Eyes on Fire

New Blog

2009-04-27T06:50:00.001-07:00

Conjoined

2009-02-16T16:14:00.000-08:00

Catherine Nickson, of Cleveland, fixes her daughter Dagian Lee's dress while her other daughters, Danielle (in bed) and Dayloni, play with a toy guitar in their room at Children's Hospital. Conjoined twins Dagian and Danielle were surgically separated in December.

Steelers Victory Parade

2009-02-03T18:58:00.000-08:00

Pittsburgh Erupts: Oakland Super Bowl Riots

2009-02-02T07:54:00.000-08:00

Church Fire

2009-01-27T10:59:00.000-08:00

North Side resident and church parishioner Tim Jones prays as a four-alarm fire destroys the North Side Institutional Church of God in Christ on California Avenue on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009.

Super Bowl Commercial Guy

2009-01-27T10:58:00.001-08:00

Antonio Rivas of Greentree poses for a portrait inside his restaurant, "Rivas", in Carnegie on Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. Rivas will be appearing as a photographer in a Coke commercial during the Super Bowl.

The Inauguration of Barack Obama

2009-01-25T19:11:00.001-08:00

Several weeks ago my boss at the Post-Gazette lets me know that they were planning on sending me to the inauguration. At first I was almost certain that we weren't going to get anywhere near Obama, and I started to plan out ideas for crowd photos and the likes. Then, a week before the big day, my editor calls me and says that we've obtained one credential for the main press riser during the swear-in ceremony. He offered me the credential (which is strange, because I'm the least senior staff member), and I almost turned it down. All I could think about was how standard and similar my image was going to be compared to the countless others photographing the event, a good host of whom would have better positions than I.

I wanted to work the crowds instead. I wanted to be able to do something and have something to show from the event that was unique to me. And I would have probably done that, had I not called a friend of mine that works for our competing paper to ask his advice.

He was fairly shocked that I was really about to turn down the credential. He put it plainly, "You have the opportunity to photograph the swearing-in of the first black president in the history of the United States." Implied meaning: "Are you an idiot?"

It hadn't really hit me, how momentous this occasion was, until he said that. I don't know why I'm like that. But, needless to say, I took the credential.

And this is my frame. It's no different than the hundreds you've all probably seen thus far, except that it is mine. I feel proud about this image in a way I haven't felt before. I'm proud that, in a time defined by cutbacks and layoffs, my paper found a way to send a team of journalists to cover an important moment in this country's history. I'm proud that I can say that I saw Obama raise his hand to take the oath of office with my own eyes. And I'm proud that we live in a country where, truly, any one of us can achieve even the loftiest of goals. Be it a black man becoming president, or a kid who one day decided come hell or high water, all he wanted to do was take photographs for the rest of his life.

"Metamorphoses"

2009-01-14T15:05:00.001-08:00

Touchdown!

2009-01-13T10:55:00.000-08:00

Curator

2009-01-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

Eric Shiner, curator at The Andy Warhol Museum, poses for a portrait inside the museum on Monday, Jan. 12, 2009.

In motion...

2009-01-05T15:06:00.001-08:00

Oh the weather outside...

2008-12-22T16:55:00.001-08:00

A lone woman crosses Stanwix Street at Penn Avenue, past the Christmas tree display on the side of Penn Avenue Place as steam from a large vent partially obscures the street in downtown Pittsburgh on Monday, Dec. 22, 2008.

Someone please give me a good assignment!

2008-12-18T18:27:00.000-08:00

Christmas time

2008-12-08T13:13:00.001-08:00

Jessica Gomez, 7, of McKeesport, dances to the song "Jingle Bell Rock" during McKeesport's 23rd annual Festival of Trees at the Jacob Woll Pavilion in Renziehausen Park on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008.

D700 portrait

2008-12-05T08:55:00.000-08:00

Here's a test portrait at 6400 iso from a d700...

Hazelwood Fire

2008-12-03T15:18:00.001-08:00

McCain in Pittsburgh

2008-11-03T21:35:00.000-08:00

These are images from McCain's final push in Pittsburgh. They mark the end of my election coverage. Cheers.

Oliver Miller Homestead

2008-11-02T16:21:00.001-08:00

Bill Clinton in Washington

2008-10-30T12:23:00.000-07:00

Obama in Pittsburgh

2008-10-27T18:51:00.000-07:00

Haunted Hayride

2008-10-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

Palin in Beaver

2008-10-24T09:25:00.000-07:00

Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin shakes hands with members of the Beaver Area High School football team after speaking at a campaign rally at the school in Beaver, Pa. on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008.

McCain at RMU

2008-10-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

Palin

2008-10-11T16:51:00.001-07:00

The Brothers DeYoung

2008-09-28T12:43:00.001-07:00

This is my work from a story on the DeYoung brothers, two CMU students afflicted with spinal muscular atrophy. To read the Post-Gazette's story on the brothers, go to

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08272/915700-455.stm

Angler

2008-09-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

Fly Angler Briget Shields (CQ) of Squirrel Hill poses for a portrait on Pine Creek in Hampton Township on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008. Shields has been fly fishing for 15 years.

McCain in Vienna

2008-09-17T07:21:00.001-07:00

Go to http://www.post-gazette.com/multimedia/?videoid=100953 to watch the multimedia piece on McCain's visit to Vienna.

Tigerland Part III

2008-09-11T12:12:00.001-07:00

Hookah

2008-09-11T11:44:00.000-07:00

Sukriti Grover, a senior at Carnegie Mellon University, blows a smoke ring while spending time with friends at Hookah Bookah, a hookah cafe, on Carson Street in the Southside on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008.

My City in the Sun

2008-09-03T10:40:00.000-07:00

Don't tase me yo!

2008-09-03T10:34:00.000-07:00

Chris Cason of Wilkinsburg speaks during a press conference addressing taser abuse outside the office of Allegheny County district attorney Stephen Zappala in the County Courthouse on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008. Cason was tased by Homestead police three weeks ago and was hospitalized.

Car Show

2008-09-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

John Wherry of Clinton, Pa., walks through the Carnegie Police Crime Prevention benefit car cruise on Mary Street in Carnegie on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008.

The freshmen experience...

2008-09-02T10:50:00.001-07:00

Slippery Rock freshman Chad Bruner, 18, walks across a plank of wood between platforms during a team-building exercise on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008

Slippery Rock freshman Chad Bruner (white t-shirt, falling), grabs hold of freshman Kristen Kulbatsky (center, blue shirt) to try and stop his falling off a log during a team-building exercise on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008.

Trailing McCain...

2008-08-30T20:01:00.000-07:00

Trailing McCain: The Straight Talk Express

2008-08-30T19:58:00.001-07:00

Rain Delay

2008-08-28T14:53:00.001-07:00

I was hoping to get out to photograph the wild animal orphanage again today, but the weather is miserable and Karen, the animal handler, doesn't do much with the animals on rainy days. Selah. So instead I found this older frame I never posted. I'm thinking of calling the project "Feeding Her Family", seeing as that Karen spends a good portion of her time preparing roadkill deer and dead cows from local farms for the cats to eat.

Freshmen...

2008-08-27T16:40:00.001-07:00

This is from a freshmen team-building exercise. The reporter on site asked me to try to make sure the photo showed the school's atmosphere...so naturally I found a frame that worked in a complete void.

Choice...

2008-08-24T19:23:00.001-07:00

Senior Kirstin Tucker, 21, tosses a stuffed animal into a bin on the Boulevard of the Allies during the first day of Point Park University's Student Move-In and Welcome Week, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008. Tucker, a dance and musical theater major, is from Nashville, Tennessee.

I couldn't choose between these two...thoughts?

Dog Park

2008-08-21T10:19:00.000-07:00

Dog owners walk through the new dog park in Cranberry during its grand opening on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008. The park, a fenced-in, two acre area with sections for both large and small dogs, cost upwards of $100,000.

Pittsburgh 250 Choir

2008-08-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

These are some still frames from a quickhit video I was assigned on the Pittsburgh 250 Choir.

Sweep

2008-08-14T17:29:00.000-07:00

Family Night

2008-08-13T16:04:00.000-07:00

Cause I like it...

2008-08-12T20:51:00.000-07:00

Shooting

2008-08-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

JukeBox dance

2008-08-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

Linda Van Landingham of Greenfield laughs while dancing as the sun sets during Sandcastle's JukeBox Sunday Night on August 3, 2008.

Warped Tour

2008-07-29T17:38:00.000-07:00

Relient K performs during the 2008 Vans Warped Tour at the Post-Gazette Pavilion on Tuesday, July 29, 2008.

Water Balloon War

2008-07-26T17:53:00.001-07:00

Participants in the 2nd annual Market Square Water Balloon Fight drench each other by throwing over 10,000 water balloons in Market Square on Saturday, July 26, 2008. The fight drew 420 participants (both in children and adult divisions).

Autism

2008-07-23T16:11:00.000-07:00

Abigail Pucek, a seven-year-old with autism, laughs while being pushed in a ball pit swing by Carolyn Dzialakiewicz, an occupational therapist for the Children's Institute, at the institute's grand opening in the Norwin Hills Shopping Center in North Huntingdon on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. The ball pit swing is a tool used for sensory integration therapy.

Pirates vs. Astros

2008-07-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

Pittsburgh's Freddy Sanchez jumps to keep the catcher's throw from going into center field as the Houston's Lance Berkman steals second during their game at PNC park on Wednesday, July 9, 2008.

Amputee Camp

2008-07-08T20:03:00.000-07:00

This is a series of images, cropped to 16x9 to fit in a video, on camp STAR, a camp for amputees. To see the entire project, go to www.mikehenninger.com and click on video, or go directly at

http://www.post-gazette.com/multimedia/?videoid=100694

Riding out the slump

2008-07-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

From top:

Alex Docherty, 8, waves at another boat during the maiden voyage of a water shuttle service for Pirates home games aboard the Miss Pittsburgh on Tuesday, June 24, 2008. Alex is the son of Laura Docherty, of Castle Shannon, a member of the ferry's crew.

Christina Cappa, bartender at Primanti Bros. in Monroeville, poses for a portrait inside the restaurant on Monday, July 7, 2008.

Tim O'Malley, resident of Chess Street in Mt. Washington, examines the damage done to his backyard by yesterday's (Monday, July 7, 2008) thunderstorms.

Dexter, a six-month-old bulldog, and Griffin, a nine-week-old golden retriever, play during Walkers Pet HoTail's first anniversary puppy party on Wednesday, June 18, 2008.

Eighteen-year-old LaTisha Hawthorne talks with her mentor Megan Hawk during Hawk's daughter's birthday party at the Alcoma Country Club in Penn Hills on Sunday, July 6, 2008. Hawk is Hawthorne's mentor through YoungLife, a national, Christian program to help teen mothers that recently opened a a chapter in Penn Hills. Hawthorne is seven months pregnant.

Football Camp

2008-06-19T11:37:00.000-07:00

Devas Simmons, an assistant coach at Peabody High School, coaches kids participating in the 2008 NFL Junior Player Development Camp at the Woodland Hills Wolvarena Stadium on Tuesday, June 17, 2008.

The New York Dolls

2008-06-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

Tigerland part I

2008-06-08T14:52:00.000-07:00

These images are the start of my project on the Wild Animal Orphanage in Uniontown, PA.

Dem Stillers...

2008-06-04T10:22:00.001-07:00

Four-year-old Austin Howell of Brighton Heights tries to run by Steelers Anthony Madison (right) and Patrick Bailey during a football clinic for area youth hosted at Oliver High School on Tuesday, June 2, 2008. The clinic is part of the Urban Impact Foundation's "Play Ball for Kids" partnership, which raises money to help at-risk youth through working with professional athletes.

Mysteries of Pittsburgh

2008-06-02T11:35:00.001-07:00

It's official, I am in a slump.

Press Conference I

2008-05-22T16:56:00.001-07:00

You may have noticed that I haven't posted to eyesonfire for about a week. But have no fear. That week delay made it possible for me to concentrate on shooting the first installment of many-part series on Press Conferences. Enjoy!

-m.

Unfit for human living...

2008-05-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

Above: Robert McPherson, senior building inspector for the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Building Inspection, talks with several Bureau of Fire firefighters about violations at 331 (right) and 337 McKee Place in Oakland as the group posts signs declaring the apartment buildings unfit for human habitation on Wednesday, May 14, 2008.
Below: Robert McPherson, senior building inspector for the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Building Inspection, and Nick Florian, Bureau of Fire firefighter, post signs in 337 McKee Place in Oakland declaring the apartment building unfit for human habitation on Wednesday, May 14, 2008.

Flight

2008-05-07T12:09:00.000-07:00

Post-Gazette reporter Matt Smith rides along with John Klatt, a major in the Air National Guard and aerobatics pilot who will be performing in the Wings Over Pittsburgh Airshow, during a flight around Pittsburgh on Tuesday, May 6, 2008.

Oliver Miller Homestead

2008-05-07T12:06:00.000-07:00

Re-enactor Mary Pat Swauger of White Hall speaks with Barbara Bockrath (not pictured) of Bethel Park in front of Mansfield, the Stone House of the Oliver Miller Homestead during the Homestead's opening day on Sunday, May 4, 2008.

Church Murals

2008-05-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

David Crawford, one of four actors performing in a dramatic reading of the play "Gifts to America", goes through his lines at the St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church in Millvale on Sunday, May 4, 2008. The play is being put on by the Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka as a way to raise awareness of the murals and launch a drive to raise funds for their permanent illumination. It will be performed on May 7-10 at the church at 8:30 p.m.

Skate Re-edit

2008-05-05T16:31:00.001-07:00

Or, in black and white with some contrast....

The Neverending Feature Hunt

2008-05-04T15:44:00.001-07:00

Twilight

2008-04-30T12:28:00.001-07:00

Normalcy

2008-04-29T12:40:00.000-07:00

South Hills Movers employee Jeff Pritchard pulls down clothing from a rack in the wardrobe department of the old Pittsburgh Opera building on Penn Avenue on Monday, April 28, 2008. The opera is relocating to a new building on Liberty Avenue in the Strip District.

The Politics of Now VII

2008-04-20T17:16:00.001-07:00

The Politics of Now VI

2008-04-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

The Politics of Now V

2008-04-20T17:13:00.000-07:00

The Politics of Now: Debate

2008-04-17T15:49:00.000-07:00

The Politics of Now: Gameday

2008-04-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

The Politics of Now IV

2008-04-09T15:07:00.000-07:00

Clinton at the diner

2008-04-08T19:22:00.000-07:00

The Politics of Now III

2008-04-04T19:49:00.001-07:00

The Politics of Now II

2008-04-03T15:22:00.000-07:00

The Politics of Now

2008-04-02T13:27:00.001-07:00

Big Willy Style

2008-03-27T22:50:00.001-07:00

On the Trail: Bill campaigns for Hillary

2008-03-27T22:37:00.000-07:00

Eyes on Fire: Retooled

2008-03-25T14:26:00.001-07:00

For the past week, I've been on assignment for the Post-Gazette in the Eastern part of Pennsylvania, covering anything and everything related to the coming primary election. I've retooled this blog, eyes on fire, with larger photos and video, to share my experience on the road. As always, feedback is greatly appreciated.

On the Trail: Clinton campaigns in Blue Bell

2008-03-25T13:28:00.000-07:00

Primary Issues: Philadelphia

2008-03-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

On the Trail: Ferrera campaigns for Clinton

2008-03-25T07:42:00.000-07:00

Police Press Conference

2008-03-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

Commander Thomas Stangrecki of the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police holds a press conference at Police Headquarters on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 to release composite sketches of the unidentified victim of the Arbor Street Fire that occurred on March 14.

RMU Basketball

2008-03-17T11:09:00.001-07:00

Robert Morris University's Women's Basketball team celebrates their victory over Long Island University in the NEC championship game at RMU on Sunday, March 16, 2008. As the winner of the tournament, RMU now advances to the NCAA women's tournament.

Charlie Batch

2008-03-13T18:14:00.001-07:00

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch speaks with Shane Davis, 7, of Wilkinsburg, after reading to children at the Carnegie Public Library in Homewood as part of the Toys for Tots Literacy Program on Tuesday, March 11, 2008.

Flight

2008-03-09T14:44:00.001-07:00

Clockwise from left, Kevin Brown, playing Ezra, Joshua Elijah Reese, playing Nate, DeWanda Wise, playing Mercy, and Taifa Harris, playing Alma perform a scene from the City Theatre's production of "Flight", a play written by Charlayne Woodard, on Sunday, March 9, 2008.

Hindu-Jewish Heritage Day

2008-03-02T18:02:00.000-08:00

Soumya Rajupet (left), 14, and Vaidehi Tata, 16, students of the Kalaniketan Academy of Indian Classical Dance from the SV Temple, perform during the Hindu-Jewish Heritage Day at Rodef Shalom Congregation on Sunday, March 2, 2008.

S.W.A.T.

2008-03-02T18:01:00.001-08:00

Pittsburgh S.W.A.T. members move into position as they coordinate the sweep of an apartment building on Park Hill Drive in the East Hills in search of a person of interest in the shooting of a 26-year-old man on Sunday, March 2, 2008.

Snow-day football

2008-03-02T17:58:00.000-08:00

Above: Oakland resident Tim Burgess takes advantage of nice weather by throwing around a football with friend Matt Stine (not pictured) in Schenley Park on Sunday, March 2, 2008.

Below: Oakland resident Matt Stine takes advantage of nice weather by throwing around a football with friend Tim Burgess (not pictured) in Schenley Park on Sunday, March 2, 2008.

Sewing for charity

2008-03-02T17:56:00.000-08:00

Above: Boyce Middle School sixth grader Carissa Hentosz, 12, uses a sewing machine to sew part of a quilt that, when finished, will be donated to charity, on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008.

Below: Boyce Middle School sixth graders Carissa Hentosz (top), 12, and Kylie Fultineer, 12, sew part of a quilt that, when finished, will be donated to charity, on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008.

Green thumbs...

2008-03-02T17:55:00.001-08:00

Dr. Mark Tebbitt, an assistant professor at California University of Pennsylvania, poses for a portrait inside their Biology Department's Greenhouse on Monday, Feb. 25, 2008.

Skater in the snow...

2008-02-25T16:50:00.000-08:00

Cold weather doesn't stop Polish Hill resident Paul Pagoda as he skateboards in the half of a bowl that isn't covered in snow at the skate park in Polish Hill at the corner of 30th Street and Phelan Way on Monday, Feb. 25, 2008.

Ballet @ Phipps

2008-02-24T18:12:00.000-08:00

First Image: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre graduate students Nicole Cerutti (center) and Shannon Bedortha perform a piece called "Ravelesque" at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens as part of a celebration marking the final day of Chihuly at Phipps: Gardens & Glass, on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008. The event, entitled "Glass en Pointe", had Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre performers dancing amongst Chihuly's glass sculptures.

Second Image: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dancers Eva Trapp and Bob Moore perform a piece called "Ave Maria" at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens as part of a celebration marking the final day of Chihuly at Phipps: Gardens & Glass, on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008.

Science

2008-02-22T17:05:00.000-08:00

Betsy Naugle (left), 10, covers her face and Rachel Boward, 10, screams during a Cool Chemistry After-School Workshop put on by the Carnegie Science Center at the Moon Township Public Library on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. The demonstration involved the students putting water and alka-seltzer tablets into a film canister, which would cause a loud reaction that would pop the film canisters into the air.

Here's to you, Paul...

2008-02-20T20:44:00.000-08:00

Your Inner Vagabond

2008-02-19T17:33:00.000-08:00

Mandy Wingard of Lawrenceville works on her laptop inside the recently opened "Your Inner Vagabond", located at 4130 Butler Street in Lawrenceville on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008. The coffeehouse, decorated like a Far Eastern harem, serves Middle Eastern food, and hosts live music, tastings, and other events.

Snow walk

2008-02-19T17:31:00.000-08:00

Toga

2008-02-18T14:37:00.000-08:00

Bill Clinton

2008-02-18T05:48:00.001-08:00

Lures

2008-02-15T07:51:00.001-08:00

Washington Elementary School fifth grade students involved in a fishing fly tying class gather around volunteer Bill Nagle (hand) as he shows them several examples during their lunch hour on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008.

V-day...

2008-02-14T17:12:00.000-08:00