tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977112098076660412024-02-02T14:13:21.020-08:00Christie Megura PhotographyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197711209807666041.post-6665762040956974222012-04-18T09:37:00.005-07:002012-04-18T10:12:07.565-07:00The Unseen IllnessFor one of my senior capstone classes, I've been working with eight other students to profile some individuals who are working to provide care for people with mental illness. A consistent theme I've heard from various people in the community is that there is a stigma associated with mental illness. When someone has a broken leg, their injury is visible whereas mental illness is often not visible. Consequently, mental illness is frequently unseen by people who aren't directly connected to the issue. <div><br /></div><div>We published our first round of stories today. You can find them on our project's website called <a href="http://unsungsystem.project573.com/">The Unsung System: The Hidden Network That Cares for Missouri's Mentally Ill</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Below are a few photos I shot of Karren Jones. Katy Bergen wrote the story and captions that pair with the photos. <br /><br />Karren was wonderful to work with even though I only had about an hour with her. And it was great getting to collaborate with Katy Bergen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimU5SmaMeaaisqJcB6KuQcvDqH302IMM5mnKIEbBWHC_1mL-ChKGCOCfAGPlXJXpZ-AzTrKm1HPwbpJk3qNiay5oz64fKA399RpWonQqdsy35f8tz4uIgXnvbG0JgUJW9fkGv9H9aJ2aRa/s1600/TONED_IMG_3491.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimU5SmaMeaaisqJcB6KuQcvDqH302IMM5mnKIEbBWHC_1mL-ChKGCOCfAGPlXJXpZ-AzTrKm1HPwbpJk3qNiay5oz64fKA399RpWonQqdsy35f8tz4uIgXnvbG0JgUJW9fkGv9H9aJ2aRa/s800/TONED_IMG_3491.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732783672260646130" /></a><br /><br />Karren Jones, 67, answers the WARMline at the National Alliance on Mental Illness Missouri office in Jefferson City. The WARMline is meant to offer encouragement and support to those living with mental illness. Jones, who lives with four mental illnesses, says it’s easier for callers to open up to her because she understands many of their struggles.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaaIcdNOBpnhJs1p_v-bOFO8pMkMzlwwEgDa7Q0LKYKGaxbDFqKnNRE5Zxfjn1scnG-mFMdp_XyuyoDYNoGXLbAb6uN6omO5VbqbPjoQKAW8Av1dJPY4v2B2IONfiU6inX_QKekcxrNKt/s1600/TONED_IMG_3534.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaaIcdNOBpnhJs1p_v-bOFO8pMkMzlwwEgDa7Q0LKYKGaxbDFqKnNRE5Zxfjn1scnG-mFMdp_XyuyoDYNoGXLbAb6uN6omO5VbqbPjoQKAW8Av1dJPY4v2B2IONfiU6inX_QKekcxrNKt/s800/TONED_IMG_3534.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732781069474299058" /></a><br /><br />Karren Jones, 67, is often the first one to arrive to the National Alliance on Mental Illness Missouri office in Jefferson City. She began working at NAMI in 1989 after mental illness caused her to go on disability from her job. “The president of NAMI told me that if I wanted to I could come to the office and help out,” Jones said. “I helped so much that they put me on the payroll.” Today, Jones is a phone responder, mentor and speaker for the organization.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZB1Sm84L8yO9384rdCZ77M2d0S9LxxX5r1_1MkL0Wd0ZqEOLT_FhQEUx8eg_wbV1SvmD4qsHEARRUf-QZcr7l9fIwyOxcsEw0Q_1Pkf0LZMZGGclpwAfr35qoDEm0zVU0kEA_jAiEWA7O/s1600/TONED_IMG_3486.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZB1Sm84L8yO9384rdCZ77M2d0S9LxxX5r1_1MkL0Wd0ZqEOLT_FhQEUx8eg_wbV1SvmD4qsHEARRUf-QZcr7l9fIwyOxcsEw0Q_1Pkf0LZMZGGclpwAfr35qoDEm0zVU0kEA_jAiEWA7O/s800/TONED_IMG_3486.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732780986391213074" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Karren Jones is a phone responder, mentor and speaker for the National Alliance on Mental Illness Missouri. She was 19 when she first saw an angel in the backseat of her 1953 Ford Crown Victoria. Jones, 67, knows the angels are hallucinations, symptoms of the mental illnesses she’s had for most of her life. Still, she finds them comforting — they let her know a room will be safe.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197711209807666041.post-15542184381795704032012-04-06T12:50:00.006-07:002012-04-09T08:21:50.004-07:00Big Man On Court Basketball TournamentOn Thursday, April 5 Pi Beta Phi held their Big Man On Court basketball tournament. The proceeds go to the Pi Beta Phi foundation and to First Book to promote national literacy. For a college fundraiser, the players get extremely competitive. It was fun to attend and fun to photograph. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeKy_6mNJ9ymzfWaakLdKpxv1iIZhQn-iSAvKp0oR4ou1N4nnhlIW63Xe2h9qUfHDqvQWqAMOw1y-9JJF2QriGX1awuB5-VyGqO_qhE2MvP2AEeTsdwICaepli7LTUdKaaZrAJXjm0T4H/s1600/DSC_3395.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeKy_6mNJ9ymzfWaakLdKpxv1iIZhQn-iSAvKp0oR4ou1N4nnhlIW63Xe2h9qUfHDqvQWqAMOw1y-9JJF2QriGX1awuB5-VyGqO_qhE2MvP2AEeTsdwICaepli7LTUdKaaZrAJXjm0T4H/s800/DSC_3395.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728377707189891826" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9XyFD62IeFkxmBd3plRW773gnBkixV8ipODP1ML3JdFNQ4q4emBDZ5vJ2F8EQ74jKkCFso9sg4QPNDFaK6DnjQAoD-CLxQwAitq0qpy0kRstJR_bXA4OJS2A9pQttCElSp7NNSWJhxqx/s1600/DSC_3732.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9XyFD62IeFkxmBd3plRW773gnBkixV8ipODP1ML3JdFNQ4q4emBDZ5vJ2F8EQ74jKkCFso9sg4QPNDFaK6DnjQAoD-CLxQwAitq0qpy0kRstJR_bXA4OJS2A9pQttCElSp7NNSWJhxqx/s800/DSC_3732.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728377581523707074" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197711209807666041.post-70046112254124034052012-04-04T09:27:00.008-07:002012-04-05T09:03:58.252-07:00Family First in the Family RestaurantTrish and Chuck Vernon purchased the Main Street Cafe in Eldon, Missouri two years ago. Despite their busy lunch boom, the Vernons operate the cafe entirely on their own. Eighty percent of their customers are regulars that come in on a daily or weekly basis. The Vernon's thoroughly enjoy their business, but they say they will always put family first. Their biggest priority is their 9 year old son, Maxwell. <br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/39808363?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197711209807666041.post-20271237146830156772012-04-02T08:53:00.004-07:002012-04-02T08:55:50.863-07:00Spring Break In TexasI spent most of my spring break in Texas this year. I traveled back and forth between Austin and Dallas. Honestly, it was just really nice to be home with my family. <br /><br />Here is a photo of my 16 year old brother Drew at a cross country competition. I'm glad to see at least one person in my family excelling at athletics. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lZZx-dpDR8jPtbKUVAkGnMn3jijC8nzWcEA3_5GlDYdARzcf0NnMtDmDrgzR7yW3LmAgEgBX7s67phNnbZlgd_F4GMBaALG7twR47Qnz1UcwxSUgSwSaT7VCw7wPtkNvSd8gjiaaTKZl/s1600/DrewTrack032012_DSC_2818.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lZZx-dpDR8jPtbKUVAkGnMn3jijC8nzWcEA3_5GlDYdARzcf0NnMtDmDrgzR7yW3LmAgEgBX7s67phNnbZlgd_F4GMBaALG7twR47Qnz1UcwxSUgSwSaT7VCw7wPtkNvSd8gjiaaTKZl/s800/DrewTrack032012_DSC_2818.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726832380867237922" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197711209807666041.post-31104331307218546822012-03-18T22:33:00.003-07:002012-03-19T09:51:03.542-07:00Mid-Missouri Bee KeepingYesterday I went to the Mid-Missouri Beekeeping meeting. I've been wanting to shoot beekeeping for a while. What I found most interesting about the meeting was how large the beekeeping community is in Missouri. I really enjoyed watching the wide variety of individuals that were there. I watched enthutiasts intermingle with professionals and discuss the different facets of beekeeping. I look forward to getting to know some more individuals in the community and to check out some bees. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fJq0VCHilXNEadO74FuEOdXsmaTwjAvWG_vn8T07Tt_tVkBTElwQbXq1gkYjmsuYnG_nDKB5iOj62Vhrs6kiZt-zAd3jfvzXJsocPfxvgFztgH-WmHcTn-bcSWrbFJ2eI4_pEgRRvMwC/s1600/BeeKeeping_IMG_0452.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fJq0VCHilXNEadO74FuEOdXsmaTwjAvWG_vn8T07Tt_tVkBTElwQbXq1gkYjmsuYnG_nDKB5iOj62Vhrs6kiZt-zAd3jfvzXJsocPfxvgFztgH-WmHcTn-bcSWrbFJ2eI4_pEgRRvMwC/s800/BeeKeeping_IMG_0452.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721477390088889378" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197711209807666041.post-46927480837647761842012-03-16T08:52:00.006-07:002012-03-16T08:58:28.298-07:00Warm WeatherIt's unusually warm for March, which means I find any excuse I can to go outside. Here is to enjoying my last months in Missouri before I leave for Arizona this summer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjazXstsLiH3KOZ6rfJvJNRus2hLnHkhjb3-Gm8C3nVfnZ8yPzQ0hBQOuFsD8RADUL3b07Q_BNgx7SlGV2HDqkgFKGlt1x4TqbBZMAFInge4Mr5hPTufqZmFWrL2eIAJ9wrFU8-lpSbYE/s1600/Spring2012_MG_0311.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjazXstsLiH3KOZ6rfJvJNRus2hLnHkhjb3-Gm8C3nVfnZ8yPzQ0hBQOuFsD8RADUL3b07Q_BNgx7SlGV2HDqkgFKGlt1x4TqbBZMAFInge4Mr5hPTufqZmFWrL2eIAJ9wrFU8-lpSbYE/s800/Spring2012_MG_0311.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720523777215214834" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEMkXwc_RCfsxL6KLBZKJnqknljQ26WhqOLn8Ocpp3F4EyCsjXVSrzr6BTR-CazpeoD-uX-bh7XGQeOkCFlQ-Rh_q8dDMrVZDsEHQ0rffqkJfEeUAm3orzXP73eCubUxgTdZkl9cjGj3d/s1600/Winery_IMG_0429.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEMkXwc_RCfsxL6KLBZKJnqknljQ26WhqOLn8Ocpp3F4EyCsjXVSrzr6BTR-CazpeoD-uX-bh7XGQeOkCFlQ-Rh_q8dDMrVZDsEHQ0rffqkJfEeUAm3orzXP73eCubUxgTdZkl9cjGj3d/s800/Winery_IMG_0429.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720524415425772882" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197711209807666041.post-64812481150992904272012-02-23T20:34:00.019-08:002012-02-24T10:04:38.536-08:00One Day Story with Donna WalterThis project was supposed to be shot in one day. Our professor allowed some flexibility with that guideline. But the woman I worked with, Donna Walter, joked with me that I couldn't possibly tell her story in just one day. After spending the day with her, I agree. She is a complex and interesting person with rich life experiences. I so appreciate her opening her life up to me, and I hope I have the opportunity to photograph her again in the future. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVnQbm_ZouhhNgha5Ahz4hLiHjp5szgZVeJBY9z3M_edLdpA_bxmQbAw40cQ9LXD22OSWIf5effQxSgGY0cOHnunKQn00_Rw_Il1OpIXafg67EV9se9BDoVv1vce3uSOAAEcTFP1YEMSQ/s1600/%25C2%25A9ChristieMegura_MG_6572.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVnQbm_ZouhhNgha5Ahz4hLiHjp5szgZVeJBY9z3M_edLdpA_bxmQbAw40cQ9LXD22OSWIf5effQxSgGY0cOHnunKQn00_Rw_Il1OpIXafg67EV9se9BDoVv1vce3uSOAAEcTFP1YEMSQ/s800/%25C2%25A9ChristieMegura_MG_6572.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712557003804524658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Donna Walter walks through her backyard wearing a coat that she calls wearable art. Walter’s yard has a variety of eclectic objects on display including two giant stuffed catfish, mannequins, Virgin Marry sculptures and more. “I’d say it’s all found objects. And I’m a thrift store junky.” Walter spent fifteen years around architects and artists before moving to Columbia.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2nXp5t-w5c5kHf0NmS3EzC69crv_TvQ_27otZ9PwWRnTat4Sl5FP0biMgd4mvGSj44dmle0SCJIMZLMH8oUnJnHbKsWIDdVzxZRWKq98KbA9_ktDgPmKBtR4jlFF-q_S3SDmIOJ6FaBd/s1600/%25C2%25A9ChristieMegura_MG_0029.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2nXp5t-w5c5kHf0NmS3EzC69crv_TvQ_27otZ9PwWRnTat4Sl5FP0biMgd4mvGSj44dmle0SCJIMZLMH8oUnJnHbKsWIDdVzxZRWKq98KbA9_ktDgPmKBtR4jlFF-q_S3SDmIOJ6FaBd/s800/%25C2%25A9ChristieMegura_MG_0029.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712747357006887154" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Donna Walter kisses her dog Chewy on Wednesday, February 22. Donna starts her mornings by getting a cup of coffee at Coffee Zone and walking her two dogs. The dogs go almost everywhere with her.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLchdFHEda8KBw1hlC9YhvTilMbLGWvHefKtb2MjI45ufEmP_NtK2tge29heRzEB4m0OCDrykBRwy4rn5Q4j8yEXHOEKMX4vBUNgf-HaWjOjP3hVKHVEXOCpZSq3SteJZT1j4yF-QsNfeb/s1600/%25C2%25A9ChristieMegura_MG_9841.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLchdFHEda8KBw1hlC9YhvTilMbLGWvHefKtb2MjI45ufEmP_NtK2tge29heRzEB4m0OCDrykBRwy4rn5Q4j8yEXHOEKMX4vBUNgf-HaWjOjP3hVKHVEXOCpZSq3SteJZT1j4yF-QsNfeb/s800/%25C2%25A9ChristieMegura_MG_9841.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712563226887955586" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sister Abigail, Donna Walter and Lisa Guroshong listen to Steve Gallagher’s writing exercise. Walter meets the writing group on Wednesday mornings at Kaldi's coffee shop to socialize and do writing exercises with the group.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDrWErB1-twOf-TSXB-f8tnhcA9tYmGgf8rkyJ0sAmVbv9dla5Yp1jjL-1whjQFx8E_-o-j_qvBcOHuy_C4OMmMg4hPsdIQ88Wh4rDUlcaVMZ4sTIeXcfK_hv3-TF3jum-FPEHzuHXY1S/s1600/%25C2%25A9ChristieMegura_MG_9965.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDrWErB1-twOf-TSXB-f8tnhcA9tYmGgf8rkyJ0sAmVbv9dla5Yp1jjL-1whjQFx8E_-o-j_qvBcOHuy_C4OMmMg4hPsdIQ88Wh4rDUlcaVMZ4sTIeXcfK_hv3-TF3jum-FPEHzuHXY1S/s800/%25C2%25A9ChristieMegura_MG_9965.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712747150913749826" /></a><br /><br />Donna Walter twirls in a skirt in front of Tricia Straub and Kathy Gordon. The women were exchanging used clothes that the didn't want anymore. Walter is 67 and is retired. She spends her time engaging in a variety of activities. “I just like to play. I’m really good at playing…and throwing parties.”<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3grT8GGFO9ylznkxKRR2m1_TAx-telainlsM_MGbhTAeGzriiZAWPxZjOg7HSfnP7gP6ZD3gnp2iu0o628sQ_ze0jgjENSeuAKDaj-th7oGAru9qWDOcQrALv0wzQhwpq-Bezu3F4-Xz/s1600/%25C2%25A9ChristieMegura_MG_9859.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3grT8GGFO9ylznkxKRR2m1_TAx-telainlsM_MGbhTAeGzriiZAWPxZjOg7HSfnP7gP6ZD3gnp2iu0o628sQ_ze0jgjENSeuAKDaj-th7oGAru9qWDOcQrALv0wzQhwpq-Bezu3F4-Xz/s800/%25C2%25A9ChristieMegura_MG_9859.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712556229714198130" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Tricia Straub, Donna Walter, Katie Young and Kathy Gordon meditate on Wednesday, February 22. The all female mediation group’s goal is to send positive energy to people that are ailing. Walter engages in a variety of spiritual practices on a regular basis including Buddhism, Christianity and Sufism. <p></p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXO9oe3Xnaax0hI8f5x5DTT7eghcfePvEaXOh2pspKjrrV7Nkq5ybE14ZNTgDvEkNiSImCs7ua2APhMIBI0YtYweSmYUkT8uUZesBFgCMaEiQF7ktr_-iun4G0wG_rwAJ48SVS2drRJ94/s1600/%25C2%25A9ChristieMegura_MG_9898.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXO9oe3Xnaax0hI8f5x5DTT7eghcfePvEaXOh2pspKjrrV7Nkq5ybE14ZNTgDvEkNiSImCs7ua2APhMIBI0YtYweSmYUkT8uUZesBFgCMaEiQF7ktr_-iun4G0wG_rwAJ48SVS2drRJ94/s800/%25C2%25A9ChristieMegura_MG_9898.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712560430465189650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Donna Walter eats lunch at the Olive Garden Cafe on Wednesday, February 22. Walter enjoys trying different restaurants in Columbia and eating exotic foods like lamb and goat meat. She once ate baby camel when she lived in Northern Africa. Walter has lived in many places including Switzerland, Paris, New York City and on a one thousand acre ranch in California. “Some people say ‘you should write down your stories’ and I say I’m too busy still having them.”<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197711209807666041.post-17726812967798422392012-02-12T17:57:00.000-08:002012-02-12T17:58:14.136-08:00Bird by Bird<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">“There are an enormous number of people out there with invaluable information to share with you, and all you have to do is pick up the phone. They love it when you do, just as you love it when people ask you if they can pick your brain about something you happen to know a great deal about- or, as in my case, you have a number of impassioned opinions on.” Anne Lamott, author of Bird by Bird. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">I was driving around and looking for new people to talk to when I saw something that made me stop. It was a yard filled with interesting…stuff. Mannequins, stuffed catfish, Madonna statues, a tank, a bald eagle and more placed across a yard in front of a Columbia home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I sat in my car and thought about how I would introduce myself. But I remembered reading that passage in Bird by Bird. I convinced myself that a person with this yard made a decision to make it look this way and they would want to talk to me. I knocked, but no one answered. So I worked up the courage to write a slightly awkward note- hi my name is Christie, I thought your yard looks interesting. I’d like to talk to you and take your picture. Give me a call.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">The woman that lived there did give me a call. And she turned out to be an immensely interesting individual. More details on my meeting with her to come. </p> <!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197711209807666041.post-87519099267736261522012-01-31T23:45:00.000-08:002012-02-01T09:02:54.549-08:00LueElla Canton<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/36003891?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><p></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:85%;">I didn’t anticipate turning in this assignment for my Picture Story class. I’ve been sick with bronchitis and coughing in a subject’s face is less then appealing. My professor helped me create an alternative assignment, but I woke up this morning feeling significantly better. I got off of work at 5 and I figured it would be a cop out to not attempt to find a subject.</span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:85%;">I convinced myself that there are loads of interesting people with interesting stories out there. I need only find them and ask.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:85%;">I was driving aimlessly for a while hoping to see people on their porches or walking around their neighborhoods. But it was getting dark and most people were inside.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:85%;">I was pretty discouraged until I drove by a building with a crowd of people out front. I thought I saw someone waving to me to come in but I kept driving. A block away I realized this was a mistake. You have to look for signs and opportunities. I turned around and parked my car. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:85%;">It was the All People’s Missionary Baptist Church in Columbia where I had been waved down. I was quickly welcomed inside and introduced to a lot of wonderful people. I sat through the service because I wanted to get a feel for what this church community was like. I was amazed by the openness, honesty and passion displayed. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:85%;">Tonight I focused on LueElla Canton. She has been a pastor at this church for twelve years and started preaching when she was nine. This video is a very small part of her story. I hope to work with her more in the future and to continue to tell her story.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197711209807666041.post-85658496191388589442012-01-30T18:40:00.000-08:002012-01-30T19:13:14.558-08:00snapshots from my summer out of a suitecase.<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: lucida grande;">I had a pretty unbelievable summer. I went to nine countries in 7 weeks- the Bahamas, Greece, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Holland, Belgium, France and Spain. It's amazing how much is out there and how beautiful it all is. </span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWsyqKTxTfzEsLCavtoFO1S03m4jf6FjZf7gHeefCRilCmrWNrRGk3b_rIoOv7oPXI8dYYDtTPXSSF2xBEBm2jWGoYqj7eynBGW0uKgzpmoEmyqY_djPFvJzG1jAe-_FSumjmMUlCcFWC/s1600/OldTownCorfu_MG_4541.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWsyqKTxTfzEsLCavtoFO1S03m4jf6FjZf7gHeefCRilCmrWNrRGk3b_rIoOv7oPXI8dYYDtTPXSSF2xBEBm2jWGoYqj7eynBGW0uKgzpmoEmyqY_djPFvJzG1jAe-_FSumjmMUlCcFWC/s800/OldTownCorfu_MG_4541.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703626849604495362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWmNOfnugyCUN9KbCRJ3Rdhhir0fnzUJTGDwYakbgcU1P29OMDyEjn11zXKtmYkfGSEXGJroed_AFTUqO2rkrS7QADc2anuJYc918YF95SekpPJbhXtjNjNi2VF6mXCcw9R-Yi5oKM38c/s1600/Tuscany_MG_5219.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWmNOfnugyCUN9KbCRJ3Rdhhir0fnzUJTGDwYakbgcU1P29OMDyEjn11zXKtmYkfGSEXGJroed_AFTUqO2rkrS7QADc2anuJYc918YF95SekpPJbhXtjNjNi2VF6mXCcw9R-Yi5oKM38c/s800/Tuscany_MG_5219.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703626764403678098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqejnbe2r97yC7kAgXhixMmGQTu-JTplJm6a73jhbq__3aKSm3DBSdZ4GhK6Z8Rk-4ifci8YJjp38ibJPGAcytO2370bus0A_G5fWpDMzDBIq8qN8K78Swz7F1PaW63xyDjMefqw8QHYuM/s1600/Italia_MG_5627.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqejnbe2r97yC7kAgXhixMmGQTu-JTplJm6a73jhbq__3aKSm3DBSdZ4GhK6Z8Rk-4ifci8YJjp38ibJPGAcytO2370bus0A_G5fWpDMzDBIq8qN8K78Swz7F1PaW63xyDjMefqw8QHYuM/s800/Italia_MG_5627.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703626689587371506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZpFA0V2BU-_rSVIw8OnF6TI2bO03NQpjfABGGUurlMgctC3aXoznsHMrodjTCOfDM7fZ2-B6ttTkMyKOHChAxxeyL6NueHgNUCRvgr_9582C77KRViSZUqX3k6U211n_SHYusdiRNJS_/s1600/EnRoute_MG_5056.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZpFA0V2BU-_rSVIw8OnF6TI2bO03NQpjfABGGUurlMgctC3aXoznsHMrodjTCOfDM7fZ2-B6ttTkMyKOHChAxxeyL6NueHgNUCRvgr_9582C77KRViSZUqX3k6U211n_SHYusdiRNJS_/s800/EnRoute_MG_5056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703626593509282882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfNLTftmx57Fu40SXCnWyvvZXMT7x99AwCEpg9BRTDKFDgHviYgGwKR6bjHfXzGA8WIekd_b5VEqbLr9Kz8r9NC3XMkzg-Oab21c6HHXQNCkJPuIgGJtm4PyhgLBj9K7bXhT5ADSIOA3p/s1600/GreeceOcean_MG_4211.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfNLTftmx57Fu40SXCnWyvvZXMT7x99AwCEpg9BRTDKFDgHviYgGwKR6bjHfXzGA8WIekd_b5VEqbLr9Kz8r9NC3XMkzg-Oab21c6HHXQNCkJPuIgGJtm4PyhgLBj9K7bXhT5ADSIOA3p/s800/GreeceOcean_MG_4211.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703626467203378658" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197711209807666041.post-17155807146519025002010-12-10T13:01:00.000-08:002010-12-11T11:40:38.146-08:00Secret SantaNothing says hard-hitting investigatory journalism quite like a piece on Santa Claus. After all, he is arguably the most recognizable man in America, or at least top ten.<div><br /></div><div>But for our final project in advanced techniques my team decided to take a different approach and get to know the man behind the costume. This seemed like a solid plan until Santa was firmly against anyone knowing his true identity. So we regrouped and came up with a new concept. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our subject has been transforming into Santa Claus for 27 years and only a handful of close friends and family know. He parks far away from any events and transforms in private locations to ensure his identity is concealed. No longer showing the man behind the suite, we were left with a project on a Secret Santa. </div><div><br /></div><div>The following are some of the photos that I made for the project: </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkoXBywpnIweFqJ-r1ekqHD03ptVcWf_-55CzVJhIVP1Rt_Ttezf1R8hgvDNMHHCE6N2ZgZhKQ4Vs9ghyef33hOm_IykdFhmjEnxQhuON6YYCfnzrJSjF3HlNmP38Sj99YvHUsk8hpV2B/s1600/blog5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkoXBywpnIweFqJ-r1ekqHD03ptVcWf_-55CzVJhIVP1Rt_Ttezf1R8hgvDNMHHCE6N2ZgZhKQ4Vs9ghyef33hOm_IykdFhmjEnxQhuON6YYCfnzrJSjF3HlNmP38Sj99YvHUsk8hpV2B/s800/blog5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549162352408715986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeehXJ84WiD5pkOP4gWGNd8khmNclCU4vOphahTxbJ-ZqXo3iF_AbCK6OM3xat0vmRD_D-sabsNCGog9VxqqKdzR8kBQdEd1YNdtoQXjlvF7nPhUNJLSiA4dpTdsmIjCv7fhPioH9wcovs/s1600/blog2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeehXJ84WiD5pkOP4gWGNd8khmNclCU4vOphahTxbJ-ZqXo3iF_AbCK6OM3xat0vmRD_D-sabsNCGog9VxqqKdzR8kBQdEd1YNdtoQXjlvF7nPhUNJLSiA4dpTdsmIjCv7fhPioH9wcovs/s800/blog2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549162279498222642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfboxVhsecKQfxQ1uNPNRRr6WrM3uaG5Q1n-DIJImIunLVkwAVNtvv4rbPPH3Xx5PQt1zeOyZTs7y-pPCMB8WJoLnd9bDhYyE7HgQgRjwPzBU-15bxBMTnUh4C0vxO3nHgZZI7xtJyzpN/s1600/blog4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfboxVhsecKQfxQ1uNPNRRr6WrM3uaG5Q1n-DIJImIunLVkwAVNtvv4rbPPH3Xx5PQt1zeOyZTs7y-pPCMB8WJoLnd9bDhYyE7HgQgRjwPzBU-15bxBMTnUh4C0vxO3nHgZZI7xtJyzpN/s800/blog4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549162180183041522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9ElGefP_hA0vTjT5UZmLEVMPFUXeqppjmshSasvrOQ0LLemBFwNii7wMZ0K8q0bVCUenRq4sON3dDKaTN4owiQTVolDVAyYfebs9IxQWWgyi7800DHFlT5otuI4ri-vAkXDnGiQ-ACgk/s1600/blog3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9ElGefP_hA0vTjT5UZmLEVMPFUXeqppjmshSasvrOQ0LLemBFwNii7wMZ0K8q0bVCUenRq4sON3dDKaTN4owiQTVolDVAyYfebs9IxQWWgyi7800DHFlT5otuI4ri-vAkXDnGiQ-ACgk/s800/blog3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549162017295329554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfC5R1eVZeSgTPup7budjIKPRpQ56JbCXWSt9sBUIcy1TxkDyWrwKamQZ6ITnHax7icXWli0hO89uk5GHgom8gvH-VfyvBdYbIVpAA3rNIxkr1Y0KNRM_aO15QLU_Sl4eRO8U57u_tHvtD/s1600/blog1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfC5R1eVZeSgTPup7budjIKPRpQ56JbCXWSt9sBUIcy1TxkDyWrwKamQZ6ITnHax7icXWli0hO89uk5GHgom8gvH-VfyvBdYbIVpAA3rNIxkr1Y0KNRM_aO15QLU_Sl4eRO8U57u_tHvtD/s800/blog1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549161885943565314" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />Here is my team's final project:<br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17593016" frameborder="0" height="450" width="800"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/17593016">Secret Santa</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2794894">Kristen DiFate</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197711209807666041.post-67997522924366152662010-11-04T11:37:00.000-07:002010-11-04T12:23:54.955-07:00Painting with Light<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1wfLAd-uB7B4Q3akeLciweWAwji6zMpOWpfCfnwwEN5Tw-UT2cS2unHcsg6NzniffHymIecqVUGteauBzR8Es5xRAT6yMpX6NlPzi__7Opwfll41Kb38Fw8esBKRYTCAKDGslmBAtR14/s1600/paint+with+light+.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1wfLAd-uB7B4Q3akeLciweWAwji6zMpOWpfCfnwwEN5Tw-UT2cS2unHcsg6NzniffHymIecqVUGteauBzR8Es5xRAT6yMpX6NlPzi__7Opwfll41Kb38Fw8esBKRYTCAKDGslmBAtR14/s800/paint+with+light+.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535767293184185314" /></a><br />Photo by Christie Megura, Madison Mack, Melissa Klauda and Angela Hamilton. <br /><br />At the end of South Bearfield Road in Columbia there are a series of abandoned buildings. One of the buildings is rumored to be an abandoned mental institution with patient paperwork located in the boiler room in the basement. In the abandoned swimming pool area, graffiti, clumps of hair and small bones are eerie reminders that although the building is condemned, it still gets visitors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiqAWhRBdykoe074tIcxUTP4kHrgHbpu5IF_5Mk-2wkF1ck0diDIy3BYuEQyxnKsG7RZOpwB1qvoakQhaOXgYW2tx7gpgLwUgDkzuxhyphenhypheny3HNW2MB9owFOCIaPEjzWlzmWl8_B7Y88Fnsz/s1600/PWL_LightingDiagram.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiqAWhRBdykoe074tIcxUTP4kHrgHbpu5IF_5Mk-2wkF1ck0diDIy3BYuEQyxnKsG7RZOpwB1qvoakQhaOXgYW2tx7gpgLwUgDkzuxhyphenhypheny3HNW2MB9owFOCIaPEjzWlzmWl8_B7Y88Fnsz/s800/PWL_LightingDiagram.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535772080071776610" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0