Monday, December 21, 2009

Karen Shelby, LPN

This was the final edit for my Picture Story class; it's a story I hope to continue working on, if possible.




Karen Shelby makes a trip to the supply closet early in her evening shift at Bothwell Hospital in Sedalia, MO. Shelby recalls coming home crying from the hospital as a teenager after being told she had the medical condition known as dwarfism. She found a way to work professionally after her mother encouraged her that “you can do anything anyone else can.”




Shelby verifies a patient’s medication while on her Tuesday night shift. Shelby’s mother was a nurse; Shelby started studying nursing after the birth of her son, Chris, in 1986. Although some little people are on disability, she says she herself has never chosen to see what she calls “the height situation” in that light.




Shelby checks on patient Laura Bush. “If I can’t educate people verbally (about
dwarfism), then it’s by showing them I can do it.” She says sometimes patients doubt whether she can lift them but otherwise rarely receives negative comments due to her height.





Jesse Pollock, 8, skates with assistance from his mom, Lecia Pollock, and Shelby during a Little People of America event in Kansas City on November 17, 2009. Shelby is the District 7 LPA Director and enjoys connecting with parents and children born with dwarfism. “People are more aware now because of the Internet, and because of the shows coming out.”



Shelby changes clothes in preparation for a late-afternoon workout at the Sedalia Athletic Club. She says working out is a priority in her life and keeping the weight off prevents too much pressure on her body’s joints. Plus,"it's my time to get away."




Shelby reaches for an item on the top shelf at Wood’s grocery store in Sedalia. Her philosophy of self-sufficiency extends to areas such as shopping. “If there’s nobody to help, I find a way to do it. It takes time to find a clerk.”




Shelby’s son, Chris, 23, sits with his grandmother as she hems his pants prior to Thanksgiving dinner at the family home in Sedalia. Chris is too tall to be considered a little person, Shelby says, but he inherited some aspects of dwarfism even though Chris’s father, was six feet tall.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Final Project in Progress



An outtake from my final project for Picture Story, which I am very much enjoying shooting despite the looming deadlines. My subject is dwarfism, looking at what life is like to be a little person in this culture. Little people are often portrayed in a derogatory fashion in mainstream movies and the media, and I wanted to show a different side, a more accurate side.

This picture is from a Little People of America (LPA) Christmas party in Kansas City. I was cracking up when the kids were choosing their gifts from Santa and Mrs. Claus--it's very serious business, as I recall from my own childhood!

Friday, December 4, 2009

Summer Heat



Took a break from school stress to do something mindless--organizing my digital files-- and found this from this summer. Reminds me of the warmth of the sun and also how I always liked to shoot something for myself when sent to cover a baseball game.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Soldier's Daughter



Seven-year-old Riley Ehret of Belgrade, Montana wears her father's Army Commendation Medal and watches as his flag is unfolded during a morning ceremony in her honor held August 5, 2009 in Helena, Montana. Ehret's father, Specialist Travis T. Ehret, a three-tour Iraq War veteran, was killed in a bar fight the day before Father's Day. His daughter was honored with both his flag and medal during the service.

I was surprised to find out last week that I won the AP Montana Photo for the month of August--but more honored when I came across this picture on a number of veterans' blogs. I was honored to be a part of her family's history that day.

Thanks to Kevin for figuring out why I couldn't get text in my blog for all these months.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Friday, November 6, 2009

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Pep Rally




Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Chuck Fadely: On the Margins, "I'm not going to let you steal my joy"

Chuck Fadely: On the Margins "I'm not going to let you steal my joy"

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Monday, September 7, 2009

More Rodeo

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Friday, July 24, 2009

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Monday, July 20, 2009

Rugs for Sale


Rugs for sale at the stoplight: Dr. Dre, elk, Tinkerbell, pretty much everything under the sun--literally.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Palm Sunday

An outtake from a Palm Sunday shoot; the story is about the birth of a local church and all that goes into building it.

Monday, March 23, 2009

MU Tennis




First attempts at shooting MU tennis. These women were impressive; the endurance needed for this game is beyond belief, they literally were out there for hours.
I know it's about sports, but I also fell in love with the red hair against the green background.