Washing Out the Competition

Bryan Resnick (14), of the Waterloo Bucks, anticipates the ball as he prepares to tag out Ryan O'Sullivan (5), of Eau Claire Express in the bottom of the fourth inning at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo on Tuesday, July 29, 2008, in the first game of the night's double-header. The Bucks won the game 2-0.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Waterloo Bucks, Derek Ott (34), wets down the dirt on the ball diamond at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo, Iowa, on Tuesday, July 29, 2008, after winning the first game against Eau Clair Express 2-0 in a double-header. The Bucks ended the night by "washing out" the competition with a 4-1 win in the second game.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Antique Acres Still Swamped

A crane is surrounded by receding flood waters at Antique Acres in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Tuesday, July 29, 2008. Clean up efforts are underway in preparation for their annual show at the end of August.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Simple Space and Color

Two crows silhouetted against an overcast sky are perched on a wire in Waterloo, Iowa on Monday morning, July 28, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

(I am SO in a black & white mood right now)

State Trapshoot

Tom Hamann of Sioux City, Iowa, ejects his shell before re-loading his shotgun as he competes in the 138th annual Iowa State Trapshoot Competition in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Sunday, July 27, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


An attendee of the 138th annual Iowa State Trap Shoot in Cedar Falls, Iowa, selects a shotgun on Saturday, July 27, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


J.D. Schroeder of Clear Lake, Iowa, has his target in his site at the Iowa State Trap Shoot competition in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on the final day, Sunday, July 27, 2008.
Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer


Rick Marshall of Lincoln, Nebraska, waits his turn to shoot in the annual Iowa State Trapshoot competition, as Larry Bumsted of Eldora, Iowa fires on Sunday, July 27, 2008, in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


A grasshopper sits on broken pieces of clay pigeons at the 138th annual Iowa State Trap Shoot in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Sunday, July 27, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Might As Well Stop

It's a good thing that I like to know more about my subject (and where it's located) before I photograph it. My first solo assignment is tomorrow-trap shooting. I've never been out to where it's being held or even seen trap shooting, so I thought I would just drive out and look around. Eh-it's my day off, and I wanted to get some more practice with the new equipment (new to me, anyway).

First, I stopped and checked out some flowers in a flower garden, then I was on my way. I consider myself to be somewhat "geographically" or "directionally" challenged, so I'm glad I went today. It seems that I get a little anxious sometimes and turn to soon. Before I knew it, I was being herded into a parking lot around a large track...this certainly didn't look like trap shooting. It turns out that I was at drag racing instead. Fans were tail-gating, and the parking lot was filling fast. I stepped out, since I was there, and made a couple pictures, then I hopped back in and made my way through the maze of cars to the gate. Eventually--about a mile and a half down the road I, I found my destination. I'll just chalk it up to experience and exploration. :-)

A bee descends on a cone flower in a garden on Saturday, July 26, 2008, in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

©Dawn J. Sagert

A drag racing fan sit's comfortably in a truck bed, beneath a canopy as she waits for the drag races to begin on Saturday, July 26, 2008, at the Cedar Falls Raceway in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

©Dawn J. Sagert

A blue tractor makes it's way down the track at the Cedar Falls Raceway's, Red Cross Night of Fire, in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Saturday, July 26, 2008.

©Dawn J. Sagert

Garden Fresh

A garden fresh tomato rests on a fence rail in a garden in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. ©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

My First A1

This is page A1 of The Courier from Monday July 21, 2008. My image from my first assignment made A1 the next day...unfortunately, they gave someone else credit for it. My photo editor showed me on Monday and was very apologetic. I was just happy to see my image in print, but he had it changed and printed me out a pdf. For a keepsake. We had difficulty e-mailing me the file so I did a quick paper scan and pieced it together. I had to share. :-)

©Dawn Sagert/The Courier

Cooling Down

A child plays in water water spray at Byrnes Park Pool in Waterloo, Iowa, on Monday, July 21, 2008. © Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier


Jolene Berger, left, of Waterloo catches her daughter Ana, 4, as she jumps into the Byrnes Park Pool on Monday eveing, July 21, 2008. Ana had been at the park for a swimming lesson earlier, and they decided to stay for a cool swim. ©Dawn Sagert/The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

75th Annual Waterloo Open

Spectators watch during the final rounds at the 75th Waterloo Open in Waterloo, Iowa, on Sunday, July 20, 2008. © Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier


Kyle Bermel reacts after missing a putt on the 18th green in the 75th Annual Waterloo Open on Sunday, July 20, 2008, in Waterloo, Iowa.
©Dawn Sagert/The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

This was my first assignment as a staff photographer, the first time I've photographed golf, and the first time I've shot with a 300, 2.8 lens! It was a beautiful day.

Rained Out

The Cedar Rapids Kernels warm up before their game against Indiana's South Bend on Saturday, July 19, 2008, at Veterans Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
© Dawn J. Sagert/Photography by Dawn


Beverages rest on rain splattered tabletops, abandoned by their owners when the Cedar Rapids Kernels game against Indiana's South Bend was called because of rain. The final score in the 5th inning was 7-2 with South Bend taking the game.
©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

Late Night Walk

The Cedar Valley bike trail serves as a late night path, with directions included, under the light of a full moon late Friday, July 18, 2008.
©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

(Not too bad for focussing in the dark)

A Walk Through the Park

Benet, 17, of Waterloo, walks barefoot through Washington Park in Downtown Waterloo during her senior portrait session on Wednesday, July 16, 2008.
©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

A Walk Across a Bridge

Demi, 3, accompanied by her mother (not shown), of Waterloo, walks across the Fourth Street Bridge in Downtown Waterloo on Wednesday evening, July 16, 2008.
©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

Developing Community

The Pinnacle Prairie Waterfall, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, serves as a landmark to the entrance of the Pinnacle Prairie Community. The planned development for this all-inclusive area will include, neighborhoods, businesses, an office park, and entertainment venues. Prairie Parkway, the main road going through the area will also connect Greenhill Road and Viking Road upon it's completion.

©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

As Busy as a Bee

A bumble bee works busily on a Cone Flower in a flower garden in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Sunday, July 13, 2008.

©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

First Time Camper

Andrea Schoenfield, of Waterloo, anxiously scans the arriving busses for her son, Jordan, 8 (not pictured). Jordan is returning from spending a week at Wildwood Hills Ranch, a youth camp in Des Moines, Iowa. This was his first trip to camp.
© Dawn J. Sagert/Photography by Dawn


Andrea Schoenfield, of Waterloo, anxiously welcomes her son Jordan, 8, home from a week of camp adventures at Wildwood Hills Ranch in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday, July 11, 2008, in front of Cedar Valley Community Church in Waterloo, Iowa.
©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

Wildwood Hills Ranch Memories

Over 50 pages of memories line the counter, as an assembly line of employees places them in stacks of 85 custom designed proof books to be bound together. McKenna Pro, in Waterloo, Iowa, donated proof books, compiled of images submitted from the camp during the week, to campers upon their arrival home from Wildwood Hills Ranch in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday, July 11, 2008.
© Dawn J. Sagert/Photography by Dawn


Holes are punched in stacks of custom designed proof book pages at McKenna Pro in Waterloo, Iowa, on Friday, July 11, 2008. The proof books were compiled of images transmitted from Wildwood Hills Ranch over the week, and were presented to campers upon their arrival back in Waterloo, at Cedar Valley Community Church.
© Dawn J. Sagert/Photography by Dawn


Eighty-five custom designed proof books of images from the weeks adventures for area children at Wildwood Hills Ranch in Des Moines, Iowa, wait to be spiral bound at McKenna Pro in Waterloo, Iowa, on Friday, July 11, 2008.
© Dawn J. Sagert/Photography by Dawn


Hattie, of McKenna Pro in Waterloo, Iowa, adds the finishing touch of a spiral coil to bind custom designed proof books to be donated to Waterloo children upon their arrival home from a week of adventures at Wildwood Hills Ranch in Des Moines, Iowa. The camp submitted images throughout the week to be compiled into a proof, or memory book, for each child in attendance.
© Dawn J. Sagert/Photography by Dawn


Crissy, 9, of Waterloo, Iowa, looks intently through her 5x7 custom designed proof book of camp images from the week. Each child was presented with a proof book of memories upon their arrival back in Waterloo, compliments of McKenna Pro. For many of the children, this was a first camp experience.
© Dawn J. Sagert/Photography by Dawn


President and COO, Dave Mason (background), of McKenna Pro in Waterloo, Iowa, looks through a custom designed proof book of camp pictures from a camper's week at Wildwood Hills Ranch in Des Moines, Iowa, as several campers each look through their very own copy. The camp is offered to at-risk children, as an opportunity to experience camp in an encouraging and uplifting environment. McKenna Pro donated the proof books as the children arrived back from camp, and it included over 50 pages of images sent throughout the week. Each camper recieved a book.
©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

more fireworks

Independence Day fireworks erupt with color in the sky above and the water beneath as crowds of people watch from the Fourth Street bridge in Downtown Waterloo, Iowa, on Saturday, July 5, 2008. ©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn


Independence Day fireworks erupt with color in the sky above and the water beneath as crowds of people watch from the Fourth Street bridge in Downtown Waterloo, Iowa, on Saturday, July 5, 2008. ©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn


Independence Day fireworks erupt with color in the sky above and the water beneath as crowds of people watch from the Fourth Street bridge in Downtown Waterloo, Iowa, on Saturday, July 5, 2008. ©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

First Thought...

...Fraggles. I'm not sure what kind of flower they are, but they remind me of Fraggles. Or Fizgig from The Dark Crystal...just not purple. ©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

Chrome Reflection

A Harley Davidson Road King reflects in a puddle in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on July 8, 2008.
©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

Water and Light

Ever need a little "pick me up"? I needed one tonight.


A fire truck speeds by westbound on Greenhill Road, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Monday night, July 7, 2008. © Dawn J. Sagert/Photography by Dawn

(No, I didn't chase a fire truck...I had something a little less exciting in mind. But it was part of the trip there.)


A place of renewal and inspiration (and great coffee), resides within the walls of a bookstore at Crossroads Mall in Waterloo, Iowa, which bears the name of Barnes & Noble. © Dawn J. Sagert/Photography by Dawn


The golden glow of a sunset following rain glosses over the parking lot at Barnes & Noble at Crossroads in Waterloo, Iowa, on Monday night, July 7, 2008. © Dawn J. Sagert/Photography by Dawn


Raindrops gather in a puddle in the soft warm sunset on Monday, July 7, 2008, in Waterloo, Iowa. © Dawn J. Sagert/Photography by Dawn


Traffic heads toward the sunset on Highway 218 on Monday, July 7, 2008, in Waterloo, Iowa. ©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

Ahh...I feel better. Don't get me wrong, I love overcast skies. It's just amazing, to me, how the evening started out so dark and dreary and ended so beautifully...even more so because of the rain.

Never Enough Flowers

Bright sunlight shines through the sheer Petunia petals on Friday, July 4, 2008. © Dawn J. Sagert/Photography by Dawn

Flower petals bask in the sun on Friday, July 4, 2008. ©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

I'm not sure why (although, it could have something to do with finally having my Canon), but this year I am enamoured with flowers...especially their colors. The Petunia above is probably the first Petunia image that I have made that I have ever liked. Ahhh....summer.

Fourth of July on the Fifth

A sliver of moon peeks out from behind a cloudy sky as the sun sets over a boater on the Cedar River in Downtown Waterloo, Iowa, on Saturday, July 5, 2008.
© Dawn J. Sagert/Photography by Dawn


Cars pass by as crowds gather, with their lawn chairs, along the bridges spanning the Cedar River in Downtown Waterloo, Iowa, on Saturday, July 5, 2008, in anticipation of the Independence Day fireworks display.
© Dawn J. Sagert/Photography by Dawn


Independence Day fireworks erupt with color in the sky above and the water beneath as crowds of people watch from the Fourth Street bridge in Downtown Waterloo, Iowa, on Saturday, July 5, 2008.
©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

H.D. Youth Center

I just found a small artical regarding the H. D. Youth Center, from one of my earlier posts, in the Cedar Rapids Gazette. I've updated my post with a link to the artical. Click here to view.

Fourth of July

Fireworks light up the sky over the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on July 4, 2008.

©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

Break for a Cold One

An empty bottle of root beer, belonging to Falken Jaramillo, 14, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, rests on an outdoor tabletop at Cup of Joe on Thursday, July 3, 2008. The root beer was quickly consumed on a short break from driving instruction after Jaramillo earned his permit to drive just two days earlier.
©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn