Acting The Part

Re-enactor Brian Barry, portraying a private in the 47th Illinois Infantry pushes an antique wheelbarrow, then plays the harmonica for his 1-year old son Liam during a Civil War encampment at Sommer Park in Peoria.

Two "Headers" Are Better Than One

Notre Dame seniors Alex Garcia, left, and Drew Whalen were two big reasons for the state championship season for the Irish. The sports staff at the Journal Star couldn't decide which of the pair would be the area's best player, so they decided to make both the Players of the Year in boys soccer. Getting them together wasn't the chore, but the timing of getting the soccer balls to bounce off a foot and another's head at the same time was. Luckily I got the shot on the 9th frame.

Supporting The Flag

Twelve-year old James Rickman of Boys Scout Troop 21 walks underneath the large American flag his fellow scout help carry in a Veterans Day parade in Peoria Heights.

Playing War

The best that can happen for any photographer at a "planned event" is something that happens unplanned. During a mock battle of re-enactors portraying American and German troops fighting it out on the fields of Normandy in WWII, Brendan Schuller and Matt Clausen put down their blank loaded weapons and rescued a baby deer from the field of battle. Here are a couple of images from that assignment.

-Ron

Water and Sand

Had a couple of sports assignments where water and sand became the elements and sometimes the obstacles.

In The Clouds

I can't help but look up on a day that features some great cloud formations while I'm framing up a shot, whether it's at a track meet or picturing a church at sunset.

Inspirational

I've covered athletes in a variety of sports for over 35 years, and every so often, an individual comes along that just astonishes. Anthony Robles is wrestler who won the 2010-11 NCAA individual wrestling championship in the 125-pound weight class despite being born with only one leg. I recently photographed him at a clinic he held for young wrestlers. Many of the wrestlers came away from the session filled with inspiration more than just learning new techniques.

-Ron

Little Bit of Everything

Just thought I would throw some photos up and see what sticks as it's been a while since my last post. I've been covering a wide variety of assignments, from the Deer and Turkey Expo, State Basketball Finals, an old timers hockey game of former AHL players, an auto show, and a rally of folks protesting the closure of a facility that rehabs former prisoners.

Hugs and Kisses on their Return

Wives with the babies in arms were quick to plant kisses and hug their husbands when the 182nd Airlift Wing of the Illinois Air National Guard returned to Peoria from a deployment to Afghanistan recently.

Sport Stacking

I was amazed at the speed of folks arranging plastic cups in a formation as fast as they can at the 2012 Great Lakes Regional Sport Stacking Championship at the Peoria Civic Center.

Raffle Wait

Had the annual "need to find a feature at the RV show this weekend" assignment. Found Charles Blye waiting inside a teardrop camping trailer, waiting to hear the raffle winners name to be called.

Little Presidents

I grabbed a couple of photos from a fourth-grade class that had a social studies project on the U.S. presidents. Each student dressed as their favorite president, usually wearing a paper hat or a beard of yarn. I usually shoot this each year on my way in to work, mainly because my own kids took part when they went to school there, and it seems to always make for some amusing photos.

- Ron

Collision on the Ice

Here are of few of my recent favorites from covering the American Hockey League games at Carver Arena in Peoria. I normally move to different positions, but chose to stay longer at spot above the rink with a Nikon D3 and a 200-400 zoom, using the arena strobes.