Wedding

Congratulations Nick and Georgia!

Look3

While there are many Instagram pictures from this past weekend, I did shoot a few with my real camera too. Here are a couple of my lovely traveling partner: Libby March.

What a great weekend. . . so many wonderful people and pictures. I can't wait until next year.

Thanks for looking.

Freelance

These are a few frames from a recent freelance event. . . cute kids and their artwork. Could you ask for more?

Just a bit of storm chasing with my brother last night. We ended up getting soaked.

Thanks for looking.

Senior Community Fire

A large blaze broke out Sunday afternoon at Rosehaven Manor Retirement Living Community off of Atherton Road in Flint. Eight residents and two firefighters were injured in the fire, though no fatalities were reported.

Firefighters from more than five departments work to battle a blaze that broke out Sunday afternoon at Rosehaven Manor Retirement Living Community off of Atherton Road in Flint. Flint Police Chief Alvern Lock said eight residents and two firefighters were injured in the fire, which was called in around 1:15 p.m.

Rescue and aid personnel take a man to an ambulance Sunday afternoon at Rosehaven Manor Retirement Living Community off of Atherton Road in Flint. The senior center was reported to be on fire around 1:15 p.m. Several agencies respond to the fire, which took about 45 minutes to get under control.

While firefighters battled a blaze behind them, Judy Mann, 71, standing, comforts her mother, Ilean Mann, 96, after the pair were evacuated from Rosehaven Manor Retirement Living Community Sunday afternoon in Flint. No fatalities were reported, though the Flint fire department said ten people were injured.

Evelyn Mackey, 91, is hoisted off a ladder as her apartment building burned behind her Sunday afternoon at Rosehaven Manor Retirement Living Community off of Atherton Road in Flint. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Though no fatalities were reported, ten people were injured, the worst with second-degree burns.

People comfort one another outside the scene of a large fire Sunday afternoon at Rosehaven Manor Retirement Living Community off of Atherton Road in Flint. No fatalities were reported, but the senior center was evacuated and ten people were injured.

Thanks for looking.

Comix Con

Just a morning assignment for The Flint Journal. It was my first Comix Con, but I can't wait to shoot another. Between the adults in costume and the kids chasing R2D2, I think it was one of the most fun events I've covered in a while. Stay tuned for a wine tasting tonight.

Thanks for looking.

GM in the Rain

Just passing on 69. I'm trying to get into using color better, so hopefully this works.

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Recent Work

Over the past few weeks I've had the fortune to pick up weekend freelance from The Flint Journal. This past Saturday I shot an Easter egg hunt in the morning and an update on the more than two dozen suspicious fires that have plagued a trailer park in the Flint area.

Caption: Katie Rausch | MLive.com
Victoria Osborn, of Swartz Creek, tries to coax her youngest grandchild, Cylie Shepard, 18 months, to warm up to the Easter Bunny Saturday afternoon at the Swartz Creek Church of the Nazarene. Osborn's other grandchildren, Joleen Rader, 8, and Aiden Malknecht, 3, were happy to have their picture taken with the bunny.



Caption: Katie Rausch | MLive.com
"I'm concerned. It's scary," Connor Skodinski, left, said about the rash of house fires that have plagued the Twin Meadows mobile home park in Burton. Skodinski and Leandra Ruiz, right, had come down from their trailer, just two doors down, to inspect the ruins of another trailer that burned to the ground last night. "You could see the flames from our windows," Skodinski said. The pair say they are think of moving away from the park, which has suffered more than twenty fires since the fall. "This one went and then the next one will be empty and then it will go and then we're next."

Gone but Not Forgotten

This is a frame from an event called, "Gone but Not Forgotten." Organized by a high school teacher and dance instructor, the event was held to both honor the memories of local teens killed by violence and provide students and community members with a public outlet for some of their pain.

This frame is from the balloon release at the end. . . this family's daughter graduated with honors last year. She was planning on attending college and had been a drum major in school. She was stabbed to death in a parking lot in October. The man accused of killing her is awaiting trial now.

It was an incredibly moving evening. To see the story and the gallery I posted with it:

http://tinyurl.com/csdlc5f

Flint Rollers

Saturday night I had the privilege of shooting both roller derby teams from Flint in their season opener at Perani Areana. I can totally see why everybody and their mother wants to do a roller derby story. These ladies were amazing! In any event, I had a great time and took a few good pictures.

Thanks for looking.

Hula Hooping Fools

Just a few laughs with two dear friends the night before MPPA.

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Because I Continue to Lack Humility

Another MPPA has come and gone. Props to the fantastic shooters who were honored this weekend including but not limited to: Nick Dentamaro, Nick King, Ryan Garza, Neil Blake, Kendra Stanley-Mills, Jake May, Sean Proctor, Ashley Miller, Erik Holladay, Josh Radtke, Cory Morse, Mike Mulholland and many others.

Check out the stellar work at:

http://www.mppa.org/poy/?c=2011-pictures-of-the-year

Thanks for looking.

Wedding Plans

Spent Sunday afternoon at a bridal show in Flint this past weekend. These events are always fun to cover because they tend to be full of people really excited to be there and equally as excited to talk about their upcoming marriage, not to mention have their picture taken. This couple seemed to be having a particularly fun afternoon.

Thanks for looking.

Back Again

Well my new site is finally up and running, thanks to the incredibly talented Patrick Wellever. Check it out at:

katierausch.com

Welcome to 2012

Well, it's been an eventful year. I've had the good fortune to be able to create some fantastic memories with dear friends and see a few incredible places. Here's to hoping 2012 is a good one for us all. . .

Last Day with the Cit Pat

So it's my last day as a staff photojournalist with the Jackson Citizen Patriot.

I'll be updating my website soon, which is like posting a "best of" edit. So in lieu of that, I decided to feature one of my last assignments with the paper.

I spent a few hours with a father/son duo while they did their chores on the family farm. New updates to child labor laws would make it difficult for children like Jeremy, who is 14, to work on his family's farm. The legislation would place restrictions on the ability of anyone under 16 to work with livestock, pesticides and machinery. Additionally, children would be unable to work on a farm unless their parents were its sole owner, so farms co-owned by extended family are out.

I guess in my own, somewhat melodramatic, way I felt like this assignment was pretty on par with my time in journalism. It's a profession I've loved dearly since high school and I've thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I'm not sure what or where I'm headed to next but I'm trying to be excited for a new chapter in my life.

And, of course, I'm always available for freelance.

Thanks for looking.

Reflections

The Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery was awarded to Jackson Police Officer James Bonneau posthumously this morning in Jackson. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg were in town to publicly give the medal to Officer Bonneau's parents, Marc and Amy Bonneau. Bonneau was shot and killed in the line of duty 21 months ago when he responded to a call for assistance with a domestic at a residence in Jackson.

Taking it Back

This was a frame from the buck pole on opening day. It was the first time I'd shot the buck pole when it's been above freezing. . . I was not happy when I had to stand downwind from the carcasses but this frame made it worth the smell.

Thanks for looking.

Farewell Herman Cain

Mr. Cain was in Hillsdale last week to stump at the college there. Of course, his campaign is no more as of this week, but it was still fun to shoot something political. It's been a while since I had the opportunity to shoot President Bush or President Obama. I'd missed it.

Thanks for looking.

Late Awarness

This was a feature I generated for some of our Breast Cancer Awareness coverage.

Caption:

Tom Murphy, 17, leads the Springport high school and elementary school on a march as part of several events held for Breast Cancer Awareness Week Friday afternoon near their schools in Springport. Murphy's mother, Katrina, is currently undergoing treatment for stage 4 breast cancer. Though Springport hosts fundraising events for Breast Cancer Awareness Week every year, this year they decided to funnel the proceeds from a number of events over the week to the Murphy family. Tom, who helped organize the walk, said he was pleased with how everything came together. "To see it actually fall into place," he said, 'It's unreal."