Florida Snow

With arms outstretched and eyes full of wonder Gryphon Coovadia, 4, and Mayle McGay, 8, reach for snow flakes as they fall in MOSI's Historic Tree Grove Saturday afternoon. This Florida snow is manufactured out of tiny bubbles and is propelled through the air with a blower, and unlike the real stuff, it's neither cold nor wet, but for the kids it was just as fun.

UNICEF HM

I just found out that photos of Dani from the Girl in the Window series took an Honorable Mention in UNICEF's Photo of the Year award. The best part is that this competition is dedicated to the children of the world.

The Florida Keys

Interview: JOSH RITCHIE

I got to interview my best friend Josh Ritchie for the APAD blog. Josh opened up about how he got my start, why he loves this crazy life as a freelancer and how he made that transition from a newspaper. Go read it today.

the pier

bullride prayer

Laying her hands on people in prayer is part of God's work according to Honey Becker, left, of Plant City. "I'm an evangalist," she said. After anointing a wooden cross with a holy oil, she places her hands over the heart of bull rider Gary Red. "God's work is coming through me. These boys travel around the state and they don't always have someone there in their corner. So I lay my hands on them and let them know that someone cares. And before they get on those bulls, sometimes they need someone to say a prayer for them. 'God please look after this guy and the bull he is on and keep then both safe from harm' is the gist of what I say in this situation. That's all they need. God. Looking down on them."

APAD Bloggers Wanted

I've always thought of APhotoADay as a community -- a listserv and a website shaped by the people, for the people. Sometimes, sadly, it feels like it's dominated by one -- me -- and that's not my intention.

So here's my cry for help. I'm looking for a few good bloggers to help add some interesting and relevant content to the APAD blog. The reason for this is primarily selfish, I'm looking for some inspiration too. I get tired of looking at my own links and reading my own words. I want some new ideas brought to the table. I want to see things I may otherwise miss.

I've really appreciated the help of folks like Pete Kiehart and Peter Hoffman lately. I think their words add more depth to the coverage. I think the posts they've made have had an impact on not only me, but also on the larger photo community.

So, where are you? I know you're out there. There are over 1,100 people on the listserv now and thousands of people that look at the site each day. I know there are some sharp people who are plugged in, and constantly exploring the web for photo-related stuff. My question then is simple, why aren't you here, with us?

If you're interested, contact me: m [at] melissalyttle [dot] com and I'd be happy to sign you up.

Shut Down

My identity is tied up in this. I am a photojournalist. It's not just what I do, it's who I am. I look at friends of mine that have lost their jobs recently due to the current economic climate, and, honestly, I have no idea what I'd do if I was in their shoes.

I love working for a newspaper. The objective line on my resume has always stated: i'd like to work for a newspaper that places the interest of the community above the bottom line. And I really believe I do.

I'm not a freelancer. I don't identify with it. I don't have it in me. I can't sell myself. I want to focus more time and energy on making pictures than trying to convince people that they should hire me to make a picture for them. The thought of that scares the shit out of me.

Though the thought of being shut down scares me even more.

What The Duck

Funny when they resonate.

Monday's Rant

The problem with photojournalism today is that not enough people have something to say. They're simply pushing content, devoid of meaning or feeling, out into the universe. Let's be honest. There's a lot of crap out there. So much that it's cluttering up my head space.

There's no such thing as objectivity. Everything you do, every choice you make is subjective. Go with that. When will you learn that by having a point, by taking a side, you will find a way to deeply connect with someone. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Say what you want to say, how you want to say it.

Find your voice. Then, use it.

Hibernation

It's like I'm waking up from a long winter's nap. Shaking sleep from my eyes. Opening them wide. Ready for what lies ahead. Ready to come out of hibernation.

Rays of Light

While at this house fire early today, I was really hoping someone would walk through that light.

Spongebob PicturePants

Burn Baby Burn

I Like Big Butts

Henna

Seeking the Picture

...I didn't realize all of that at the time. But I knew what had just happened. Once again something had stopped me. I'd taken it in, composed and waited -- the external life of encountered experience and the imaginative inner life of an individual photographer. It is at this intersection of the inner and outer worlds that the life of a photographe begins.

It often begins imperfectly. Life rarely represents fully finished photographs. An image evolves, often from a single strand of visual interest -- a distant horizon, a moment of light, a held expression. Over time I grew interested in these first imperfect impressions. The reveal what initially stopped me. A few had a rough vitality. All contained evidence of the photograph to be... -- Sam Abell

One Voice: Diwali

Komal Patel, 21, left, holds a tray of tea light candles like an altar for Shafali Bhakta, 21, to pray over during USF's Diwali celebration. Diwali is an Indian festival that marks the beginning of a new year (based on the lunar calendar) and it is commonly referred to as the "Festival of Lights." It marks the victory of good over evil and affords people the chance to uplift any spiritual darkness they may be facing. The story, in Bhakta's words: With Diwali you're setting your goals and hopes and dreams for the coming year. I asked to please allow me to graduate on time and I really hope I will. I dream of becoming president of Delta Phi Omega's Lambda chapter. And my main goal is to get home to Fort Walton Beach to see my family more often. When I let my diya, tea light candle in a clay pot, go on the water, I just hope my wishes are heard.

Thoughts B.C. (before coffee)

I'm up. Before the sun. It's 5:30 and all the thoughts rolling through my head woke me up. Damn them. Sleep is underrated.

I'm looking over pictures from this past year. Grayscaling everything. Contrary to Paul Simon's "Kodachrome" the world does not look worse in black and white. In fact, sometimes it's the only way I see it. The only way that makes sense. Stripping away all the impurities. Getting down to the core. I don't want to make pictures that rely on color. I always hope that the content overrides that. To me, that's what B&W does. It allows you to focus on the essence of the moment.

I'm a tough editor. Critical eye. I should listen to my own advice. Things are way too center-weighted. Way too safe. Note: take more risks. Make more opportunities for myself. Live. Push. Grow.

My friend Sol and I were just having an interesting discussion, thankfully not about my growth, but that of others. It seems as though right now, the kids coming up through the pj ranks are better than ever. They're leaving the womb with camera in hand. Their prodigal. They are seeing things light years ahead of when we saw them. They are damn good at such a young age.

"All creative activity requires at least some time to mature," says cultural critic (and one of my favorite authors) Malcolm Gladwell. "My biggest worry about the way hype works now is that we're in danger of discovering people before they are worthy of being discovered."

This quote hinges on my fear for photojournalism. What happens if these kids peak too early? What if the world of pj chews them up and spits them out before they've had a chance to make a difference? What happens when they burn out and move on?

Ariel's Song

every day that i photograph, every person i meet on assignment, every picture i take, i fall in love a little bit. i think that if you really love this job, you have to. but with every love, there is loss when you have to leave, when you're not sure if you'll see that person again. so every day is a little love and a little loss, over and over again. so while some people are loving and losing and embracing that, i find myself hesitant to initiate that cycle again because i'm almost paralyzed with the fear of those little losses.

My friend Ariel Zambelich has a nice post about the debilitating fear of NYC and the personal toll loss has on your photography. So, what are your fears? What scares you?

Kickin' Back

Another Kickin' Back. Another really nice Bucs player. It was a pleasure to photograph rookie offensive lineman Jeremy Zuttah. And I'm really enjoying the challenge of this assignment each week. It's fun to see what can be done when you only have 5-10 minutes with someone in the same little room every time.

99 Luftballoons

It's a sad day when hundreds of balloons are released in honor of photojournalists around the world who are risking their lives to tell other people's stories. It's incredible, the power of those thoughts, as they rise above the horizon.

Eddie Adams Multimedia

The multimedia presentations from this year's Eddie Adams Workshop are now online. I had the pleasure of working with students Kate Szrom who photographed a young boxer trying to find his way and Brian Powers who photographed a 60-year old hunter. So check out the purple team's work along with the others. Bruce Strong produced the boxer piece; Meredith Birkett produced the hunting one.

Online Journalism

Mindy McAdams did a nice little write up on Lane and me.

Smokin'

A Leap of Faith

Of solitude and surviving, both I do well. If it weren't for the depression I'd be fairly normal. Instead I see the scars, like deep crevices -- on the mind, body and heart. They run deep and wide. Some days I feel a bit like Evel Knievel -- only not as old as old Bob -- donning a helmet and crash suit. Confident I can make the great leap from one side to the other. So I take a deep breath and jump. And like Evel, I find myself on the ground... crashing and burning. Minor scars chalked up to trying. One day hoping to succeed and walk away, arms rised in a "V." Unscathed and happy.

Crash-A-Rama

This is what Sol came to town for. Crash-A-Rama. At a tiny raceway in the east part of the county they were having a demolition derby. The prelude to that was Super Dave crashing his car into a rv standing at a 90 degree angle. Then the motor bikes jumped a few ramps to get the crowd revved up. And then, the festivities began. There were car races through the muddy clay, races where cars were towing boats, races where cars were nose to nose and one had to drive around the track backwards, a roller derby-esque race, and then -- the event we'd all been waiting for -- the demolition derby. Good times. I love events like this because it's so far outside of my world that it almost feels like a new cultural experience. And this one was a fun one to boot.

Yee Haw!

My buddy Sol came to town -- again. This is quickly becoming his southern bureau, which is awesome. It's always great having him here because he comes down from Oregon specifically to shoot different kinds of sporting events. And it's such a good excuse to go out and shoot for myself. He came down for a crash-a-rama Saturday night, so tonight I took him out to a little rodeo arena about 5 miles from downtown Tampa. And it's like a whole 'nother world. I had such a good time photographing bull riding and the bull riders though because they were honestly some of the nicest kids I've met in a long time.

I Like Ike

Photographed Bucs wide receiver and former Gator Ike Hilliard today. What a nice guy. And he gave me some good advice that his grandfather (Poppy) used to tell him -- Make the spectacular look ordinary. How humbling is that coming from a damn good baller.

She's Got Legs

I shot this photo with Sol in mind. Though I'm not quite sure why. :)

Coastal Cleanup

Some good people got up super early to help clean up Hillsborough County's coastline. They found hypodermic needles, lots of beer bottles and broken glass, a bra and some shoes, baby doll parts and miles of fishing line. Last year someone actually found a goat's head!! Where was I? Anyways, the cool thing this year is that Bank of America made a $20 billion environmental donation over a 10-year period to the Ocean Conservancy for research and clean-up efforts.

Munchkins

I got to photograph little ones trying out to be munchkins in a live version of the Wizard of Oz at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Now I can't get "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" out of my head. I can also do the entire munchkin dance. One of the perks, I suppose.

McCain Flag

Amongst the thousands of people packed into the Tampa Convention Center, anxiously awaiting the appearance of Sen. John McCain, stands 19 of the 29 students in Stacie Cleary's AP Government class at East Bay High School. Cleary felt it was important for her students to be informed since many of her juniors and seniors are voting for the first time this year. Although the school board did not approve of the field trip, the silhouetted form of Natalie Coker, right, and 18 others decided to miss classes Tuesday in order to attend the rally and experience politics first hand. With the backdrop of the American flag, Coker, a 17-year-old high school junior, is not old enough to vote yet, but she said that several issues brought up in this election intrigue her. "Right now, my personal preference would be McCain," she said. She and her classmates also plan on attending an Obama rally if he comes back to Florida in the next couple of months.

HandPrints

After placing her painted hand on a new Hyundai vehicle, Krystine Carter, 3, of Brooksville, leaves her mark on a blank canvas that will later be framed. In May 2008 Carter was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and is just back at the hospital to receive treatment. Pediatric cancer patients from St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa joined forces with Hyundai and its dealers to present hospital officials with a check for $40,000 Thursday. The kids then got to place their colorful handprints on a white Hyundai Santa Fe to represent and share their personal triumphs with other children and families across the country. To date, Hope on Wheels, the non-profit organization responsible for this, has collected hundreds of handprints and Hyundai and its dealers have raised more than $10 million in 10 years to fight against pediatric cancer.

Disppearing into Darkness

Gone. The last rays of light. The last glimmer of hope. No more new beginnings. The sun has set, my friends, and darkness is upon us.

McCain in Tampa

More politics. More fun. More flags.