Midwest City Firefighter
As I was looking through our photo archive this evening I saw this picture by staffer Jim Beckel and thought I’d share it with you all.
Midwest City firefighter Corey Shafer lifts a tool used by firefighters while children from Good Shepherd Lutheran School hang on while learning about equipment on a fire truck as part of the department’s Fire Prevention Month activities Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 8, 2008. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
-Nate Billings
Zebra, get out of my shot!
Sarah Phipps contributes these thoughts about one of the biggest obstacles to the sports photographer, the referee.
OSU’s Dez Bryant leaps for catch in front of Trevor Ford at the Oklahoma State University college football game against Troy University Saturday, Sept 27, 2008 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Normally if I had a picture of a zebra I would be thrilled, but this was not
the African grasslands. It was the 30-yard line at Boone Pickens Stadium. And
that zebra cost me a great photo.
It never fails, no matter what sport, there is always one frame with a
referee in crystal clear focus instead of the big play. I have even had refs
turn around to me with a big wink and say “Make sure you get my good side.”
And it is not just referees, sometimes it’s a sound guy, a cheerleader, a
coach or even another camera guy. But, the referees seem to have a sixth
sense about when they are in our frame.
I think it is a secret game they play called, “Block the photographer, ruin
their day.” 5 points for blocking a reception, 5 points for a blocking a
fumble, 15 points for stepping in the way of touchdown play. Block the
photographers’ view from the onside kick recovery with 19 seconds left in
the fourth quarter—game over that’s 100 points. The back judge wins.
All kidding aside, I know the referees take their job seriously, and they are
just putting themselves in the right spot to make the call.
-Sarah Phipps
BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN
-Nate Billings
Zac Robinson can take a hit
In the ten years I’ve been shooting football photos, I have never had a nice shot of a helmet being knocked off of a player. At last week’s Oklahoma State football game Zac Robinson lost his helmet after being hit on a keeper. Oddly enough, fellow staffer Sarah Phipps and I both got nice shots of the play. Robinson was not injured on the play. Here’s the pics:
OSU quarterback Zac Robinson loses his helmet at the end of a play at the Oklahoma State University college football game against Troy University, Saturday, Sept 27, 2008 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN.
OSU quarterback Zac Robinson’s helmet flies off at the end of a run as he is sandwiched by defenders at the Oklahoma State University college football game against Troy University, Saturday, Sept 27, 2008 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN.
-Nate Billings
Flag line for Chief Warrant Officer Brady Rudolf
The hearse carrying the body of Chief Warrant Officer Brady Rudolf passes by Chase Smith, 6, a friend of the family, as Smith stands in a flag line outside the Oklahoma Air National Guard base at Will Rogers World Airport for the return home of Chief Warrant Officer Brady Rudolf’s body, in Oklahoma City, Friday, September 26, 2008. Rudolf was killed in a helicopter crash Sept. 18 in Iraq. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Here are some photos I took on Friday from a flag line to honor Chief Warrant Officer Brady Rudolf who died in Iraq on Sept. 18. One of these photos appeared in our bulldog edition. The others were unpublished in the paper because of space constraints.
-Nate Billings
Hey, take my picture! cont’d…
Steve Gooch contributes this “Hey, take my picture” entry. He writes, “Here’s a shot from the movie set ‘Pearl’ being filmed in Guthrie. The crew wanted me to take photos of the people who are behind the camera.” Enjoy.
-Nate Billings
