Today. (3.23.14)

Today was my first day back to work after having four days off, and I figured I'd share a few photos from today.

I'm going to try to post smaller posts more often as opposed to such large posts like I have in the past.

Today I found myself covering a bit of a variety. There are some photos of politicians at a news conference, a goose standing in the Big Sioux River and a minor car accident.

Kind of a sampling of daily newspaper work. 

Thanks for looking.

©Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader
©Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader
©Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader
©Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader

Fourteen Hours of Election Coverage. (4.13.14)

Last Tuesday I spent the day covering the Sioux Falls Municipal Election.

I covered multiple angles of the story, from voting, to taking down campaign signs, to candidate reaction.

It was a pretty long day, but it was worth it. I was very happy with my contribution to our election coverage.

My favorite photo of the whole day was one of my last photos. One of the Sioux Falls mayoral candidates, Greg Jamison, stepped out toward the end of the ballot counting to call the incumbent mayor, Mike Huether, on his re-election.

I followed him out onto the patio at the Falls Overlook Cafe in Falls Park, I hung back a little bit and made a couple photos before he turned around and got off the phone.

That photo was the cherry on top of the election coverage that I was already proud of.

Thanks for looking. Enjoy some of my favorite photos from the day.

Greg Jamison, Sioux Falls mayoral candidate, congratulates Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether on his re-election after the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Falls Overlook Cafe in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Sioux Falls mayoral candidate, Greg Jamison, looks up at a television news broadcast after the polls closed during the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Falls Overlook Cafe in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Three-year-old Pia Justice looks on as her mother, Olimpia Justice, right, fills out her ballot during the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Glenn Krupka fills out his ballot during the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at First Lutheran Church in downtown Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Voters wait in line during the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. At times the line of voters waiting reached out the doors of the church. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Joel Slinden, left, and Noah Huisman, both with Building a Better Sioux Falls, take down campaign signs after the polls closed for the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday evening, April 8, 2014, at the corner of Broadband Lane and 57th Street in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
From left, Beth Jamison, Sioux Falls mayoral candidate Greg Jamison and Matt Jamison keep an eye on election results after the polls closed during the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Falls Overlook Cafe in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Amy Wollman fills out her ballot during the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Sioux Falls City Council Southeast District candidate, Bonita Schwan, right, keeps an eye on election results with supporters, Ann Decker, left, and Shary John, center, after the polls closed during the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Falls Overlook Cafe in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Jason Avery fills out his ballot while his daughter, Marlee Avery, 4, sits on his lap during the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Morningside Community Center in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Sioux Falls mayoral candidate Greg Jamison mingles with supporters after the polls closed during the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Falls Overlook Cafe in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Greg Jamison, Sioux Falls mayoral candidate, waits to do an interview after congratulating Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether over the phone on his victory after the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Falls Overlook Cafe in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Greg Jamison, Sioux Falls mayoral candidate, does an interview after congratulating Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether over the phone on his victory after the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Falls Overlook Cafe in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Dana Palmer (center), with Save Your Neighborhood, watches election results after the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Falls Overlook Cafe in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Voters, including Jason Avery with his daughter, Marlee Avery, 4, sitting on his shoulders, wait in line before voting during the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Morningside Community Center in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Greg Jamison, Sioux Falls mayoral candidate, hugs his wife, Beth Jamison  while speaking to supporters after congratulating Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether on his re-election by phone after the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Falls Overlook Cafe in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Beth Jamison, wife of Sioux Falls mayoral candidate Greg Jamison, claps as her husband appears on a television news broadcast after the polls closed during the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Falls Overlook Cafe in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Voters, including Brad Gill, second from right, wait in line during the Sioux Falls Municpal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. At times the line of voters waiting reached out the doors of the church. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Dana Palmer, with Save Your Neighborhood, keeps an eye on election results after the polls closed during the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Falls Overlook Cafe in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Dan DeJong, right, casts his vote during the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Sioux Falls City Council Southeast District candidate, Bonita Schwan watches election results after the Sioux Falls Municipal Election on Tuesday night, April 8, 2014, at the Falls Overlook Cafe in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

A Good Week of Work. (4.6.14)

I've had a fairly busy week. Particularly since my week didn't start until Wednesday.

I found some kids playing basketball in some gorgeous light, covered a minor house fire--started by a little girl with lighter playing a closet--I spent some time in a neighborhood photographing the folks that live there for a story about the diversity in the neighborhood and how some new townhomes might add to the said diversity, covered a hockey game, and I spent an afternoon at a state park.

A good week.

Oh, there's also a portrait of a mom with her very happy baby.

I'm pretty proud of my work this week.

There's some other stuff represented in this edit, but I'll let you get to that on your own.

Thanks for looking. 

Nick Arrington, center, goes up for a shot while playing basketball with Ressul Ajdari, left, and Yohanes Belay, right, Saturday evening, April 5, 2014, at Lions Centennial Park in Sioux Falls. According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, the high on Saturday was 57 degrees, with Sunday's high projected to be 60 degrees. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Ressul Ajdari chases a loose ball while playing basketball with Yohanes Belay, center, and Nick Arrington, right, Saturday evening, April 5, 2014, at Lions Centennial Park in Sioux Falls. According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, the high on Saturday was 57 degrees, with Sunday's high projected to be 60 degrees. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Yohanes Belay, left, takes a shot while Ressul Ajdari, center, and Nick Arrington, right, look on while playing basketball on Saturday evening, April 5, 2014, at Lions Centennial Park in Sioux Falls. According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, the high on Saturday was 57 degrees, with Sunday's high projected to be 60 degrees. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Nick Arrington, center, chases a loose ball while playing basketball with Ressul Ajdari, left, and Yohanes Belay, right, on Saturday evening, April 5, 2014, at Lions Centennial Park in Sioux Falls. According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, the high on Saturday was 57 degrees, with Sunday's high projected to be 60 degrees. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Construction crews work to tear down houses to make room for new townhomes on Thursday, April 3, 2014,  along 2nd Avenue across from Sunshine Foods in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Alberto Rodriguez smokes a cigarette outside of a rental house that he lives in on Thursday, April 3, 2014, near the corner of 3rd Avenue and 13th Street behind Sunshine Foods in Sioux Falls. As Rodriquez smoked his cigarette, construction crews a block away worked to tear down houses to make room for new townhomes. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Trey Tindell loads groceries into his car after shopping on Thursday, April 3, 2014, at Sunshine Foods in Sioux Falls. As Tindell loaded his groceries, construction crews worked to tear down houses across 2nd Avenue from the grocery store. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Greg Moeller, who shops at Sunshine Foods about two or three times a week, grocery shops on Thursday, April 3, 2014, at Sunshine Foods in Sioux Falls. As Moeller shoped, construction crews worked to tear down houses across 2nd Avenue from the grocery store. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
USF catcher Dylan Dwyer tages out Northern State's Clayton Nutting at home plate during the second game of a doubleheader against between USF and Northern State on Wednesday, April 2, 2014, at Harmodon Park in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Northern State's Clayton Nutting and USF's Wesley Kroupa look to an official after Nutting tagged out Kroupa at second base during the second game of a doubleheader against between USF and Northern State on Wednesday, April 2, 2014, at Harmodon Park in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Jennifer Boomgaarden, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra executive director, stands for a portrait on Thursday, April 3, 2014, at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Mike Schaefer, who now lives in the San Francisco area but grew up in Brookings, S.D., browses through the beer selection on Friday, April 4, 2014, at Good Spirits Fine Wine and Liquor at the corner of Minnesota Avenue and 41st Street in Sioux Falls. The Sioux Falls City Council will be voting on whether or not to increase the number of off-sale liquor licenses available to Sioux Falls businesses.  (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Sam Ying, of the San Francisco area, browses through the beer selection on Friday, April 4, 2014, at Good Spirits Fine Wine and Liquor at the corner of Minnesota Avenue and 41st Street in Sioux Falls. The Sioux Falls City Council will be voting on whether or not to increase the number of off-sale liquor licenses available to Sioux Falls businesses.  (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Yoga instructor, Maria Travers, who teaches Mommy and Me Yoga at Educated Mommy, demonstrates the butterfly pose with her son, Lysander Travers, for a portrait on Friday, April 4, 2014, in the studio at the Argus Leader Media building in downtown Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Dennis Horton assesses damage to a rental home that he owns after firefighters with Sioux Falls Fire and Rescue responded to a structure fire at the home on Sunday, April 6, 2014, on the 1900 Block of South Menlo Avenue in Sioux Falls. Horton's wife, Barbara Horton, said the fire was started by a young girl playing with a lighter in the closet. Horton said the young girl admitted it to her mother who rents the property. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Firefighters with Sioux Falls Fire and Rescue respond to a structure fire on Sunday, April 6, 2014, on the 1900 Block of South Menlo Avenue in Sioux Falls. Property owner Barbara Horton said the fire was started by a young girl playing with a lighter in the closet. Horton said the young girl admitted it to her mother who rents the property. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Dennis Horton talks with Captain Chris Irsfeld, with Sioux Falls Fire and Rescue, about damage to a rental home that Horton owns after firefighters with Sioux Falls Fire and Rescue responded to a structure fire at the home on Sunday, April 6, 2014, on the 1900 Block of South Menlo Avenue in Sioux Falls. Horton's wife, Barbara Horton, said the fire was started by a young girl playing with a lighter in the closet. Horton said the young girl admitted it to her mother who rents the property. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Firefighters with Sioux Falls Fire and Rescue respond to a structure fire on Sunday, April 6, 2014, on the 1900 Block of South Menlo Avenue in Sioux Falls. Property owner Barbara Horton said the fire was started by a young girl playing with a lighter in the closet. Horton said the young girl admitted it to her mother who rents the property. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Dennis Horton waits outside of a rental home that he owns after firefighters with Sioux Falls Fire and Rescue responded to a structure fire at the home on Sunday, April 6, 2014, on the 1900 Block of South Menlo Avenue in Sioux Falls. Horton's wife, Barbara Horton, said the fire was started by a young girl playing with a lighter in the closet. Horton said the young girl admitted it to her mother who rents the property. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Washington High School Concert Choir members wait to take the stage to perform during the Just Sing It choir competition on Saturday, April 5, 2014, at O'Gorman High School in Sioux Falls. The Just Sing It choir competition gives high school choirs the opportunity to perform in a new performing arts center as well as gives choirs and choir directors an opportunity to sharpen their skills during a clinic after their performance with a clinic judge, Cathy Britton, O'Gorman high school choir director, said. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Ted Muenster, left, and Dzenan Berberovic prepare some Yote 'dourves during the annual Gourmet Guys event on Sunday, April 6, 2014, at Active Generations in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Jesse Davis, 13, replenishes some of his Be Great Cheesecake during the annual Gourmet Guys event on Sunday, April 6, 2014, at Active Generations in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
From left, Donna Clercx, Jan Olson and Sue Goldsmith sample some of Glen Heinrichs' Mom's Bagel Spread during the annual Gourmet Guys event on Sunday, April 6, 2014, at Active Generations in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Gourmet Guys participants wait in line to sample different foods during the annual Gourmet Guys event on Sunday, April 6, 2014, at Active Generations in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Stampede's Dakota Joshua (8) takes a shot as Omaha goalie Cole Bruns (35) defends during a game on Saturday, April 5, 2014, at the Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Omaha's Luca Frigo (52) takes out Stampede's Garrett Cecere (6) during a game on Saturday, April 5, 2014, at the Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Omaha players react after a goal during a game against the Stampede on Saturday, April 5, 2014, at the Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Stampede's Logan O'Connor (19) works to keep posession of the puck as Omaha's Steven Johnson (5) and Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson (26) move in during a game on Saturday, April 5, 2014, at the Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Jay Sorken, left, helps Carl Rogers while playing Nations during a day of open gaming in honor of International Table Top Day hosted by IONS on Saturday, April 5, 2014, at the Paralyzed Veterans of America building in Sioux Falls. IONS is a non-profit with the goal of education through game based learning. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Alessandro Lopez, 8, plays in Split Rock Creek on Sunday, April 6, 2014, at Palisades State Park near Garretson, S.D. According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, temperatures on Sunday were as high as 68 degrees. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Michael Hickman, of Sioux Falls, looks up at his friends while climbing a rock formation on Sunday, April 6, 2014, at Palisades State Park near Garretson, S.D. According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, temperatures on Sunday were as high as 68 degrees. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Eli Carton, 6, of Brookings, S.D., explores Palisades State Park with his family on Sunday, April 6, 2014, near Garretson, S.D. According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, temperatures on Sunday were as high as 68 degrees. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)
Jason Story and 1-year-old Micah Story kayak through Split Rock Creek on Sunday, April 6, 2014, at Palisades State Park near Garretson, S.D. According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, temperatures on Sunday were as high as 68 degrees. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)