It’s been a long time since I stayed all night at Mom and Dad’s without Natalie  and the kids. I stayed there a couple of nights this week, while I was working on some late night assignments nearby. I got in one night about one o’clock, and just sat on the back porch for a while. My mind was  instantly flooded with sights and sounds of growing up on Blackcreek in Clay City. The House Band that night was a group of deep-bar-atoned frogs and other assorted insects. You talk about a great stress reliever! I just sat there and soaked it all in.

The assignment that I was working on was photographing power plants at night for Kentucky Living (coming out in July…I think). I already had my tripod set up for time exposures, so I tried to capture a little bit of the Blackcreek Night. This is a 30 second exposure with the neighbors lights illuminating the hill behind Mom and Dad’s house. It really isn’t all that dark at night.

Since we are now only one day away from the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby, here are a few memories from last year’s washout.

David Harrison, photo director of the Louisville Courier-Journal

David Stephenson, UK Photojournalism director

Courier-Journal photographer Michael Clevenger strikes a pose in the media pavillion.

Lexington Herald-Leader Photographer Mark Cornelison makes final adjustments on his remote cameras

Next to the NBA Finals, the Derby media pavilion is considered one of the nicest accommodations for journalists.

Calvin wins #3

Stuck in the mud!!!

My idea with this blog when I first started it was to make it a daily photo diary. Life tends take over each day and I don’t always get to post photos like I want. But I’ve decided to try my best at making daily posts. I’d like to give people an artistic and visual reason to return each day. As a photographer, I get to see so much and go so many places. I’m truly blessed. I’ve never felt arrogant about the history that I get to record or the magnificent people that I get to immortalize by preserving small moments in time. I just feel lucky to be there, and because of that, I want to share what I see.

I love this time of year! This is when the world of photography turns its attention from the almighty orange bouncing ball to the moving hooves of the horse. For me, it starts with a few trips to Keeneland, and then the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, seen here, and then on to Louisville tomorrow for Oaks Day and the Kentucky Derby.

Great Britain's Mary King rides Kings Temptress to a first place finish in the jumping portion of the Rolex Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park.

A large, partly international crowd watches the Rolex Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Kentuckian Hannah Sue Burnett, aboard St. Barths, places eighth during the Rolex Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park. Burnett entered the day fifth place.

 

 

Last year's winner William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain, clears a fence during the jumping portion of the Rolex Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Great Britain's Mary King rides Kings Temptress to a first place finish in the jumping portion of the Rolex Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Great Britain's Mary King, pats Kings Temptress, after winning the Rolex Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park. King was the first rider to ever win first and second places at the Rolex, as her second place horse Fernhill Urco, right, looks on.