REFLECTIONS One's first day as an intern isn't supposed to be too active. Typically, you meet your coworkers and maybe get assigned a laptop. My first day at The Daily Progress as a photo intern let me know that this job wasn't going to be the kind of summer internship where I made copies.
On May 18, I got up at 6:30 a.m. to photograph Final Exercises at the University of Virginia, ran around photographing in the rain for several hours and then met with my supervisor Cal Cary for a marathon photo editing session.
Then it was off to UVa's baseball stadium to shoot the rivalry game and season finale against Virginia Tech, which ended up lasting 13 innings over five hours. Total work time: 16 hours. For the following two months, I continued running around Charlottesville, Albemarle and surrounding counties to produce pictures and stories every day for The Daily Progress.
In chronological order, here are 10 pictures and 10 assignments that I loved: First day on the job Graduation day was a huge assignment. The quad (Lawn, as I quickly learned) was packed to the brim with seniors (fourth-years, all right) who, I found, were more than happy to pose for pictures, even as their caps drooped in the drizzling rain that morning. Here, two fourth-years dance on the steps of the Rotunda as they await to walk down to the ceremony.
Commonwealth Clash At the University of Missouri where I study journalism, I had spent the past year covering college sports for a local blog. I was excited that UVa's baseball season was still going on, because sports is one of my favorite things to shoot. I didn't expect the game would last five hours, but I did expect the walk-off win, which is why I positioned myself above the dugout, a great view of home plate, to catch Harrison Didawick's home run celebration.
Campaign chaos In early June, prominent Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene came to an Albemarle County polling location just south of the city to campaign for congressional candidate John McGuire. With a small group of Republicans countered by dozens of Democrats, the affair quickly devolved into chaos, with Greene and all attendees loudly shouting over each other. My first political assignment in Virginia ended up being one of the oddest experiences of my summer.
Here, Greene shouts down the crowd. Keswick fair A few days after this, I visited Keswick to see their country fair and house tours. I was wowed by their beautiful and historic church and estates, and the several activities they hosted, such as a 4-H agricultural fair, a demonstration of shepherding and a car show, all in a serene, rural setting.
Here, Charlie Hurt of Edgeworth Farms demonstrates shepherding along with his sheepdogs. Hoos go to Omaha This very same day, I returned to Disharoon Park to cover the final day of Virginia baseball's Super Regional series against Kansas State. Virginia had put together a series of thrilling games all throughout their playoff run, and their final effort to put away the Cats was their best one of all.
Here, clutch playoff pitcher Jay Woolfolk celebrates a great play by catcher Jacob Ference to throw down a K-State runner at second. A day on the batteau This assignment took the distinction of the only time I have been on assignment for so long that I photographed both the morning and evening's "golden hour." Intrepid reporter Emily Hemphill and I traveled down the James River for north of 13 hours, capturing in words and pictures the happenings of the James River Batteau Festival.
It was odd to be on the boat for an entire day (how on earth do they do it for a whole week?), but the scene was too excellent to miss out on. This was certainly the highlight of the summer. Here, the batteaux rest on the side of the river at midday.
Local Olympian I was sent to the McIntire Park YMCA to see Crozet swimmer and UVa commit Thomas Heilman speak with the press before he departed for Paris to compete for Team USA in the Olympics. I had the opportunity to take a portrait of Heilman in front of the pool where he trains. Monticello One of the things I loved most about Charlottesville was its connection to American history, as I was able to visit the homes of three presidents in my time there.
The most important assignment, of course, was Independence Day at Monticello, where the estate hosted a naturalization ceremony for immigrants. Through 90-plus-degree temps, I was able to take some great photos of the ceremony and fanfare. Here, Ivan Robinson of Peru waves his flag with Monticello's dome in the background.
Storm over the Lawn This one was an extra-credit assignment of sorts. I was at home when I saw lightning flash in the direction of the Lawn. I grabbed a camera and some lenses and I was there quickly.
After a long, long time lying down and waiting, a major blast finally touched down north of the Rotunda. Folds visits the Pavilion This was one of my last assignments but one of the most fun. Famous pianist Ben Folds visited Ting Pavilion in downtown Charlottesville on his "Paper Airplane Tour," during which concert-goers wrote requests on paper airplanes and threw them up at him on stage.
The result was quite photogenic. Here, Folds is on stage, surrounded by the paper airplanes, as he reads his first request. Get local news delivered to your inbox!.
