Saturday, May 30, 2009

Living Notoriously Well....

Now everyone knows that I don't drink. However this may be served at the next social function, did you know?

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Smoke and Mirrors

There are a number tricks my fellow photographers incorporate to help breathe life into the stories people see everyday.

We have to channel the inner magician within us. However, I’m nowhere near the level of the people who can make national landmarks disappear. However, with a fuzzy wand and a quick edit I can have the peeps at home wondering what just happen.

Take today for example. I’m shooting a story on a standard debate over a bill involving cell phones. Of course, there are the people for and against the bill but when at the Phallus Palace, I try to get the story out of the capital. Namely by finding the people, or the area, that the bill is affecting. Therefore, with my cell phone, some tape, and a couple of creative angles, I was able to put this on the air.

Even though I’m not at the level of most illusionists, I can make black holes in newscasts vanish. Now If I can get a lovely assistant to help with the act. I wonder if Grace is available.

Monday, May 25, 2009

We Need A LEAD!!!!!!!!!!

Iconic words uttered from newsrooms across the country, especially on holidays.

Finding a lead story on a holiday rivals that of explores discovering the Holy Grail or the lost underwater city of Atlantis. Simply put, it is a long shot. It is not every day that something shows up on the news radar. That was not the case this time.

Over the weekend on the high seas, a kid from Hammond mysteriously falls overboard off a cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico during a senior trip. While an investigation is happening on the ship, the Coast Guard continues the search and rescue mission.

Here on dry land, news crews from the region are dispatched to the kid’s hometown for reaction to the latest news. Meaning we go to a prayer service that we are not allowed to attend in hopes of finding someone to talk to us about the latest tragic events surrounding their loved ones. I see we are not the only ones here. Looks like members of the New Orleans Delegation, including the North Rampart District, are in the same situation we are.

As soon as the words, “Please get off the property. And we would ask that you not talk to anyone afterwards”, The Kidd asks, “What are we going to do for sound”? “We are going to keep our distance and wait for someone to come to us”, was my response. I’ve always believe that people will talk when they are ready to talk not when there are a ton of microphones with logos jammed in their face.

Time passes and the services are ending. The parishioners start filing out of the building. I go and let the Kidd do his thing and we get lucky. Somehow, we manage to get some of the kid’s friends to talk to us. It’s never easy to talk to people while they are grieving. I can’t imagine what they are going through.

I know they’ll continuing praying for a miracle but this story may not have a happy conclusion

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I'm A Witness



By now you have seen the last second game winning shot from King James but I found something else worth watching.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Survivor

One of the great joys of my job is that I get to meet interesting people. Some make a difference in the world. Others should not be allowed to roam around society. All have some story to tell.

However, it is not often that I get to stand across someone who has looked “Death” in the eyes then slammed the door right in its face.

That brings me to one Ed Brock. No, not the guy who put on the Black Suit after Peter Parker ditched it.

This Ed Brock is a veteran of Nam who has thousands of hours in flying experience, namely in choppers and small planes. I first met him after the Raggedy charted a flight, via Acadian Air Med, to survey a ferry accident near the State Prison last year. It was too dark to see anything so the mission was scrubbed but the flight did not end there. On the way, back a call came over the radio involving a bad accident near Livonia. With Ed at the controls, we headed to the scene. I was able to see a different view of the first responders in action. Usually it is behind a sectioned off area with the threat of Schumcks causing a scene. Not the case here. An all access pass with a couple of flight paramedics, how cool was this. Too bad my video was deleted by some unknown entity. I would have made some good television.

Anyway, this time I got to see Ed not as a pilot. Not as a first responder. However, as a crash survivor. Last night, while teaching one of his students, his plane experienced some mechanical troubles. With some quick thinking, along with a ton of experience, Ed managed to get the plane down in a sugar cane field. The truly amazing part is that both guys were not seriously hurt. Thank goodness. Planes can be replaced lives cannot. So after a check by the doctors both men will make full recoveries from the scratches and bruises that got from impact. I guess the old saying is true, "Any landing you can walk away from is a good one".

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Working on the B-Day

It all started with a wake up call at 5:30. The voice on the other tells me, “It’s somebody’s birthday today. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday, dear Robert. Happy Birthday to you”. For long as I can remember, my mom would start my day on May 20 and it is always a pleasant beginning.

My birthday falls during sweeps and asking for the day off is blasphemy in the eyes of the news gods. No problem I just knew it was going to be a good day.

After checking the Bat Phone and the Facebook pages for the many birthday wishes, thank you all for the kind words, it was time to head to the Raggedy to help fill some time in the newscasts. No big deal, I’ll just play the cards on the table and go from there. So after the Kidd and I finish our assignment of the day I remember a feature on the sheet that wasn’t far from us. Normally I would just want to head back after finishing my assignment but I figure let’s help some more. I figured the Turd would be stuck in an edit bay applying some postproduction polish on a sweeps story that took awhile to put together.

So I grab the for mentioned Bat Phone to let the Turdpolisher know I’m in the area and can pick up that feature he wasn’t fond of. He responds, “Man I can kiss you”. “No need for that Senator. I don’t want to make the STW upset”, I replied. “You’re probably right. Thanks again”, he said. The words of the Turd were priceless at that moment.

So what, or in this case who, is the feature you ask of?
She is the feature of the day.This is lovely Grace Espinosa. She works at the local Hooters and is a finalist for their Calendar Girl of the Year competition. As intelligent, as she is beautiful she is continuing her campaign to be the face of a global phenomenon. It looks like she’s come to the right people. The Raggedy has a reputation for jumpstarting web traffic with mere mentions on the evening news. Besides, I’m no stranger to campaigns myself.
Even though I had to work, it was still a great day.
I’ll have to try to make it a holiday next year, did you know?

Saturday, May 16, 2009

They Know Drama



There really isn't any need for any added attractions when the NBA playoffs are on television. Nothing brings excitement with LeBron, Kobe, Melo, and the rest of the NBA's elite playing for the honor of being called World Champion. However when you get the added bonus of comentators doing crazy things, like push ups, then it is worth staying up late after the night's doubleheader.

Micro Fuzz

Hey everyone. Sorry about the lack of posting on the blog. I had to dig out the instruction manual for the Micro Fuzz. Turns out that a board in the Big Fuzzy burned out and is currently in the shop for repairs. In spite of this setback the beast has to feed. So, for the past week I've been trying to get a grip on how to use the Micro Fuzz. So far, so good. I've been asked, "What do you think of it"? My response, "It is what it is. Just have to play the cards I'm given".

So after some trial and error, I got to shoot a good story with the Micro Fuzz on Thursday. It was graduation time for the kids of St. Amant High. But the moment was bittersweet with the unfortunate death of one of their classmates. Check out the story below.


Tuesday, May 5, 2009

A Storm Is Brewing

It is not often that you get to see an adult entertainer at high noon. But then again there is only one Stormy Daniels.

Last time she made the Forum there were rumblings of a grass root effort to get her to run for Louisiana’s Senate Seat, that is up for grabs in 2010. Naturally, she was shocked and flattered that her name came up but surely one of the most downloaded women on the globe is not considering a career move to politics. Then again, maybe she will.

So, on one of her trips back to the hometown, she decided to have a listening tour to hear some of their concerns as well as give some feedback. Some topics came up, taxes, the war, her political affiliation, etc. However, one of the more surprising qualities the folks noticed is that she is very intelligent. Granted she become more aware of the political world but today she carried herself quite well.
Of course, we are still a long way from possible campaign and then the real fireworks begin. Namely, who is going to follow her quest from the set to the steps of the U.S. Capital?
I think I have an inside edge, did you know?

Monday, May 4, 2009

Finding Peter Parker

While I was out in the field other day, I got a message that the Raggedy is looking to add some décor to the station. No fancy decorators was called but out talents with the camera were needed. Turns out that we are looking to update some portraits that line the halls of the building. I’m guessing that Peter Parker was preoccupied. Who wouldn’t be when you have to chase a famous web slinger while dealing with a demanding publisher of a major newspaper?
No big deal I like taking pictures in when I’m out in the area. I wonder what they’ll think of this one.
I see The Nubian Princess and the Turdpolisher got the message also.
Wait a minute, why does Keytha K have my camera? What is she taking a picture of?
Of course, traffic. One of the biggest issues plaguing the city. The folks in charge should have built that loop 20 years ago. At least it makes for a good picture. I’ll show off the winners in a later post, did you know?