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)

Dakota Bowl Tailgating (9/14/13)

This evening I was tasked with covering the tailgate party before the Dakota Bowl game featuring Sioux Falls Washington versus Sioux Falls O'Gorman.

There was a lot of team colors and high schoolers being high schoolers.

It was the pretty usual stuff; face painting, playing catch, and hanging out, but then there was some stuff I wasn't expecting at a high school football tailgate party; people playing video games, ping pong, and at one point I saw a pull-out couch with the bed out.

It was a pretty big event.

Anyways, here are some of my favorite frames from the assignment. More photos can be seen here. 

Nickey Zirpel, 16, gets her face painted by Meg Wolstenholm, 17, during a tailgate party before the Dakota Bowl at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Charlie Hueners, 7, sprays blue hair dye into 7-year-old Sully Schlimgen's hair during a tailgate party before the Dakota Bowl at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Andrew Sammons, 18, sports a freshly done blue glitter mustache during a tailgate party before the Dakota Bowl at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Katie McLaughlin, 18, gets a glitter gold star put on her face by Isabelle Loudenslager, 16, left, and Mary Billion, 17, during a tailgate party before the Dakota Bowl at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Keaton Davis, 15, and Andrew Sammons, 18, have a push-up contest during a tailgate party before the Dakota Bowl at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Charlie Hueners, 7, catches a ball while playing monkey-in-the-middle with Leo Hueners, 9, during a tailgate party before the Dakota Bowl at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Sam Siganos, a Washington fan, and Logan Harmelink, an O'Gorman fan, walk toward the entrance to Howard Wood Field during a tailgate party before the Dakota Bowl in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Jack Hunter, 18, left, and Austin Serck, 17, play ping pong during a tailgate party before the Dakota Bowl at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Seth Benson, 14, hands Josh Freese, 15, a Washington High School T-shirt during a tailgate party before the Dakota Bowl at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

From left, Jacob Fleck, 17, looks on while Mason Koch, 16, Matt Billion, 16, and Will Michels, 17, play Super Smash Brothers during a tailgate party before the Dakota Bowl at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

From left, Sydney VanDenHemel, 8, Brayden Carlson, 6, and Chris VanDenHemel eat pizza during a tailgate party before the Dakota Bowl at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Brian Kuyper, 16, jumps to catch a ball while throwing a ball around with his friends during a tailgate party before the Dakota Bowl at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

2 Assignments, 2 Cameras and 2 Lenses

This afternoon (Friday, Sept. 6, 2013) I decided that for both of my assignments I would just use two cameras (Nikon D700 and D300) and two lenses (24mm f/2.8 on the D700 and 60mm f/2.8 on the D300).

I figured that neither of my two afternoon assignments required anything longer than a 90mm equivalent (60mm on a cropped body = 90mm), and my 24mm f/2.8 on the D700 is my favorite lens/body combination.

At the end of the day it proved to be a good move. Sometimes after a busy afternoon of assignments my back/shoulders can be a little sore. Just carrying two small prime lenses and two bodies was a huge relief on the old back.

I've always been a big fan of prime lenses, particularly the the 24mm f/2.8, but I've never had the guts to cover an assignment without my 80-200 f/2.8. Breaking away from the 80-200 turned out to be a good move.  For some reason, when I use wide zooms I feel like I shoot too wide and have a hard time forcing myself to zoom in.

When I use my 24mm f/2.8 it forces me to be more creative and use my feet to zoom in or out. It makes me think about my shots more.

It was also nice to not have a big bag bouncing around and getting in the way every time I tried to get low for a different angle or something like that.

In the end, though, it's all about the person behind the camera and not the camera.

Thanks for looking.

Sydney Huntimer (left) and Caleb Dagel discuss what to do with a rotten bell pepper in the school garden at Memorial Middle School in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Sydney Huntimer, 12, (left) and Madison Gerhart, 11, look for rotten tomatoes in the school garden at Memorial Middle School in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Students pick out which items they want to take home in the school garden at Memorial Middle School in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Peppers from the school garden at Memorial Middle School in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Madison Gerhart, 11, looks for rotten tomatoes in the school garden at Memorial Middle School in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Sydney Huntimer, 12, (left) and Madison Gerhart, 11, talk about what to do with some rotten tomatoes in the school garden at Memorial Middle School in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Mike Peterson, of A Plus Towing, cleans a Ford F650 Flat-Bed truck before the Touch-a-Truck event put on by the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation department at Harmodon Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Isaak Booker, 3, of Lennox, S.D., checks out a 1962 American LaFrance Fire Pumper truck during the Touch-a-Truck event put on by the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation department at Harmodon Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Isaak Booker, 3, of Lennox, S.D., explores the cab of a 1962 American LaFrance Fire Pumper truck during the Touch-a-Truck event put on by the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation department at Harmodon Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Willow Booker, 3, of Lennox, S.D., looks out from the top of a 1962 American LaFrance Fire Pumper truck during the Touch-a-Truck event put on by the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation department at Harmodon Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Harris Adamson, 10, (left) and his brother Calvin Adamson, 7, both of Sioux Falls, sit on top of a 2001 Harley Davidson Heritage Soft Tail during the Touch-a-Truck event put on by the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation department at Harmodon Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)

Abigail Glanc, 9, of Sioux Falls, smiles as she honks the air-horn of the Allied Building Products' Articulated Knuckle Boom truck during the Touch-a-Truck event put on by the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation department at Harmodon Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)