Occupy Norristown

Walter Ebmeyer, of Bryn Mawr, holds up an Occupy Norristown sign outside the Montgomery Court House on Saturday, December 10, 2011. Occupy Norristown is collecting toys for the Children of Montgomery Head Start, a preschool program for low-income families with young children. Photo by Christine Reckner/Times Herald Staff

Ron Friemel, of Jeffersonville, holds up an Occupy Norristown sign with a holiday twist outside the Montgomery Court House on Saturday, December 10, 2011. Occupy Norristown collected toys for the Children of Montgomery Head Start, a preschool program for low-income families with young children. Photo by Christine Reckner/Times Herald Staff

Owen Powell, of Media, waves to a car honking in support of the Occupy Lockheed Martin and LOCKHEED-VILLE Demonstration on Saturday, November 26, 2011, at the Lockheed Martin Valley Forge complex in Valley Forge. Photo by Christine Reckner/Times Herald Staff

Tents and signs sit on display at the Occupy Lockheed Martin and LOCKHEED-VILLE Demonstration on Saturday, November 26, 2011, at the Lockheed Martin Valley Forge complex in Valley Forge. Photo by Christine Reckner/Times Herald Staff

Beth Centz, of Philadelphia, adjusts a sign at the Occupy Lockheed Martin and LOCKHEED-VILLE Demonstration on Saturday, November 26, 2011, at the Lockheed Martin Valley Forge complex in Valley Forge. Photo by Christine Reckner/Times Herald Staff

By Christine Reckner

Occupy Norristown members convened with representatives of Brandywine Peace Community, a self-described faith-based, peace activist, war resistance group, outside the Lockheed Martin Valley Forge, to demonstrate against the weapons contractor and protest Lockheed Martin’s alleged profiteering amid unmet human and community needs.

  The motto of the demonstration was revealed on a large banner which read: “LOCKHEED-VILLE: where the businesses of war matters, and human needs don’t.”

  “The reason we have been with and are connecting with the occupy movement is to make the connection to the fact that Lockheed Martin is actually the top gun of the super-rich, of that one percent super-rich that the occupy movement speaks to,” said Robert M. Smith, staff coordinator of the Brandywine Peace Community.

While some motorists rolled down their windows to wave and honk in encouragement, others yelled obscenities at the protesters, telling them they were wasting their time and to get real jobs.

  “We’ve been seeing a lot of young, angry white males,” said Owen Powell, of Media. “I think that’s partly due to racism; a lot of young white males don’t like Obama.”

  An on-site ‘Shanty Town’ sat surrounded by cardboard signs, representing, the group claimed, the shanty towns or, Hoovervilles, built by homeless people during the Great Depression.

Throughout the protest, “LOCKHEED-VILLE Shanty Town” demonstrators chanted “We are the 99 percent” and held banners reading “You Pay; Lockheed Martin Profit$,” and “Jobs Not Wars.”

Wreaths Across America

Dan Kane and Lauren Mondo, of Eaglevile, adjust several of 2000 wreaths placed around the National Memorial Art at Valley Forge National Historical Park during the "Wreaths Across America" event on Saturday, December 10, 2011. The wreaths commemorate the men and women who died at the site during America’s War for Independence. Photo by Christine Reckner/Times Herald Staff

  

On December 10 at 10:00 a.m., the Friends of Valley Forge Park commemorated the men and women who died on the site during America’s War for Independence by participating in “Wreaths Across America.” Over 2,000 wreaths were placed around the National Memorial Arch at Valley Forge National Historical Park to memorialize America’s fallen soldiers and highlight the service and sacrifices of our veterans. 

http://www.timesherald.com/article/20111210/NEWS01/111219987/1010

 

Look How Much Fun My Job Is

Ho Ho Ho!

Kayla Washabaugh, 5, of Eagleville, hugs Santa during the 3rd Annual Lower Providence Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, December 2, 2011. Photo by Christine Reckner/Times Herald Staff

 

That Santa was probably the most personable Santa I've photographed this season yet.  He was happily waving his arms up and down when he got off his firetruck and repeatedly yelling "Ho ho ho Merry Christmas" into the huge crowd of people eagerly awaiting him. Made me wonder how much eggnog he had before he showed up...but seriously, I love these photos of this little girl, she looked so happy and cozied right up to St. Nick.

8th Annual Recovery Tree Celebration

Ornaments hang on the Recovering Tree during the 8th Annual Recovery Tree Celebration hosted by the Montgomery County Office of Drug and Alcohol at the Montgomery County Court House on Thursday, December 1, 2011. The event celebrated recovery from addiction, remembered lives lost, honored those working in the field and supported those in recovery. Photo by Christine Reckner/Times Herald Staff

Eline Jones, of Hatboro, helps her grandaughter Annalyse Jones, 5, hang an ornament on the Recovering Tree.

Rosane Hammond, of Eagleville, leans over the balcony to hang her ornament at the top of the Recovering Tree.

 

 

Waiting for the snow to fall

Zack Dronitsky, 2, of West Conshohocken, checks out the Christmas lights on the tree during the Conshohocken Annual Tree Lighting event on Friday, November 25, 2011. The event feautred a DJ, as well as hot chocolate and treats, trivia and prizes for the kids, followed by the arrival of Santa Claus, escorted into town by Conshohocken Fire Companies. Photo by Christine Reckner/Times Herald Staff

Glen Ridenour, of Conshohocken, takes a photo of his children from left, Anna, 10, Audrey, 5, and Steven, 8, at the annual Conshohocken Tree Lighting event on Friday, November 25, 2011. Photo by Christine Reckner/Times Herald Staff

Basketball season is here

Tonight I photographed Lafayette vs. Princeton Womens Basketball at Lafayette College. With my deadline shortened by an hour, I'm pleased with the shots I got in the little amount of time I was given to trasmit. Also, this was my first basketball game since Penn State, so it's been at least a season, maybe two since I've shot BBall. Photos came out a bit yellow though due to the lights in the gym...I think my color balance skills still need some work.

Also, found these kids this afternoon at an adventure park being..well, adventurous.

First Week on the Job

My first week at the Times Herald has definitely been an eye opening experience. I realize now what I've been missing out on these months I've been freelancing. Human contact, for one. When I freelance, I drive to my assignment and then come right back home to edit. I really enjoy coming into an office and working with other people with similar interests and skills to my own.

Another thing I enjoy is all the fun toys I get to take home, cameras, lenses, flip cams, net books, business cards even reporter notebooks..I feel like a real journalist now! AND my title isn't just "Photographer", my official title is Multimedia Journalist. I like all that that title encompasses. In addition to my shooting stills, I'm also once again shooting short videos, making slideshows, and will even be brushing up on my writing.

And the most important thing is that I'm really learning a lot. The other photographers here have been showing me a ton over the past few days, in fact, my head feels a little like it's going to explode. But that's a good thing, in some sense. I've needed this after my long hiatus from school.

One thing that's a little tricky to learn is that I've got to edit my photos to light almost to the point where they're uncomfortably washed out because the photos are going to look differently in print than from what I see on my computer screen. I've always been told to raise the levels and high lights but it seems now I've really gotta bump it up a notch.

Oh yeah, and in case you were interested, these photos are from Plymouth Whitemarsh's homecoming football game.

Jobobobob

I got the job!!

Starting next Tuesday I will be starting as a staff photographer for the Times Herald in Norristown!

It's so exciting to know that all my hard work has paid off!

Fall Features

Jacob Friedman, 2, of Telford, attempts to pick up at pumpkin at Brumbaugh's Farm in Telford on Tuesday, October 18, 2011.

Leave it to little kids to come to the rescue when you've been assigned features. My thought process was pretty much, "find a farm that's selling pumpkins. Find a small, cute child picking a pumpkin." Great success, and a nice little break from all the sports I've been shooting.

What's really starting to drive me crazy is that now that I'm shooting almost every day, I'm starting to get more and more critical of my work (not neccessarily a completely bad or good thing). I can tell myself for each assignment 5 things I could have done better. It makes me wonder why I didn't do these things in the first place! Example: I wish I had gotten even lower to the ground to photograph Jacob, it's hard to see his eyes. Or maybe even lower as if we were looking through the pumpkins...it seems that sometimes I get so worried about a deadline that I try to shoot something good instead of something awesome.

Souderton vs. Pennridge Girls Field Hockey

Pennridge’s Sarah Yerk tries the control the ball while Souderton’s Abbey Gabriel gives chase during Wednesday’s Suburban One Continental Conference game. For Montgomery Media—CHRISTINE RECKNER

 

Article

BOO!

 

I'm loving these haunted attraction assignments. The people working the haunts try just as hard to scare me as they do their other guests so I'm screaming along with them as people are jumping out at me too. If only I didn't have to use my flash...but these haunts are sometimes in complete darkness..

Mike Hart, of Harleysville, shows the crowd an old fashioned corn shelling demonstration at the 38th annual Applebutter Frolic at the Mennoite Heritage Center in Harleysville on Saturday, October 1, 2011.