Filleted fish are pushed towards the large garbage disposal in the drain of the fish cleaning station at Salmon-a-Rama on July 18, 2010 in Racine, Wis. | Canon 1D Mark III and 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS lens @ 70mm | Exposed 1/80 sec. @ f/5.6, ISO 400 (0EV)

On Sunday, Salmon-a-Rama wrapped up with angler Roger Hellen taking the grand prize of $10,000 for his 41.5 pound Brown trout caught on Thursday.  It was the final day of the tournament, and I knew that it was a make-or-break day for me as I needed a few more interviews and some different images.  I was tired of hauling all of the lenses that I had been taking with me every day, so in favor of the 70-200mm f/4L IS lens that is my standard telephoto, I borrowed my dad’s 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS lens–one of only two Canon lens that intentionally diffracts light to create a more compact lens.  (The other is my longest lens, the 400mm f/4 DO IS.)

I’m hoping to put together an audio slideshow of Salmon-a-Rama that could stand alone from, as well as become a part of, my master’s project on Asian carp and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

Cleaned and filleted salmon from the "Norwegian Fishing Team," composed of friends Chris Dorsey, Shane Callen, and Pete Brekke, sit at the end of the cleaning station at the close of Salmon-a-Rama. | Canon 5D Mark II and 24-70mm f/2.8L lens @ 35mm | Exposed 1/80 sec. @ f/2.8, ISO 100 (0EV)

"Need a moment?" Shane Callen, left, Chris Dorsey, middle, and Pete Brekke, right share a moment before the awards ceremony at Salmon-a-Rama on July 18, 2010 in Racine, Wis. The trio called themselves "The Norwegian Fishing Team," and Dorsey took fourth place for "master angler." | Canon 1D Mark III and 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS lens @ 265mm | Exposed 1/250 sec. @ f/5.6, ISO 200 (0EV)

Paul Lohman knocks back a Miller Lite at the conclusion of Salmon-a-Rama on July 18, 2010 in Racine, Wis. Lohman said he has participated in "every Salmon-a-Rama since 1974, and this is the best one ever." | Canon 1D Mark III and 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS lens @ 115mm | Exposed 1/160 sec. @ f/5.6, ISO 400.

Tags: EOS 1D Mark III, EOS 5D Mark II, photojournalism, salmon, sport fishing
Posted in Master's Project | No Comments »

Angler Roger Hellen poses with his 41.5 pound Brown trout for Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel photographer Benny Sieu at Salmon-a-Rama on July 16, 2010 in Racine, Wis. The trout, caught that morning, was speculated to be a world record-setting catch. The current record for Brown trout was set last September in the Manistee River of Michigan at 41 pounds, 7 ounces. Hellen's trout, an ounce heavier, is pending review of National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and the International Game Fish Association before it can be declared the world record for this species. | Canon 1D Mark III and 24-70mm f/2.8L lens @ 51mm | Exposed 1/800 sec. @ f/4, ISO 200 (+1 EV)

Not just any “fish story”

On the morning  of July 16, 2010, Roger Hellen set out in his boat, “Get Hooked,” with his friend Joe Miller.  He came back with what is quite possibly a world record for Brown trout: 41 pounds, 8 ounces.  The fish will likely earn Hellen the grand prize of $10,000  at Salmon-a-Rama, and also stirred up a bit of a media frenzy given the possibility of a new record for Brown trout.  The current record was set only back in September 2009 by an angler in Michigan with a 41 pound, 7 ounce Brown trout.  The catch also beats the Salmon-a-Rama record for largest fish entered in the contest which has stood since 1997.

So far, I’ve met some great people out at Salmon-a-Rama, and I think that the stories I’ve heard will be compelling for the argument that sport fishing is an important part of Lake Michigan–something that could be lost should Asian carp gain access to the Great Lakes. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Brown trout, EOS 1D Mark III, EOS 5D Mark II, photojournalism, sport fishing
Posted in Master's Project | 1 Comment »

Fishing poles rest in one of the official buckets given to registrants of Salmon-a-Rama at Reefpoint Marina, Racine, Wis. The lines of the poles were tied off to beer bottles to alert the fishermen if a fish tugged at the bait. | Canon 1D Mark III and 70-200mm f/4L IS lens @ 89mm | Exposed 1/800 sec. @ f/4, ISO 100 (+1 EV)

The largest freshwater fishing tournament in the Great Lakes kicked off on July 10 in Racine, Wis.  One of the great concerns about the possibility of Asian Silver and Bighead carp entering into Lake Michigan is the potential for the destruction of sport fishing due to the radical changes that could happen to the food chain.  The carp are voracious filter-feeders, and could out-compete the fish that serve as “food” for the trout and salmon, and could be the final nail in the coffin for the lake perch.

It wasn’t foremost on the minds of the anglers participating in Salmon-a-Rama, but when I explained the idea of my project, there seemed to be universal concern about the invasive carp, most recently found only six miles from the shoreline of Lake Michigan.  It’s encouraging that this project is relevent even if the environmental outlook for the Great Lakes seems to be discouraging. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Asian Carp, EOS 1D Mark III, EOS 5D Mark II, Master's Project, photojournalism, salmon, sport fishing
Posted in Master's Project | No Comments »

Josh Bickel | Nikon D50 and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 48mm; exposed 1/13 sec. @ f/5.6, ISO 1600.

Yesterday, while working for my assistantship, I was trying to illustrate a point to a student in one of the more basic photography classes that is actually taught by a fellow graduate student, Phoebe Sexton, that while I could not equip him with the camera and lens that he wanted because of a lack of availability, even an old Nikon D50 and a basic 18-55mm lens can yield good images.  It’s the experienced hand, not the equipment.  Sure, the gear helps, but still.  Now, if only I had checked the settings he was using before Josh Bickel assisted me in making my point, I would have told it not to add two thirds of a stop too much light…

I’ve also included a couple more images from last night, of my hosts for the evening, Val and Jamie, and some of my closer friends:

Tags: EOS 1D Mark III, equipment, photojournalism, Thirty Days
Posted in Picture Story | No Comments »

Jakob Berr at Rock Bridge State Park | Canon 1D Mk. III and 50mm f/1.2L lens; exposed 1/50 sec. @ f/1.2, ISO 3200

While the noise performance of the 1D Mark III is not quite up to the same level as the 5D Mark II, its ability to focus in low light is far superior.  “Horses for courses.”

Tags: Canon 50mm 1.2L, EOS 1D Mark III, photojournalism, Thirty Days
Posted in Picture Story | No Comments »

Rita Reed at the lower level of the capitol rotunda | Canon 5D Mk. II and 16-35mm f/2.8L II lens @ 35mm; exposed 1/40 sec. @ f/2.8, ISO 1600.

Yesterday, I drove down to Jefferson City, Mo. with Rita Reed and Maggie Walter to photograph their reception of the Missouri Alliance for Historical Preservation’s Osmund Overby Award for their contributions to Arrow Rock: Where the Past is the Future, edited by Abigail Pheiffer, Shane Epping, and Leah Gallo.  Shane was there, as was Alex Cooney, who photographed a portrait series for the book.  I’d never been to the capitol, and the whole thing was a gas.  A few more photos below:

Tags: EOS 1D Mark III, EOS 5D Mark II
Posted in Updates | No Comments »

Waiting in line for standby tickets to The Invention of Dr. NakaMats, Jimmy Weagley, Lauren Croll, and Josh Dillon react to instructions from Emily Rosen, a volunteer for the True/False film festival on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 in Columbia, Mo. Croll said she was "pretty confident we'll get in." | Canon 1D Mk. III and 200mm f/2.8L lens; exposed 1/160 sec. @ f/4, ISO 200

Tags: EOS 1D Mark III, photojournalism, Thirty Days
Posted in Picture Story | No Comments »

Chrissy Wolfersberger watches "Buskers Last Stand" musicians perform in the lobby of the Missouri Theatre at the conclusion of the True/False 2010 film festival. | Canon 1D Mk. III and 200mm f/2.8L lens; exposed 1/20 sec. @ f/2.8, ISO 2000

Tags: EOS 1D Mark III, photojournalism, Thirty Days
Posted in Picture Story | No Comments »