The point of my trip to Wooster, Ohio was to capture a college campus at the peak of fall beauty. Maples in their autumn splendor, leaf-covered lawns, contented liberal arts student trodding brick pathways through the oak woodlands. Problem was, someone forgot to tell the grounds crew.
In front of the Ebert Arts Center a small army was at work. The heavy artillery were the four wheeled, propane powered leaf blowers, backed by a squad of men with those 110 decibel two-stroke numbers. Clouds of leaves billowed forward of the advance in a 10 foot high wave. The four wheelers left rutted tracks in the soggy lawn. When they were done the grounds were a mess. It won't look good again until the snow falls.
Fortunately, this happened on day two. I had already worked this corner of the college. Now it was as off limits as the big construction site dead center on the quad that I had to keep out of my backgrounds. But this was the only minor hitch in an otherwise great shoot. The weather cooperated when it was forecast to not, and the students were curious and interested ("The Viewbook? That'd be so cool if my picture got in!" "Hey, great, so could you two walk down this path again for me? Beautiful!") I had a blast, as usual. This college work sits well with me.
Robin called me in mid-shoot, during the field hockey practice. I figured out that, if I stood behind the short plywood barrier they were bouncing the puck off of, I could be in the center of the action with minimal risk to my shins. "You're having fun," she said. You're happy." My account manager from the design firm got caught up in my excitement too, with a gushing email, "You obviously really love your job--that's so cool!"
Hi Doug!
You joinged us for lunch at The College of Wooster last Thursday. It was very nice meeting you and we'll watch out for the new admissions book! Nice pictures - they adequately capture fall in Wooster:)
Andy and Erin
Posted by: Erin Plant | October 30, 2005 at 09:41 AM