Carolina Tiger Rescue

I have spent the past week volunteering on the Carolina Tiger Rescue as part of The University of Missouri’s Alternative Spring Break. Ten students hopped into vans and made our way across the U.S. on a 30 hour round trip drive through the Midwest and into the Appalachian mountains. The Carolina Tiger Rescue is a non-profit  that provides a lifelong sanctuary for several different kinds of wild cats who have been abandoned, mistreated, or surrendered. Througout the week we built fences, disassembled old structures, transported industrial materials, and cemented new posts.

Alternative Spring Break volunteers attach wire to new polls at the Carolina Tiger Rescue.

I bet you’re wondering: Did I get to pet these adorable creatures? No.

Volunteer Coordinator Scott Miller leads an education tour of the Carolina Tiger Rescue.

Common Misconceptions about Tigers and Wild Cat Rescues

Sanctuaries allow physical contact with tigers

The Real Deal: According to the wildlife safety act in order to be a federally recognized sanctuary you must meet the following guidelines: No physical contact, be tax exempt, no captive breeding, refrain from the buying trade and selling of animals. Any injuries by tigers could put the public, staff, and the organization's credibility at risk.

It is acceptable to have your picture taken with a tiger cub because the money is going to help fund a wildlife sanctuary.

The Real Deal: Most of the time these sanctuaries do not exist. Lets do some math. You pay 20 dollars to get photographed. Tigers are virtually impossible to handle after six months so where does the tiger go? These animals are found malnourished in backyards, along the highway, or on display in entertainment venues. If a tiger lives for 18 years there is no way the money made in six months can finance a tiger for its lifetime.

Animal rescue workers are vegetarians.

The Real Deal: The Carolina Tiger Rescue takes no stance on vegetarianism. The cats eat meat. So do many of the workers and volunteers.

Wild animal attacks are rare.

The Real Deal: Attacks are not always reported but occur frequently. Wild animals may be handleable 99% of the time but if their predatory insticts kick in one time it can be fatal. This is a problem because of lax regulation on exotic animal ownership. In North Carolina it is illegal to own a bobcat without a permit but legal to own a tiger.

White tigers are a special rare breed of tigers.

The Real Deal: White tigers are actually inbred. The gene that makes tigers white is recessive so the only way to breed these tigers is by mating them with their siblings. This can cause serious birth defects to the tigers. The last stable population of white tigers seen in the wild was in to 1800’s.

If you tame tigers from birth they can be loving adorable pets.

The Real Deal: Domestic animals have been human companions for tens of thousands of years. Wild animals have not. There is no way to remove their predatory instincts. Even house cats demonstrate this behavior sometimes but are much less dangerous because of their size.

Sheba was given up by her owner who charged tourists for photographs with her at 6 months after she became too difficult to handle.

Alternative spring break workers remove nails from old boards so they can be reused.

Jellybean is the Carolina Tiger Rescue's only white tiger. Many private breeders will inbreed tigers with the white gene in an attempt to get white offspring.

Camp New Hope just after sunrise. Alternative spring break stayed in cabins over spring break while volunteering at the Carolina Tiger Rescue.

Advanced Techniques: Fill & Balance

I went to Benton Elementary to photograph the High Steppers for my color correction assignment. When I found out the rehearsal was moved outdoors on the basketball court I decided to try some fill flash. I shot most of my take in natural light but I wish I had tried a few more with strobe.  The intensity of these kids was apparent the second rehearsal started. I am excited to work with them more and see where it goes.

La'Rue Martin and Decarlo Flarris drum at the High Steppers rehearsal on March 15 outside Benton Elementary. The group of dancers and musicians range in ages 8 to 12 and come from all over Mid-Missouri.

Fill lighting diagram:

I did my balance portion Ernie's Cafe & Steakhouse to do the balance portion.  The strobe was bounced off the ceiling above the table.

Balance lighting diagram:

Cirque Montage

I have always been curious about the circus. Cirque Montage is a traveling performance troupe that features trapeze artists, jugglers, and hand balancers. The majority of the performers come from L.A. and Las Vegas some of which have performed in Cirque du Soleil. All of the production and stage design is self managed by WonderWorld Entertainment. Overall, it was a beautiful artful experience. 

Sarah Moser, an aerial chiffon artist, climbs her way to the top unsupported by wires.

A juggler throws one of four hats.

Sarah Moser rolls down the fabric she has climbed at Cirque Montage.

Sarah Moser talks to audience members at Cirque Montagein Jesse Auditorium.

Benton Elementary Kindergarten Registration

Parents sign up their children and meet with teachers at Kindergarten Registration in Benton Elementary. I had forgotten how small all of the chairs and scissors were in elementary school. I wish our classrooms were still this colorful.

Zachariah Jouret plays with a football helmet and meets his future Kindergarten teacher  at Kindergarten Registration in Benton Elementary. 

NOSH

Over the weekend I did a shoot in the studio for Theresa Berens prototype magazine NOSH. The idea was to show the average person and their personal on-the-go snacking habits. 

"The Healthy Eater"

Benton High Steppers

On Wednesday I went to Benton Elementary to photograph the Benton High Steppers. The group of dancers and drummers range in ages 8-12  and come from all over mid-missouri. The kids are incredibly talented and dedicated to the team. I look forward to spending more time with this group. 

 Daleshaun Coleman, 8, watches the High Steppers rehearse at his first practice.

The Benton High Steppers rehearse behind Benton Elementary.

Advanced Techniques: Color Correction

For my color correction assignment I went to The Wardrobe in Columbia. I gelled my strobe with 1/2 green and 1/2 CTO and set my white balance to florescent. I bounced my strobe off the ceiling onto my subject. This assignment made me realize how awful and distracting indoor tungsten and florescent lighting can be to a photograph. 

Marvin Bennett measures and sorts jeans at The Wardrobe Thursday afternoon. The Wardrobe provides affordable used clothing for the Columbia community.

Here is a lighting diagram of how it was done:

An outtake from color correction:

Volunteer Marvin Bennett measures a pair of jeans at The Wardrobe.

Advanced Techniques: Single Flash

For my single flash assignment I chose to shoot Busker's last stand using bounce technique. The event was very high energy with a lot of interaction. 

Jake Greenlaw of the Touchcats drums along with other True False Film Fest musicians at Busker's Last Stand Sunday night in the Missouri Theatre. The jam style musical event wrapped up the weekend long film festival.

 I bounced off the ceiling at a 45 degree angle onto the circle of musicians playing. I should have taken into account the warmer tones in the room and the photo is underexposed. There were several other photographers shooting so I chose a lower shot to minimize background distractions. I shot at f/4 1/125 and 100 ISO.

Below is my lighting diagram:

Direct flash was another story. My flash only fired once at the Mojo's show I shot Wed. night. As a result I only have one direct flash photo as seen below. 

Danny Seim of Menomena plays keyboard Wed. March 9 at Mojo's. 

Here is a direct flash outtake from the week:

Nadine Oelschlager sits in her favorite chair March 2.

True/False Film Fest

True False Film Fest brought together approximately 30,000 film fanatics for a weekend somewhere in between reality and the imagination. Several very talented directors brought their best work, documentary or fiction, to the screen.  From Thursday to Sunday Columbia was transformed into a haven for smart wool, creative beings, and supporters of the arts.    

Festival attendees and volunteers socialize at the @ction party Friday night in Tonic night club.

Despite the rain True/False attendees celebrate the beginning of the festival in the March March Friday through downtown Columbia.

 House manager and Juggernaut volunteer Caitlin Cunningham works outside The Blue Note.

Festival musicians play at Buskers Last stand, the closing event of the weekend, Sunday night in the Missouri Theatre.

The audience waits for Academy Award-winning director James Marsh's most recent film Project Nim to begin in the Missouri Theatre.

The Def-fish-it

I hear a lot of numbers being thrown around about where U.S. money goes and where it is coming from. I decided to investigate and provide a visual representation of some number crunching. I wanted to show how far the U.S. has fallen into debt and who will be affected by any spending cuts.

The following is a photo illustration of U.S. spending in 2010.

From the bottom up:

Soil: 57% of the U.S. budget is mandatory spending (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid etc.).

Sand: 38% of the U.S. budget is discretionary spending (Homeland Security, Health, Education etc.).

Water: 5% of the U.S. budget was money earned on top of the 1.3 trillion dollar deficit.

Fish: Americans.

The United States is drowning in a debt of over 14.1 trillion dollars. Fifty-seven percent of the budget is mandatory spending (soil) which is untouchable money. Thirty-eight percent of the budget is discretionary spending (sand) which could be reduced if it was not borrowed money. As a result federal spending cuts are limited to the positive portions of the U.S. budget (water).

All information from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

Lighting Diagram:

I positioned the fishbowl on a light table directly in front of the camera. I lit from underneath and had Alex Wood gobo. I placed a strip box at an angle to light the front so you could see the detail in the sand and soil. I shot at ISO 200 f/11 1/15.