Michigan Photos & Images

Intimate views of the Great Lakes state

Jennifer Harnish | Kalamazoo Gazette

There was no way of knowing, when I drove an hour and a half out to Bronson to photograph the Schoolcraft volleyball team's win against White Pigeon on Nov. 11, that I would be shooting their following three wins and finally their win of the Class C state championship title Saturday. After making it through the semifinals, I knew that, win or lose, playing the state finals was going to be a huge moment in the team's life. I decided to follow them through that day, starting with their pancake breakfast at the high school and then onto the bus with them and through the moments before the game. I was amazed at the girl's confidence and joy at having made it so far, and the immense emotion after winning the championship was great to be able to witness and document.

Jennifer Harnish | Kalamazoo Gazette

Jennifer Harnish | Kalamazoo Gazette

Jennifer Harnish | Kalamazoo Gazette

Jill McLane Baker | GazetteKalamazoo County Animal Services and Enforcement Officer Mark Vanderberg chases a Canada goose with a plastic bottle stuck on his head through Riverside Cemetery in Kalamazoo Wednesday afternoon. The bird had been wandering about, in slow circles, waving his head back and forth trying to get the bottle off, to no avail. After Gazette photographer Jill McLane Baker called Kalamazoo County Animal Services and Enforcement, Officer Mark Vanderberg arrived and removed the bottle. His feathers were a little ruffled, but the bird was unharmed.

It has been a good month for Gazette photographers. Jonathon Gruenke and Mark Bugnaski both won recognition from the Michigan Associated Press for photos they shot in October, (see Kalamazoo Gazette sweeps AP photo contest) and last week Jill McLane Baker's photo of an animal control officer won the Associated Press Managing Editors' National Photo of the Month. Keep checking back here at Phoblographer for more great photos, and also check out our daily photo galleries at http://photos.mlive.com/kalamazoogazette/.

Read the story about the kickoff event here.