Provincial election debate

I can't even vote in this election due to not being a permanent Ontario resident, but that didn't stop me from going to the local provincial election debate this evening. I've been to several of these now and I have to say, it's nice not to have the pressure of having to actually listen to the candidates. I got the general gist of what they stand for, but since I neither have to write a story on it nor vote, it wasn't incredibly important that I paid close attention to the words themselves.

Instead I tried to get interesting angles while staying out of the live broadcast and ended up huddled in a doorway with a fellow student and Jerome from the Intelligencer. I was happy that there weren't loads of students there, since it can get annoying when that happens and everyone comes out of it with the same shots. Anyway, here are a few decent ones.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (26/09/11) - Incumbent Liberal for Prince Edward-Hastings Leona Dembrowsky speaks at the all-candidates debate at the Empire Theatre in Belleville on Monday, Sept. 26, 2011. Six of the seven candidates for the riding were at the debate hosted by the Belleville and District Chamber of Commerce to discuss their plans for Ontario in advance of the provincial election on October 6. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (26/09/11) - Provincial Progressive Conservative candidate for Prince Edward-Hastings Todd Smith makes his opening remarks at the all-candidates debate at the Empire Theatre in Belleville on Monday, Sept. 26, 2011. Six of the seven candidates for the riding were at the debate hosted by the Belleville and District Chamber of Commerce to discuss their plans for Ontario in advance of the provincial election on October 6. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (26/09/11) - Family Coalition Party of Ontario candidate Neal Ford and incumbent Liberal for Prince Edward-Hastings Leona Dembrowsky look on as Green Party candidate Treat Hull speaks at the all-candidates debate at the Empire Theatre in Belleville on Monday, Sept. 26, 2011. Six of the seven candidates for the riding were at the debate hosted by the Belleville and District Chamber of Commerce to discuss their plans for Ontario in advance of the provincial election on October 6. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Soccer and Hockey, oh my

 BELLEVILLE, Ont. (24/09/11) - Garrett Hooey of the Belleville Bulls and Nick Cousins of the Soo Greyhounds search for an airborne puck in first period action of the Bulls home opener on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. Cousins, a Belleville native, helped the Sault Ste Marie side to several goals but the Bulls won 4-3 after three hard-fought periods. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

It's been a sporty sort of week, a little bit due to having a sports action assignment but also due to wanting to shoot lots and see what I can do.

A few second year students (myself included) took the trip to Kingston to photograph the Lady Lancers soccer team take on the side from St Lawrence College on Thursday. Then Topher and myself were two of the lucky three to get access to the Belleville Bulls on Saturday. I shot a lot of hockey last year and am trying to challenge myself to do something new this year with my hockey shots, but this could be a problem due to the new media policies at the hockey games. Only three Loyalist students per game. I understand their reasoning, but it still hurts a bit when it comes to getting portfolio-worthy shots. Practice makes perfect.

Anyway, here are the best few from the past few sporting days.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (24/09/11) - Jason Shaw of the Belleville Bulls keeps the puck away from Trevor Morbeck (left) and Carson Dubchak of the Soo Greyhounds in first period action of the Bulls home opener on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. The Bulls won 4-3 after three hard-fought periods. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (24/09/11) - Carter Sandlak of the Belleville Bulls makes a goal attempt on Matt Murray of the Soo Greyhounds in first period action of the Bulls home opener on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. The Bulls won 4-3 after three hard-fought periods. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

KINGSTON, Ont. (22/09/11) - Loyalist Lancer Chelsea Lafranchise makes a goal attempt on the St Lawrence Vikings at St Lawrence College in Kingston on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011. The Lancers held a strong lead until the last 15 minutes of the game, where a goal by St Lawrence led to a 1-1 final score. College athletics is now back in action following the return of the support staff. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

KINGSTON, Ont. (22/09/11) - Loyalist Lancers Beth York (20) and Stephanie Turk (9) take on the St Lawrence Vikings at St Lawrence College in Kingston on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011. The Lancers held a strong lead until the last 15 minutes of the game, where a goal by St Lawrence led to a 1-1 final score. College athletics is now back in action following the return of the support staff. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

KINGSTON, Ont. (22/09/11) - Loyalist Lancer Stephanie Turk (9) struggles with her opponent from St Lawrence College in Kingston on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011. The Lancers held a strong lead until the last 15 minutes of the game, where a goal by St Lawrence led to a 1-1 final score. College athletics is now back in action following the return of the support staff. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Gravity Fest

PICTON, Ont. (18/09/11) - World champion longboarder Patrick Switzer makes his way down Picton's steep streets in the second year of Gravity Fest. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

For the second year, and it's second year, I shot Gravity Fest in Picton this past weekend. It's a weekend filled with hay and high-speed downhill longboarders, racing around some of the steepest streets in Prince Edward County. I'm still picking the hay out of my camera bag (how did it get in there?!) and trying to decide how to shoot things differently, but this was one event I wish I could go to every weekend. Unfortunately it's the only one of its kind around.

PICTON, Ont. (17/09/11) - Longboarder Jack Violin grimaces as he takes a tumble at the last corner of the course during practice runs of Gravityfest in Picton, Ont. on Saturday, Sept. 17. Hazards on the course are plentiful and include everything from the common bump in the road to squirrels that seemingly have no respect for the speed of the racers. Now in its second year, Gravityfest attracts longboarders from across Canada and even a few international longboarders to the steep streets of Picton for a weekend of adrenaline, crashes, and celebration of longboarding. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

PICTON, Ont. (17/09/11) - Youngest competitor Tristan Bell, 8, takes to the roads. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

PICTON, Ont. (17/09/11) - Junior racer Ben Keymer takes to the roads. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

PICTON, Ont. (18/09/11) - Junior racer Ben Keymer takes to the roads, pursued by other junior riders. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

PICTON, Ont. (18/09/11) - The women's luge competition, consisting of Andi Leslie (front) and Kelli Koch, makes its way to the finish. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

PICTON, Ont. (18/09/11) - Classic lugers make their way to the finish. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

PICTON, Ont. (18/09/11) - A trio of longboarders makes their way through crash corner. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

PICTON, Ont. (18/09/11) - Junior racer Ben Keymer takes to the roads, pursued by other junior riders. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

PICTON, Ont. (18/09/11) - Competition is fierce at crash corner. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

PICTON, Ont. (18/09/11) - A rider strikes crash corner. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

PICTON, Ont. (18/09/11) - Some riders are luckier than others. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

PICTON, Ont. (18/09/11) - A rider rounds crash corner. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

9/11, ten years on

I spent the weekend in Toronto, where I was one of about 30 people not in uniform at a 9/11 memorial at Toronto City Hall. I was incredibly surprised at the low turnout, where uniformed people (of various sorts) outnumbered common folk at least two to one.

It's incredible to me that this all happened ten years ago. I can't believe I was in grade nine that long ago. Anyway, here are a couple of shots that I liked.

TORONTO, Ont. (11/09/11) - A member of Toronto Police Chief's Ceremonial Unit bows his head in a moment of silence remembering the first responder victims of the 9/11 attacks ten years ago at a memorial at Toronto City Hall. A small crowd turned out to honour the memory of those who died while responding to the terrorist attacks. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

TORONTO, Ont. (11/09/11) - Flowers are laid remembering the victims of the 9/11 attacks ten years ago at a memorial at Toronto City Hall. A small crowd turned out to honour the memory of those who died while responding to the terrorist attacks. Photo by Rachel Psutka.