Off to Church.....

Pastor Jody Hice gives his sermon while seen through a window at Bethlehem First Baptist Church on Sunday, October 5, 2008.

One of the more interesting things I've shot lately is Pastor Jody Hice at Bethlehem's First Baptist Church last Sunday. Pastor Hice is at odds with the Internal Revenue Service over whether or not non-profit Churches can endorse/promote politics and political speech.

... and that's a debate I'm not going to have on this blog. I'm not touching politics or religion here beyond that the folks at the Church were a very nice bunch to meet. Pastor Hice's sermon was very good and very well delivered. He's an excellent communicator and delivered his message well (Although personally I am not a book-of-revelations kinda guy, more of the C&E club.)

I made a neat photo through a window that i think illustrates how really is at the center of controversy. I liked it....

The church asked me to try and not really move around the room while his sermon was happening, which normally I would try and talk my way around but the massive back-spasms i was having influenced the decision to go LONG and shoot with the 300 f/4 and a teleconverter all the whilst sitting in a comfy chair. Pastor Hice makes for good photos.



Pastor Jody Hice gives his sermon while discussing the book of revelations at Bethlehem First Baptist Church on Sunday, October 5, 2008.

Blackout! High School Edition

Apalachee wideout John Ansley ceelbrates after a 58-yard touchdown reception from Jon Lee as the Apalachee Wildcats beat the Winder-Barrow Bulldoggs in Winder on Friday, October 3, 2008.

Friday Night Lights got blacked out during the Battle of Barrow County this past week, featuring the visiting Apalachee Wildcats and the Winder-Barrow Bulldoggs. The Bulldoggs are modeled after the UGA team in colors, mascot and music from the band so it seemed fitting that they would "Blackout" their biggest game of the year.

... And it was every much as effective as Georgia's Blackout against Alabama as Apalachee went on to win 51-6.



Apalachee wideout John Ansley looks back at Winder Barrow's Erin Hendricks enroute to scoring on an option pass as the Apalachee Wildcats beat the Winder-Barrow Bulldoggs in Winder on Friday, October 3, 2008.



Qucravion Ash looks around after drawing a penalty on a punt during the second quarter as the Apalachee Wildcats beat the Winder-Barrow Bulldoggs 51-6 in Winder on Friday, October 3, 2008.

We saw the half-back option, a nearly blocked punt, nearly an interception, and a fumble in the end-zone for a TD. With the big-play nature of the game, i found myself completely out of position for some of them. Both teams were home teams which means i usually shoot who has the ball and will get in front of them by 10-15 yards so i can get a running play or crossing pattern. Not so in this game as after Appy went up 14-0, i just started focusing on them and hanging around the line when Winder had the ball. The fumble in the end zone was just bad luck, right spot but ball went to the far side so I missed most of it. Missed the jube when an Appy staff member decided to run on the field, right in front of me... not that i needed it as i already had the play of the game, a 58 yard halfback option from Jon Lee to go up big.

Once again, deadline is the key. I brought the laptop and a Verizon card to send from the parking lot, as it wasn't needed. I left with Apalachee up 35-0 to get some much needed food and beat that halftime traffic.

I really liked this Winder photo but due to the score, it quickly became photo gallery fodder.



Winder's Kendrick Davis stiff-arms Apalachee's Jeff Haney as the Apalachee Wildcats beat the Winder-Barrow Bulldoggs 51-6 in Winder on Friday, October 3, 2008.



Apalachee defender Joey Gebo drops an interception as the Apalachee Wildcats beat the Winder-Barrow Bulldoggs 51-6 in Winder on Friday, October 3, 2008.



Winder's Terrell Evans intercepts a pass as the Apalachee Wildcats beat the Winder-Barrow Bulldoggs in Winder on Friday, October 3, 2008.

Sportrait Roulette

Athens Academy quarterback Will Daniel on Monday, September 29, 2008. Daniel passed for six touchdowns in a 42-13 win over Prince Avenue.

I've been working on getting a different look for some of my sportraits of late. Beyond trying to get any sense of emotion out of a high schooler (everyone wants to look tough) I'm trying for something more interesting lighting wise and concept wise.

Once again, gotta reitterate about the ball on fire shots. Safety first. That's an f/22 shot with the ball on a light stand and about 3 feet between the two. I've seen that done before by a lot of people, including Pouya Dianat who works for the AJC. His had more flame and probably wasn't dealing with the wind that i was. Murphys law guaranteed that the minute we started playing with the fire, the wind would pick up quickly. And it did.



Jefferson Dragons running back Virgil Appleby on Monday, September 22, 2008. Appleby scored 4 touchdowns in Jefferson's 48-20 win over Oglethorpe County.

The other fun thing is that usually these things are scheduled for before practice, which means 3-3:30 PM. Hard to make things look dramatic with steep sunlight and 5-10 minutes with a player. I like the idea of building a plexiglass stage (or renting one) for some of the basketball ones, but these things take money.



Clarke Central Gladiator defensive end Terrance Bradshaw on Tuesday, September 30, 2008.




Athens Academy receiver McKay Matthews on Monday, September 29, 2008



Commerce Tigers lineman Austin Hanley in the weight room at Commerce High School on Tuesday, September 30, 2008.

Now this is history....

This is a copy of the First Edition (Volume 1, Edition 1) of "Stars and Stripes" from French North Africa in 1942. Interesting to note is the article on the Tunisian campaign yet no mention of Patton.

It was shown to me by an Army Air Corp veteran who was an intelligence officer (who's quite adamant about remaining anonymous) in the North African theater.

Friday Night Lights Continues

Franklin County's Dale Walker, left, Marcus Kelly celebrate a Walker touchdown catch as the Oconee County Warriors beat Franklin County on Friday, September 26, 2008.

Last week, it was Franklin County at Oconee County featuring Georgia committed QB Zack Mettenberger (an ESPN touted QB nonetheless) and the spread offense.

First half, nothing for Oconee. Great jube by Franklin County but nothing at all for Oconee. Second half, lots of offense by Oconee.



Franklin County's Dashan Merritt celebrates his touchdown-run with no time remaining in the first half as the Oconee County Warriors beat Franklin County on Friday, September 26, 2008.

The thing is that when we shoot Friday nights, we have a deadline. Unless its a playoff game, i will have to leave or otherwise stop shooting in time for my deadline. So i missed a tremendous comeback by Oconee and I apologize for that (but I leave by 9:45-10 and if your game isn't ending by then, you need to run the ball more and pass less if you want the end to make the paper.)



Wide reciever Burnie Pritchard celebrates after a 59-yard touchdown catch as the Oconee County Warriors beat Franklin County on Friday, September 26, 2008.

Once again, another football field where i am shooting 500@2.8. It helps but I really have to remember that the side lit images from the end zone need to be opened up a third or a half a stop since no school that i know of has lights facing in from the end zones.



Wide reciever Burnie Pritchard breaks the tackle of Franklin County's Matthew Jackson as Pritchard scores on a 59-yard reception as the Oconee County Warriors beat Franklin County on Friday, September 26, 2008.



Quarterback Zack Mettenberger passes as the Oconee County Warriors beat Franklin County on Friday, September 26, 2008.

And I just liked this photo. Interesting Symmetry.



A dancer with the Oconee County Band as the Oconee County Warriors beat Franklin County on Friday, September 26, 2008.

Friday Night Lights redux

Cedar Shoals' band dances as they perform Michael Jackson's "Thriller" on Friday, September 19, 2008. (Turns out Halloween is a Friday night and if you get to see Cedar Shoals' band perform Thriller that night, it's bound to be fun.)

Working as a newspaper photographer for the past 4 years means that every Friday night in the fall means Friday Night Football. I remember my high school days and going to the games and rooting for my school. I wasn't crazy enough to paint my chest or face or anything else but i went to cheer and to watch the band.

Now i photograph such craziness. (As I'm playing "catch-up' with posting, I'm going to post one game today and one game tomorrow.)


Rod Mar of The Seattle Times has a take on prep football and the new Nikon sensors. While he's rockin' a D3 and a 400VR, I'm going with the D700 and the regular 400. Either way, the high ISO capabilities makes shooting high school football much easier.

Two weeks ago it was Madison County playing Cedar Shoals. Madison County turned the ball over 4 times in the first half, two returned for touchdowns. Since they're both local teams, i did a few wind sprints to try and get jube but completely missed out.



Senior Bubba Freeman celebrates with De De Lattamore, left, after a hit as Cedar Shoals beats Madison County on Friday, September 19, 2008.



De De Lattamore runs for a touchdown in the third quarter as Cedar Shoals beats Madison County on Friday, September 19, 2008.



Senior Deunta Jennings yells after a traditional touching of the rock before Cedar Shoals beats Madison County on Friday, September 19, 2008.



Cedar quarterback Martay Mattox breaks the tackle of Madison County's Matthew Dean as Cedar Shoals beats Madison County on Friday, September 19, 2008.

I generally do not photograph cheerleaders looking cute. I will photograph cheerleaders when they are doing something interesting. Jumping in a nice silhouette (earlier this month) or throwing someone into the air will do.



Madison County cheerleader Allison Tyner is caught by her squadmates before the Cedar Shoals vs. Madison County game on Friday, September 19, 2008.



Madison County's Bracken Turner deflects the ball away from Cedar Shoals' Charmarcus Pittard as Cedar Shoals beats Madison County on Friday, September 19, 2008.



Madison County majorette Bethany Poole twirls a baton at halftime on Friday, September 19, 2008.

The Hills are Alive!

Crystal Huau sings as 'Maria' during a dress rehearsal for "The Sound of Music" as performed by the Athens Creative Theater at the Morton Theater on Monday, September 22, 2008.

Little known fact. In high school i professed myself to be an actor. (Thankfully most of those photos are buried away and hidden, lest they show up on FailBlog.) I'm every much as good an actor as i am a brain surgeon. Lets put it this way, if my acting fell out of a boat, it couldn't hit water.



Crystal Huau sings with The von Trapp children during a dress rehearsal for "The Sound of Music" as performed by the Athens Creative Theater at the Morton Theater on Monday, September 22, 2008.

Anyways, i got the chance to photograph Athens Creative Theater's dress rehearsal for "The Sound of Music." These are the same people i worked with when i photographed the "Peter Pan" flying shots back in February. They are a blast to work with and work around. Excellent for community theater and those dinner party guests certainly did a better job then I did.



Megan Boyd, center, and Crystal Huau dance during a dress rehearsal for "The Sound of Music" as performed by the Athens Creative Theater at the Morton Theater on Monday, September 22, 2008.



Crystal Huau waits to go on stage as 'Maria' during a dress rehearsal for "The Sound of Music" as performed by the Athens Creative Theater at the Morton Theater on Monday, September 22, 2008.

I wanted to stay for the whole show. Anyone who knows me knows I love Family Guy's irreverent take on the Nuns stealing the distributor cables at the end of the play. However the rehearsal stopped for about a half hour while set pieces were brought into the building.



Isabelle Germain, right, waits offstage during a dress rehearsal for "The Sound of Music" as performed by the Athens Creative Theater at the Morton Theater on Monday, September 22, 2008.