AthFest 2009

This weekend I shot my 3rd Flagpole Awards and Athfest. I had a hard time mustering up enthusiasm for the annual music festival considering it takes place in near 100 degree temperatures and I've been there, done that. However I had an experience that was definitely new in the first minute of The Black Lips show Friday night. I was in front of the stage shooting with my earplugs in when fellow photographer Josh Weiss got my attention telling me to watch my back. I turned around to see that crazed fans were crashing into the barricade moving it forward and it was about to come down along with the people right where I was. I got out of the way in time thanks to Josh. Security ran in and stopped the madness the best they could, but eventually about 15 staff members and police had to form a line holding the barricade in place the duration of the show. Who knew The Black Lips ignited such a frenzy?

S.J. Ursey of band "Creepy" hula-hoops before the annual Flagpole Awards Thursday June 25, 2009, outside of the Morton Theater in downtown Athens. 

Casper and the Cookies


Art Rosenbaum


Dead Confederate


Dead Confederate


Those Darlins


The Black Lips


fans at The Black Lips show


The Black Lips


The Black Lips



Gabe Brownless, 8, hangs in a hamock at a booth during AthFest Saturday in downtown Athens.




Cassie Robinson of Watkinsville, is reflected in a mirrored art box while taking pictures at AthFest Saturday in downtown Athens.


The Ginger Envelope


The Ginger Envelope

summer lightning

There are lots of storms every year, but only a small handful that come from just the right direction and with enough lightning firepower to make it worth dragging myself out of my apartment after midnight to shoot. Last Wednesday night/Thursday morning a line of storms converged from almost all sides around Athens and I headed out to see what I could get. There are very few beautiful skylines in Athens. The only lovely view that is also perfectly positioned in front of a parking deck is that of City Hall. Storms rarely come from the North behind City Hall so when one does you take advantage no matter the hour. I didn't get anything the first hour or so. Then suddenly the storm was on top of me and the rain drenched me and my gear in seconds. I retreated to my car until the worst had passed. I was thrilled to see that when I emerged another chunk of the storm was heading past to the North just missing Athens. I waited an hour shooting 200 or so 10-20 second exposures as lightning was popping on both sides of City Hall, but not getting any in my frame. Finally one big beautiful bolt ripped through the sky in just the right place making it all worth the while. 

Lightning electrifies the sky behind City Hall as a line of thunderstorms moves through Athens early Thursday June 18, 2009. Over 4,000 people lost power in Northeast Georgia during the storm.

kids & puppies

It is hard to focus on photography when my life feels like a train wreck. With my boss and some co-workers being laid off in February due to the declining newspaper industry things in my career started to look bleak. Then I had a trio of bad things happen in my personal life including two deaths in a three week span in April and May. I've been feeling that I've lost my spark. My passion has been depleted and my creative vision blurred. I haven't been seeing in images, just in despair. Then this week something started to change. Somehow, some way, my hope found air and has breathed itself miraculously back to life. In a chain reaction the passion and creative drive that has always driven my life suddenly jolted awake. I attribute 95% of this of course to kids and puppies.

I was getting ready to shoot a sportrait at a high school when I saw a surreal vision of mini ballerinas appear next door outside of the civic center. I followed them after shooting the sportrait and shot a dress rehearsal for a dance recital just for fun. Shooting something "just for fun" had become something of history.

Delaney June, 3, left, gets distracted during the dress rehearsal for the "Trip Around the World" Freedom of Movement Dance Academy recital Wednesday May 27, 2009, at the Oconee County Civic Center. June's class represents the North Pole.

The next night I had an assignment with Raleigh, the formerly obese dog. He reached 187 lbs. before action was taken to help him and since he has lost an amazing 100lbs. When I arrived at his home to photograph his new svelte form I was greeted not only by Raleigh, but his 4 brothers. I love dogs more than people for the most part and I was in heaven!

Jay and Jane Whitehead walk their dogs from left Bug, Billie, Lucky, Sparky, and Raleigh, the formerly obese dog, in their neighborhood Thursday May 28, 2007, in Bogart.

Then on Friday I drove an hour and a half to Hart State Park to photograph people recreating for a story about state cuts to park funding. I ended up with muddy lake water up to my waist without a second thought just to get a shot of two boys playing. It felt like an adventure and I loved every minute of it.

Logan Fisher, 4, right, shows a small sea shell he found to friend Colton Thornton,6, as the two enjoy the beach at Hart State Park Friday May 29, 2009, in Hartwell, Ga.