One of the highlights of the season for me last year was getting to shoot Alabama (my Alma Mater) and Florida in the SEC Championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Alabama had an undefeated season until that 31-20 loss that sent Florida into the National Championship game. I had never shot a game on that level all on my lonesome. It was a major challenge, and one of the reasons I'm very appreciative that despite financial hardships at the paper we will still be sending two photographers to Georgia's away games this season. Anyway, it was hard, but so worth it even though those dang gators won.
Alabama coach Nick Saban leads his team onto the field for the 2008 SEC Championship Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Florida QB Tim Tebow avades a tackle from Alabama's Brandon Fanneys.
Florida's Louis Murphy celebrates a play.
Florida's Carl Moore comes up with the ball after catching a touchdown pass in the first quarter.
Alabama QB John Parker Wilson scrambles away from Florida's Lawrence Marsh.
Alabama QB John Parker Wilson is taken down by Florida's Ahmad Black, left, and Will Hill in the 3rd quarter of the Gators 31-20 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Florida's Major Wright soars through the air on top of Alabama's Glen Coffee after Coffee was brought down by Ahmad Black in the second half.
Alabama's Glen Coffee runs the ball as Florida's Markihe Anderson gets a piece of his jersey in the 2nd quarter.
Alabama's John Parker Wilson looks down field before throwing a pass in the first quarter.
Alabama's Julio Jones catches a pass for a first down in the fourth quarter.
Alabama QB John Parker Wilson high-fives wide receiver Julio Jones.
Florida QB Tim Tebow looks for an open receiver.
Florida QB Tim Tebow runs the ball in the second quarter.
Florida QB Tim Tebow hits the ground after being tackled by Alabama's Rashad Johnson.
Florida's Jeff Demps jumps into the endzone for a touchdown in the 4th quarter of the Gators 31-20 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Alabama's Glen Coffee is taken down by Florida's Ahmad Black.
Alabama's John Parker Wilson throws a pass in the second quarter.
Florida's Joe Haden breaks up a pass to Alabama's Julio Jones in the 4th quarter.
Alabama QB John Parker Wilson is sacked by Florida's Jermaine Cunningham in the 4th quarter.
Florida's Ahmad Black screams to the fans in celebration in the final minute of the Gators 31-20 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Several Florida Gators celebrate their 31-20 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Florida QB Tim Tebow does the "gator chomp" to the fans after his team's victory in the 2008 SEC Championship.
Recently I shot 6 back to back sportraits for the inside of our 2009 Georgia football preview. The days before the shoot I was so busy between work, doing stuff for our new prep site GeorgiaPrepZone.com, and cleaning my apartment for a visit from my mom and sister (all on an injured ankle) that I just found no time to come up with ideas for the upcoming shoot. Around 3 a.m. the morning of the shoot I forced myself to think. Somewhere in the middle of not having a clue an idea popped into my head. I decided to make everything in the picture red except for spotlighting the players' faces. My former boss once told me red gels are the hardest to work with because you often get pink. I haven't worked with them much, but I figured I'd need at least 2 or 3 to achieve what I wanted to do. I sketched out some ideas for poses and hit the hay at 4:30 a.m.
I got to Butts-mehre Hall, the University of Georgia Athletics building, at 10:30 the next morning to be ready to go for my first guy at 11:30. As I was setting up I realized I had made a grave error. I had remembered to bring the gels, but made the mistake of thinking there were multiples of each color in a pack. I guess my sleep deprived mind had it confused with construction paper because there was actually only ONE of each color. Desperate, I taped together my tiny speedlight red gels, but it just wasn't enough to cover my white lightning. My entire concept was based around the color red and here I was with pink. In a panic I flew out to the trunk of my car hoping for a miracle. My trunk is absolutely packed with junk and I tore it apart hoping I'd forgotten a red gel in there at some point. I was coming up empty, panic levels rising, my brain already fishing around for a new concept, when suddenly the skies parted...in the back corner of my trunk I caught a flash of red. I reached and drug out a bright red umbrella that I've had since high school. I had completely forgotten the thing even existed. I had my miracle. I jerry-rigged the umbrella to my light with the help of gaffer's tape and it worked like a charm. It was awesome! Now, I will never clean out my trunk again.
Georgia linebacker Darryl Gamble
Georgia wide receiver Israel Troupe, left, and punter Drew Butler
Georgia strong stafey Quinton Banks
Georgia tailback Carlton Thomas, left, and defensive end Cornelius Washington
The 2009 Georgia football preview hit the stands today. In a week from yesterday I will be in Oklahoma shooting the #13 Bulldogs in a tough season opener against the #9 Oklahoma State Cowboys. More of that later. Today it's all about the preview. Originally when I was presented with the "fishing" theme I felt frustrated because I wasn't included in the idea process. Sometimes the rest of the paper tends to forget that the photography department are the most visually creative people in the newsroom. When my boss and the sports editor asked me to shoot the cover I decided to make it my own despite my lack of involvement in the planning stages. Luckily my co-worker and bud Tricia Spaulding was on board with helping me out. Georgia defensive players Jeff Owens and Geno Atkins were the models of choice. We met at the dock of a friend of the sports editor's after of course Tricia and I lost 30 minutes of our planned hour prep time with bad directions. It turned out to get what I wanted required getting a little messy. I always manage to find a way into a muddy lake. Everything went super smoothly as I decided to go super simple with only one speedlight for a more natural lighting look. The biggest challenge was wrangling the guys because Jeff, a fishing enthusiast, was way more interested in casting a few lines than being photographed.
Georgia's Jeff Owens, left, and Geno Atkins
Check out all the exciting contents of the Preview HERE!
Michael Davenport lost his arms when he tangled with an electrical wire while climbing a tree at the age of 13. He almost didn't make it. Now 30-something years later he can be seen several days a week outside of the Broad Street Bar & Grill in downtown Athens doing drawings of University of Georgia mascot "Uga" with his mouth. The ABH has done a few stories on him throughout the years. We received a call recently tipping us off that he would be appearing on the Oprah show. I photographed and did video of him over 3 or 4 visits at his regular spot just 2 blocks from the paper. I talked with him about his desire to be a good role model and inspire people not to give up on their lives. His story touched my heart. I let him in. He told spectator after spectator that we were doing a story on him, that he was going to be on Oprah. He was so proud and it made me feel good to have a small part in it.
Michael Davenport, who lost his arms in an electrical wire accident at 13, works on a drawing with people looking on Saturday Aug. 8, 2009, in downtown Athens.
Then I got the word. It wasn't true that he was going on Oprah. He had told me and several others all the details down to the day he was flying out to Chicago. He had asked me to please bring him copies of the paper and my video so he could take it to show Oprah. I felt like a fool for believing it all. We were in so deep at the paper that we ran his story anyway just omitting the Oprah stuff and focusing on his tragedy and triumph. We had already put in so many man hours and he still has an amazing story. I wasn't finished with the video when I got news of the deception. I didn't even want to finish it, but I did anyway. I spent hours on it. Somewhere in all those hours of editing, listening to his voice, watching him draw, I decided to see past the deception. He is still an inspiration.
Street artist Michael Davenport works on a drawing outside of the Broad Street Bar & Grill Saturday Aug. 8, 2009, in downtown Athens.
Tonight was the night. The madness has begun and there is no looking back. Things will only get crazier next weekend with the first Georgia game. For now though, it was just one half of football back under the lights. I shot an old rivalry game between the Jefferson Dragons and the Commerce Tigers. The two teams have played every year since 1947 with Commerce leading 39-17-5, but the Tigers have lost the last two years. Jefferson came away with an 11-1 record last season and Commerce with a 5-6. This year Commerce was considered the underdog yet again. The game started off very exciting as Commerce's Deon Brock recovered a fumble by his own team and ran it all the way down field for a touchdown. The sidelines irrupted and several players stormed the field. It was exciting for them, but mostly annoying for me because they blocked my jube shots! The hope for an upset by the Tigers quickly faded as the Dragons came back to score 2 touchdowns and a field goal to wrap up the first half with a 16-7 score. I left at half-time to drive the 30 minutes back to the paper and edit my take. The Dragons won as expected, 30-13.
The Jefferson Dragons walk off the field before the start of their match-up with rivals the Commerce Tigers Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
Jefferson fans cheer at the start of the Dragons' match-up with the Commerce Tigers Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
The Commerce Tigers take the field Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
Commerce's Deon Brock breaks runs a recovered fumble in for a touchdown in the 1st quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
Deon Brock points to the stands after running a fumble in for a touchdown in the 1st quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
Jefferson QB Darius Minor jumps out of a tackle by Commerce's Tyler Adams in the 1st quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
Jefferson's Lucas Redd breaks away from Commerce's Jacob Vaughn in the 1st quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
Commerce's Deon Brock faces off with Jefferson's Lucas Redd in the 1st quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
Jefferson wide receiver Tyler Porter hauls in a Darius Minor pass for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
Jefferson's Tyler Porter is greeted by teammate Jessie Damons after scoring a touchdown early in the 2nd quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
The ball gets loose during a Jefferson extra point attempt early in the 2nd quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
Jefferson's Hoytes Damons cruises into the endzone for a touchdown late in the 2nd quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
Jefferson's Lucas Redd nearly evades a tackle by Commerce's Casey Drinkard during the 2nd quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
Commerce's Deon Brock is brought down by Jefferson's Jesse Damons in the 1st quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
Jefferson offensive lineman Sam Loggins celebrates a fumble recovery in front of Commerce's Deon Brock during the 2nd quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
I am a freelance photojournalist in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Previously I was a staff photographer for the Athens Banner-Herald in Athens, Ga. and the Times-Georgian in Carrollton, Ga.
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