Updated Jan 23, 2013 @ 11:05 PM
In this installment of my 2012 year in photos I am taking a look back at the images I was able to capture using available light in a creative way. Every year I cover around a thousand assignments of all sorts for the Morning Sun. I know that out of all of these photographic possibilities the opportunity will be there for a dozen or so assignments with challenging light, and this year was no different. I love making images at night with just a little bit of light, as well as silhouettes and I really enjoy the challenge of trying to get the exposure just right in tough unique situations. Plus, I just can’t help it. I am drawn to these scenes, I always have been and as long as I have the opportunity to be a photojournalist I will continue to look for these situations to illustrate a story in a different way and add to my growing portfolio of these images. Here are my favorites from 2012. I do realize that the New Year's Eve photos were taken in 2011, but they were also the first of my photos published in 2012, so I added them.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Denzel Davidson, museum caretaker at the Crawford County Historical Museum, leads third graders from George Nettels Elementary School on a guided tour of a one room school building at the museum Friday afternoon as part of their celebration of Kansas Day.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Pittsburg resident Jimmy Willard, who owns Simply Lights and Sound, spent “months and months of just digging” to find the disco songs he played at the Mirza Shrine’s New Year’s Eve party Saturday night. Each year the shrine hosts a theme party to welcome the new year. The theme for 2012 was the 1970s, and guests competed for best costume awards and breakfasted on biscuits and gravy after midnight.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Franklin resident Carol Judy’s boots were definitely made for walkin’ Saturday night at the Mirza Shrine New Year’s Eve party. Judy, who dressed as Nancy Sinatra, said she had never been to one its parties before.
“It’s been wonderful,” she said. “It brings back a lot of memories.”
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Pittsburg State students Darrell Chism, left, and Jason Escobar perform a choreographed dance Wednesday evening during the second annual “PSU’s Got Talent” at Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Kelly Smith plays Little Red Riding Hood during the St. Mary's Colgan High School drama department presentation of "Into the Woods," in the St. Mary's Colgan Auditorium.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Hanna Bailey, 6, of Girard, enjoys shaved ice in the bleachers with her father Judd while waiting for the start of the Hepler Ruritan Rodeo Tuesday evening.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Lights from Carnie Smith Stadium illuminate the treeline along University Lake Tuesday evening.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Spectators watch the show during the Crawford State Park Fourth of July celebration on the lakefront Monday evening.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Area 4-H members water their animals in the beef barn Wednesday evening.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Actors in a scene from the Pittsburg Community Theatre production of the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar," at Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
2012 Crawford County Fair Queen candidates sit on their horses and visit outside of Bill Peak Arena after Pittsburg High School senior Sam Sarley was crowned queen during the second annual competition that took place between events at the Crawford County Fair rodeo Thursday evening.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
A spider is silhouetted against the lights of a Pittsburg State University fountain Friday evening as it constructs a web on a walking bridge at University Lake for a night of hunting.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
The Kreighbaum family stands with lighted candles during the 14th annual Breast Cancer Candlelight Vigil held Wednesday at the Pittsburg State University Lake. Theme was “Keeping the Promise.” Pictured are friend Kerri Butler, Doug Kreighbaum, breast cancer survivor Denise Kreighbaum, and daughters Kelsea (Kreighbaum) Bedford and Abigail Kreighbaum.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
A ribbon lit by pink lights lines the area around University Lake before the 14th annual Breast Cancer Candlelight Vigil on Wednesday night.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Members of the St. Mary's Colgan cheer squad wait for the Panther football team to take the field before their game against Frontenac at Hutchinson Field.
Sean Steffen
A bare footprint on a dusty floor poses a mystery in a third-floor room of the vacant Olivia Apartments, Joplin. The prints, which appear to be stepping out of a wall and seem to lead toward an empty closet, were discovered Friday during a tour of the building led by members of the Paranormal Science Lab.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Northeast High School students light candles in honor of deceased veterans Monday morning during a Veterans Day program at Northeast High School.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
The menacing Rat King, danced by Jake Forsythe, stalks the stage of Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium in this rehearsal scene from the classic holiday ballet “The Nutcracker.” The show will be presented by the Midwest Regional Ballet at 7:30 p.m. today through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Reenactors depict Fort Scott residents in this scene from the 31st annual Fort Scott Candlelight Tour at the Fort Scott National Historic Site. Theme is “The Challenges of War,” and scenes depict how the Civil War impacted civilians as well as those in the military. The tour will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. today, with tours running every 15 minutes and lasting about an hour.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
More than 700 candle lanterns illuminate the grounds of the Fort Scott National Historic Site Friday evening during the 31st annual candlelight tour.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Pittsburg State University’s ROTC Gorilla Battalion military color guard leads the annual Christmas Parade through downtown Pittsburg Monday night.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
A cross atop the Frontenac United Methodist Church steeple is silhouetted against the full moon as it rises Monday evening.
