Gersh Photo Post | Max Gersh | Multimedia Photojournalist

I was in New Castle, Indiana working for The Courier-Times for about eight months before I was laid off from my full-time position and cut down to a part time job. I stayed on for two more months while I interviewed with other newspapers around the country.

My last day at The Courier-Times was this past Friday, December 10, 2010.

When I first got to New Castle, I didn’t think I would be sad whenever I left. I really didn’t expect to get laid off and still be sad about leaving. All I can say is that the town grew on me.

I made some wonderful friends and met some incredible people. It was my pleasure to tell the community’s story along side the others in the newsroom.

My final assignment there was a basketball game in the New Castle Chrysler High School Fieldhouse, the worlds largest high school gymnasium. It seats over 10,000 people. The lighting sucks but the atmosphere is awesome.

New Castle's Jordan Hahn puts up a shot against the Muncie South defense Friday night in the Fieldhouse. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

As I left the game at halftime, it began to really sink in. That was it. No more games in The Fieldhouse. No more night time bike rides on county roads surrounded by corn fields. No more warm embrace from the community that welcomed me.

I thought back about the great times I had there. Like the time I scared the crap out of one of the reporters last February as we tested my Subaru’s ability to pound through two foot (or deeper) snow drifts. I guess I tested it and she felt more like she was strapped to the front of a roller coaster. However you want to classify it, we made it to the assignment and it was awesome!

How about that time I was hanging out with one of the editors and an intern and someone called us at 2 A.M. to let us know there was a house on fire. That was some of the most unorthodox journalism I have ever participated in. I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt with a picture of Mr. Clean on it. I didn’t have my camera gear with me (give me a break! It was 2 A.M.) so I used a point and shoot and my cellphone which was just about out of juice.

The situations were unique. What made them memorable was that I shared them with some great coworkers.

As I was out with friends after shooting the game, I kept getting texts about how the game had gone into overtime. And then double OT. Our sports editor was telling me how heated the coaches were getting and I just wanted to go back and shoot more. But I was done.

All in all, in my ten months at The Courier-Times, I shot 53,285 photos. Obviously, many of those were not ones that were printed. These also include photos I took for things outside of work.

Also, I drove 23,306 miles while there. This included numerous trips to St. Louis and Louisville. Toss in a few to Cincinnati, Branson and a few other random cities and you can start to see how I racked up so many miles.

I can’t roll back the number of photos taken or miles driven. Those large numbers will forever represent my time in New Castle.

As I close this chapter of my life, I do so with hope. On Monday, I start my new job at the Rockford Register Star in Rockford, Illinois. I have faith that while the newsroom wont be the same, I will quickly be able to call this place home.  I look forward to building friendships with my coworkers and a strong relationship with the community.

A day in the life of a photojournalist. Some days are slow. Many are non-stop. Assignments can be spontaneous and range in topics. That keeps the job interesting.

Yesterday was no exception. I went to the high school to get art for a story on College GO Week. There weren’t a lot of photogenic opportunities. I was told that teachers were invited to wear shirts from their colleges. I found a teacher that would let me sit in on his class for a little bit to get a few shots of him is his Purdue apparel.

Bill Wessler wears his Purdue shirt Thursday afternoon while teaching a government class at New Castle Chrysler High School during College GO Week. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Bill Wessler wears his Purdue shirt Thursday afternoon while teaching a government class at New Castle Chrysler High School during College GO Week. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Shortly after getting back in the office, a call came over the police scanner for a house fire in a neighboring town. I rushed down there since the dispatcher kept calling in more and more departments to help fight the blaze. As it turns out, this home predates the Civil War and was a stop in the Underground Railroad.

Firefighters finish extinguishing a house fire Thursday afternoon in Spiceland. The homeowners were downstairs when a neighbor alerted them of the fire which was visible in the upstairs windows. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

A firefighter communicates out of a second story window with crews on the ground Thursday afternoon while trying to locate hot spots in a home in Spiceland. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Joey Cunningham, assistant fire chief at the Spiceland Volunteer Fire Department, looks out a second story window Thursday afternoon after extinguishing a house fire in Spiceland. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Covering the fire made me late to a tennis match but I got there in time to get a few shots of the final matches.

New Castle's A.J. York volleys against an Anderson player Thursday afternoon during the No. 3 singles match. York lost in two sets, 6-3, 6-4. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

After that, I had to rush back to the office to make sure I got all of the photos edited and in the system before deadline.

Busy days are fun days as long as you have enough time to devote to each assignment.

Some of my friends think my job is glamorous. I get access to many things the public doesn’t get to see other than through my pictures. Some of those things aren’t always easy to witness.

I’ve seen fatal fires, hit-and-runs, homicides, devastating floods…the list goes on and on.

This week I witnessed one of the worst car accident’s I’ve ever seen.

I had just gotten off work. I was at home putting some food into a skillet to cook dinner. That’s when I got the call from my news editor. A call had come over the police scanner indicating there was a wreck with entrapment.

I hustled out the door and headed the short distance to get to the scene. As I got closer, I could see there were a lot of emergency vehicles. I called my news editor back to give him an update. That is when he told me they were sending a lifeline helicopter to the scene.

I pulled off the road when I got nearby. I put on my reflective vest (required by law for media personnel) to make sure I was visible at the scene. I grabbed my camera and rushed into action.

Keep in mind that this is after 10pm on a rural county road. It was VERY dark. I had my camera’s ISO set to 1600. I had my lens open at f/2.8. I took deep breaths and held very still as I made exposures ranging from 1/10 sec to 1/50 sec.

Instinctively, I started taking pictures where ever the action was. First, that was of a kid that the police and medics were talking with.

Justin Ryan Pierce, 19, of Mount Summit, talks on his cell phone late Wednesday night after crashing a 1987 Mercedes-Benz in a cornfield near the intersection of Road 300S and Ind. 103. His passenger, Jimmy Luna, 17, of New Castle, was flown from the scene to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Then, I noticed the crumbled Mercedes in the cornfield. I moved that way.

A 1987 Mercedes-Benz lies mangled in a cornfield late Wednesday night after crashing near the intersection of Road 300S and Ind. 103. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

The vehicle was so badly mangled, police officers could not locate the license plate and instead had to fight a door open ro get the vehicles VIN.

Henry County Sheriff Deputies take down the VIN number off of a 1987 Mercedes-Benz late Wednesday night after it wrecked in a cornfield near the intersection of Road 300S and Ind. 103. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Just by observation, pieces of the puzzle started to come together. It was a single car accident. The kid talking with the emergency responders was the driver. His passenger was still stuck in the car.

I worked the scene as best I could in such poor lighting conditions. I took special care to stay out of the way of all of the police, medics and firefighters on the scene. I respected their space and in turn, they respected mine. I had full access to the scene.

I was there as they pulled the passenger from the vehicle.

Emergency responders carry Jimmy Luna, 17, of New Castle, from a mangled vehicle to a waiting ambulance Wednesday night near the intersection of Road 300S and Ind. 103. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

I was there as they checked the driver for injuries.

Emergency responders check Justin Ryan Pierce, 19, of Mount Summit, for injuries late Wednesday night after he crashed a 1987 Mercedes-Benz into a cornfield near the intersection of Road 300S and Ind. 103. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

I was there as the lifeline helicopter landed and then again as it took off.

While I have become rather calloused to difficult events like this, they still have an effect. They make you think about yourself. Your friends. Family. Coworkers.

It is my job to tell you these stories. Sometimes the photos can make you cringe. Hopefully that means they are conveying a powerful message.

Be safe out there.

I was going through my May clips yesterday picking out my favorites for potential contest entry. Here are a few that stood out to me for one reason or another.

I hate working around film crews. I can’t take pictures while they are recording. Their mics will pick up my camera shutter noise. When they aren’t filming, the scene is often times less interesting. I felt like this shot of a TV crew filming “Savor Indiana” turned out nice showing the entire scene with nice lighting and at a somewhat interesting moment.

Dean Wilson, host of "Savor Indiana," licks his fingers after tasting Durham's crab bread Tuesday afternoon. Rosie Shank, left, Durham's kitchen manager, talks with cameraman Greg Williams, seen in the mirror. Also pictured is Keith Jackson, production assistant at right. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Sometimes the action isn’t in front of you. I try to remember that when I’m photographing stage performances such as concerts or plays. At this Duke Tumatoe concert, the crowd began to interact with Duke. It turned what would be a mundane concert photo into a fun and funny piece of art for the page.

Dan, left, and Beth Conway of New Castle sing along at the Duke Tumatoe concert Friday night at the Arts Park. Tumatoe repeatedly yelled "Let's get loose" and requested that the crowd respond by yelling "Loose" back. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

This time, I had to hunt for what wasn’t in front of me. On primary election night, I snapped this photo of one of the Sheriff’s candidates as the numbers were coming in. Needless to say, they weren’t in his favor.

Kim Cronk, a candidate in the Henry County Sheriff's race, reacts as results are projected on a screen Tuesday night in the Henry County Republican headquarters. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Because of privacy laws, it can be a little tricky to photograph inside a hospital, let alone inside a hospital room. After gaining the trust and permission from the supervisors, I was granted permission to follow a couple of nurses into a patients room to illustrate a story on national Nursing Services Week.

Anita Reinhart listens to the heart and lungs of a patient Wednesday evening in the Progressive Care Unit at Henry County Hospital. Dianne Stephens, left, assisted Reinhart with an IV change. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

It’s not often I get to photograph wiffle ball let alone a double play during a wiffle ball match.

After making a diving tag at home plate, Jake Nicholson turns to throw the ball to second base for a double play during a students vs. teachers wiffle ball match. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

Chasing a train around town can be tedious. If you don’t get where you need to be before the train does, you might be stuck on the wrong side of the track. Timing is essential.

A train engine blocks part of A Avenue Friday morning as it connects with train cars that have been stored on New Castle tracks for over two years. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

You never know who you will meet on assignment. Wayman Hoots is quite the interesting character. Hopefully I’ll have an opportunity to do a story on his fishing techniques.

Indiana Conservation Officer Zach Walker, right, talks with New Castle resident Wayman Hoots Wednesday, May 19 in Memorial Park. Walker was checking on Hoots' catch for the day to make sure he was within the legal limit. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

A level of sensitivity is required when photographing a tragedy. After loosing most of their belongings in a fire, they were still gracious enough to let me in to see a slice their past salvaged from their house. As they sorted through the now dirty photographs, I gave them tips on  how to safely clean the prints.

Juliana, left, and Brooke Hughes sort through salvaged photographs Wednesday afternoon. A fire broke out Wednesday morning in their shared closet while they were at school. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

If you’re not expecting it, it will happen. Just after the Memorial Day parade, a Winnebago burst into flames relatively close to my office. Instead of fighting traffic and driving there, I sprinted down the sidewalk. The responding fire department was from out-of-town. They drove an engine in the parade. While they had no fire protection gear, they still broke out their hoses and extinguished the fire.

New Lisbon firefighter Eric Keesling finishes extinguishing a Winnebago that burst into flames Monday shortly after the Memorial Day parade in New Castle. Keesling and other members of the New Lisbon Fire Department were headed home when they saw the RV on fire. (C-T photo Max Gersh) ©2010

This last weekend was busy for me. First I had the Republican candidate Senate debate on Saturday. On Sunday, I was sent to photograph a service at the St. Anne Catholic Church. I had a few pictures of the church in a post not too long ago.

This was special service. The church was burnt down by an arsonist nearly three years ago. It has taken all that time to raise funds and rebuild. This was the churches dedication ceremony and first service since the fire.

In the slideshow, you will hear from Father Joe Rautenberg, the church’s Sacramental Minister, and from Sister Shirley Gerth, the parish life coordinator.