Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

After shooting Darcy and Kent's engagement portraits this weekend I set out to Wichita State University and Lawrence Dumont Stadium to shoot some state track and state baseball action for the Lawrence Journal-World. I never pass up a chance to shoot baseball. It was a great way to spend the Memorial Day weekend!


Lawrence's Jordan Guntert (6) slides safely into second base as Blue Valley West's Josh Swartz awaits the ball in the first inning of the Class 6A state baseball semifinal.


Lawrence shortstop Daniel Parker (22) glares at an umpire after Blue Valley West's Alex Hughes was called safe on a pickoff attempt in the sixth inning. Hughes would later score as the Jaguars won 7-5 in a game that saw more than one controversial call at second base.


Lawrence Free State's Todd Lee qualified for the state meet in just his second year of competition.


Free State's Christian Ballard, left, takes the baton from teammate Austin Winn in the Boys 4x100 relay. After shooting this scene I ran for the finish line where I saw each time finish but Free State. As it turned out, Ballard would injury his hamstring in the next handoff preventing his team from finishing the race. -Mike

Mathias Borniger

On Thursday I photographed German-born Mathias Borniger, 91, in his Wichita living room for the Lawrence Journal-World. Borninger, who immigrated to the United States with this family in 1935, was detained in an internment camp for more than two years during World War II. Though he had been cleared for citizenship before his detainment, he had yet to receive his official papers verifying his status. As a result, he was classified as an "enemy alien." He lost several friends and his first wife divorced him during his imprisonment. "It was the saddest part of my life, really," he said.


Mathias Borniger studies his family history – including a portrait of his uncle, also named Mathias, center, who brought the Borniger family to the U.S. – that is displayed in his living room in his Wichita home. Borniger remarried the year he was released from an Oklahoma internment camp and returned to Wichita to continue his career as a portrait photographer.