Northcutt Photography

Before I left for my week long photo shot in South Dakota, I worked with the Pearce family on their portraits. We shot out at Washington Park in Springfield. Couldn’t have asked for a better day. I will post some photos soon! They are reviewing them now. And yes I was able to travel, write a story while in South Dakota and still edited down the Pearce family photos, post on-line for them to view…all with in a week of shooting. That should be the norm for all photographers!

Story by Pfc. Jason Northcutt, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, SD – Engine one ready, engine two ready, engine three ready. Burn is a go. These words fill the radio air waves as Soldiers from the 661st and 662nd Firefighting Teams with the Illinois Army National Guard in Sparta, fight aircraft and structural fires in a week long, hands on, firefighting training. The exercise is taking place at one of only four sites left in the U.S. that uses diesel fuel to help train troops to fight fires.

Each year the teams must complete both day and night burns to keep their military job skills up-to-date. This year the Sparta units are participating in a multi-state, multi-unit operation known as “Golden Coyote.”

“In the past, the firefighting teams have only used propane for hands-on training which limits the techniques used,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Milner from Mascoutah, the station chief for the 661st.

“By controlling the techniques used, the teams do not get a chance to use the firefighting agents they will use in the field. The training we are doing here is with carbon-based fuels, or diesel, and are not controlled by timers or water levels sprayed over the fire.”

The training is realistic and puts the Soldiers in situations they could battle in a real-life incident.

“The fire teams actually have to put the fire out,” Milner said. “Using the diesel is more realistic, burns hotter and they will use the skills they have learned to put the fire out.”

The teams are not only fighting aircraft fires, but are learning structural firefighting techniques.

“These structure fires teach the teams how fires can spread,” said Warrant Officer (1) Wade Lein, Commander of the 216th and 451st Firefighting Detachment with the South Dakota Army National Guard in Sturgis, S.D.

Another technique taught is hydraulic ventilation. By creating a fog pattern and shooting the water out an open window, the water pulls the heat and smoke from the room. This increases visibility and decreases the heat in the room.

“This technique helps in putting out the fire and search and rescue for anyone trapped inside,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher Heiken of New Minden, a member of the 662nd Firefighting Team.

For some Soldiers, the training received is the first hands-on training since they first enlisted and were taught their military jobs.

“The training is great,” said Pvt. Christian Santos of Villa Park who enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in 2009. “This is the first time I have fought a fire not controlled by timers or instructors.”

Santos finished his military schooling one month ago and sees this training as an opportunity to get to know the unit and train with the actual equipment used in the field.

The experiences are also unique because they combine military units from several states with civilians to conquer a common goal.

“The training makes for a long night, but I love doing it,’” said William Cina, a civilian firefighter with the Ellsworth Air Force Base who has seen many units from all over the U.S. take part in the training.

“I love doing this! I love that I can help and teach others how to fight fires. The training has a huge payoff when they are deployed.”

Well the week is over here in South Dakota. Waiting to catch a flight back to Chicago, than to St Louis and drive home to Springfield. The week was great and will go in more detail on my next post. But for now here is a little teaser pic! And yes that is a real fire!

The city itself was an interesting place. For the most part, and this is just my opinion, most of the down town are was run down. People would say watch where you turn … and well that is just about anywhere in Baltimore. With that said, the city was full of life and culutre. And being for an East Coast town, the people were friendly. I wish I would have gotten out more to view the city and take more photos, but here are a few from the trip. And yes the clounds behind the church are from that day and were not photo shopped in.

And here is a little odd fact about the city: The city is named after Lord Baltimore in the Irish House of Lords, the founding proprietor of the Maryland Colony.

As many of you may know, as a photographer, I prefer that a Make Up Artist use MAC Cosmetics , and have been known to tell strangers about their products. Yes … I am a guy … and use I know a little about make up. One of the great things about MAC , is their recycling program. Many companies have gone “Green” over the years, but MAC has been doing this for sometime. They have shown that they care about the community not by just the recycling program, but also by giving back to the community.

Not only do you help keep the products out of the land fills, but you get something in return. Here is some information from their site:

Because we share your commitment to the environment, M·A·C accepts returns of its primary packaging through the Back to M·A·C Program. By returning six [6] M·A·C primary packaging containers to a M·A·C counter or M·A·C Cosmetics online, you’ll receive a free M·A·C lipstick of your choice as our thanks to you.

So if you are looking for a new line of make up… I would suggest MAC. They are a little more expensive … but when it comes to make up, its worth it! Just ask my wife…got her turned onto MAC and she loves it….

Back in 2008 I was stationed at Ft Mead, MD to reclassify from a photographer to a Broadcast Journalist for the Army Reserves. Annapolis, a short drive from Ft Mead, is the famed Naval Academy and any time spent on the East Coast would not be complete without touring the campus … well at least to me! I was able to walk most of the grounds before the light faded and I was completely frozen. Here is a brief history of the Academy. You can find more at their site US Naval Academy . The photos below are only a few and hope that you like.

Through the efforts of the Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, the Naval School was established without Congressional funding, at a 10-acre Army post named Fort Severn in Annapolis, Maryland, on October 10, 1845, with a class of 50 midshipmen and seven professors. The curriculum included mathematics and navigation, gunnery and steam, chemistry, English, natural philosophy, and French.

In 1850 the Naval School became the United States Naval Academy. A new curriculum went into effect requiring midshipmen to study at the Academy for four years and to train aboard ships each summer. That format is the basis of a far more advanced and sophisticated curriculum at the Naval Academy today. As the U.S. Navy grew over the years, the Academy expanded. The campus of 10 acres increased to 338. The original student body of 50 midshipmen grew to a brigade size of 4,000. Modern granite buildings replaced the old wooden structures of Fort Severn.

Congress authorized the Naval Academy to begin awarding bachelor of science degrees in 1933. The Academy later replaced a fixed curriculum taken by all midshipmen with the present core curriculum plus 18 major fields of study, a wide variety of elective courses and advanced study and research opportunities.

Since then, the development of the United States Naval Academy has reflected the history of the country. As America has changed culturally and technologically so has the Naval Academy. In just a few decades, the Navy moved from a fleet of sail and steam-powered ships to a high-tech fleet with nuclear-powered submarines and surface ships and supersonic aircraft. The academy has changed, too, giving midshipmen state-of- the-art academic and professional training they need to be effective naval officers in their future careers.

The Naval Academy first accepted women as midshipmen in 1976, when Congress authorized the admission of women to all of the service academies. Women comprise about 13 to 14 percent of entering plebes–or freshmen–and they pursue the same academic and professional training as do their male classmates.

The season of sailing is quickly upon us

A peaceful walk on camus

Here are couple more photos.

Well if you follow my twitter at all you saw that I was in Ft Campbell, KY, for the weekend. If you are not aware, I am a photographer and a broadcast journalist for the IL Army National Guard, and well was sent down this weekend to cover weapons qualifications for one of our units. I must say that it was a blast, but I am really sore. Up down, up down, laying in positions to just get the right shot, etc. I photographed and video taped it all. Later today or tomorrow I will upload it all to DVIDS. It will be listed under my name and 139th MPAD. Hope you like the photos. I played with them in PS and adjusted them with Topaz Adjust. Something new that I thought I would try.

Well let the fun begin. As many of you know I am a Reservist with the IL Army National Guard as a Broadcast Journalist with the 139th MPAD. Today I went on orders for a class in Atlanta for DVIDS. Anyways, my flight leaves St Louis at 0650 today and I decided to come down early so I wouldnt have to drive at 3 am to get here.

I decided a chair in the gate area will have to be my bed. But it dawned on me, most Air Ports have a USO. I have visited many USO’s over the years and must say that the USO Missouri here at the Lambert Airport is one of the better ones I have seen, for a small sized air port.

I will actually get to sleep in a bed to get some rest before leaving. They have area’s for computers, wifi, tv room, and of course the sleeping area. As a member of the miltary this is at no cost to me.

But they could use everyones help. If you can donate to your local USO! Click here to go to the main USO site.

The USO helps in many ways to support troops both home and overseas..

Hope everyone has a great week…will update as I learn more about DVIDS.

Here is an article that is very interesting. I cut it down a bit but you can find it on Business Wire!

– Should’ve spent less on the dress; more on the memories. Of survey respondents married within 12 months prior to the survey, 28 percent felt they didn’t spend enough money on the honeymoon; 22 percent felt the same about the photographer. 19 percent of the same sample reported spending too much on the bridal gown and food.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Apr 15, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Shutterfly, Inc. (SFLY 24.77, -0.21, -0.84%), the leading Internet-based social expression and personal publishing service, today revealed survey results that show that today’s brides are do-it-yourselfers; blue is the “it” color this season; and past brides feel they spent too much money on some surprising wedding purchases. Today, Shutterfly also boosted its popular bridal line of designer stationery with 250 new styles, including engagement party, bachelorette party and rehearsal dinner invitations, wedding announcements and thank yous, as well as new bridal shower and save the date cards.

Though the economy may have impacted pre-wedding celebrations, according to Shutterfly’s Wedding Trends Survey administered by Decipher, Inc., March 22-30th, 2010, bridal showers and bachelorette parties are back. The survey polled 422 women who were married in the past 12 months, and 500 women who are engaged and will be married in the next 12 months. Results showed an anticipated 58 percent rise in bachelorette parties and a 47 percent increase in showers.

Other findings from Shutterfly’s Wedding Trend Survey revealed:

– Should’ve spent less on the dress; more on the memories. Of survey respondents married within 12 months prior to the survey, 28 percent felt they didn’t spend enough money on the honeymoon; 22 percent felt the same about the photographer. 19 percent of the same sample reported spending too much on the bridal gown and food.

– Blue is the color of the season. Twenty-seven percent of engaged brides listed blue as their primary wedding hue. Other hot schemes were black and white (24 percent); purple (19 percent) and red (17 percent).

Shutterfly’s Card Stylist offers the following tips for planning and executing a successful event:

– Use tools to stay organized. Planning all the details for the big day can become overwhelming.
– Let the stationery guide you. Peruse invitations to get inspired by color palettes.

– Streamline communication. Cut down on calls and emails back and forth between the bridal party and all others involved.