My final submission for the Columbia Missourian’s photo column, “Boone Life: Beginnings.”  I went to the Woodland Wonders Taxidermy studio east of Columbia and hung out with Curt Shahan for a few hours.  Must say, I didn’t know much about taxidermy coming into this, but I do now.  You can see the article I wrote for it on the Missourian’s website as well.

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/7912375 w=600&h=405]

I photographed my last Mizzou football game this weekend at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.  Mizzou took on Kansas in the Border Showdown.  It couldn’t have been a more exciting game.  A safety and a last-minute field goal got Mizzou the 41-39 win over KU.  A good way to end the season.  So, we will do this blog post a little different and only post one action photo.  Since there seemed to be an obscene amount of celebrating so I am mostly posting the jubilation shots.

MU wide receiver Danario Alexander, left, throws out an arm to get past KU safety Phillip Strozier, right, during the first quarter of the Tigers’ game against the Kansas Jayhawks Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

MU wide receiver Jerrell Jackson is hoisted up by teammates in the end zone after running for a 37-yard touchdown in the third quarter of the  Tigers’ win over the Kansas Jayhawks.

Missouri defensive end Brian Coulter celebrates after the Tigers sacked Kansas quarterback Todd Ressel to score a safety in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

Jerod Kempter, Jeff Adkins, and Aaron Francis celebrate after Missouri sacked Kansas quarterback Todd Ressel to score a safety in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

After kicking the winning field goal with only seconds left on the clock, MU’s Grant Ressel is hoisted up by teammates and carried across the field to celebrate the Tigers’ win over the Kansas Jayhawks Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

MU’s Rell Lewis shows off the drum that is awarded to the winner of the Missouri vs. Kansas game following the Tigers’ win against the Kansas Jayhawks Saturday.

I got to shoot the Tigers’ last home game of the season Saturday against Iowa State.  Once again, it was a great day game with great light from overcast skies.

Iowa State’s James Smith, top, grabs the face mask of MU quarterback Blaine Gabbert, bottom, during the first quarter Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo.

MU’s Sean Weatherspoon juggles his shoe that came off while making a tackle in the third quarter of the Tigers’ game against the Iowa State Cyclones Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo.

MU defensive end Brian Coulter, 2, attempts to sack Iowa State quarterback Austen Arnaud , 4, in the third quarter.

MU senior Sean Weatherspoon holds up a rock that he picked out from the giant ‘M’ in the north end zone after the Tigers’ win over the Iowa State Cyclones Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo..  “This is my rock,” he exclaimed as he showed it off to the crowd.  Weatherspoon played his last home game at Memorial Stadium Saturday.

My skin will soon turn white, I will no longer have a need for eyes, and I will develop other cave creature characteristics.  Yep, it is time for College Photographer of the Year judging which means I will be spending my time working in a dark room for 14 hours every single day this week.   If you are interested in studying how a lack of sunlight affects the human body, come see me this week.

It’s all for the best though.  After lots and lots of preparation work with fellow co-coordinator Katie Wood, the time has finally come to judge over 10,000 images that were submitted to us from college students all over the world.  If you are interested in listening to the judging, we are recording the final rounds of judging for each category which you can watch online or download to your iPod.

In the meantime, I have started my steady diet of Starbucks, Chex Mix, and Dr. Pepper.  It should keep me going through the week.  This is my view:

This is a piece I did for the Columbia Missourian’s photo column, “Boone Life.”  This semester, the theme of Boone Life is “Beginnings” which means we have to go out and photograph different types of beginnings (we sort of use this term very loosely).  Last week was my turn to do the photo column.  My idea for a “beginning” was the installation of new billboards and the people who climb up and do it.

Unfortunately, because of 5,000 different federal OSHA laws, I didn’t actually get to go up on the billboards.  But, I did what I could from the ground.  You can also read the article I wrote here (A writer I am not) and you will find the multimedia piece below:

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/7423231 w=600&h=405]

If there is one thing I really miss about Texas, it is Whataburger.  The distinctive orange and white striped buildings are landmarks of deliciousness.  So, I was extremely elated when I found one while I was in Stillwater, OK shooting the Mizzou/Oklahoma State game.  I made Joel drive to it at 1 A.M.  Luckily he cooperated or I would have resorted to drastic measures.  Oh how I love Whataburger…