September Sunset

The final September sun sets as traffic haults at a stoplight at Greenhill Road and Highway 58 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

Just chasin' a little sunset on my way to job number three.

I See You

A frog peeks out from leaves gathered along the surface of the Cedar River bank in Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008.

©Dawn J. Sagert

The Dirt Park

Nick Bass of Waterloo makes a jump on his dirt bike at the Riverview OHV Park in Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008. The park offers a variety of all-terrain dirt tracks.
©Dawn J. Sagert


Andy Burdess of Lincoln, Iowa rides on the all-terrain dirt track at the Riverview OHV Park in Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

Wipe Out

Jason Matthews of Tiffin, Iowa prepares to land after a jump on one of the all-terrain dirt tracks at the Riverview OHV Park in Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert


Jason Matthews of Tiffin, Iowa wipes out after a jump on one of the all-terrain tracks at the Riverview OHV Park in Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

Taped Up

The Don Bosco Marching Band plays pre-game in their pristine new uniforms at Sloane Wallace Stadium in Waterloo, Iowa for Don Bosco's game against East Buchanan Friday, Sept. 26, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Fans and supporters of Don Bosco football watch the pre-game band show Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 at Sloane Wallace Stadium in Waterloo, Iowa.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


East Buchanan's Mark Baragary intercepts a pass halting Don Bosco's Jacob Vandenbos' drive attempt in the first quarter Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 at Sloane Wallace Stadium in Waterloo, Iowa. East Buchanan won the game 38-14.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Don Bosco's Josh Becker attempts to interfere as East Buchanan's Chris Orr as he runs the ball in at Sloane Wallaace Stadium in Waterloo, Friday, Sept. 26, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

So tonight, I headed out to my game at a poorly lit stadium with a 400, 2.8 lens, and a monopod to go with the MK II body, and a 70-200 to go with my 40D. It was the first time I've taken out the 400, and it was seemingly a little much for the monopod I grabbed because it kept slipping. Thankfully, I ran into the reporter sent to the game, and his suggestion was, "tape it". (Why didn't I think of that?) So he found some tape, and we taped the monopod beneath each bracket (?). It heald beautifully.

A little later in the game, I was looking through my camera, when I heard someone running in my direction from my right. I pulled the camera away just in time to have a football player run past and knock my speedlite right off the camera. It cracked the plastic foot on either side of the little connector pins, but luckily it still slid on (didn't lock down well) and worked with the camera. It fell off once more, so once again the reporter came to my rescue. Yep-we taped the flash to the camera. It held well, and I learned another lesson about being prepared. Guess what I'll be adding to my camera bag? (Apparently anti-bacterial hand gel doesn't take care of everything.) Thanks, Rod!

Jumps

Harleigh Secor, 14, of Cedar Falls, jumps his bike at the skate park on Grove Street in Cedar Falls, Iowa Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Jordan Sankey, 16, of Cedar Falls, flies through the air at the skate park on Grove Street Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

I didnt' have a lot of time to spend on these, but I plan to return soon.

Wild Art

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

I was at Paw Park, trying to find some wild art tonight. These two beautful dogs were there, but I didn't get anything usable of them...so I didn't bother to get their names. They seem to be having a very animated discussion though.

New Colors

Rich colors of Autumn begin to appear along Hartman Avenue in Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Transitions

Summer transforms into Autumn on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

Also, I know it's probably not proper "blog etiquette" to add images to previous posts, but it's my blog, so I did. I added one image each to both the cross country post and the rodeo. Just a couple more that I liked from each shoot, but skipped over.

The Kids

Carson McGrain, 2, (left) of Oelwein grasps the saddle as he rides a pony with his grandfather, Dan McGrainof Cedar Falls by his side Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008 at the National Cattle Congress fair in Waterloo, Iowa. This was Carson's first time at the Cattle Congress Fair.
© Dawn J. Sagert


Aiden Davison, 4, of Waverly carries his new Spider Man toy on his back as he views the attractions at the National Cattle Congress Fair in Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008.
© Dawn J. Sagert


Isaac Gonzales, 4, of Waterloo, takes a break from the midway at the National Cattle Congress Fair in Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

The Attractions

Tamara, a Bengal Tiger, observes as she waits for her next performance in the Tigers of India show at the National Cattle Congress fair in Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert


Motorists compete for dominance in the Demolition Derby Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008 at the Nattional Cattle Congress fair in Waterloo, Iowa.
©Dawn J. Sagert


The midway bustles with excitement as people of all ages attend the National Cattle Congress Fair in Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

The Way I Feel Today

©Dawn J. Sagert

Rodeo

Rylie Hoffman of Malta Bend, Missouri is third out of the gate in the Saddle Bronc Riding portion of the of the PRCA Rodeo at the National Cattle Congress McElroy Auditorium in Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


osh Edgell of Decatur, Indiana gets ejected from Lemon Drop in the Bull Riding competition in the PRCA Rodeo at the National Cattle Congress Fair in Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Defense

Gladbrook-Reinbeck's Eli Bean pulls down South Winneshiek's Jordan Andera in the second quarter of the game at Gladbrook, Iowa, Friday, Sept. 19, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Gladbrook-Reinbeck's Drew Babinat takes down South Winneshiek's Daniel Sender in the second quarter of the game at Gladbrook, Iowa, Friday, Sept. 19, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Gladbrook-Reinbeck's Colby Luethje, left, and Eli Bean, right, take down South Winneshiek Cody Hageman, center, in the second quarter of the game at Gladbrook, Iowa, Friday, Sept. 19, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Cross Country

Jacob Gerber of Cedar Rapids Jefferson, left, and Amir Kantarevic of Waterloo West, right, run a tight race to the finish line in the Men's Varsity 5K, Cross Country meet held at Birdsall Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008. Jacob placed third and Amir came in fourth.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Birdsall Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa was bustling with runners, coaches, and supporters at the Cross Country meet held there Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Dust in the Wind

Dan Yungtum of Warren Transport sweeps the dirt outside of an exhibit hall at the Cattle Congress fair in Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008, creating a little well-lit dust around him.
©Dawn J. Sagert

Stressless

Weeds are silhouetted by the western sky on the outskirts of Prairie Lakes Park in Cedar Falls on Monday night.
©Dawn J. Sagert


A tree stands in a field near Hudson, Iowa under a cloudy gray sky on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

Wahawk Relays

Olivia Johnson of West High swims in the Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke Relay Final, heat-two, at Central Intermediate in Waterloo, Iowa in the Wahawk Relays Invitational Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Betsy Meany of West High swims first in the Girls 400 Yard Freestyle Relay in heat-two of the Final at Central Intermediate Pool in Waterloo, Iowa in the Wahawk Relays Invitational Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Artapalooza

Mary Antone, 10, of Cedar Falls paints at the Pursuing Picasso exhibit tent in the 2008 Artapalooza event on Main Street in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert


Tad Bean, right, of Cedar Falls, applies a Henna tattoo to the wrist and hand of Kathryn Wright, 12, left, outside of The Worlds Window Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008 as part of the Artapalooza celebration in downtown Cedar Falls, Iowa.
©Dawn J. Sagert


Dave Leeper of Cedar Rapids stands outside of his exhibit tent in downtown Cedar Falls, Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008. Dave is the creator of MetalWorks Studio and Gallery, and has a variety of projects such as this dinosaur piece, at right.

©Dawn J. Sagert

Raindrop Scentimental

Raindrops from a recent shower remain on the soft petals of a Scentimental Rose in Cedar Falls, Iowa Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

Jack and His Duck

©Dawn J. Sagert

©Dawn J. Sagert

This is Jack, my six-year-old cocker spaniel. He has a fascination with this little duck. Jack has had his duck for a couple of years-he's funny. He plays with it, lays with it, rolls it around in his mouth a bit (never biting), and searches for it when he notices its absence. So when I suggested that we get a few shots of him with his duck, he had no objections.

Contrasting Beauty

A freshly plucked garden rose rests in a vase in a bay window lit by the setting sun in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008.

©Dawn J. Sagert

Withered cone flowers stand tall and strong in a garden in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

V-Ball Time

Keeley Orvis, left, and Kara Fisher, right, of Cedar Falls High attempt to block West High's Charmin Anderson, center, in game three against Waterloo West at West High in Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


West High students display their team spirit in Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008, as Cedar Falls High School volleyball played Waterloo West at West High.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

This was my first official volleyball game. No injuries to report. My photo editor went with me and taught me how to set up lights. It took me until game three (out of three) to get to where I wasn't missing EVERY peak moment. :-)

Colors

Fans approach the gate to enter the gate to the Aplington-Parkersburg home openning game against West Marshall Friday, Sept. 5, 2008, in Parkersburg, Iowa.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

West Marshall's Sam Buck, left, takes down Aplington Parkersburg's Alex Hornbuckle in the teams first home game at Parkersburg, Iowa, Friday, Sept. 5, 2008.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Back on the Field

Fans Jacob Buchanan, left, and Dawn Buchanan, right, from Grundy Center, and Tina Lafrenz, center, of Parkersburg, arrived as early as 3:30 pm for the 7:00 pm Aplington-Parkersburg Falcon's first home game of the season against West Marshall at Parkersburg, Iowa, Friday, Sept. 5, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Alex McDaniel (6), of the Aplington-Parkersburg football team waits to be addressed by head coach Ed Thomas before their first home game in Parkersburg, Iowa, Friday, Sept. 5, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Robert Janssen and the Aplington-Parkersburg football team warm up out on the field before their first home game against West Marshall Friday, Sept. 5, 2008, in Parkersburg, Iowa.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Current NFL player Aaron Kampman, a former Falcon, addresses the Aplington-Parkersburg team pre-game Friday, Sept. 5, 2008, in Parkersburg, Iowa .
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


West Marshall's Drake Ferch, left, attempts to take down Aplington Parkersburg's Alex Hornbuckle in the teams first home game at Parkersburg, Iowa, Friday, Sept. 5, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Fans cheer as Aplington Parkersburg play their first home game since the May 25 tornado ravaged their community, Friday, Sept. 5, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Aplington-Parkersburg head coach Ed Thomas speaks words of thankfulness and encouragement after the teams first home game in Parkersburg, Iowa, Friday, Sept. 5, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

This was an eventful game! It was covered by national media because it was the Falcon's first home game since the community was ravaged by a tornado on May 25, 2008. It rained/drizzled off and on (seemed mostly on), our wireless connection was not working right, AND I got my first football injury. I got my camera/lens smacked into my mouth by a West Marshall player as the play ran into the sidelines. It seems that when it gets too close to focus--I better move. Imagine that! Guess I won't need to think about a collagen injection for a while. ;-)