Guysville, Ohio

Athens, Ohio

Chad Kister

Chad Kister locks the gate leading to his private residence on his property in Nelsonville, Ohio on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2017. Kister has a degree in journalism, and is politically active about issues of conservation and politics. Thus, he “[is] being targetet by the secret government,” which seeks to overturn his business and find evidence to destroy his credibility. He owns and operates a hostel in his house and lives in the basement level, which he keeps under high security due to a history of break-ins.

Every angle of Kister’s property can be seen by surveillance cameras, both inside the house and outside.

 

Kister hangs towels on the clothesline in his yard in Nelsonville, Ohio. He owns a modern, efficient washing machine but hangs the laundry to conserve electricity.

 

Chad Kister walks his dog, Dude, on his property in Nelsonville, Ohio. Though his property is adjacent to the Wayne National Forest, he no longer leaves his acre of land for fear “that the secret government will break in and cause mayhem.” He has not left his property in over a year.

 

Kister scrapes food left by an evicted guest into the compost bin, which he eventually uses as fertilizer for his vegetables and bamboo. Plastic bottles of all kinds are used to store water for emergencies.

 

Chad Kister repairs tile that was damaged by a recent guest, using spare tile from a store house on his property. “I like the mosaic pattern,” he says.

 

Chad Kister lays old pizza boxes on the ground, which he uses as sheet mulch. He covers the cardboard with compost material to prevent weeds from growing in his garden areas.

 

Chad Kister sorts through donated clothes, which he sells in a small store in the front of the Bessemer Hostel.

 

Chad Kister stands for a portrait on his property in Nelsonville, Ohio.

 

Chad Kister clears brush left by his electric provider from his property in Nelsonville, Ohio. He piles the brush on one side of his property as a natural fence to keep his neighbor’s dog out, but it “also acts as a habitat for all sorts of wildlife.”

Some Photos

Amesville, Ohio

AMESVILLE, OH—22 March 2017—Katrina Marcum, one of the co-owners of Thrift Chics Too, a small, local thrift shop.

AMESVILLE, OH—22 March 2017—LouAnn Elliott, one of the co-owners of Thrift Chics Too, a small, local thrift shop.

AMESVILLE, OH—22 March 2017—LouAnn Elliott and Katrina Marcum, co-owners of Thrift Chics Too, a small, local thrift shop.

Athens County, Ohio

Athens, Ohio

Chauncey, Ohio

I met this lovely family wandering through Chauncey. I don’t know the area very well, so I’m trying to talk to as many people as I can to get a feel for the place.

CHAUNCEY, OHIO—21 March 2017—Dennis Radford holds his grand-niece, Brielle Radcliff (1), while his grand-nephew, Braelon Swiney (5), begins a construction project.

Athens, Ohio

Here are a couple of photos showing the area near my current house. I’m struggling to find subjects in this new place but trying to keep taking pictures.

Carriage Hill Fire

Firefighters attempt to stop the fire in Carriage Hill building number 12 on February 26th, 2017. (WOUB / Drake Withers)

Firefighters spray water from the back of Carriage Hill building number 12 as the fire spreads towards the north end of the building. (Drake Withers / WOUB)

Bystanders watch the fire from the field behind the Carriage Hill apartment complex. Residents from the adjacent building were also evacuated. (Drake Withers / WOUB)

Firefighters spray water into the top of Carriage Hill building number 12. The fire spread from room to room, burning most of the interior of the building and destroying almost the entire roof. (Drake Withers / WOUB)

Firefighters wait during a period of low water pressure, allowing the main water nozzles to take priority. (Drake Withers / WOUB)

Bystanders watch the fire from the Carriage Hill parking lot. (Drake Withers / WOUB)

Emergency responders continue to fight the fire in Carriage Hill building number 12 as more emergency vehicles arrive from neighboring cities. (Drake Withers / WOUB)

Firefighters from various departments spray water into Carriage Hill building number 12 from the parking lot. (Drake Withers / WOUB)

Firefighters break the windows in Carriage Hill building number 12 to spray water directly into the building. (Drake Withers / WOUB)

Firefighters spray water into Carriage Hill building number 12 from the roof of an adjacent building. The fire was prevented from spreading to any nearby structure, although building 12 was left in ruins. (Drake Withers / WOUB)

River City Blues Competition

Every year there is a blues competition in Marietta, Ohio. I attended this year on behalf of WOUB News; here are some of the photos:

MARIETTA, OHIO—February 18, 2017—Cedric Ridgeway and Luther Trammell, forming a two-piece band called Luther and Cedric “Lightning Blues,” perform at the 25th annual River City Blues Competition.

MARIETTA, OHIO—February 18, 2017—Michael Gough, vocalist and singer for the Gough Martin Blues Band, performs at the 25th annual River City Blues Competition with Gerry Smoot on drums.

MARIETTA, OHIO—February 18, 2017—John Martin plays a solo on the guitar while Gerry Smoot plays drums during the Gough Martin Blues Band’s part of the 25th annual River City Blues Competition.

MARIETTA, OHIO—February 18, 2017—The Gough Martin Blues Band, comprised of Patrick Preston (left), John Martin, Gerry Smoot, and Michael Gough, performs during the 25th annual River City Blues Competition.

Athens, Ohio Water Main Break

A break in a main pipe left the entire city of Athens, Ohio without water for a day. Schools and businesses were closed, and even after the repair the city was placed under a boil-water notice for two days more.

According to Nick Joseph, Division Supervisor for Engineering and Public Works, the rupture was caused by a “water hammer,” a phenomenon which causes more pressure to build up than the pipes can withstand. This site is close to the main water reservoir, Joseph says, and there was a similar rupture near this site about two and a half years ago.

ATHENS, OHIO—February 16, 2017—Pat Casco (left), Jon Young, Glen Goins, and Ryan Brickles wait for a new section of pipe after preparing the location of the water main break. 

ATHENS, OHIO—February 16, 2017—Jon Young (left) and Pat Casco, Engineering and Public Works employees, wade through muddy water to clean off the exposed segments of pipe in prepare it for its repair.

ATHENS, OHIO—February 16, 2017—Ryan Brickles (bottom left) and Jon Young clean off an exposed section of the Athens City water main with Pat Casco (top left) and Glen Goins (top right).

Pokey LaFarge

Pokey LaFarge visited our Athens, Ohio campus last week in collaboration with Adyn’s Dream, a non-profit group dedicated to the relief of families affected by cases of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. I photographed the event on assignment for WOUB News.

Athens, Ohio—Senior Yoga

ATHENS, OHIO—February 15, 2017—Yoga instructor Linda Cochran leads a class of senior citizens during preliminary stretching exercises. The class brings dozens of seniors to the Athens public library every week, many of whom have attended for years.

ATHENS, OHIO—February 15, 2017—Yoga instructor Linda Cochran helps Jelly Huizinga to relax during the opening stages of a class for senior citizens.

ATHENS, OHIO—February 15, 2017—Alfred Clapp exercises alongside senior citizens in a weekly yoga class. Clapp attends to assist his mother, Alice Clapp, who resides in an assisted living facility.

ATHENS, OHIO—February 15, 2017—Tutty Ice (left) and her friend Pam Boyer hold a difficult position during a senior yoga class taught in the public library.

ATHENS, OHIO—February 15, 2017—Nancy Walker lies in a resting position at the end of a yoga class offered weekly to senior citizens. This position opens the chest cavity and facilitates meditation.

ATHENS, OHIO—February 15, 2017—Chuck Adkins enters a resting position at the close of a weekly yoga class offered to senior citizens.

The Canadian Brass

I had the opportunity to photograph The Canadian Brass in concert yesterday night for WOUB News. They were friendly and quite funny. Here are some of the photographs:

 

ATHENS, OHIO—February 07, 2017—The Canadian Brass, comprised of Chuck Daellenbach (left), Bernhard Scully, Chris Coletti, Caleb Hudson, and Achilles Liarmakopoulos, takes the stage at Ohio Univerity’s Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium. This concert is one of many hosted by the School of Music in the 2017 Performing Arts Series.

ATHENS, OHIO—February 07, 2017—The Canadian Brass performs in Ohio University’s Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium.

ATHENS, OHIO—February 07, 2017—The Canadian Brass plays a concert at Ohio Univerity’s Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium.

ATHENS, OHIO—February 07, 2017—Trumpet Chris Coletti plays from the rear of the auditorium during The Canadian Brass concert on Tuesday. Members of the quintet stationed themselves throughout the space as an example of the “first surround sound system.”

ATHENS, OHIO—February 07, 2017—Director Daniel J. Hall conducts a choral ensemble with The Canadian Brass during Tuesday’s concert.

ATHENS, OHIO—February 07, 2017—Director Andrew Trachsel conducts as the Canadian Brass is joined by the Ohio University Wind Symphony during Tuesday’s concert.

ATHENS, OHIO—February 07, 2017—Caleb Hudson (right) performs a solo during The Canadian Brass’ concert on Tuesday. The solo is played on a piccolo trumpet, which is an octave higher than his standard instrument.

ATHENS, OHIO—February 07, 2017—Chuck Daellenbach, of The Canadian Brass, dances with his Tuba as part of a mock ballet, while Caleb Hudson, Bernhard Scully, Achilles Liarmakopoulos, and Chris Coletti play the roles of supporting dancers.

ATHENS, OHIO—February 07, 2017—Members of The Canadian Brass kneel at the finale of their concert Tuesday night.

ATHENS, OHIO—February 07, 2017—The Canadian Brass is applauded at the end of a performance during Tuesday’s concert.

Catching Up: Recent Work

Last month I moved to Athens, Ohio to study photojournalism at Ohio University. Although I feel that I lost momentum in the transition, I am excited to be a part of such an incredible program. I’m perhaps equally excited to be living in this part of the country.

So far I’ve shot a bit for class and for WOUB News. Here are some of the selects:

ATHENS, OHIO—January 26, 2017—Maddie Carter, 16, of Glouster, OH, inspects her newly touched-up tattoo while her mother, Angela Carter, waits. Maddie and Angela went to Skin Hooked, on Court St., to get matching tattoos on their ankles.

ATHENS, OHIO—January 25, 2017—Members of the Ohio University Band perform during the Women’s Basketball game against Western Michigan University.

ATHENS, OHIO—January 25, 2017—Bobcats’ forward Kelly Karlis charges past Western Michigan defenders

ATHENS, OHIO—January 25, 2017—Ohio University Forward Hannah Boesinger drives toward the hoop.

ATHENS, OHIO—January 25, 2017—Players stand around after Bobcats’ Guard Amani Burke was knocked over, striking her head. She was substituted to the sidelines but sustained no permanent injury.

ATHENS, OHIO—January 25, 2017—Ohio University Guard Quiera Lampkins exploits an opening in the Western Michigan defense.

ATHENS, OHIO—January 25, 2017—Players line up to shake hands after the Women’s Basketball game against Western Michigan University. The Bobcats won with a score of 80-66, with Katie Barker scoring 18 points.

ATHENS, OHIO—January 27, 2017—McKennah Robinson shows the name of her randomly assigned product to fellow Ohio University students Leah Keiter (left), Cara Hansen, and Danielle McCarthy. The drawing of index cards marks the beginning of Ad Club’s annual Ad Bowl, a competition requiring contestants to write and film an advertisement on their cell phones in a period of 24 hours.

ATHENS, OHIO—January 27, 2017—Cara Hansen (left center) and Leah Keiter inspect their assigned product at the kickoff of the 2017 Ad Bowl. The competition used to be an annual event, says Danielle McCarthy, Ad Club President, and after a brief hiatus the club is once again holding the event.

ATHENS, OHIO—January 28, 2017—Jackson Baehr and Sarah Abrams look as Gabby Hollowell holds up her computer during the planning stage of Ad Club’s annual Ad Bowl copmetition. The three students form a team that has been assigned to advertise the Softsoap brand.

ATHENS, OHIO—January 27, 2017—Leah Keiter (left) and Cara Hansen laugh with Danielle McCarthy (front left) and McKennah Robinson during the planning stage of Ad Club’s annual Ad Bowl competition.

ATHENS, OHIO—January 28, 2017—Sarah Abrams (left) uses a desk lamp to light Jackson Baehr as Gabby Hollowell films a scene for the team’s advertisement during the Ad Club Ad Bowl. The script involves a conversation between Jackson and a bottle of generic soap that he has decided to replace with the Softsoap brand product.

ATHENS, OHIO—January 28, 2017—Arms tangle as Gabby Hollowell (left), Sarah Abrams and Jackson Baehr discuss potential editing ideas during Ad Club’s annual Ad Bowl.

ATHENS, OHIO—January 28, 2017—Cara Hansen (middle) connects her laptop to the TV to show her team’s work at the end of Ad Club’s annual Ad Bowl.

ATHENS, OHIO—January 28, 2017—Members of Ad Club including Cara Hansen (left), Gabby Hollowell, Danielle McCarthy and Jackson Baehr watch the advertisements that were created during the annual Ad Bowl competition. Competitors will vote to decide which is the best advertisement.

The Boxcar—Caitlyn Renshaw

The Boxcar Studio

I’ve been working long hours at The Boxcar Studio photographing the wonderful people that have spaces there. Though to be honest, though, it hasn’t hardly seemed like work at all. I want to thank everyone who is a part of this project for letting me into their lives to take pictures.

Here is a preliminary selection of some of the pictures I liked. They aren’t really in order and I only did some cursory processing to make them viewable.

Thanks for looking!

Provo, UT

I’m up to my neck in photographs from The Boxcar Studios; this is the first time I have had to really think about how to make the editing process more efficient! For now, here are a couple of scenes from Provo.

Cincinnati, OH

Last weekend I visited my girlfriend, Meredith, in Cincinnati and had a great time. I am embarrassed to confess that I didn’t take any pictures of her or of us. I regretted that as soon as I landed back in Salt Lake City and started missing her again (can’t wait to go back and fill an SD card). However, I did take a few pictures of her city while she was busy studying.

Thanks for visiting.

Cincinnati, OH.

Cincinnati, OH.

Cincinnati, OH.

Cincinnati, OH.

Salt Lake City, UT.

The Boxcar Studio

This week I started photographing the amazing folks down at The Boxcar Studios in Provo, a cooperative group of local artists directed by Jake Buntjer. They have lots of talent and plenty of ambition; I’m eager to see more of what they do.

Jake (left) and Chase trade ideas during a weekly meeting.

Mike (standing) gets soulful as Boxcar plans their upcoming Halloween party.

A beginning?

I haven’t actually written anything (or even posted pictures, really!) here in a long time; that’s bothering me today. At what point will I have things to say? Adulthood started long ago, yet I often find myself waiting for my things to happen, looking outwards and admiring all the people who I feel have it “together.” I feel myself hang back in my comfort zone and leave my dreams to live inside themselves; I often feel terrified of where I want to be. (Whether I’m afraid of success or failure is still a mystery. Thanks, Steven Pressfield.)

This is not to say that I’ve got nothing; lots of exciting things are happening for me. I don’t mean to brag, but this is my blog, so…

• I have a great job working as an assistant for a local photographer.
• I just started an exciting new project about a local art collective led by Jake Buntjer. His vision is amazing.
• I love my camera.
• My roommate Alton Campbell is helping me teach myself how to code for web development. A new website is on its way.
• I’m taking interesting classes from a good university.
• My life is filled with pleasant distractions. From fulfilling things like playing the guitar with Alton to silly things like riding a skateboard, I’m never bored. (The brute ugliness of that homophone is beyond obnoxious to me, but alas! my hands are tied…)
• My girlfriend is wonderful and I love her. She has her nose buried in her first year of med school at the University of Cincinnati. Go Mer!
• Etc…

So why do you not take more pictures? It’s not like you’re short on inspiration! Goodness, Drake, you drive me crazy. Anyway, this is becoming lengthy and the only end in sight is an arbitrary one—here are some pictures of sunny Provo.

Thanks for your visit.

Provo, UT

Provo Punk Collective

A fun group of kids who like to get together and make music. Thanks for looking!

Streetscapes—Provo, UT

A recent edit of an older project. Thanks for looking.

Meredith

Photos from a summer with my favorite human.

---

Robert Willes

A former music performance major, Robert is now pursuing a career in music production. He is still an active performer, playing with small college bands and major orchestras alike.

Provo Bicycle Collective

Directed by Austin Taylor, the Provo Bicycle Collective allows volunteers to gain bicycle maintenance skills free of charge. Members of the collective learn by restoring old bicycles, which are then offered to the community at a low cost. People of all different ages and circumstances are brought together in an environment that is friendly and inviting—a refreshing experience in the quickly expanding city of Provo.

Untitled

Hanging out with the family.

Provo, UT

Provo, UT

Provo, UT

Miscellaneous photographs from February.

 

Alton

Provo, UT

Film Shoot in Clay, Alabama

On the set of a film production directed by Robert Machoian.

 

Untitled

Streetscapes—Provo, UT

A new project that I’ve been working on at night. Click the photo or the link below to view the set.

Drake

Streetscapes—Provo, UT

Devan

Sisters—Kelsie & Melissa

Hard and Soft Light

Robert