And So It Begins

Today, with the death of The Rocky Mountain News began the long road of a ailing industry. What the future holds is anyone's guess.

Watch this high quality, very haunting video till the very end.

Final Edition from Matthew Roberts

Rocky Mountain News publishes final edition

By CATHERINE TSAI, AP Business Writer Catherine Tsai, Ap Business Writer – Fri Feb 27, 5:20 am ET

DENVER – Questions about the future of the Rocky Mountain News had become so common, the newspaper's staff put up a handwritten paper sign on the news desk that said, "We don't know."

On Thursday, someone wrote over it in heavy black marker: "Now we know."

Colorado's oldest newspaper, which launched in Denver in 1859, printed its last edition Friday, leaving The Denver Post as the only daily newspaper in town.

"Goodbye, Colorado," read the headline on a 52-page commemorative edition wrapping the regular newspaper. "STOP THE PRESSES," read the front-page headline inside.
(whole story) http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090227/ap_on_bi_ge/rocky_mountain_news_closes

Crossing the Desert

There is nothing like careening across hundreds of miles of desert at high speeds in the dark to make sure you have a boarded-up cross photographed in "good light." About 300 miles round trip to Cima Road where it was 81 degrees today, gas was $3.29 and the nearest Starbucks was 100 miles back to Barstow.
Taking it up a notch, the U.S. Supreme court is debating the location of a cross in the middle of a national preserve. The American Civil Liberties Union has taken this religious symbol on "public land" (in the middle of the preserve, but Congress moved the land into private holding)to court. It stands covered with plywood for now.

A 8-foot-tall metal cross bolted atop Sunrise Rock along Cima Road in the Mojave National Preserve is the center of controversy and is being reviewed by the Unites States Supreme Court. Erected as a war memorial in 1934 in the vast California Mojave Desert by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Eric Reed/Photographer


L.A.Times Story: http://www.latimes.com/business/careers/work/la-na-supreme-court-cross24-2009feb24,0,6413397.story

Pressing NASCAR

Matt Kenseth in his Carhartt Ford #17 pulls out from the garage to enter the track for the Auto Club 500 practice at the California Speedway in Fontana,Calif., Feb. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Reed)

Tony Stewart, driver of car 14 after qualifying 11th for Sunday's Auto Club 500 at the California Speedway in Fontana,Calif., Feb. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Reed)

What makes a left turn for 500 miles. Well, this weekend its about 50 drivers going 186 MPH during the Auto Club 500. Friday was practice and qualifying and it was for me as well. On assignment for the Associated Press this weekend at the California Speedway I was in practice mode. I have shot about 18 races here in Fontana but I had a break for two or three years, which had me scrambling and begging for information. You see, when it comes to celebrity car racing I am not a fan so playing catchup with the who's who on the track and in the garage was my speed Friday.


In the media lounge at lunch during the Auto Club 500 qualifying at the California Speedway in Fontana,Calif., Feb. 20, 2009. (Eric Reed/photographer)

"Look for guys wearing the driver (overall type) suits and wrestler type shoes." my good friend and NASCAR mentor Will Lester tells me while we try and not get run over by cars and carts of equipment, constantly stuffing my earplugs further into my skull. It was a 12 hour day of shooting and moving pictures, shooting and moving again. Trying to keep up with the fastest and well-known drivers and constantly jockeying for position with scores of other photographers from around the world. One cool caveat to a long day was seeing my pictures in publications world-wide in a Google search the next morning.





THE FOLLOW UP:

A fourteen-hour-Sunday left me scrambling for my chiropractor's number Monday morning. Two valuable things I learned on Friday, that luckily I remembered on race day, were: wheeled luggage and noise-canceling headphones. Both made the walking commute from the car and the nose level more tolerable. See for your self...


I also worked on a shot (I thought went well) called the poll cam. A D700 with a 20mm atop a mono pod --extended-- and held out at arms length about 8 to 10 feet. Then triggered with a wireless remote. I set the camera on ISO 2000 and on P for "professional" mode because it was away from my eye. (Me and Blair in the Photo Media Center during the race for a test shot)



Matt Kenseth's team pulls a last, late-race pit-stop on a rain-induced yellow flag before going on to win the Auto Club 500 race at the California Speedway in Fontana,Calif., Feb. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Reed)

Bring in the Herbs

Bring in the herbs

By Eric Reed

Many of us who garden cannot stand the off-season. So one alternative to pacing the indoors is bringing the outdoors in. An indoor herb garden is a splendid way of keeping a green thumb dirty. Not to mention an occasional spring or leaf making its way into whatever is on the stove.
Many herbs will take to growing indoors. A small planter box, terracotta pots or a re-purposed aquairium may serve well. Just make sure there location can provide about five hours of sunlight. Adding some life to your window and growing seeds for that Spring transplant will help ward off a gloomy Winter. For the more ambitious grower, starting a few veggies from seed can also get you a jump on the season when it is time to move outdoors once again. A small indoor herb garden can keep those fresh greens close and the love of nature closer.

Things you can use:

A planter. Recycled items such as old pots or boxes can work. Use your imagination.
The basics of live. Water, Sunlight, seeds and soil. Organic potting soil works best.
Any seed will do. Pick your favorite and add variety to what you might like to look at and eat from your windowsill. Dill, parsley, thyme, savory basil, oregano and rosemary.
Start a bed. A wet mix of potting mix.
Seed it. Push seeds into mix about ¼ - ½ inches down and gently cover.
Make it cozy by creating a mini green house using plastic wrap, with small holes.
Keep the soil damp, but not soaking, and in the sun. A Southern or Western facing window helps.
Adding some organic fertilizer once they have grown up a bit and clip herbs’ outer leaves as not to kill the plant.

Counting Thoes Who Often Don't Count

Bundled to ward off the occasional Southern California drizzle a woman pushing a shopping cart on the streets of down town San Bernardino is stopped not by a cop wanting to move her along, but by another woman who just wants to talk. San Bernardino County Supervisor, Jose Gonzales, spends time talking with her until her team mates press her to move on and continue the hunt. Teams of volunteers fan-out across San Bernardino County in a one night effort to count the homeless population. Gonzales along with the Mayor of San Bernardino, Pat Morris, San Bernardino City Police Officer Marci Atkins and approximately 700 others, spend their Thursday night to scour the city in search of finding people living on the streets. They volunteer their time for a cause that will ultimately help those being rousted from their spots of relative shelter.
In order to receive grant money from the government the county must count those who are difficult to find.
The San Bernardino County Office of Homeless Services and Homeless Partnership conduct a "Point-in-Time" bi-annual census count of the counties homeless population, late Friday night, Jan. 22, 2009. The census is to help determine the need for services and allow agencies to apply for federal funding. This count is mandated by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
As Mayor Morris approaches a man in the dark to ask if he would answer a few questions, Moses Sanchez hesitates in an uneasy manor at first to see if he is in any trouble. Sanchez is street savvy after four years but is quickly impressed to find the Mayor is out this late evening to talk with him.

In the Presence of History

Inauguration: A Nation Gathers
Students and faculty of California State University San Bernardino gather at the Santos Manuel Student Union's Event Center on campus to watch the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack H. Obama on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 in San Bernardino, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Reed)

Keeping in the loop is a challenge in a news vacuum. The lack of a news room, as a listening post, can be a disadvantage in a breaking news sense. But, the freedom to choose what to do when has its advantages as well. I was able to find this event of people watching the Inauguration of our 44th President at Cal State San Bernardino and cover it for The Associated Press. It was nice to have a reason to push myself a little.

Photo Annon

Photography Anonymous: What do you get the REAL photographer for the holidays? A point and shoot camera of course. It is important to have THE shot than no shot at all. I just got one this year and love it. I find it satisfies the overly compulsive urge to shoot with out the hassle of 10 to 30 lbs of camera gear on you like normal and fits in your pocket. Hours of fun posting family snaps and fun pix to Flickr.com. Also there is a professional note to take into consideration. The real stealth mode. When you need the shot but the powers that be find large cameras in close quarters intimidating and want to throw you out. Sometimes being anonymous has its advantages.

Here is my new website as well - http://www.ericreedphoto.com/