Through Our Eyes – Week 7

Each Wednesday, WKU’s Student Chapter of NPPA brings you the best images of the past week taken by our very own students. To submit, you must currently be a WKU Photojournalism student and have taken the images or produced the video in the last week (Monday to Monday). Send your top 5 choices to wkunppa@gmail.com and our officers will pick the best of the bunch to

Jabin Bostford

Adaira, 7, left and Elvin Menjivar, 6, tackle and try to regain control of the football from Byran Villatoro, 6, right, during a game of football during a warm afternoon in Bowling Green, Kentucky on November 11, 2012.

Justin Philalack

Alyssa Pointer

Danny Guy

Mike Rivera

The Western Kentucky University men’s swim team shows their support for the WKU Lady Hilltoppers Volleyball team on Senior Night on November 9, 2012 at E.A Diddle Arena. The Lady Toppers won in three sets.

Brandon Carter

Adel Valle, 10, left, and Memo Garcia, middle, both of Bowling Green, paint the fence of The Light of the World Church Sunday, Nov. 13, 2012, in preparation for the church’s opening in two weeks. The church, located at the corner of West 12th Avenue and Clay Street, has been under construction for over a year.

Austin Anthony

Congratulations to first round Hearst qualifiers!

After hours of sorting, editing, re-editing and then sorting again the WKU photo faculty is excited to announce the two finalists we have selected to represent WKU in the first round of the Hearst Photo competition. Congratulations to Jabin Botsford and to Adam Wolffbrandt for putting together an excellent selection of 8 images that represent a body of work over one year. One hour before the shooting deadline, Jabin nabbed an awesome picture of Regina Webb and her husband watching the election returns and Adam shot a great picture on Sunday, just two days before the shooting deadline that really looked into the face of how a mother and son feel about one-another. Be sure to check out their images below and offer them luck as we send the images off to be judged for the first of two rounds for the national photojournalism competition.

JABIN E. BOTSFORD’S PORTFOLIO ENTRY

Western Kentucky University senior guard Kahlil McDonald celebrates with his teammates after winning the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Summit Arena against the University of North Texas on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 in Hot Springs, Ark. McDonald scored 14 points to help WKU win the 2011 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament, 74-70 to advance to the NCAA for the 22nd time and first time since 2009.  JABIN E. BOTSFORD

Regina Webb of Bowling Green, Ky. Republican candidate for 20th district state representative, sits with her husband Brent Webb while witnessing the results of the local election Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, at her home surrounded by family and friends in Bowling Green, Ky. Webb lost to incumbent State Rep. Jody Richards. JABIN E. BOTSFORD

Football players gather around Western Kentucky University senior Casey Tinius moments after he kicked a game-winning field goal Saturday November 5, 2011 in the Toppers’ 10-9 victory over Florida International at L.T. Smith stadium in Bowling Green, Ky. Tinius hadn’t made a field goal since WKU’s season opener against The University of Kentucky. JABIN E. BOTSFORD

Rayford Kytle, 65, from  Washington, D.C., has been living with HIV for more than 30 years and is attending the XIX (19th) International AIDS Conference to “find out what the latest developments are in AIDS prevention, research and care are and how I can help with the epidemic,” at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, July 25, 2012. Kytle has depression, a side effect of an early type of anti-HIV medicine as well as something called facial wasting, and requires injections once every 18 months so his face doesn’t look “like a walking skull.” The injections cost $1,500 each. Kytle is lucky enough to have private insurance that covers it, but other men in his support group are not so lucky. JABIN E. BOTSFORD

From left Western Kentucky University Hilltopper freshman forward Vinny Zollo, University of South Alabama Jaguar freshman guard Mychal Ammons, Western Kentucky University Hilltopper freshman forward George Fant, and University of South Alabama Jaguar sophomore forward Augustne Rubit jump to attempt and rebound the ball Saturday February 4, 2012 at Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Ky. Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers won 75-66. JABIN E. BOTSFORD

Fans erupt during a race leading up to 138th Kentucky Oaks horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Friday, May 5, 2012. Fans from all sources wagered $39.9 million on the day of the Oaks, a 6.5-percent increase from the previous year and $226.9 million was wagered from all sources on the Kentucky Derby weekend. JABIN E. BOTSFORD

Members of the National Clergy Council in D.C. Rev. Rob Schenck, left, Rev. Alan Church, in back middle, and Pastor Gary Dull pray in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.  on Thursday June 28, 2012. People gather in front of the Supreme Court after the ruling on the health care plan was announced upholding most of it. Schenck holds a copy of the bench decision. JABIN E. BOTSFORD

One of Tim “WILD THANG” Lepard’s monkey and dog rodeo teams, also known as “Team Ghost Riders,” perform at the Bowie Baysox vs the Reading Phillies game at Prince George’s Stadium in Bowie, MD on Sunday June 24, 2012. The novelty of the performance is that the monkey’s ride the dogs voluntarily to herd goats. JABIN E. BOTSFORD

 

ADAM WOLFFBRANDT’S PORTFOLIO ENTRY


Tara Bauman (left), 8, Ashley Bartlett, and her daughter, Teagan Rathjen, 8, cry together while “Amazing Grace” is sung during a memorial service for victims of Wednesday’s bus crash at the Blue Hill United Methodist Church held on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012 in Blue Hill, Neb. The crash involved a school bus and semitrailer. Two students from Blue Hill Community Schools and drivers of both vehicles were killed. Five other students were injured. Tara and Teagan were classmates of Allie Thallman, who was injured in the accident. Allie’s sister, Caroline, was one of the four who died. ADAM WOLFFBRANDT

Doane quarterback Reid Rando (19) gets tackled by Morningside defensive lineman Andrew Broocks (95) near the 10 yard line at the end of the fourth quarter on Saturday, Oct. 06, 2012 at Doane College in Crete, Neb. Broocks prevented the Doane Tigers from getting a touchdown, but the Tigers managed a three point field goal with one minute left to go in the game. The Morningside Mustangs won 28-3. ADAM WOLFFBRANDT

Heather Berry rejects an apology kiss from her fiance Mark Duke after a small argument. She said they frequently fight because Mark is just a big kid. “He does have his good qualities,” she said. “He would do anything to make you smile.” Heather recently completed the Reach Higher Welfare to Work program through the Housing Authority of Bowling Green, which provides job experience and training to mothers in public housing in an attempt to better her life. ADAM WOLFFBRANDT

Carter Seim, 8, glares at his opponent, Olivia Nyberg, 10, moments before they race down Commercial Street for the “Extreme Almost Illegal Soapbox Derby” during the annual Swedish Festival on Sunday, June 17, 2012 in Stromsburg, Neb. ADAM WOLFFBRANDT

Brandi Fox cries in the arms of her father, Michael Rivers as firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire in her home on July 20, 2012. Fox, who was six months pregnant at the time, tried to put out the fire herself until the smoke and heat forced her out. “They said I made it out seconds before it was too late,” Fox said. Two cats and four dogs were trapped in the trailer when she escaped. Fox remained in the hospital for 24 hours from smoke inhalation, but firefighters said her efforts likely saved most of her home from extensive damage. The Fox family was able to repair the damage with the help of mostly anonymous donations, but the three Fox children lost all their belongings. “They’re still getting over the issues of losing everything,” Fox said. Firefighters were able to save all the animals from the fire. ADAM WOLFFBRANDT

Edith Wentworth drinks a cup of coffee as wildfires spread near her home through 117 square miles (74,880 acres) of the Niobrara River Valley on July 23, 2012 in northern Nebraska. Edith put sprinklers on her roof to prevent hot embers from burning her home. She previously lost her home to a tornado and took precautions to protect her house from the fires. “It’s just so dry out there,” she said. ADAM WOLFFBRANDT

After receiving an allergy shot, Brian calms down, chews on his cloth,  and gives his mother, Dee Shaffer a hug on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 at their home in Ashland, Neb. Brian is allergic to 97 different things, so Dee must take several precautions to prevent reactions. The two have been living off Dee’s retirement fund for over a year after the state stopped paying her to care for Brian. After her retirement money runs out, Dee said they would be forced to the streets. “That would kill him,” she said, crying. ADAM WOLFFBRANDT

Local children pull as hard as they can for a game of tug-o-war in front of grain bins near a field in Morse Bluff, Neb. on Aug. 11, 2012. Residents of the 135 person village and their neighbors celebrated their quasquicentennial (Q125) by various events and games throughout several days. ADAM WOLFFBRANDT

Through Our Eyes – Week 6

Each Wednesday, WKU’s Student Chapter of NPPA brings you the best images of the past week taken by our very own students. To submit, you must currently be a WKU Photojournalism student and have taken the images or produced the video in the last week (Monday to Monday). Send your top 5 choices to wkunppa@gmail.com and our officers will pick the best of the bunch to showcase.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Brittany Sowacke

                                                                                                                                                                                                       Adam Wolffbrandt

                                                                                                                                                                        Morgan Walker

                                                                                                                                                                                                         Morgan Walker

                                                                                                                                                                                                               Danny Guy

                                                                                                                                                                                                               Mike Rivera

Through Our Eyes – Week 5

Looking to the drum major for timing, sophomore Christian Duncan, prepares to perform “An Element of Disctintion,” The Elizabethtown High School Marching Band semifinal show. The band performed at Allen County Scottsville High School at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 27, 2012.

Brittany Sowacke

Alix Mattingly

Six-year-old Trevor Thomas of Morganfield practices roping outside the L.D. Brown Ag Expo Center at the WKU Farm during a rodeo put on by the Kentucky High School Rodeo Association Oct. 28. Thomas’s father was working at the rodeo.

Sam Oldenburg

Alix Mattingly

Ian Maule


Through Our Eyes – Week 4

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Morgan Walker

                                                                                                                                                                                 Adam Wolffbrandt

Newly crowned Western Kentucky University Homecoming Queen Amy Winkler laughs as her escort, Madisonville junior Michael Frederick, attempts to fix her crown. Winkler, a senior from Murray, was sponsored by Alpha Delta Pi, Omega Psi Phi and Alpha Tau Omega.

Brandon Carter

Niagra Lake, a once bustling camp and party ground in Niagra Lake, now rusts on empty acres of Jackie Leeg’s property.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Brittany Sowacke

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Danny Guy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Dorothy Edwards

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Danny Guy

The End of the 37th Year

The week of madness is finally over! Besides being able to get a full nights sleep, it means we get to view all the great projects that were produced this week! Take a look at mountainworkshops.org for great photos and videos!

Congrats to all who participated                                                                                                                                                                                 Photographers: Jabin Botsford, Peyton Hobson, Jacob Hill, Jon Hernandez, Brittany Sowacke, Dorothy Edwards, Danny Guy, Katie McLean, Connor Choate, Ian Maule, Sammy Jo Hester, Cooper Burton, Jerry Habraken and Abby O’Bryan

Videographers: Austin Anthony and Megan Tan

Photo Editors: Katie Meek, Emily Free, Jeff Brown, Eric Shea and Naomi Driessnack

Labbies: Abby O’Bryan, Bria Granville, Eric Shea, Sam Oldenburg, Justin Philalack, Mike Rivera, Elizabeth Bielman, Alix Mattingly, Earnest Atkinson, Ty Cobb, Sarah Keene, Kreable Young, Luke Franke, Morgan Kidwell, Jerry Englehart, Matt Lunsford, Daniel Vorlet, Josh Lindsey, Tiffani Walton, Leanora Benkato, Seth Fischer, Adri Funke, Rachel Tankersley, Brittany Greeson, Michael Noble, Lauren Boone, Cassidy Johnson

Through Our Eyes – Week 3

This week, in honor of Mountain Workshops, we had three guest judges. Thank you so much to Patty Reksten, Justin Fowler and Rodney Curtis!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Morgan Walker

                                                                                                                                                                        Brittany Sowacke

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Josh Mauser

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Josh Mauser

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Brittany Sowacke

The 37th Mountain Workshop Week

Keep track of what our students (and plenty others from OU, UNC and more) are up to at The Mountain Workshops in Henderson, Ky. Today is the first day so look for features soon! At the end of the week, all still and multimedia stories will be served up for your viewing pleasure! For more up to the minute posts check our Facebook page and don’t forget to look on Instagram under the hashtag #mws12 as well!

In honor of our cooperative efforts at Mountain, the third week of Through Our Eyes will be judged on our big screen tomorrow at 1pm! A fresh set of excited eyes cannot wait to see what you all have submitted!

Through Our Eyes – Week 2

Another great week! Thanks to everyone for submitting.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Adam Wolffbrandt

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Seth Fischer

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Morgan Walker

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Adam Wolffbrandt

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Dorothy Edwards

Tar Root, 20, of Karenni, plays takraw on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, a sport popular in Southeast Asia where he lived until 2009 when he and his family came to Bowling Green. Root lives in the Lovers Lane apartment complex where he and his neighbors play takraw almost every day.

  Austin Anthony

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Danny Guy