Clare Becker Photo

Barbershop

2012-01-14T14:55:00.000-08:00

Top: Barry Yingling hangs out at Doug's Barbershop on the last day of 2011. Stumbled on this feature on the way to make a building mug which happened to be next door. The John Deere clock and the vintage Coke machine were killing me with their color and general awesomeness.

Bottom: Girl Scouts compete in a cookie balancing contest.

Learning to Drive

2011-12-23T13:33:00.000-08:00

This was from a story about driver's ed and was tricky because of all the reflections and just my position in the backseat (and also having to fight my carsickness!). Cheyenne, 16, was a trooper and did a great job on her first driving lesson, despite having both me and the instructor watching her every move.

I don't have much in the way of Christmas-y images at the moment so I leave you with this to help combat holiday stress; it's from a business story we did. Happy Holidays!

Some singles

2011-12-12T13:31:00.000-08:00

Dedication Day

2011-11-20T18:31:00.000-08:00

Covered Dedication Day in Gettysburg on Saturday, the annual tribute to Abe Lincoln's delivery of the Gettysburg Address. Avatar actor Stephen Lang gave the dedication remarks and Millicent Sparks, an actress from Philly, portrayed Harriet Tubman. (I'm not sure anyone even breathed during her performance, she was spellbinding). One of the most touching parts of the ceremony was the swearing in of new US citizens. As much as I had to run around all morning, still feel lucky to have witnessed the day and to live close to that much incredible history.

Reflecting on history

2011-11-10T19:11:00.000-08:00

Covered a Veterans Day ceremony last Saturday and a community reading of the U.S. Constitution on Sunday.

The bottom photo is an archive photo I took last spring of Gettysburg's Tillie Pierce House. Tillie Pierce was a teenager who witnessed the Battle of Gettysburg during July 1-3, 1863, and wrote a book about it, At Gettysburg: Or What a Girl Saw and Heard at the Battle. That's her picture in the photo at right.

Of duct tape and presidents

2011-10-29T17:32:00.000-07:00

A little over a week ago, I'm photographing fields of beautiful cosmos flowers in the warm sun...today, I'm wearing my down jacket as I edit photos in the newsroom and watching the snow fall outside. At least one of my assignments was inside today; that Abe Lincoln is completely made of duct tape (and in Gettysburg, PA, you best not get the likeness wrong!). I think the artist captured it perfectly.

Two from yesterday

2011-10-16T17:20:00.001-07:00

Untitled

2011-10-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields...

--Jackson Browne, "Running on Empty"

Pet Blessing

2011-10-06T19:48:00.000-07:00

Hill Climb

2011-09-25T17:29:00.001-07:00

Healing Field

2011-09-11T19:40:00.000-07:00

Last Days of Summer

2011-08-30T22:31:00.000-07:00

Vacation

2011-08-16T18:09:00.000-07:00

Got a couple of days off in June to go to Ocean City, Maryland and then back home by way of Baltimore. People watching on the beach in OC, wild horses on Assateague Island, oysters on the half shell for $8 at Faidley's Seafood in Baltimore (as seen in HBO's The Wire, my new obsession!), and some sort of sturgeon that posed for my camera at the Baltimore Aquarium.

We also had tickets to see U2's 360 tour in Baltimore with Florence and the Machine opening and it was incredible, the best concert I have ever seen.

Along the Way

2011-08-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

Two things I snapped today in between assignments. The man with his rescue snake, a ball python named Monty, had the word "hate" tattooed across the knuckles of one hand and "love" across the other. "I used to have a lot of hate, but as I grew up, it was more love."

Mining Shaft

2011-08-11T18:47:00.001-07:00

Sunday

2011-07-31T17:04:00.001-07:00

Extras wait to be called to the set of a movie that was shooting in the area today.

Special Olympics Kayaking

2011-07-24T13:53:00.000-07:00

Civil War Reenactment

2011-07-15T13:41:00.000-07:00

Gettysburg Bike Week

2011-07-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

Graduation

2011-06-29T13:53:00.000-07:00

I'd never shot graduations before but got some practice last month. Enjoyed the graduation speeches; I think I got more out of them now than I did then.

In Memory Of

2011-06-19T19:56:00.001-07:00

Jennifer Bergels helps son Logan Bergels, 4, release a butterfly in memory of his grandfather during the butterfly release at St. David's in Hanover.

A moving ceremony that was part of a local hospice event, kind of timely for Father's Day, now that I think about it.

Untitled

2011-06-12T16:14:00.001-07:00

Bluegrass Lollapalooza!

2011-06-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Scenes from a bluegrass festival last month that the paper does a special tab for...The band in the picture turns out to be from Springfield, Missouri--The HillBenders!

Stuff from April

2011-05-25T18:39:00.000-07:00

Senior prom, tea party rally and a couple more shots from Spoutwood Farm and its observatory. The senior prom gentleman was so great; I think he danced every dance and told me he grew up near the racetracks in Baltimore as an explanation for his dance mojo/general joie de vivre.

Happy Easter

2011-04-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter everyone!

24 Hours

2011-04-14T18:47:00.001-07:00

Places I've been in the last 24 hours: ribbon-cutting for a sewage treatment plant, cage fighting practice, a vintage camper at Spoutwood Farm--an organic farm and observatory--and a book from Spoutwood's Straw Bale Frodo House. The red light is to help the eyes adjust when going from light to dark.

The Great Outdoors

2011-04-06T18:35:00.000-07:00

First day of trout season near Orrtanna, PA. Girls'soccer practice from where I was standing shooting softball on Wednesday. Jerry Niederer of Jerry's Taxidermy in Abbottstown. He and his wife, Tammy, met when they were 17 and have been running the business since 1984. "Don't ask me to do a bear holding an ashtray; it's about recreating nature the way it was intended."

Friday to Sunday

2011-03-27T20:01:00.000-07:00

English spaniel, Jack, takes a last look at the world before the bathtime hatch goes down. Gettysburg Park rangers listen to a speech from Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. Shots from backstage at the symphony yesterday. (Not pictured: cat show, lacrosse, several breaking news calls, trying to work on my project as usual, going to see The Lincoln Lawyer and a temporary water outage at our house).

untitled

2011-03-13T17:25:00.000-07:00

Mid-February

2011-02-21T13:41:00.000-08:00

Mennonite Bible Camp

2011-02-09T09:11:00.001-08:00

Shots from a feature I found last week; I hope to go back and work on a story, we'll see what happens. I got a kick out of the fact that while I was shooting, kids kept coming up to me and taking a picture of me with their cameras.

Washington, DC

2011-01-31T11:22:00.000-08:00

Stuff from the past few days

2011-01-26T07:45:00.000-08:00

An anti-abortion rally in Gettysburg and a sheep farmer near Carlisle, PA. The dogs were hilarious and this was the closest I got to getting them all in one frame (the fourth has a retiring personality and stayed near the fence the whole time). They are Great Pyrenees and protect the sheep from predators.

Farm Show, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

2011-01-20T20:57:00.000-08:00

Ravens vs. Steelers

2011-01-16T19:25:00.001-08:00

Morning Snow Feature

2011-01-14T12:31:00.000-08:00

Lindsay Krone warms up her car to go to work as she lets her dog, Sophia, 2, get some fresh air. Krone recently moved to Hanover from Ohio and works in an orchard.

I moved to the day shift this week after working evenings most of the fall and it's been a nice change of pace.

Song and Dance

2011-01-12T12:59:00.000-08:00

Littlestown fourth-grader Trinity Shaffer says "Hit it" to signal her classmates to start singing and dancing as they demonstrate the choreography they performed in a national video contest. The Lincoln Intermediate Unit neurological support class at Conewago Valley Intermediate School is trying to win new technology for their classroom through the Neo 2 Reel Success video contest.

A contestant waits her turn in line to audition for a local talent show.

This and That

2011-01-06T19:26:00.001-08:00

Some stuff from December still: a firefighter shooting back at me while I work, a local boxing match.

Across the street

2010-12-30T18:02:00.000-08:00

A shot I stopped to take when I was literally walking into work today. What I really wanted was someone with a pink mohawk to walk past at the same time...

DC Metro, Christmas Day

2010-12-26T19:10:00.000-08:00

Something about this scene reminded me of Blade Runner--the subject in the picture said he'd seen that movie dozens of times. He and a co-worker joked that they were happy I was taking pictures, to "show NYC how much better we are."

Christmas Play

2010-12-22T19:25:00.001-08:00

Brother and sister--he was a villager but couldn't stand to keep his costume on any longer. I remember when I thought these things were just so taxing; clearly, I had no idea how good we all had it.

Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth...

Daily Life

2010-12-19T14:06:00.000-08:00

A morning still life; the potato chip factory on my way home from work; high school wrestling; a Thanksgiving turkey farm outtake. Strange to think that I have seen three seasons in PA in my six months, not to mention I can still (I hope!) pack everything I own into my car.

Big Band Night at the Legion

2010-12-10T19:58:00.000-08:00

Oompa Loompa

2010-12-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

An Oompa Loompa from a performance of Willy Wonka several weeks ago. Thanks to Shane Dunlap for the crop--I loved the subject's face but didn't like my image until he cropped it this way; I think it's much more interesting. There's something about her that reminds me of film version I saw of A Midsummer Night's Dream when I was a kid...she's like a little sprite.

Various and Sundry

2010-11-11T18:56:00.001-08:00

Pictures from the last few days or so plus a straggler from Halloween. The Halloween parade had no light save the streetlights here and there, so I waited for a firetruck to come by, which provided the light on the girl's face. The tuba picture is from a German dinner--I love the instrument's slightly dented, vintage look.

Halloween

2010-10-31T16:11:00.000-07:00

Some selects from some work I did today--more to come. Halloween seems to be a huge holiday here with parades in many small towns.

A Day's Work

2010-10-24T14:43:00.001-07:00

Some selects from yesterday's assignments. I love that about journalism--in the space of a few hours, I got to go to a powerlifting event (that's 700 lbs in that picture), a Tea Party rally, and a late afternoon parade.

Trick or Treating from the trunk

2010-10-21T18:16:00.000-07:00

House Fire

2010-10-16T15:44:00.001-07:00

Auction House

2010-10-14T19:46:00.001-07:00

Untitled

2010-10-10T21:13:00.000-07:00

I got an assignment to cover a charity walk that a nine-year-old girl created to help her mom, who has cervical cancer. Over 500 people turned out for the actual walk, then friends and family walked past the hospital so she could see them out the window and joined her up in her room. This was a moment near the end of that phenomenal day.

Silent Witness, Gettysburg, PA

2010-10-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

Waiting Around for Friday Night Football

2010-10-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

Demolition Site

2010-09-30T15:25:00.001-07:00

Sports

2010-09-29T08:44:00.001-07:00

Some sports images from the last few weeks. Sometimes I find what's happening on the sidelines as interesting as the game itself.

Blessing of the Pets

2010-09-22T17:49:00.001-07:00

This was a pet blessing/memorial, so there were not a lot of dry eyes in the house (plus it was a rainy day)but I loved it when some low growls would erupt during the service.

Sushi

2010-09-15T07:31:00.000-07:00

My first food shot ever: black diamond sushi (seared black pepper tuna, spicy scallops, scallions and black caviar). Taken during rush hour in a very dark restaurant, so I had to work fast.

End of Summer

2010-09-10T20:20:00.000-07:00

A image from a campfire program assignment last month in Gettysburg National Military Park, somehow appropriate to the end of summer since the weather is changing so quickly here in Central PA. I went to this assignment and there was actually no campfire: there was a big light behind the boy and a movie screen in the front. (Our editor said it looks like a still from an Elvis movie--I agree!). Having been to a lot of these types of programs growing up in a family of naturalists/biologists, it made me a little nostalgic. What was not so nostalgic was pulling out of the battlefield at 10pm and getting lost on the backroads and crab shacks of Maryland for over an hour. Perhaps a GPS might be on the Xmas wishlist this year...

Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival

2010-09-07T11:32:00.000-07:00

Scenes from the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival at the end of August. Weather was hot and we had deadlines to meet but each day was fun in its own way. And if you don't know who Ralph Stanley is (I didn't), you will by the end of Day 1, guaranteed.

Happy Labor Day

2010-09-06T13:12:00.000-07:00

Some images from a story that ran today about local manufacturing. I told the subject in the first image that he reminded me of the lead singer in Metallica--he laughed and said he gets that a lot.

Tennis

2010-09-01T18:12:00.000-07:00

A nice moment from tennis today, despite the 98 degree heat.

Re-enactment Pictures

2010-08-10T17:08:00.001-07:00

My second week of my internship with The Hanover Evening Sun was covering the Re-enactment in Gettysburg--the paper's busiest week of the year. The weather was mid-90's and no shade in sight, just like it was for the men and women then. Even though it was stressful, it was a great experience and a great place to be for July 4th. It was as if I'd walked into a diorama for three days.

You've Been Flocked

2010-08-10T15:38:00.001-07:00

A found feature from the weekend--the family received the flamingos from a friend with a note that said "You've Been Flocked." It's a fundraiser for a local charity and they have to either give a suggested donation to have them removed or to send them on to someone else.

Triathlon

2010-08-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

A picture from this morning's triathlon/race: participants had to bike up a hill, drop their bikes, and repeat it all with tires.

Still Life with Pointe Shoes

2010-05-25T23:11:00.000-07:00

It's been so long since I've posted that I thought I should put a placeholder in at the very least to show that I'm still alive. The past two weeks have been the busiest of the semester, with the Missouri Contemporary Ballet wrapping up their spring season at the end of this week. I hope to add more to the blog as I go through the inevitable multimedia drafts, trying to make a story that makes sense and is visually interesting.

Untitled

2010-05-03T14:17:00.001-07:00

Friday Night

2010-04-24T01:07:00.000-07:00

Photographed the company during "Artrageous," an open house and art walk for the artist studios on Orr Street. I could watch Genene and Fernando forever; they are so dynamic and beautiful together.

Dancer Feet

2010-04-16T22:58:00.001-07:00

Because of their frequent pointe work, female dancers' feet can really take a beating. This pair looks pretty good--most of the nails are still on.

MCB Backstage

2010-04-11T22:06:00.000-07:00

Pictures from the past two weekends that the Missouri Contemporary Ballet has been performing. I'm trying to get more backstage, "moment" pictures and lay off of the dancing pictures for a while. I've decided that dance pictures are like potato chips: you can't eat just one! I keep thinking I'll get the image right and in focus if I take "just one more."

Red

2010-04-05T19:13:00.000-07:00

I can't remember the official name of this duet, but it is mesmerizing--dancers are Noelle Lelakus and Christopher Benjamin of the Missouri Contemporary Ballet. It's actually one of their older pieces from last year, choreographed by resident choreographer Shannon West.

If you look at these pictures, it looks like a classical piece but it is actually set to this eerie music by the band St. Vincent (I had never heard of them but that's not saying much), a song called "Your Lips Are Red." Check it out on YouTube, for some reason it won't let me link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XST5L2lO2hQ

In Transit

2010-03-23T23:06:00.000-07:00

This couple was coming up from the laundry room and they were perfectly positioned, sitting against the back wall of the elevator, it was great. Of course, by the time I got my camera out, he had moved in order to keep the elevator door open. So it's a memory of a picture that could have been, but at least I enjoyed the process.

Elvis

2010-03-13T14:21:00.001-08:00

Mario Manzini is an Elvis impersonator who lives in Columbia and I photographed him for a Staff class/Missourian piece last spring. His gig was at the Eagles Lodge in California, Missouri, one of those small towns where the social life seems to revolve around the club. Manzini finished packing from the performance around midnight, still had to drive back to Columbia, and had another gig the next morning.

3 shots, one day

2010-03-05T22:44:00.000-08:00

A lighthearted moment while photographing dance rehearsal at noon

An artists' reception in the evening

And a portrait of the person standing in line in front of me at the Mexican restaurant where I stopped on the walk home for enchiladas.

Working with Windows

2010-03-02T19:58:00.001-08:00

Starting to play a little with reflections, thinking about what makes a good reflection picture. I see some beautiful ones when I look at other photographers' work, and I think part of it may be that the elements can't be too busy or else they are distressing. Something to work on.

Project Outtakes

2010-03-01T20:20:00.001-08:00

Some outtakes from work on my Master's project, which is on dance here in Columbia. The dancers here are from Missouri Contemporary Ballet; they are an absolute pleasure to watch. It's been quite a challenge jumping in and trying to photograph ballet--the camera catches a lot of in between positions.

Jakob and the Rooster

2010-03-01T19:56:00.001-08:00

Jakob Berr kicks back at the Pictures of the Year (POY) competition held at RJI. Because I've been sick and also trying to gain some ground on my Master's project, I haven't made it there as much as I usually do.

Here's the winners list thus far: http://www.poyi.org/67/winners.php

Memorial Union

2010-02-19T16:47:00.001-08:00

MU student Shengjun Lui tries to get the attention of his son, nine-month-old Daniel, while playing at Memorial Union on Wednesday, but Daniel was more interested in my camera.

The Lorraine Motel, Memphis

2010-01-20T13:17:00.000-08:00

Untitled

2010-01-18T00:40:00.001-08:00

Hick Chick Show

2010-01-15T17:21:00.001-08:00

An outtake from what was only my second assignment for the Missourian last year (and second assignment ever, really) and I was really nervous: bad light and moving objects. But these girls, the "Hick Chicks," as they call themselves, were fun to watch and very touching in their dedication to the animals; many of the horses had been abused or were abandoned, so the group's mission is to rehabilitate the animals while teaching the girls about horsemanship. Hannah Yoder's horse is rearing up a little in this picture.

Karen Shelby, LPN

2009-12-21T20:03:00.000-08:00

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.

More Summer Baseball

2009-12-10T22:59:00.001-08:00

Final Project in Progress

2009-12-06T12:28:00.000-08:00

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!

Summer Heat

2009-12-04T14:54:00.000-08:00

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.

Soldier's Daughter

2009-11-30T23:23:00.001-08:00

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.

Late Afternoon Sunlight

2009-11-13T00:08:00.000-08:00

Future Farmers of America Field Day

2009-11-06T23:29:00.000-08:00

Pep Rally

2009-10-24T21:35:00.001-07:00

Skater Girl, Cosmo Park

2009-10-13T21:00:00.001-07:00

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

2009-10-06T16:35:00.001-07:00

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

Crossroads Car Show, Macon, MO

2009-09-24T23:36:00.001-07:00

Orion's Dad-Knox County Corn Festival

2009-09-13T15:00:00.000-07:00

More Rodeo

2009-09-07T15:40:00.001-07:00

East Helena Rodeo

2009-08-12T22:58:00.000-07:00

Flea Market

2009-08-06T21:47:00.000-07:00

Babe Ruth Tournament

2009-08-02T22:25:00.001-07:00

Taking a break during Grandstreet Theatre rehearsals

2009-07-31T23:42:00.001-07:00

Construction Part II

2009-07-30T22:56:00.000-07:00

Elvis Impersonator Mario Manzini

2009-07-28T20:24:00.001-07:00

Clare Becker Photo

Barbershop

Learning to Drive

Some singles

Dedication Day

Reflecting on history

Of duct tape and presidents

Two from yesterday

Untitled

Pet Blessing

Hill Climb

Healing Field

Last Days of Summer

Vacation

Along the Way

Mining Shaft

Sunday

Special Olympics Kayaking

Civil War Reenactment

Gettysburg Bike Week

Graduation

In Memory Of

Untitled

Bluegrass Lollapalooza!

Stuff from April

Happy Easter

24 Hours

The Great Outdoors

Friday to Sunday

untitled

Mid-February

Mennonite Bible Camp

Washington, DC

Stuff from the past few days

Farm Show, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Ravens vs. Steelers

Morning Snow Feature

Song and Dance

This and That

Across the street

DC Metro, Christmas Day

Christmas Play

Daily Life

Big Band Night at the Legion

Oompa Loompa

Various and Sundry

Halloween

A Day's Work

Trick or Treating from the trunk

House Fire

Auction House

Untitled

Silent Witness, Gettysburg, PA

Waiting Around for Friday Night Football

Demolition Site

Sports

Blessing of the Pets

Sushi

End of Summer

Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival

Happy Labor Day

Tennis

Re-enactment Pictures

You've Been Flocked

Triathlon

Still Life with Pointe Shoes

Untitled

Friday Night

Archives

Dancer Feet

MCB Backstage

Red

In Transit

Elvis

3 shots, one day

Working with Windows

Project Outtakes

Jakob and the Rooster

Memorial Union

The Lorraine Motel, Memphis