Cyclocross Practice (9/26/13)

Today, good light, people doing cool stuff on bikes, and a nice evening came together to make for a wonderful assignment.

I got to cover some local cyclists at a cyclocross practice at a course in a city park here in Sioux Falls, S.D.

When I got the assignment earlier today I didn't really give it much thought, but as I was driving to the park I realized there was going to be some beautiful light.

It turned out to be so, and I was able to make really great use of my new Nikon 85mm f/1.8G lens.

Anyway, here are a few of my favorite frames from the assignment. More can be seen here.

Caleb Vukovich makes his way through a cyclocross course during a cyclocross practice on a course at Elmwood Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Ryan Stengel rides through a cyclocross course during a cyclocross practice on a course at Elmwood Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Suzie Goebel, right, rides through a cyclocross course during a cyclocross practice on a course at Elmwood Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Matt Casey rides through a cyclocross course during a cyclocross practice on a course at Elmwood Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Jeff Kluck rides through a cyclocross course during a cyclocross practice on a course at Elmwood Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Caleb Vukovich, left, and Suzie Goebel get ready before a cyclocross practice on a course at Elmwood Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Caleb Vukovich gets ready while Suzie Goebel talks with others before a cyclocross practice on a course at Elmwood Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Caleb Vukovich gets his gear ready before a cyclocross practice on a course at Elmwood Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

John Gruber jumps over a barrier during a cyclocross practice on a course at Elmwood Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Suzie Goebel makes her way through a cyclocross course during a cyclocross practice on a course at Elmwood Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Tina Stiller cruises through a cyclocross course during a cyclocross practice on a course at Elmwood Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Recent Work (9/25/13)

This is just a post filled to the brim with collection of photos from the last couple of weeks. Some from work, and some from random things I've been up to with Lauren lately.

The post includes some photos from the Nebraska vs. South Dakota State game in Lincoln last weekend; some voting photos from a Tea Area School District bond vote where they were attempting to gain funding for a new elementary school and some new buildings;  some photos of a little boy recovering from surgery to remove a brain tumor; some photos from a recent trip to Palisades State Park that Lauren and I took; and some other stuff too.

This is a quite large post.

Enjoy!

SDSU huddles during the second half of a game against the University of Nebraska, Lincoln at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

University of Nebraska, Lincoln's #25 Nate Gerry before a game against SDSU at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

SDSU's #31 Zach Zenner outruns University of Nebraska, Lincoln's #5 Josh Mitchell during the first half of a game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

SDSU's #31 Zach Zenner outruns the University of Nebraska, Lincoln's David Santos during the first half of a game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

University of Nebraska, Lincoln's #12 Ron Kellogg III winds up for a pass during the first half of a game against SDSU at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

SDSU's #6 Austin Sumner winds up for a pass during the second half of a game against the University of Nebraska, Lincoln at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

University of Nebraska, Lincoln's #25 takes the field with his teammates before a game against SDSU at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Red balloons float through the air after the first University of Nebraska, Lincoln touchdown during the first half of a game against SDSU at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

A University of Nebraska, Lincoln fan yells at an official during the first half of a game against SDSU at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

SDSU's #6 Austin Sumner looks for an open receiver during the first half of a game against the University of Nebraska, Lincoln at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

O'Gorman's #17 Dalee Stene, left, #22 Jessica Mieras, center, and #12 Tryn Kloth jump to block a shot by Washington's #15 Peyton VandeBrake during a match at O'Gorman High School in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Voters line up during the Tea bond vote, which would allow the Tea Area School District to build a new elementary school as well as put up some school additions, at the Tea Area School District Education Center in Tea, S.D., on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

John Taggart votes during the Tea bond vote, which would allow the Tea Area School District to build a new elementary school as well as put up some school additions, at the Tea Area School District Education Center in Tea, S.D., on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Bishop Ezekial Diing Malangdit pats his five-year-old son Paul Telaar Ezekial, who is recovering from surgery to remove a brain tumor, on the head at the Sandford Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Lauren at Palisades State Park near Garretson, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

Lauren at Palisades State Park near Garretson, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

Lauren at Palisades State Park near Garretson, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

Lauren at Palisades State Park near Garretson, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

Palisades State Park near Garretson, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

Lauren at Palisades State Park near Garretson, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

Lauren at Palisades State Park near Garretson, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

Lauren at Palisades State Park near Garretson, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

Lauren at Palisades State Park near Garretson, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

Lauren at Devil's Gulch near Garretson, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

Lauren at Devil's Gulch near Garretson, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

Lauren looks at the goats at the Apple Festival in Harrisburg, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

Two girls feed a goat during the Apple Festival in Harrisburg, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

A goat eats an apple at the Apple Festival in Harrisburg, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

A turtle at Sertoma Park in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

Lauren walks around the pond at Sertoma Park in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Joe Ahlquist)

Lauren works on making some French onion soup. (Joe Ahlquist)

Onions cooking for French onion soup. (Joe Ahlquist)

POW/MIA Day (9/20/13)

Earlier today I had the opportunity to cover a celebration of Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Day at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D.

This assignment was of some personal importance for me, as well. My grandpa was a P.O.W. in World War II in Germany.

My grandpa, who passed away in August of 2006, was my hero.

This assignment was a great reminder of how important my grandpa is to me.

I also felt this assignment was important because the number of living World War II vets are dwindling, and the number of living WWII vets that were prisoners is fewer yet.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the assignment. Enjoy.  

More photos here.

Steve Feimer, a professor at the University of South Dakota and author, speaks during a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action day event at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Charles Dawes, a prisoner of war during World War II, sings the National Anthem while others salute during a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action day event at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

George Sterler, a prisoner of war during World War II, talks with others at his table during a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action day event at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Chaplain Joann Lemme speaks during a memorial during a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action day event at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Bill Vermillion, a prisoner of war during World War II, listens during a memorial during a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action day event at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Marion Jaycox, a prisoner of war during World War II, talks with others at his table during a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action day event at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Chyrell Krier speaks about her father, who was a prisoner of war during World War II, during a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action day event at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Jack Bontje, a prisoner of war during the Korean War, listens as Chaplain Joann Lemme speaks during a memorial during a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action day event at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Don Dahlin, South Dakota Veterans of Foreign Wars Senior Vice Commander, speaks about his experience talking with other veterans about their combat experience during a memorial during a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action day event at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Judy Johnson speaks during a memorial during a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action day event at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Nancy Puhrman, of Lake Park, Iowa, talks with Charles Dawes, a prisoner of war during World War II, during a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action day event at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Don Dahlin, South Dakota Veterans of Foreign Wars Senior Vice Commander, shows photos to Gene Murphy, treasurer of the Disabled American Veterans agency, during a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action day event at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Charles Dawes, a prisoner of war during World War II, laughs after reciting the lase verse of a poem he wrote while being held captive during a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action day event at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Steve Feimer, University of South Dakota professor and author, speaks during a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action day event at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Bill Vermillion, a prisoner of war during World War II, looks on as Steve Feimer (not pictured), a professor at the University of South Dakota and author, gives a presentation about him during a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action day event at the Disabled American Veterans Agency in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)