Three Weeks in Calgary

I spent the Christmas break, all three weeks of it, in Calgary interning for the Calgary Herald. I had originally planned to post photos throughout the whole time, but somehow I ended up back in Belleville and midway through my first week of my last semester without posting anything.

All in all, it was a fantastic experience. I got many interesting assignments, and many that challenged me to think about how to make a portrait exciting. I also got lots of time for features, and even had an image on the front page one day. The folks in Calgary are pretty nice people too, helpful and all around the sort of people I hope to work with one day. In total, I believe I had close to forty pictures published, as well as one in the Windsor Star and one in the Edmonton Journal.

Here's a round-up of three weeks at a daily:

Charlie Godfrey, 5, and his father Tayen Godfrey drop off their Christmas tree at the South Calgary Community Association on Monday, January 2, 2012. There are eight temporary tree drop-off locations in Calgary until January 22. (Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald)

Construction workers struggle with the wind at Cranston Boulevard and Marquis of Lorne Trail after high winds on the afternoon of January 4, 2012, caused construction debris to close down Marquis of Lorne Trail. (Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald)

Windy day cover montage, with my photo in bottom right.

Leslie Davies, owner of Impact Image Essentials, performs style consultations for individuals needing a bit of styling help. She is seen here in her northwest Calgary home on January 5, 2012. (Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald)

Charlie Perry, director of DeMille Books, is facing eviction at the end of June prior to the demolition of the former Calgary Herald building on 6 avenue southwest. Seen here on January 5, Perry is set to lose the location where the store has been located for the past three years. (Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald)

Team Canada's Nathan Beaulieu and Jonathan Huberdeau were boarding a flight back to Montreal at Calgary International Airport on January 6, 2012. (Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald)

John Frosst, co-founder of Pith Gallery, shows off a gallery space by Bogdan Cheta at the Inglewood art space in Calgary on January 6, 2012.(Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald)

Sam Hester stands in one of the dramatically painted rooms in her house on 23 Ave in Calgary on January 6, 2012. Hester is a cartoonist and painter passionate about her neighbourhood.(Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald)  

Christine Fisher and Ward Garven of Stanton Chase International are pictured in their office in the Grain Exchange in Calgary on December 20, 2011.(Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald) 

Scott Saxberg, CEO of Crescent Point Energy Corp., is seen in his offices in downtown Calgary on December 22, 2011.(Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald)

Erin O'Connor, managing producer of High Performance Rodeo, along with associate producer Mark Hopkins, are seen at the office of One Yellow Rabbit in Calgary on December 22, 2011. (Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald)

Ryan Heddinger (left) and Derek Chudyk (right) of the Calgary Northstars get tangled up with Jared Hills of the Fort Saskatchewan Boston Pizza Rangers during second period action at the Mac's AAA Midget hockey tournament in Calgary on December 26, 2011. The Northstars won 3-1.(Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald)

Lillian Bobey Poulsen, almost 4, gets a helping hand from father Todd Poulsen at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary on December 27, 2011. (Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald)

This is from the Windsor Star. The image also ran the next day in the Herald.

Kelsie Reed of the Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs looks dejected as the bench of the Saskatoon Stars celebrates their fourth goal of the game during second period play at the Mac's AAA midget hockey tournament on Thursday, December 29, 2011.The Stars won 5-3. (Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald)

Greg van Poppel, executive chef at the Rimrock Dining Room at the Palliser Hotel, shows off the sort of meal he will be preparing for New Year's celebrations for the World Junior hockey players and teams.(Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald)

Skaters take in a warm afternoon under clear blue skies at Bowness Park lagoon in Calgary on December 27, 2011. The warm temperature had Calgarians out in droves enjoying all the outdoors has to offer. (Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald) 

Sisters Sarah Royer, 4 (left) , and Samantha Royer, 3 (right) enjoy a quick descent on their toboggan with cousin Ashyln Gent, 3, (centre) at St Andrews Heights hill in Calgary on December 21, 2011. The girls were spending the afternoon at the park with the Royers' father, Ian, seen in the background.(Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald)

Rob Irvine, 20, takes advantage of the sunny and warm afternoon with a game of pond hockey at Stanley Park in Calgary on December 19, 2011. (Photo by Rachel Psutka, Calgary Herald)

End of semester

Classes finished on Friday, with a viewing of our multimedia pieces that we worked on for what can best described as an excessive amount of time.

Just Josh from Rachel Psutka on Vimeo.

I'm currently sitting at Pearson airport, waiting to board my flight to Calgary. Alberta is home for me, but Calgary is not. However, that's where I'll be for the next three weeks as I complete an internship with the Calgary Herald. I'm really excited, a bit nervous, and really glad to have this opportunity. While I don't know exactly how much I'll be doing or what I'll be shooting, I'm going to give it my all.

Josh: Growing Up with Down

I've spent the majority of the last month working on a documentary project about a 16 year old young man with Down syndrome. Josh is a pretty cool kid and I really enjoyed working with him over the past few weeks.

Shooting this much with one person really let me see my strengths and weaknesses as a documentary photographer. It's a skillset I'd really like to continue working on, and that I hope to keep doing in the future even if I am lucky enough to get semi-regular work.

Here are some of the highlights.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (22/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, jokes around with fellow student Cassie Perry while playing a math counting game in their special needs class at Centennial Secondary School in Belleville, Ont. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (08/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, and fellow student Nicholas Wannamaker laugh as Josh measures ingredients and educational assistant Nancy Burtt looks on in a baking class at Centennial Secondary School in Belleville, Ont. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. The special needs students were making jars of cookie ingredients to sell as a fundraiser for the school. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (08/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, exchanges music playlists with fellow student Kevin McEwen (right) as student helper Brody Loft waits patiently on an outing from Centennial Secondary School in Belleville, Ont. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. Brody comes by to Josh's special needs classroom on a daily basis to help Josh concentrate on his work and have a reading partner. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (08/11/11) - Teacher Adam Speight forces Josh Daley, 16, to wear his glasses as fellow student Brody Loft looks on in a silent reading period at Centennial Secondary School in Belleville, Ont. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. Brody comes by to Josh's special needs classroom on a daily basis to help Josh concentrate on his work and have a reading partner. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (14/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, examines a knife at his co-op work placement with a catering company at William R. Kirk School in Belleville, Ont. on Monday, Nov. 14, 2011. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (22/11/11) - Physical education class is a favourite of Josh Daley, 16. A student at Centennial Secondary School in Belleville, Ont., Josh takes a break from a basketball game after being frustrated from not getting the ball enough on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (03/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, attends an after school program for children with special needs at Eastminster United Church in Belleville, Ont. on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. The group was hosting a Halloween-themed party, but Josh decided he was too old to dress up and instead chose to be the DJ for the party. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (01/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, spends his Tuesday evenings at the Belleville YMCA free swim. Seen here on November 1, 2011, Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (19/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, gets some help from his mother Janice while baking peanut butter cups for a fundraising bakesale at home in Belleville, Ont. on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011. Josh spends most of his time with his mother, the most constant force in his upbringing, despite having an older brother and stepfather. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood, yet still relies on his mother for much. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (30/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, searches for some snacks to pack in his lunch with his mother Janice before school at home in Belleville, Ont. on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. Josh spends most of his time with his mother, the most constant force in his upbringing, despite having an older brother and stepfather. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood, yet still relies on his mother for much. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (19/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, gets a reassuring hug from his mother Janice at home in Belleville, Ont. on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011. Josh spends most of his time with his mother, the most constant force in his upbringing, despite having an older brother and stepfather. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood, yet still relies on his mother for much. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (30/11/11) - Josh Daley, 16, heads out from home to walk to Centennial Secondary School on a rainy Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. Josh walks the three blocks to school on his own, a skill his mother is adamant that sets him on the path to independence. Josh has Down syndrome and is becoming more and more independent as he approaches adulthood, yet still relies on his mother for much. Photo by Rachel Psutka.