After 32 years in this photojournalism biz I shot my first game at Fenway Park. Yankees vs. Red Sox opening day no less. That's me, Tim the Grinning Idiot, with the Green Monster behind me. It was like waiting for Christmas when I was a kid! I was very excited! - for an old guy. After shooting the game I have to say... I love that I can check that venue off my list. I am glad I got to shoot there, but I am also glad that I don't have to work there every day. I think it's a great place to see a game as a fan, but to work there as a photographer, frankly sucks. The space we have to shoot in is dirty and cramped, and that's being very kind. BUT!... I must hasten to add that the people at Fenway were absolutely first class. I will now shoot at the new Yankee stadium with a better appreciation that the OLD Yankee Stadium didn't suck as bad as shooting in the only Fenway Park.

Tags: fenway park,yankees,Red sox,yankee stadium

Sometimes I run across something so weird it defies description. Check out the verbiage on this van which was parked in a lot where one of the guys arrested for a murder works. It looks like english, but I'm not sure.

Tags: weird stuff

Last night, while I was covering the NJ Nets in their futile bid to win an 8th game in their miserable season, I got a call from the news desk that there had been an arrest in a cold case (30 years old) in Newark. The case involved the disappearance of 5 teenagers who were presumed to be the victims of foul play. There was suspect in the murders, but they never had the evidence to proceed. Turns out that that suspect was one of the two men arrested last night. That police said there was going to be a "perp walk", which in an old term meaning they were going to "walk the perpetrators" in plain sight where we could get a photo of them as they are led into or out of a building. I had 30 minutes to get from the Izod arena to the Essex Co. courthouse.

I can't remember the last time I shot a perp walk. They used to be pretty routine, but over the past couple of decades they have become rare. Now it is more common for the police to drive right into a building - in a car with dark windows. Sometimes the perp walk is from the street curb to the front door of a building. This one was a nice leisurely 60 foot walk. It was pretty easy. It was raining pretty hard, but it could have been worse.

I had the opportunity to meet chef Jacques Pepin at a cooking contest in which he was a judge. I was photographing the contest for a story on people who enter these kinds of contests. This one was the annual Manischewitz cookoff in NYC. I always have a bit of trepidation when I photograph someone I admire, but have never met. There are times when I actually meet "celebrities" and they turn out of be nasty, or aloof, or something other than what inspired me to admire them. I am happy to report that Jacques, who's had a profound influence on my everyday life as far as my enjoyment of food and cooking is concerned, was every bit of the gentleman I thought he would be.

Just a word about my iPhone, which took this photo of Jacques and me... I have to say that I really love the iPhone, but I have to admit that the camera on in sucks. Big time. It's fine outside or in any well lit environment, but in low light, it just plain sucks. So, sorry about the fuzzy photo.

Tags: food,Jacques Pepin

There was the big comeback last night. Tonight there was no such luck. Rutgers had a chance to beat the #12 team in the country, but didn't get the job done. So I go home tomorrow. I really enjoyed my 4 days in Hartford - it's a good walking city. Managed a nice 3 mile walk along the river today. (Had good gym workout after that too.) Would have taken another tomorrow. I guess great weather in March makes any city a good waking city.

Tags: Rutgers,basketball,Big East

So Rutgers was stinking the joint out in the first half. I figured I'd be driving home in the morning. They are a tenacious bunch though. In hockey we would call them "grinders". They managed to tie the game in the final seconds... and then they ground their way through two overtimes to pull out a quarterfinal win. The subject of my photo here is Brittany Ray ( the one in the center #35). She is their best shooter, but she fouled out of the game with 3 minutes left. BUT she is the most expressive person on the team. The photo above is when they tied the game in the second half. Sometimes the best photos aren't happening on the court. The fact that she is arguably the teams best player helps too. A shot of a player that never plays and just rides the bench - just doesn't have the same value.

Tags: Rutgers,basketball,Big East

So, I stay another night in Hartford, CT as Rutgers holds serve and beats a team they're supposed to beat. Frankly RU looked better than I expected. A team that can play defense will make you look bad. Rutgers' defense put Cincinnati on their heels. From now on RU will be playing teams that are "better" than they are. If they can play better D and not give the ball away... Oh hell, this is all a moot point - UConn is waiting for their next feast.

Tags: Rutgers,basketball,Big East

There is just nothing else to say....

Tags: elephants

Back in Hartford, CT for the Big East tournament. So far, it’s been seamless. Easy drive. Easy parking. The logistics of credentials, shooting and transmission went without a hitch. Seton Hall actually had a lead at the half, but that turned around pretty quickly and the 16th seed went down quietly in the second half.

Tags: Seton Hall,basketball,Big East

Circus elephants arrive in Newark

I have a soft spot for elephants. I’m also conflicted about zoo’s and circuses. Of course if it weren’t for them I would never get to witness these magnificent creatures. My dichotomy.

Tags: elephants

Starting over on a blog is no great joy actually. It seems like hard work. This incarnation will attempt to be a little more focused, but hardly more reverent. There’s a lot of crazy stuff going on along with the mundane. I think I like the crazy better. Tomorrow is the pachyderm parade in Newark as the circus comes to town. Although judging by the Newark City Council meeting I covered last week... the circus never really left town.

Next I really need to do something about the color scheme of this page. I had an old army blanket that was this color. I may just link this to my old Wordpress blog at LooselyCropped.com. Who knows? I sure as hell don’t.