Sometimes cool things happen when passing out business cards. Photo by Richard Sayer

I posted 2 tonight because each portrait was slightly different, but I was pleased with both. I met Patrick maybe 5 minutes before these were taken. I certainly did not have the time to explore his personality. I simply saw a cool lighting opportunity and went for a portrait. The one with the smaller head was actually shot through the eye hole of a mask that ended up too dark, but it created a nice composition just the same. This was a newspaper portrait without too much time to explore, but I was happy with how each turned out. I'll be excited to seeing which one, if either makes it into the paper tomorrow. Meadville Tribune photographs by Richard Sayer

A newspaper portrait is sometimes difficult, you don't want to do too much to take away from the realness of the person and you try to show something of the personality and the bigger story you're telling. Heather loves her cows and this is a special cow to her. I wanted some sort of interaction without guiding her too much. I don't want to suggest hugging or kissing the cow if its not something she would do naturally. There were some hugs, but the look on Heather's face in this picture I felt told the story best. Meadville Tribune photograph by Richard Sayer

An event will take place this coming weekend called Pawcaso featuring dogs, cats and a t least one chicken who will become artists making paintings. With the help of volunteers the animals will get their paws(or whatever a foor is called in whatever pet is brought) painted and help applying them to boards. On saturday is weekend the volunteers practiced with some volunteer animals including Molli the cat. Meadville Tribune photograph by Richard Sayer

When the lights are shut off for a powerpoint presentation or slideshow you have to formulate a strategy. Its too dark to take pictures and the flash will ruin the picture by whiting out the screen, not to mention annoying everyone you blind with it. So I looked for a silhouette and tried to use slides from the presentation to help tell the story. I got a few frames, but this one looked so much like an abstract painting that it rose to the top in my eyes. Meadv

Sidelines are great places to look for photographs, there is so much more to Friday night football than the game. So many others invest their time and dedication to each Friday night. Meadvi

In sports its not only about the action. I look at faces--they make or break a picture. I also look at body language. When both come together in one I have a picture. I got a kick out of watching these two girls from Conneaut Lake chat in between points. They truly enjoy themselves on the court. Meadville Tribune photograph by Richard Sayer. 


Oh yeah and the girl on the right appeared in one of the early featured photos. If anyone can figure out which one we'll give you a free portrait sitting.

This was the photograph of the butterflies release. It was a little chilly and the butterflies seemed reluctant to take off. I liked the geometric shapes in this picture and the see through boxes. A bit of a odd surreal image. Meadville Tribune photograph by Richard Sayer

When I first moved to Meadville in the early 90's Vicki Van Meter was the talk of the town. The youngest pilot to go coast to coast and then across the Atlantic. Vicki died last year and I had never gotten to photograph her. I was working when the Meadville Airport decided to honor her and her mom gave an emotional speech and helped release butterflies in Vicki's honor. This was my favorite photograph from the day as Vicki's mom trying to gather herself after releasing the butterflies. Meadville Tribune photograph by Richard Sayer

Often in the newspaper business when we must separate ourselves from our subjects to objectively look at them for story--not familiarity, we neglect to see those we're related to or friends with for the part of the story they tell. Dan Perrine is my next door neighbor and I often photograph the Post  52 Veterans of the Vietnam War which Dan is a member. I don't know if I've photographed him for the paper before other than he being part of the color guard in parades perhaps. During their 24 hour vigil for the MIA's at Diamond Park this year the lighting seemed about right on Dan and I just thought it was time I got my neighbor's picture in the paper as his story is as important as the rest of the members of the post. Unfortunatly a different picture was chosen for the paper the nex