Gym Dogs: The Artistry

Tomorrow the National Champions for 5 consecutive years, the Georgia Gym Dogs, have their first meet of the year against Stanford. I have loved gymnastics since I was a little girl watching the Olympics. Now that I've had the chance to shoot former Olympians competing at the college level I have never stopped being in awe of the gymnasts' skill and a little starstruck. These women are some of the most powerful and graceful athletes on the planet. It has been a wonderful challenge to try to capture the impressiveness and beauty of their craft.




Georgia's Katie Heenan warms up on beam before the 2008 NCAA Individual Event Finals.


Georgia's Abby Stack competes on floor.
The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs take on the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide Friday, February 2, 2008 at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Al.


Georgia's Grace Taylor competes on beam in the Gym Dogs' win over Michigan in 2009.


Georgia's Courtney McCool competes on bars in the Gym Dogs win over Florida in 2009.


Georgia's Grace Taylor warms up on floor in 2009.


Courtney McCool leaps on beam during warmups at the 2008 SEC Championships on Saturday.


Georgia Grace Taylor practices on beam Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Gym Dogs will compete along with 11 other teams in the NCAA Preliminary Thursday.


Cassidy McComb chalks up to warm up on bars.


Alabama's Ricki Lebegern warms up on bars before the Crimson Tides' loss to the Georgia Gym Dogs Friday, Jan. 23, 2009, at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga.


Georgia's Courtney Kupets warms up on beam before the 2009 SEC Championship.


Georgia's Grace Taylor warms up on beam before the 2009 SEC Championship.



Georgia's Courtney Kupets warms up on beams before the Gym Dogs' win over West Virginia.

Bama Beginnings

It was 2004 and the fall semester of my senior year in college at the University of Alabama. I had started working as a staff photographer for the student newspaper The Crimson White that summer. I had always loved watching football on tv, but never got into going to the games after I almost passed out from the heat at the first one I ever went to. I shot 4 football games that final fall at Bama and discovered that the place to be was on the sidelines, even in the heat. I had minimal equipment and no clue what I was doing. That didn't matter though, I loved it. My love of shooting those games shaped my whole future. I was an art student at the time and never envisioned myself working for a newspaper, let alone being a sports photographer. It was on those sidelines at Bryant-Denny Stadium that I discovered my passion.
In about 3 hours Alabama will take on the Texas Longhorns for the BCS National Championship. Alabama's proud football history is legendary, claiming 12 National Titles with the last under coach Gene Stallings in 1992.Thinking back on the struggling 6-6 team I covered in 2004 it is amazing the program has come so far. During those sporadic years of the Dubose-Franchione-Shula era (1997-2006) it seemed like Alabama would never climb back to the top, but here they are at the threshold. I can't be on the sidelines today, but I'm excited just to do my small part by supporting the Tide in front of the good ole' tv set.



































Alabama's Juwan Garth takes on Cadillac Williams in the 3rd quarter.

PREPS: Rich Rivalry

It felt strange shooting my first high school basketball game of the season the other night. I was not very motivated although I did sling up a couple speedlights in the dark gym of Prince Avenue Christian School. The Wolverines were facing Region 8-A rival and fellow private school the Athens Academy Spartans. These two schools are where some of the Athens area's wealthiest and most well known families send their children to get an education. Prince Avenue Christian is where Georgia football coach Mark Richt sends his brood. The son of Congressman Dr. Paul Broun attends Athens Academy. There are many more familiar last names walking around the hallways of these schools. However, celebrity and dollar signs don't matter when it comes to playing time on the hardwoods. It was an all out battle in both the girls and boys games tonight. The girls went into overtime tied 39-39, but Prince Avenue dominated the 4 minutes earning a 46-39 win. Not to be outdone the boys fought to the end heading into their own overtime. This time Athens Academy came out on top breaking a 5-game losing streak with a 61-57 victory.


Athens Academy's Margaret Boyette (15) fends off Prince Avenue Christian's Amber Howell (3) in the 4th period of the Wolverines 46-39 victory Tuesday in Bogart.


Prince Avenue Christian's Shelby Mason (4) shoots 2 points in the 4th period of the Wolverines' 46-39 win over Athens Academy Tuesday night in Bogart.


Athens Academy's Emily O'Rear (13) battles for a rebound with Prince Avenue Christian's Katie Looney (23) in the 4th period of the Wolverine's 46-29 victory Tuesday in Bogart.


Athens Academy's Davis Finney (35) and Prince Avenue Christian's Thomas Mazeika (50) battle for a rebound in the first period Tuesday night in Bogart.


Athens Academy's Bryant Shirreffs (22) is fouled by Prince Avenue Christian's Felipe Howell (23) in the 1st period Tuesday night in Bogart.


Athens Academy's Nick Miller (5) is fouled by Prince Avenue Christian's Thomas Mazeika (50) in the first period Tuesday in Bogart.


Athens Academy's Kalupe Booze (3) hits the hardwoods while trying to make a shot in the 1st period Tuesday night in Bogart.


Athens Academy's Bryant Shirreffs (22) shoots over Prince Avenue Christian's Daniel Howell (33) in the second period Tuesday night in Bogart.


Athens Academy's Jordan Richardson (45) loses the ball with Prince Avenue Christian's Quinn Adamson defending (31) in the second period Tuesday in Bogart.