feature catch-up

Here is an assortment of features and shots from recent assignments.


Rachel Tribble and sons Grant Tribble, 7, right, and Mark Tribble, 4, examine lunar rock samples shared by a NASA representative Wednesday night at the Athens Academy Media Center.


Emily Pitts, right, participates in "Trivia Wars" at 283 Bar Wednesday night in downtown Athens.


Service Manager Mark Schroader instals training wheels on a child's bike at The Hub Bicycles Thursday Oct. 1, 2009, in Five Points.


The moon shines through a window in the Classic Center parking deck Wednesday night in downtown Athens.


Georgia fan Henry Harp, left, asks LSU fan Ronnie Rodrigue of Donaldsonville, LA, center, and a group of other LSU fans where their "circus hats" are, claiming that when LSU fans come to Athens it is like the circus is in town Friday afternoon outside of Harry Bissett's in downtown Athens.


LSU fan Shawn Broussard jokes with friends by hopping up on a Bulldog statue Friday afternoon in downtown Athens.


Alyssa Bender takes her shot during a pool game as her and friends participate in a recycling pup crawl Thursday night in downtown Athens.


University of Georgia President Michael Adams, center, and others take a look at the anatomy lab while touring the new Medical College campus Tuesday at the newly renovated old O'Malley's buliding.


University of Georgia students participate in a balloon popping relay as a part of a field day sponsored by the Eta Xi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at Myers Hall quad Thursday Sept. 24, 2009, on campus. The event was held to raise funs for the Athens Area Homeless Shelter and kick-off a semester-long toy drive.

PREPS: Gear failure #7,068,599

Friday night had me in Loganville for a Region 8-AAAA showdown between the undefeated Apalachee Wildcats (6-0) and the defending Region champs the Loganville Red Devils (4-2). I got bad news Thursday when I found out one of our 300mm lens had a problem and was sent off. The other two long lenses would be going to Nashville with my coworkers for the Georgia/Vandy game. So I was left with no long glass to shoot high school ball. I wasn't happy. I haven't shot football without at least a 300mm since my days at the Times-Georgian in Carrollton, Ga. where I only had my own equipment to use. I felt rusty out there as my normal shooting style was disrupted by the limitations of my lens. I had to stay close to the line of scrimmage as much as possible so the players didn't look like tiny action figures in the photos. This resulted in getting backsides for 3 or 4 break away touchdowns.


The Apalachee Wildcats with coach Shane Davis get ready to take the field to face Loganville Red Devils before their 42-41 overtime win Friday Oct. 16, 2009, in Loganville.


Apalachee's John Ansley is drug down by Loganville's Scott Miles in the 1st quarter.


Loganville's Storm Johnson breaks away for a touchdown in the first half.


Apalachee's John Lee narrowly misses a pass with coverage by Loganville's Scott Miles in the first.


Apalachee coach Shane Davis screams to the field.


Apalachee's Jon Lee takes down Loganville's Storm Johnson in the first half.

The game was a full on slug fest until the very end. I wanted to stay the whole game, but my laptop wouldn't communicate with our crappy wireless card so I knew I'd have to make the hour + drive back to the paper to turn in my pics. I called the desk and told them I could leave at halftime and make my 10:30 deadline or stay later and miss it. They opted I stay as late as possible since it was such a close game. I stayed until Apalachee scored a 4th quarter touchdown taking the Wildcats lead to 37-25 with only a minute and a half left on the clock. I had to leave to beat the traffic thinking I had the game-clinching TD and that the Wildcats had it wrapped up.

Apalachee's A.J. Lotsspeich intercepts a pass intended for Loganville's Desean Ledbetter setting up the Wildcats for a touchdown drive in the first half.


Apalachee's A.J. Lotsspeich runs off the field in celebrating his interception.


Apalachee's A.J. Lotsspeich is surrounded by teammates after making an interception in the first half.


Apalachee's Jon Lee, right,celebrates with teammate Nelson Gibson after scoring a touchdown .


Loganville's Clay Garner catches a pass for a touchdown with coverage by Apalachee's A.J. Lotspeich late in the 2nd quarter.


Loganville's Clay Garner, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown late in the 2nd quarter.


Apalachee's Zack Gentry is tackled by Loganville's Scott Miles.


Apalachee's Jon Lee cruises into the endzone for the Wildcats' final touchdown taking their lead to 35-27 over Loganville Friday Oct. 16, 2009, in Loganville.



Apalachee's Jon Lee, right,celebrates with teammate Nelson Gibson after scoring the Wildcats' 4th quarter touchdown taking their lead to 35-27 over Loganville Friday Oct. 16, 2009, in Loganville.


Apalachee's Jon Lee, right, celebrates with teammate Nelson Gibson after scoring a touchdown in the Wildcats' 42-41 overtime win over Loganville Friday Oct. 16, 2009, in Loganville.

I made it back to the paper in record time and filed before 11:30. Then I found out that the Loganville Red Devils had scored a touchdown and 2-point conversion in that final 90 seconds to send the game into overtime! The Wildcats still came out with a 42-41 victory after scoring a touchdown and stopping the Red Devils on a 2-point conversion attempt. I was bummed I'd missed such an exciting conclusion just because of wireless card issues. Our laptops, lenses, and cameras have had major issues all football season. There are already a zillion obstacles in getting the shot in this field ranging from ref ass to backfocus. The last thing we need are equipment failures game after game. ARRRGH!!

beacons of strength

October is a very aware month. In addition to the more well known Breast Cancer Awareness Month it is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I photographed a vigil the other night held to honor and remember the people who have died in the last year as a result of domestic violence in Georgia. Two women gave emotional accounts of their survival of abuse. Then one of their daughters read a poem about living with a father that abused their mother. The emotions were very raw and the pain that these people had gone through resonated across the lawn in front of the Barrow County Courthouse. I've shot several vigils, but never one quite like this. I've been to vigils to celebrate things, to honor the dead, to remember events. I'd never been to one where surviving victims were there to shine like beacons of strength to help others. It was a powerful thing.
Photo-wise I worked the crowd carefully not to draw too much attention to myself. I became fixated on the girl who read the poem because her emotion was very present in her face and body language. Adding to my fixation on shooting her, she was standing right in front of a floodlight which (in the last photo) lit her up like an angel.


A prayer is said before the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil to remember those who have died as a result of domestic violence this year in Georgia Tuesday Oct. 13, 2009, outside of the Barrow County Courthouse in Winder.


From left Michaela Johnson, 10, April Johnson, Emma Johnson, 6, and Jason Johnson, Jr., 8, look at cutouts displaying the names of people who have died as a result of domestic violence this year in Georgia.


Brenda Heim of Winder reads the names displayed on cutouts of the people who died as a result of domestic violence in the last year in Georgia.


Wanda Lamb tells her story of surviving domestic violence during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil for Domestic Violence Awareness month.


Tranteegus D. Allen tells her story of surviving domestic violence.


Tranteegus D. Allen tells her story of surviving domestic violence during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil to remember those who have died as a result of domestic violence in the last year in Georgia.


Antonio Epps waits to give a performance during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil for Domestic Violence Awareness.


Megan Lamb reads a poem about domestic violence during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil.


People listen to a musical performance by Antonio Epps during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil.


Candles are lit during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil.


Emma Johnson, 6, admires her flaming candle during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil Tuesday Oct. 13, 2009, outside of the Barrow County Courthouse in Winder.


People listen as the names of people who died as a result of domestic violence this year in Georgia are read aloud.


Megan Lamb,right, leans on friend Alex Ramirez during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil.


Jason Johnson Jr., 8, right, and sister Emma Johnson, 6, hold their flaming candles.


Megan Lamb, right of center, leans on friend Alex Ramirez.


A bell is rung as the name of each person who died as a result of domestic violence in Georgia in the past year is read aloud during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil.


Megan Lamb, center, leans on friend Alex Ramirez during the Peace Place's 9th Annual Candlelight Vigil to remember those who have died as a result of domestic violence in the last year in Georgia Tuesday Oct. 13, 2009, outside of the Barrow County Courthouse in Winder.