KY Derby CXXXVIII | I'll Have Another Week of Early Rise'n

Another Derby week has come and gone, and my feet are still throbbing! Watching I'll Have Another steal the show was a neat experience, but those two minutes were only a fraction of the action at Churchill Downs this past week. This was my second Derby, and I spent the week getting to the track early to watch the Derby and Oaks horses workout, but also spent time covering the morning routine on the backside.

Appalachian Spring Rains

Pines overlook the Beech Flats Prong drainage near Luftee Gap in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. (Photo by Michael Whitman)

Just returned from a trip down through the Southern Appalachians with a few friends. We hit our destinations at the right time during the weekdays to avoid the Spring Break crowds that have begun to trickle into these areas. Along with taking a few days off from work, it was also a chance to get ready for a few large jobs coming up in the next few months.

Some new cameras have hit the streets ...the 5D MkIII looks like its going to be a good successor from the view quick reviews that have been posted. See Ira Block's initial comments here. A few friends have been working with theirs over the last weekend, so I'm hoping for good reviews from them as well.

Michael Whitman | Louisville, KY

2012 | Transitions

I spent yesterday exploring a new place with some new equipment. After I packed my camera bag and attached the tripod, I didn't see any of that equipment again for the whole day. After a freak accident a few weeks ago that included a chair peg and my previous cell phone's display screen, I finally pulled the trigger and bought a new camera: the iPhone 4S. Armed with a waterproof case and a charged battery, I was able to scout out a new project area and make the necessary notes and pin drops for future photos. I am already seeing that this is going to change the way I prepare photo projects!

Additionally, I am beginning a new job this year. While I would love to be a full time photojournalist, the reality is that I have other things in my future alongside this one. Beginning tomorrow, I will be starting a year-long residency as a chaplain at University Hospital here in Louisville. While this will put a damper on my ability to shoot for my current clients as I have been, it will make it possible for me to get started on a few personal projects that I've been sitting on for lack of available time. As I look back on 2011 as a rather transitional year in my photography life, I am excited for what 2012 has in store.

Michael Whitman | Somerset, KY

Ringing In A New Record?

Ryan Althaus, right, has been ringing his Salvation Army bell for over 24 hours.

For the last twenty-four hours, pedestrians walking through Fourth Street Live in Louisville, KY have been greeted by the friendly face of my friend Ryan Althaus. Equipped with a mini trampoline, a ustream.tv broadcast set-up, and a strong and committed spirit, Ryan is ringing/hopping towards the hope of making Christmas a little better for a local family. Additionally, if he keps going, he will be a candidate for a new world record for the longest continual ringing of a Salvation Army bell.

While I wouldn't normally publish an image with one of my strobes included in the frame, this moment was very nice. A group of kids walked by and one girl started hopping along. A great encouragement as Ryan faces his last few hours.

UPDATE: Ryan withstood the cold and constant bouncing for 36 hours and one minute, breaking the current record. Unfortunately, other ringers from around the country kept going. While Ryan will not have the world record, he still raised a ton of cash for charity!

Michael Whitman | Louisville, KY

...too and fro and all the places they will go...

I can think of no better way to reinitiate this blog than with sharing the beautiful news that my two friends, Cal and Meagan, were married this past Saturday on the bank of Doctor's Lake in Jacksonville, FL. Each of their unique personalities and their fantastic love story were honored in some fashion throughout the event - including their enjoyment for Doctor Seuss, whose rhyming style was the basis for their vows.

My brother and I were honored to serve as groomsmen - a service which took me out of primarily making photos. I did successfully sneak in my camera (a 5D Mark II with a 50 f/1.2L on board) into the venue under the verbal guise of it being a point-and-shoot camera. While there were a few times that I fell back into photographer mode, the best man kept me in check. (Thanks, PJ!)

It was a beautiful event honoring a beautiful couple. Congratulations, Findeii! (That would be the plural form of Findeiss, by the way.)

Michael Whitman | Jacksonville, FL