Work From the End of 2015

It's pretty safe to say I'm just a tad bit behind on blog posts. I'll be putting up my "Best of 2015" within a few days for sure.

I had an action-packed October starting with the end of the regular season for baseball, shooting boxing for the first time, a handful of high school football, and ending with covering both inside and outside Wrigley Field during the Cubs' postseason games. Even though the Cubs lost the NLCS against the Mets, it was a lot of fun being there and being part of the Getty crew for the Chicago-end of the series, I definitely learned some things from the rest of the guys.

I was really happy with how my post-game celebration shots turned out. I spent a few minutes lining myself up with the NLCS logo on the grass on the first base side in hopes that there would be celebration at the pitcher's mound and that the Mets fans, above their dugout, would be going crazy. The fans weren't as excited as I hoped, not many had their hands up as I wanted, but the framing worked out great. When the Mets were back in the clubhouse celebrating, Elsa was covering that and I didn't see anyone else from our crew outside near the Mets' dugout, so I made sure I stayed put until it was clear everything was done with. I already sent out the immediate reaction with a runner, so there was no rush. While we all waited for the team to come back out, I decided to go upstairs to the upper deck and center myself with the exit stairs of the dugout. I had a very specific shot in mind, but unfortunately the moment I wanted didn't line up or happen exactly how I hoped it would, it was close though!

Loyola's Dara Laja (1) rushes for a touchdown against Stevenson during their second round Class 8A playoff game in Wilmette, Ill. on November 7, 2015. (Jon Durr for North Shore Weekend)

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 21: Daniel Murphy #28 of the New York Mets rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run in the eighth inning against Fernando Rodney #57 of the Chicago Cubs during game four of the 2015 MLB National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 21, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. This made Daniel Murphy the new record holder for most consecutive home runs in the postseason with six. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) 

October 29, 2015:  War Envoy, trained by Aidan P. O'Brien and owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Joseph Allen LLC, exercises in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland Race Track in Lexington, Kentucky on October 29, 2015. (Jon Durr/Eclipse Sportswire)

Niles North's Chris Geans (5) celebrates a touchdown against Maine West with River Kung (13) in Skokie, Ill. on October 2, 2015. (Photo by Jon Durr)

Fans celebrate outside of Wrigley Field after the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals in Game Three of the National League Divisional Series on October 13, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr)

Deerfield's Jordan Baum (24) receives the ball from Ben Bizarre (5) as Highland Park's Daniel Bronska (13) covers, to resume play late in the fourth quarter after a Deerfield timeout in Deerfield, Ill. on December 18, 2015. Highland Park was able to gain possession before time elapsed but was unable to score, Deerfield won 41-38. (Jon Durr for North Shore Weekend)

Niles North Matt Naranjo (left) celebrates with coach Filip Cejovic after winning the IHSA boys soccer sectional title in Skoke, Ill. on October 24, 2015. (Photo by Jon Durr)

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 16: Koki Kameda (R) throws a right at at Kohei Kono during their WBA-Super Flyweight Attraction fight at UIC Pavilion on October 16, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. Kohei Kono won by unanimous decision. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 20: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs is unable to make a catch against the New York Mets during Game Four of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 20, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)

Loyola's Thomas Smart (86) makes a catch for a first down against Palatine in the fourth quarter of their IHSA Class 8A semi-final football game in Palatine, Ill. on November 21, 2015. Loyola won the game 24-22 and went on to remain undefeated and win the Class 8A Championship. (Jon Durr for North Shore Weekend)

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 21: Jeurys Familia #27 and Travis d'Arnaud #7 of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the Chicago Cubs in game four of the 2015 MLB National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 21, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. The Mets defeated the Cubs with a score of 8 to 3 to sweep the Championship Series. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) 

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 21: Manager Terry Collins #10 of the New York Mets celebrates on field after defeating the Chicago Cubs in game four of the 2015 MLB National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 21, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. The Mets defeated the Cubs with a score of 8 to 3 to sweep the Championship Series. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 21: Wilmer Flores #4 of the New York Mets steals second in the first inning against Javier Baez #9 of the Chicago Cubs during game four of the 2015 MLB National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 21, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois.  (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 17: Stephen Buckley #8 of the Northwestern Wildcats is tackled by Josey Jewell #43 of the Iowa Hawkeyes (L) and Ben Niemann #44 (R) during the first quarter at Ryan Field on October 17, 2015 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) 

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 04:  Tyler Collins #18 of the Detroit Tigers is unable to field a triple by Trayce Thompson #28 of the Chicago White Sox (not pictured) during the fourth inning at U.S. Cellular Field on October 4, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)

Niles North's Kaleb Canonigo (1) reaches for a rebound after a shot by Niles West's Octavius Parker II (10) during the fourth quarter in Skokie, Ill. on December 5, 2015. (Photo by Jon Durr)

(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