerlead. It's the best part."

01.20.10

Casey Shortt, a portrait.

01.19.10

It's Danny Glover.

01.18.10

Detroit freshman Shaniqua Sanders smiles as she listens to speeches by her peers while holding a burning candle at a candlelight vigil Monday afternoon, which occurred at the end of the CommUNITY March on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. "This is all about getting together amongst others as a unity to help one another for peace, love and prosperity," she said. "Martin Luther King, Jr. is a symbol of freedom, a symbol of life — a symbol of a new generation. I don't think the world would be the same without him."

01.17.10

This reminds me of a scary movie.

01.16.10

01.15.10

Gin and tonic. Many were consumed, but none by me.

01.14.10

Boyne City freshman Sarah Gerberding lays in a tanning bed for a 20-minute session on Thursday morning at B-Tan in Stadium Mall, 1620 S. Mission St.

01.13.10

My friend, Sean Proctor, poses with a lewd picture of a donkey and a man. His girlfriend drew the picture after trying to prove to Sean's brother sexual relations could be possible between the two. She said the man in the picture is suppose to portray Sean's brother Drew.

01.12.10

Michigan State running backs coach Dan Enos smiles as he chats with athletics officials before a press conference Tuesday at the Indoor Athletics Complex where he was announced as Central Michigan University's new head coach. Enos signed a five-year contract worth $250,000 per year in base salary and includes a $75,000 bonus for public appearances, television and radio. “My vision will be and will remain as long as I am head football coach here that I want us to be mentioned in the same breath and be synonymous with the Boise States and the TCUs and the Utahs of the world,” he said. “And be the class of the MAC and be 12-0 going into the MAC Championship game and having people say, ‘What about them? What about CMU? What about Central Michigan?’ That’s our vision. That’s our goal.”

01.11.10

First day of classes portraits; clockwise from upper left:

• "I told my classmates they had nice hair and a scarf," Coleman freshman Cody Mayhew said. In one of his classes, he participated in ice-breaking activities, where students gave compliments to each other.
• "I'm trying to go hard or go homeless. I refuse to not be successful," said Benton Harbor senior Michelle Brooks, about passing classes to graduate in May.
• "I'm not looking forward to HST 102 (Development of Western Civilization) because today was the first day in class and I almost fell asleep," said Otter Lake senior Elizabeth Conrad.
• "I'm a big fan of jazz from people like Louis Armstrong and Herbie Hancock," said Spring Lake sophomore Austin Berg, who is excited for his class, MUS 213: Jazz: An American Art Form.

01.10.10

Iron Mountain native Libby March holds a pillow over her head in triumph after an epic battle in which she successfully stole it from Mount Pleasant resident Neil Blake. The two continued to battle for possession of the red pillow on and off for about 10 minutes, but March still won the infamous pillow fight. "This is the natural order of things," she said smiling. "Neil Blake is just going to have to step it up."

01.09.10

Warren senior Joshua Thomas skates down the ice while playing a pick-up game of ice hockey Saturday afternoon atop of Central Michigan University's Rose Ponds near the Student Activity Center. Brancaleone and two of his friends cleaned the snow off of the ice with two shovels. Though it took the trio about 45 minutes to clear, they set up a busted hockey net and began shooting for about an hour. "We've wanted to come out here since sophomore year," he said. "I was a bit worried about thin ice at first, but now that we've played I can say I enjoy not falling through it. This is basically our last hoorah before the semester kicks off."

01.08.10

Mount Pleasant police officers inspect a blue pick-up truck after a collision with a red pickup truck at about 7:15 p.m. Friday at the intersection of East Campus Drive and Preston Street. The blue truck did not stop at the stop sign on East Campus Drive traveling north, and upon hitting the red truck, both shifted toward the Health Professions Building, each stopping on the sidewalk and one through a street sign and into a campus brick wall. Sgt. Shawn Paul said there were no life-threatening injuries, but one driver was sent to the emergency room. Both vehicles were undriveable and were towed from the scene. "It's a pretty good collision when both vehicles are coming off the road like this," Paul said. "People need to be aware of their surroundings. The driver did not see the stop sign and ran right through it. That's what caused the accident."

01.07.10

Every college student has felt this way at one point, whether it be an early wake up for a morning class or working off the hangover of a long night of debauchery and drunken fun. This is Leah. I would like to ask anyone who sees this photo to please leave a comment with what you think the caption should read, or what you feel she might be thinking -- a fill in the blank for you to interpret the photo. Love you Leah! Have fun posting captions everyone. :)

01.06.10

Warren resident D.J. Liden, 27, assembles his drum set for the finale performance with his band Under Anchor Wednesday night in the retail side of the recently-opened Justice Records, a vinyl record store located at 617 N. Mission St. in Mount Pleasant, Mich. The record store opened Monday, and held its first concert Wednesday night, which included five bands in live performance. Liden said he fiddles with his drum set anywhere between 15 and 30 minutes. "I just like to tinker with it until it's just right," he said. "I strive for perfection, but when I'm frustrated with it, I just quit and play."

01.05.10

Whitey Dowski, 97, has sat at the same table next to the window at Dave's Pizza Place in Leslie, Mich., for the last 50 years. He sat there Tuesday drinking two cups of black coffee like he does every afternoon. Once a manufacturing engineer, Dowski has outlived his wife, but still has the pleasure of seeing his two daughters. Though he no longer drives himself around town, he does bowl once a week in a bowling league and lives in a house. "If I could give any advice in the years I've lived ... I wouldn't want to tell you nothing because you might want to do it, just like I did," he said laughing. "Live life. Live everything."

01.04.10

Jackson residents Gail Hull and Marg Howe sit side by side sewing, patching and hemming articles of clothing Monday afternoon at The Tailor's Corner, located at 338 S. Mechanic St. in Jackson, Mich. Hull has been employed for about two years, while Howe has worked on-and-off for the owner since she opened the store 17 years ago. "I keep coming back because I like the work," Howe said.

01.03.10

Keanon Kelley, 19, skates around the ice Sunday at Sparks Foundation County Park in Jackson, Mich., as he practices shots on goal while his friends lace up to join him in a pick-up game of hockey. He and his seven friends all played for Lumen Christi High School's varsity hockey team last year before attending different colleges.

01.02.10

Davino Bedore, 7, slowly trudges up a hillside with his sled while the sun sets Saturday in Spark Foundation County Park in Jackson, Mich. Bedore sledded for about an hour with his cousin and uncle alongside about 40 others.

01.01.10

Flint native David Harris stumbled around his girlfriend Dana DeFever for a few minutes before kissing her after midnight on New Year's Day at a house party in his home in Flint, Mich.

Start

It's 2010. A new year brings a fresh start, at least that's what we hear. And as it is a new year, so many make resolutions on how to better their lives. Lucky for me, I have to great friends who are embarking on this photographic endeavor alongside me.

Libby's raw talent and natural ability to make storytelling images makes her so valuable to this journey. I see her work grow with every image she makes, every story she tells. She has an amazing ability, and I hope just sparks from her fiery inferno behind the lens hits me and also ignites some sort of genius in me.

Neil has an amazing ability to bring home a portfolio image through nearly every daily assignment he shoots. He's got respect amongst his peers, especially me, and his professionalism and kind heart are what make him and his images so easily recognizable and true storytelling photos. His eye for composition and handle on light make him an essential piece to this puzzle. I want to learn from him, his techniques and this journey of which we have just begun.

My personal goal is to understand my photography and what images I want to make. I want to really understand those who I shoot. I want to make images that matter, that truly delve into the lives of my subjects. Storytelling is key, and that is my main goal in development. Who knows where this year-long photo walk will take any of us? I know it will bring us closer together, and we will discover much about ourselves through the images we make. That is all I can ask for is friendship and maybe a bit of education on my technical skills. :) I love you both dearly. Let's make 2010 a year to remember.