Day 19 (Friday, June 30)

© The Associated Press

I had some conversations on the phone w/ some friends last night, including a text message chat w/ Sal. We talked about a few things involving my internship. I was telling him that I was getting very anxious to go out and do late-breaking news. So far, I have been doing a lot of the office training necessary to be able to be a functioning AP photographer. A lot of office work and computer training. Nothing wrong w/ that. But my shutter finger has been itchy for some late-breaking stuff.

© The Associated Press

The conversation must have been heard by someone special because today's assignment involved late-breaking news.

The first assignment was going to Northwestern University to a news conference. The head football coach passed away last night and faculty and athletes were there to talk about him.

The morning began w/ a rush. I got to the office and I was instructed to head out to the news conference, which was scheduled to start in about 30 minutes after I left the office. Northwestern is located in Evanston, which is up north and driving to the school is no easy task at 8:30 in the morning because of all the traffic. I battled through traffic and looking at a detailed map of Evanston, a place I had not been to before. Luckily, my navigation skills paid off as I got to the university in time for the news conference.

I shot the typical podium shots and talking heads at the news conference. But I wanted a little more "real." Luckily, I was able to get some nice reaction photos during the event. I found the athletic department's media workroom and sent my photos in to my editor for review. Within the hour, my photos were on the wire visible to all newspapers and news providers in the nation. I caught a glimpse of one of my photos on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Newspaper later today.

© The Associated Press

I was really excited to file from location and to work on a tight deadline. That sort of rush is what I live for. To be completely pressed for time and still make things happen. Needless to say, my drive back to the office featured a big smile on my face for what I thought to be a fun experience.

During the drive, I got a call from my editor saying a helicopter had done a crash landing in the South Side and I had to go and make some images. Again, I was headed to a place that is so far away from where I was and a place I had never seen. Because of the magnitude of the crash landing, the major highway was a parking lot because it was blocked up ahead. However, a cop car drove by w/ its lights flashing and siren and I kind of drifted behind it. Doing so saved me at least a 30 minute wait behind almost stand-still traffic.

© The Associated Press

When I got to a location close enough to get a peek I found out that the whole area was blocked off. The cops weren't allowing me through and I was anxious to get a photo made. I walked away from the only entrance to the area along the side of the highway where I was able to creep up and get a closer look. The above photo is all I could do. I was happy to be close enough to get a view of the helicopter.

© The Associated Press

However, I didn't have much time to work there. Within minutes one of the cops spotted me and he told his coworkers I was taking photos from the highway median across the way. Quickly I was kicked off the area as I could not get a better shot of the helicopter because of all the trees in the way.

I felt pretty proud that I was able to get by the cops and get a shot. I was happy.

My feelings of triumph, however, went away pretty quickly when I got back to the office. A veteran AP photographer got a nice shot of the plane w/ no trees or people in the way. He was in the office at the time the call came in. So, he took a 600mm lens and was able to get a few minutes of access to shoot the photo from the side. Meanwhile, since I was already on the field when I got the call, all I had was a 200mm lens. I wish I had the 600mm lens, it would have made a slight difference. But you work w/ what you have. And you make things happen. I am still pretty glad about the photo. After all, the fact that I was able to get around town in late-breaking-news mode is a victory in it of itself.

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