Favorites of 2013

This year has been a great one, I traveled to three different countries, was senior photo editor at my school's newspaper and attended the Eddie Adams Workshop with some incredible people. Below are my favorite 20 shots from this year.

I added an extra photo because it is my favorite photo of an incredible man, friend, and mentor, John H. White, while he was speaking at the Eddie Adams Workshop. I was in his class in fall 2012 and as he would say, he helped spread my wings to start off 2013 in a great way.

John H. White on his final slide during a presentation at the Eddie Adams Workshop on October 10, 2013.

A general view looking north-northwest from The Shard, the tallest building in London. St. Paul's Cathedral is just above the center on June 20, 2013.

Gareth Doody of Reebok CrossFit Reading, grimaces while balancing himself as he does handstand pushups at the London Throwdown in London on January 27, 2013.

A woman wearing traditional costume takes a glance at spectators before the Chinese New Year parade starts in London on February 10, 2013.

Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Brock Vereen (21) breaks up a pass intended for Northwestern Wildcats wide receiver Rashad Lawrence (17) on October 19, 2013.

A long exposure photo taken in Washington, Ill. of the damage left behind by an EF4 tornado with winds of 190MPH on November 17, 2013.

Kids and their mother play in leaves as they make their way to a bus station on October 12, 2013.

Bayern Munich fans at Biershenke Pub in London, England celebrate as Phillip Lahm hoists up the UEFA Champions League trophy (on TV) after defeating Dortmund on May 25, 2013.

People look out the large windows near the top of The Shard, the tallest building in London on June 20, 2013.

A bird makes a water landing in Scotland on April 1, 2013.

A general view of the harbor town of Oban, Scotland on April 2, 2013.

Mark Wahlberg is seen filming for Transformers: Age of Extinction in Chicago, Ill. on Roosevelt Bridge on September 14, 2013.

Rescue crews help a participant from Spain in the unofficial Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling down Cooper's Hill after he twisted his ankle over 90 degrees while chasing a replica cheese on May 27, 2013 in Gloucestershire, England.

Freestyle Motorcross during a monster truck event on July 14, 2013..

Tough Mudder South London participants run through the Electroshock Therapy obstacle, which has dozens of wires that electrocute the participants as they run through, in Winchester, England on June 9, 2013.

Wembley stadium empties as people walk down Olympic Way on their way to the Wembley Park tube station after England's 2-1 win over Brazil in an international friendly in London on February 6, 2013.

Michigan State's RJ Williamson intercepts a pass intended for Northwestern's Dan Vitale during the Wildcat's last game of the season at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill. on November 23, 2013.

Soldiers march in the funeral procession of former British Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher in London on April 17, 2013.

Former Northwestern University student Tommy Tombridge can't block a bicycle kick from another former Northwestern University student Matt Eliason during the Messi and Friends match at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. on July 7, 2013.

Brazillian dancers walk down Olympic Way on their way to Wembley Stadium before Brazil play England in an international friendly in London on February 6, 2013.

World-class Brazillian goalkeeper Julio Cesar fails to make a save during the Messi and Friends match at Solder Field in Chicago, Ill. on July 7, 2013.

"Transformers: Age of Extinction" Filming in Chicago

I'm not entirely sure how it happened, but I got management at The Columbia Chronicle hooked on the idea for a photo spread of the new Transformers movie being filmed in Chicago. I spent 24 hours over 5 weekends on or near their sets. I struggled to get enough explosion photos for the spread because I was busy with other things, but the last weekend I went to the set, I got my best photos (the main photo and top right photo in the spread).

Mark Wahlberg is the new lead, Kelsey Grammer is the human villain, and there are several new autobots (3 are in the spread if you look closely) and updates to some of the existing ones.

My colleague Tony Soave joined me one day and managed to get himself on the roof of an apartment complex that was right next to a filming location on Roosevelt Road Bridge (the helicopter pictures in the spread are his). Christine Fielder, a graphic designer at The Columbia Chronicle was responsible for the layout and graphics.

Below is the spread that ran in the paper and a few of my favorite shots.

The spread that ran in the October 7, 2013 issue of The Columbia Chronicle.

Extras flee from flying cars and pyrotechnics while filming a scene set in Hong Kong at the intersection of South Wacker Drive and West Monroe Street in Chicago, Ill., on September 28, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE

Mark Wahlberg (right) and Jack Reynor (carrying black bag) run with extras while filming a scene on the Roosevelt Road Bridge in Chicago, Ill., on September 14, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE

The abandoned Damen Silos at Damen Avenue and 29th Street are engulfed in flames in Chicago, Ill., on September 21, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE

Director Michael Bay (far right) talks with a crew member in-between takes while filming on the center of Roosevelt Road Bridge in Chicago, Ill., on September 14, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE

Optimus Prime, a Western Star 4900 Custom semi-truck is parked on South Wells Street in Chicago, Ill., on September 14, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE

A car spirals through the air while pyrotechnics are used during a scene set in Hong Kong at the intersection of South Wacker Drive and West Monroe Street in Chicago, Ill., on September 28, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE

A car bursts in to flames after it was sent flying in to a fake double-decker bus with a picture of Victoria's Secret model Candice Swanepoel on it during a scene set in Hong Kong at South Wacker Drive and West Monroe Street in Chicago, Ill., on September 28, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE

Northwestern vs Syracuse

Today was the first of 7 home games I'll be covering Northwestern University's football team for The Columbia Chronicle. Here are my favorite from their game against Syracuse.

Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter (2) fumbles the ball after being tackled by Syracuse Orange defensive tackle Jay Bromley (96) and cornerback Wayne Morgan (2) during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013. 

Syracuse Orange safety Ritchy Desir (6) knocks the ball out from the hands of Northwestern Wildcats wide receiver Kyle Prater (21) during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats linebacker Chi Chi Ariguzo (44)  makes an interception during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats running back Mike Trumpy (32) is tackled by Syracuse Orange defensive end John Raymon (97) and safety Durell Eskridge (3) during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter (2) rushes for a touchdown during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter (2) leaps over Syracuse Orange cornerback Brandon Reddish (4) for a touchdown during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats safety Traveon Henry (10) leaps for an interception behind Syracuse Orange running back Ashton Broyld (1) during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter (2) is tackled by Syracuse Orange cornerback Wayne Morgan (2) and linebacker Cameron Lynch (38) during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter (2) makes a throw while under pressure from \s during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Northwestern Wildcats head coach Pat Fitzgerald reacts during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

The Northwestern Wildcats' bench reacts after Northwestern Wildcats defensive lineman Dean Lowry (94) makes an interception during a football game at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

Transformers 4 in Chicago

I just started working at my school's newspaper, The Columbia Chronicle, and the first assignment I got was to take a feature photo for the metro section. This past weekend was the first for "Transformers 4"filming, so I checked online to find the filming locations for the weekend. I didn't look for it soon enough, so I missed Friday's filming at McCormick Place, Saturday was a slow day and wasn't worth going out for, but Sunday there was some more interesting things happening.

I went straight to 300 E. Randolph, the Blue Cross & Blue Shield building where they were filming at, and camped out there until some fun happened. After hours of waiting, they finally blew things up. The shot they were doing was part of the visual effects for when a transformer erupts from the grates to lower Randolph. They attached wire to the deformed grates they created, so that nothing would fly away and damage anyone or anything.

A Weekend of Rowing

This post is a rewind to my last weekend in London before I came back home to Chicago, which just happened to be the wonderful night when the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.

I was desperately searching for something interesting to photograph for my last few weeks in London and I saw the World Rowing Cup would be the weekend before I leave. Unfortunately I couldn't find anyone to back my credential request, but just as I was about to give up, an American based website contacted me to see if I can shoot it for them. I sure lucked out! I didn't have many opportunities to break out the 400mm lens during my time in London, so I was excited for that too.

I have never photographed rowing before and I had no idea what to expect, so I turned in to research mode and asked a few photographers for some guidance on successful ways to approach it. Despite the preparation, I panicked a little bit when things were just about to start and messaged Ting Shen, my never sleeping friend back in Chicago. It was at least 3AM for him but it helped get me rolling for the day.

These photos are a selection of my 3 days of covering the World Rowing Cup at Eton Dorney and the Women's Henley at the site of the famous Royal Henley Regatta. I was at the World Rowing Cup for Friday and Sunday, and the Women's Henley on Saturday. Each day I commuted from central London with all my gear to the locations, and boy that did that get expensive. I spent £100 (~$155) on taxis alone and was very glad all my travel was reimbursed.

The best part of my weekend was dangling my feet over the edge of the pontoon and pretending I was standing on the water.