In the Locker Room

Last Friday, Clarke Central High School played Sandy Creek for the GHSA Class AAAA State Championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Dec. 11, 2009.

Coach Leroy Ryals allowed me the opportunity to be in the locker room pregame as to document the rare look behind the scenes.

Chow, Y'All.....

So some friends of mine that work at a local coffee shop Espresso Royale Cafe played a battle of the bands the other night under the name "Chow, Y'All" at the 40 Watt. So i had a lot of fun supporting and photographing the show.

4 bands played from local businesses - The Globe (good), Transmet (Nirvana covers), ERC and a lame tribute band.

I had fun, tried to make good photos. It went to a good cause.

Thieves Market at Rialto Room

Amber Emard of Thieves Market.

Rock and roll looks a certain way, i've said that before with my DKM photos. Rock and roll is not glamorous, nor is it pretty. Its RAW and its about emotion and the music. I want my photos to convey that and more. Trying to get something more creative then singer+microphone at 200mm is the challenge. I want to apply what I've learned about photography in all these contexts and to really make something creative out of it. ANYONE can get a photo with a point and shoot from the edge of the stage. I want something more. Context is the biggest part of photography where i think I'm failing. I want the viewer to understand what the hell

So my friends Thieves Market told me they were playing a benefit show at the new swanky Rialto Room here in town. Its a great room, good acoustics and great light. However with it being a subdued room and a small backstage area and no side of stage area, I couldn't get 1/2 of what i wanted to do.



Racking the zoom of the lens to try and streak the scene.





Side of stage. Daniel playing bass.



Post-concert sillyness and band photo. (l-r) Brett, Daniel, Amber and Ryan.



Every once and awhile, people notice me. Makes me laugh.

Thanksgiving Shopping

So I like many, many others had to work Thanksgiving. Part of this was to go to the only big name retailer whom was also open on this day of Thanks. (If they want to be mentioned by name, they can pay for the advertising) The store was pretty dead, the employees were not happy to be there and for the most part it was pretty lackluster.

Then i saw these in store displays hat just begged to try and frame a subject around. I'm not sure if it worked but it did something for me. Mild entertainment while working on a holiday.

Sportrait: Q Edition.

This is Quenshan Watson, otherwise known as Q. He's a sophomore running back for the Clarke Central Gladiators and was very, very cool to work with.

Georgia Beats GA Tech

Georgia defensive end Justin Houston (42) and Georgia tight end Aron White (81) celebrate in the stands with the Redcoat Band as the Georgia Bulldogs beat the #7 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 30-24 at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, November 28, 2009 in Atlanta, Ga.

Sometimes when we feel the worst, we somehow make the best pictures.

Georgia beat Georgia Tech. (Allegedly its a rivalry similar to Yankees-Red Sox). There was a pregame scrum. There was a postgame scrum. There were emotional pictures galore before and after the game.

And at the end of my college football season, I scaled a ladder and got my favorite jube picture of the year. Pulled off an interception picture that I'm not likely to ever repeat again in my career.

Perfection in the blink of an eye.

I photographed the most college football games (10) that I've done in a single season thus far. 4 states, 3 losses and 25,000 images.



Georgia safety Reshad Jones (9) makes an interception in front of Georgia Tech wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (8) and Georgia cornerback Vance Cuff (25) as the the Georgia Bulldogs lead the #7 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 17-3 at halftime at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, November 28, 2009 in Atlanta, Ga.



Referees seperate Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan (91) and Georgia linebacker Marcus Dowtin (38) after the game as both teams stormed the center of the field as the Georgia Bulldogs beat the #7 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 30-24 at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, November 28, 2009 in Atlanta, Ga.



Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez celebrates a defensive stop in the first quarter as the the Georgia Bulldogs lead the #7 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 17-3 at halftime at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, November 28, 2009 in Atlanta, Ga.



A Georgia Tech assistant coach holds Georgia Tech tackle Nick Claytor (75) back as the two teams are kept separate by officials as they meet pregame at the 50-yard-line as the Georgia Bulldogs beat the #7 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 30-24 at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, November 28, 2009 in Atlanta, Ga.

Clarke Central heads to SemiFinals

Clarke Central senior linebacker Devante Derricotte yells in celebration after the Clarke Central Gladiators beat the North Clayton Eagles 52-13 in the quarterfinals of the GHSA class AAAA playoffs on Friday, November 27, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

Jube comes in many forms. HS football seems to give the best, most pure raw emotion of celebration that any of us have seen. These days its a matter of putting myself in the right position and creating the opportunity for the photo rather than what i shoot.