Game Day

One of the best stories I got to do this year was following Northside High's football team on their Championship Game Day. Coach Nix allowed me a lot of access. Without their openness and trust I could not have completed my job. Everyone went about their business as if I was not there.

I didn't want to concentrate on one person, but try to include as many people and situations as I could. I had a loose plan, but pretty much let the story tell itself.





My first pictures were done Friday morning as coaches, players and trainers packed up and loaded their gear for the long ride to Waycross. I followed them to lunch and got one of my favorite photos, lunch room lady Wanda Keene giving star quarterback Marquis Ivory some last minute advice, "Fall down, don't you get hurt."



I really wanted to show the bond this team has, the character, and the influence of their late teammate Chris Johnson. He was very present the whole day.



I knew an important part of my coverage would be halftime. Not too many coaches will open their locker room at halftime during any game, much less a game of this importance. I really wanted to be there. The half came and Northside was behind.


Would I still get in? I have been in this situation before and had coaches change their mind, but not Coach Nix. The halftime images were some of my strongest.



I am glad my photos ended with celebration.

It was a long day, it was after 4am when I got back home. But what a day. What a fun story to tell.

Favorite Photos of 2007

Each photographer had to pick our two favorite photographs from 2007 to run next week. I went through looking for possible images. How to narrow my search down to two? I have lots of favorite photos, all for different reasons, not always for aesthetic reasons. I narrowed my search to these four. Each for a different reason.

The tornado picture from Americus, this was a really big news story this year. The news value was partly behind my grabbing this one. Also the difficulty of getting the photo and sending it back. That was quite a day.

The Peach County football game was a cool photo. Love that sky.



The photo from the home of Spc. Daniel Gomez was one that has held on to me for the past four months. I have thought about his family quite often. They are such gracious folks. Another photo with a lot of news value.

The last one, the sunset...I don't really know why I love this photo the way I do. I just get lost in this image. Maybe it's because it is a grainy black and white shot with a long lens. Kind of a haunting image.



Well, I made my picks, turned them in. Now as I sit here writing this, I have changed my mind again. Originally I picked the Americus photo and the sunset. Gotta include the Gomez photo. It wins out on quite a few levels. It was amoment I was quite honored to share.



My posting may be kinda spotty next week, going to be on vacation. Thanks for visiting my blog this year. I will be back on schedule after the first.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!