Engagement Portraits

A dear old friend of mine recently asked me to shoot her engagement photos. I had never shot these particular type of portraits so I did major inspiration hunting and spent a good hour location scouting. My favorite spot I found was a boarded doorway with a cute little black and white awning overhead. What I did not think about was that during our shoot it would be right in the sun. We had to wait for cloud coverage to get a shot and then the sun quickly came out again. I shot a few with the natural light, but it was just a bit too bright for my tastes. The shot below was the one and only frame I got off before the sun came out. Luckily I like it. My friend also really wanted a shot involving scrabble (a favorite past time of her and her fiancee). She had seen a picture shot from overhead of a couple on a blanket with a scrabble board. We concocted our own version of this. It was a lot of fun despite the fact that while getting positioned my friend accidentally scraped a chunk of skin off the face of her beloved. I assured them that the shoot could go on with a little photoshop magic.

Football Fridays: Hillcrest vs. Bryant

Friday night I returned to the football stadium where I graduated from high school 9 years ago. It really hadn't changed much at all. The cement stands had a few new cracks and the bathrooms were even grosser. I was excited when I got the assignment to shoot at my Alma Mater, but I never anticipated the strange nostalgia that wiggled in my gut as I walked those grounds again. I saw a couple of my old teachers in the stands, but for the most part every face was that of a stranger. In nearly a decade this place had stayed the same but had also become completely unfamiliar. Then it occurred to me that in fact I was the stranger. I was an anonymous photographer just as I'd be at any school, any town. This place now belonged to a new generation and merely existed for me as faded memories of awkward pep rallies, poorly constructed homecoming floats, and game night struts with friends around the chain-link perimeter.


Hillcrest head coach Adam Winegarden leads his Patriots onto the field for warm-ups before facing the Paul W. Bryant Stampede Friday Sept. 24, 2010.


Hillcrest cheerleader Alli Kamplain, 14, does a flip in the air as her fellow squad members wait to catch her before the Hillcrest vs. Bryant football game Friday Sept. 24, 2010 at Roy Johnson Jr. Stadium.


Hillcrest quarterback Luke Wingo


Payte Williams, 7, left, and Braeten Brown, 7, climb the field goal before the Hillcrest vs. Bryant football game Friday Sept. 24, 2010.


Hillcrest head coach Adam Winegarden greets fans before the Patriots game against the Bryant Stampede Friday Sept. 24, 2010 at Roy Johnson Jr. Stadium.


Hillcrest vs. Bryant Friday Sept. 24, 2010 at Roy Johnson Jr. Stadium.


Bryant's Darius Williams (1) evades Hillcrest's Branden Moss during a punt return in the 1st quarter Friday Sept. 24, 2010 at Roy Johnson Jr. Stadium.




Bryant quarterback Brock Hall (13) takes off with the ball after breaking a tackle in the 1st quarter against Hillcrest Friday Sept. 24, 2010 at Roy Johnson Jr. Stadium.


Hillcrest's Brooks Hutton (11) is congratulated by teammates after he delivered a leveling tackle on a punt return in the 1st quarter against Bryant Friday Sept. 24, 2010 at Roy Johnson Jr. Stadium.




Bryant's Matthew Freeman (23) defends the ball against Hillcrest's Josh Richards (4) as defenders swarm him in the 2nd quarter Friday Sept. 24, 2010 at Roy Johnson Jr. Stadium.


Hillcrest quarterback Luke Wingo (3) is brought down by Bryant's Ben Martin (32) and Dezmond Green (49) in the 2nd quarter Friday Sept. 24, 2010 at Roy Johnson Jr. Stadium.


Hillcrest head coach Adam Winegarden congratulates quarterback Luke Wingo (3) after his 2nd quarter touchdown against Bryant Friday Sept. 24, 2010 at Roy Johnson Jr. Stadium.


Hillcrest's Branden Moss (15) catches a 70-yard Luke Wingo pass with coverage by Bryant's Darius Rozzell (48) in the 2nd quarter Friday Sept. 24, 2010 at Roy Johnson Jr. Stadium.


Hillcrest's Quadeem Hassan (7) catches a pass for a touchdown with coverage by Bryant's Ben Martin (32) in the 2nd quarter Friday Sept. 24, 2010 at Roy Johnson Jr. Stadium. The score took the Patriots lead to 14-3.


Hillcrest's Quadeem Hassan (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the 2nd quarter against Bryant Friday Sept. 24, 2010 at Roy Johnson Jr. Stadium. The score took the Patriots lead to 14-3.

Football Fridays: Holy Spirit vs. Keith/ TA vs. PA

Another night of high school ball left me soaked to the bone and slightly unsatisfied. In the dark of night under the lights I started missing college ball just a bit. Don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy shooting high school football. It can be a lot of fun and a great challenge. However as the dim lighting cost me crisp pictures, one team didn't even bring a roster, and I squeezed in two games I started to miss bright stadium lights, two-sided card stock rosters, and start to finish coverage that thousands of people will appreciate. Then I reminded myself of the stress of campus traffic, backbreaking physicality, and pressure of capturing every significant play. Suddenly the short walks to high school fields with minimal gear, laid back coverage, and shorter time investments seemed pretty dang great.


09-17-10 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- The Holy Spirit Titans burst onto the field to face Keith High School Friday Sept. 17, 2010 at Holy Spirit.


09-17-10 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Keith's Bobby Barnes (22), left, knocks away a pass intended for Holy Spirit's Christopher David (22) on a fourth- down conversion attempt in the 1st quarter Friday Sept. 17, 2010 at Holy Spirit.


09-17-10 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Holy Spirit quarterback Conner Almond (24) throws a pass in the 1st quarter against Keith Friday Sept. 17, 2010 at Holy Spirit.








09-17-10 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Keith coach Harry Crumb calls out to his players on the field during the Holy Spirit vs. Keith football game Friday Sept. 17, 2010 at Holy Spirit.


09-17-10 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Holy Spirit coach Jack Hankins talks to players and coaches on the sidelines during the Holy Spirit vs. Keith football game Friday Sept. 17, 2010 at Holy Spirit.


09-17-10 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Keith's Raheem Valezquez (32) is brought down by Holy Spirit's Ryan Harris (8) in the 1st quarter Friday Sept. 17, 2010 at Holy Spirit.


09-17-10 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Keith quarterback Jeremy Crum (4) releases a pass under pressure from Holy Spirit defenders in the 1st quarter Friday Sept. 17, 2010 at Holy Spirit.




09-17-10 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Keith's Eric Tolbert sacks Holy Spirit quarterback Conner Almond (24) forcing a fumble in the 1st quarter Friday Sept. 17, 2010 at Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit recovered the ball.


09-17-10 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -Tuscaloosa Academy quarterback Johnathon Plott (19) pulls back a pass in the 2nd quarter of the Knights game against Pickens Academy Friday Sept. 17, 2010 at Tuscaloosa Academy.


09-17-10 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Pickens Academy's Josh Lewis (22) breaks up a pass intended for Tuscaloosa Academy's Dillon Anderson (20) in the 2nd quarter Friday Sept. 17, 2010 at Tuscaloosa Academy.




09-17-10 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Tuscaloosa Academy coach Wayne Brantley talks with his quarterback Johnathon Plott on the sidelines in the Knights' game against Pickens Academy Friday Sept. 17, 2010.


09-17-10 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Pickens Academy's Josh Lewis (22) fights for extra yardage as Tuscaloosa Academy's Jake White drags him down in the 2nd quarter Friday Sept. 17, 2010 at Tuscaloosa Academy.


09-17-10 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Tuscaloosa Academy's Jake White (3) is greeted by teammates Robey Smalley (35) and Clay Thomas (5) after breaking up a pass in the 2nd quarter against Pickens Academy Friday Sept. 17, 2010.

Football Fridays: Central vs. Demopolis

Friday night I found myself back at Central High School for another night of football. Two weeks ago when I was there I was surprised to find so many empty seats in the stands and so few enthusiastic fans. I thought maybe since it was opening weekend people just hadn't got into the spirit yet. Then again this Friday the fans came in a pathetic trickle. There were no painted faces, shakers, or hoards of giddy teenagers. The away team Demopolis filled out their bleachers much more fully than the home team. It is true that Central has been struggling in the last couple of years. They are now 0-3 with a young team and a first year coach. However after a few years of covering Georgia teams in podunk towns with little success or large programs in floundering seasons, that just doesn't seem like a good enough reason to me for the lack of fanfare. Despite winning or losing every team I've ever shot has always had a loyal following. Everyone from the students to random members of the community have showed up in full force. Never have I seen such a sad display of football pride. I'm left wondering if folks in Alabama take high school ball as serious as folks in Georgia? If that's not the case, then what has happened to Central High School's school spirit?


A Demopolis football player warms up before the Central vs. Demopolis football game at Falcon Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday Sept. 10, 2010.


Demopolis cheerleader Anna Stuart Cramer, 15, does a flip in the air before the Central vs. Demopolis football game at Falcon Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday Sept. 10, 2010.


Central senior majorette Kayla Patterson dances in the stands before the Central vs. Demopolis football game at Falcon Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday Sept. 10, 2010.


The Central Falcons take the field before the Central vs. Demopolis football game at Falcon Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday Sept. 10, 2010.


Demopolis' James Wilson (12) stumbles over Central's Tavares Doss (13) in the first quarter of the Central vs. Demopolis football game at Falcon Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday Sept. 10, 2010.


Central's Demetrius Houston (15) just misses a pass with coverage by Demopolis' David France (13) during the first quarter of the Central vs. Demopolis football game at Falcon Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday Sept. 10, 2010.


Central head coach Dennis Conner yells to players in the first quarter of the Central vs. Demopolis football game at Falcon Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday Sept. 10, 2010.


Demopolis head coach Tom Causey talks with Wiley Isaac (8) during the 2nd quarter of the Central vs. Demopolis football game at Falcon Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday Sept. 10, 2010.


Demopolis' DaMarcus James (4) stiff arms Central's Colyn Meadows (10) as he gains extra yardage in the 2nd quarter of the Central vs. Demopolis football game at Falcon Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday Sept. 10, 2010.


Central's Ronderek Rice (9) wraps up Demopolis' Damarcus James (4) as he is hit by Matt Sellers (56) in the 2nd quarter of the Central vs. Demopolis football game at Falcon Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday Sept. 10, 2010.


Demopolis' Wiley Isaac (8) hauls in an interception in front of Central's Demetrius Houston (15) in the second quarter of the Central vs. Demopolis football game at Falcon Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday Sept. 10, 2010.


Demopolis' James Wilson (12) breaks away for a touchdown in the second quarter of the Central vs. Demopolis football game at Falcon Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday Sept. 10, 2010.


Demopolis' James Wilson (12) breaks through the grip of Central's Colyn Meadows (10) for a touchdown in the second quarter of the Central vs. Demopolis football game at Falcon Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday Sept. 10, 2010.


Demopolis' James Wilson (12) celebrates after scoring a touchdown with teammates from left Rodney Harper (88), Allen Tucker(72) and Taylor Polk (71) during the second quarter of the Central vs. Demopolis football game at Falcon Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Friday Sept. 10, 2010.