My side of the River

New Website and Blog www.marcinvisuals.com

2010-09-17T19:26:00.000-07:00

To see my current work, please go to my new website at www.marcinvisuals.com

Dawn at Michigan State Fair from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

Dawn at the Michigan State Fair is filled with warm sunshine, whinnying of the horses and whooshing of the straw brooms. Hours before the gates open for public, anxious teenagers barter with friends while getting ready for a horse show competition. The fair is full of quiet life in those early morning hours.

2008-08-22T08:12:00.001-07:00

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.

2008-08-22T08:11:00.001-07:00

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.

2008-08-22T08:10:00.001-07:00

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.

2008-08-22T08:08:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-08-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-08-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-08-21T13:04:00.001-07:00

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

Thrill Kill from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

2008-08-21T11:59:00.001-07:00

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.

2008-08-21T10:55:00.002-07:00

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

2008-01-11T13:24:00.001-08:00

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

Boys and Girls Club

2007-12-13T17:19:00.001-08:00

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

2007-12-10T09:15:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-06T11:43:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-24T11:41:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-23T14:42:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-21T21:33:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-20T17:24:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-19T09:24:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-13T15:20:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-10T14:26:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-09T18:47:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-12T17:42:00.000-07:00

Day's Outtake

2007-10-10T17:32:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-10T11:44:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-04T18:36:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-02T07:29:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-01T05:45:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

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

Vigil for a dead soldier

2007-09-20T18:53:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-19T15:34:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-17T18:02:00.000-07:00

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

Ballpark Farewell

2007-09-13T16:48:00.001-07:00

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

2007-09-11T17:01:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-01T18:04:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-27T09:26:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-21T18:33:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-08T17:53:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-04T11:27:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-02T19:16:00.001-07:00

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

South Jersey scenes

2007-08-01T21:49:00.001-07:00

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

2007-07-31T18:21:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-27T11:56:00.000-07:00

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

Non-Profit Gym

2007-07-26T16:11:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-23T19:06:00.001-07:00

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

2007-07-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

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

Graduation time

2007-06-20T18:06:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-06-12T16:58:00.001-07:00

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

2007-06-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-28T08:58:00.001-07:00

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

2007-05-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-26T06:29:00.001-07:00

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

2007-05-19T10:51:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-12T10:52:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

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

Track and Field

2007-05-09T17:41:00.000-07:00

Rowan University Girls HS Open

Lost Dog

2007-05-03T18:49:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-21T17:36:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-20T19:16:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-20T19:12:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-19T19:03:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-19T18:39:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-13T16:14:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-11T17:24:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-03T17:19:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-03T17:14:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-03-31T14:32:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-30T18:39:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-23T16:53:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-20T15:33:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-10T10:59:00.000-08:00

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

2007-03-08T17:24:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2007-03-08T17:12:00.000-08:00

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

2007-03-08T16:55:00.000-08:00

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

2007-03-08T16:50:00.000-08:00

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

Basketball championships

2007-03-06T19:33:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2007-03-05T11:20:00.000-08:00

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"....

2007-01-06T14:22:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-02T18:27:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-02T17:25:00.000-08:00

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....

2006-12-28T17:51:00.000-08:00

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.