New Website and Blog www.marcinvisuals.com

To see my current work, please go to my new website at www.marcinvisuals.com

Dawn at Michigan State Fair from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

Dawn at the Michigan State Fair is filled with warm sunshine, whinnying of the horses and whooshing of the straw brooms. Hours before the gates open for public, anxious teenagers barter with friends while getting ready for a horse show competition. The fair is full of quiet life in those early morning hours.

Ah, the good old days.

In replica AC Cobra, the cruising never stops for Alan and Virginia Janiszewski in the horse country of Metamora, MI.


Horses, Hills and AC Cobra from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

Not your grandma's bed and breakfast.
I loved it.

Northport, MI, is not a place you pass on your way somewhere else. Surrounded by water and located at the tip of one of Michigan's fingers, just north of Traverse City, Northport was a perfect location for David Chroback when he moved back to the US after two decades in Virgin Islands. On a hill overlooking an old mill pond, Chroback started a bed and breakfast and let himself be consumed by his passion for antiques, collectables, and original works of art.
Over the last 24 years he has created a B&B that contains one of the most amazing and eccentric collections of art in Northern Michigan.


Bikes on the Trees from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

Check out some bottoms....

Flint residents now have to watch their butts because Police Chief David Dicks is on the lookout.

Dicks, who took over the department last month on an interim basis, announced that his officers would start arresting people wearing saggy pants that expose skivvies, boxer shorts or bare bottoms.


Flint police crack down on saggy pants from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

I hate riding roller coasters. Hate it. Did I mentioned you can find here footage shot during an actual ride....

Thunderhawk, new roller coaster at Michigan's Adventure is the largest in the state. It climbs 105 feet in the air with a breathtaking 86-foot drop.


Killer Roller Coaster from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

Believe it or not, Detroit River is one of the best walleye fishing areas in the world.
Not to be missed - huge factories that liven up river banks. Most are closed anyway.


Best Walleye Fishing in the World from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

In was a rainy cold morning and the Secret Service guys looked grumpy....
But then again, don't they always do?

Democratic primary campaign stop of Senator Hillary Clinton in Detroit, MI.


Hillary Clinton in Detroit from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

Brutal murder by a wealthy, child-faced teenager. Brought to you by the suburbs of Detroit.


Thrill Kill from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

Being in Detroit and all, we do a lot of car reviews here. No matter that the car industry has contributed to the slow death of that city and now is dragging down the rest of Southeast Michigan...
Check out some cool Detroit ruins in the background...


Pontiac G8 Car Review from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

One of the first pieces I did for the Detroit Free Press. The big question posted there was: Why aren't musicians more involved in the struggle against war, poverty and injustice in today's America?


Soul Music Today and During Civil Rights Struggle from Marcin Szczepanski on Vimeo.

Dog Life

Dog impressions from a recent walk on Broad St. in Philadelphia.

Boys and Girls Club

Boys and Girls Club of Camden is having an open house to introduce local community leaders to the South Camden facility. Adults were paired with kids for the duration of the visit. During her visit, Stephanie Viti extends her hand to get a couple of pennies from Indian Ragin for a penny carpet toss game while Viti's teammate Chapelle Thomas, 7, of Camden looks at the exchange and laughs.

Christmas concert

Jenna Kornicki of Sickleville, 9, member of the chorus, receives a candle that she will use as a prop during the Children Song of New Jersey Chorus concert at the St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Woodbury on Saturday night, December 9, 2007. Brandon Cameron, 8 of Sewell is on the left and Shannon Lally, 9, of Oakland is on the right.

Car Fire

Nice way to start a day, huh? This car was parked a block away from my house. Someone must have been put it on fire. I got there ahead of the firefighters and it was burning like hell.



Firefighters put out a burning car in the wee hours of Thursday morning on North 26th St. in Brewerytown section of Philadelphia. December 6, 2007.

Football Saturday

Hammonton's Tom Pangia grabs onto the jersey of St. Joseph's Nick Haines in the first quarter of football game against St. Joseph at St Joseph HS field in Hammonton on Saturday, November 24, 2007.

Psychodelic Santa

Just an attempt to show Santa and elves in a different light...


A day after Thanksgiving, elves at the Funplex on Route 38 entertain themselves in a somehow psychedelic looking hall as they wait for Santa Claus who is half an hour late after being lost on the way there. From left are: Tyler Stanley (Holly), Emily Maloney (Gumdrop), Joe Lally (Jingle) and Danielle Stradling (Sparkle).

Santa Claus AKA Joe DeFelice walks with elves through the Funplex hall on Route 38 on the way to greeting kids.

Watching planes go by

A day before Thanksgiving, Arianna Wallace, 7, (left) looks through the window of a Philadelphia Airport restaurant at planes taxing below. Arianna, her sister Leila Austin and mother Pamela Wallace await for a flight to Nashville, TN at a mildly crowded airport.

Thanksgiving Dinner with Corrections Officers

Camden County Corrections Officers (from left) Deserie Thomas, Mary Wilson and Karen Taylor prepare give-away clothes at their 12th annual Thanksgiving dinner for the needy at the Police Benevolent Association Hall in Camden, NJ.
I did get all the food serving and eating shots, but at the end of the day that was my favorite scene. I was somehow surprised how many folks showed up for a dinner served by Camden corrections officers....

Soccer Championships

Ramsey High School beat Cinnaminson 3:1 at the New Jersey Soccer State Championships in Hillsborough, NJ. The soccer season is, unfortunately, all over in South Jersey.

Living Room Train

Barbara Decina plays with her boys Nicolas, 8, and Andrew, 5, (bottom). Decina family sets up models of trains around the Christmas tree each year.

Good luck saint

St. Joseph High School players touch a statue of a saint for a good luck during the half time of football game against Gloucester Catholic in Hammonton. It's a local tradition that originated in 1996 when Bill Bendig who was heavily involved with the football team, died. His two sons played for the St. Joseph High School and a plaque dedicated to him was put up next to the statue.

Fall sports season is slowly wrapping up

Here is a shot from today.

Notre Dame players enter the football field carrying an American flag for the game against Paul VI High School. The flag didn't help them on the field and the Notre Dame Irish lost to Paul VI Eagles at Paul VI High School on Friday night, November 9, 2007.
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Field Hockey

Kingsway's field hockey team members celebrate after beating Timber Creek 4:0 in the Group 3 semifinals at Kingsway HS. From right are Aubrey Coleman, Macy Limanni, Caitlyn Jenkins and goalie Brittany Dipper.

Kite Flying Festival

Day's Outtake

Ed Wilson watches his lure while fishing for bass in the Glen Lake in Woodbury Heights. Wilson spent 10 years taking care of elephants in a circus before starting his current job of a tree climber and cutter.


A member of the Camden High School girls cross country team participates in a cross country competition at the Gloucester County College.

Hunters and Fishermen

Brian Smick and Ivan Smick, both of Pilesgrove, listen to the meeting about legislation affecting hunters and fishermen in New Jersey while other sportsmen watch through the window. Hundreds of hunters and fishermen filled the Mullica Hill Grange building to its capacity and many had to stand outside.

Soccer

Shawnee's Shannon Mcallister heads the ball ahead of Bishop Eustace's Caroline O'Dee (right) in the second half of soccer game at Shawnee HS.

Kite Flying

Supriya Denissov tries to untangle her daughter Anjeli, 2, from the kite line that the girl wrapped around herself at a kite flying festival in a park in Delanco, NJ.

Iftar - Breaking of Fast

Muslim women gather and greet one another on the main floor of the Palmyra Mosque before the start of the prayers during the Interfaith Breaking of the Fast ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007.

Marine's Funeral

A Marine honor guard carries the casket of Cpl. Terrance Allen from St. Peter Church in Merchantville.

Vigil for a dead soldier

Parents of Pfc. David J. Bentz III, Kimberly Atkinson and David Bentz (center) mourn their son at a vigil ceremony hold at the Sandelier Park in Clayton on September 20, 2007. David J. Bentz III died in Iraq.

Dance Rehearsal

Vera "Candy" Brahn lets the dance carry her away as she practices her moves in front of the Walt Whitman Arts Center in Camden. She is one of the choreographers for the dance and music production put on by former students and people influenced by Ben White, long time teacher in Camden. The production is to honor White.

Cross Country

Senior boys race at the Cherokee Challenge Cross Country competition in Cherokee HS on Saturday, September 15, 2007.

Ballpark Farewell

Rivershark's player Brad Strauss kisses his wife Amy after his pre-game retirement ceremony at the Campbell's Field in Camden.



Rivershark's player Brad Strauss talks during his retirement pre-game ceremony at the Campbell's Field in Camden as his teammates and audience listen.

9/11 Anniversary

On the anniversary of September 11, Lauretta Marinari (right) helps Jane Smith attach a flag to a wall at the Coastline Restaurant in Cherry Hill during a fund raising event for American soldiers and their families in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Fall sports season starts

Winslow Twp.'s Rob Chmura gets sandwiched between Cherokee's Tim Brennan (left) and Brendan Lowe as they all go for a header during a Saturday soccer game at Cherokee HS.



Cherokee marching band's drum section members practice on the edge of the high school field as Cherokee soccer team beats Winslow Twp. nearby.

Church give-away event

As part of my job I cover never ending string of what my newspaper calls 'community assignments' - church giveaways, flea markets, block parties, town festivals, Lion Club breakfasts, et. etc. etc. To keep my sanity and stay motivated while shooting 150 events like these per year, I come up with my own personal contests. One of them has to do with face painting. Almost every one of these 'community' events has a face painting option. My challenge is to shoot it in an innovative way every single time. One day I will write a PhD dissertation on face painting.

During a back-to-school supplies give-away outside of the Atkins Temple Church in Camden, Malik McNeil, 8, of Camden got his face painted by Helen Henry of Beverly.

Museum fun

Tracee Gilliam of Baltimore plays with her son Vincent, 5, at the Garden State Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill. Instead of cash, Vincent requested a credit card from his mom to "buy" some plastic fruit.

March against Violence

Members of the Christian Pentacostal Church and residents of Whitman Park in Camden march against violence perpetrated toward children in their neighborhood. Whitman Park is one of the deadliest areas in Camden.

Camden Streets at Night

Camden Councilman Frank Moran wants to close Camden night eateries at midnight causing security concerns. Local residents fight for their right to fried chicken any time of the day or night.

Handball Video

I've been shooting a lot of video recently and since I haven't finished the work on my new website yet, I will be posting videos to this blog every now and then.

Hanging out in Camden

A man who goes by a street name Due and a woman whose first name is Toyah hang out in front of a memorial banner dedicated to Markeith "Cooda" Cottrell, a 19-year-old who was shot to death by an 18-year-old on this corner in Whitman Park part of Camden in April 2007. Cooda was Toyah's cousin. He died half a block away from his mother's house in the part of Camden (Whitman Park) that has had the highest homicide rate in all of Camden this year due to the drug gang war in the area.

Funeral

Family and friends gather around the casket during a funeral service for 15 year old Gabrielle Campione, killed by an ATV hit by a train when she was trying to help her friend remove the ATV from railway tracks. St. Martin de Porres church in Hammonton.

Camden County Fair

Miss Camden County Sarah Cohn sings a national anthem at the start of the 2007 Camden County Fair in Blackwood.

South Jersey scenes

Extreme Home Makeover workers are sprayed with water by a local fire truck in front of the house they volunteer to build for Victor Marrero's family in Pennsauken.




Alisa Whitcraft plays with her son Xavier Whitcraft, 5, as her 25 month old daughter Audrey Whitcraft is trying to get her attention during the concert of Fire by Night at the Promenade strip mall in Marlton.

Summer enterprise

Jasmira Vallecillo, 2, (right) and Lieany Vallecillo, 5, both of Camden, play at a small pool in the park on the corner of Clinton and 4th Sts. in Camden.

Barber shop stories I

Lester Johnson, barber in Brewerytown, shows a knife wound from his gang and drug dealing days back in the 1970s and tells a story of shooting the guy who stabbed him. Johnson stills lives in a rough part of Philadelphia where he grew up.

After dark

Narcotics guys busting suspended drug dealers in Camden on a recent night.