(12-23-14) Favorite Photos From Miami Herald Internship

I post this from the comfort of my room at home in the Chicago suburbs while it's 40 degrees cooler than the daytime temperature in Miami. Oh, and not to mention the potential doom of incoming snow storms.

I finished my internship at the Miami Herald about a week ago and have only been home for three full days. Being home feels really weird, I just don't know what to do with myself! During my internship I got to shoot my first NFL game, first nationally televised college game, first NASCAR Sprint Cup Final, first rooftop soccer match, first Ironman and my first time working on a project that I generated and should be running any day now (police dogs are awesome). Lots of firsts!

Working at my college's newspaper a year ago really helped prepare me for a newspaper internship to get a better understanding of internal logistics. I'm not sure how to summarize my experience during the internship, but I can confidently say it helped me develop in multiple ways.

My favorite experience was working on my Miami Police K-9 story, I was able to spend a lot of time with the unit, trainers and the officer that was the focus of the story. The best part is that I'm probably going to stay in contact with some of the handlers. Once the story runs in the paper, I'll be making another post just on the story, but I included an action shot of the dog in this one.

Juan Mejia of Miami, takes off his swim cap after completing the swimming portion of the Ironman in Miami on Sunday, October 26, 2014. Jon Durr/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Participants wait for their wave to be let in the water during the Ironman in Miami on Sunday, October 26, 2014. Jon Durr/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano #22 pits during the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead on Sunday, November 16, 2014. JON DURR/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Braxton Berrios (#83) is unable to make a catch in front of Florida State Seminoles defensive back Jalen Ramsey (#8) in the second quarter SunLife Stadium in Miami Gardens on Saturday, November 15, 2014. JON DURR/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Miami Dolphins cornerback Jamar Taylor (#22) and outside linebacker Jelani Jenkins (#53, right) react after a pass intended for Buffalo Bills wide receiver Robert Woods (#10) was incomplete at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens on Thursday, November 13, 2014.

Brasa's John Hickey (right) of South Miami battles for a ball against Arsenal FC's Jonathan Quiroz during the Red Bull Fiesta de Futbol, a rooftop soccer tournament in Miami on Saturday, November 22, 2014.

Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick #4 holds up the trophy after winning the Sprint Cup Series and the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead on Sunday, November 16, 2014.

Norland's Jahiem Lawrence (#90) reacts after his team's defeat by Carol City in Miami on Thursday, October 30, 2014. JON DURR/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Andres Hernandez-Ibanez, 8, of Key Biscayne (white shirt) and other children have fun in fake snow during Winterfest in the Village Green in Key Biscayne on Sunday, December 7, 2014. JON DURR/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Nancy Rouzier (left) of Miami holds a candle in memory of her son Reggie and Carole Heck of Palmetto Bay holds a candle in memory of her son Jamie Heck during the Compassionate Friends candle lighting vigil at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo Center in Miami on Sunday, December 14, 2014. JON DURR/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

A Miami Carnival parade participant before the start of the parade at the Miami-Dade Fairgrounds in Miami on Sunday, October 12,2014. JON DURR/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

 

Christina Sajous as Carment during a dress rehearsal of a new musical version of "Carmen" at the University of Miami's Jerry Herman Ring Theatre in Miami on Sunday, November 9, 2014. JON DURR/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Alyson Ceballo, 23 months old, of Homestead tries to catch bubbles during the Harvest Festival hosted by LNR at the Association of Retarded Citizens' Project Thrive n Miami on Friday, October 24, 2014. JON DURR/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

A participant gets a drink at a water station during the Ironman in Miami on Sunday, October 26, 2014. Jon Durr/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick #4 leads Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin #11 during the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead on Sunday, November 16, 2014. JON DURR/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Police K-9 Nas leaps over a fence to get a toy Officer Stephanie Collazo held out for him as a reward during agility training in Miami on Wednesday, December 10, 2014. JON DURR/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

University of Miami guard JaQuan Newton (#0) is blocked by Howard Bison forward Tyler Stone (#32) at BankUnited Center in Coral Gables on Friday, November 14, 2014. JON DURR/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Florida State Seminoles cornerback Ronald Darby (#3) leaps on the shoulders of defensive back Jalen Ramsey (#8) after he made the game-ending interception against the Miami Hurricanes in the fourth quarter at SunLife Stadium in Miami Gardens on Sunday, November 16, 2014. JON DURR/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Columbus' Juan Carlos De Los Santos (#33, center) celebrates with his team after beating Flanagan in Pembroke Pines on Friday, December 5, 2014. JON DURR/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Press Briefings and Transit

I had the unlucky fortune of getting a nasty little sinus infection last weekend and didn't get to go out shooting as I planned. I did have the pleasure of having a nice experience with the NHS over here in England. I do applaud the quality of the NHS Direct phone service, it was much better than calling the doctor on call back home. The first person you speak to is knowledge and decides whether or not the 'on call' doctor or nurse needs to speak with the patient.

When I was feeling that tickle in my throat of the oncoming illness, a helicopter crashed near the Vauxhall tube and bus stations and was only a short 3-400 yards from MI6 headquarters. The pilot and another man on the ground died following the crash.

I arrived on the scene about 90 minutes after the crash and was stuck behind the media cordon. The police offered any media with a proper UK Press Card access at the site for a limited amount of time. Since I don't have a proper card yet, I had to stay put and the first two images are my best from that set.

The remaining photos were taken on various trips I have made using the public transit system in London which is amazing. And I thought Chicago had a good transit system..

Emergency crews responded to a helicopter crash in Vauxhall on January 16, 2013.

Met Police commander Neil Basu addresses the media following a helicopter crash in Vauxhall on January 16, 2013.

A view of the main escalators at the Holborn tube station on January 13, 2013.

A train arrives at the Finsbury Park station on January 13, 2013.

A double decker bus passes through a pedestrian crosswalk on Peckham Road in Camberwell on January 22, 2013.