Ah, the good old days.

In replica AC Cobra, the cruising never stops for Alan and Virginia Janiszewski in the horse country of Metamora, MI.


Horses, Hills and AC Cobra from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

Not your grandma's bed and breakfast.
I loved it.

Northport, MI, is not a place you pass on your way somewhere else. Surrounded by water and located at the tip of one of Michigan's fingers, just north of Traverse City, Northport was a perfect location for David Chroback when he moved back to the US after two decades in Virgin Islands. On a hill overlooking an old mill pond, Chroback started a bed and breakfast and let himself be consumed by his passion for antiques, collectables, and original works of art.
Over the last 24 years he has created a B&B that contains one of the most amazing and eccentric collections of art in Northern Michigan.


Bikes on the Trees from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

Check out some bottoms....

Flint residents now have to watch their butts because Police Chief David Dicks is on the lookout.

Dicks, who took over the department last month on an interim basis, announced that his officers would start arresting people wearing saggy pants that expose skivvies, boxer shorts or bare bottoms.


Flint police crack down on saggy pants from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

I hate riding roller coasters. Hate it. Did I mentioned you can find here footage shot during an actual ride....

Thunderhawk, new roller coaster at Michigan's Adventure is the largest in the state. It climbs 105 feet in the air with a breathtaking 86-foot drop.


Killer Roller Coaster from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

Believe it or not, Detroit River is one of the best walleye fishing areas in the world.
Not to be missed - huge factories that liven up river banks. Most are closed anyway.


Best Walleye Fishing in the World from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

In was a rainy cold morning and the Secret Service guys looked grumpy....
But then again, don't they always do?

Democratic primary campaign stop of Senator Hillary Clinton in Detroit, MI.


Hillary Clinton in Detroit from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

Brutal murder by a wealthy, child-faced teenager. Brought to you by the suburbs of Detroit.


Thrill Kill from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

Being in Detroit and all, we do a lot of car reviews here. No matter that the car industry has contributed to the slow death of that city and now is dragging down the rest of Southeast Michigan...
Check out some cool Detroit ruins in the background...


Pontiac G8 Car Review from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

One of the first pieces I did for the Detroit Free Press. The big question posted there was: Why aren't musicians more involved in the struggle against war, poverty and injustice in today's America?


Soul Music Today and During Civil Rights Struggle from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

Dog Life

Dog impressions from a recent walk on Broad St. in Philadelphia.

Boys and Girls Club

Boys and Girls Club of Camden is having an open house to introduce local community leaders to the South Camden facility. Adults were paired with kids for the duration of the visit. During her visit, Stephanie Viti extends her hand to get a couple of pennies from Indian Ragin for a penny carpet toss game while Viti's teammate Chapelle Thomas, 7, of Camden looks at the exchange and laughs.

Christmas concert

Jenna Kornicki of Sickleville, 9, member of the chorus, receives a candle that she will use as a prop during the Children Song of New Jersey Chorus concert at the St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Woodbury on Saturday night, December 9, 2007. Brandon Cameron, 8 of Sewell is on the left and Shannon Lally, 9, of Oakland is on the right.

Car Fire

Nice way to start a day, huh? This car was parked a block away from my house. Someone must have been put it on fire. I got there ahead of the firefighters and it was burning like hell.



Firefighters put out a burning car in the wee hours of Thursday morning on North 26th St. in Brewerytown section of Philadelphia. December 6, 2007.

Football Saturday

Hammonton's Tom Pangia grabs onto the jersey of St. Joseph's Nick Haines in the first quarter of football game against St. Joseph at St Joseph HS field in Hammonton on Saturday, November 24, 2007.

Psychodelic Santa

Just an attempt to show Santa and elves in a different light...


A day after Thanksgiving, elves at the Funplex on Route 38 entertain themselves in a somehow psychedelic looking hall as they wait for Santa Claus who is half an hour late after being lost on the way there. From left are: Tyler Stanley (Holly), Emily Maloney (Gumdrop), Joe Lally (Jingle) and Danielle Stradling (Sparkle).

Santa Claus AKA Joe DeFelice walks with elves through the Funplex hall on Route 38 on the way to greeting kids.

Watching planes go by

A day before Thanksgiving, Arianna Wallace, 7, (left) looks through the window of a Philadelphia Airport restaurant at planes taxing below. Arianna, her sister Leila Austin and mother Pamela Wallace await for a flight to Nashville, TN at a mildly crowded airport.

Thanksgiving Dinner with Corrections Officers

Camden County Corrections Officers (from left) Deserie Thomas, Mary Wilson and Karen Taylor prepare give-away clothes at their 12th annual Thanksgiving dinner for the needy at the Police Benevolent Association Hall in Camden, NJ.
I did get all the food serving and eating shots, but at the end of the day that was my favorite scene. I was somehow surprised how many folks showed up for a dinner served by Camden corrections officers....

Soccer Championships

Ramsey High School beat Cinnaminson 3:1 at the New Jersey Soccer State Championships in Hillsborough, NJ. The soccer season is, unfortunately, all over in South Jersey.

Living Room Train

Barbara Decina plays with her boys Nicolas, 8, and Andrew, 5, (bottom). Decina family sets up models of trains around the Christmas tree each year.

Good luck saint

St. Joseph High School players touch a statue of a saint for a good luck during the half time of football game against Gloucester Catholic in Hammonton. It's a local tradition that originated in 1996 when Bill Bendig who was heavily involved with the football team, died. His two sons played for the St. Joseph High School and a plaque dedicated to him was put up next to the statue.

Fall sports season is slowly wrapping up

Here is a shot from today.

Notre Dame players enter the football field carrying an American flag for the game against Paul VI High School. The flag didn't help them on the field and the Notre Dame Irish lost to Paul VI Eagles at Paul VI High School on Friday night, November 9, 2007.
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Field Hockey

Kingsway's field hockey team members celebrate after beating Timber Creek 4:0 in the Group 3 semifinals at Kingsway HS. From right are Aubrey Coleman, Macy Limanni, Caitlyn Jenkins and goalie Brittany Dipper.

Kite Flying Festival

Day's Outtake

Ed Wilson watches his lure while fishing for bass in the Glen Lake in Woodbury Heights. Wilson spent 10 years taking care of elephants in a circus before starting his current job of a tree climber and cutter.


A member of the Camden High School girls cross country team participates in a cross country competition at the Gloucester County College.

Hunters and Fishermen

Brian Smick and Ivan Smick, both of Pilesgrove, listen to the meeting about legislation affecting hunters and fishermen in New Jersey while other sportsmen watch through the window. Hundreds of hunters and fishermen filled the Mullica Hill Grange building to its capacity and many had to stand outside.

Soccer

Shawnee's Shannon Mcallister heads the ball ahead of Bishop Eustace's Caroline O'Dee (right) in the second half of soccer game at Shawnee HS.

Kite Flying

Supriya Denissov tries to untangle her daughter Anjeli, 2, from the kite line that the girl wrapped around herself at a kite flying festival in a park in Delanco, NJ.

Iftar - Breaking of Fast

Muslim women gather and greet one another on the main floor of the Palmyra Mosque before the start of the prayers during the Interfaith Breaking of the Fast ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007.

Marine's Funeral

A Marine honor guard carries the casket of Cpl. Terrance Allen from St. Peter Church in Merchantville.

Vigil for a dead soldier

Parents of Pfc. David J. Bentz III, Kimberly Atkinson and David Bentz (center) mourn their son at a vigil ceremony hold at the Sandelier Park in Clayton on September 20, 2007. David J. Bentz III died in Iraq.

Dance Rehearsal

Vera "Candy" Brahn lets the dance carry her away as she practices her moves in front of the Walt Whitman Arts Center in Camden. She is one of the choreographers for the dance and music production put on by former students and people influenced by Ben White, long time teacher in Camden. The production is to honor White.

Cross Country

Senior boys race at the Cherokee Challenge Cross Country competition in Cherokee HS on Saturday, September 15, 2007.

Ballpark Farewell

Rivershark's player Brad Strauss kisses his wife Amy after his pre-game retirement ceremony at the Campbell's Field in Camden.



Rivershark's player Brad Strauss talks during his retirement pre-game ceremony at the Campbell's Field in Camden as his teammates and audience listen.

9/11 Anniversary

On the anniversary of September 11, Lauretta Marinari (right) helps Jane Smith attach a flag to a wall at the Coastline Restaurant in Cherry Hill during a fund raising event for American soldiers and their families in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Fall sports season starts

Winslow Twp.'s Rob Chmura gets sandwiched between Cherokee's Tim Brennan (left) and Brendan Lowe as they all go for a header during a Saturday soccer game at Cherokee HS.



Cherokee marching band's drum section members practice on the edge of the high school field as Cherokee soccer team beats Winslow Twp. nearby.

Church give-away event

As part of my job I cover never ending string of what my newspaper calls 'community assignments' - church giveaways, flea markets, block parties, town festivals, Lion Club breakfasts, et. etc. etc. To keep my sanity and stay motivated while shooting 150 events like these per year, I come up with my own personal contests. One of them has to do with face painting. Almost every one of these 'community' events has a face painting option. My challenge is to shoot it in an innovative way every single time. One day I will write a PhD dissertation on face painting.

During a back-to-school supplies give-away outside of the Atkins Temple Church in Camden, Malik McNeil, 8, of Camden got his face painted by Helen Henry of Beverly.

Museum fun

Tracee Gilliam of Baltimore plays with her son Vincent, 5, at the Garden State Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill. Instead of cash, Vincent requested a credit card from his mom to "buy" some plastic fruit.

March against Violence

Members of the Christian Pentacostal Church and residents of Whitman Park in Camden march against violence perpetrated toward children in their neighborhood. Whitman Park is one of the deadliest areas in Camden.

Camden Streets at Night

Camden Councilman Frank Moran wants to close Camden night eateries at midnight causing security concerns. Local residents fight for their right to fried chicken any time of the day or night.

Handball Video

I've been shooting a lot of video recently and since I haven't finished the work on my new website yet, I will be posting videos to this blog every now and then.

Hanging out in Camden

A man who goes by a street name Due and a woman whose first name is Toyah hang out in front of a memorial banner dedicated to Markeith "Cooda" Cottrell, a 19-year-old who was shot to death by an 18-year-old on this corner in Whitman Park part of Camden in April 2007. Cooda was Toyah's cousin. He died half a block away from his mother's house in the part of Camden (Whitman Park) that has had the highest homicide rate in all of Camden this year due to the drug gang war in the area.

Funeral

Family and friends gather around the casket during a funeral service for 15 year old Gabrielle Campione, killed by an ATV hit by a train when she was trying to help her friend remove the ATV from railway tracks. St. Martin de Porres church in Hammonton.

Camden County Fair

Miss Camden County Sarah Cohn sings a national anthem at the start of the 2007 Camden County Fair in Blackwood.

South Jersey scenes

Extreme Home Makeover workers are sprayed with water by a local fire truck in front of the house they volunteer to build for Victor Marrero's family in Pennsauken.




Alisa Whitcraft plays with her son Xavier Whitcraft, 5, as her 25 month old daughter Audrey Whitcraft is trying to get her attention during the concert of Fire by Night at the Promenade strip mall in Marlton.

Summer enterprise

Jasmira Vallecillo, 2, (right) and Lieany Vallecillo, 5, both of Camden, play at a small pool in the park on the corner of Clinton and 4th Sts. in Camden.

Barber shop stories I

Lester Johnson, barber in Brewerytown, shows a knife wound from his gang and drug dealing days back in the 1970s and tells a story of shooting the guy who stabbed him. Johnson stills lives in a rough part of Philadelphia where he grew up.

After dark

Narcotics guys busting suspended drug dealers in Camden on a recent night.

Non-Profit Gym

DaQuan Daniels, 12, of Camden reacts to winning an invisible chair competition at a non-profit gym that Steve Liberati (left) opened in a a coomunity center of Centennial VIllage apartment complex in Camden to train local kids and keep them busy in the afternoon. 07/26/07 Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post



Kelvin "Pooh" Darby, 13, of Camden finishes writing a motivational phrase at a non-profit gym that Steve Liberati opened in a a coomunity center of an apartment complex in Camden to train local kids and keep them busy in the afternoon. 07/26/07 Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

Urban Cowboys

Two shots from a slideshow I just did on a memorial service and a horse parade hold in the memory of Russell W. Neugent, 79, first black Mounted Patrol officer of the Philadelphia Police Department and a long time member of the Cowboys and Girls Association of Philadelphia, who passed away a week earlier.

Pool Opening

These two images are from my ongoing project on the neighborhood where I live in Philadelphia. A pool just opened across the street from our house and I was there to cover it. The opening has been postponed twice so kids were anxious to get into the water.

Handball

These are two stills from a multimedia project on street handball in Camden I'm currently working on.

Graduation time

Minutes before the start of Glassboro High School graduation ceremony, Maleka Evans has problems with correct spelling of a congratulatory note on a blackboard at the Rowan University's Wilson Hall.


As students wait for the start of the Glassboro High School graduation ceremony, one of them takes off her uncomfortable shoes at the Rowan University's Wilson Hall.

Father's day...

Cleveland Lawrence feeds his disabled daughter Sonya in the living room of their Camden house. Lawrence is a former drug addict and felon who now leads a Christian program at Riverfront State Prison. The program teaches inmates how to be good dads.

Tennis

Sparta's Andrew Wang serves against Cherry Hill East's Ravi Yegya-Raman at the state tennis singles final match at Mercer County Park in West Windsor on June 7, 2007. Yegya-Raman won.

State Championships

Neptune's Ashley Portfield falls as Ocean Twp.'s Georgina Nembhard goes on to win a dramatic Girls 100 Meter Hurdles Group Three heat at the New Jersey Track and Field Group Championships at South Plainfield HS on Saturday, June 2, 2007

Memorial Day

The way I see it, Memorial Day should be a time for reflection on all the fallen soldiers and civilians. It should a time for serious discussion on the mistake of Iraq War and its bloody consequences. Instead, it was either "follow the commander in chief" line or silence at the Woodbury Memorial Day parade...



Woodbury based Bonsal Blues Band members Bill Mason (left) and Jim Amendt chat as Paul Gross stands with a flag in the back before the start of the Memorial Day parade at the Hendrickson Park in Woodbury.

Native American Festival

John LoneEagle plays drum at the Powhatan Lenape Nation American Indian Arts Festival in Westhampton.



Danawa Bushanan of Dolyestown, PA watches performances at the Powhatan Lenape Nation American Indian Arts Festival in Westhampton



Bob Redfeather sports a heat adorned with a snake head at the Powhatan Lenape Nation American Indian Arts Festival in Westhampton

Lacrosse Championships

Northwestern's Meredith Frank (left) and Caroline Tesar celebrate 12:2 victory over UPenn at 2007 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championships semifinals at the Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

Sadness of a flower

Colleen Heffernan, 6, glances back as she and her sister Amanda, 8, search for bugs in the flowers on the edge of the outdoor sculpture garden at the Burlington County College in Pemberton. Girls are attending the graduation ceremony at the Burlington County College where a record number of 882 students graduate this year.

Mosque

Women gather upstairs to listen to the emergency meeting at the Islamic Center of South Jersey where three of the six suspects in the Ft. Dix plot worshiped.


Humza Chaudhri, 4, looks up at his father as men listen to speakers at emergency meeting in the Islamic Center of South Jersey where three of the six suspects in the Ft. Dix plot worshiped.

York Revolution

York Revolution players get ready to take on Road Warriors at Campbell's Stadium in Camden.

Kids participate in the twice weekly fitness walk that Johnson School PTA organizes to keep children healthy in the field outside of the school. From left are: Shari Bodofsky, 11, Spencer Lincoln, 7, her mother Linda Lincoln, Jade Clark, 8 and Alexis Greenwald, 8 Cherry Hill.

Track and Field

Burlington City's Chris Barnes participates in the long jump competition at the Burlington County Scholastic League Track and Field Meet at Northern Burlington Regional High School.

Guns and schools

Winslow Township High School students look through the windows as they are being held in their classrooms for several hours while police investigate a report that a man was seen inside the school with a firearm.

Mother's Day

Tracey Williams watches her son Dave shoot ball at the yard of their Pennsauken house. Dave plays hoops for Pennsauken HS.

Track and Field

Rowan University Girls HS Open

Lost Dog

Laura Sanchez holds her daughter Josie Sanchez, 5, whose 4 year old dog Goliath was stolen last Saturday from their Fairview neighborhood in Camden. Josie's family is offering a reward for the dog's return.

Homecoming

Gabriela Sabo, 6, of Mt. Laurel listens to the Seneca High School band as they get ready to provide music accompaniment for the homecoming ceremony of Marine officer Gerry Brinkman at the Freedom Park in Medford. Brinkman has just returned from Iraq.

Prom

Dressed in her prom dress and with a make-up on, Camden Catholic student Jennifer Kelley peeks from her room to see who the arriving guests are. She is waiting for her prom date Alan Dyer and friends to arrive at her parents' Cherry Hill house. Jennifer and her friends will then all head out to the prom at a nearby hotel. April 20, 2007.

Family members (including Jennifer's aunt Colleen Kelley (first left)) snap photos as Jennifer Kelley pins a rose to her prom date Alan Dyer's suit. The couple and other Camden Catholic students gather at Kelley's Cherry Hill house before heading out to the prom.

Spring is here

A month too late, but Miss Spring is finally here.


Anthony Diorio (left) and Kyle Borbi, both 11 and from Medford, horse around with lacrosse sticks as they play between the Shawnee High School building and the stadium during Shawnee boys lacrosse game against Clearview on a sunny Friday afternoon, April 20, 2007 in Medford.

Mother of a murdered son

Romona Berry, whose son was murdered in March of 2002, still mourns her son all these years later. She cries as Christina Pressey (right), a victim advocate with Burlington County, tries to console her. Christal Wallace looks on in the back. Berry attends a meeting at a Holiday Inn in Runnemede where psychotherapist Kathleen O'Hara speaks with survivors of murder victims. O'Hara's son was also killed.

Lacrosse II

More lacrosse and a clown thrown in for a good mix.



Moorestown's Giulia Giordano outmaneuvers Poway's goalie Diane Clow in the second half of girls lacrosse game at Moorestown High School. Poway HS players flew in from California for the game that Moorestown won.

Lacrosse

Kids are dying at Virginia Tech., battles rage in Afghanistan and Iraq, hunger reins in Zambia. And in Voorhees, NJ students play high school lacrosse....


Eastern's player Bryn Bain drops her stick and falls on the ground after she was faulted by Camden Catholic's Bridget Rodetich (right) during the first half of high school girls lacrosse game at Eastern HS in Voorhees.

Flags, flags everywhere

American display of nationalism reminds me a lot of communist China. I wonder which nation has more flags planted on its territory?

Joe Zanghi of Cherry Hill hands out flags to officials and American Legion 372 members who line up for a photo opportunity in front of a fire truck during the "Remembrance Event" where flags are planted along 2 mile stretch of Chapel Ave. in Cherry Hill to commemorate U.S. soldiers fighting overseas. 04/14/07

Camden blues

Two teenage boys play pick up basketball on the poverty stricken Walnut St. in Camden. Daontaee Jennings is on the right while a boy who identified himself as Rell throws the ball. 04/13/07

Street hockey

After a week of cold weather, spring returned with sunshine and higher temperatures. (Starting from left) Doug Groff, Chris Noller and Dan Forsyth, all of Haddon Twp. took advantage of warmer weather to play street hockey. Here they are on their way home after the game. Tuesday, April 11, 2007

Death of a husband

Danna Young reads to her son as their cat guards the sofa of the Westmont house. Young blogs about grieving her husband's illness and death as well as caring for her 2 year old son Baxter and recovery process. Tuesday, April 11, 2007.

Family time

It was one of these moments when one gets to bask in the great family's rough yet tender love as they got together to share the annual ritual. I had a splendid time being part of the ritual for a moment.



In the Paulsboro house of Butzer Haddock (center), the Matelyan family members share jokes and teasing as they prepare easter baskets for their annual family egg hunt at the Red Bank Battlefield. The family has hold the egg hunt since the 1960s. Featured in the photo are also Butzer's two sisters Mary MacIntyre (left) and Bert Miskofsky (right). 4/04/07

First place

I was psyched to find out that I just won first place in the monthly NPPA multimedia contest.
http://nppa.org/competitions/monthly_multimedia_contest/winnergalleries.php?year=2007&month=3
for my my gay family slideshow:
http://www.courierpostonline.com/multimedia/coupleslideshow/





hip hip hurraaaaah! :))

Baseball season starts

Catcher Nick Kay (center) leads his fellow players in chants as Sterling HS students huddle before the start of baseball game against Williamstown at Williamstown HS on Tuesday, April 3, 2007.

Fire!

A wall of fire rises from about 50 feet high pile of cars in the Camden Iron junkyard in South Camden on Saturday afternoon, March 31, 2007.

Faces

Glassboro High School was inducting new members into its Hall of Distinquished Alumni and I was walking around, looking for those rare glimses of light coming through the windows. Red pine walls at the Masso's Red Pine Inn added extra warmth to the afternoon light.


Donald Rule


Principal Santina Haldeman


Susette Jones


Assistant Superintendent Dr. Janet Holdcraft

Fort Mifflin

A member of cubscouts pack 389 from Norristown, PA runs into the Fort Mifflin's gate announcing arrival of imaginary Brish soldiers as he plays war games at Fort Mifflin, Philadelphia.

Last kiss

Lori Singley shares the last kiss with her husband George before embarking on the bus to Newark Airport. Lori and 35 other women are taking a trip to Tuscany, Italy, to celebrate Singley's recovery from cancer. Some are friends, some are total strangers, all heard about the trip through the word of mouth. Bus is parked in front of Singley's house in Voorhees, NJ.

Painting with light

I absolutely loved the light this afternoon and decided to pull off Alex Webb.... :)



Sunlight is diffused through the chair and creates a crimson cast on the floor inside of a Triumph brewpub in Old City, Philadelpia. The pub is scheduled to open March 31. 3/20/07



Inside of a Triumph brewpub in Old City, Philadelpia. The pub is scheduled to open March 31. 3/20/07

100th Birthday Party

I spent Saturday morning shooting my next video - anger management class for the homeless guys.... It's gonna be good.... :)

And in the afternoon I covered a regular assignment - 100th birthday party.



Willie-Mae Pruitt celebrates her 100th birthday at Adelphia Restaurant in Deptford. 3/17/07



Great grand daughter of Willie-Mae Pruitt, Ubreea Donckers, 7, picks up Pruitt's great great grand daughter Di Yana Joes, 2, from floor after Di Yana fell onto it during the Willie-Mae Pruitt's 100th birthday party at Adelphia Restaurant in Deptford. Di Yana is crying because she'd rather roll on the floor than be picked up.

Bingo

Geneva Jenkins, who is a heart failure patient, plays bingo with her friends at the Pennsauken Towers Senior Housing in Pennsauken. 03/15/07

Civil Union Ceremony

Bored out if his mind, Sekai, 3, waits for the start of the civil union ceremony of his fathers Mark and Charles at the Community Center in Collingswood.


To see an audio slideshow reflecting on the year I've spent following gay couple Mark and Charles through their daily problems and special moments (like the baptism of their kids or religious commitment ceremony), check out this link:

http://courierpostonline.com/multimedia/coupleslideshow/

Saturday's outtake

Typical community assignments can get a bit repetitive but if you dig a bit deeper they can provide nice occasions for decent photos that can work on several levels of communication. Here's an outtake from today. A toy car race and a networking event.

I particularly like the shot of a 45 year old guy in a boy scout uniform absolutely concentrated on these toy cars and a kid to his right trying to peek through his shoulder to watch the race. I think those little boys hidden inside of adult men are great.



Deeply focused Anthony DiFrancesco of Cherry Hill lines up cars competing at the cub scouts' Pinewood Derby Race competition of Cooper River District that takes place at Cherry Hill Mall on Saturday 3/10/07. Ron Hooke of Chery Hill (left) assists him.



'Take my picture, take my picture,' yells Edward o'Brian of Collingswood as he makes a funny face. O'Brian claims to be '86 years young' and has been involved with cub scouts for the last 42 years. He watches the cub scouts' Pinewood Derby Race competition of Cooper River District that takes place at Cherry Hill Mall on Saturday 3/10/07 Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post



Guests network and chat at the presentation session of a new state commission curriculum suggested for K-12 school to teach Italian language and culture at the Enterprise Center of BCC in Mount Laurel. 3/10/07 Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

Dancing in the huddle

Ramapo University's Omar Alston dances inside of his team huddle before the game against Rowan University at the NJAC Championship playoffs at the Rowan U.

Victory!!!

Excited fans of Camden Catholic HS basketball players enter the field after their team beat Paul VI, their eternal rival. Camden Catholic won with a two pointer 2 seconds before the end of the South Jersey Non-Public A playoff game.

Fire

I was on my way to work when I saw a column of fire shooting in the air in North Camden. I got off the highway and arrived there with the first fire trucks.



Firefighters battle multi home blaze in the 900 block of Vine Street in North Camden. Five houses burned down as fire spread quickly across the row of houses.

Homeless in Camden

Homeless Darren Garcia draws in on a cigarette as he plays chess with John Kratzer near the transportation center in downtown Camden.

Basketball championships

It's this time of the year again.... HS basketball season is almost over...

Camden's Chris Hand blocks Shawnee's Julian Sanders as Sanders goes for a layup at the S.J. Group 3 Championship at the Shawnee HS. 03/06/07 Shawnee won if any one cares to know.

Here's to the wrestling season!!!

I had a blast with my recent multimedia project:

http://www.courierpostonline.com/multimedia/ccwrestling/

Now I need to edit video for the last chapter and we will call the end of the wrestling season...


David Brearley's Allen Phillips presses his finger against Paulsboro Joe Duca's eye at 112 lb. bout of Paulsboro's Group 1 State Final win over David Brearley on Sunday afternoon. 2007 NJSIAA Wrestling Tournament in Tom's River on February 11, 2007.

"Warm weather enterprise"....

Came along this group of kids while looking for a weather shot...

Taking advantage of unusually warm weather in January, a group of Gloucester City teenagers drop off a ledge near Essex St. and Broad St. in Gloucester City. From right are Teddy Paulllin, 13, Mike Gorman, 14, Den Luluk, 13, and Dillon Murchake, 13, (only his bike is visible). Saturday, 01.06.07

Dunk

Cinnaminson's TJ DiLeo dunks as Medford Tech's Lamarr Robinson
(left) helplessly looks on at the end of the third quarter of high school basketball game at Cinnaminson HS on Tuesday, January 2, 2006. Cinnaminson won.

33 murder victims

Rosemarie Sanchirico prays for the 33 murder victims in Camden that were killed in 2006 during a vigil at St. Joan of Arc's Church in Camden on Saturday night, December 30, 2006.

Basketball season starts....

Haddon Heights' Kai Massaquoi attempts to shoot against Eastern's Clarence Verdell in the fourth quarter of basketball game at Haddon Heights HS on Wednesday, December 27, 2006.

Church

St. Andrew the Apostol Church in Gibbsboro during a 50-man choir practise for Christmas Eve's Midnight Mas.

Santa for Pets

Madelyn Fee, 11, of Erial holds her bunny Hennry (cq) as they pose for a photo with Santa Claus at a Petsmart in Berlin. Part of the profits from the session are to be donated to Jersey State Feline Fanciers Animal Rescue. 12/16/06

Eagles' Reno Mahe

Eagles' running back Reno Mahe signs the T-shirt of Damian Ramos of Camden during an annual charity bowling event with Eagles players Jeremiah Trotter, Reno Mahe and Donovan McNabb present at the Laurel Bowling Lanes in Maple Shade on Friday night, December 15, 2006.

White Powder....

Outside of the Garfield East Elementary School, infuriated parents ask Tony John, school board member for the location of their children after a teacher was sickened by a white powder found in an envelope while in class. The teacher's students were quarantined while the school's other 425 students were taken to nearby Country Club Middle School after the incident. Willingboro. 12/14/06 Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post



Garfield East Elementary School students arrive at nearby Country Club Middle School after an accident where a teacher was sickened by a white powder found in an envelope while in class. The teacher's students were quarantined while the school's other 425 students were taken to nearby Country Club Middle School. The powder turned out not to be dangerous.

76ers

Philadelphia 76ers, Chris Weeber, goes up for a lay up against the Washington Wizards, during the 1st quarter at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.

Mall as a Concert Hall....

Daniel Recinos, 2, of Swedesboro, is momentarily distracted by his father from watching the performance of TubaChristmas group playing at Deptford Mall on Saturday night, December 9, 2006.

Wrestler

Camden Catholic Irish Wrestling Team's Anthony Trongone pauses for a moment during a practise at Camden Catholic gym in Cherry Hill on Thursday, December 7, 2006.

Jim Stewart reacts to a needle during a flu vaccination. He and others get their shots without getting out of their cars at a drive through vaccination campain at the Burlington County Institute of Technology in Westhampton.

Harp maker

David Field plays one of the harps he made at his Colligswood house. Field makes harps, dulcimers and other wood furnishings at his basement shop.

Taste of victory and defeat

Absegami's RJ Bobb (left), Steven Kargbo (center) and David Downey celebrate as Absegami beats Cherokee 27 to 26 with 7 points scored by Asbegami 32.7 seconds before the end of the game during the South Jersey Group 4 Championship at the Absegami High School in Absecon on Saturday, December 2, 2006.




Absegami's Demetrius Rooks squats on one knee after scoring the touchdown that tied Asbegami and Cherokee 26 to 26 32.7 seconds before the end of the game. After the touchdown Absegami scored an extra point from a kick and won the South Jersey Group 4 Championship at the Absegami High School in Absecon on Saturday, December 2, 2006.




Overcome by emotions and surrounded by protective cheerleaders, Cherokee's Lynell Payne squats and covers his face after Absegami beat Cherokee 27 to 26 with 7 points scored by Asbegami 32.7 seconds before the end of the game during the South Jersey Group 4 Championship at the Absegami High School in Absecon on Saturday, December 2, 2006.

Romeo and Juliet

The most interesting part of a play is always backstage....



Students turn actors listen to last minute instructions before the start of the play Romeo and Juliet put on by the Cherry Hill East High School students at the cafeteria of their school. Friday night, December 01, 2006.




Brian Reisman who plays Tybalt chats with Aliya Bowles (Lady Capulet) before the start of the play Romeo and Juliet put on by the Cherry Hill East High School students at the cafeteria of their school. Friday night, December 01, 2006.

Ice hockey

St. Augustine high school fans psyche themselves up before the ice hockey season opener game against Bishop Eustace at Flyers Skate Zone parking lot in Pennsauken. From left are: Kevin Kaser, Phil Bradley, Kyle Nolan (with his back to the camera), Don Mortagua and George Gennaoui.

Getting ready for the Hanukkah

Seen through the menorah candles, Chad Belson enjoys a platter of latkes with his son Jared, 1, at their house in Voorhees on Nov. 28, 2006.

Came across a hat...

Philadelphia's Duana Gummo-Harshbarger sports an ornamental hat during a Main Street Colonial Day in Woodbury on Saturday, September 30, 2006. John Klyver from Pennsylvania sits on the chair in the back. Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

Thanksgiving football

Camden High School marching band member Ed Williams makes a leap into the air with his instrument during a Thanksgiving Camden High against Woodrow Wilson game at Camden HS. November 23, 2006. Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

(Not so) postidustrial games

Against the background of a local rafinery, Paulsboro's Torre Polimeni makes a kick for an extra point during the third quarter of S.J. Group 1 semifinal game against Woodbury on Saturday, November 18, 2006. Paulsboro won. Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

That Beatles look....

Barely seeing anything through his long hair, Mason Gaunt plays guitar during the half time of S.J. Group 1 semifinal game Paulsboro and Woodbury at Paulsboro HS on Saturday, November 18, 2006. Paulsboro won. Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

Marching band

Repetitious pattern of Cherokee marching band members' dresses captured during the half time in the Cherokee against Washington Twp. high school football game at Cherokee HS on Friday night, November 10, 2006.

Philadelphia dining

Seen through wine glasses, Bob and Kathy Ciaruffoli enjoy dinner at Ansill Restaurant in Philadelphia on Wednesday night, October 11, 2006.

Cross country pain

Exhausted after the race, Bridgeton's Ana Zamora falls to the ground and stays there for several minutes until a teammate picks her up. Zamora participated in girls Group 2 NJ Cross Country Sectional Championships at Delsea High School in Franklinville.

Halloween in the suburbs

Dale Johnson, 6, and his mom Lisa Johnson of Audobon trick and treat in their suburban neighborhood behind Audubon High School in NJ during Halloween. October 31, 2006.

Kids' eyes

Tired Jaylin Pitts, 5, rests his head on the arm of Mellasiah Dixon, 5, toward the end of the Breast Cander Walk at the Elias Boudinot elementary school. Students who have raised pennies to benefit the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk held a symblic walk of their own in Burlington City.

mosque

A scene from the open house at the newly built Voorhees Mosque on Saturday, October 28, 2006.

Xcountry

Start of the the varsity boys cross country run during the Colonial Conference in Pennypacker Park in Haddonfield. Thursday, October 26, 2006. Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

Here's one to Paris...

Set against dramatic afternoon sky, a referee raises his hand during the soccer game between Rancocas Valley and Ocean City at Rancocas Valley. 10/12/06 Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

Paris L. Gray, our staff photographer and my friend dies

That was Paris, being positive and funny, making faces for the camera even in the hospital bed..... He lost his battle... We loved him and we always will.



He was strong, always smiling and always willing to help. He kept shooting through the first months of his chemo. He always had time to sit down with me and help me edit a project I happened to work on at that time. Music, photography, his wife and, strangely enough, covering funerals, these were his passions.

Here's what one of our reporters Matt Katz wrote about him:

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=114DDA8FD74F25D8&p_docnum=1&p_theme=gannett&s_site=courierpostonline&p_product=CHCB

Paris L. Gray, a 12-year Courier-Post photographer known professionally for his compelling coverage of sensitive events and personally for his unique style of yellow-tinted glasses and eclectic hats, died Sunday morning after a battle with cancer.
He was 44.
The photojournalist saw his vocation as an art, and colleagues said Monday that he sought the best angle and perspective on each shot -- including potent shots of funerals, which earned him a Pulitzer Prize nomination in 1994.
"When your passion becomes your livelihood, every day is a great day," Gray wrote in the introduction to an online gallery of his work.

Dancing in the field

A take from a game... I tried to look for different moments than a straightforward action shot.

Cumberland's Alan Federico blocks off the ball from Williamstown's Alex Rodier (white) as they are both caught in a dance-like move in the second half of a soccer game at Williamstown HS. October 19, 2006. Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

pumpkins pumpkins....

I'm back from Eddie Adams Workshop, it was an awesome experience. I will try to remember lessons I learned there as I shoot back in South Jersey.....

m.

Caption:
Lee Vincent and Marcel Vincent, 4, paint together a pumpkin during a Mum Madness and Pumpkin Parade at the Camden Children's Garden. Saturday 10/14/06

Breast Cancer survivors

Regina Buchhofer (right), Dale Parenti (behind her) and other members of the Breast Cancer Survivors team, that includes South Jersey women, paddle during a dragon boat practise on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 on Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. They are getting ready for the Hope Afloat race this Saturday. Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

Schuylkill blues

I went to the river to shoot something else but couldn't resist the charm of these two girls.

Sisters Nashay, 5, and Renay, 4, Barley watch the boats and enjoy an evening breeze at the Temple University boathouse on Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. They came here with their grandfather Keith A. Barley. 10/04/06 Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

Circus

Summer memory...

Yerico Rodriguez Rodriguez (cq) of Peru (left) and Sandro Lopez Ramos of Mexico practice backstage and get ready for the show before the start of The Cole Brothers Circus performance in West Deptford on Saturday, August 5, 2006. Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

Field hockey

A shot from a game today. I'm trying to post once a day. It helps me stay focused.

Cherokee's goalie Esther Tetreuashvily defends the shot by Washington Twp.'s Lauren Summers (#8) during the field hockey game at Cherokee HS on Tuesday, October 3, 2006. Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

Colonial day....

Annie Hughes, 7, of Woodbury tries to multitask as she plays badmington and attempts to eat her apple. She is dressed in a colonial costume for a Main Street Colonial Day in Woodbury on Saturday, September 30, 2006. Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

Friday night football

Friday night football.... dark and miserable... I'm trying to get pictures of huge duds clashing into each other on purpose and running after a ball that is not even round.... How bizarre is that?

So I usually try to get there a bit earlier and catch the last glimses of sunshine.

Here is the caption:

Camden Catholic High School cheerleaders unfurl American flag for the duration of national anthem before the home coming football game against Holy Cross on Friday night, September 29, 2006. Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

Baseball multimedia project

My most recent multimedia project on Little League baseball in Camden went online and run in my newspaper yesterday. Here's one of the photos from it. You can find the entire project here:
http://www.courierpostonline.com/multimedia/chbaseball/

Cramer Hill's Jonathan Roman practices pitching before the Senior Little League game against Erial for District 14 Championship in Gloucester City on Friday, July 14, 2006. Marcin Szczepanski/Courier Post

Block party in Camden

Ojnanay Wise, 6, is all wet from a stream of water coming from a fire truck at 1200-1300 Sayers Ave. block party in Camden.

Why does this blog exist?

That's a very good question and as soon as I have the answer I will share it with you...

I just finished putting together a blog for the tan team members of the Eddie Adams Workshop when I thought that I might just as well create one for myself. So following the dominant trent of narcism among American photographers, I will now too post my photos as often as..... well that remains to be seen, doesn't it.

Welcome Everyone!

Welcome Everyone!