the region...

Andrew Nelles and I worked today with some volunteers who were sand bagging a levee on the Missouri side of the Mississippi river.  I didn't shoot much today, instead I found myself helping shlepp sandbags up and down the levee as others filled them.  The race to stop rising water continues in a few hours...until then here are a few...

-mj

on the road again...

This time I packed light...bare necessities...camera gear, extra pair of shorts, sandals and laptop.  Myself and a close friend of mine, Andrew Nelles,  headed out today to cover the Illinois/Iowa/Missouri flood region.  After a long 5+ hour drive we made it to Quincy, Ill. 

-mj

some free time...

Edward has been working at carnivals for the past 38 years.  He currently operates the Be A Guitar Hero game.  

Jerry has been working at the carnival for the past 10 years.  He currently operates the Win Big Prizes game.

Ashley has been working at carnivals for the past 5 years.  She currently operates the Ski Ball game.  

Brittiny has been working with this carnival for 1 month.  She applied for the job because her boyfriend was already working with the carnival.  She currently operates the Pig Race game.  

Wayne has been working at carnivals since he was 15 years old.  He currently operates the BB Gun game

James has been working at carnivals since he was 15 years old.  He currently operates the Balloon Dart game.  

I was finally able to get out today and do some shooting for myself.  It felt great to move around freely, hunting for pictures that could be of whatever I wanted.  I recently moved into the Wicker Park/Humboldt Park area.  This week hosts the annual Puerto Rican Festival in Humboldt Park.  I made my way to the festival which turned out to be a great few hours of picture making and conversation with people that have probably seen it all.  I have always found myself really fascinated with the lifestyle of the "carnival operator," notice how I didn't use "carnie" I have found from past conversations that the term "carnie" is really offensive!  Anyways, here's what I got...

document life

-mj

weekend...

Been swamped with assignments...great thing but no time to write about it...anyways here are some visuals...

-mj