Every year the Grand Island Independent chooses a Man and Woman of the Year. A story is written a portrait taken and they are honored on the front page, one on Dec. 31 with the other Jan. 1.

I was lucky enough to photograph the subjects this year.  I tried to think of a cool location for the shoot, but all of the ideas met road blocks.  So I asked Greg Ulmer at Grand Island Senior High School if I could use their small stage. It is a large space with black curtains and stage lights. I thought a simple portrait, a subject along in space, would work best. And it did.  I supplemented the stage lights with three more of my own. Very successful indeed.

Man of the Year Don Dunn’s story.

Woman of the Year Dori Bush’s story.