SEARCHING FOR PHOTOS

     Sometimes finding the photo of the day comes easy, it's just right in front of you. Other days, you really have to do some searching and thinking about what you want to capture with the camera.
     Today it was a mixture of both from me. I shot a number of photos and it came down to three I really liked. The one I chose is actually the one I had to work the least to find.
     "Through the Glasses" was taken shortly after I woke up at 6 a.m. today. Sitting on the couch and watching CNN -- as I do every morning -- I looked at the coffee table in the living room and my wife's glasses were sitting there. The sun was peaking through the blinds just perfect, creating a very cool design on the table as it hit the glasses.
     I angled the camera to and close to the glasses and I really liked the image I captured.
     So, here is Day 7 of Photo a Day.
     Enjoy!

STARTING A PROJECT

     Since starting this new job about two months ago now, I find myself having more time to work on my creative/artistic photography.
     For a long time now I've wanted to do a Photo a Day project, but I could decide what to focus on -- the city I was living in, a landmark, a person. Finally, I looked at my summer schedule and a vacation we have planned would take me away from Rhinelander for a week in July -- so that photo a day idea was out the door already.
     After some more thinking, I decided that I would just to a Photo a Day of whatever things/activities I was doing in a day -- whether it be walking, driving to work, at work, at home. All of my photos will be taken with my new Nokia phone and taken in black and white.
     So far I'm having a blast with this project just five days in. I'm trying to capture images of everyday items, but from different viewpoints and even close-up.
     I know it'll be a challenge to do this everyday for the next year, but it's something that'll keep me busy and hopefully I'll learn from it as well.
    Here are the first five days. Soon they'll be updated on my website at corydellenbach.wix.com/photo every day.

Day 1 (4/14) = Icy windows on a house
Day 2 (4/15) = Icicles hang from a door overhang
Day 3 (4/16) = A tree casts a long shadow in the afternoon sun
Day 4 (4/17) = A leaf makes an imprint in the melting snow
Day 5 (4/18) = Rain drops gather on a car
Day 6 (4/19) = Bowl of fruit

    Enjoy!

CAPTURING SPOT NEWS

     It's been a while since I last wrote on my blog, but as many of your know, I've been the last month or so moving to Northern Wisconsin to take on a new career in the magazine publishing world. It's been a whirl-wind, but something that I am truly enjoying.
     While I may not be able to get out every day and chase after the spot news or cover sporting events like I did when I was at the newspaper, having a more set schedule with the magazine company allows me to still get out in the evening and try to do creative things with the images and make more art than news.
     I am freelancing for a few newspapers up here, so I still get my fill of news events to cover. One of those just happened the other night in Rhinelander. Sitting at home, relaxing after putting my daughters to bed and a whole flood of sirens could be heard in town.
     I looked out my window -- yes I still have that reporter's instinct to look -- and I see pretty much all of Rhinelander's fire trucks blasting by. I found out where the fire was and decided to take a drive out there to get some photos for the local paper.
     The house was only about 4 blocks away from where I live now and flames were shooting out from the upper window and lower windows. Power lines were down across the yard and in the road. It was a mess.
     Thankfully everyone was able to get out of the house ok.
     It was an adrenaline rushing getting the photos for the paper and doing what I used to do everyday, but once I got home, I was glad I didn't have a deadline to worry about and could relax.
    I'm still getting use to all the changes, but I'm enjoying life right now.
    Enjoy.

ON TO NEW ADVENTURES

     As many of you already know, this past Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, marked the end of my career with the Shawano Leader, after close to 12 years at the newspaper.
     I started at the Leader in 2001 after working at a local television station. Newspapers were always something I enjoyed being a part of and will miss working at one, but I am excited about the new adventure that will begin on Monday in Northern Wisconsin.
     I've covered events while at the Shawano Leader that not many people ever get to cover -- like Green Bay Packers games for example -- and some of those events I still think of quite a bit. I've covered events like presidents visiting the area -- President George W. Bush, President Barack Obama. I've covered numerous fires, accidents, snowstorms. I've covered several Packers events besides games, like the Lambeau Field expansion where they added the atrium, Brett Favre's original retirement from the NFL, the retirement of Reggie White's No. 92 jersey.
     I've done some awesome stories in my years at the Leader, like riding along with a DNR fire ranger for a day. It was supposed to be a slow day, but it turned out to be the busiest day of the fire season for the DNR. I got to capture deer with the DNR, I got to ride along with some Shawano area officers for a story on K9 units, I got to watch fire departments train with full access.
     I've seen a side to fatal accidents and fires that no one ever should see and those will always stick with me.
     It's been a memorable almost 12 years with the paper and I've worked with some great people in the past at the paper. I'm not sure what the future holds for the Shawano Leader, but I wish them the best.
     Here is a look at some of my favorite images over those 12 years and you can see more on my website at http://corydellenbach.wix.com/photo
     

Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson returns an interception against the Arizona Cardinals.

An employee with Rainbow Valley Rides sets up a children's ride before the start of the Shawano County Fair in 2012.

A young boy drinks from his sippy cup as he watches the Menominee Winter Pow Wow at the Menominee Casino and Resort in early 2012.

Green Bay Packers defender Al Harris (31) runs back an interception while getting blocking help from teammate Charles Woodson (21)

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources officials along with the Stockbridge-Munsee Conservation officers work at removing a bear from the woods between Olga Brener Intermediate School and Shawano Community Middle School.

A young boy watches the rodeo action at the Midwest Rodeo in Manawa in 2010.

Green Bay Packers fullback John Kuhn (30) goes over the top of a Minnesota Vikings defender to score a touchdown in a game in the 2012 season.

The Oconto Falls Fire Department moves its aerial truck closer to a bar fire in the city of Oconto Falls. The bar was a total loss and fire crews from Oconto Falls, Lena and Gillett assisted at the scene.

ENJOY RETIREMENT

     Sitting at home today and watching the retirement ceremony for Green Bay Packers receiver Donald Driver -- a receiver for the team since he was drafted in the seventh round of the NFL Draft in 1999.
     Driver has been one of the most exciting players that I've photographed over my 11 years of covering the Green Bay Packers when I worked for the Shawano Leader. He was an explosive receiver, not afraid to get him and always fun to watch -- especially his celebrations.
    I've seen him get hit and cartwheeled into the air by defenders, I've seen him carted off the field on a stretch after sustaining a neck injury, I've seen him just miss a catch, but he always had that contagious smile on his face.
    There aren't many NFL players out there anymore like Donald Driver who play the game for the love of the support and interact with the fans as much as Driver did.
     My favorite and he most memorable image I got of Driver during my time with the Shawano Leader came in the 2007 season against the New Orleans Saints. I got the photo of Driver hauling in a catch while being defended by cornerback Mike McKenzie. The photo also brought in my first photo award from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association (WNA).
    Good luck to Driver in the future. Here are some of my more memorable images of Driver that I've taken.