Weathermen said all day the storms were going to be something. My parents and I were gathered around the tv in my basement when we first saw the monster on the news. At first we weren't sure if the footage of an enormous mile wide tornado we were seeing was in our town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama or somewhere else. Then it became very clear. We sat stunned as we watched the angry funnel begin its rampage straight through the heart of our city. We saw as it struck a transformer and the footage froze.
The path of the storm was dangerously close to our family business so the moment we were secure the storm had passed we were in the car headed to the scene to make sure our business wasn't in ruins. I grabbed my photo gear so I could shoot a few pictures for the Tuscaloosa News. It was the longest drive to town of my life. The relief we felt when we saw our warehouse still intact was palpable. That feeling was quickly replaced with horror as just a half mile down the road we saw what was left of Rosedale Court, a government housing project. Rosedale was near the start of the Tuscaloosa portion of what ended up being an 80 mile journey of destruction. I hopped out of my dad's truck to document the surreal sight and talk to a few people. I will never forget the scene I saw...the moment I realized that this devestation continued for miles and miles through not only my hometown, but towns across the state. I only spent about 20 minutes on the ground photographing what I saw because another storm was rumored to be on its way and people were quickly fleeing for safety. Here is what I saw that day.
04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Stephanie Hines, left, takes in the destruction at her mother's house in the Rosedale community after a tornado tore through Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon.
04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- A man runs for safety as word spreads that another storm is on its way after a tornado tore through Alabama Wednesday afternoon.
04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- A woman sits on the remains of her home in Rosedale after a tornado tore through Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon.
04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Tiffany Price collects some of her clothes from her house in the Rosedale community after a tornado tore through Alabama Wednesday afternoon.
04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- A scene of destruction after a tornado tore through the Rosedale community in Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon.
04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- A tree is downed on 35th Street after a tornado tore through Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon.
04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Pearline G. Hinton, left, and son Kendrell Dwayne Hinton, 16, flee the remains of their home in Rosedale after hearing word that another storm was on its way after a tornado tore through Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon.
04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- People walk around looking to salvage belongings from their homes in Rosedale after a tornado tore through Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon.
04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- A car is marked with a red x to signal it has been checked for people after a tornado tore through the Rosedale community in Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon. 04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Rosemarie Roberts is aided by Charles Redick, left, and Nathan Reese after a tornado destroyed her home in the Rosedale community Wednesday afternoon.
04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- People aide a friend near the Rosedale Community after a tornado tore through Alabama Wednesday afternoon.
After watching Disney's hit Tangled I wondered if the glowing sky lanterns featured were real. They seemed so magical and beautiful that I figured they were a fantasy imagined for the film. A few weeks ago a Tuscaloosa News assignment came my way that proved that these light as air heat propelled wonders are in fact a reality. The Child Abuse Prevention Services of Tuscaloosa hosted their 3rd annual Sky Lantern Festival for child abuse awareness and I felt almost as exhilarated as Rapunzel as I watched the firey paper globes take flight into the night.
04-25-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Mason Grace Ward, 4, gets ready to release a sky lantern during the 3rd annual Sky Lantern Festival held by the Child Abuse Prevention Services of Tuscaloosa Monday at Sokol Park.
04-25-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Deb Mason and others release sky lanterns during the 3rd annual Child Abuse Prevention Services of Tuscaloosa Sky Lantern Festival at Sokol Park.
04-25-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Katie Pope and daughter Mary Collier Pope, 4, release a sky lantern in memory of a friend's baby who died during the 3rd annual Sky Lantern Festival held by the Child Abuse Prevention Services of Tuscaloosa Monday at Sokol Park.
I shot my first women's basketball game at Coleman Coliseum since college and it was also my last ever. Next week the team will start playing at a newly renovated Fosters Auditorium. I think the space will be a better fit for the program considering the 15,000+ capacity coliseum was embarassingly empty for their game against Kentucky today. It was a shocking contrast to the packed out men's game against Kentucky a week or so ago. The media coverage was just as meager. I was literally the only photographer to show up more than 5 minutes before tip-off and almost the only person working on press row post-game. At the men's game the floor was crawling with videographers, photographers, and reporters well over an hour before the game and press row was so packed I was almost forced into the photo workroom that has spotty wireless. It is nothing new that women's sports get far less attention or fan support than their male counterparts. However, it never ceases to bother me. No sport makes this fact more apparent than basketball. The place, the uniforms, the rules, they are all the same. Sure the women are a little slower paced and very rarely have the height for dazzling dunks, but they play scrappier not to mention tend to appreciate their few fans all the more. I swear I'm not trying to bash bama fans into getting it in gear and supporting their ladies with the same fervor. Really it just makes me sad to see female athletes who work just as hard not get the same love from their communities.
Alabama 69, Kentucky 85
Jan 30, 2011; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide forward Kaneisha Horn (40) shoots around Kentucky Wildcats forward Victoria Dunlap (34) during the first half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelly Lambert-US PRESSWIRE
Jan 30, 2011; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats coach Matthew Mitchell yells at a referee during the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelly Lambert-US PRESSWIRE
Jan 30, 2011; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard A'Dia Mathies (1) shoots 2-points against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelly Lambert-US PRESSWIRE
Jan 30, 2011; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Shafontaye Myers (12) drives the ball past Kentucky Wildcats guard Bernisha Pinkett (10) during the first half at Coleman Coliseum. The Wildcats won 82-69. Mandatory Credit: Kelly Lambert-US PRESSWIRE
Jan 30, 2011; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Victoria Dunlap (34) tries to manuever around Alabama Crimson Tide forward Tierney Jenkins (21) during the second half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelly Lambert-US PRESSWIRE
Jan 30, 2011; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; labama Crimson Tide coach Wendell Hudson reacts on the sidelines during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelly Lambert-US PRESSWIRE
Jan 30, 2011; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard A'Dia Mathies (1) shoots around Alabama Crimson Tide forward Tierney Jenkins (21) during the second half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelly Lambert-US PRESSWIRE
Jan 30, 2011; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama forward Tierney Jenkins (21) shoots past Kentucky Wildcats guard Crystal Riley (3) during the first half at Coleman Coliseum. The Wildcats won 82-69. Mandatory Credit: Kelly Lambert-US PRESSWIRE
Jan 30, 2011; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard LaToya King (10) and Kentucky Wildcats guard Crystal Riley (3) dive after a loose ball during the first half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelly Lambert-US PRESSWIRE
Jan 30, 2011; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide forward Kaneisha Horn (40) maneuvers around Kentucky Wildcats forward Victoria Dunlap (34) during the first half at Coleman Coliseum. The Wildcats won 82-69. Mandatory Credit: Kelly Lambert-US PRESSWIRE
Jan 30, 2011; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Maegan Conwright (20) shoots past Alabama Crimson Tide guard Ericka Russell (23) during the second half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelly Lambert-US PRESSWIRE
Jan 30, 2011; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide coach Wendell Hudson reacts to action on the court during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelly Lambert-US PRESSWIRE
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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