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.

Chickens!

Nicola Gleaton feeds his chicken in his back yard on Saturday, December 11, 2010 in Winder, Ga. Gleaton and another neighbor are in a dispute with the City of Winder over their backyard chickens.

I had a chance to photograph some backyard chickens the other week. It was all about making photos fast as I had about a half-hour before i had to drive back to Athens for a prep basketball game.

Clarke vs Cedar

Cedar Shoals' A.J. Davenport gets a rebound in front of Clarke Central guard Jevron Thomas in the fourth quarter as time expires as Cedar Shoals beats Clarke Central 64-63 in an GHSA Region 8-AAAA boys basketball game on Saturday, December 12, 2010 in Athens, Ga.

Prep Game 3 - Clarke Central vs Cedar Shoals. Its the crosstown rivalry that lives up to the hype.

Sometimes the flash doesnt fire

Athens Academy's Davis Finney, center, puts up a shot between Athens Christian's Garth Brown, left, and Zach Lillie, right, in the fourth quarter as Athens Academy beats Athens Christian in an GHSA Region 8-A boys basketball game on Friday, December 10, 2010 in Watkinsville, Ga.

Prep Basketball: Game 2, Athens Christian vs Athens Academy. Adventures of misbehaving equipment after the jump.

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.

Softball Player of the Year

Prince Avenue pitcher Alex Bettis on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 in Bogart, Ga. Bettis was named Softball Player of the Year.

On the absolute coldest sunny day I've ever photographed in, i took a very patient and cooperative softball player under the bleachers to make a nice photo as she was named player of the year. With the wind, it was in the low 20s.

We froze, i worked fast. Then i took it back and overprocessed the hell out of it, giving it a very gritty look.

North Oconee Girls Basketball vs Gainesville

North Oconee's Jessica Watson is fouled by Gainesville's Hunter Pugh in the first half as the North Oconee Lady Titans face the Gainesville Lady Red Elephants on Friday, December 3, 2010 in Bogart, Ga.

Prep basketball has started again. My Fridays will now be spent indoors, with 1/4 power flashes lighting 1/3rd of the court. This started off defensibly with a low-scoring affair between North Oconee and Gainesville.

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.

Frost

It has been unseasonably cold here. Its just a detail of some frost moments before it was scraped from my car.

M-O-O-N

Just a random Moonshot.

(400mm + 1.4 teleconverter from the parking lot of our newspaper)

Trees for Troops

Georgia National Guard Sgt. Raymond Collins, center, and Eddie Hardigree, left, load Christmas trees as part of the "Trees for Troops" program at Greenbriar Creek Farm on Thursday, December 2, 2010 in Bishop, Ga. Over 800 Christmas tree growers nationwide are donating trees for military families as well as troops deployed overseas.

Tis the season. I would have jumped into the back of the truck, but the bed of the military truck was 5 feet off the ground. Couldnt get myself in easily.

Georgia Guidestones

The North Celestial Pole swirls above the Georgia Guidestones on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 in Elberton, Ga. The granite monument often referred to as the "American Stonehenge" have ten guiding principles engraves on them in eight different languages.

With this horrifically cold weather, its made for some crystal clear nights. I decided to take advantage of this and truck out to the Georgia Guidestones to make a star trail shot. It works but i almost wish i had shot it tighter. We shall see as life goes on.

ISO 100, 17mm @ 2.8 for 15 minutes. (Converted from Raw) No idea what is reflecting in the lower right.