Dreaming of the years gone by

So I inherited my Grandfather's Kodak Vigilant Six-20 camera.  It still works. No light leaks.  Shutter sticks sometimes.  Ran some film through it a couple of years back; it is 120 film rewrapped on a 620 spool.  Films for Classics rerolls it and you can find it at B&H Photo for a lovely $13/roll. (Including Velvia)

Now grated this was taken in Christmas time 2009 (I think) but there's something about the look that just says "1940s."

I might have a new project.

2011 Pictures of the Year

Emily Cooper, Hailey Chapman, and Carson LeCroy sled through the snow at the University of Georgia on Monday, January 10, 2011 in Athens, Ga. Approximately five inches of snow fell overnight before changing over to sleet and freezing rain.  

2011 Photos of the Year.

Here's one final Salute to my work in 2011.  My favorite photos. A goodbye to a part of my life as I'm done working in Athens, Ga.

Back Porch Sessions: The Glorious Dead

Local whiskey bar Blue Sky is starting a series of small, intimate shows on their back porch. The first night featured "The Glorious Dead" and Dustin Gannon. Photos after the jump.....

Postcards from Athens

I have an on-going photo essay of iPhone photos that I call "Postcards from Athens" of general everyday life that occurs when i travel the streets between the office and the pizza place or the coffee shop. Here's the first edit.


More after the jump.....

Athens Music Landmarks (that are still left)

The steeple from St. Mary's Episcopal Church where REM played its first ever show on Thursday, January 27, 2011 in Athens, Ga. Steeplechase Condominium Association, which owns the steeple, recently reviewed the ongoing costs for repairs and voted to destroy the structure.

There's a lot of local landmarks in this town and when it comes to the music scene around here, most of them are defined by the band R.E.M.

We did a story about how these landmarks are falling by the wayside as time passes on.

Florida beast Georgia in 2 OT

Georgia Bulldogs forward Trey Thompkins (33) is fouled hard by Florida Gators forward/center Patric Young (4) as Florida beats Georgia 104-91 in double overtime on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 in Athens, Ga., at Stegeman Coliseum.

Ive been shooting a lot of basketball lately. High school, college, you name it. The shots are beginning to look the same after awhile; I'd really like to see a scramble facing me or something nice happen right in front of me without 12 pairs of legs in the way.

The worst part of sitting at the Georgia end in the Second Half is all the people who run out in front of you at the end of the game. Security, Police, and countless other people get in the way as really nice jube is happening at the other end of the court.

Gymdogs over Auburn

Laura Moffatt flips upside down on the balance beam as Georgia beats Auburn in a NCAA Women's Gymnastics meet on Friday, January 21, 2011 in Athens, Ga., at Stegeman Coliseum.

Gymnastics had its second meet in 4 days, this time facing conference rival Auburn.

BMX in a parking lot

Jon Dowker does a BMX trick in the parking lot of Piedmont College on Thursday, January 20, 2011 in Athens, Ga.

On the way back from a farewell lunch for a coworker, I came across a guy doing BMX tricks in a parking lot.

Gymdogs over WVU

Senior Cassidy McComb, center, joins her teammates in a premeet ritual as Georgia beats West Virginia University in a NCAA Women's Gymnastics meet on Monday, January 17, 2011 in Athens, Ga at Stegeman Coliseum.

It seems like I haven't photographed the University of Georgia Gymdogs since their national championship of 2008. While thats not entirely true, I think it was one or 2 meets of the 12 home meets they have since then. So I was a little rusty.

Okay, its been awhile.... First Up - Drive By Truckers

Patterson Hood sings as the Drive By Truckers play the 40 Watt Club as part of their annual homecoming shows on Thursday, January 13, 2011 in Athens, Ga.

So i took an unintentional leave from blogging. The truth? I've been out making photos. Daily assignments. Running all over the place. (We wont discuss the ridiculous amount of laundry)

We'll pick back up from last month; I got to photograph the Drive By Truckers on the first night of their annual homecoming shows at the 40 Watt Club in Athens. DBT is a little different when it comes to photographers - or so it was for this show. Usually it is 3 songs and out (I tend to push that when i can) but with DBT it was "stay the whole night" which meant I got a ton of photos. Even better, I managed to steal borrow my girlfriend's d300 so I had two bodies to shoot with.

Hit the jump for the insights....

Snowpocalpse: Day 2

Kim Daniel walks on Prince Avenue after leaving Athens Regional Medical Center on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 in Athens, Ga. Daniel said she was involved in a car accident along with her father Monday night. Athens continues to dig out from nearly nine inches of snow that turned area roads to ice overnight.

By this point, the main roads had become passable. After walking countless miles the day before, I was willing to risk driving around own and then hopping out of the car to grab shots.

Snowpocalypse: The Day After

Brad McCook shovels snow in front of the double-barrelled cannon at City Hall on Monday, January 10, 2011 in Athens, Ga.

After 5 hours of sleep, it was time to get going and go back out into the snow. We woke up to nearly NINE inches of snow and there wasn't a bad photo anywhere.

Mode of transportation? Footware.

Snowpocalypse: Day 1

John Thrash cleans snow off his car as snow falls on Sunday, January 9, 2011 in Athens, Ga. A winter storm warning is in effect for the Athens area until 7pm Monday with up to six inches of snow are possible.

The weather reports of the snow starting Friday night left us with the following debate:

Me: "We're debating spending the night at the newspaper."

PJ Friend/Mentor: "We did that for a hurricane in Florida, but for snow in Georgia?"

Photos of the Year

Barrow County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Hulett, right, kisses his bride Keni Carter during their wedding reception at Athens Regional Medical Center on Fri., Jan 29, 2010 in Athens, Ga. Hulett was diagnosed with end-stage melanoma. Carter decided Friday morning that they should be married later that day.

Its time for my Photos of the Year. These 22 are some of the best and my favorites of the year, out of the fifty-some I narrowed it down to. I want to add some commentary and context to the shots as I go.

The shot about, Chris Hulett's wedding. We found out about a 1/2 hour before the wedding and we sped over like no other. I started shooting before the hospital PR people had people sign their releases but to no matter. I had the privilege to see a couple get married and have one of the happiest days of their life in the midst of some of their worst times.

The Governors first speech

Georgia Governor-elect Nathan Deal gives the closing address at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government's Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators at the University of Georgia on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 in Athens, Ga.

The Governor-elect came to UGA to make his first post-election speech.

Strongest Dawg Competition

Georgia junior Jordan Thomas competes in the bench press during the Strongest Dawg Powerlifting Competition at the University of Georgia's Ramsey Center on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 in Athens, Ga. Thomas lifted 255 kilograms in the dead lift competition, the largest weight in the competition.

The other week Georgia's Ramsey Center held a weightlifting competition. It made for interesting pictures.

Skate Inn!

The Athens Skate Inn was recent reopened after a near-15 year hiatus. Naturally i got to push the limits of what a Nikon can do in the dark.

Election Night in Athens. Part 1.

Supporters for Athens Mayoral candidate watch election returns at Cine on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 in Athens, Ga.

Its election night. It happens every year. The main thing i covered was 2 of the 5 Mayoral race candidates, which meant that 2 people would more than likely be heading for a runoff in a later election, leading to very little jube/deject shots.

Chariot Races!

Matt Shanks, center, runs with his teammates as they win a chariot race on Saturday, October 23, 2010 in Athens, Ga. Entrants had to navigate two laps of their homemade chariots on the College Avenue course.

Recently, a beverage company (They're not giving me any money, therefore they don't get mentioned, much like that shoe company doesn't give me money either) sponsored a goofy chariot race, Ben-Hur style, in the middle of downtown Athens. Chaos ensued. More after the jump

Cedar Shoals upsets Apalachee

Players celebrate after the Cedar Shoals Jaguars beat the Apalachee Wildcats 28-21 on Friday, October 22, 2010 in Athens, Ga.

What a difference a year makes. Last season, we followed the Apalachee Wildcats religiously as they went undefeated. This month, i managed to watch Apalachee play both of Athens' High schools, Clarke Central & Cedar Shoals.

Cedar was winless in the division coming into the matchup, with Apalachee looking to bounce back after losing to Clarke.