Flagpole Music Awards 2010

Eric Hernandez of Los Meesfits plays during the Flagpole Music Awards at the Morton Theatre on Thursday, June 24, 2010 in Athens, Ga.

Athens is known for its music with REM, the B-52s & Widespread Panic getting their start in this town. So the irreverent, alt-music-weekly Flagpole gives out fan-voted awards every year in a giant show.

Yours truly is there to cover it, with a 10pm drop-dead deadline.

Three Hours of Work & they didn't run.

Tommy McNaull, center, and Erica Wilhelm react as they watch as the US falls to Ghana 2-1 in the World Cup at Lansdowne Road pub on Saturday, June 26, 2010 in Athens, Ga.

On Saturday i was asked to go to the local Irish pub, which was the epicenter of World Cup watching for Athens. I have never seen a bar that packed for ANYTHING ever. (Hell, there was more room to move at the last Murphys show i went to.)

The whole story after the jump...

MMA Fighter Tyra Parker

Mixed Martial Arts fighter Tyra Parker at The Hardcore Gym on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 in Athens, Ga.

Until a week ago, i had no idea that there were title fights for women's mixed-martial arts. And then i met Tyra.

Lightning.... Part Whatever.

I found a new spot to hate shoot lightning from - the roof of the parking deck at Lake Herrick.

Too many damm light poles around; they both ruin the shot AND run the risk of attracting unwanted electrical attention.

As a friend said "If there are light poles, there are light poles; I just think it looks better without them." (Well put)

I have another lightning photo idea for there, just need some storms to pop up at night again.

Graduation!

This year, i made it to exactly ONE high school graduation: My Brother's. Thats him, the tall one on the right, amongst his people.

Witness the Apotheosis at Tastey World

So within the past month, I caught Athens' only real industrial band, Witness the Apotheosis, as they played Tastey World.

As usual, i aim for something thats a lot different then most concert photographers.

More after the jump

Random DAK Photos

A dancer flies through the air during a performance of "Festival of the Lion King" at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

So during the Florida trip, i swung by Disney's Animal Kingdom. Gotta get a tiger photo.

After the Shuttle launch & Cocoa Beach, i was pretty Photo'd out, so the cameras mainly stayed in the trunk as drink stayed in my hand, so this was just a few hours of fun.

Adventures from Cocoa Beach

The Pier at Cocoa Beach.

Forewarning: All of these photos were taken under extreme sleep depravation as well as a LOT of coffee..... well i guess thats normal. Anyways, when i was in Cocoa Beach, I took some photos as i was walking on the beach, trying to find some surfers. I was having fun after spending all day in the car.

Photos after the jump....

Two Weeks of Tennis

Stanford's Mallory Burdette, bottom, is hugged by her sister as her teammates pile on as #8 Stanford beats #3 Florida 4-3 to win the NCAA Women's Tennis National Championships on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga. Burdette won over Florida's Marrit Boonstra 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 7-5.

Part of the reason i have been tardy at posting anything I've done lately was the NCAA 2010 Men's and Women's Tennis National Championships. (Or as Burks put it, two weeks of hell)

(Insisting on driving hours to see Dropkick Murphys is another reason but thats another story entirely. Someday I'll photograph them again)

Surfing off Cocoa Beach

About a month ago, i drove to Cocoa Beach for the Shuttle Launch. And surfers. I love watching surfers.

So amidst sleep depravation and a ridiculous drive, i headed over to Cocoa Beach to try and find some surfers after being shown by NPS how to use their magic, 51-point 3D autofocus. Found these surfing near the pier. More photos after the jump.