Express-News Shots of the Week 6/27

The summer continues to be as busy as always and the assignments at the SAEN continue to offer something new every day. It was nice to have a few nature shoots lately. They were really a nice departure form some of the PR events that I've been shooting. I've also met a lot of interesting people that have given me a little more insight into the city and the people that live here. I think I will let the images speak this week, enjoy.

The Dixon family walks through the wildflower trail portion of the Michell Lake Audubon Center while participating in the Alamo Area Nature Challenge on June 18, 2011. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

The Dixon family looks for directions as they participate in the Alamo Area Nature Challenge at the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center on June 18, 2011. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Bryce, right, and Sara Dixon inspect a retama plant as the Dixon family participates in the Alamo Area Nature Challenge at the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center on June 18, 2011. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

A dragonfly sits on a plant at the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center on June 18, 2011. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

The Dixon family searches for specific plants while participating in the Alamo Area Nature Challenge at the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center on June 18, 2011. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Black-bellied whistling ducks are pictured along the Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River on June 22, 2011. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Justin Hernandez, 11, drives the to basket while playing basketball at the Dan Cook Youth Center on June 24, 2011. SA Youth recently recieved a $1.8 million grant from TEA. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Albert Selfridge, 7, creates a collage at the Dan Cook Youth Center on June 24, 2011. SA Youth recently recieved a $1.8 million grant from TEA. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

C.H. Guenther & Son Inc. housekeeper Maria Martinez gives a thumbs up to a passing car while picketing outside of the flour mill on South Alamo Street June 24, 2011. June 25 marks the two-month anniversary of the strike where workers hope to gain higher wages and better health benefits. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

C.H. Guenther & Son Inc. mixer Michael Blancas holds up a fake rat while picketing outside of the flour mill on South Alamo Street June 24, 2011. Blancas said that non-union laborers are refered to as rats or scabs. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Express-News Shots of the Week 6/18

This post has shots from the past few weeks since I didn't get around to doing one last week. Work and my online Spanish class have been taking a lot of time but I finally have time this weekend to get some stuff done. What I love about this job is that every day is different. I could be shooting food at one assignment then celebrities as the next. First off are a few shots from Eva Longoria's book signing for her first cookbook at a local mall. It seems like you would have to train for a marathon of signing and smiling like this. Next is a photo from a PR event I went to that was raising awareness for how hot it can get in a locked car in the summer. People were supposed to have worn fur coats and sit in the car to see how hot it would get but needless to say that didn't happen. Then we a couple food shots that look and tasted pretty good. Last but not least we have a unique workout class that spends the last 15 minutes power napping. They also turn off the lights and put on the slow zen jams. Enjoy.

Eva Longoria, right, greets customers at a signing event for her first cookbook, "Eva's Kitchen: Cooking with Love for Family and Friends", June 4, 2011, at Williams-Sonoma at the Shops at La Cantera. Only people with on of 400 tickets were allowed to get Longoria's signature in their books. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Williams-Sonoma employee Ellen Boyer, left, hands out food samples made from recipies in Eva Longoria's cookbook to customers waiting in line to get their copies of the book autographed June 4, 2011, at the Shops at La Cantera. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Eva Longoria personally signed hundreds of copies of her first cookbook, "Eva's Kitchen: Cooking with Love for Family and Friends", June 4, 2011, at Williams-Sonoma at the Shops at La Cantera. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Nachos bake on the dashboard of a car June 1, 2011, at the San Antonio Fire Academy as a demonstration by the SAFD on how hot it can get in a car during the summer. The temperature rose to about 150 degrees, which can kill an animal or child locked in the car in a matter of minutes according to SAFD District Chief Joe Jones. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

The greek pizza, turkey panini and French Lover dessert crepe are pictured in Taste's main dining area May 27, 2011. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Taste's turkey panini is pictured May 27, 2011. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

San Antonio resident Navarra Williams works out during the downtown Spectrum athletic club's Sets and Reps class June 17, 2011. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

San Antonio resident Rosanne Samaniego lifts weights during the Sets and Reps class at the downtown Spectrum athletic club June 17, 2011. Samaniego said she enjoys the class because the power nap at the end gives her a chance to rejuvenate before going back to work. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

San Antonio resident Navarra Williams takes a power nap at the end of a Sets and Reps class at the downtown Spectrum athletic club June 17, 2011. The class consists of 45 minutes of weight training, then a 15-minute power nap to rejuvenate the mind and body. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Express-News Shots of the Week 5/31

I'm starting to settle into the schedule in San Antonio while learning every day and I'm loving it. Just being able to focus on work is actually a lot less stressful than dealing with school as well even though I will be taking summer courses starting next week. For this weeks images, I'm starting with a dedicated educator who is laying down his calculator after 50 years of teaching at Alamo Heights High School. It's always great to meet someone who genuinely enjoys the work he does every day. Then we have the last living member of an 18 man dive-bomber squadron from the Battle of Midway who was being honored for his service at this past week's Memorial Day activities. I was honored to meet each one of these men for their services to the community and our country. Until next week, enjoy.

After 50 years of problem solving and equation educating, Alamo Heights High School math teacher Paul Foerster will hang up his calculator at the end of this school year. Foerster, now author of several precalculus and calculus textbooks, began his career far from the education realm. Foerster was previously a chemical engineer in the Navy's nuclear propulsion program before going back to school to become a teacher. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Alamo Heights High School math teacher Paul Foerster works with student Wesley Miller on his final exam review May 20, 2011, during Foerster's final week of teaching after 50 years of service. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Math teacher Paul Foerster helps a student with an equation May 20, 2011, during his final week of teaching after 50 years of service at Alamo Hights High School. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

After 50 years of problem solving and equation educating, Alamo Heights High School math teacher Paul Foerster will hang up his calculator at the end of this school year. Foerster, now author of several precalculus and calculus textbooks, began his career far from the education realm. Foerster was previously a chemical engineer in the Navy's nuclear propulsion program. During his time in the Navy, he began tutoring and ultimately went back to school to become a teacher. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Capt. Norman J. Kleiss shows off a picture of himself taken after recieving the Distinguished Flying Cross at his apartment May 24, 2011. Kleiss recieved the medal from Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz for bombing a cruiser in the Marshall Islands during World War II. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Capt. Norman J. Kleiss' Navy cross sits on his original log books at his apartment May 24, 2011. Kleiss is the last living member of his 18 pilot squadron. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Excerpts from Capt. Norman J. Kleiss' log books are shown at his apartment May 24, 2011. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

Express-News Shots of the Week 5/23

This begins the new Shots of the Week series for the summer as I begin my internship at the San Antonio Express-News. I've already had a pretty diverse range of assignments so far and have learned a lot just by talking and assisting some of the experienced photographers on staff. My first assignment was to shoot a ceremony for Segs4Vets, an organization that provides Segways to wounded veterans, in front of the Alamo. Photographer Tom Reel helped me see that patience is very important during events like these and the best shot can come when you least suspect it. Before I even turned in those shots, I was sent to a naturalization ceremony at a local college where over 800 immigrants were becoming American citizens. Very interesting to hear the reasons why some of these people where there that day. I then had the opportunity to assist photographer Helen Montoya with her portrait shoot for Conexion's Hottest Latina contest. I can never learn enough about portraiture and I picked up a lot of tips on natural light throughout the shoot. My final assignment of the week was a breaking news story at the crime scene of an off-duty officers death. It was exciting to get the call but at the scene there wasn't much to work with but I did the best I could. Every day is different and thats what I love about this job. Until next week, enjoy.

Marshitah Garbacz celebrates after taking the oath as over 800 imigrants from 82 countries were sworn in as American citizens on May 18, 2011, in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University. ANDREW BUCKLEY/abuckley@express-news.net

Corporal Kendra Coleman of Hampton, Georgia, waits to ride her new Segway in front of the Alamo during the Segs4Vets ceremony on May 18, 2011. Coleman was one of 37 wounded troops who recieved a Segway from the organization. ANDREW BUCKLEY/abuckley@express-news.net

Sergeant First Class Robert Luscomb of Homosassa, Florida, waits in line to receive a segway at the Alamo on May 18, 2011. Luscomb, who served in the Army 10th Mountain Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004, said that he put the unique t-shirt design on his prosthetic because it was better than the usual beige. ANDREW BUCKLEY/abuckley@express-news.net

Sergeant Verner Williams of Salisbury, Missouri, rides in front of the Alamo after recieving his new Segway during a ceremony for the Segs4Vets program on May 17, 2011. Williams sustained injuries during Operation Enduring Freedom when his platoon came under "friendly fire". ANDREW BUCKLEY/abuckley@express-news.net

United States military troops were honored May 19, 2011, while accepting Segways from Segs4Vets, a program that provides the mobility devices to severely wounded troops. ANDREW BUCKLEY/abuckley@express-news.net

The Segs4Vets organization honored members of the military May 18, 2011, at the Alamo by giving 37 wounded troops their own Segways. ANDREW BUCKLEY/abuckley@express-news.net

Amanda Bennett, right, greets First Lieutenant Cody Culp after the Segs4Vets ceremony on May 18, 2011, in front of the Alamo. ANDREW BUCKLEY/abuckley@express-news.net

An off-duty police officer was found dead May 20, 2011, inside a pick-up truck parked outside of a West Side pharmacy. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net

An off-duty police officer was found dead May 20, 2011, inside a pick-up truck parked outside of a West Side pharmacy. ANDREW BUCKLEY / abuckley@express-news.net