RiverWalking

Spring is here on the River

2009-04-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

All the sudden I'm noticing green on trees and fisherman on the banks of the Chattahoochee. It's been sometime since I have posted, and to my 4 followers, I apologize. I just wanted the chance to observe the season and appreciate it. April rains got here a bit early, but I'm sure when we are in the middle of July heat we'll be wishing for this weather once more. I hope the seasons changing will bring more life out to the River. Please let me know in an email if you have an event or know of something interesting going on around the Riverwalk. I'd love to be there if I can.

Riverrails

2009-02-17T07:15:00.000-08:00

I know..I know...It has been awhile since I've posted. But here I am, and I have documented proof of your tax dollars hard at work down by the Riverwalk. I stumbled into City Street Department workers Robert Ivey, Gregory Brown, James Hutchins and Nate Harp painting the handrails and gates along the Riverwalk yesterday and I think they were glad to see me and have someone there documenting them working. In these economic times I think everyone wants their employer to see they are diligent. Thanks for being cool with me guys while you worked.

Sweeping landscape on the Riverwalk

2009-02-17T06:44:00.000-08:00

I'm teaching a basic photography workshop for CSU downtown and I wanted to highlight a student's work since it was the Riverwalk.(and well done in my opinion) Kyle Brengel took this image at 1/250 sec, f/ 9.0, 100 ISO, with a 21mm lens. Double click on the image to see it large. I teased him and asked if he had paid two small boys to put bright red t-shirts on and run down the stairs, but he didn't. It's just really a perfect slice of life downtown with not to mention clouds that seems to move off your computer screen and into your world. I wish I could highlight all my student's work here. I've really been blessed with a talented batch from all walks of life. Remember you can send me your photos of the Riverwalk and who knows, maybe they'll end up on here for everyone to see. More posts coming sooner then you think.

Sunshine on the Riverwalk makes us all happy

2009-01-04T14:17:00.000-08:00

Sunday was a great day for being outdoors, and if I had no other assignments I think I could have found a dozen or more feature photos from all the life on the Riverwalk. Alas, I had other obligations, but here are a few moments I managed to catch before I had to run off. Sam Stapleman trys to walk while balancing his daughter, Hanna, 3, and pulling her bike along with her brother's, Samuel, 4, not pictured, after a long day of biking along the Riverwalk Sunday. Poor Dad. I saw these two going south at first and Dad was pushing Hanna on the bike only she was asleep on the handlebars. I could get there from where I was to make a photo, but I was blessed when they decided to pack it up for the day and return to their car.
Here is Rafael Yance , 7, from Colombia South America learning to skateboard with a determined look to shred. Below you can see his friend Christian Zuluaica, 6, as he carves it up moments before crashing. Don't worry he got up, dusted himself off and laughed as he raan back up to do it again.

Angela Zuluaica, 13, shares a moment with her friend, Tatiana Yance, 11, as she helps her navigate up a hill.
Alexandra Burden and Adam Douglas share a laugh while taking advantage of the summer like weather Sunday on a patch of grass along the Riverwalk. For those of you who have tried to shoot people you don't know in a candid fashion, I'm sure you know how tough it is. As a newspaper photographer it is something I deal with on a daily basis. How does one get the image and not look suspect while doing it?

I've found the best method is to show how humble and/or silly you're willing to be to make such a photo. In this case, I calmly (the key word) walked maybe 20 feet off at an angle to Alexandra and Adam and laid flat on the grass. I made probably 30 frames before they even realized I was there. And when they did notice me, they smiled. I think your willingness to get on someone's physical level or simply be relaxed in your approach, unarms them a bit and says "Hey, I'm here to have fun too."

When I was a residential counselor I remember learning how important it was to be able to read a person's body language to do my job. Well, I guess it works both ways. We're always communicating to others without speaking. Question is: What is your body language saying to others?

Back in the saddle again

2008-12-04T16:09:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm back. For those who are wondering, my surgery went well. The pain is all just a memory and after a good bit of physical therapy I'll look forward to hiking again in the spring. I was able to catch a few photos of the last legs of fall along the Riverwalk yesterday, but I wanted to let you know something else as well. I'm looking at developing a new blog (of a subject matter I will announce in the future) and am uncertain if I will keep this one up or retire it. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts and opinions so please email me here or at sszwarc@ledger-enquirer.com. I will try to post with more frequency since I am back, so stay in touch for new cool developments on the horizon. There might be an opportunity or two to learn a little along the way, but I'm saying too much already.

Not the last photo you'll see from me

2008-10-23T16:35:00.000-07:00

I just wanted the three loyal viewers I have to know I'll be going out for surgery on my leg next week and won't be able to post for awhile. I wanted to take this time to say thank you to those who have shared their comments and more importantly those who have shared their lives. I'll be sitting on a couch catching up on my "need to see" movie list, but I'll be itching to get back to shooting as soon as possible. So, just to let you know, this is not the last photo you'll see from me.

Pictures of pitchers

2008-10-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

This may have little or nothing to do with the Riverwalk, although I could argue that you can see South Commons(where I made these) from the Riverwalk, but I wanted to share them with you. Columbus' Chandler Padgett, Northside's Haley Love and Melanie Trevathan, and Hardaway's Courtney Darr are considered the best fastpitch softball pitchers in the area. They were really fun to work with and were even willing to be silly as you see from the outtake. The lighting technnique was one light directly above me and stopping down the shutter speed to allow for the bold blue sky in the back. I will be posting more lit portraits hopefully in the future and possibly other projects. Until then...

Shades of Gray

2008-10-15T14:41:00.000-07:00

I posted this in black & white because I felt the subject stood out better from the water rendered in gray rather then blue. Perry Hubbard shades himself from summer like conditions while fishing on the cement pier directly behind the Columbus Convention & Trade Center Wednesday afternoon. Boy, it felt like summer was coming back again, but I'm looking forward to a cooler weekend and jacket weather in general. While I was hiding in the shade and waiting for the perfect frame of Mr. Hubbard fishing to occur I heard what sounded like a 10 foot python thrashing through the tall grass when the culprit showed himself to me. Can you see him?? If not, double click on the image and you will.

Columbus Day is for lovers

2008-10-13T13:27:00.001-07:00

Many people had off for Columbus day today, making for a romantic three-day weekend for some. Here Justin Love and Katie Yaniro share an intimate moment togethe along the Riverwalk in downtown.

Tender, brave, and feathery moments

2008-09-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile, and I am sorry for my six loyal viewers who had to look at the same page for two weeks now. I was blessed to capture this private moment yesterday evening while this couple was out walking their dogs. I love seeing people in love at the Riverwalk, but I am always careful not to impose on their private moment. It is a beautiful and challenging theme that I've witnessed on several occasions and I think I'll look harder for it in the future.
I've shot a few kayak pics since I started this blog, but when I saw Mitch Moore setting up to shoot the rapids on the Phenix City side it got me thinking about capturing the moment right before you hit the white water. I wanted to get the focus on his face and a sense of anticipation.

Finally, my little friend here managed to entertain me a little with his antics before I had to leave for my evening assignment.

Rumble on the river

2008-09-17T17:19:00.001-07:00

I heard the rumble of diesel as I walked along the Riverwalk and discovered they were closing down shop from the two-day Infantry Warfighting Conference at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center. I managed to get there in time to watch Tony Caporaso, an employee for General Dynamics Land Systems, show me how to maneuver a Stryker MGS variant vehicle through the streets of downtown Columbus. And I heard Georgia DMV is allowing a few new rules due to the influx of military expected to fill the roadways with the arrival of BRAC:
Even if the light is green, the tank (or in this case the Stryker variant) has the right of way.
The other rule is that if you park downtown you are supplied with two valets and a trailer to help you parallel park. That way no one can complain that you hogged more then one space and you can quickly move your Stryker before going over the two-hour parking limit.

Day Tippers

2008-09-14T11:45:00.000-07:00

I managed to catch Matt Vaughan bracing his canoe, on right, as his buddy, Matt Tolson, fell into the bow of the canoe before they launched off in downtown Columbus Sunday afternoon. It reminded me some of my best summers of canoeing and fly fishing on the Mohican in Ohio and reading a bent up copy of Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises", while sleeping in the back on an old red Chevy S-10 at night. Well, I'm gonna try my best to get out there again as soon as I can. I just want to thank the small loyal audience which keeps coming back to see a bit of Columbus' community by the river.

My apologies to all who have been looking for new work from me, but I have a good excuse, if such a thing exists. I've been working on a street bike freestyle video on Andy Gaetz (see photo) which you can see at the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer's video site by going to the address at the end of this post. Please email me (that box to the right on the blog is the easiest way) and let me know what you think or if you know of other stories that should be told with video or photographs. http://videos.ledger-enquirer.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=2176047&item_index=4&all=1&sort=NULL

River of strings

2008-09-04T18:40:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of meeting guitar lover Charles Fox along the Riverwalk today, and what a character! He had this brand new beautiful guitar with the tag still hanging from it Minnie Pearl style and was just jamming out on a bench. He had just bought it from Gorilla Guitars on Broadway and when I asked him if he had planned on buying a guitar today his answer was classic.

"I really planned on buying a bicycle," Fox quipped, "but when I get around a guitar I'm gonna buy a guitar everytime."

Fox said he's bought several guitars from Gorilla Guitars and they all play wonderfully, but his comments about the quality of Kmart's guitars were in line with Rainman's. I hope to run into you again Charles and we can continue are discussion on politics and the governments plans for our kind.

Attack of the killer helicopter bugs

2008-09-03T14:31:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: It is a Robber Fly. Thanks to my best friend, Scott, who tracked the answer down. Robber Flies are quite capable of handling large prey, and they will even take on large, dangerous prey like bees and wasps. However, unlike bees and wasps, Robber Flies do not sting, and the "stinger" on this Robber Fly is actually a harmless ovipositor that she uses for laying eggs. Although they do not sting, Robber Flies do bite and their saliva contains neurotoxins to quickly immobilize prey and proteolytic enzymes to dissolve its internal organs so that they can later be easily sucked out. The proboscis of a Robber Fly is specialized for stabbing and sucking, and after one of these flies captures something, it will return to a perch in its territory to suck out its liquefied meal.

Robber Flies are highly beneficial insects because they prey on a wide variety of pest flies. Although they don't attack or bother humans, Robber Flies can bite quite painfully, so do not capture or pick up these flies with your bare hands.

Although some species of Robber Fly appear bee-like, most species of Robber Fly have a characteristic elongated shape, almost like that of a short, fat dragonfly. Robber Flies have a single pair of powerful wings, spiny legs that aid in grasping prey, a heavily bearded face, and large compound eyes that give them excellent vision for spotting prey.

Good day for hot doggin' and hot dogs

2008-09-02T15:44:00.000-07:00

Matt Self is trying to start a revolution of freestyle unicyclers in Columbus. I ran into Matt and his $295 one motorcycle quality wheel ride($350 with upgrades he told me)called a Nimbus behind the Columbus Convention & Trade Center. He's only been riding for eight months, but he's already jumping up and down steps and all other types of tricks that require bravery when it comes to one's crotch area. In the photo he actually managed to balance the unicycle and let go before jumping on. Yeah, I'm thinking "Ouch!" too, but his shorts are also designed with reinforced padding. Viva la one wheel revolucion!

Poor Max, a 4-month-old West Highland Terrier, was taking a break from the heat and a jog in the shade of his owner, Erin Bowser, who was reading the Riverwalk map. Today was Max's first day for learning what jogging was like and if you're wondering why his face looks a little matted, he also learned what a fountain was today. Nervous little fellow until you let him lick you.

Photographing one's personality

2008-08-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

CSU sophomore art major Gina Alberici was busy setting her camera to timer mode so she could run and take a self-portrait of her feet, so I had to stop.
I chose to focus of her hair which I thought was really a part of her personality. Anything that gets in the way constantly and doesn't bother you has got to be something you really like and therefore says something about YOU. So here you go Gina, evidence to show your professor that you were working. I converted the image of her working to black & white just because I thought it visually read better and I skipped on the feet and focused on the light patches hitting her face and her hair falling through the bench on the second. If Gina sends me her favorite self-portrait I'll post it so we can see how two photographers see the same subject differently.

And I wonder, still I wonder...

2008-08-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

Everybody either loves or hates this recent weather we've been having. If you have to work in it it sucks, obviously. On my way to work the other day I saw two garbage men on Second Avenue near the JR Allen Parkway running behind the truck and continuing to make stops and perform their job. Poor guys were soaked to the bone and the misery was dripping from their faces.

But the fishermen and the kayakers are happy about this wet stuff everywhere. There was even a dry moment or two where I managed to catch this family of fishermen right before they ducked under Dillingham Bridge. I'm alright with some rain and overcast. I'll duck under a tree, shelter my camera in my shirt and hope these drops don't stop people from visiting the river.

Inflation can be fun

2008-08-18T13:56:00.000-07:00

I was about to head to an assignment that had no deadline Sunday night when I thought I'd take a spin on Bay Avenue and pop my head out to see if there is anyone out on the Riverwalk. This is literally how I stumble upon most the moments I've managed to shoot. To my surprise I saw in the distance several crazy young adults toting an inflated raft on the Phenix City side, so I made my way over there to document their antics. I have to say I was worried for them for not having life vests or anything and I told them as much, but they laughed it off and said they'd be alright. They even tried to get me to go! Not happening folks. It was great to watch, and I have to admit it really looked like a blast, but I wouldn't recommend it. Certainly not without a life vest. Here's to being young and adventurous. It was nice meeting all of you and hope we'll meet again.

Chris Bishop and Heather Willis shoot the rapids below Eagle & Phenix Mill Falls Sunday evening. Along with several of their friends, the two had purchased a raft with the intention of shooting the rapids as a way to beat the heat and boredom.

Clay Plemons, far left, and Savannah Donahue took their turn down with Chris Bishop.

Brian Graves was the only brave one to run the river solo and he kind of looks like he's questioning his decision at this moment, but he made it out just fine.

Here's to you Mr. Williams

2008-08-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

I met the very warm and humble Carter Williams the other day and I just wanted to thank him for the conversation. Mr. Williams you remind me that life is fickle and shines or pours on anyone. I appreciate your kind words about my life and work and I hope some day I can humbly and honorably shed light on yours.

Simply add water

2008-08-17T13:59:00.000-07:00

I walked the Riverwalk north of the Dillingham Bridge and found Tyrone Walker Evan-Floyd cooling off Jessica Combs whether she wanted to be cooled off or not. Combs' son, 3-yr-old Marcus Combs, gets into the game of splashing on his own. But what really had me impressed was the way the little man gravitated towards my camera. I made this portrait of him without telling him where to stand or where to look or nothing. I think we might have a GQ model in the making here right in Columbus.

Sunny with a bit of wet dog in the forecast

2008-08-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

I met the lovable 3-month-old Sunny, who is half German shepherd and half rottweiler, taking a dip in one of the fountains at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center recently. His owner, Neil Jones, gets a look from the edge of the fountain in this photo that suggests to me that Sunny is ready to come out of the water now.

Work hard, skate hard

2008-08-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate to find Miles Ingram, 19, skateboarding below the Columbus Convention & Trade Center Thursday evening. He told me he had only been skating for a year and had just returned from a year off. You could of fooled me Miles. I was never this good even when I was skating during every waking hour. Ingram is a computer technician with the Lee County Board of Education and takes advantage of his early work day to skate in the evenings. Good luck to you Miles, you'll probably be making more then all of us at the paper before your 21st birthday.

Upside down, river you turn me

2008-08-09T17:58:00.000-07:00

I caught Devin Mitchell, 13, ducking the backflip splash of his friend CJ Williams down on the Phenix City side of the Riverwalk Saturday evening. In the second image Williams looks like he's running on water, but really he jumped up while he was already in it and the water ran off him. It has been amazing weather the last few days and I'm so grateful for the break from the oven temps we've been baking in. I can't wait for fall, and foggy mornings, and cool evenings.

For all you Civil War history buffs

2008-08-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

The Georgia Civil War Commission will be meeting at 10:30 AM on August 16 at the National Civil War Naval Museum. Part of their agenda is to discuss the sesquincentennial (the 150th Anniv.) of the Civil War. To find out more keep posted to www.portcolumbus.org Who knows maybe will get lucky and have a large reinactment here in Columbus. After all this is the location of the last land battle of the war. If I hear more I'll let you know.

Two silhouettes passing in the night

2008-07-18T09:10:00.000-07:00

I caught janitor Eric Gunn, right, passing security guard Kelvinita Phillips in the hall of CSU's Corn Center for the Visual Arts last night after I noticed the light cast in the windows from along the RiverWalk and I had to go in and check it out. It's amazing how much starts going on in downtown from 6 to 9 at night. Hmmm...mental note.

Looks like it's kayaking outside

2008-07-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

Chuck Armentrout and his fun wild tribe of kayakers were at it again Wednesday night. I decided to get something a little different and more artistic rather then the normal sports action take. It's a place to start. I captured these guys as they u-turn to get back in line to jump back into the waves below the falls.

The kids of summer

2008-07-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally got back down the RiverWalk and I can't tell you how much it does for my soul. I love the community connection one can get if they come down here enough. You get all walks of life and people are usually pretty open to conversation. The peacful environment surely plays a large part in creating that mood. Here in this image Anna Davis, 7, and Teszai Munoz, 5 play in the water just below the falls on the Phenix City side just before sunset. I look at this image and I simply see the potential of the city and how great it could become. FYI: These kids are in 8 inches of water with a parent just outside my camera frame for those worried about their safety. And by no means should anyone swim in the river due to the dangerous currents and undertow.

I love the idea of shooting truly candid photographs where your subject doesn't know you're there. These images turn out to be less inhibited and less artificial. In the above, Cedric Davis, 5, right, and C. Jakes, 4, are just simply being boys near water. In the bottom photo, I really loved Teszai Munoz's body language below and how he was taking it all in.

Sunset worshippers

2008-07-16T12:40:00.000-07:00

I caught a few of these guys bathing in the last hours of sunlight last night before going to cover the LOST vote. The last one in the grass thinks I can't see him. A sidebar: If anyone is interested in prints from this site or any of your favorites published in the Ledger-Enquirer, we will be posting a folder of best images to choose and order prints from soon on Pictopia. If you have questions about an image or getting a print made let us know by sending me an email here.

Yaking on the Hooch II

2008-06-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

Chuck Armentrout came to Columbus again to host another kayak competition and to talk to a local engineer about ideas that could help the sport grow in Columbus. (More of that story to come here and via a column by our own Tim Chitwood.) Here are some of my best shots from the session. My apologies to anyone who didn't make the cut, but if you keep trying I'll keep trying too. Don't forget to click on the images to enlarge them. This is my favorite of the day. I got luck and caught Frank Norton just as he came to the surface and a sheet of water ran away from his face.
Kirk Robertson catching a gulp of air before he goes back under again.
Here's Charlie Simmons immersed as he pulls a trick to bring his boat upward towards the sky.
And here's Kirk again taking his turn on the wave.
I caught Chuck here in the middle of a 360.
Alex Rath as he rolls his boat upright again.
Zach Sanders caught through the spray.
Charlie Simmons catching a ride on the eternal wave.

It's too darn hot

2008-06-03T14:17:00.001-07:00

Stanley Misinco fishes with his shirt off as the sun begins to rise over the Riverwalk steps leading to the Chattahoochee River in downtown Columbus Tuesday morning. I can't blame Stanley at all. It was only shortly after nine in the morning when I took this and the temperature was already well into the 80's. I don't know how you people do it. I can tell who is from the south and who isn't because the locals (and by local I mean born and raised) here don't seem to sweat. It's quite impressive actually. I need to start finding photographs before the sun rises. Good luck to all you fellow Northerners in the coming months. I hope we make it to October.

Kayaking Columbus

2008-06-02T11:59:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to catch Tayler Musselman Sunday afternoon as she was paddling her kayak down the Chattahoochee River just south of the Dillingham Bridge. I had my first real chance this past weekend to try kayaking, on flat water of course, and it's quite adventurous with the added bonus of a great upper body workout. I was only out for two hours, but saw a school of healthy-sized fish swim right past my bow, watched a blue heron fly back and forth in front of me, saw some type of water fowl I've never seen before and even watched a beaver swim, dive and chew on branches from a fallen pine.(You could even hear him chewing.) After all this, I was compelled to snag floating trash on my paddle back to shore. I so wish Columbus offered kayak rentals or tours because I'm sure it make us all better stewards of such a rich ecosystem that we could truly explore and commune with. Any readers out there have a kayak or two they want to get rid of??

School's out pool's in

2008-05-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

Pools are now offically open for the 2008 season and best of all there is one located right by the riverwalk. So, if you're in the neighborhood taking a run or bike on the riverwalk, you can always cool down at Rigdon Park Leisure Pool on 1835 Riverland Drive. Their number is 706-687-5813. For more information on Columbus pools visit www.columbusga.org/parks/Pools/pools.htm. Hannah O'Brien, 6, takes advantage of Ridgon Park Leisure Pool's opening day Wednesday to cool off on their waterslide.
Ashley Cullen runs Leianne Cowart, 2, through the raining mushroom at Rigdon Park.
James Harned, 10, left, and Ladarius Humphries, 11, take turns flipping each other in the shallows at Rigdon Park.
Emily Wood, 6, works on her snorkeling technique as she works her way around the pool at Rigdon Park.

Kayakers come to Columbus

2008-05-16T14:07:00.000-07:00

Andy Hobson is surrounded by whitewater as he competes in a kayak surf competition below the Eagle & Phenix Mill Falls Wednesday afternoon. The competition was organized by Chuck Armentrout of Atlanta and is one of three events scheduled as part of the "Hometown Throwdown" series with World Kayak. I've included several other images of the action and just want to thank all who came for being so cool. Thank you, Frank, for taking me over to the island with your boat. Thank you, Joey, for keeping my camera dry on the way back. Chuck, what can I say, but I appreciate you bringing this event here and can't wait for the next one. And for any of you guys I didn't get photographs of, I be sure to look out for during the next event.

A net increases the bet

2008-05-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

Felipe Santiago, left, and Cesar Alvarez standby to help haul in the catch as Alejandro Ochoa casts a net into the white water just below the Eagle & Phenix Mill Falls. These guys were a blast to watch. They were like a group of giddy school boys every time they pulled the net in to reveal fish. I wish I could have hung out with them longer, but duty called.
These guys were bursting at the seams when they pulled in this several pound carp.
A reflection of some of the fellas in a pool of water as they leave with their catch.
And I had to grab a quick shot of this dried out and decaying prehistoric looking creature. It might be common for you, but I'm from Ohio and I don't see these all the time up there, dead OR ALIVE!

Kids invent the darndest things

2008-05-08T14:49:00.000-07:00

This is where it all starts. A fun little competition of moon boot racing with your buddy and as you scroll down you'll see it get more and more interesting. Here Margot McCrillis, left, and her friend, Madison Lewis, share these boots with elastic material inside to... I guess make you feel like you're walking on the moon just before gravity wakes you up on earth and breaks your ankle, but they looked like they were having fun.

Here I think Madison was working on inventing a biathlon of kite flying and moon walking. I'm sure we'll see Madison in London in 2012.
This image is a perfect example of pinch of skill and a pound of perseverance. The sun was setting on 10th street and I really liked having that as a background, as if they were driving their own play vehicle through the city landscape. Anyway, I thought it was cool, to be really honest. The posse included Margot McCrillis, 10, far left in moon boots, uses a cart to push her friends, Amber Wooden, 9, top left, Madison Lewis, 10, Amberlynn Lewis, 8, bottom far left, Bertram Emmanuel, 3, and Quinton Lewis, 6, around during an informal picnic of several staff, students and family members of Columbus State University's Corn Center for the Visual Arts Wednesday afternoon in downtown Columbus.
Poor Margot was not only worn out from pushing all her friends around, but from all the effort so were her socks.
And I couldn't resist getting one of 23-month-old Oskar Israel-Wertz as he starts test trials on his new invention, a croquet club that mows the grass while you play.

A new explorer, a new discovery

2008-05-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

On my way to photograph the teacher of the year ceremony Thursday night, I could hear a skateboarder repeatedly trying the same trick over and over just south of the Dillingham Bridge. The sound is familiar to me because I spent much of my youth grinding on curbs and perfecting my kickflips, but back then boards were bigger and my bones healed quicker. What I really enjoyed about photographing Kyle DuBois was the fact that it was purely candid. He didn't even know I made photographs of him until I hollared down to ask his name. I was glad I waited because I might not of gotten this other image. I call it kickflip to text. It's definitely a sign of how natural and common place multi-tasking has become today.

Where there's shad there's herons

2008-04-28T14:06:00.000-07:00

Of course I can never resist pointing my camera at these photogenic birds when I'm at the river. I don't know if it's the prehistoric vibe they give off during flight, the unique curve of their throats or their large eyes that always know who is around. Probably a bit of all three. For those that can't get enough of nature, enjoy.

Fisherman's heaven

2008-04-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

Several fisherman were trying their luck on the Chattahoochee River just below the Eagle & Phenix Mill Falls Sunday morning. Along with several boats near the falls, both shores were dotted with fisherman taking advantage of the plentiful shad run to catch whatever would bite. A fishing event itself could be had watching all ages scooping up these silvery bait fish with nets, cups and even their hands to take home and freeze for tomorrow what they didn't fish with that day.

Lonzell Carter had decided to take his nephew, Kieren Whittlesey, 12, with him to catch a little catfish for dinner. I shot this photo after he caught his second of four he hoped to catch Sunday. Neither Carter nor his nephew were shy about wading into the water and getting their shoes or jeans wet to get to where the fish were biting. The third of the four catfish Carter had hoped to catch before he planned to call it a day. He caught his fourth a few short minutes later. "This is the funnest thing in the world," he told me.
Kieren Whittlesey was kind enough to take a moment from casting to allow me to make this portrait. He wasn't having as much luck as his uncle, but he never complained about it and kept hard at it the whole morning.
Whittlesey's natural work table that he used to cut up the shad and bait his hook with. I am always looking for still lifes that say something about a person without them in the frame obviously. There's just something about a boy not hesitating when it comes to cutting off the head of a fish that says something about what he can do in life.

Calvin Peters had decided to grab a net and take his son, Kevin, and his grandson, Casey, out to the middle of the river to scoop up as many shad as possible to take home and freeze for future fishing trips. In the second photo you can see the three Peters generation's hard work with this 5 gallon bucket almost full to the top, yet Casey, 12, and his grandfather, Calvin, continue to net more shad. I could hardly get them to stop long enough to get their name, but who could blame them.

Keeping Columbus beautiful

2008-04-15T13:13:00.000-07:00

I caught a crew of city workers early this afternoon making fast work of clearing out the old pine straw and replacing it with fresh. I climbed into the truck to capture the first image of city workers Tommy Wilson, left with pitchfork, and Graham Davis loading the old pine straw in a truck to be hauled away. The second image is public services crew leader Carl Johnson overseeing Tommy Wilson as he lines the RiverWalk ramp with bundles of fresh pine straw. The last is simply a detail of a worker spreading the new pine straw. I wish I was able to spend more time with you guys because I loved the pace you were working at and how visual your task was, but an assignment called. Thanks to you all, especially your crew leaders, for allowing me to get close to your work.

A good day to try and be a bit artsy

2008-04-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

I had a bit of time this morning due to a time change in an early assignment, so I strolled over to Phenix City. The weather was less then great today as far as clouds and the sun coming and going when it wanted to, which gave me the idea to focus on shapes in regards to the falls and the Eagle & Phenix Mill. I stood literally on the water and lowered my angle of view to the point where I thought it was a nice balance between just enough Mill in the frame to make it interesting. I over exposed to whiten the sky and I shot at f11 to make sure everything, most importantly the water, would be in focus. I converted to black and white and bumped the contrast some more in Photoshop.

Spring cleaning has arrived

2008-04-08T13:13:00.001-07:00

I was out and about looking for a feature that said spring today when I stumbled upon Steve Barber and his wife Algeria of A & S Cleaning Services washing windows outside the Columbus Convention & Trade Center Tuesday afternoon. I managed to get this mirror image of Steve close-up in the window. Steve and Algeria have been enjoying the views and time together cleaning widows in Columbus for three years now. Thanks you both for sharing a bit of your afternoon with me. I had fun dodging the windex, Steve. Good luck to you both in your business. 04/08/08 Photo by Shannon Szwarc

Email from reader

2008-04-08T06:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much for the pics of the herons. I see them once in awhile on West Point Lake, but used to live on lake in no. MN and used to have one almost daily sitting on end of my dock. Miss him. They are so majestic. Thanks again. BKF-LaGrange

You're quite welcome, Bev. I'm glad you appreciate these creatures as much as I do. I'm originally from Ohio and it's not too common to see these guys around or to get so close. I feel blessed that all I have to do is take a short walk out of my office to be face to face with them now. They are certainly a challenging and fun subject that I will continue to work on.

Hopefully keeping my promise to the Great Blue Herons

2008-04-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

I was right back at it on Thursday, folks. This time I crawled to the center of the river while the level was low and slowly, over an hour, earned trust to get close to these majestic birds. I was in awe when I saw this heron just darting his head underwater time and time again and bringing up a fish in his beak almost everytime. I shot several dozen images of this, but this was one that you could really make out the fish in his mouth.

This was a bit of practice and a ton of luck. This is the same Great Blue Heron I managed to get the close-up portrait of below. The bird lifted off and I lost him behind some trees, but when he came out I was still following his flight path and managed to get one frame where he happened to be right in front of the falls.

Here I was literally so close that I could only get a portrait of the bird's face as it studied every gesture I made carefully. I am still a bit shocked about being able to get this close even with a zoom lens. Persistence with a heavy dose of patience. I love Columbus. If anyone else knows of a great place to get an alligator, or any other animal along the RiverWalk for that matter, please email me at sszwarc@ledger-enquirer.com.

Working with and against the sun

2008-04-02T10:03:00.000-07:00

This is honestly the closest I've been to a Great Blue Heron without them flying away from what they think is a man with a hand cannon. I was working just below the Eagle & Phenix Mill Falls with the last bit of sunset hitting the heron's face. I hope for this to be the worst of my best images of herons and in the future to really be able to capture the grace of these birds.
Shortly after this image, I drove back over the 13th street bridge because the sun was setting directly on it. I worked the scene for awhile trying to get a single car isolated at the apex of the bridge. I'd be happier with a bit more range in the light, but this is something to build on. Next time I'll use a higher F-stop to make the sun even more defined and I'll experiment with bracketing the exposure a bit more.

First fishing trip with dad

2008-04-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

Jesus Hernandez and his son Jesus Hernandez Jr., 3, go fishing for the first time together along the Chattahoochee River just below the Phenix City Amphitheater Tuesday afternoon.
This was a bit more candid photo of Jesus Hernandez and his son. I liked how small the boy was here in comparison to his father and just the fact that it was a "first time in life moment" they were having together.

Portrait of a photographer

2008-03-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

I took a stroll downtown when the sun was just beginning to set yesterday and caught Kent Wilson, a junior art major at CSU, photographing the Corn Center for Visual Arts for an assignment in his Photography Two course. Wilson was using a field camera with a drape cloth so he could see the image projected upside down on the glass. The negatives are four inches by five inches which lead to very detailed prints, but his film holder only carries two negatives at a time. "I've gotta be careful because these negatives cost a buck a piece," Wilson said. The last image is a portrait of Wilson I made by photographing the back of the field camera with only the light that came through the glass. I flipped the image over to make it easier on everyone's eyes. Thanks again, Kent and I hope the negatives came out.

Signs of warmer days to come

2008-03-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

Here are simply a few light-hearted nature photos from a day that seemed to call for appreciation. Maybe tomorrow I'll go a bit deeper, but enjoy these for now. It's always nice when these little guys line up in an interesting pattern when they see you have a camera.
I have to say it was unusual to find this flowered vine blooming underneath the Dillingham Bridge. I wish there was some way to stop that mercury from rising any higher because I could repeat this day over again and again.

Portrait of Frank McMinn

2008-03-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

Frank McMinn, 79, spends his Thursday afternoon fishing on the cement pier behind the Convention & Trade Center.(Below is a quick detail shot of the "skipjacks" Frank had caught the day before and was experimenting with as bait.) McMinn says his favorite part of the RiverWalk is the downtown area, but he's ventured greater distances in the past. "When I was 74 I walked from downtown to Fort Benning and back without stopping," McMinn said. His tricycle is his prized mode of transportation and his mission is to simply "get out of the house." He also asked me if I knew when they were going to finish connecting all of the RiverWalk. If I knew I'd be planning a bike trip with you, buddy. Until then tight lines and thank you for your kindness, Frank.

Several days, several moments

2008-03-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

Neil Clark, an architect at Hecht Burdeshaw Architects, uses his lunch break on March 10 to ride his Trikke along the Riverwalk. Clark said he decided to buy one of the "three point carving vehicles" after he saw another person riding one downtown one day. "The closest thing I can describe it to is sking down a mountain," Clark said.
I was just returning from another assignment on March 13 and I got lucky enough to catch this hard working crew wrapping up their work on refurbishing the Eagle & Phenix Mills watertower.Erick Talavera, 14, ollies onto a sewer cover along the downtown section of the Riverwalk during the afternoon of March 17. Talavera moved here only a few weeks ago from Atlanta and says he has already riden his skateboard for several miles of the Riverwalk. "You can go fishing, not just skating and the view is tight," Talavera said.
The moon rises behind someone meditating along the RiverWalk on the evening of March 18.