Clay Lomneth's Photoblog

Farewell...

2010-01-09T11:46:00.002-06:00

New blog. Year-long project. Thanks for sticking around, hope I can convince you to follow me in 2010.

http://claylomneth.wordpress.com/

BW

2009-12-15T21:35:00.000-06:00

Lincoln, NE

"I need a new profile picture"

2009-12-03T14:47:00.002-06:00

...Bea said.

Paths of the Displaced

2009-11-11T23:00:00.003-06:00

My friend Natalia Ledford (the one in the sunglasses, not the green one) is showing an awesome documentary called "Paths of the Displaced". Natalia is probably the most talented filmmaker I know, and she started making this powerful documentary in high school. If you are in Lincoln on Saturday, there is no excuse for not seeing it. Find out more here.

Film Noir Night feat. Bea Huff

2009-11-10T14:44:00.000-06:00

Lincoln, NE

Never Graduate

2009-11-03T14:04:00.001-06:00

A friend of a friend Zach Gray did a very cool audio slideshow on OSU's biggest fan. Check it out here.

Ms. Smith

2009-10-05T22:32:00.002-05:00

Lincoln, NE

Shannon

2009-08-25T00:36:00.000-05:00

Joshua Tree Park, CA

Hollywood

2009-08-19T13:54:00.000-05:00

Los Angeles, CA

Solo dance

2009-08-08T00:12:00.000-05:00

Peoria, IL

Greg's smokebreak

2009-07-31T23:27:00.000-05:00

Peoria, IL

Speed skating

2009-07-27T08:44:00.001-05:00

Peoria, IL

Dead blue racer

2009-07-16T22:55:00.001-05:00

Crawford, NE

Jack and Loretta Sampson

2009-07-15T21:55:00.000-05:00

Alliance, NE

Cousin Heather

2009-07-11T02:28:00.001-05:00

Portland, OR

Bruce the busker

2009-07-09T17:06:00.000-05:00

Portland, OR

Mom and Dad

2009-07-08T11:35:00.002-05:00

Crater Lake, OR

Sunflower

2009-07-01T19:49:00.000-05:00

The Badlands, SD

Lake

2009-06-24T18:37:00.000-05:00

DeWitt, NE

The managers

2009-06-19T12:44:00.004-05:00

DeWitt, NE

(This image was made for someone who means a lot to me.)

Beer

2009-06-18T09:15:00.003-05:00

Steele City, NE

Tire graveyard

2009-06-07T22:44:00.000-05:00

Falls City, NE

(resisting the urge to call this post "I'm Tired")

The Dream Team

2009-06-06T13:09:00.002-05:00

http://unlphotojournalism.blogspot.com/

Keep up on our progress across Nebraska. I would post more but the Internet connection isn't the best.

(From left: Kyle Bruggeman, Clay Lomneth, Patrick Breen.)

Mas o menos

2009-06-03T02:45:00.005-05:00

http://claylomneth.com/

One of my favorite (read: only) phrases I remember from Spanish class is "mas o menos" meaning "more or less" as in "My website is complete, mas o menos."

So check it out, leave some feedback, you know the drill. It might be down a few times this week as I am still putting the finishing touches on it. I went with the awesome website building company Qufoto after I got too frustrated with HTML. But stay tuned for a wedding site designed by yours truly later this summer.

In other news, for those of you trying to contact me via e-mail, my Internet service the next month or so might be a bit spotty. I'm headed off on a trip across Nebraska to work on a story about how the recession has affected the happiest state in the country. If you need to reach me, hit me up on the cell at (402) 415-9911.

Have a great summer, I'll keep updating when I can with photos from the trip.

Laurey and Joel

2009-05-24T01:12:00.006-05:00

It would be unfair to say that Laurey and Joel's wedding was my favorite to shoot thus far...but I might be bias, I've known Laurey and her son Ben for many years now.

So without picking favorites, let me say that this wedding was a blast to shoot. I had a great time, as, I'm sure, Greg did too. (Check his blog for images in a few days, I'll tell him to post them tomorrow.) I can see now where Ben gets his great sense of humor (and excellent dancing skills).

Thanks and good luck to both of you. It was an honor to shoot your wedding, and a lot of fun.

Iowa City by the numbers

2009-05-21T20:28:00.003-05:00

Took a late-night trip down to Iowa City with Tom to visit a Ricky who had a partial lung collapse. He's doing fine, but a "get well soon, Ricky" is still in order.

Since Ricky was asleep most of the ride back, I drifted off into a daydream and compiled a list for you. Here's the number of:

Images I took: 375
Partial Ben Stiller movies watched on USA: 4
Cute X-Ray Techs: 1
Times I woke up Ricky accidentally by playing Jimmy Cliff too loud: 1
Energy drinks purchased: 7
Energy drinks I didn't finish because they tasted like cough medicine: 3
Donuts purchased with "the brightest sprinkles you have": 2
Fluid ounces of beer consumed: 120
Times Tom saw a bike chained up and began to tell me its features: +/-20
Times the doctors and nurses not communicating could have re-collapsed Ricky's lung: I lost count after three
Times I was surprised how cool Iowa City was: 9
Bags of animal crackers stolen from the hospital's command center: 2
Biplanes seen: 1
Times I heard to word "broheim" used sincerely: 1
Times I was daydreaming while driving and hit 90mph before I realized what I was doing: 4

Lori and Daniel

2009-05-18T20:44:00.006-05:00

Lori and Daniel's wedding took place a few weeks back, and I'm glad I did. Both families somehow seemed to be made up of the friendliest people in the state. So, I suppose it was fate that Lori and Daniel met.
Be sure to check out Greg's blog for some awesome portraits from the wedding. And more weddings coming up later this week, so stay tuned...

Emily Anderson and Aaron Nix

2009-05-16T23:22:00.005-05:00

Finally, the real couple...
Emily and Aaron must have been blessed by the weather gods. Waking up on Wednesday I was scrambling for portrait ideas involving an overcast sky. But by the time Aaron was done helping out at a film shoot, the sun was out and the sky was set up for a gorgeous sunset. Both Emily and Aaron were extremely accommodating, even driving out to Branched Oak Lake with us, where Aaron proposed and where they both met for the first time. (The "us" in that sentence, by the way, refers to my awesome assistants who just happen to be roommates Chelle and Breen.)

Good luck to Emily and Aaron in December

James Pauley's awkward afternoon

2009-05-14T12:51:00.003-05:00

In case you didn't know, I have some of the best roommates in the world. But this post is about one in particular, James Pauley, a brunette six foot plus Capricorn hailing from Omaha, Nebraska. I was looking for places in the Haymarket to shoot some engagement portraits, and James brought his A-game happy couple modeling. So thank you, James.

Stay tuned for the real couple coming later this week.

Shannon Smith

2009-05-12T15:20:00.003-05:00

Is an awkward yet patient model (and I thank her for that), is a lot cooler than she gives herself credit for.

Cat in a sink

2009-04-12T11:40:00.000-05:00

What did you expect?

Bea Huff

2009-03-14T01:05:00.004-05:00

Can not only read the writing on the walls but also is one of those writing on said walls, is the definition of awesome

Patrick Breen

2009-03-14T01:04:00.003-05:00

Drama queen, is a much better photographer than he gives himself credit for.

A steak on her arm and a song in her heart

2009-03-01T19:00:00.007-06:00

Went to Sioux City this weekend so my friend Bea and I could get tattoos. She got her sleeve worked on, which involves a tree made of meat.

P.S. Mine is temporary.

I'm pretty lucky

2009-02-23T16:56:00.004-06:00

...to have the greatest friends in the world. Here are just two of them.

Tory the Chihuahua

2009-01-18T16:10:00.003-06:00

My legs are irresistible.

2009

2009-01-02T13:01:00.005-06:00

The first hours of 2009 were brought in with:

Champagne

Piggy-back rides

And violence.

Happy New Year, hope yours starts better than mine.

Chris and Andrea

2008-12-23T23:59:00.008-06:00

I may be almost a month late, but I'd like to say congrats to Chris and Andrea Ruiz, who are both wonderful people who make up a wonderful couple. Again thanks to Greg, keep an eye out on our respective blogs for another wedding coming up soon.

Happy Holidays

2008-12-15T19:21:00.002-06:00

This is really funny if you don't think about how true it really is.

P.S. If you're here in Lincoln, check out Chris VanKat's exhibit in the Rotunda Gallery in the Union. Great black and white portraits of everyday Nebraskans. Here's a taste of his work.

Pepe the cat

2008-12-13T16:37:00.003-06:00

Outtake from a new project...

In the doldrums

2008-12-11T02:41:00.004-06:00

I'm in a slump. First image I kind of like in weeks, and I still went and mucked it up by blowing out the Husker "N". But, alas, it's not about me...

This is freshman wrestler Livingston Lukow, an extremely nice guy who took a year off of school to join the Marines. He's a Marine, and I had to crane my neck to talk to him (and I'm 6'1")...not someone I'd want to face on the mat.

I'm a country man

2008-12-02T19:01:00.005-06:00

Somewhere outside Firth, NE

Aunt Marcia

2008-12-01T18:54:00.002-06:00

Lomneth family tour guide, East Bay expert.

Doane College

2008-11-25T05:45:00.003-06:00

Crete, NE

Staggerford

2008-11-21T22:56:00.004-06:00

http://www.myspace.com/staggerford

Shot a concert on campus with live music photographer extraordinaire Natasha Richardson (links are that way -->).

NOTE: The answers to the guessing game are, in order of appearance, a plate of Hunan Chicken, a 1957 Bel Air and a fire hose.

Guessing game

2008-11-10T00:18:00.005-06:00

Guess what these are...

I'm not ready for the weather to change

2008-11-08T18:34:00.000-06:00

But I am ready for basketball season.

Democratic election day party

2008-11-05T17:50:00.001-06:00

Sheryl Deluca comforts Kimberly Kirksey, who is overcome with emotion after Sen. Barack Obama is announced president at the Democratic election party at the Omaha Hilton on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. Kirksey moved from Alabama to Omaha in 2000. She said she could not describe what she was feeling at the time. "I had the Klan burning crosses in my yard when I was 12 years old," she said. "I don't even know what the words are."

http://frontpageimages.com/fpi

Insert best pumpkin joke here...

2008-11-02T18:28:00.004-06:00

Vala's Pumpkin Patch
Gretna, NE

My Muse...

2008-10-15T12:24:00.003-05:00

Is a genuine, unselfish, honest, loving woman, and an future photographer if she keeps spending time with me.

See you soon...

Jeremiah Selt

2008-10-13T16:17:00.001-05:00

"I got kicked out of my apartment, I did. I was living in California, I was going to college...It's a hard place to survive and...the atmosphere isn't all that great there. I've been struggling from that point on. I'm ready to try to do something to make my life better. It was a hard situation there. People don't always accept you for some reason.

I loved it (playing guitar) ever since I was little...I remember putting the pick down the hole...My dad...said it would be something good for me. It's different, it is."

Amy Hilske

2008-10-10T14:45:00.000-05:00

"Well, I love my job here. But...I won't be here forever. My husband and I are starting our own winery. So to tie in in with all the plants here, I also have two and a half acres of grapes that we grow in Ashland, Nebraska.

For me...when you think of a dream, that's my dream right now. We constantly on a daily basis think about that, work on that, as well as both have our own jobs...So that keeps us very, very busy but it keeps us going cause it's out dream that we're working towards...something that we work on together.

Right now, my husbands also taking a wine making class and our 'homework' is every week we have a new bottle of wine we need to try. It's been really fun the last five or six weeks. 'Oh, what homework do we have this week?' and everybody's like 'Homework?' I'm like 'Yeah, I have to drink wine.' That's been really fun to think every week I got a new bottle of wine I need to try and learn about and research."

Larry White

2008-10-09T14:56:00.003-05:00

"I did this job in the summer-times, when I was a kid in high school...I decided that I wanted an outside job again, and I've just been really happy ever since. I enjoy working outside. So much better than being indoors.

I left Chubbyville, which used to be a drive in restaurant in town, as a car hop, making 95 cents an hour to come work for the city, summer-times, making a dollar seven an hour. Long time ago. That was back in 1971, I think it was...things have changed since then. Quite a bit.

I was on the mowing crew. Which was basically similar to the mowing crew we have no...We had some old equipment back then. We had hand slingers we'd use instead of Weed Eaters...and brooms and stuff rather than blowers...it took us a lot longer to mow than it does nowadays. Cuz we had like 36 inch Heckendorns, and now we have 10-foot mowers, so, things are just so much better now than back then. But it was fun, we had a lot of fun.

Lot of high school kids. In fact, two of them became cops...another one became, he's head of our credit union, City Employees Credit Union. So, you just never know. Crazy."

This weekend I...

2008-10-05T23:55:00.007-05:00

Went to Valla's Pumpkin Patch

Gardened with my parents.

Shot a Palin protest for fun.

I know, fascinating.

Five dollar tattoos

2008-10-04T04:50:00.004-05:00

Outtake from a new project...

Malik the Guardian

2008-09-29T05:05:00.003-05:00

Follows me around like a shadow, most annoying creature I've ever lived with.

(I did not name him)

Omaha Fight Club

2008-09-21T16:31:00.005-05:00

OFC amateur mixed martial arts at Chez Paree in Carter Lake, IA.

P.S. Check out Matt Buxton's multimedia on a different MMA fight.

Eric and Emily

2008-09-18T20:11:00.005-05:00

Helped shoot a wedding with Greg and, as much as I love editorial work, this wedding was a lot of fun. I'm already looking forward to another one. I cannot thank Greg or the happy couple enough for a chance to tag along, but I can always try: thank you.

Check out Greg's site for a lot better shots, including one of yours truly. You know where to find it, and for those who don't: http://gregblobaum.blogspot.com.

Rodeo help

2008-09-13T17:48:00.005-05:00

My new year's resolution might be to be less hard on myself. But until then...

There's something wrong with each of these images, that you can all see. However, I feel a rodeo image belongs in my portfolio and these were my three favorites. So, vote for your favorite, give feedback, criticize until you're blue in the face. It would help me out a lot. Do any of these belong in my portfolio anyway?

Thanks...

Gameday Outtakes

2008-09-06T13:14:00.003-05:00

Some new stuff.

http://huskerextra.com/gameday/

Portfolio Outtake #2

2008-09-04T17:11:00.004-05:00

I'm going to let you all in on a little secret: I have little to no valuable sports action photographs for my portfolio. I shoot it all the time and I enjoy shooting it, but for most sports action there needs to be an element of the unusual in it. Some that immediately comes to mind is Alyssa Schukar's photograph of a volleyball player getting hit in the head with a ball or Teresa Prince's of a Texas Tech runner with the reflection of the track in her sunglasses (you know where the links are, don't play dumb).

There are two reasons none of the above photographs work in my mind:
1. This is the rodeo. People do stupid things on giant animals all day long. Which is to say, this sort of thing happens all the time.
2. I cropped half of this nutcake's head off on the first image, my favorite of the set.

I hate this time of year because...

2008-09-01T15:01:00.005-05:00

1. School has started.
2. As I go through images for portfolios and the CPOY contest, all I see is what I did wrong. (Above: blew out the sky to get their faces and it doesn't look good, cut off too much of their bodies, left a little bit of a stadium light behind the girl in the middle, left a little bit of another girl behind the girl in the middle, no emotion, no sense of what's going on, etc.)

These next few days, those who haven't had enough of my whining about how I wish I was more talented in person can check out this blog to see images that will not be going into my portfolio, and more griping about how I should probably just take school pictures the rest of my life.

Just a few of those I miss

2008-08-28T00:47:00.002-05:00

Yeah, it's good to be back home, but I wish I could have brought some people with me.

If any of you ever visit Nebraska (and I don't know why you would), just know you will always have a place to stay.

100 reasons this is the best job in the world

2008-08-04T12:01:00.028-05:00

Yesterday was my last day at the Reno Gazette-Journal.

I've had a great time at the RGJ. I've met a lot of great people, hopefully improved and learned a lot. Something that I've learned that has been proved repeatedly throughout this internship has been the fact that I have the best career in the world. Here's 100 reasons why (and there's many more):

1. Everybody has a story to tell.
2. Shootouts.
3. Rodeos.
4. Always entering clip contests but never winning.
5. "That's a big lens."
6. Getting up early for sunrises, skipping dinner for sunsets, staying up late for the stars.
7. Shooting from the catwalks.
8. Sneaking into places you shouldn't be.
9. Speeding tickets while driving to breaking news assignments.
10. Knowing about the best places to eat in town.
11. Seeing a shy person become comfortable around you and your camera.
12. Meeting random people on feature hunts.
13. I love my job...unlike your accountant.
14. "Do you take pictures?"
15. Shooting the smiles and the tears - sometimes at the same time.
16. Photo mechanic.
17. Evening light.
18. Not wanting to leave an assignment.
19. Telling the whole story.
20. Miss America contests.
21. Going behind the scenes.
22. Roadtrips for assignments.
23. Seeing your work on AP.
24. Feature hunts at sporting events.
25. Being where the action is.
26. The struggle to make a better image than the day before.
27. Thinking you're in a slump and then coming out of it...only to fall back into one.
28. Everything is inspiration.
29. The little moments.
30. Details.
31. The colors red and blue together.
31.5. And most other colors in general.
32. Being more mobile than TV videographers.
33. Capturing ambient sound.
34. Knowing when and why to take the photo.
35. When reporters think you're crazy for working so much.
36. When other photographers think you're crazy for working so much.
37. Arizona Ice Teas.
38. Front page, above the fold.
39. "Can I get a copy of that?"
40. Getting together with other shooters and talking about nothing but photography.
41. Getting together with those who aren't shooters and awkwardly trying to explain photography.
42. You're not sitting in a cubicle.
43. Public Relations people that let you go wherever, do whatever you want.
44. Chicks dig cameras.
45. Waiting for the moment.
46. Ambient lighting.
47. Spending money you don't have on photo equipment.
48. Still using film every once in a while.
49. Looking back at past photographs to see how you have improved.
50. Looking at other photographers' work to see how much you suck.
51. Capturing history as it happens.
52. The amount of random and useless information you compile from interviews.
53. Every day is different.
54. Someone paying for your gas.
55. Using Photoshop to color correct, crop, save and...that's it.
56. Letting a kid look through viewfinder.
57. Making new friends every day.
58. Press passes.
59. Zero lunch, four hours of sleep, 1,000 images, five minutes until deadline.
60. Environmental portraits.
61. Being a stranger that cares what others have to say.
62. Bringing the camera everywhere.
63. Talking your way into restricted areas.
64. Meeting other shooters on assignment.
65. Getting an epic farmer's tan.
66. Everyone is jealous of what you do.
67. Never reading the instruction manual.
68. Putting together a decent photo package.
69. Getting an image nobody else saw.
70. Arriving early, leaving late.
71. Being the only one with my view of the event.
72. Trying to blend in with the crowd.
73. Feeding your curiosity.
74. Experimenting.
75. Irony.
76. "Am I going to be on TV?"
77. Getting your paycheck...a good reminder it's really, really, really not about the money.
78. Realizing your entire portfolio is filth...and trying to shoot images to replace them.
79. Trying to make an exciting image at a boring assignment.
80. Running into models willing to pay for headshots when you're out on assignment.
81. "What did you do today?"
82. Hail Mary shots - when they work.
83. People wanting you to tell their story.
84. Subjects who have zero camera awareness.
85. Scanner traffic.
86. Police ride-alongs.
87. Seeing the work of what your photographer friends are doing and feeling inspired to either never pick up a camera again or to go out and shoot immediately.
88. Sleeping next to your gear.
89. Someone asking you a photo-related question.
90. Events people want you to cover.
91. Being thrown into situations where I am completely out of my element.
92. Having no natural talent but all the drive in the world.
93. My back hurts, my feet are sore, I can't keep my eyelids open and I can't wait to get back to work the next day.
94. What I do in my day off resembles what I'd do on a workday.
95. What day off?
96. Nobody ever wants to take your photograph.
97. Depth of field.
98. Convertibles
99. Shooting photos of family and friends, just because you can.
100. Nobody else does/sees/experiences what we do.

Last week (?)

2008-07-28T16:58:00.009-05:00

1. Trying to blatantly copy Matt Eich (my attempt above) is easier said than done.
2. As much as I do not like golf, I can respect golfers self-deprecating sense of humor.
3. Reno nightlife is a lot more happening (read: scary) than back home.
4. I need to learn to tell the story better.
5. I really wouldn't mind spending another three months down here.

P.S. Many of you might like to make a PayPal donation at this site.

Bridget Guess

2008-07-18T23:04:00.003-05:00

Butterfly whisperer, fellow future resident of the Bay Area.

Flash floods

2008-07-14T22:00:00.002-05:00

IMAGE COPYRIGHT RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Stead, NV

Attack of the clones

2008-07-11T13:58:00.001-05:00

IMAGE COPYRIGHT RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

I should explain what's going on in this image, but I'd like you all to guess a little bit first.

Another week down

2008-07-07T20:49:00.003-05:00

IMAGE COPYRIGHT RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

1. As much as I love the Fourth (who doesn't?), I despise shooting fireworks displays.
2. Ever since I quit smoking cigarettes, I may have become addicted to energy drinks instead.
3. There are some 7-11s that are just mini marts, with no gas pumps. Back home, they are always a gas station.
4. I am the only one around Reno that seems amazed by the fact above.
5. The summer is almost over.

I lost track of what week it is

2008-06-30T20:26:00.006-05:00

IMAGE COPYRIGHT RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

It's not that I haven't learned anything. It's just that I haven't taken a day off for 17 days straight.

1. Some people still respect newspapers. They are usually retired elderly women, but they are out there.
2. Single? Put on some Wranglers and a cowboy hat and head out to the Reno Rodeo. If you don't look like a poseur like I did, you might be able to pick up some "buckle bunnies".
3. Reno has the highest concentration of people who see me carrying around two D2Hs and immediately assume I am working for a TV or radio station. They are usually disappointed when I say I work for a newspaper.
4. Sleep is overrated.
5. It's really nice to talk to someone who understands what Aksarben means.

Eyes in the sky

2008-06-26T04:13:00.004-05:00

IMAGE COPYRIGHT RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

This week's shootout theme was "eyes in the sky". If you want to see half a dozen or so other photographers kicking my butt, check out the link on the right.

Whole Lotta Love

2008-06-23T12:57:00.007-05:00

IMAGES COPYRIGHT RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Images from a small project on the carnival, apparently a great place to go if you have a date. I wouldn't know, I'm too busy hiding in the shadows with cameras.

International shootout: Red Week

2008-06-18T11:54:00.009-05:00

Last Wednesday, Greg Blobaum and I started a shootout. The theme this week was red. The only rule in the shootout is to submit four photographs that you think fits the theme.

Not long after a theme was decided, the whole thing snowballed to include quite a few Nevada photographers. I am not sure how they will show off their entries, but in a few weeks we'll figure something out.

So check out Greg's blog, leave comments or questions, etc. If you don't know him and are afraid to leave a comment on his blog, this is all you need to know.

Here are my entries. If you want in on this, let me know.

IMAGE COPYRIGHT RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Reno Rodeo Cattle Drive

2008-06-17T18:30:00.007-05:00

IMAGES COPYRIGHT RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

I feel your pain

2008-06-14T01:42:00.003-05:00

IMAGE COPYRIGHT RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

If anyone had asked me how my day went today, I would just show them this image.

Graduation diptych

2008-06-07T18:35:00.002-05:00

IMAGE COPYRIGHT RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Clay Lomneth, the one-trick-pony

2008-05-31T18:02:00.004-05:00

IMAGE COPYRIGHT RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

See third and fifth photo here

Also, top right here

I don't know what this means...

Week two

2008-05-25T23:21:00.006-05:00

I am just a blog updating machine.

On week two I learned...

1. ...all the words to the Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love"
2. ...what a baccalauraete is.
3. ...the largest kite in the world is about the size of a football field.
4. ...Russian women are gorgeous.
5. ...don't ever insinuate that someone from Sparks, NV is from Reno.

Cheap Thrills Theatre

2008-05-25T11:53:00.002-05:00

IMAGE COPYRIGHT RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Host Mike Ward

Russia Festival

2008-05-24T19:18:00.004-05:00

IMAGES COPYRIGHT RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Almost

2008-05-23T23:18:00.004-05:00

COPYRIGHT RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Spent a few hours in the drizzle (they call it rain here) today, and this was the best I got.

This is what we refer to in the business as a "might as well never pick up a camera and get a desk job" shot, also known as an "almost".

Made a ring flash today...

2008-05-22T02:47:00.002-05:00

...and you should all be as impressed as she clearly is.

Week one

2008-05-18T23:49:00.004-05:00

If I remember to, I'm going to try and post five things I've learned after each week at the RGJ. (For those of you not cool enough to use slang like me, that stands for the Reno Gazette-Journal.)

So, here's week one. I have learned...

1. ...how to interact with middle-aged drunk men who tell me how to do my job and call me a "turkey".
2. ...ninety-nine cent Arizona iced teas are a good substitute for breakfast (or lunch or dinner).
3. ...I would rather photograph a difficult person than an easy-going plate of food any day.
4. ...the good coffee at the office costs a dollar.
5. ...to always put on too much sunscreen.

"How do you like your internship, newbie?"

2008-05-18T21:52:00.007-05:00

IMAGE COPYRIGHT - RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL

First breaking news assignment this summer. Went on a wild goose chase around Reno trying to find a man who had called police saying he had killed his wife and kids and at least three random people as he drove around town. Allegedly, the man claimed he had ten cats who were telling him to kill. Read the story here.

On a related note, I need a police scanner for my car. (Christmas is only seven months away...)

Postcard from Reno

2008-05-17T23:48:00.001-05:00

To: All of my readers. I hope you are having a good summer, wish you were here.

Love, Clay.

P.S. I expect the two of you to write me back.

Extra life

2008-05-17T13:40:00.002-05:00

IMAGE COPYRIGHT - RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL

University of Nevada Reno graduation.

Home Sweet Home

2008-05-15T08:59:00.005-05:00

Lake Tahoe, NV

2008-05-14T22:14:00.000-05:00

Enough of this sightseeing business. I just want to work.

Burlington Train Station

2008-05-11T15:43:00.004-05:00

Last Kosovo post

2008-04-30T17:27:00.003-05:00

What are you all doing Friday, May 2 from 6pm-10pm? Stop studying for your finals, you are going to The Mill in the Haymarket to see the Kosovo Multimedia Exhibition.

Family

2008-04-27T15:40:00.005-05:00

Went home to see Grandma and Grandpa this weekend.

In other "family" news (the Nebraska photojournalists family), congratulations to Alyssa Schukar for winning photographer of the year in the professional division, to Chris VanKat for winning runner-up in the student division, to Matt Buxton for winning first place in the Multimedia category and to Teresa Prince for an all around great showing.

Also, check out Prince's site or blog (links on right) and her project about sexual assault. It's something you should share with everyone you care about.

Three Murders and it's Only Monday

2008-04-25T23:10:00.003-05:00

Central High School's play starring, among others, Philip Lomneth as Detective Monday.

Kosova miscellaneous

2008-03-24T14:57:00.003-05:00

I had no idea what it was like to fall in love with a country. I left two things is Kosova: my shampoo and a large part of my heart.

Tung, shoku im.

2008-03-22T01:52:00.002-05:00

Goodbye, my friend. And goodbye everybody we met along the way. Hopefully I'll see you sooner than later.

Illegal mining

2008-03-20T11:32:00.008-05:00

For some living in the Kosovar village of Zhilivoda, mining is the only way to make ends meet. With the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) snatching up any coal deposits they can find, some Zhilivoda land owners have chosen to take advantage of the deposits found in their backyards and dig on their property. The mines are not regulated by any safety standards and miners could work all day for three days but earn only 50 euro, which will be split four or more ways. Just two months ago, a miner in Zhilivoda was killed in a collapse just a few hundred yards from his house.

Bajrush Berisha

2008-03-19T17:19:00.002-05:00

Bajrush Berisha is the community leader in the Roma village of Plementina. Roma in modern Kosovo are extremely discriminated against. The children have to work twice as hard to achieve half of that of an Albanian child. "Who (were) the poorest people before the war and after the war?" he said. "The answer will always be the Roma and the Egyptians."

Refka Terrnava

2008-03-18T14:49:00.007-05:00

Refka Terrnava lives in the shadow of the power plant where her husband worked until 2004, when he accidentally severed his leg at the knee. There were no emergency vehicles at the plant, so some co-workers drove him on a tractor to a nearby health clinic. When they finally got there, everybody at the clinic was on lunch break. Refka's husband bled to death.

Venas Berisha

2008-03-17T16:06:00.003-05:00

Wants to buy a rifle to protect his four sisters from stray Kosovar dogs, refers to himself as "Bill Clinton's brother".

This used to be a family blog

2008-03-16T16:09:00.001-05:00

Sorry, Mom.

This is, after all, a photoblog

2008-03-11T23:52:00.005-05:00

So I had to post an image with this reminder: I am going to Kosovo. There wasn't anything better to post to represent a trip that may or may not involve roaches under the mattress, daily Serbian protests, homeless Albanians and an illegal mining operation in an unstable cave. See you when I get back. Have a good spring break.

Also, you can track our progress at http://unlkosovo.blogspot.com/.