Click.

I've Moved!

2010-09-12T18:59:00.001-07:00

The "Click," blog party has been moved to http://www.emilyzoladz.com/blog/ I will continue to post personal, professional, and random endeavours from there!

I Finally Have a Website!

2010-09-10T17:50:00.000-07:00

It's far from perfect, but it's a start! This is my professional website with a new blog attached. All images from "Click," have been transferred to the new website and I will be posting there from now on. I've had three good years with blogspot, but it's time to say goodbye :) I will continue to share personal, professional, and random endeavours on this new blog

Signs of Fall

2010-09-06T10:36:00.001-07:00

Metro Cruise

2010-08-30T15:56:00.000-07:00

I took these Friday during opening day of the Grand Rapids Metro Cruise. For more fun vintage car coverage by the Press, click here

Petoskey and Beaver Island

2010-08-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

Chris and I celebrated four years of marriage in Petoskey and Beaver Island last week. The fresh air and quiet way of life in Northern Michigan always does my soul some good.

Pretty Pool Pictures

2010-08-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

Roll up those pant ankles and wade into the water for some pool side hot weather photos. (Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Exploring IU

2010-08-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

Family Portraits

2010-08-15T17:53:00.000-07:00

I spent a lot of time with my family this weekend traveling to Bloomington, Indiana for my cousin Leah's wedding. Sifting through the photos I took of IU's beautiful campus I was drawn to the pictures of these faces. It's sad really how much we can take the faces of our family for granted. They become so familiar, I forget how unique, how beautiful my sisters are. The top photo, from left, is of my Aunt Mary, Uncle Fred, and my dad. I am so proud to come from these faces.

Cooling Off

2010-08-11T15:30:00.000-07:00

I'm always amazed to watch football players practice through this kind of heat. Caught these guys at the water fountain.

Coast Guard Grand Parade

2010-08-08T19:26:00.000-07:00

Jamie and Matt

2010-08-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

Having known Jamie since college, it was such a pleasure to watch her marry Matt on Saturday. The two of them just glow.

At the Beach

2010-08-01T19:20:00.000-07:00

Sandy towels. Hot sun. Beach reads.

Beautiful Benjamin

2010-07-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

I had such a fun time taking pictures of my high school friend Nicole's child, Ben, with her husband Nick on Thursday. Nicole might have upstaged her baby a little bit at the end.

Patience

2010-07-28T06:25:00.000-07:00

(Grand Rapids Press Photo)

On the River.

2010-07-25T08:30:00.001-07:00

Berlin Fair

2010-07-21T17:48:00.001-07:00

Rad and Cedar

2010-07-19T15:34:00.001-07:00

Tom Rademacher, a columnist whose words have pulled on so many hearts (including mine), is recovering from an accident in June when he broke his left ankle, elbow, and wrist. Tom has recently won the National Society of Newspaper Columnists top honor for general interest, large newspapers, for the second year in a row. When I asked Tom if he would be writing about his accident and recovery road he looked wistful and simply said the experience makes him want to write about the people who truly have to start over, and the doctors who help them. (Grand Rapids Press Photo0

Details From an Electronic Music Festival

2010-07-19T15:25:00.000-07:00

Hot weather, booming music and bright clothes last Saturday at Rosa Parks Circle. (Grand Rapids Press Photos)

Emily and Matt

2010-07-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

On the dance floor

The President Comes to Town

2010-07-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

90 degree weather and intense humidity greeted President Barack Obama when he arrived in Holland, Michigan on Thursday. I was fortunate to shoot with the National Press pool during his speech and got a shot of the president trying out one of the new electric Ford Focus cars. (Emily Zoladz/The Grand Rapids Press)

Ducklings

2010-07-11T04:14:00.001-07:00

Looking into the hole of a tree, these little guys were not strong enough to climb out to their mother who was calling them from the water. Chris and I scooped them out and put them into the lake where they immediately began to swim with her.

Cooling Off

2010-07-10T15:08:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July, Day and Night

2010-07-06T06:16:00.000-07:00

Cuddle

2010-07-05T17:24:00.000-07:00

These two sisters were cuddling at a Festival of the Arts concert and I made a quick picture from across the crowd. Before I could make my way over to the family to get names, they were gone.

Tree Gazer

2010-07-05T17:16:00.001-07:00

I shot this picture on a busy day for a quick feature story on Calvin College's Ecosystem Preserve. This little girl, Kadence, was journaling about the things she heard, felt, and saw, from under a tree. (Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Flip!

2010-06-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

Reflections

2010-06-21T18:08:00.000-07:00

Pere Marquette Beach at Dusk

2010-06-20T18:49:00.000-07:00

Warm night.
Saphire sky.

Umbrella in the Sun

2010-06-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

(Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Strawberry Fields

2010-06-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

(Grand Rapids Press Photos)

Carter in the Studio

2010-06-15T17:01:00.000-07:00

Happy first birthday little man!

Pink Basketball

2010-06-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

My visual reward for getting lost in an industrial area on Grandville Avenue the other day.

A.C.

2010-06-10T18:11:00.001-07:00

Festival of the Arts

2010-06-07T16:45:00.000-07:00

Floating Leaf

2010-06-04T06:10:00.000-07:00

Flanders Field

2010-06-01T08:19:00.001-07:00

Bill Troy, 87, of Belmont has been reciting "In Flanders Field," a war memorial poem by John McCrae, for years at different services and events. "It's so beautiful," said Troy, who can recite them poem from memory. He first heard "In Flanders Field," as a fourth grade student at Parnell school, but it wasn't until the 90's that he started reciting the piece in public. (Grand Rapids Press Photo)

This Warm Week

2010-05-30T19:47:00.001-07:00

Warm, lazy evening on a blanket in hot sand. Clean, blue skies cut by sails on Lake Michigan. A dog beach, a green hike. The comfort of family and friends who make me laugh. This was a great last week in May.

Creepy Door...

2010-05-27T13:02:00.001-07:00

On a good day...

2010-05-26T19:20:00.000-07:00

...I get to meet and photograph people who make me smile and never cease to surprise me with their gifts and contributions to the community. An art teacher retiring after 25 years of teaching kindergartens to sculpt clay into gleaming pottery. Teenage girls, whirling Double Dutch jump faster than my eyes can follow, flashing white teeth to the sound of gospel music. (Grand Rapids Press Photos)

Mother Mary

2010-05-26T12:27:00.000-07:00

Lucy Cusack, 5, of Cascade and her mom Dianne scoop planting soil into the flower pots surrounding the Mother Mary statue outside Immaculate Heart of Mary School on Thursday, May 20 at the corner of Plymouth Ave. SE and Burton Street SE. "This is so dear to our hears," Dianne Cusack said, "this school." Lucy attends preschool at Immaculate Heart and Dianne volunteers to help with little things when needed. The statue is a place where athletic teams come to say a Hail Mary before games and where students gather at the beginning of every school year to pray. (Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Wandering the Conservatory

2010-05-17T17:54:00.000-07:00

Our Oak Tree in my Coffee Cup (and a few others from the front yard)

2010-05-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

Chris and I spread two yards of soil in our front yard yesterday and laid about 25 pounds of grass seed. The battle to grow shade friendly grass beneath our massive oak tree continues.

Reptile Reaction

2010-05-13T17:33:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday I got to hang out with a third grade class at Martin Luther King Leadership Academy during a special visit from a reptile sanctuary. The kids' reaction to the toad, snake, and tortoise were classic. (Grand Rapids Press Photos)

Sunday in the Park

2010-05-11T12:24:00.001-07:00

Shot these at Garfield Park last weekend while I was looking for a few features. Slow news days can be a blessing. (Grand Rapids Press Photos)

Mowgli.

2010-05-09T13:16:00.001-07:00

...all he wants in life is to be outside.

Arcade at Stella's Lounge

2010-05-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

Grand Rapids Press reporter Chris Knape plays Mrs. Packman II in the old school video archade at Stella's Lounge. (Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Guitars for Vets

2010-05-09T12:39:00.000-07:00

What a heart warming assignment. Once a week Marc DeRuiter of Grand Rapids(featured in top photo) visits the Grand Rapids Veterans Home and gives guitar lessons. Every student who consistently shows is given a guitar to learn on. Greg Mulder, a U.S. Army veteran who lives in the home, (center photo), says the lessons are theraputic, giving him something to do with his time and thoughts. (Grand Rapids Press Photos)

Backyard in Soft Focus

2010-05-06T13:14:00.000-07:00

The smell of earth, the soft skin of petals. Warm sun on my neck, spring is here.

The Giant Table and Chairs Come Down

2010-05-05T12:23:00.001-07:00

This 30,000 pound ArtPrize entry has been perched on top of the Grand Valley Blue Pedestrian Bridge since last September, and finally came down on Monday. It was obviously a graphic, colorful event to shoot, and I even got a bit of a sun burn!

What Happens to my Husband after a Long Day at WZZM.

2010-05-04T12:54:00.000-07:00

Chihuly

2010-04-29T16:31:00.000-07:00

I had a blast shooting the glass Chihuly sculptures throughout Frederick Meijer Gardens. Basically, it's a massive scavenger hunt, where you get a map with all the different sculpture locations and you tromp throughout the beautiful grounds to find them. These photos were taken for the press, since the exhibit opens this weekend. Blue skies, plus golf cart, plus colorful lines for me to photograph=one pretty fun workday. (Grand Rapids Press Photos)

Nature Center in Trouble

2010-04-26T10:40:00.000-07:00

I got to hang out at Blandford Nature Center the other day for a story about their lack of funds for the Wildlife Department. If Blandford is forced to close this department, they will no longer be able to rehabilitate and provide a home for birds of prey, mammals, and reptiles that cannot survive in the wild. The program coordinator, Lori Martin, worries about where all the animals would go, and fears some of them would end up euthanized. Full Story: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/04/blandford_nature_center_seeks.html (Grand Rapids Press Photos)

Schools of Hope

2010-04-19T16:58:00.000-07:00

James Vonk of Grand Rapids gives a high five to Daisy Rodas, 8, a third grade student at Southwest Community Campus during a half hour tutoring session. Vonk reads with Daisy every Monday as part of the "Schools of Hope," program. The two have been reading together since the beginning of the school year. (Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Fish Bowl.

2010-04-14T06:47:00.000-07:00

(Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Word War II Veteran

2010-04-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

World War II veteran Virgil Westdale, 92, of Ada entered flight school in 1940 and signed up for the Air Force after Pearl Harbor. Westdale loved to fly. "It just felt like God had given me that gift," he said. Because Westdale's dad was Japanese, he was asked to leave the air force and was moved to a lower rank in the U.S. Army, where he fought in Italy, France, and Germany. (Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Weekend in Traverse City

2010-04-11T18:06:00.001-07:00

Chris took me to Traverse City for the weekend to celebrate my birthday. Blue skies and red wine are never a bad combination for a relaxed sigh and reflection on 27 years of life.

Umbrella

2010-04-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

Pretty much describes the weather here in Michigan right now. (Grand Rapids Press Photo)

T.V. Timeout

2010-04-08T11:49:00.001-07:00

The Good 'Ole Speaker Assignment

2010-04-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

Yep. I shot a lot of these assignments for my college paper, CM Life, and still get them every now and then for the Press. This, however, was my first speaker assignment with the 5D Mark II and I took an inappropriate amount of satisfaction in the fact that I did not have to light the subjects, nor did I have to sacrifice grain. (Grand Rapids Press Photos)

Bare Feet, in the Air

2010-04-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

As Seen on a Walk Through Heritage Hill

2010-04-05T15:28:00.000-07:00

Easter Eggs in the Dark

2010-04-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

The Zoladz lost power the night before Easter due to high winds so we dyed our eggs in the dark. The tradition of coloring eggs combined with candle light felt oddly like Halloween and Easter rolled into one. It was quite cozy.

Smokey Field

2010-03-30T06:13:00.000-07:00

In Need of a Home

2010-03-26T12:40:00.001-07:00

The other day I found myself at another animal shelter on assignment. These puppies were so sweet. (Grand Rapids Press Photos)

Another from St. Patrick's

2010-03-25T10:04:00.001-07:00

This photo and the one below are from a situation I stumbled on the day before St. Patrick's Day on my way to shoot an elementary school assignment. I arrived about a half hour early to the school in the small farming area of Parnell, but next door was this beautiful white church. I decided to wander in and met this woman with her two granddaughters, exploring the big, empty sanctuary and darting through sunlit corridors. These are the small situations we always wish to run into but rarely do.
(Grand Rapids Press Photos)

Big Church, Little Visitors

2010-03-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

"Do you see the rainbow?" asks Cynthia Ruoff while reading the story of Noah's Ark to her granddaughters Elle, 4, on left, and Emma, 3, in the empty quiet of St. Patrick's Church on Tuesday, March 17 in Ada. Ruoff, who lives in Kalamazoo, attends St. Patrick's whenever she visits her family in Ada and wanted to bring the girls to see St. Patrick's statue in lieu of St. Patrick's Day. The girls got to see what the sanctuary looked like from the balcony and even stepped up to the baptismal pool and peered inside. Ruoff said she likes coming when the church is empty because they don't have to worry about talking loudly and the girls can explore. "I remember going to church with my own mother and doing some of these things," Ruoff said, "except back then we walked to church," she laughed.
(Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Google Fiber Flash Mob

2010-03-21T18:31:00.000-07:00

Beth

2010-03-21T18:30:00.001-07:00

This is how I like her best...

A Little Street Music

2010-03-17T06:35:00.000-07:00

Mason Woods, 2, of Grand Rapids bangs on a Jimbay drum with street musician Carlos Cardenas, also of Grand Rapids while stopping to admire the performance with his mom Tuesday on Monroe Center. "There's a freedom in it," said Walter Pinder of Grand Rapids, another street musician who was playing the saxophone with Cardenas. "If people don't like what your doing they just walk on by...but if they enjoy-they might stop." The two just recently teamed up, although they plan to play together more in the summer, reading poetry as well. (Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Camp JuiceBall Benefit

2010-03-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

Chris and I attended a second Juice Ball benefit hosted by Chef Tommy Fitzgerald on Friday. The dinner was at an old Heritage Hill home complete with a twisting white staircase, roaring fireplace and Alaskan King Crab. The second half of the night was at The Rocket Lounge on Bridge Street.

Snow on Glass Roof

2010-03-13T05:29:00.000-08:00

I was at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport the other day for a story on taxi cabs and while gazing upwards, noticed piles of melting snow on the parking garage glass roof that looked like clouds :)
(Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Glowing Glass, Red

2010-03-12T09:13:00.001-08:00

The Real House Cats of Grand Rapids

2010-03-09T17:18:00.001-08:00

Okay, this was an experiment with my 5D Mark II, finally learning how to use the video functions. It's a bit shaky so do forgive me, also make sure you have the volume up on your computer because there is music..tehe!

After the Fire...

2010-03-09T13:42:00.001-08:00

Tanya Threatt, 24, of Walker hold her family dog, Princess, in front of the burnt wall of her garage at 626 Kingsbury St. NW Sunday after a fire earlier that morning. The fire originated in a motor home which was parked next to the garage and neighbors woke Tanya and her family up around 6:30 a.m. when their bedroom windows exploded from the heat.
(Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Skates.

2010-03-08T18:03:00.000-08:00

Making a Birchbark Canoe

2010-03-07T07:20:00.001-08:00

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Goodwille Enviornmental School in Ada has a Birchbark Canoe project every year for their fifth and sixth grade students. The day I was there this guy was learning how to split cedar for the inner sheathing of the 24-foot canoe. Ultimatley, the kids will get to take their boat onto the Grand River. (Grand Rapids Press Photos)

Grand Rapids Home and Garden Show

2010-03-07T07:01:00.000-08:00

I wasn't extremely excited to enterprise at the Grand Rapids Home and Garden show, initially because there is always some sort of "show," going on across the street at DeVos Place, and I feel like I'm constantly there. I did, however, end up having fun framing people with flowers. Not a terrible way to spend an afternoon.
(Grand Rapids Press Photos)

Morning light on La Grande Vitesse

2010-03-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

This sculpture, more popularly known as "the Calder," is iconic for Grand Rapids, located just outside City Hall. I was walking to a town hall meeting and saw the sun creeping across the legs of La Grand Vitesse and had to take a shot. It's fun finding new ways to photograph something I've seen a thousand times. (Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Just Dropping In...

2010-03-03T14:22:00.001-08:00

Air Force Major Eric Haas is greeted by his mom, Marcia Haas, and his dad, Grand Valley State University President Tom Haas after landing an F18 Royal Canadian Air Force Jet Tuesday at the Rapid Air terminal at Gerald R. Ford Airport. Haas was on his way to Kansas but arranged to stop in Grand Rapids for a brief visit with his parents, who he had not seen since June.
(Grand Rapids Press Photo)

"You Can't Replace Life"

2010-03-02T13:49:00.000-08:00

"I'm thankful to be alive," said Priscilla Shannon of Grand Rapids after getting safetly out of her home when it caught on fire Monday, March 1 "you can replace your things but you can't replace life." Shannon had just learned all her things had been burned in the fire, but was greatful her two pitbulls were safe.
(Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Under the Overpass

2010-03-01T13:25:00.001-08:00

So the other week I had to hike through woods and down railroad tracks to photograph a US 131 overpass for a story about MDOT projects. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and the graffiti was everywhere. It was interesting to be underneath the expressway. The decrepit lawn chairs kind of gave me the creeps and I didn't stick around too long, but it did make me wonder what varieties of people had hung out below this bridge. Another example of the interesting places you may find yourself in on any given day as a journalist. (Grand Rapids Press Photos)

MPPA

2010-02-28T19:33:00.000-08:00

Indianapolis Star Senior Photographer Matt Detrich gives a presentation of his work in the 2008 Beijing Olympics during the Michigan Press Photographers Association awards dinner.

Excited to have finally placed higher than "Honorable Mention," in the 2009 pictures of the year contest, Katy and I take a photograph of ourselves in our amazing pool-side room at the Quality Inn.

Cory Morse of the Muskegon Chronicle, on right, poses with Steve Jessmore beside the Barry Edmonds Award mirror after signing the trophy.

This year's Michigan Press Photographer's Association seminar was a much needed weekend of inspiration and perspective. Steve Jessmore, a Senior Editor for Photo at The Sun News in Myrtle Beach, and once my teacher at Central Michigan, was a judge and gave great insight into storytelling through these tough times. Fellow GR Press photographer Katy Batdorff and I had a great time making pictures of ourselves in mirrors as well. To view this year's MPPA results, visit
http://mppa.org/poy/?c=2009-Pictures-of-the-Year

Skating on Reeds Lake

2010-02-24T19:24:00.000-08:00

I was doing some blue sky/warm weather hunting the other day and happily stumbled on these 13 year-olds screeching and flailing on Reeds Lake. It made me think about when we used to live on Silver Lake in Rockford. I had a white pair of figure skates with the lovely fuzzy yellow ball on top. What was that for anyway? (Grand Rapids Press Photo)

The Living Room, Late at night

2010-02-20T17:42:00.000-08:00

Struggling to stay up for the Olympics.

Self Portrait

2010-02-20T09:39:00.000-08:00

Winter Blues

2010-02-19T14:21:00.001-08:00

I shot these while hiking to an assignment, it was nice to see the sun again today.
(Grand Rapids Press Photos)

Showing Some Love

2010-02-15T17:54:00.000-08:00

Norrine Bowes gets a hug from Anneke Lehmann, 13, after donating to Guiding Light Mission Friday at the intersection of Monroe Center and Monroe Avenue. Lehmann was working with HELP! Campaign to support the mission, handing out Hershey Kisses, Valentines Cookies and free hugs to anyone passing by.
(Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-14T07:07:00.001-08:00

"I love you," Hank Martin told his wife Charleen while visiting her room at Clark Retirement Home, "I love you to," she said. Hank, 90, and Charleen, 89, have been married 69 years, and both live at the retirement home where Hank visits Charleen every day because she can no longer walk. When Charleen's wedding band had to be cut off because of her arthritis, Hank bought her a new one as a surprise for their anniversary. (Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Torched Roof

2010-02-05T19:41:00.000-08:00

I got to go inside the burnt remains of a Dentist Office after a fire the other day. Gazing upwards, this was the charred roof.
(Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Journals For Haiti

2010-02-05T19:28:00.000-08:00

These journals are made from concrete sacks by Haitian women through a ministry that is trying to help Haitians apply their talents to make a living. To order one, go to http://www.haitianartisans.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=56
(Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Little Swimmers

2010-02-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

The highlight of my day was shooting these little blondies with their mom in the downtown YMCA pool. As much as it can give me anxiety, I love being asked to find enterprise. I love when that enterprise makes me smile. (Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Factory

2010-02-02T12:28:00.000-08:00

My photo editor asked me to take a picture of an abandoned factory the other day. I had a fun time exploring, but ended up revisiting this site, which I have photographed before just for fun :)
(Grand Rapids Press Photo)

Sunday Morning at Beth's

2010-02-01T19:54:00.000-08:00

Church, omelettes, frozen lake hike. Chocolate, down blankets, LOST marathon. Comfort. Friends.

Saying Goodbye...

2010-01-29T12:28:00.000-08:00

Joanna Strom of Grand Rapids cradles a picture of her sister, Jackie Zmudka, who died in December after surviving for over 50 years in a coma. Strom says she knows her sister is in a better place now, and is glad she is no longer living in that condition.
(Emily Zoladz | The Grand Rapids Press)

Hybernation

2010-01-28T09:25:00.000-08:00

Harlem Globetrotters Visit Stocking School

2010-01-28T09:20:00.000-08:00

(Grand Rapids Press Photo)

As Seen in My Car...

2010-01-28T09:12:00.000-08:00

I really need to clean that windshield...

Carter

2010-01-25T05:40:00.000-08:00

Took some pictures of Kim and Mark's little guy in their home last week. Not only did Mark hold my soft box the entire time, but apple pie was involved.

Judah and Ziggy

2010-01-24T17:30:00.001-08:00

Body Language.

2010-01-23T13:49:00.001-08:00