Recent work, September through November

Debra Cousar, whose Graham Street property was one of the eight where tainted soil was found in Columbus, Ohio near Saunders Park, stands in her home, Tuesday, November 18, 2014.

Ohio State deputy director of women's athletics Miechelle Willis reacts as the NCAA announces Columbus as the 2018 location for the women's Final Four, November 17, 2014, at Buckeye Hall of Fame Grill in Columbus, Ohio.

(From right) Brighton Schaftel, 5, and brother Wakely Schaftel, 2, of Powell, Ohio, react as countdown reaches zero and the thousands of lights illuminate spectators' faces at the Columbus Zoo's Wildlights display, November 16, 2014.

(From left) Worthington Kilbourne senior receiver Rafael Herrera and senior linebacker Luke Hackathorne react to rough a 22-0 loss against Dublin Scioto in the OHSAA division II regional semifinals, at Upper Arlington High School, Friday, November 14, 2014.

Bill Cox poses for a portrait in front of his field of soy beans outside of his Ostrander home, Friday, October 3, 2014.

After a rainy morning and afternoon, a clear sky and a silhouette of pedestrians reflect in a puddle as they walk along the Third Street sidewalk across from the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio.

Columbus Marathon participants take off from the starting line at North Bank Park on Long Street, Sunday, October, 19, 2014, in Columbus, Ohio.

Supporters of the Franklin County Democratic party gather at the Westin hotel in Columbus, Ohio, as local election results come in, Tuesday November 4, 2014.

Kent Farrington, of Wellington, Fla., and 13-year-old Uceko, clear a jump during the 17th Annual New Albany Classic, Sunday, September 21, 2014, at the Wexner Home in New Albany.

(From left) Columbus Education Association (CEA) members Paula Garfield, Jenny Plemmel, CEA president Tracey Johnson and CEA member Ezetta Murray chant in support of ending the Reynoldsburg teachers' strike with a fair negotiation, Saturday, September 20, 2014, in Huber Park in Columbus, Ohio.

Rays of evening light beam into the lobby of St. Christopher Catholic Church in Grandview Heights, Ohio, as Monsignor John Cody (right) chats with a guest while waiting for Last Call mass to begin, Sunday, September 14, 2014.

Three down, Three to go

August was supposed to be my last month as an intern at the Dispatch. Although I now know I'll now be shooting for three or four more months, it's interesting to consider whether or not I would have been pleased with what I came away with, had I left after August as originally planned. I'll keep it simple by saying I'm thankful to have more time to work here
and a chance to fill in the gaps where I haven't yet succeeded. I'm partial to the pictures I shot in June, but every month has produced a different success to some extent. Working in a city for six months allows more time to revisit places, people or ideas a second or third time, until you get it right. Summer finished out with a lot of sports and some unique features, but now it's time to dive into the fall months which will mean Friday night lights, an abundance of pretty autumn features and busier daily work than I had in summer. Most importantly, it's time to figure out what exactly I need to accomplish before 2015 sneaks up one me as fast as September did. 

Terry Carr, whose self-run business is based in Westerville, scrapes paint from inside the ceiling of Dan Mesnard's porch on Glenmawr Avenue, as he prepares to re-paint it, Tuesday, July 29, 2014.

Auctioneer Todd Woodruff shouts and waves his arms wildly after Steve Rausch and Associates bid the high price of 80,000 dollars for the grand champion market steer at the Sale of Champions, Sunday, August 3, 2014, in the Celeste Center at the Ohio State Fair.

Brooke Egbert, 13, of Botkins, Ohio, sheds tears while resting her head on her reserve champion market steer, realizing that she is moments away from selling him to the highest bidder at the Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions, Sunday, August 3, 2014.

A group of bicyclists take off from the Pelotonia start at the McFerson Commons in Columbus, Saturday, August 9, 2014.

Matthew Sawchuk, 7, embraces his mother Jennifer, just after she finished the Pelotonia 100-mile ride for cancer awareness, Saturday, August 9, 2014, in Columbus. Jennifer rode for Matthew's brother, Nicholas Sawchuk, 13, who is a two-and-a-half year survivor of brain cancer. Nicholas and his twin brother Benjamin were present at the race as well.

Fans scramble to catch a ball thrown by Columbus Clippers' left fielder James Ramsey, Monday, August 11, 2014.

Zeke Winkelvoss, 7, of Upper Arlington, waits for a bite at the Whetstone Park pond in hopes of catching a catfish, Sunday, August 17, 2014. Zeke's mother described him as "obsessed" with fishing.

Jerry McTeague, 87, speaks about the FitzGerald versus Kasich governor's race in context of his experiences living in Perry County for his entire life, and how the candidates' decisions sometimes overlook smaller townships, Tuesday, August 19, 2014, at the town's popular meeting place, Corner News diner.

The view from the start car as drivers and horses approach the gate to start the seventh race of the night at Scioto Downs Racino, Friday, August 22, 2014. Dan Noble and "Sectionlinefriskie" won the race.

Columbus Crew forward Justin Meram (9) takes a knee to the back of the head after becoming tangled between Houston Dynamo opponents at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Saturday, August 23, 2014.

Columbus Crew forward Justin Meram (9) scores the first goal of the night against the Houston Dynamo at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Saturday, August 23, 2014.

Spectators watch from outside of Huntington Park as the Columbus Clippers take on the Indianapolis Indians in Columbus, Monday, August 25, 2014.

Clippers' Jesus Aguilar reacts after teammates dumped a Gatorade cooler over his head to celebrate his home run hit. which scored three runs to defeat the Indianapolis Indians, 10-9, in the tenth inning at Huntington Park in Columbus, Monday, August 25, 2014.

Focal Point: Dispatch photo blog

I'm going to add a link in my blog's menu bar to the Columbus Dispatch photo blog. 
Check it out here! We update it regularly.

And it looks like this....

Best of July

Jaquan Henry (center), a 2014 Westland High School graduate, goes for a lay up, while playing a game of pick-up with (from left) 2014 West High School graduate Trenton Miller, West High School sophomore Shamar Brown, 2014 West High School graduate Markell Wyche, Northland High School senior Dontel Butler and West High school senior Ryan Thompson at Dodge Park, June 24, 2014. The group was warming up for Tuesday basketball at 8 pm in the Dodge Park recreation center.

Diane Meyers, of Canal Windchester, goes to kiss daughter Violet Meyers, 1, while swinging during Comfest at Goodale Park, Saturday, June 28, 2014.

Emilee Buckler, 3, and mother Amanda Presnell, of Columbus, splash in a fountain too cool off after an afternoon at Goodale Park, Monday, June 30, 2014.

Dublin volunteer Joe Starrett guides "Freddie the Friendly Firecracker" balloon down South High Street, Friday, July 4, 2014, at the City of Dublin Independence Day Parade. Freddie is a popular part of the parade, featured annually.

Jayden Jones, 7, of Westerville, laughs as a monarch takes fight from his nose in a butterfly tent outside of the Blendon Woods Metro Park nature center, in Westerville, Saturday, July 5, 2014. 

Field crews clear water from the field after a storm passed over Huntington Park causing a rain delay for the Clippers, Monday, July 7, 2014.

Linda Torson of Doylestown, Ohio throws a dog toy overhead for her two-year-old Belgian malinois Ziva chases it into the pool during the Dockdogs distance contest at the Franklin County Fair in Hilliard, Saturday, July 12, 2014.

Columbus Crew midfielder Bernardo Anor (7) fights for the ball against Sporting Kansas City, Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at Crew Stadium in Columbus.

Ying Qian Luo, of Polaris, lets an endangered twelve-year-old Hiasan Macaw, Mickey, rest on her arm at the Jazz and Ribs Festival downtown, Saturday, July 19, 2014. Will and Jan Smith, of Hilltop, brought their four pet parrots to the festival.

The Crew celebrates after Columbus Crew midfielder Bernardo Anor (7) made his second goal of the night, landing Columbus a 2-1 win, during the second half, at Crew Stadium against Montreal, Saturday, July 19, 2014.

Supporters of recently fired Ohio State marching band director Jon Waters hold signs reading "We Stand with Jon" as the marching band passes by during the Picnic with the Pops in the Columbus Commons, Saturday, July 26, 2014.

What I've been up to at the Columbus Dispatch...

This week is my fourth as an intern with the Columbus Dispatch. I picked ten of my favorite photos that have been published so far. There's a few assignments not below that will run over the next week, and I'm hoping after they're up to put my best pictures into June clip contests, which will be a new process for me. Some of the captions include links to slideshows on the Dispatch site, check those out to see a few more!

(From left) Hilltop pre-school students Stella Neuhard, Zoey Easterday, Nathan Campbell, Blaze Cain, Elainna Blevins and Erin Alderson line up for graduation at Hilltop Lutheran Church, Tuesday morning, June 4, 2014. Photos from me and Chris, here.

Hilltop pre-school students, ages three and four, walk down the aisle after receiving certificates of graduation at Hilltop Lutheran Church, Tuesday morning, June 4, 2014. Photos from me and Chris, here.

Despite the rain, poet Steve Abbott carried on with the poetry forum portion of the Word is Art exhibition at the Columbus Arts Festival, Sunday afternoon, June 8, 2014.

(From left) Ohio State students Kevin Kwiatkowski, Kane Anderson and Columbus resident Tyler Campbell enjoy a game of footgolf at Table Rock Golf Club, June 9, 2014, on central Ohio's first footgolf course. The game is played by kicking soccer balls into size-appropriate cups, with rules following those of golf.

Former president Bill Clinton speaks at the Ohio Democratic Party's state dinner, at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, Friday, June 13, 2014. Clinton encouraged attendees to take advantage of new challenges in modern politics by taking new opportunities. More pictures here.

A nude bicyclist makes his way over the Broad Street bridge, coming into downtown for the fifth annual World Naked Bike Ride in Columbus, Saturday night, June 14, 2014. The event is meant to raise awareness of dangers bicyclists face amongst vehicles, as well as promote positive body-image and an independence from oil.

Clippers second baseman Ryan Rohlinger outs the Bisons shortstop Jonathon Diaz, and throws to Clippers first baseman Adam Abraham to complete a double play, at the top of the third inning against the Buffalo Bisons, Tuesday, June 17, 2014, at Huntington Park in Columbus. View the full slideshow from the game.

A single protestor is outnumbered by an oncoming group of the parade's motorcyclists during the annual Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade, downtown on June 21, 2014. More pictures from myself and other photogs, here.

A very spirited little spectator, Danika Jackson, 5, of East Columbus, beams happily after receiving glitter for her cheeks during the annual Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade, downtown on June 21, 2014. More pictures from myself and other photogs, here.

Second baseman for the Ohio Special Olympics softball team, Cory Anatangelo, embraces his mother Pam Anatangelo, as she fights emotions while welcoming him home from New Jersey, at the Lane Aviation terminal of Columbus International Airport, Saturday, June 21, 2014. The softball team earned a gold medal. More pictures here.