Prep Football - Oglethorpe at East Jackson

East Jackson's Cody Gibbs celebrates a 31-yard touchdown reception with 29 seconds to go in the second quarter as the East Jackson Eagles lead the Oglethorpe Patriots 21-14 at halftime on Friday, September 11, 2009 in Commerce, Ga.

East Jackson HS is in its 3rd year of existence and is off to its best ever start as they are undefeated.



Oglethorpe's Deandre Stewart has the ball tip off his hands that lead to an interception late in the second quarter as the East Jackson Eagles lead the Oglethorpe Patriots 21-14 at halftime on Friday, September 11, 2009 in Commerce, Ga.



Oglethorpe's Deandre Stewart runs the ball as the East Jackson Eagles lead the Oglethorpe Patriots 21-14 at halftime on Friday, September 11, 2009 in Commerce, Ga.



The drumline from the East Jackson performs as the East Jackson Eagles lead the Oglethorpe Patriots 21-14 at halftime on Friday, September 11, 2009 in Commerce, Ga.



East Jackson's CJ Allen runs the ball as the East Jackson Eagles lead the Oglethorpe Patriots 21-14 at halftime on Friday, September 11, 2009 in Commerce, Ga.

Georgia football: South Carolina edition

Georgia defensive back runs for a 61-yard touchdown on a reverse as the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.

Georgia football is what makes me and some of my friends $MONEY$. People always ask me about being on the sidelines, isn't this cool, best seat in the house, etc. This is a business to me. This is what pays my rent and puts food on my table. I love sports and I love being on the sidelines but at the end of the day it all comes down to $$$$.

There's a LOT of media at these events. There's a lot of photographers. The best advice that I've been given and that I will pass on is to be where the other photographers aren't. Be unique. You don't need to get the same shot that the other 10 people next to you are getting. Rod Mar once showed me a photo of Scott Strazzante who was shooting a game with a short lens surrounded by a gang of people with super-long glass.




South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia is sacked by Georgia linebacker Darryl Gamble, center, and defensive end Cornelius Washington as the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.



Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo throws South Carolina tailback Bryce Sherman to the ground in the second quarter as the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.



Georgia players wait to go out on the field before the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.



Georgia's A.J. Green runs with the ball after a catch in the third quarter as the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.

A lot of shooting football is guess work and predicting what the team will do. Anticipating the action. Like if Georgia is inside the 20, I will set up in the end zone with a short lens and hope it comes towards me. I want the context of whats going on. The biggest problem I'm running into is that superstar A.J. Green turns back to the quarterback when he makes his catches, thus negating anything amazing. So i have to stop my 'end-zone camping.'



Georgia's Vance Cuff grabs the face mast of South Carolina fullback Patrick DiMarco as the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.



Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin returns a kickoff for a touchdown for 100 yards as the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.



A member of the UGA dance team dances in the stands as the #21 Georgia Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 41-37 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 12, 2009.

Prep Football - Apalachee at Cedar

Apalachee's Jon Lee is stoped by a host of Cedar Shoals defenders in the first quarter as the Apalachee Wildcats lead the Cedar Shoals Jaguars 12-6 in the fourth quarter on Friday, September 4, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

Not much to say other than its High School football. Cedar Shoals' field is very dark and the light falls off in the corners a lot. Apalachee is making waves in the Georgia High School polls as they are 4-0 so far this year.

This year I'm really trying to show more of the context and the environment. This means putting down the 400/2.8 and picking up the 70-200, laying flat on the ground and praying that no one steps on either the really expensive lens or myself. I recognize the shortcomings in my work and I know what i want/have to do to in order to work myself into a better paycheck.




Apalachee's Dennis Pritchard flies overtop of Cedar Shoals' Johnathan Wright as the Apalachee Wildcats beat the Cedar Shoals Jaguars 12-6 on Friday, September 4, 2009 in Athens, Ga.



Cedar Shoals' quarterback Shaquille Gatlin jumps on a fumbledsnap in the second quarter as the Apalachee Wildcats lead the Cedar Shoals Jaguars 12-6 in the fourth quarter on Friday, September 4, 2009 in Athens, Ga.



Cedar Shoals' Rodney Moss runs out of a tunnel before the game as the Apalachee Wildcats lead the Cedar Shoals Jaguars 12-6 in the fourth quarter on Friday, September 4, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

Sometimes it all about trying to get what other people don't.



Cedar Shoals' running back Tracy Stephens slips free from a tackle as he scores a touchdown late in the second quarter as the Apalachee Wildcats lead the Cedar Shoals Jaguars 12-6 in the fourth quarter on Friday, September 4, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

Its not the Swine Flu

A pig takes a drink of water at the UGA Swine Center on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 in Athens, Ga. The University of Georgia is building a new swine center on Lexington Road near the Oglethorpe County line.

Billy Henderson

Legendary Clarke Central High School football coach Billy Henderson works out at the YMCA in Athens, Ga., on Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Henderson is recovering from a compound spinal fracture he suffered several years ago and says he is learning to walk again.


Playing catch up here on a slow morning.....

I was asked a few weeks back to photograph former high school football coach Billy Henderson while he continues to rehab from back surgery from an injury over a year ago. He was being honored at Clarke Central high school that night.





Shooting in the YMCA made for an interesting challenge as its a weight room and he moves fast. Its trying to make this into an interesting photo that becomes the challenge. I love a good mirror shot and with the symmetry it was really nice.




The grimace shot i think really tells the story.

I think the biggest shortcoming in some of the work I'm doing is not giving it enough time. This could easily be expanded on, but as usual, the editors want it for tomorrow's daily.

Black and Blue Feature Hunting

I worked Monday, Labor Day. Very thin paper news wise. I went out feature hunting thinking that i would need an A1 dominant photo. Figured I would go looking on the Broad River for kayakers and canoes (there were none) and instead went to Watson Mill State Park where i knew there would be people.

The most photogenic people were these kids sliding down a small waterfall on the far side of the river on an innertube. The river was running very, very low - maybe 3-6 inches deep. I carefully walked over there with my 24-85 (D700) & 300 (D2X) and go to the top of the rocks they are sliding down. I try to shoot an overhead shot and realized my shadow was getting in the way. I decided to walk down to the bottom where they were splashing down into a small pool of water. I made it 3 steps on the brown, algae covered rocks before i slipped and went boom.

The 300 landed on my chest but the 24-85 nailed a rock, lens first, shattering the protective filter on the end of it. Some parents checked on me and i went off to the side to break out the filter so i could continue shooting. Made some photos. Became more aware of where i was putting my feet.

All told i ruined a pair of shoes, bruised the whole right side of my body and broke a filter that is still stuck on the lens.

On retelling the story, my friends were more concerned with the camera. They know me so well.

Star Trails, pt 2.....

Stars swirl above a lighthouse outside Poplar Springs Baptist Church near Watksinville, Ga., on Monday September 7, 2009. (Ed. Note: The pink colors are sky-glow originating from Watkinsville and Athens while the greenish light is coming from a streetlight behind the lighthouse)

(15 minutes, 20mm, ISO 100, f/4, Nikon D700)

I enjoy a good star trail shot every now and again. This is a church outside of Watkinsville that i found while feature hunting. Sadly it has a green streetlight that doesn't seem to have a switch or anything that would easily render it dark.

It works but i need to find a much darker place to try and something to frame it over.

*** Edit *** This was picked up as one of the Associated Press' "Photos of the Day" or something of that nature. It was also posted on MSNBC's Photo Blog. And The Orlando Sentinel's Photos of the Day.

BMX fun

Kyle Kelsey, 20, does a flip on a BMX bike at the Athens Clarke skateboard and BMX park in Southeast Clarke Park on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

The local skate/bmx park is going to undergo renovations next week for a day. Somewhere the photo gods smiled on me, had an editor actually ask me to go out there AND miraculously had it for the exact same time a local professional BMX cyclist would be out there.

I thank the photo gods and am humbled by them.

Player of the Week: Ryan Faust

Clarke Central's Ryan Faust was named ABH Player of the week after having 5 sacks against Loganville.

For once, having to wait until after practice paid off for me. Shot this at ISO 100 1/250th at f/29 and TWO Nikon speedlights at full power, camera left.

Of course i hyperextended my knee in the process on the very steep hill i was shooting up.

High School Football : Loganville vs Clarke

Clarke Central's Tony Glenn intercepts a pass on the first play of the game as the Loganville Red Devils lead the Clarke Central Gladiators 15-14 at halftime on Thursday, August 28, 2009 in Athens, Ga. The play was reversed on a pass interference penalty.

Now i realize that not all of my loyal readers have any desire to read or look at football photos of any sort, alas this is what makes me money.

This week was a local game at Clarke Central. Seemed like a pretty good matchup. Shot the first half and felt good, beyond sweating to death. Timing was a tad rusty at first. Shot from my knees most of the game. Good to try and get into a rhythm before Georgia football starts.

Kept trying to do a "Peter Read Miller" shot with the 80-200 when the teams were inside the 15 yard line. Either the ball went the other way or the kid just didn't dive or jump or do anything remotely interesting visually. Got my shirt wet for no reason.



The Clarke Central Gladiators take the field as the Loganville Red Devils lead the Clarke Central Gladiators 15-14 at halftime on Thursday, August 28, 2009 in Athens, Ga.



Clarke Central's Derrick Smalls just misses an interception in the second quarter as the Loganville Red Devils lead the Clarke Central Gladiators 15-14 at halftime on Thursday, August 28, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

(The focus just did not come back in time as the frame before this was perfect beyond being out of focus)



Clarke Central's Ryan Faust hits Loganville quarterback A.J. Schmidt as he tries to make a pass as the Loganville Red Devils lead the Clarke Central Gladiators 15-14 at halftime on Thursday, August 28, 2009 in Athens, Ga.



Clarke Central cheerleader Mia Thomas checks her hair before the game as the Loganville Red Devils lead the Clarke Central Gladiators 15-14 at halftime on Thursday, August 28, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

She's not vain, really.

August Spot News Roundup

Athens Clarke firefighters walk back to their truck as they work to extinguish a brush fire behind Athens-Ben Epps along Beaverdam Road on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 in Athens, Ga. The fire broke out shortly before 3PM and spread quickly by the wind.

August was a so-so month spot news wise. We had UGAPD's bomb squad (who refused to be identified) and we had a few fires and an accident. Only the airport brush fire turned out to be much of anything visually. My thoughts go out to one of the airport employees who worked this fire who ended up hospitalized after it.

Generally a slow month with the only interesting things happening in the evening and overnight hours.



Athens Clarke firefighters overhaul the inside of a house that caught fire in the 4000 block of Twin Ln. in Winterville, Ga., on Friday, August 7, 2009.



Athens Clarke firefighter Lt. Tim Taylor looks into the sunroof of Zacary Thompson's SUV after Thompson was involved in a car accident at College Station Rd. and Perimeter Rd. on Monday, August 24, 2009 in Athens, Ga. Thompson's Jeep Grand Cherokee was struck broadside by a Volkswagon Beetle after Thompson failed to yield right of way to the other driver. Thompson was taken to an area hospital.



A UGA Police bomb technician who refused to be identified walks past a robot outside of a foreclosed house where there was purportedly a hand grenade off of Towne Center Dr. in Athens on Thursday, August 6, 2009.