More Arkansas Photos!

Dec. 24, 2009-Horses at the Horseshoe Canyon Ranch near Jasper, Arkansas.

An Arkansas Christmas

Horses at the Horseshoe Canyon Ranch near Jasper, Arkansas.

Christmas in Arkansas has been, well, cold. Like 20 degrees cold, which according to NOAA feels more like 15, and according to me feels more like negative 15—a definite shock from warm, dry Hueco. But the bitter conditions were a welcome change from the past few days of nonstop torrential downpours, the boulders were at least dry. After a few fun photography-filled rest days with the goats and horses, I started to go a little stir crazy. Thank god for the upstairs climbing wall, basketball/hula hooping court and speleo box, a dark splintery maze best performed wearing a padded, lubricated suit. And on a more positive note, Paul Robinson stole the second ascent of Daniel Woods‘ 8b (V13) Welcome to Fight Club in the bone-chilling temps. Check out some photos here–my fingers were barely working so I apologize they’re not better…More photos to come…

Hueco Hueco!

Sunset at GP's trailer just outside North Mountain, Hueco Tanks, Texas.

Desert sunrises and sunsets are magical, and GP’s surfer-esque trailer parked just outside Hueco Tanks was perfect for photos, so Vanessa Compton, Abbey Smith and Colette McInerney and I did some pretty fun shoots. Check out some of my desert photography adventures here…more to come…

Colette McInerney Crushes the Iron Palm Open

Dec. 19, 2009-Colette McInerney warms up on the Iron Palm, Jason Kehl's new hangboard at the Hueco Rock Ranch, Texas.

Boys stronger than girls? Not by much, if Jason Kehl’s Iron Palm Open means anything. Last Saturday, in the barn at the Hueco Rock Ranch, twenty boys and ten girls battled it out on one hangboard designed by Kehl himself. Colette McInerney cranked out 15 pullups, a number most of the boys couldn’t even touch. Boys winner Brian A. maxed out at 22.

Hueco Tanks!

Dec. 15, 2009-Abbey Smith climbs Chris's Arete on North Mountain, Hueco Tanks, Texas.

Second day in Hueco and it’s amazing–Duh! What’s better than desert sun, rocks and good friends? After climbing in the gym for not more than 45 minutes all semester long, real rock feels better than ever. Check out a few photos from the past day or so in Hueco Tanks.

Coral Story Posted on New London Day’s Web Site

Mary Hagedorn demonstrates coral cryopreservation at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's invertebrates exhibit in Washington, D.C.

Here’s the story on coral, just posted on the New London Day‘s Web site.

Washington - Corals have been around for hundreds of millions of years, but threats to their immediate future preoccupy marine biologist Mary Hagedorn, who spent her childhood summers exploring the Old Saybrook shoreline and is now pioneering the science of applying human fertility techniques to coral.

Thousands Lay Wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery

Dec. 12, 2009-Thousands of volunteers descended on Arlington National Cemetery to place wreaths on graves of the nation’s fallen at the annual wreath-laying ceremony in Washington, D.C. Children, families and armed service members gathered in the chilly early morning to lay wreaths and wander through the vast expanse of white stones. Check out my photos and read Kase Wickman‘s story in the Bangor Daily News.

Cryopreserving Coral, Saving Oceans: A Connecticut Scientist Gives Back to the Sea

Cryopreserving Coral, Saving Oceans: A Connecticut Scientist Gives Back to the Sea

Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) in Belize. Photo courtesy of Raphael Ritson-Williams, Smithsonian Marine Station.

Read the New London Day’s version here

WASHINGTON—“Corals have been around for hundreds of millions of years, and we will potentially lose them in the next 25,” said Connecticut native Mary Hagedorn, one of the world’s leading marine biologists. “What’s even more frightening is that we could potentially lose every organism in our ocean.”

Hagedorn, a senior scientist at the Smithsonian Institution for the past 16 years, has pioneered the science of cryopreserving, or freezing at very low temperature, applying human fertility techniques to coral. She’s spent years honing the freezing process for coral sperm, eggs, embryos and now polyps—the tiny beginnings of reefs—to save endangered coral.

National Symphony Orchestra Bass Trombonist

Dec. 4, 2009-Bass trombonist Matthew Guilford rehearses music from Rimsky-Korsakov's opera 'Snow Maiden', with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

It was quite a treat to hear the National Symphony Orchestra practice at the Kennedy Center last week, even if it was only for a few minutes. They’re pretty good. I was there to take photos of Matthew Guilford, top right in the blue shirt, for Haley Shoemaker‘s profile in the New Bedford Standard Times. As soon as it runs, I’ll put up a link. Here’s the link!