Ode to Cedar Rapids’ Skyline
Last week, after two of my shoots had been rained out, I was assigned to shoot buildings in downtown Cedar Rapids to put into our new online banner. At first glance, this might seem like a typical “intern assignment.” But there was good light, so I strolled around and I had freedom to shoot basically whatever I wanted.
The Tree of Five Seasons sculpture located where 1st Avenue crosses the Cedar River on Friday, June 19, 2009. (Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
Smulekoff’s building on 3rd Ave SE on Friday, June 19, 2009. (Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
Roosevelt Hotel in downtown Cedar Rapids on Friday, June 19, 2009. (Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
Alliant Energy tower in downtown Cedar Rapids on Friday, June 19, 2009. (Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
Gazette Communications building, 3rd Ave SE, on Friday, June 19, 2009. (Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
Ducks
Yesterday I shot a rubber duck race. I must admit, seeing over 14,000 rubber ducks bobbing up and down in the Cedar River was pretty adorable – and fun to shoot.
Rubber ducks are released off of the Third Avenue Bridge into the Cedar River during the Great Eastern Iowa Duck Race presented by the Cedar Rapids Daybreak Rotary and held in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, June 6, 2009. Over 14,000 ducks were sold, with the funds going to Four Oaks, Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids, and Daybreak Rotary’s work with Polk Elementary School in Cedar Rapids. (Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
A sea of rubber ducks float down the Cedar River during the Great Eastern Iowa Duck Race presented by the Cedar Rapids Daybreak Rotary and held in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, June 6, 2009. (Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
A sea of rubber ducks float down the Cedar River during the Great Eastern Iowa Duck Race presented by the Cedar Rapids Daybreak Rotary and held in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, June 6, 2009. (Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
President of the Cedar Rapids Daybreak Rotary John Helbling collects rubber ducks after the Great Eastern Iowa Duck Race presented by the Cedar Rapids Daybreak Rotary and held in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, June 6, 2009. (Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
Volunteers Kyle Boesenberg (left), Keith Brooks (center) and Ainsley Hogan (right) pass up baskets of rubber ducks for collection following the Great Eastern Iowa Duck Race presented by the Cedar Rapids Daybreak Rotary and held in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, June 6, 2009. (Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
Recent Favorites
Brooklyn, IA
Drivers practice maneuvering through figure eights before the opening-day races at Brooklyn Raceway in Brooklyn, IA on Saturday, May 9, 2009. (Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
Kelly Ellis helps daughter Katie Goetzinger, 6, (both of Brooklyn) plant tomatoes in the family garden located off of Spring Street in Brooklyn, IA on Sunday, May 10, 2009. The family harvests tomatoes, radishes and other vegetables in the garden annually. (Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
Brooklyn’s flag display on Sunday, May 10, 2009. The display boasts flags from each of the 50 states and the four branches of the military. The display was built and dedicated in 1992 by volunteers and funded by private donations.(Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
Track & Field
Marion senior Kelsey Labs races toward the finish line en route to winning the 100meter dash on May 15 during the Class 3A district at Thomas Park in Marion. Labs won in 13.13 seconds and also won the 100 and 400 hurdles. (Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
Anamosa State Pen
Anamosa State Pen warden John Fayram in one of the penitentiary’s cell blocks on Monday, May 18, 2009. After being deputy warden for six years, Fayram was appointed warden in March 2009. (Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
Unprintable
This was “too inappropriate” for our print edition. But hey, I shot what I saw.
Brandi Miller, of Iowa City, “installs” a “The Swing Crew” bumper sticker on Roger Lewis, of Cedar Rapids, during the first Uptown Friday Nights event of the season held at Greene Square Park in Cedar Rapids on Friday, May 22, 2009 (Chris Mackler/The Gazette).
First Couple of Weeks in Cedar Rapids
If you didn’t already know, I’ve accepted an internship at The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Here are a few images from my first couple of weeks:
Tornado Clean Up
(From left) Dustin Lange (14), Ryan Recker (15) and Stefon Brandt (15), all students at Alburnett High School, help clean up a tornado’s aftermath in Alburnett on Tuesday, April 28, 2009. A tornado struck the area on Sunday, causing no injuries, but downing large trees and destroying at least three large campers. Two Alburnett High School teachers, Linda Franck and Vicki Meadows, organized the student clean because many students were affected by the storm.
Josh Langhoff (16), Ryan Young (16), and Sam MacDonald (13), all students at Alburnett High School, help clean up a tornado’s aftermath in Alburnett on Tuesday, April 28, 2009.
Same-Sex Marriage
Patty Glass (left) and Rita Wall embrace one another while waiting for marriage license paperwork to be filed at the County recorder office located in Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids on Monday, April 27, 2009. The couple has been together for almost one year. Said Wall, “I’m so proud to be an Iowan today.” Monday marked the first day that same-sex couples could fill out a marriage license application in the state of Iowa.
Hawkeye Downs
(From left) Jarrett Dulin (7), Taylor Christiansan (6) and Mckenna Dulin (8) “race” toy cars in the grandstand at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids on Friday, May 1, 2009. There were many children in attendance as Friday marked Kirkwood Kids night.
