Rockin' River Relief

Douglas and Tamara McReynolds (foreground), of Cedar Falls, dance to the music played by Bob Dorr & The Blue Band at Overman Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, at the Rockin' River Relief Benefit for Cedar Falls flood relief.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Finn Boland (foreground),3, of Columbia, Missouri, who is visiting his grandparents of Cedar Falls, bounces in an inflatable castle at the Rockin' River Relief Benefit in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008. All proceeds from the event are being donated to Cedar Falls flood relief.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Davis Michaelsen, bass player for the Bob Dorr & The Blue Band, takes his turn at lead vocals while playing at the Rockin' River Relief Benefit at Overman Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008. All of the proceeds from the event will be donated to Cedar Falls flood relief.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Douglas and Tamara McReynolds, who recently moved to Cedar Falls, dance to the sounds of Bob Dorr & The Blue Band at Overman Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, at the Rockin' River Relief Benefit. All of the proceeds raised from the event will be donated to Cedar Falls flood relief.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

He Accepts

Maria Worthaw (left), Jewelette Botello, Pastor Belinda Creighton-Smith, and Rochelle Gaines (right), react to Obama's acceptance speech at the Talk Shop cafe in Waterloo, Iowa Thursday, Aug. 29, 2008. Talk Shop played host to a public viewing.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Rev. Dr. Mary Robinson, left, Louanne Wortham, center, and Eric Donat, right, watch Obama's speech viewing at Talk Shop in Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Heroes Favorites

Sue Gress prepares the batter for a fish-fry at her home in Waterloo, Iowa Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008. Sue's son, Corey, just returned from a Marine tour in Iraq on Saturday, and fish is his second favorite meal.
© Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Sue Gress prepares a meal of fried fish in honor of her son Corey's return from Iraq. Sue is compiling a cookbook full of recipes that are favorites of those who are serving or have served in the military. She hopes to gather about 400 recipes.
© Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


From left to right are Corey, Sue, and Gary Gress, while in back Corey's brother Adam Gress and his fiance, Mindy Fischer, gather for a fish-fry Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008, in Waterloo, Iowa, in honor of Corey's return from his second tour in Iraq.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Twin Hibiscus (or Hibiscui?)

A pair of pale pink Hibiscus display their large petals and deep colors in the evening light in a garden in Cedar Falls, Iowa Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008.

©Dawn J. Sagert

I am basking in what's left of summer. The green. The flowers. The life. Fall is beautiful too-I look forward to the warm colors, brisk air, and the sound/feel of the leaves crunching beneath my feet...but this summer has symbolized growth for me. Exactly one year ago, I would have never guessed I would be where I am today. I still have so far to go and to grow. I can't even imagine where another year will take me, but I am anxious to find out! Still-I intend to hold onto the remnants of this summer for as long as I can. Then, I'll absorbe myself into autumn. :-)

different

Another walk through the flower garden on a summer evening.

©Dawn J. Sagert

Exhibition Game

University of Northern Iowa's Chelsie Hochstedler, left, tries to work around Upper Iowa's Emily Gielau to take command of the ball at the Sunday Aug. 24, 2008 exhibition game at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex in Waterloo, Iowa. Upper Iowa took the game with a score of 3-2.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Growing Donations

Danny Lee, of Cedar Falls, cuts flowers grown in a garden at the Unitarian Universalist Society church in Cedar Falls Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008. The garden's harvest is picked by and sold to church members on Sunday mornings, and the proceeds are then donated to area food banks.
©Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer


Nita Stewart of Cedar Falls, lays out the days harvest from the garden grown by church members of the Unitarian Universalist Society in Cedar Falls, Iowa Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008. The church then sells the fresh vegetables, herbs and flowers to other church members and the proceeds are donated to an area food bank.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Too Far Gone

Okay, there was this one other image that I would have liked to have had my name under...IF it had been in focus. The 300, 2.8 is a whole lot more lens than I'm used to...that can be changed. Unfortunately...even sharpenning could't help this one.


Dunkerton scores a touchdown in the first half of an eight-man season-opener football game against Clarksville at Dunkerton on Friday, Aug. 22, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

FOOTBALL!

Clarksville's Seth Behrends eludes a tackle from Dunkerton's Mitch Donohue during the first half of an eight-man football game in Dunkerton, Iowa, Friday, Aug. 22, 2008

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Tonight was the night...I was excited and ready to go! My photo editor took both the other new guy and myself out with him to shoot the first football game of the season. I've only shadowed on a couple games last fall, and the practice last week. Other than that, I have no grasp on the game whatsoever. I have SO much to learn-but I think I have some great teachers.

SO, we headed out and each had a 300 lens on a monopod. Things moved fast...I absolutely LOVE chasing the action around the field, but I REALLY need a crash course in understanding the game and what I'm looking at/for. (Is there a Football for Dummies book--on CD? That would be great!)

Anyway, I fired away, but only submitted this one image. There were more, but nothing I would want to run with my name under it. I got a quick lesson in on-site editing, and ftp-ing for deadline. What a rush- I'm ready for more!

Players to Watch

Kelsey Steffens, left, and Lindsay Schneider, right, are team captains for the Wartburg women's volleyball team in Waverly, Iowa, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Ben Follodori (left), Chance Chilcote (center), and Wyatt Franken (right), represent the Hudson High School football team as quarterback, rightback, and tight-end (respectively) in Hudson, Iowa Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

This would be my first night of what I guess are sportraits of key players. My homework: Using my anxiety of "firsts" as a spring-board to creativity! (and watch my background more closely) :-)

Tomorrow night, I learn FOOTBALL!

Dog Days

Robi, (front), a fourteen month old Afghan Hound, accompanied by her owner Holly Hartley of Waterloo, observe thier surroundings at The Falls waterpark Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Cedar Falls Recreation Center offers the opportunity to bring your pooch to the pool every year to mark the end of it's open season.
©Dawn J. Sagert


Jack, a six year old Cocker Spaniel, anticipates his jump from a water tunnel at The Falls Waterpark Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The park hosts this canine friendly event annually as it marks the close of the pool season.
©Dawn J. Sagert


Rigley, an English Bulldog(bottom), has his collar adjusted by his owner's friend Ryan Manahl of Cedar Falls Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008 at The Falls water recreation park in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The annual event marks the official closing of the pool for the season.
©Dawn J. Sagert

Football Practice

Corey Turner, center, simulates blocking at an East High School football practice Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008, in Waterloo, Iowa.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Kris Kraft, East High senior, catches a pass at football practice Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008, at East High School in Waterloo, Iowa.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Play Practice

Juror #3(Joel Valenti), left, restrained by Jurors #11(Wesley Wood) and 6(Rick Maxwell) says, "Let me go! I'll kill him!" to Juror#8(Kyle Beerman), foreground, in the Waterloo Community Playhouse production of TWELVE ANGRY MEN running September 5-13, at the Waterloo Art Center.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Butterfly

A Monarch butterfly rests on a branch at South Prairie Lake Monday, Aug. 18, 2008 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
©Dawn J. Sagert

Soft Simple Light

The fuzzy seeds of a spent balsum rose (foreground), are bathed in rays of the evening sun while other forms of flora, like the daisy (background), still display their blooms Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

©Dawn J. Sagert

A Warm Summer Evening

Joe Casella of Elk Run Heights fishes in South Prairie Lake after working all day in the Cedar Falls Industrial Park area Tuesday Aug. 12, 2008.

©Dawn J. Sagert

Book of Reflections

Father Paul Steimel, center, discusses his new book of reflections for teens while Will McIntee, left, and Tim Kelly, right, of Loras College look on at a Loras College event hosting a book signing for Steimel Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008 at Byrnes Park in Waterloo, Iowa. (Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer)

Olympic Inspiration

Alanna Muhammad, 8, of Waterloo, Iowa, practices on the balance beam at Chips/Black Hawk Gymnastics Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008. (Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer)

An Evening on the Lake

Brian McElhose and his son Hunter, of Cedar Falls, canoe into a small alcove for some fishing on South Prairie Lake Tuesday evening, Aug. 12, 2008.

©Dawn J. Sagert

My Sister's Favorite

A bougainvillea spectabilis displays it's bright colors.

©Dawn J. Sagert

Hibiscus

A Hibiscus flower spreads it's large petals open wide absorbing sunlight in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Sunday, August 10, 2008.

©Dawn J. Sagert

Bridge To Bridge

An unidentified participant in the Bridge To Bridge Ride travels the new bike trail under the Sans Souci Bridge on Friday evening, August 8, 2008. The ride is part of the Cedar Trails Festival. (Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer)


Riders pass under the Sans Souci Bridge in Waterloo, Iowa, along one of the newest portions of the Cedar Valley Bike Trail. In celebration, the Cedar Trail Festival held a Bridge To Bridge Bike Ride on Friday night, August 8, 2008. (Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer)


One of the newest additions to the Cedar Valley Bike Trail travels beneath the Sans Souci Bridge in Waterloo, Iowa. The Cedar Trail Festival celebrates this new addition with a Bridge to Bridge Ride on Friday, August 8, 2008. (Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer)

The Pitcher

Bob Lackovic pitches for the Waterloo bucks in the final inning of the double-header game against Eau Claire Express at River Front Stadium on Tuesday, July 29, 2008. The Bucks won the game 4-1.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Send-off Ceremony

An audience of family and friends fills Tama Hall for a send-off ceremony for the C-Company, 2-211th Aviation Battalion at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 5, 2008. (Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer)


Waterloo Mayor, Tim Hurley, speaks at the send-off ceremony for the DET 1 Company, Medical Evacuation, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion at Tama Hall in Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 5, 2008. (Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer)


Governor Chet Culver speaks before gathered friends and family in Tama Hall at Hawkeye Community College on Tuesday, August 5, 2008, at a send-off ceremony for the DET 1 Company, Medical Evacuation, 2-211th General Support, Aviation Battalion. (Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer)


At a send off ceremony for C-Co., 2-211th Aviation Battalion at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa, Jim Russell of Cedar Falls, holds up his grandson Hunter, 1, to a bus window to have one final look at Hunter's father, Ben Russell before his departure on Tuesday, August 5, 2008. (Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer)


Lauren Weimer, 10, left, and Gabby Blakesley, 8, both of Waterloo, Iowa, rest curbside after sending off Gabby's father, Scott Blakesley with the C-Company, 2-211th Aviation Battalion, at a send-off ceremony held in Tama Hall at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo on Tuesday, August 5, 2008. (Dawn J. Sagert/Courier Staff Photographer)

Red, White, and Blue (and yellow)

This is one of those images that I really can't explain. I've driven by it numerous times and wanted to make this picture...not that I even care for the business this image includes. I guess it's just the color, composition, and the concept of America in general that got me. Anyway, on my way home from a sitting with an 18 month old today, I decided it needed to be done.
©Dawn Sagert/Photography by Dawn

Sand on the Island

A dump truck loaded with sand is prepared to transport it's load from Island Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, August 2, 2008. The sand is one of the many reminders left behind from the June floods and currently occupies a large portion of Island Park.
©Dawn J. Sagert


Small mountains of sand fill Island Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, August 2, 2008. The sand is a telling sign left behind from the June flood.
©Dawn J. Sagert


A dump truck (upper right) loaded with sand is prepared to transport it's load on Saturday, August 2, 2008, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Mountains of sand, used for bagging in recent flooding, currently occupy much of Island Park and await transport.
©Dawn J. Sagert

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

A spider secures it's web from a rooftop in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Friday, August 1, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

This is an image comp using three images of the same spider. It was a pretty big spider who's web was located at the very highest point of my roof. I was just playing around with my image preview, 70-200 lens, and my flash. Ahh...Friday night life.

Rockin' with the Bucks

A young fan rocks out on the field, as players look on, after the third inning of the first game in a double-header between the Waterloo Bucks vs Eau Claire Express at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo, Iowa, on Tuesday, July 29, 2008.
©Dawn Sagert/The Waterloo Courier