Feats of Strength
Mamma Lou, America’s Strong Woman, AKA Linsey Lindberg of San Antonio, Texas performs several feats of strength on the CHI Health Pavilion stage during the 2018 Nebraska State Fair.
One of her favorite feats of strength, Mamma Lou Americas Strong Woman, rips a phone directory in half as Christian Casper of Ann Arbor, Mich. attempted and failed while becoming part of Mamma Lous act at the Nebraska State Fair.
An American Hero
In lieu of Sen. John McCain passing away I was reminded of what a courageous and patriotic individual he was with an undying love for his country and family. In 2008 I had an opportunity to photograph Sen. McCain at a campaign rally in Denver, Colo. as he ran against Barack Obama for president of the United States.
Sen. John McCain gives a double thumbs up with his wife Cindy and daughter Meghan standing behind him at a 2008 campaign rally in Denver, Colo.
Over the Edge
Participants repel down the side of a downtown Grand Island, Neb. high rise as a fundraiser for the local YWCA, called Over the edge.
Katie Folkerts smiles as she repels down the side of Tower 217 during Over the Edge in downtown Grand Island Saturday. The event is a fundraiser for the YWCA.
Muddy Moments
Once again the Prairie Sludge Trudge at the Stuhr Museum made for many classic muddy moments.
Ray Nierman doesnt hold back as he slides head first down a mud hill during the Prairie Sludge Trudge Saturday at Stuhr Museum.
Nebraska’s Biggest Rodeo
Spent an evening photographing Nebraska’s Biggest Rodeo an hour and 35 minute drive away from Grand Island in Burwell, Neb. Here are some of my favorites.
Zach Hibler of Wheeler, Texas catches air while riding a horse named Locust during bareback riding at the Nebraska’s Big Rodeo Thursday night in Burwell.
2018 State 4-H Horse Exhibition
I covered two morning sessions at the 2018 State 4-H Horse Exhibition held at the Thompson Foods Open Air Arena on the Fonner Park Fairgrounds. Most of the events I used a Canon 200-400 f4 zoom lens.
Mackinze Gordon from Johnson County, middle, on her horse Patty awaits with other riders to compete in Western Pleasure Ponies during the State 4-H Horse Exposition Tuesday.
The Dog Days of Summer
Captured a moment recently at the Hall County Fair in which a young girl sat on the head of a Border Collie named Tucker while getting his back scratched before a 4-H Dog Show. It’s been my experience when photographing dogs and kids together you just can’t go wrong.
Kaitlyn Kleins dog Tucker doesnt mind a young girl sitting on his head as long as he gets his back scratched during the Hall County Fair 4-H Dog Show Thursday at Five Points Bank Arena.
Grover Cleveland Alexander Days Saturday, July 7, 2018
A recent assignment of mine was to photograph the Grover Cleveland Alexander Days parade on a Saturday morning in St. Paul, Neb. The parade route which went through downtown St. Paul on Howard Avenue was lined with people.
Ashton Kult puts on LaDonna Koperskis firefighting gear to wear during the Grover Cleveland Alexander Days Parade Saturday in St. Paul, Neb.
2018 Fireworks
My favorite pic from a community fireworks display is below. I don’t think I’ve ever photographed a fireworks show in complete darkness as it was pitch black. No street lights, no nothing.
Canon 1D X Mark II camera, 16-35mm f2.8 series III lens, 8 seconds shutter speed, f18 at 200 ISO.
Families enjoy the 5th annual Doniphan Fireworks Show at the Doniphan Gun Club Tuesday night.
Early Summertime Favorites
It’s been a hot and humid summer so far with a lot of events taking place in many places in and around Grand Island (it seemed like we skipped spring and went straight into summer). I was sent to Albion, Neb. (an hour and 15 minutes away) to photograph our Athlete of the Year. Also, another standout athlete, Sam Schukel, who won the Paul Beranek Courage Award with a portrait in Kenesaw, Neb. The Hear Grand Island summer concert series kicked off and a new water park the Wood River Aquatics Center opened. And the YMCA had it’s first ever outdoor yoga class at Railside in downtown Grand Island.
Stef Brown smiles while participating in a yoga class for the first time held outside at Railside in downtown Grand Island Thursday evening.
The Daddy of ‘Em All
Progressive Horse Journal Magazine recently ran a photo spread of images I took in their June-July issue to preview the upcoming 2018 Cheyenne Frontier Days. It never gets old seeing your photography displayed so well. Great job Tara Matsler, managing editor, Performance Horse Journal!
Severe Thunderstorm
Hall County Nebraska as well as surrounding counties were hit with a long line of severe thunderstorms on a late Friday night well into Saturday morning. This image was taken from a parking garage across the street from the Hall County Courthouse as the storm came through. Because of the trees (which added to the composition of the image), I braced the camera against my left knee pointing it slightly upward trying not to obscure the top of the steeple, tripping the shutter when I saw a glow of light. After using this wide angle zoom lens for close to a year now my opinion is that it’s flawless. It’s tack sharp from corner to corner at all focal lengths and it renders colors beautifully.
Canon EOS-1D X Mark II camera, 16-35mm f2.8 series III lens, 1/25th of a second, f4 at 3200 ISO.
Sheeting rain comes down as the skies open up with a bright flash of lightning above the Hall County Courthouse early Saturday morning in Grand Island, Neb.
2018 Hero Flight Welcome Home Ceremony
My colleague Garrett Griess and I worked together to create this video of a Hero Flight Welcome Home Ceremony for Vietnam Veterans at Central Nebraska Regional Airport. I shot several video clips and Garrett did a great job editing my video for The Grand Island Independent.
2018 Nebraska State Track & Field Championships
I photographed my third straight Nebraska State Track & Field Championships with sports reporter Marc Zavala in Omaha, Neb. Here are my top 20 favorite images.
Alixzandra Bloom clenches her fists in the air after winning the Class D girls 100-meter dash during the Nebraska State Track & Field Championships at Omaha Burke Stadium.
Heartland Living, April 2018
Our newspaper did a condensed version of the spring edition of Heartland Living magazine. Once again our staff did a stellar job with producing and selling a premium product for our readers that’s an insert into an April Saturday newspaper. The two stories I took photos for were about a the Grand Island Modeler’s Club, in which, they fly drones at an airfield in Alda, Neb. And a lady who raises chickens on a farm in rural Hall County.
Dave Gee Invitation Track and Field Meet
Our newspaper covers several track and field meets leading up to the three-day championships in Omaha, Neb. in the month of May. Here are some of my favorite images from the annual Dave Gee Invitation Track and Field Meet held at Grand Island Northwest High School.
Fletcher Bydalek of Grand Island Northwest throws in the third flight of the boys shot put during the Dave Gee Invitation Track and Field Meet.
2018 Nebraska Boys State Basketball Championships
Our sports reporters and myself covered 11 games over three days during this years’ tournament in Lincoln, Neb. The first day (Thursday) started out at various Lincoln area high schools and The Bob Devaney Sports Center. On Friday all of the games I covered were at the Devaney Sports Center and on Saturday all championship games are held at Pinnacle Bank Arena. We had three boys basketball teams that made it to their championship games on the final day, but unfortunately all three lost.
Hastings St. Cecilia junior Ashton Valentine clenches his fists in the air while running back to the team bench to celebrate a 39-36 victory over Yutan during a Class C2 semifinal Boys State Basketball Tournament game Friday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
2018 Nebraska Girls State Basketball Championships
Our region had one team make it to the finals playing at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb. Unfortunately the Ravenna Bluejays lost a very close basketball game. The Bluejays are one of hardest working basketball teams I’ve ever covered and they’re enjoyable to photograph. Here are some of my favorites from the championship game and over the course of the three-day tournament.
Superior sophomore Trisha Hayes and Ravenna junior Jordyn Fiddelke dive after the basketball during a Class C2 Nebraska State High School Championship game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena Saturday. Superior won 42-39.
Nebraska Danger
I remember when I met world renowned photojournalist Bill Frakes at a Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo in 2007. Of all of his great images I told him the photo of the football helmet suspended in midair was one of my favorites he had taken. He response was “which one”? Not realizing he had more than one and for myself I didn’t have any, until now. In the first game of the 2018 IFL season Cedar Rapids running back Tyler Thomas lost his helmet on a tackle.
Cedar Rapids running back Tyler Thomas loses his helmet after getting jarred by Nebraska Danger defensive lineman Xzavie Jackson and defensive back Najee Bright during second quarter action at the Heartland Event Center Friday night.
2018 Nebraska State Wrestling Championships
Met lots of new people and saw some familiar faces at this year’s state wrestling tournament in Omaha over three busy days. We had 127 city and area student athletes combined competing. Twenty-one wrestlers made the finals.
Collin Quandt of Grand Island Northwest runs out onto the Class B wrestling mat to face Jackson Nielsen of Blair in a 113-pound match during the Nebraska State High School Wrestling Championship finals in Omaha Saturday.
Basketball Jones
Basketball is one of my favorite sports to photograph. I’ve photographed the NBA to college to high school hoops and even some youth games. And with March being a few weeks away with the start of the high school state championships, I thought I would share some of my favorites so far this season.
Riverside sophomore Tredyn Prososki takes a tumble over Heartland Lutheran’s Daniel Warneke during second quarter action at Heartland High School.
30 Favorites from 2017
Goodbye 2017 and hello 2018. It seems like year after years are flying by. As with any New Year I anticipate it with excitement and uncertainness. It’s a good time to reflect on where you’re at and how far you’ve come. Thus taking steps to achieve a new set of goals over the next year and beyond.
A super moon rises above the steeple on the Hall County Courthouse late Saturday afternoon.
Wreaths Across America Ceremony
A Wreaths Across America Ceremony took place at the Grand Island Veterans Home All Faiths Chapel. After the ceremony a tractor trailer containing wreaths is unloaded, in which those wreaths are placed at every veterans headstone at the Grand Island Veterans Cemetery.
Sgt. Mike Evans with the USAF uses both hands during a presentation of wreaths at a Wreaths across America ceremony at All Faiths Chapel inside the Grand Island Veterans Home.
Flatwater Fracas Dual Wrestling Tournament
Flatwater Fracas is a two-day high school dual wrestling tournament held at the Heartland Event Center in Grand Island, Neb. It brings in wrestling teams across the state of Nebraska, but also out-of-state teams from Manhattan, Kan., Mead, Colo. and Cheyenne, Wyo. It’s the 10th annual tournament. The Kearney Wildcats won this year’s title beating No. 3 ranked Gretna 39-24 in the championship. Here are a dozen of my favorites:
Steven Berumen of Kearney grimaces while wrestling Lance Jarrett of Gretna during a 182-pound team championship match at the Flatwater Fracas Wrestling Tournament.