The annual downtown Kansas City Air Show was this weekend- and I was eager to photowalk the event and see what I could capture. Each time I get my camera out- I sometimes find myself in situations that remind me of a quote Mike McMullen shared with me (in a video blog) last year. While it’s not the most elegant quote, it’s completely on-point and accurate. He shares:

“Sometimes that perfect composition slaps you up side the head- and wow, I’m so lucky I’m here- all I can do is screw it up.”

As I’m learning and trying to improve more and more with my own photography (as a hobby), I know first hand what he means. There are those times when you find yourself staring at the perfect photo- it’s almost yelling “HEY YOU, this is the shot right here!” It’s up to you to just get it just right and not screw it up.

All that said- I was pleased and surprised with some of the shots that came out from this year’s air show. Tracking and following speeding airplanes through the sky isn’t something I find myself doing a lot of Enjoy the photos and check out the full flickr slideshow here. Here are some of my personal favorites (below).

AMC invited local bloggers to come preview their new theater in Downtown Kansas City. AMC Mainstreet, the theater, orginally opened in 1921, but now has been renovated and upgraded (to say the least). They gave me access to the new theater and I willingly decided to shoot a vBlog to give everyone a ‘preview’ before it’s open to the public. Check out my video blog for a complete tour of the place, it’s not your typical movie theater. I also snapped a few photos with my camera which you can view on my flickr account.

Here is the quick bottom-line about the new theater in my opinion:

• Truthfully the food (that you order in the movie theater) isn’t amazing. It’s like bar food — not gourmet.
• In my opinion, the audio setup, screen-size and seating comfort justifies the higher price you pay to watch a movie.
• The seats all have speakers in them that rumble when action scenes appear in the movie. Cheesy as that may sound, when I watched a movie there it was freakin’ cool to watch actions scenes with your seat shaking.
• You can order beer and they bring it to you = cool
• You’re able to reserve specific seats online or by phone so you don’t have to show up extra early to get a good spot.

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I was asked to come check out the new grocery story that’s opening up here in downtown Kansas City. I know, I know — typically a grocery store wouldn’t be that big of a deal …except, here in KC, we have no grocery store downtown so this is HUGE news. Everyone is curious on what it will offer and all the logistics around it.

I’ll say, I was pretty impressed overall. Lots of attention to detail was put into designing this store. I’d heard the rumors and talk about all the money being put into this project and it really is impressive when you see it, especially for a grocery store. I myself live downtown — and I’m STOKED that this will be opening in January. Can’t wait!

Watch my video blog of the store setup.

Here’s some photos of the store.

Tonight I had a chance to watch truly an amazing day in history.  This election was easily the most significant in my lifetime.  This is the sort of thing “I’ll tell my kids about”. While I won’t bore you with the details about my personal view points and convictions RE: politics — I will reiterate something I mentioned on Twitter this week.

“Anyone who has an informed opinion RE: politics, that’s what counts. Just having a choice is what’s makes this country great.”

I went to a watch party downtown with some friends after work (I can walk to P&L now, it’s great!), while I was there I took some photos.  Check them all out on my flickr account.

I’d like to shake the speech writers hand who wrote the final sentence of his speech:

“I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voice, I need your help, and I’ll be your president, too.”

Powerful stuff. Those words hit me like a ton of bricks.