Now that the Ferguson story has slowed down from an assignment standpoint, things have gotten pretty slow locally. I decided today to get out of the house and make some pictures around town to stay sharp while awaiting my next “thrill”. A fellow photojournalist encouraged me to keep shooting when things are slow, just get up and find interesting things to keep yourself from getting cabin fever. Todays adventure took me from Union Station to the Cathedral Basilica to the Delmar Loop. I came across a talented saxophone musician, Raven Wolf, playing outside Vintage Vinyl who allowed me to shoot some photos of him playing his instruments. It was certainly refreshing and I had a great time, with great light. May be time to incorporate a designated explore day every week…lol.

As I begin my career as a full time freelance photographer, I find myself considering various kinds of assignments to work on being multifaceted and diverse in the kind of work I want to be considered for. Early last week, I got a email from an editor at Getty Images asking if I could cover the Kansas Jayhawks home opener in Lawrence, KS against Cal Santa Barbara. I had never shot college basketball before and initially was a little shocked I got the nod, but I had no time to be scared, I had to answer the bell and push myself outside of my comfort zone, so to speak.

The 5 hour drive to Lawrence was as boring as you could imagine, but the atmosphere of a college campus who eats a breathes college basketball surely made up for that. Allen Fieldhouse is the epicenter of the rich tradition that is Kansas Jayhawks basketball. As soon as you walk into the venue and by time you’ve made your way to the media area, you’ve pass through a corridor that displays all the Kansas greats from Danny Manning, to Paul Pierce to name a couple, showing all the conference and national championships through the years…pretty dope.

I had a blast shooting this game and being a part of the experience. Although I must say, the stadium looks bigger on TV and the “RockChalk Jayhawk, KU” chant is one of the smoothest, most majestic chants in college basketball heard in person…lol.