A Hunter of Stories

. . . . . . . . . Back to Work

With vacation over, I have returned to work.

Among the first assignments to find me on this day is a fatality — that which I wish I could simply avoid and walk away from.

But this is news and cannot be avoided.

Arriving at the scene on Va. 262, I found two vehicles very close together with a lot of firefighters hovering around a car that seemed to have received a lot more damage than the pickup truck.

Making my approach, I quickly captured overall scene images that included all the rescue vehicles, two cars involved and those on the scene with the road itself stretching off into the distance.

The fact that the rescue personnel were showing little activity was the first clue that the worst might have happened and a this wreck be a fatal.

For this reason, I chose to photograph from the one side and angle.

However, I would not be doing my job if I did not investigate  the other angles, but my choice is one of respect moving forward.

First, I made sure I was making a wide circle of the scene so as not to get in anyone’s way.

Second, I draped my camera back across my body so that it was clearly not being used.

As I made my circle, a firefighter broke away from the pack and approached my location to informed me that this was indeed a fatal and asking that I not photograph the body.

I quickly assured him that it was my policy to never take such a photograph for reasons of respect and even patted my camera as it was slung around my body.

We conferred for a moment and determined that my original choice of angles was the best one for capturing images to tell the story without fear of capturing the sheet draped form.

And so I was left to do my job as I left them to do theirs.

When I was sure I had captured what I could, I left the scene as to remain for no reason is simply not what I am about.

Of the photos captured, the one above for me best tells the story as it focuses on those gathered, protecting and waiting.

My prayers go out to those affected by this tragedy.

— Mike Tripp, photojournalist

** “PHOTO NOTES” takes you behind the lens of the camera as the photographer offers a behind the scenes glimpse from inside the shoes of a photojournalist as well as offers the rare chance to hear some of his thoughts in the process.

Even Simple Things Can Be Enjoyed

Even though this week has marked our return to the sport of geocaching, not all adventures are to be found in a hidden geocache or even a waymark.

Sometimes the adventure is found simply in enjoy the moment and living it.

After a week with house guests, we felt it good to do things one particular Saturday that our 3-year-old daughter, Abi, would enjoy as even though she had some fun herself during the week previous, Abi still was living life to the schedule of others.

And we are very proud of how well she adapted to the changes in schedule and routine during the week we had visitors.

So on this one particular Saturday in August, we loaded her up in the mini van and set sail for Gypsy Hill Park.

Abi had a blast feeding the ducks, geese and swans.

She also relished in a ride aboard the Gypsy Express.

But the most energy she expended was up the hill on the playground where she ran, climbed, slid, and much more.

And even we here parents had fun, enjoying the simple moments of being together as a family.

It makes me think of why I chose the persona of “Klingons” to represent us while geocaching.

For me, the fictional Klingons (those true to the ways of Kahless) are about not just honor, but also about living life while making the most of it.

They are a passionate people unafraid to live life, enjoying that life as they adventure through it.

Why not enjoy this life while doing so in an honorable way?

After all, if we rush through life and rush through the adventures … we will never realize all that we are truly missing.

— Mike Tripp / Hunter of Stories

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“Adventures of the Pathfinder” follows the adventures of “The-Pathfinders” (aka. Order of the Pathfinder, Klingon faction among the Ships of the Cache) of which Mike Tripp is a part as they explore the world with an adventurous spirit and a lot of fun.

Captain’s Log — Imperial Stardate: 2010,08,21

It occurred to us that the official report from us has yet to be filed so credit for our … discovery … has also yet to take place.

On Imperial Stardate: 2010, 07,17, we boarded our bird-of-prey … the I.K.S. Maelstrom … and went in search of “AshleyGoRound Cache.”

After all, it is just not right for Klingons to allow such a nearby outpost to go undefeated!

Unlike a previous visit by those of our expeditionary force, this time the outpost was right where it should be and quite easily found … and conquered!

– Gen. Huntar
Commanding, I.K.S. MAELSTROM
The Order of the Pathfinder
and the Klingon Empire

One of the rare gifts I have been given in this life is my love and ability to capture moments in life through images and words.

It is something I not only take pride in, but something I feel is important for me to do.

When I do these things, I not only capture a quick glimpse into a moment but help preserve that moment for others to enjoy years to come …. at least that is the hope and dream.

Work is work, however … and we all reach points where we feel the burn and find each step heavier to make regarding it.

I have allowed the stresses at work to color my love of being a “hunter of stories” to the point that I fear if it continues … I may well loose this love.

So I have to say the time has come to actively build up my defenses and strategies as I seek ways to protect that which I love as well as other ways to make them become more and longer lasting than they currently are.

The Constitution-class U.S.S. Sam Houston visits the dry dock structure where the Excelsior-class ship that will soon carry the Sam Houston name is in the final stages of construction. (Courtesy Photo / The Imperial Alliance)

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The first Play-by-Email simm I ever commanded was called the U.S.S. Sam Houston — a ship I wrote with off and on (more on than off) for ten years.

She was a ship with a long history as well as one that spanned a couple of different hulls over the course of her history.

Well, the way I see things is that the timeline from my writing days has been changed in that the Undine went back in time and set certain events in motion that … like the new Star Trek movie … rebooted the timeline.

In Star Trek: Frontiers (the mother group I wrote with), Romulus was never destroyed which means that for my characters and their stories … this is a single event that can be pointed at that changed the flow of events.

In the original stories, the U.S.S. Sam Houston was a WOLFE-class light cruiser … very similar to a Miranda.

In the Star Trek Online timeline, she is a Constitution-class, but already plans are underway for the Sam Houston (which is becoming a bit dated) to be replaced with an Excelsior-spaceframe (as seen above) that is being used as a platform from which experimental components can be tested.

The people fitting the bill is a business called Daystrom Spaceframe Industries who are working with the Imperial Alliance (and to a lesser degree Starfleet) to test the ship in field.

The interesting note is that the second version of the Sam Houston in the original stories was a test ship that used the Excelsior-class spaceframe with Daystrom Spaceframe Industries helping with the project.

So … somethings never change.

Oh and yes … There will soon be stories written from the U.S.S. Sam Houston!