First Stretch at the Merc

I started my summer job at the Guelph Mercury on May 2, about a week after I finished my internship at The Record. I'm writing and shooting, but there are definitely days when I spend the whole day at the computer and playing phone tag with various voicemail systems. I'd love to be shooting a bit more. We'll have to see how this goes with time.

I will probably post some pdfs of my written work at some point but for now I'm going to stick with some of the photos I've shot over the past two weeks.

CrossFitters Tim Atkinson and Belinda Cox are two of six local athletes heading to CrossFit regionals from May 11-13. Photo by Rachel Psutka. (View accompanying multimedia piece here)

Nicole Hogg, co-owner of Atmosphere Cafe, along with chef and general manager Shawn Gilbert, are pleased to have a defibrillator on site at their Carden Street restaurant. Pictured here on May 11, the pair says that nearly all their restaurant staff have been trained in how to use it. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Jessica Hua, Nicki Phits, and Alisa Phits run Wacky Tabacky, Guelph's newest smoking accessory store, located on Speedvale Ave. They are one of two new stores opening in the past six months and believe they are filling a niche outside the downtown core. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Rearing their large yellow heads, dandelions have made their appearance around the city. These few are located in Royal City Park along the Speed River, seen here on Wednesday, May 9. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Kyle Weltner has been working at Thomas Video for over a year while completing a theatre degree at the University of Guelph. Shown here at the Baker Street movie rental store on Wednesday, May 2, 2012, Weltner is one of the last employees of the movie rental business in Guelph. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Wellington County weed inspector John Benham points out a group of giant hogweed plants growing in a rural lot near Elora on Thursday, May 3. Despite numerous treatments, the weeds continue to germinate from seeds buried underground. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Artist Ella Dawn McGeough installs one of 16 panels of colour into a bus shelter in St. George's Square on Tuesday, May 15. Coinciding with the bus terminal move, the University of Guelph Masters student is working with the city to install the colourful panels to help transform the square. The art will be on display until August, when the shelters will be removed and placed in other areas of the city. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

K-W completion

Last Wednesday I finished my last day at the Waterloo Region Record. I'm pretty sad to be leaving such a great newsroom, with such great support from the other photographers and my photo editor. However, I'm excited to turn to my summer position at the Guelph Mercury, something I'm starting tomorrow. I'll be doing a 3-way position there, so this will really test my skills.

I also attended the NPAC annual conference this past weekend in Ottawa and it was definitely a learning experience. I loved hearing from the speakers and it really made me think about what I want out of photojournalism and what I can give as well.

Here are some images from my last two weeks at The Record.

CAMBRIDGE, Ont. (14/04/12) - Customers check out the pies and dumplings for sale at the Wesley United Church Apple Corps booth at the Cambridge Farmers' Market on Saturday, April 14. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

WATERLOO, Ont. (16/04/12) - Shyanne Langer of the Huron Heights girls rugby gets slammed by Waterloo-Oxford players during second half action at the University Stadium in Waterloo on Monday, April 16. The Waterloo-Oxford side won 25-0. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

WATERLOO, Ont. (16/04/12) - Lyndsey Jones of Huron Heights (purple) collides with Leah Fangrad of the Waterloo-Oxford girls rugby as her teammates Ali Govier and Angie Govier rush to help during play at the University Stadium in Waterloo on Monday, April 16. The Waterloo-Oxford side won 25-0. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

KITCHENER, Ont. (17/04/12) - Wilbur Roth and Elizabeth Denbeigh operate Driveway Restore, a Kitchener company that restores cracks and depressions in old asphalt driveways. Pictured here on April 17, the company gives an alternative to replacing an entire driveway at a lower cost. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

KITCHENER, Ont. (17/04/12) - Jamie Nightingale takes Dante, his Old English Bulldog, for a drive on his electric scooter in Kitchener's Victoria Park on Tuesday, April 17. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

WATERLOO, Ont. (18/04/12) - Instruments line the pews following Forest Heights Collegiate's jazz band performance at the Kiwanis Music Festival at Knox Presbyterian Church in Waterloo on Wednesday, April 18. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

WATERLOO, Ont. (19/04/12) - Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, the former Prime Minister of Norway, former Director General of the World Health Organization, and an international leader in sustainable development and public health, speaks to the media at the opening of the University of Waterloo's new School of Public Health and Health Systems on Thursday, April 19, 2012. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

WATERLOO, Ont. (19/04/12) - Emily Kennedy makes the mid-air trek between two trees, also known as slacklining, at Waterloo Park on Thursday, April 19. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

WATERLOO, Ont. (20/04/12) - Jamie Evans performs a flute solo at the Kiwanis Music Festival held at Knox Presbyterian Church in Waterloo on Friday, April 20, 2012. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

KITCHENER, Ont. (20/04/12) - Irena Borg, program director at Hospice of Waterloo Region, provides counselling for families coping with palliative care and bereavement, especially helping young children dealing with loss. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

KITCHENER, Ont. (23/04/12) - Barry Abelson (left) and Gary Kritz are both 45-year members of the K-W Racquet Club, the all-male squash club that will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Pictured in the doubles court of their Kitchener facility, Abelson says it's the years of dedication to squash that keep the club alive. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

WATERLOO, Ont. (23/04/12) - Annie Hu tunes her violin prior to her performance at the Kiwanis Music Festival on Monday, April 23 in Waterloo. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

KITCHENER, Ont. (25/04/12) - Toronto Argonauts wide receiver Mike Bradwell tries to steal the ball from Daniel Allen, 8, at the first ever Warhawks Spring Camp for the Twin Cities Minor Tackle Football Association on Wednesday, April 25 in Kitchener. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

KITCHENER, Ont. (25/04/12) - Toronto Argonauts offensive guard Joe Eppele holds off the efforts of two aspiring linesmen at the first ever Warhawks Spring Camp for young football players in the Twin Cities Minor Tackle Football Association on Wednesday, April 25 in Kitchener. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

KITCHENER, Ont. (25/04/12) - Toronto Argonauts wide receiver Mike Bradwell demonstrates proper ball handling technique to young football players at the first ever Warhawks Spring Camp for the Twin Cities Minor Tackle Football Association on Wednesday, April 25 in Kitchener. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

KITCHENER, Ont. (25/04/12) - Nedjo Sarenac gets tied up with his coach and 1976 Olympian Wayne Erdman (on floor) at the Kaizen Judo Club in Kitchener on Wednesday, April 25. Sarenac will be competing at the Pan Am judo championships in Montreal. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

I also had the chance to shoot one of my favourite things, an OHL game. I've done this so many times, but only in Belleville or Kingston. I got a call late on a Friday night to head down to Plymouth the following day to shoot the Kitchener Rangers as they took in a playoff game against the Plymouth Whalers in Michigan. It was a long drive but a great experience.
 

PLYMOUTH, Mich. (14/04/12) - Kitchener Rangers fans show their support in game 5 in Plymouth, Michigan on Saturday, April 14. The Rangers lost 3-0, now trailing the Whalers two games to three in the series. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

PLYMOUTH, Mich. (14/04/12) - Zach Lorentz of the Kitchener Rangers takes a tumble as Cody Payne of the Plymouth Whalers gets away with the puck in second period action in game 5 in Plymouth, Michigan on Saturday, April 14. The Rangers lost 3-0, now trailing the Whalers two games to three in the series. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

PLYMOUTH, Mich. (14/04/12) - Kitchener Rangers captain Michael Catenacci looks forlorn after the Plymouth Whalers' second goal of the night in third period action in game 5 in Plymouth, Michigan on Saturday, April 14. The Rangers lost 3-0, now trailing the Whalers two games to three in the series. Photo by Rachel Psutka.