One more day

I cannot believe that tomorrow is my last day at the St Cloud Times. I have had such a great experience that I wish I could move up here now. But I am looking forward to my next internship in Texas and my last semester in school. This was a good stepping stone for me to realize everything I do is worth something :)

 Summer 2011 Interns, (left to right)
Kaitlin Keane, Kentucky, My Nguyen, California, Jennifer Bissel, Ramona Marozas, Minnesota, Bre Mcgee, Minnesota, and not pictured Charly Haley, Minnesota. 

Summer 2011 Photo Staff, (left to right)
Kimm Andersen, Dave Schwarz, Bre Mcgee, Kaitlin Keane, Jason Wachter.


And I forgot to add my fan mail that I got a little while ago. Sure I've gotten a few e-mails as a job well done. But the feeling of getting something in the mail is amazing. It literally made my day.

" Dear Kaitlin,
I have received  many compliments of your photo you took of me at the Antique Gallery appraisal. I liked the picture in this morning's paper, Best Bagger Contest. Good Work!
Sincerely, Marie Brutger"

Immigrant Housing

This was one of the most changeling assignments I've ever done. I am a very light-hearted photographer, focusing more on wittiness and cuteness. This was a photo about immigrant housing with a little profile on this family who has two connecting apartments for their family of 11. The father didn't speak english, so talking though an interpreter was needed. All I could do was act confident so he and his family would trust me.

 Mohamed H. Shee sits on the floor in his St Cloud apartment surrounded by his children and grandchild Thursday, Aug. 4.
Left to right, Warda Hassan, Imran Fathi, Sumeiya Hassan, Hanan Hassan, and Fatma Hassan.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

 Mohamed H. Shee, right, gets help making a telephone call from Mohamoud Mohamed, director of St Cloud Area Somali Salavation Organization Thursday, Aug. 4.
Shee needs a translator for some interactions because he knows little English.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

 Mohamed H. Shee sits on the floor in his St Cloud apartment while two of his 11 children sit on the couch, right, Fatma Hassan, and Hanan Hassan Thursday, Aug. 4. Shee is on a waiting list for public housing, he has around seven more months left of his two and a half year wait.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

Mohamoud Mohamed, director of St Cloud Area Somali Salavation Organization talks on behalf of Mohamed H. Shee, right, at the St Cloud Housing and Redevelopment Authority Thursday, Aug. 4.
Shee is on a waiting list for public housing, he has around seven more months left of his two and a half year wait.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

During my visit his daughters were so pretty and very interested in me and my camera. I let the one daughter hold my camera and take some shots via live view, and here is what she came out with.

 Photo by Warda Hassan

 Photo by Warda Hassan

 Photo by Warda Hassan

 Photo by Warda Hassan

 Photo by Warda Hassan

 Photo by Warda Hassan

Photo by Warda Hassan

With a little crop to this one by me, I think it is beautiful.
Photo by Warda Hassan

Crazy weather

With all the rain damage that has been going on St Cloud Parks and Rec has had an increasing amount of service helping the community.

 Bob Blumke with St Cloud Parks and Recreation feeds a branch from a tree that laid in a St Cloud yard though the wood chipper Wednesday, August 3.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

 Steve Blommer with St Cloud Parks and Recreation uses a chain saw to cut down a tree that was laying in the front yard of a St Cloud home Wednesday, August 3, while Rick Gillitzer carries a branch off.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

Russ Linn with St Cloud Parks and Recreation turns on the wood chipper before destruction of a tree that lay in a yard in St Cloud Wednesday, August 3.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

Remodel

 Ron Greener, custodian with St Cloud Area District 742, paints the walls in a soon to be media room that is being remodeled Tuesday, August 2 at Clearview Elementary in Clear Lake.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

 Custodian's covered book shelves while painting the media room at Clearview Elementary in Clear Lake Tuesday, August 2 Painting has been the main focus the past two days Ron Greener, custodian said.

 Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

Freshly painted walls cover the soon to be media room at Clearview Elementary in Clear Lake Tuesday, August 2.
Painting has been the main focus the past two days Ron Greener, custodian said.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

Dance Until The World Ends

The other day was National Dance Day, I went out with the reporter to cover how St Cloud was celebrating and also put a video together :)

 Saturday, July 30 marks the second annual National Dance Day across the world. Local dancers practice the popular dance behind St Cloud State University library.
Left to right, Amanda Farag, Hannah Dosch, Kayela Steiner, and Emily Lieser.
The 16 member group performed the dance behind the library, Lake George, and in the Crossroads mall.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

 Maggie Moore, program director of the Minnesota Dance Ensemble, middle, teaches a dance to a group of local dances behind St Cloud State University Library Saturday, July 30 for the second annual National Dance Day across the world. The 16 member group performed the dance behind the library, Lake George, and in the Crossroads mall.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

Ryan Gillen, dances with a group of all females for the second annual National Dance Day performance Saturday, July 30.
"I didn't think I was gonna be the only guy," Gillen said.
The 16 member group performed the dance behind the library, Lake George, and in the Crossroads mall.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

Rain Garden

While I complain about the rain a lot, for some people it is a beautiful thing.

 Richard Bohannon shows off one of his three rain gardens Friday, July 29. The gardens are funded by the Sauk River Watershed Distract a month ago in Cold Spring.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

 Brad Matuska is one landowner in Cold Spring who has a rain garden. The projects are funded by the Sauk River Watershed Distract Friday, July 29.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

Brad Matuska shows some of the shrubs and flowers that are planted in the rain garden next to his house Friday, July 29 in Cold Spring.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

Work, work, work.

It pays off to get to a place early, if I had not been there I would have missed the whole putting together process!
But I was lucky to have that good ole american flag in the back :)

 Dan Holthaus, left, controls the hoist holding a piece of the granite used to assemble a fountain that will be sent to Des Moines Iowa while Ken Lahr navigates Friday, July 22.

Photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

Dan Holthaus, left, and Ken Lahr put together pieces of granite that are being used to assemble a fountain that will be sent to Des Moines Iowa Friday, July 22.

Photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

Cold Spring Hometown Pride

I don't think it has ever been more hot during a festival then it was this day! Here are some of my keepers from the gallery and paper.

 Ella Henrung, 4, slides down an inflatable ride during Hometown Pride Days Friday, July 29.

 Christina and Caleb, 2, Derose slide down an inflatable slide during kids events at Cold Spring Hometown Pride Days Friday, July 29.

 Diane Eisert as "Oopsie The Clown" during Cold Spring Days makes balloon hats and animals Friday, July 29.

 Charlie Costa, 2, has a sword fight with his cousin, Hanna Kiess, 7 during Cold Spring Hometown Pride Days Friday, July 29.

 Chole Stang, 18 months, covers her ears from the loud noise of the air pump for the inflatable bouncy house Friday, July 29.

 Cameron Jacobs, 2, jumps around an inflatable bounce house during the kids events at Cold Spring Hometown Pride Days
 Friday, July 29.

 Brooklyn Hofer, 5, looks at her face in a mirror after a clown painted a heart during Cold Spring Hometown Days Friday, July 29.

 An ear of corn in one hand and a toy in the other Griffin Hofer, 1, chows down at Cold Spring Hometown Pride Days Friday, July 29.

 During the Lovable Pet contest Rebecca Rapp tries to get miniature shorthaired dachshund Nala to do a trick but instead runs out of the circle outside Cold Spring Vet Clinic during Hometown Pride Days Friday, July 29.

Loki, 4, performs a trick with her owner Dennis Feeney outside Cold Spring Vet Clinic during the Lovable Pet contest Friday, July 29.

Group Photo

I had my first group  photo at the River Bats game, it was changeling for me only because I felt not in control. Here are some of the photos from that shoot. 

 The Nemec family poses for a portrait with some members of the St Cloud River Bats Thursday, July 28 on Joe Faber Field. Sherry Nemec has been a host coordinator for the River Bats for past 15 years.
Left to right, Jeremy Banks, John Nemec, Andy Henkemeyer, Greg Nemec, Annie Nemec, Anthony Espitia, Sherry Nemec, Carlos Lopez, Augie Rodriguez, and Jake Smith.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

 Sherry Nemec, middle, has been a host coordinator for the River Bats for past 15 years. Nemec poses for a portrait with some members of the St Cloud River Bats Thursday, July 28 on Joe Faber Field.
Left to right, Andy Henkemeyer, Anthony Espitia, Jeremy Banks,   Carlos Lopez, Jake Smith, and Augie Rodriguez.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

The Nemec family poses for a portrait at  Joe Faber Field home of St Cloud River Bats Thursday, July 28. 

Sherry Nemec has been a host coordinator for the River Bats for past 15 years. 

Left to right, Greg Nemec,  Sherry Nemec,  Annie Nemec, and John Nemec.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane

kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

River Bats feature

My eye was on one guy this evening at the River Bats game, no action just a feature of John.

 St Cloud River Bats Jon Richard tosses two balls around before the game against the Duluth Huskies Thursday, July 28 at Joe Faber Field.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

St Cloud River Bats Jon Richard tosses two balls to teammates before the game against the Duluth Huskies Thursday, July 28 at Joe Faber Field.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

Big Boys in a tiny room

I got to photograph the man who controls the scoreboard at the River Bats game the other evening. It sounded fine until I go to the press box and had hardly  any room to work with, but everything turned out just fine.

 Dean Jaacks sits in the press box managing the scoreboard of the St Cloud River Bats game Thursday, July 28 at Joe Faber Field.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

Dean Jaacks sits in the press box managing the scoreboard of the St Cloud River Bats game next to announcer Don Lyons Thursday, July 28 at Joe Faber Field.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

St Cloud Public Work

I usually am not a big fan of going to construction type settings, because it is usually older men who don't want their photo taken, so I have to talk all sweet to try and convince them that I can't do my job if they won't do there's ha!

 Tim Thell, heavy equipment mechanic, works on installing a leaf spring on a tool cat at the St Cloud Public Works Wednesday, July 27.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

 Chuck Koetter, equipment manager at St Cloud Public Work shows corrosion on the back of a 1990 dump truck that is used mostly for plowing snow Wednesday, July 27.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com

Chuck Koetter, equipment manager at St Cloud Public Work looks at hoses that have been taken out of a tool cat due to corrosion Wednesday, July 27.

Times photo by Kaitlin Keane
kkeane@stcloudtimes.com