Don't call me Jenny

I was with sports reporter Jennifer I. when I shot my first ever sportrait. We both worked at the Times-Georgian, a 6-day-a-week paper in Carrollton, Ga. I was fresh out of college and didn't have a clue. It was our first assignment together. As we road to Villa Rica, Ga. to meet a high school shot putter I observed a block letter key-chain that read "Jen" hanging from her mirror. I remember slipping up and calling her Jenny and her quickly telling me that it's Jen or Jennifer, but don't call her Jenny. I wasn't sure what to make of this girl. Later I found out she didn't like me when I started at the paper because of some miscommunication we shared. It seems funny now. These memories are vague and hardly significant after 4 years of working together and friendship.

When I got the job at the Athens Banner-Herald she happened to get a job there 2-months later. I was thrilled. Together we have worked on a wide range of assignments including the tragic story of a football coach who was dying of cancer, countless little league games, a blind cross country runner who charmed us both, a football player who succeeds despite his tourette syndrome, two Georgia gymnastics National Championships, endless high school football & basketball, and recently an Army Major who lost his leg in Iraq and is now a triathlete . I've shared my single best and worst journalism experiences with her. The worst being a prep football playoff game in Atlanta in which everything possible went wrong and I mean everything. The night started with getting lost and ended with the sports editor calling us repeatedly screaming. The middle was a mix of horrors. We made it through it though, together. The best was the Georgia Gym Dogs record breaking 10th National Championship in Lincoln, Nebraska this past April. We both love covering gymnastics above all else and that night was dramatic, historic, and to be a part of it was a privilege.

I'm writing this post because Wednesday was Jennifer's last day at the ABH. She moved to St. Louis, Missouri today. In honor of her I am posting a selection of the many photographs I have taken for her stories. As a photographer I will miss working with such a talented, passionate writer, but more than this I will miss my friend.

Cartersville's Corey Grimes makes a save as Carrollton's James Derbecker collides with him in the air in 2006 at Carrollton High School.



Villa Rica High School softball team, 2005




Haralson County's Brandon Wood led the Rebels to their first playoff win in school history in 2005.
Clarke Central's Ryan Faust takes down Cedar Shoals' Trent McGuire in the first quarter Friday Sept. 7, 2007.

Athens Academy's Will Callaway faces off with Whitefield Academy's Patrick Sipp in the first quarter Friday November 23, 2007, at Athens Academy.

Clarke Central's John Wilson 2007

Athens Academy's QB Carter Gunn walks out of the Georgia Dome with father Cody Gunn after his team's 32-14 loss to Wilcox County in the state semifinals Friday Dec. 7, 2007, in Atlanta. Gunn was injured in the 1st quarter and had to sit out the rest of the game.
TERRIFIC 10, Prep football preview 2007

North Oconee High School student David Firth had the support of his parents Jan and Mark Firth after he was involved in a car crash in June 2007 that resulted in the injury of two other students and the death of his basketball coach Shawn Smith.

A rare disease during his childhood, and the subsequent surgery to correct it, rendered Oglethorpe County athlete Robert McKay blind. McKay hasn't let his condition affect his passion for sports.

Jefferson Junior football player Charlie Williams who has tourette syndrome, stands in the equipment room of the Dragons' field house.

High School football Coach of the Year 2007, Athens Academy's Michael Gunn

The Athens Academy Spartans pray before their 19-13 win over the Commerce Tigers Friday Oct. 23, 2008, at Slaughter Field in Athens.

Athens Academy QB Will Daniel connects with Wright Shamp on a pass which Shamp ran in for a touchdown in the 1st quarter of the Spartans' win over Prince Avenue Friday Oct. 26, 2008, at Wolverine Stadium.
Georgia's Katie Heenan performs on the uneven bars.
The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs take on the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide Friday, February 2, 2008 at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Al.

Coach Suzanne Yoculan and her dream beam team from left Hilary Mauro, Nikki Childs, Tiffany Tolnay, Grace Taylor, Katie Heenan, and Courtney McCool.

Georgia baseball pitcher Joshua Fields 2008

Georgia's Gordon Beckham, left, and Bryce Massanari walk off the field after their 5-2 loss to Alabama which knocked them out of the SEC Tournament Thursday at Regions Park in Hoover, Al.

Georgia gymnast Grace Taylor 2008, Taylor's birthday was the same day as the SEC Championship


Former Athens Academy linebacker and current lay coach Nick Stiles will try to help his brother, linebacker Hunter Stiles, achieve what he couldn't - winning a Class A state title.

Athens Academy kicker Chandler Gunn 2008
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The cover of a farewell section for Georgia gymnastics coach Suzanne Yoculan who retired after the 2009 season

Georgia's Grace Taylor, left, and Courtney McCool hug outside of their lockerroom after finishing second in the SEC Championship behind Alabama Saturday, March 21, 2009, at the Sommet Center in Nashville, TN.
Georgia gymnast Tiffany Tolnay

The Georgia Gym Dogs scream as they are presented with the NCAA Championship trophy Friday, April 17, 2009