The Streak

Here is a short documentary that myself, Jake Parrish and Drew Castellaw worked on all of Winter quarter for one of our visual journalism classes. 

For Jim Pearson, running is a way of life. Pearson, 70, has run at least one mile every day since 1970, and has won numerous long distance running championships throughout his career. Even though his daily run is a part of a national record streak, he also uses it to be closer to his son, Hopper. After receiving a severe wrestling injury in high school, Hopper was prescribed pain medications and became addicted to them. This ultimately snowballed to a heroin addiction that lasted over three years. Now five years sober, Hopper runs daily with his father as part of his sobriety.

I have been on the basketball beat for a while now. Standard sports-action is my job requirement, but I have been pushing my eye to locate new scenes and moments in the same gym I have been shooting in for three years. Here is a little basketball and a few frames from post Super Bowl reactions in Seattle. I just started making headway on two long-term projects, which I am really excited about. 

The WWU men's basketball team stretches before facing off against University of Alaska Anchorage January 29, 2015, in Carver Gym. 

WWU's Ricardo Maxwell, center left, celebrates with teammates after scoring a winning point in the last seconds as the WWU men's basketball faces off against Seattle Pacific University Saturday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Carver Gym. Vikings beat the Falcons 68-66. Danny Miller / WWU Athletics

The WWU basketball team enters Carver Gym before facing off against University of Alaska Fairbanks Jan. 31, 2015. 

WWU fans await a free throw while the WWU Men's Basketball faces off against Western Oregon University Saturday, January 24, 2015, in Carver Gym. Wolves beat the Vikings 90-87.  Photo by Danny Miller / WWU Athletics

WWU Men's Basketball faces off against Western Oregon University Saturday, January 24, 2015, in Carver Gym. Wolves beat the Vikings 90-87.  Photo by Danny Miller / WWU Athletics

The WWU men's basketball energizes before facing off against Seattle Pacific University Saturday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Carver Gym. Vikings beat the Falcons 68-66. Danny Miller / WWU Athletics

The WWU men's basketball team warms up before facing off  against Seattle Pacific University Saturday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Carver Gym. Vikings beat the Falcons 68-66. Danny Miller / WWU Athletics

Western's Jaamon Echols stretches out before facing off against Western Oregon University Saturday, January 24, 2015, in Carver Gym. Wolves beat the Vikings 90-87.  Photo by Danny Miller / WWU Athletics

Western's Jeffrey Parker stretches out before facing off against Montana State University Billings Thursday, January 8, 2015, in Carver Gym. Vikings beat the Yellow Jackets 88-68. Danny Miller / WWU Athletics

One year ago, I was catching an unexpected flight home to Arizona after receiving a late night phone call that my grandpa, Murray Miller, had passed away. It is no coincidence that this academic quarter, I decided to take a break from journalism classes and return to the cameras and a process that was so familiar to my grandpa’s hands. Using my grandpa’s old cameras for the last 3 months, I have been dedicating time to shooting 35mm black and white film and learning the developing process. It has really allowed me to slow down and value the preciousness of a single moment. Darkroom sessions have been incredibly therapeutic and a complete change of pace from the quick photo-mechanic—photoshop—transmit processes. These photos are different from my normal style (whatever style that may be?!) but, I think different is good.