reportage
I was humbled and honored to witness the grit and fortitude of the human spirit during the trying times of 2020 at a remarkable place in Omaha, Nebraska called QLI-a place where I've worked for nearly 25 years. This is a video diary of some of my favorite images I shot during this historic time.
All photographs were take in our apartment in Omaha, Nebraska during the first 60 days of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Jimmy Martin takes a short break from loading wood in the lumberyard. Jimmy is the brother of the Town and Country Minute Mart's owner, Mike Martin. Jimmy told me he's broken every bone in his body except for his neck, saying most resulted from his time as an amateur bull rider and brawling in bar rooms. Jimmy works long days in the yard and maintains a farm during his off hours. His hands are vivid evidence of the relentless work ethic that permeates most of rural Kentucky.
A week ago today I returned from Mt. Sterling, Kentucky where I participated in the Mountain Workshops photojournalism session.
The Mountain Workshops follow a similar format to the Missouri Photo Workshop that I attended last year. Both are focused on documenting the lives of people living in small town.
Instead of pounding the pavement to procure a story, as was the case in Missouri, each participant in Kentucky literally drew a story from a hat.
The week consisted of long days shooting my story, meeting with my team and coach and attending nightly presentations. We were also assigned a writing coach to collaborate with in writing stories and captions. My coach was Erika Schultz who is a full time photographer and videographer at the Seattle Times. Erika has a refined and keen eye and gave valuable feedback on my images, as well as suggestions on how to craft the most effective visual story.
Each photographer was given shot limit of 850 frames for the week. I really forced myself to be as economical and selective with my shooting and was pleased when I finished the week having shot just 219 images. I believe this disciplined approach really does hone my eye and helps with seeing then entire scene while anticipating key moments. Out of these 219 photographs, I collaborated with my coach to select 10 that captured the essence of my story. The photos were to submitted in color, but given the timeless feel and look of my story, most of my images seemed to work better in black and white. I’ll post a monochrome edit here this week along with a series of micro stories from the week.
My story was to cover Town and Country Minute Mart in the nearby town of Camargo. I drew my story at 12:30 P.M. on Monday and I was in the mart by 1:30. My initial impression of the mart was met with discouragement. The place looked and felt like an average, run-of-the-mill convenience store. After meeting and getting the green light from Penny, the mart’s office manager, I strolled the aisles and quickly discovered Town and Country Minute Mart is no typical convenience shop.
Here’s what I wrote for my lead in to my story.
Frog legs every Friday, sheets of plywood and 2x4’s, freshly stocked bottles of Ale 8 soda on ice, a tankful of gas, farm implements, green night-crawlers, ball peen hammers, and self serve coffee for 85 cents, you can find it all at the Town and Country Minute Mart LLC in Camargo, Kentucky.
Spend some time in the mart’s deli and you’ll be hard pressed to find a cell phone anywhere. Instead you’ll see people connecting with one another the old fashioned way; face to face.
Click below to see my story posted on the Mountain Workshops site.
In November of 2017, Mike Shearer was admitted to the ICU at Methodist Hospital in Omaha with pneumonia and complications from diabetes.
The following evening, Mike suffered a significant stroke and was rushed to Nebraska Medicine where he underwent a risky and life-saving craniectomy.. This procedure involved removing a large section of Mike's skull as well as a significant amount of brain tissue.
In addition to the complications from the stroke, Mike's heart became infected and required damaged heart valves to be removed and replaced with prosthetic ones.
One day after open heart surgery, Mike's body became extremely septic and he nearly lost his life.
Amazingly, Mike weathered all storms.
After receiving acute rehab at Madonna hospital in Lincoln Nebraska, Mike was admitted to QLI for rehabilitation in February of 2018.
QLI capitalized on Mike's passions, values and motivators to create a highly personalized program for Mike and his family.
On May 17th, 2018, Mike finally returned home to be with his wife and three children.
I had the incredible honor of documenting Mike Shearer and his inspirational family for a story for QLI. With Mike's determination combined with the spirit and energy of his wife, Denise, and their children, The Shearers are charting a course for a re-defined life; one with purpose, grace, hope and faith.
I combined my photographs with ambient sound and interviews to create the video imbedded below.
Mike plays the piano during a melodic intonation therapy session.
Mike’s stroke occurred on the left hemisphere of his brain and resulted in aphasia-the difficulty in understanding and expressing speech.
As part of his therapy at QLI, Mike used functional physical and speech therapy skills to host a family pool party. Here, Mike is shown with his son Rhett.
Mike’s wife Denise was a source of incredible strength and stability throughout Mike’s recovery.
Mike with his youngest daughter, Lauren.
Despite his wife being told Mike would never speak or walk agin, Mike defied the odds.
Mike’s ability to stand and walk improved drastically.
Mike works to regain movement and function in his right upper extremities.
Mike works on functional life skills at a local grocery store.
Mike with his speech and language pathologist during a session at QLI.
Mike’s daughter Lauren was able to spend a significant amount of time with Mike while his other children where in school.
Lauren joins Mike during a music therapy session.
Throughout Mike’s recovery, Denise and Mike lived at Denise’s parents’ house. Here Mike plays with his oldest daughter, Kate.
Above all, Mike values being a father and a husband.
Visits to the house were a vital part of Mike’s program at QLI in order to prepare Mike for moving home.
Mike and his children enjoying a movie during a weekend home visit.
Evening prayers before bed.
Mike and his family demonstrate the “Shearer Strong” pose.
This diptych incorporates edited iPhone photos Mike’s wife Denise’s shot in the hospital paired with images I took during Mike’s stay at QLI.
This diptych incorporates edited iPhone photos Mike’s wife Denise’s shot in the hospital paired with images I took during Mike’s stay at QLI.
This diptych incorporates edited iPhone photos Mike’s wife Denise’s shot in the hospital paired with images I took during Mike’s stay at QLI.
I recently had the honor of documenting Kent Templien's remarkable resolve as he recovers from a spinal cord injury he sustained from an ATV accident. I continue to be humbled to have the privilege and opportunity to tell the stories of the people we serve at QLI in Omaha.
