Spelling Bee!

Long Island Championship Spelling Bee

Casey Durant, of New Hyde Park Memorial High School, wins the LI Championship Spelling Bee and will compete in the Scripps Howard 82nd Annual National Spelling Bee finals in Washington. Videojournalist: Mahala Gaylord

Mahala goes to Washington!

Huntington fashion students meet with Michelle Obama

Thirty-two students from Huntington High were invited to see the first lady's inaugural gown unveiled at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Videojournalist: Mahala Gaylord

So SWEET! I came within 15 feet of the first lady! and got to walk around DC on a most beautiful spring-like day.  I wish I actually got to meet her instead of just stand in a crowd of journalists, but still, a very cool assignment!

Lukian Lawro, 4, cruises across the ice at the Christopher Morley County Park skating rink in Roslyn. Lukian and his twin brother, Oleksa, just watched Mighty Ducks and are practicing their skating because they want to play hockey says their mother, Dania.December, 22, 2009. Newsday photograph by Mahala Gaylord.

Used tires are stacked up behind Somerset Tire Service, waiting to be recycled. Photo by Mahala Gaylord.

Hempstead Turnpike in Nassau County has been named the most dangerous road in the Tri-State area for pedestrians, according to an annual study. January 6, 2010. Newsday photograph by Mahala Gaylord

Some photographs where I focused on the graphic composition.

Robert Jean-Gilles, 7, touches his mother Banassa Jean-Gilles' cheek during prayer at an interfaith prayer vigil held for Long Island Haitian's at First Presbyterian Church of Greenlawn. January 16, 2010. Newsday photograph by Mahala Gaylord

While I've rigorously been posting my Newsday video's to my blog, I have allowed posting of still photos to fall by the wayside. So, as I was archiving photo's today at work, I set aside a few I wanted to share. This one, was taken soon after the earthquake in Haiti. I love the idea of the young feeling the angst and pain of their elders, and sharing in it, even if they don't yet quite understand everything that has caused the pain.