Hello everyone!

For this week's photo blog, I wanted to show the focus that's been in the back of my head for a few weeks -- making cleaner images. With my photography background mostly in photojournalism and landscape photography, I find the two styles (particularly in how the photo is executed) often clash. With photojournalism it's not meant to be perfect: things being out of focus, the composition not making any sense and using tilted horizons to create visual interest. While on the other hand you have landscape photography, which is meant to be perfect -- thinking about composition so it's perfect, setting up a tripod and waiting for the perfect light, having perfect sharpness through the whole image, etc.

So, by saying I want to create and capture cleaner images, I do not mean with the perfection of landscapes, nor the imperfections that make photojournalism, but a mix of the two that can show what that event is all about in one clean, sharp and engaging image.

This week's photo blog features some of my favorite photos from the past week, including: Ski Broncs, downtown businesses and attractions, Guilford High School's graduation, a landscape of our great downtown, the fun of the Millennium Fountain, the annual Memorial Day Parade and the grand opening of the UW Health Sports Factory,

 

Ski Bronc

Ski Bronc, Jay Carlstrom, approaches the ramp during practice, at Shorewood Park in Loves Park, Illinois, Monday, May 23, 2016

Rockford Brewing Co Store

Interior of the Rockford Roasting Co in Downtown Rockford. 

Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center- Interior

Main hall of the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center in Downtown Rockford. 

Guilford High School Hat Toss

Graduates participate in the annual "hat-toss" during Guilford High School's graduation ceremony at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Downtown Rockford, Thursday, May 26, 2016. 

Downtown Rockford- Clouds

Storm clouds roll through Downtown Rockford, Friday, May 27, 2016. 

Boy Running in Fountain

A boy is seen running through the Millennium Fountain during the Rockford City Market, Friday, May 27, 2016.

Memorial Day Parade

The annual Memorial Day Parade travels down E. State Street in Downtown Rockford, May, 30, 2016.

Luncheon

Frank Schier, publisher of Rock River Times, looks at his "clapper" he received during the grand opening of the UW Health Sports Factory in Downtown Rockford, Wednesday, June, 1, 2016.

Sports Factory Opening

Illinois State Senator Dave Syverson (left) and Illinois State Senator Steve Stadelman (right), jumps for an inflatable volleyball during the grand opening of the UW Health Sports Factory in Downtown Rockford, Wednesday, June, 1, 2016.