Emmie Graham, a 20-year-old dance student at Kennesaw University in Georgia, blows bubbles on July 11, 2012, on her lawn in southerm Illinois. Graham teaches ballet at a dance studio in Carbondale, Ill., and performs in modern and jazz dance pieces through her university.
A toddler admires Southern Illinois Roller Girls member 'Disco InSkato's roller skates on March 19, 2011, in Marion, Ill., after a roller derby bout at the Marion Pavilion. The Southern Illinois Roller Girls team formed in 2009, started to compete against other teams in 2010 and joined the Women's Flat Track Roller Derby Association in 2011.
Emmie Graham, a 20-year-old dance student at Kennesaw University in Georgia, blows bubbles on July 11, 2012, on her lawn in southern Illinois. Graham teaches ballet at a dance studio in Carbondale, Ill., and performs in modern and jazz dance pieces through her university.
'Groovie Ghoulie' (bottom left) and 'Ruthless Benedict' sit on the floor of the Marion Pavilion on Nov. 12, 2009, during a Southern Illinois Roller Girls derby practice as other skaters do sprints. Taken in Marion, Ill.
Two participants in the Doc Spackman Memorial Triathlon round the final bend at Southern Illinois University's Campus Lake during the third event on April 30, 2010. The runners participated in Carbondale's annual Zombie Walk just before attending the triathlon. Taken in Carbondale, Ill.
The second of two 'bloodied' participants in the Doc Spackman Memorial Triathlon rounds the final bend at Southern Illinois University's Campus Lake during the third event on April 30, 2010. The two participated in Carbondale's annual Zombie Walk just before attending the triathlon. Taken in Carbondale, Ill.
A grandmother walks hand-in-hand with her grandson and granddaughter through the Chandelier Tree on July 13, 2011, in Leggett, California. The approximately 2400-year old giant redwood tree, which is still growing, had a six-foot by six-foot-nine-inch hole carved in it in the 1930s so cars and people could go through it.
Flynn Donoho, a 53-year-old man from California, takes a moment to rest with his dog Diva. Donoho found his dog Diva while biking through Arizona in June, and said although he biked over 32,000 miles in seven years by himself while raising money for cancer research, he appreciates Diva's company. "I went all the way around the perimeter [of the country] without a companion, but now I have her," he said. Diva rides in the back of Donoho's trailer, which is secured to his bicycle.
Jamie owns Jake, a Russian Blue cat. She calls herself 'Jake's girl' from time to time. Taken Sept. 10, 2010, in Carbondale, Ill.
Lindsey Smith, 21, of Morrison, Ill., sits in the Daily Egyptian newsroom at Southern Illinois University on Oct. 15, 2010. Smith's major is currently communication design; she was once a journalism major. As the editor-in-chief of the five-times-a-week student-run newspaper, she oversees a staff of over 20 students. During her eight semesters at the DE, she has worked as a campus reporter twice, assistant opinion editor once, sports reporter once, a designer, assistant design chief, design chief, managing editor and editor-in-chief.
"I think there are so many different aspects to the paper. There are so many things a normal person wouldn't notice," Smith said. "I think the stress brings me to this place. I try the hardest things. My grandmother told me when I was in the hospital with blood clots in my lungs, she said 'Lindsey, you're just going to keep going and going and going until it kills you.' And I realized she was right. I do push myself too hard sometimes."
Beth Flick, of Carbondale, Ill., shares a moment with her dog Bernie on Sept. 30, 2009. Flick found her future pup as a stray in a friend's barn and ever since he has been her constant companion. She left Bernie in her car with the windows open while she ran an errand at Southern Illinois University's Woody Hall due to the seasonable weather. “He’s such a sweetheart,” Flick said. “He hates to be left alone.”
Emmie Graham, a 20-year-old dance student at Kennesaw University in Georgia, strikes a pose at the edge of Little Grassy Lake in southern Illinois on July 12, 2012. Graham teaches ballet in Carbondale, Ill., and performs in modern and jazz dance pieces through her university.
Emmie Graham, a 20-year-old dance student at Kennesaw University in Georgia, strikes a pose at the edge of Little Grassy Lake in southern Illinois on July 12, 2012. Graham teaches ballet in Carbondale, Ill., and performs in modern and jazz dance pieces through her university.
Emmie Graham, a 20-year-old dance student at Kennesaw University in Georgia, strikes a pose at the edge of Little Grassy Lake in southern Illinois on July 12, 2012. Graham teaches ballet in Carbondale, Ill., and performs in modern and jazz dance pieces through her university.
Meet Jen. When this photo was taken, she was about a year and a half old.
I took some pictures of a basketball championship at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and Jen was watching the game with one of her parents. She had trouble sitting still, and when one of the basketballs went out of bounds and onto another court, Jen raced after it and picked it up.
Every time she noticed me taking pictures of her, she giggled and ran away, only to come back and get ready to shoot a basket.
Taken March 25, 2010.
Meet Jen. When this photo was taken, she was about a year and a half old.
I took some pictures of a basketball championship at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and Jen was watching the game with one of her parents. She had trouble sitting still, and when one of the basketballs went out of bounds and onto another court, Jen raced after it and picked it up.
Every time she noticed me taking pictures of her, she giggled and ran away, only to come back and get ready to shoot a basket.
Taken March 25, 2010.
Meet Jen. When this photo was taken, she was about a year and a half old.
I took some pictures of a basketball championship at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and Jen was watching the game with one of her parents. She had trouble sitting still, and when one of the basketballs went out of bounds and onto another court, Jen raced after it and picked it up.
Every time she noticed me taking pictures of her, she giggled and ran away, only to come back and get ready to shoot a basket.
Taken March 25, 2010.