Well its officially fall.
Three ways to tell
1) The colors
2) I’m Sick (thats not something you would know but I get sick at the same time every year.)
3) Homecoming

This week seemed to be the most popular week for homecoming this year.
Minus Central last week and BH next week it seemed every school had homecoming this week.

I decided early in the week to see how much of SDSM&T’s homecoming I could cover.
The week is steeped in tradition at the Mines and thus is fun to photograph.

I did put together an entire slide show on this (check the media section)
I just wanted to post up a few of my favorite photos.

I was expecting a larger student turn out for the bonfire/burning of the M. I was a little disappointed to tell you the truth. I was struggling to get a shot. This was my favorite of the two I submitted. It didn’t get run.

Things got a little messy very quickly.
Thank god for 200mm lenses. Even with the long glass I managed to get covered in mud and had several close calls with getting tossed in.

Look at that million dollar smile! I don’t think I could handle that. I like getting dirty but I draw the line at swallowing mud.

I couldn’t get enough of this guys hair… it reminded me of Side Show Bob from the Simpsons. Pretty sweet.

I quickly learned there was no where you could go to get away from the whitewash. I’m not complaining though, I throughly enjoy shooting anything that causes me to be on my toes… in this case it was literal.

Of course this is all a lead up to the big football game. It was the largest crowd I’ve seen at a Mines game but the turnout paled in comparison to the turn out at the Whitewash of the M the afternoon before. I can think of only two reasons why the turn out is low 1) The kids don’t like football or 2) Hangovers. I’m leaning more towards number 2.

I’ve never looked forward to climbing M Hill but it was well worth it. I don’t think I would ever slide down the M for any reason. I seek adventure and often put myself in potentially dangerous situations but this was a little over board for even me. There is something about cracking concrete that has sections jutting up that doesn’t seem very safe. I guess that was what the waivers were for. It was enjoyable to watch others do it though.

Sorry for the lack of blogs this week. We were down a man with Steve on vacation so there was not a lot of time to get on.

By Seth A. McConnell

I think I can speak for almost every journalist out there when I say I live for breaking news.
There is a rush that comes with being in the moment when something unpredicted happens.
Today was no different.

I was on my way back from Hill City when I noticed a small plume of smoke to the South.
At first I blew it off.
“It’s too late in the season for a wildfire and we have had too much moisture.”
As I approached Rapid I could see the plume building and knew it was much more than someone burning a slash pile or a prescribed burn. After a quick phone call to the newsroom to confirm my thought I was off to Custer. (Thank God I left my nomex and fire gear in the trunk of my car )

Normally on the first day of a fire they keep you back as far as possible. So I wasn’t in a real hurry to get there as the access I had from the road would be, more than likely, all the closer I would get anyways.
I stopped along the way to grab an artsy shot of the fall colors and the building plume of smoke.

Since we are often kept at a distance on the first day we end up shooting the ever-famous plane or helicopter flying into or out of the smoke plume. Sometimes we luck out and get close enough to get them dropping a load. I didn’t have such luck this afternoon as I was awaiting the arrival of Fire Information Officer Beth Hermanson.

Generic I know but I wasn’t sure of the access I would have so I had to take it. (I learned very early in the fire season this year that it maybe a generic shot but if I don’t come back with it I’ll hear about it. So better safe than sorry)

Today was apparently my lucky day in every other aspect.
I was the only journalist in the staging area and I got amazing access. (both of which are very unusual)

They let me out in the staging area where they were setting up a makeshift helipad.

And on to the airstrip where they were refueling and loading the planes with retardant.
Which was a place I learned very quickly that I did not want to be as I was almost blown over 3 separate times by the planes propeller. The average person would’ve taken off after one, two at the most but I held out until after the third because I didn’t feel I had the shot. I knew I wanted the pilot sticking his head out of the window and I pulled a move I’m calling the Kettlewell. Which basically means I find the angle I want and stay put until what I want to happen, happens. Which is what the interns told me Kettlewell does on a fire.

The thick smoke and the late afternoon sun created beautiful light. It was actually very hard to shoot in. I couldn’t use fill flash because of the smoke. I couldn’t overexpose to pick up detail in the shadows as the “Heavenly Rays” of light would blow out completely losing the intended effect. So I made a happy compromise and over exposed by 1/2 to one full stop… it kind of worked.

I had never been on an actual fire line prior to today (as the information officers this summer kept us away…) and honestly I never would want to be there if I didn’t have to.
I have an ever-growing amount of respect for those who choose to do this job.
The heat was incredibly intense, the hike in was grueling up steep and rocky terrain and my eyes burned and watered intensely from the smoke. Which I couldn’t escape from no matter where I turned. My protective eyewear was useless as the smoke just got trapped behind the lens.
I was incredibly tired, dehydrated and soaked in sweat when I got back to the suburban and I was only there for an hour or so and carrying three camera bodies, a fire tent and water.
I can only imagine what its like to be on the hot end of the fire for 16 hours, carrying a 40lb pack and a shovel or axe (and for the unlucky one a chainsaw over one shoulder), all the while cutting fire lines in rocky, steep and unforgiving terrain.
If your a fire fighter and read this. Thank You.
I could not do what you do.

The rest of these are from the outtake reel (often I have more images than I submit for publication. They are often set aside for one reason or another, usually I have another image that is similar and just a stronger image or its been nixed by a higher power or I have better images and have no need to correct images from the b-pile.)

I started work at 9:30 this morning and it’s now 10:30.
I smell like a bbq, my eyes burn and I’m wore out.
Thank God I have the next two days off.

-S

PS-We like comments, it lets us know people actually read this.
PPS- This isn’t rapid reply either, so lets keep it civil, any back and forth bantering or mean comments will not be approved.

by Seth A. McConnell

I learned an important lesson this afternoon involving golf carts, hills and writing on the ground.

I got sent out to cover the St. Thomas More invitational golf tournament this afternoon at the Elks Golf Course.
I’m not a big sports guy but I enjoy shooting golf for the soul purpose of riding in the golf cart.
I’m young and a guy so I enjoy all these little toys. (I know the fascination with toys and gadgets will probably never end.)

So I’m zipping around the course with the pedal to the ground trying to catch up with the lead group while trying to avoid the group behind me as I don’t want to become a moving target.

If you’ve been to the Elks GC you know that it is full of rolling hills especially on the back nine. Between the 15th and 16th there is a rather large hill so I speed up zipping down the hill to keep my moment up to climb up the otherside.
Someone decided it was a good idea to write a sentence in large white letters on the hill.
My curosity peaked and I decided to attempt to read said sentence…
Instead of stopping and reading I kept my foot to the floor taking my eyes off the car path…
Next thing I know I have all 4 wheels off the ground, I’m not sure if I got all 4 wheels off the ground at the same time but at any given moment at least two were. It didn’t take long before the beast started leaning to one side.
I calmly slowed down a bit and corrected the cart back onto the path and kept flying along.
This of course happened in the
I couldn’t tell you what the writing said but I do know this.
Next time i decide to read something on the ground as I’m zipping along I’m going to slow down.
I, again being young, thought it was insanely fun as well.
Anytime you can get a vehicle off the ground and it doesn’t flip is usually a good time.

I still don’t understand why certain sports writers don’t want to ride in the cart with me.

-S

By Seth A. McConnell

Well we’ve reached that time of year again… well almost that time of year.
While we still officially have 3 days until Fall officially begins that Autumn feeling is already in the air.

The leaves are starting to change, wilt and float to the ground.
The air is getting crisp and the days are getting shorter.

I ventured out during the rain shower this afternoon to try and grab a few shots of changing leaves and the early fall precipitation.
I managed to come up with a few that I really enjoyed. At least one of those will be in tomorrows paper.
I took a few that are just a little to artsy for a newspaper.

Now this isn’t a fall color but I couldn’t help myself.

With that I pose this question:
Where in the Black Hills do you think is the best place to observe/photograph the autumn colors?

-S

Don’t know what it is about tennis, but it just doesn’t lend itself to pretty portraits. The players either have their tongues out on every shot (it’s a wonder they don’t bite it off) or they grimace and grunt when they hit the ball.

It’s not a pretty sight. These are crops from some of the better action photos I caught this week at the GDC tournament here in town. The swings and arm make the photos, but these are just the faces.

Is it just me, or is the big scoreboard at O’Harra Stadium - new last year along with the artificial turf - a BIG disappointment? When I saw the size of the thing, I was thinking huge, easily read numbers and maybe even room for other game scores. Instead the numbers are small - maybe even smaller than the old scoreboard, and half of the space is taken up by the stupid, uninspiring graphics. Ugh!

- McEnroe

It is one of the oldest and most basic rules of air combat - If at all possible, attack your enemy out of the sun. It is one reason old fighter pilots get old. With the sun at your back, the enemy won’t see you coming till its too late.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Air Force seems to live by this rule in all things - including assumption of command ceremonies. With Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne on hand today along with assorted Congresswomen, Senators and other dignitaries, Ellsworth Air Force Base had its grand opening and assumption of command ceremony for the new Air Force Financial Services Center. and the podium was set up - even angled just perfect - to be directly beneath the 9:30 a.m. sun rising on the eastern horizon. The dark blue uniforms and dark dignitary suits were like black blobs. The backlighting did wonders for the blue Air Force flags and banners though. It was definately a day for fill flash. The attached photo was a quick test shot before the ceremony, without flash.

I had to feel a little sorry for the tv crews, who were set up at the back with their telephoto lenses and NO lighting to aid them.

- Steve McEnroe

This was a shot I picked up Monday, but it didn’t make the paper. As I let my golden retriever outside, I saw this and grabbed my camera. Following the long rain Sunday night, as the morning sun beat down on the damp railing of my back deck, the thing was steaming. Against the dark backdrop of my grape arbor, it almost appeared to be on fire there was so much steam swirling off the 2×4 railing. The whole thing lasted for just a few minutes.

- Steve McEnroe

Tim Appel, a multi-media producer, has joined the Journal staff as the paper looks to add more - and better - video content to our online presence.

The attached photo shows Tim and reporter Andrea Cook interviewing Douglas school students Tuesday at the district’s 9-11 memorial “Freedom Walk” around the school campus and Patriot Stadium.

So check out the multi-media area of rapidcityjournal.com for video features or breaking news as the Journal enters the 21st century full speed ahead.

But don’t forget to check out the weekly photo galleries by the Journal staff photographers at the same site.

- Steve McEnroe

I have to admit, I was a little amazed this morning when the Patriot Guard Riders came through town on their 9-11 anniversary ride in memory of the 343 FDNY firefighters who died in the twin towers six years ago.

I spent 45 minutes sitting on the median island at Mt. Rushmore Rd. and Omaha Street. We had been told they could roll through anytime between 10-10:45, and of course, it was almost exactly 10:45 when they came down Omaha St. from a run out to Nemo and back, but the amazing thing was - six years after that long, horrible day - there had to be as many as 1,000 motorcycles in the group, led by several bikes sporting Old Glory. Police had traffic stopped at the intersection for at least five minutes as they rolled through towards Memorial Park.

- Steve McEnroe