Caleb Kraft is the senior editor at Make: If you've never read Make: magazine or been to a Maker Faire, I highly suggest you check it out. (Maker Faires are amazing, especially the original fair in the Bay Area, but I digress...) Among other job duties, Caleb makes fun things, occasionally plays with fire, tries out new technology and blogs about it. He also started The Controller Project, helping people with disabilities interact with technology. Go watch his YouTube channel here, where you can learn about all of this stuff. I got in touch with Caleb to make some pictures at his home workshop in Springfield and this is what we came up with.
Iowa farming for Earthjustice
I spent some time over the summer photographing farms in Southwest Iowa for Earthjustice. It's always fascinating to learn first hand about the environmental issues Earthjustice is tackling. I knew sustainable farming practices were an issue in Iowa, but it's something else to stand in a field and hear life-long farmers discuss the problems, the solutions and the long term health of our agricultural practices. Please learn more about the issue and the people in the photos by reading the story here.
Chris Teachout, a fifth-generation farmer outside of Shenandoah. Teachout uses cover crops between corn and soy plantings to protect and regenerate the soil.
Seth Watkins works on his farm near Clarinda.
Watkins' farm outside of Clarinda
Earthjustice attorney Peter Lehner
The Press Coffee & Juice Bar
The Press Coffee & Juice Bar in Springfield, Mo. They had wonderfully photogenic food and drinks.
Pics from Europe
These pictures are just over a year old, but I haven't really shared them and thought now might be as good a time as any. My wife, Christina, and I spent a few weeks in Europe -mostly Italy with a short stop in Lisbon and a tiny day trip to Switzerland- for our "babymoon" last year. I didn't spend a huge amount of time taking pictures; my goal was to remember the trip not create The Definitive Pictures of Europe, but I like what I got.I didn't dig into them immediately, then our little fella came along and now a year later... here they are!
Read MoreOzark Empire Fair
I haven't photographed a county fair in four years, since I worked at my last newspaper. I always enjoy the earnestness of the fair, with the FFA and 4-Hers, and the way it turns into something different as the sun sets. When 417 Magazine asked me to shoot the Ozark Empire Fair, I shook off the rust and tapped into my previous experience while trying to give it a fresh look - at least for me.
Therapy dog
I photographed Pria, a therapy dog at Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital, in action for 417 Magazine.
Tent Theatre
Before the show at Missouri State University's Tent Theatre production of "Nice Work If You Can Get It".
Cellar + Plate
Cellar + Plate is a really great wine and tapas bar in Springfield, Mo.
Crème brûlée with a Paparuda Pinot Grigio from Romania.
Owner Mary Guccione
Trailiner
Trailiner, a refrigerated trucking company based in Springfield, Mo., is a multi-generation business. I photographed the founder and CEO, H.E. “Spook” Whitener, and his granddaughter, Amber Edmondson, the company's president, for Biz 417.
Artsfest 2017
Artsfest on Walnut Street for the Downtown Springfield Associaton
