State of the State (1.20.14)

Last week I made the trip out to the South Dakota capital, Pierre, for Gov. Dennis Daugaard's State of the State speech.

I had never been inside the capital building, so that was kind of an experience. Very ornate, and beautiful.

It was kind of a day of firsts for me. Not only was it my first time in the capital building, but it was actually my first time covering any sort of political speech of this nature. Also, after covering the State of the State speech I made the drive out to Rapid City, which was another two-and-a-half hours, for another assignment.

Anyway, it was pretty interesting cover the State of the State speech. It was a bit overwhelming, but nothing to crazy. I'm happy with my take, and am ready if I have the opportunity to cover it next year.

Enough talk, though. Here are some of my favorite frames from Gov. Dennis Daugaard's State of the State speech.

Thanks for looking.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard interacts with legislators before delivering his State of the State speech in Pierre, S.D., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Gov. Dennis Daugaard interacts with legislators before delivering his State of the State speech in Pierre, S.D., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

State Rep. Dean Wink claps before Gov. Dennis Daugaard is escorted into the chamber of the House of Representatives before delivering his State of the State speech in Pierre, S.D., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

State Rep. David Lust, left, and State Sen. Tim Rave chat while waiting to escort Gov. Dennis Daugaard into the chamber of the House of Representatives before his State of the State speech in Pierre, S.D., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Gov. Dennis Daugaard enters the chamber of the House of Representatives before delivering his State of the State speech in Pierre, S.D., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Gov. Dennis Daugaard delivers his State of the State speech in Pierre, S.D., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

State Rep. Manny Steele looks on during Gov. Dennis Daugaard's State of the State speech in Pierre, S.D., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

State Rep. Hal Wick looks on during Gov. Dennis Daugaard's State of the State speech in Pierre, S.D., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Gov. Dennis Daugaard delivers his State of the State speech in Pierre, S.D., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

State Rep. Dennis Feickert looks on during Gov. Dennis Daugaard's State of the State speech in Pierre, S.D., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Gov. Dennis Daugaard delivers his State of the State speech in Pierre, S.D., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Gov. Dennis Daugaard walks down the steps inside the capital building after delivering his State of the State speech in Pierre, S.D., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Recent Work (09/01/13)

This is just a collection of some of my favorite photos since my last post.

It's a rather large post filled with feature photos, lots of prep football photos, some skydiving politician photos and a weather photo. 

Enjoy, and thanks for looking!

Pete Nelson, who lives next door to Cindy Ahrendt-Sivesind (not pictured) on Cedar Avenue, looks out over phase one of a project that supposedly addresses a problem with erosion along the Otonka channel near his house in Sioux Falls, S.D., Monday, Aug. 26, 2013. Phase two of the project will go through Nelson's back yard. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Cindy Ahrendt-Sivesind gestures toward an area along the Otonka channel near her house that will be effected during phase two of a project supposedly addressing erosion issues on the channel in Sioux Falls, S.D., Monday, Aug. 26, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

A lone bicycler makes his way down the bike path near Rotary-Norlin Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Monday, Aug. 26, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Tim Haugrud pushes his 2-year-old daughter Ruby Haugrud on the swing at Rotary-Norlin Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Monday, Aug. 26, 2013. Haugrud said they picked Rotary-Norlin Park because it had the most trees, which meant there would be more shade to escape Monday's heat. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Governor Dennis Daugaard and Dan Spisak, a tandem skydive instructor with Skydive Adventures, go through what will happen in the air during a charity skydive at the Madison Municipal Airport in Madison, S.D., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Governor Dennis Daugaard walks to the plane before a charity skydive at the Madison Municipal Airport in Madison, S.D., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Governor Dennis Daugaard gets help from tandem skydive instructor Jan Fodness with his skydive harness before a charity skydive at the Madison Municipal Airport in Madison, S.D., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Four-year-old Cooper Bergheim, of Madison, S.D., tries to spot Governor Dennis Daugaard as he floats to the ground during a charity skydive at the Madison Municipal Airport in Madison, S.D., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Governor Dennis Daugaard jokes with Madison Dairy Queen owner DeLon Mork, not pictured, before a charity skydive at the Madison Municipal Airport in Madison, S.D., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Madison Dairy Queen owner DeLon Mork and tandem skydive instructor Jan Fodness go over what will happen in the air before a charity skydive at the Madison Municipal Airport in Madison, S.D., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Governor Dennis Daugaard, right, and Madison Dairy Queen owner DeLon Mork float to the ground during a charity skydive at the Madison Municipal Airport in Madison, S.D., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Doug Merager, left, of Madison, S.D., points out the plane carrying Governor Dennis Daugaard to his wife Joan Merager during a charity skydive at the Madison Municipal Airport in Madison, S.D., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Mick Persoon, of Madison, S.D., points out the plane carrying Governor Dennis Daugaard to his wife Gerry Persoon during  a charity skydive at the Madison Municipal Airport in Madison, S.D., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Governor Dennis Daugaard and tandem skydive instructor Dan Spasik float to the ground during a charity skydive at the Madison Municipal Airport in Madison, S.D., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

The sun sets in Madison, S.D., after Governor Dennis Daugaard and Madison Dairy Queen owner DeLon Mork made it to the ground safely during a charity skydive at the Madison Municipal Airport in Madison, S.D., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

O'Gorman's #84 Justin Pabst, #76 Tony Kirsch and #22 Chris Sharpe take the field with the rest of their team before a game against Rapid City Stevens at McEneaney Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

O'Gorman's #7 Jimmy Pio, center, pumps the rest of his team up before a game against Rapid City Stevens at McEneaney Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

O'Gorman's #16 Tanner Schulte rushes with the ball during a game against Rapid City Stevens at McEneaney Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Rapid City Stevens' #19 Matt Minnick pulls down a pass over O'Gorman's #45 Matt White during a game at McEneaney Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Lightning strikes over Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday night, Aug. 31, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Roosevelt's #1 Chase Vinatieri lands in the endzone after catching a pass for a touchdown during a game against Brandon Valley at Brandon Valley High School on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Brandon Valley's #15 Alex Wilde pulls down a pass over Roosevelt's #4 Kyle Olinger during a game at Brandon Valley High School on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Brandon Valley fan Derek Johnson, left, cheers for his team during a game against Roosevelt at Brandon Valley High School on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Roosevelt's #86 Tyler Van Voorst is brought down by Brandon Valley's #36 Andrew Sorensen during a game at Brandon Valley High School on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

The Brandon Valley Marching Band prepares a flag before the National Anthem before a game against Roosevelt at Brandon Valley High School on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

The Brandon Valley Trumpet Ensemble perform the National Anthem before a game against Roosevelt at Brandon Valley High School on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Roosevelt's #11 Cole Schroedermeier brings down Brandon Valley's Cam Holmes during a game at Brandon Valley High School on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Brandon Valley's #7 Jake Comeaux is sacked by Roosevelt's #8 Kory Lindquist during a game at Brandon Valley High School on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)