A couple of new slideshows
Steve Simons (left) officiates as Blake Loveless (center) competes with Ryan Hurt (foreground) during the arm wrestling championships at the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City on Sept. 21, 2008. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Sometimes when we are sent to assignments around the city, we know we are going to be required to produce a multimedia package that can run on NewsOK.com. We usually have a choice, a slideshow (which features still photographs and recorded audio) or a video. In the last few weeks I’ve been on a slideshow kick. There were two assignments that had no multimedia requests attached, but when I got to the events I couldn’t resist.
The most recent one was last week at the Oklahoma State Fair. I was assigned to photograph the Arm Wrestling competition.I’ve never photographed arm wrestling and I had no idea that people got so excited about it.
http://downloads.newsok.com/flash_video/theoklahoman/slideshows/ArmWrestlersslides/
The other assignment that I turned into a slideshow was the Pole Climbers. There’s a class at OSU OKC that trains students on how to work on power lines. On this day, the students were going to climb the poles for the first time.
http://downloads.newsok.com/flash_video/theoklahoman/slideshows/PoleClimbers/
I use my Sony HDV-A1U video camera to capture the audio. It’s kind of bulky compared to my little audio recorder, but I have better control over the audio and I have the option of using a wireless mic. I use Final Cut Pro to edit the audio and just disregard the video that I’ve captured. I export the audio through Soundtrack Pro and then use SoundslidesPlus to combine my still images with the audio and complete the slideshow.
I took some decent pictures at the pole climbing assignment, but the best part came when I was done taking pictures, the instructor, Phil Cobb, let me put on all the equipment and try to climb the pole. I did fairly well, I think, and Phil even laid on the ground to take my picture so it looks like I’m really climbing high. (I only went about 10 feet up or so.)
Staff Photographer John Clanton gave pole climbing a try during an assignment at OSU OKC. Photo by Phil Cobb
-John Clanton
Matt Strasen moves on
Last week one of our colleagues had his last day in our photo department. Matt Strasen is moving to Amarillo to be with his wife and work for the Amarillo Globe-News. Matt joined our photography staff as football season was beginning in 2005. OSU fans out there who follow our photo coverage should recognize his byline. Matt lived in Stillwater and covered just about everything having to do with Oklahoma State along with his regular assignments in Oklahoma City and across the state. Interestingly, he was the first person to suggest that we have a department blog. That was more than a year ago. I don’t know what took us so long to get this going, but I’m sorry Matt won’t be a part of it. On behalf of the photographers at The Oklahoman, I congratulate him on the new job and wish him the best of luck. And if anybody in Amarillo is reading this, be sure to look for his byline. You’ll like what you see.
Here’s some pictures that Matt took for us that I’ve enjoyed.
OSU’s JamesOn Curry runs downcourt after hitting a three-pointer midway through the second half of the basketball game between Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma City University at Gallagher-Iba Arena Tuesday, November 8, 2005, in Stillwater, Okla. BY MATT STRASEN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Mackenzie Stogsdill takes a break while sifting through the remains of a damaged house after a tornado on Saturday hit Picher, Okla., Sunday, May 11, 2008. BY MATT STRASEN, THE OKLAHOMAN
OSU’s Jordy Mercer celebrates as he runs around the bases following his game-winning solo home run in the ninth inning during the NCAA Stillwater Regional baseball game between Oklahoma State University and Texas Christian University at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Sunday, June 1, 2008. OSU won 9-8. BY MATT STRASEN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Fourth-year veterinary surgical student Kimberly Anderson with Sammy, who was burned in a house fire, in the minor surgery room at the Oklahoma State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Stillwater, Okla., March 17, 2006. BY MATT STRASEN, THE OKLAHOMAN
OSU’s Andrea Riley celebrates with the crowd following the women’s Bedlam basketball game between Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, January 12, 2008. BY MATT STRASEN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Wayne Coyne, lead singer of The Flaming Lips, crowd surfs in a translucent ball during their performance at the Cox Convention Center during Opening Night 2008 in downtown Oklahoma City, Monday, December 31, 2007. BY MATT STRASEN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Ampora Shanor, the mother of murder victim Paul Shanor, hugs Stillwater Police Department detective sergeant Jeff Watts, the lead detective in Paul Shanor’s murder case, after Korrus Harrison was found guilty of murder at the Payne County Courthouse in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday, January 9, 2008. BY MATT STRASEN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Garrett Vig, from Newell, South Dakota, is bucked off a bull during the bull riding competition at the Okahoma State Fair Rodeo at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, September 21, 2007. BY MATT STRASEN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Carl Edwards does a backflip to celebrate his win of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Sunday, April 6, 2008. BY MATT STRASEN, THE OKLAHOMAN
-Nate Billings
Best of The Week 9/15/08-9/21/08
Here are the selections for this week from The Oklahoman Photo Staff. I am finally getting on track and making this happen at the first of the week instead of the end. Practice, practice and more practice to develop the habit. Thanks for looking. 
-Chris Landsberger
Best of the Week 9/8/08-9/14/08
Here are my selections for this week. We have a lot of variety this week, you can see the how each day brings the unexpected for each one of us on staff. Take a look and let us know your thoughts and enjoy.
Seen through a ripped screen still clinging to a front window, Megan Bridges looks through the remains of her grandparents’ home in rural Harrah Wednesday morning, Sept. 10, 2008. The 3,200 square foot home at 19620 SE 38 was destroyed by fire Tuesday afternoon. No one was injured in the fire. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
-Chris Landsberger
Was not much of a challenge
Well the return trip to the Northwest was much better for the Sooners this timearound. Was not much of a challenge for them in the 55-14 rout. All in all was probably a good trip for the team to go on the road and dominate a team likethey did on Saturday. Nate Billings and I have had a good trip so far, Seattle is a great city, and letme tell you the Washington fans have the best tailgating set up I have ever seen.
Check out the images for the game in the slideshow below.
http://downloads.newsok.com/flash_video/theoklahoman/slideshows/OUvsWASHINGTON/
-Chris Landsberger
Best of the Week 9/1/08-9/7/08
I am running behind this week, but here is the update of my choices… Enjoy! 
Ryan Roberts celebrates in the Oklahoma RedHawks clubhouse after the Redhawks beat the Iowa Cubs in the deciding game of the American Conference Finals, Sunday, September 7, 2008, in Oklahoma City, Okla. BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN. 
-Chris Landsberger www.highvelocityphoto.com
OU Football Returns to the Northwest
Well it is two years after the Sooner fiasco in Oregon that led fans to make t-shirts and signs showing their disgust.
Now, just like two years ago, the Sooners are 2-0 on the Friday before the team makes a return trip to the Great Northwest to take on Washington in Seattle. From what I understand a city and state that is very fond of the Sooner Nation.
OU has a lot to prove on its first road trip of the year, so it should make for an interesting game. I have packed my gear, and I am preparing to meet fellow photographer Nate Billings at the airport to fly out for our trip to cover the game. Nate and I will check in from time to time to update the our travel progress and provide some visuals along the way.
-Chris Landsberger www.highvelocityphoto.com
More pictures I like
Kendra Lancaster celebrates with teammates during practice for the US Paralympic Volleyball team at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, on Tuesday, July 29, 2008.
The US Olympic Paralympic athletes train at the University of Central Oklahoma before they travel overseas to compete in the paralympic games. Jenni Carlson and I worked on this assignment a few weeks ago. We focused on the members of the sitting volleyball team. I had never seen sitting volleyball before, and was impressed with how quickly the players move and how hard they can hit the ball. I used a 50mm @ 1.4 for most of the pictures, which is why the depth of field is so shallow.
Heather Erickson laughs with teammates during practice.
I photographed the team during practice, so I could get much closer to the action than I would have been able to during a game. I tried to highlight the similarities these women have with other athletes instead of just pointing out the differences. I looked for emotion, laughter, teamwork and action pictures. Jenni’s story ran in Sunday’s copy of The Oklahoman and I put together a video that ran on NewsOK.com.
Kendra Lancaster (right) and a teammate try to block a serve during a scrimmage at practice at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
-John Clanton
Hurricane Gustav Evacuees
When evacuees from Hurricane Katrina were brought to Camp Gruber three years ago, a former colleague and I discussed a way we could take a little bit different angle on the news. We never got the chance to spend time on it, but when Oklahoma City received evacuees from Hurricane Gustav, I decided to give it a try. The idea was to photograph people holding the one item that they couldn’t bear to leave behind. I bought a tarp to use as a background and used two off camera strobes to light the subjects. Because the media wasn’t allowed inside the building, except on guided tours, I set up in the media area and passed out flyers and talked to anybody who would listen about my portrait project. I photographed people holding the item and recorded them talking about it. If you get the chance, take a look at the slideshow.
http://downloads.newsok.com/flash_video/theoklahoman/slideshows/SpecialItemSlides/
I thought all day about what I would take with me in the same situation. I heard some interesting answers; cell phones, pictures, a stereo, a comb, a bible. I heard alot of frustration too. One guy told me that the next time a hurricane threatens New Orleans and south Louisiana, he’s going to take his chances and stay home, no matter how bad things get. If the evacuation is mandatory, he said, he just won’t answer the door.
-John Clanton
The Oklahoman Photos of the Week
As we continue to grow this blog, I wanted to do something that provided you a more in depth look at photos that The Oklahoman photo staff produces each week. Each member of the staff works hard each day to produce the best visual and story telling report on a wide range of topics that can go from one extreme to another in a matter of minutes. To acknowledge and show the talents of the photo staff that I work with, I am going to do my best each week to update the blog with my personal picks to be called Photos of the Week. These will be photos that I enjoyed viewing the most at week’s end. Some of the photos will have made it into print and other unfortunately did not, so this allows those unseen photos their moment in the spotlight as well. I hope this allows you to see even more of the great photography that is produced by the staff, and the hard work we all put in each day. So here goes, for the first week here are my selections are……….
-Chris Landsberger
