Congrats to Bryan Terry
I wrote a little bit about the monthly AP photo contest for member papers earlier when Jim Beckel and Steve Gooch placed in the December contest. Bryan Terry has now finished first in the January competition. Here’s the winning photo.
Stevie Stewart, mother of the conjoined twins Kylee and Preslee Wells who were separated by surgery earlier this week, is overcome with emotion as she speaks beside chief pediatric surgeon Dr. David Tuggle during a press conference in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
-Nate Billings
OSU women’s basketball
Bryan Terry made some very cool photos from the OSU women’s basketball game tonight against Kansas. I particularly like the pic below.
Porscha Weddington of Kasas chases the ball between OSU’s Shyvon Spears, left, and Tegan Cunningham during the women’s NCAA college basketball game between Oklahoma State and Kansas in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
I have not talked to him yet to find out if Porscha Weddington ran into him or not.
To see the rest of Bryan’s photos from the game, click here.
-Nate Billings
Life is Real update
This Sunday, the next installment in our series about Jim Chastain’s life will be published in The Oklahoman. Recently, I went to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Clinic with Jim and his wife, Leann. Some of my pictures will be from that trip when Jim got good news about his cancer. Here are a few more pictures.
Jim is escorted by an X-Ray technician, into a room for a chest x-ray during a visit to MD Anderson’s Cancer Clinic in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday Jan. 20, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
One of the things I’ve been trying to do while photographing this series, is to take pictures not just of Jim and his family, but also keep an eye out for things that Jim would see while receiving treatment or going about his life. I hope that, if only in a small way, detail shots like these add to the reader’s understanding of how a place feels, or what the reader might see if they were in the same circumstances. A good example of that is on our Life is Real website. If you get a chance, watch the two videos about chemotherapy, they deal a lot more with what Jim sees and hears than with how I see him.
And if you have time, please check out some of the other videos on the Life is Real website.
-John Clanton
Lone Grove Tornado
So far, at least eight people, possibly nine, are dead after a tornado moved through Lone Grove, Okla., Tuesday night as part of the rare February severe storms that struck our state. Usually after a big news event, I feel like writing something about what it was like for us as photographers or how hard we worked to cover the story. We had people working Tuesday night and others starting before dawn Wednesday morning, but I don’t want to write about that today.
Right now, the details of how we spent Wednesday don’t seem very interesting compared to what the people and emergency workers in Lone Grove have been through or what many of them have lost. So, let’s keep the attention on them.
Here’s some of our photos from Lone Grove.
Lone Grove firefighter Greg Allen (top) and volunteer Jack Brown search through broken trees north of Highway 70 in Lone Grove following deadly storms the day before around Lone Grove, Okla., Feb. 11, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Margie Hughes, left, gets a hug from her sister Neda Wilson as they look at Margie’s destroyed home following deadly storms the day before around Lone Grove, Okla., Feb. 11, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
John Taliaferro sees the remains of his furniture store in first light after Tuesday’s deadly tornado in Lone Grove, Okla., on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
A home on Highway 70 was destroyed in Tuesday’s deadly tornado in Lone Grove, Okla., on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Lone Grove firemen search a home for unaccounted people on the north side of SH 70 in Lone Grove, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN
Trina Quinton sits with a lost dog at her cousin’s destroyed furniture store, John’s Furniture, on the north side of SH 70 in Lone Grove, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN
Searchers look through mobile home debris for four unaccounted for persons on Brock Road in Lone Grove, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. The rails in the tree are the base of a mobile home. BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN
Deric Brawley, 12, sits with his dog on a friend’s couch inside their destroyed home following deadly storms the day before around Lone Grove, Okla., Feb. 11, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Gov. Brad Henry talks with Sue Rose while surveying damage at the Bar K Mobile Home Park in Lone Grove, Okla., Wednesday, February 11, 2009. On Tuesday, February 10, 2009, a tornado moved through Lone Grove killing at least eight people. Rose was unable to seek shelter in time to avoid the tornado and rode out the storm in a mobile home with four other people. The mobile home was damaged, however, the people survived. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Dennis Parker holds his granddaughter, Brooklyn Hickman, 3, while sifting through belongings from his destroyed mobile home at the Bar K Mobile Home Park in Lone Grove, Okla., Wednesday, February 11, 2009. On Tuesday, February 10, 2009, a tornado moved through Lone Grove killing at least eight people. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Tammie Rose searches for items to salvage from the destroyed mobile home in which her daughter, Shawna Inlow, used to live in Lone Grove, Okla., Wednesday, February 11, 2009. On Tuesday, February 10, 2009, a tornado moved through Lone Grove killing at least eight people. Inlow and her three boys were able to ride out the storm safely in Rose’s cellar. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Neda Wilson reacts as she looks at her sister’s destroyed home following deadly storms the day before around Lone Grove, Okla., Feb. 11, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
To see a photo gallery of more pictures from Lone Grove and photos from damage in the metro area, click here.
-Nate Billings
Storm Damage
When ice and snow storms hit the metro area a few weeks ago, Nate Billings wrote that when the meteorologists tell everybody to stay inside, that’s our cue to go outside. The same is true with severe storms and tornado damage. Here’s just a few pictures from the storms around Oklahoma City and Edmond.
A firefighter talks on a cell phone in front of damage to the Chuck E Cheese restaurant following storms near NW Expressway and Rockwell in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
High line polls blown over on north Penn just south of 150 in Oklahoma City, Tuesday , February 10, 2009. By David McDaniel, The Oklahoman.
Carol Grieb carries a few items from her house at 5213 Circle Glenn that was damage by the tornado that hit north Edmond on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in Edmond, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
To see a gallery of more photos taken on Tuesday of the storms, click here.
-John Clanton
Best seats
It would be hard to argue that photographers don’t have the best seat in the house for Thunder games. Our photo passes give us access to sit on the baseline. Last night, for example, I sat in front of Aubrey McClendon. We work hard to get good pictures for the paper, and the floor can get painfully hard after awhile, but we get a nice view of the action. Until the referees get in the way that is. I couldn’t get away from them last night. I managed to get some decent pictures, but here’s an example of a moment in the game that I didn’t see.
I think Nenad Krstic made this basket.
To see much better Thunder pictures try this link or this one.
-John Clanton
Remote Camera at the Capitol
Gov. Brad Henry is joined by state lawmakers in applauding for First Lady Kim Henry after he introduced her at her seat in the gallery at the beginning of his State of the State message to the 52nd Legislature at the Oklahoma State Capitol, Feb. 2, 2009. Senators joined state representatives in the House Chamber to hear the Governor’s speech. By Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Staff photographers Jim Beckel and Chris Landsberger teamed up to get pictures as the Oklahoma Legislature opened a new session at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City on Monday. Jim had the idea to set up a remote camera behind Gov. Brad Henry to get a picture (shown above) that we haven’t seen before. Photographers are only allowed on the floor for the first five minutes of the session, then they are asked to retreat to the balcony. Without a remote camera, this picture would not be possible.
Jim talked with officials at the capitol about the idea of a remote camera on Friday and got permission to go ahead with the set up. On Monday morning Chris and Jim arrived at the capitol early and began getting the camera set up. They used a Canon 5D Mark II, a 16-35mm lens and shot at 4000 ISO, 100th of a second at f4. Beckel used a Pocket Wizard radio remote control to fire the camera when the Governor turned to his right. Originally, the idea was that Brad Henry would turn all the way around and wave to people behind him, showing more of his face, but, Jim was ready with the shutter button when he turned to his right.
You can see the remote camera near the Lt. Governor in the picture below.
This is a cropped picture, showing the remote camera behind Gov. Brad Henry.
To see all the photos that Chris and Jim took during the State of the State address, click here.
-John Clanton
Historic night at the Ford Center
I spent Monday night Monday night covering the women’s college basketball game between the OU Sooners and the defending national champions, the Tennessee Lady Vols, at the Ford Center. Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt was going for her 1,000th career win, while OU was trying to prove it deserves to be mentioned among the elite teams in women’s basketball.
OU won the game, 80-70, and history was made that night. Courney Paris’ streak of 112 consecutive double-doubles came to an end when she fouled out of the game with 38.2 seconds left with nine points and 12 rebounds.
I have to give it up to the OU fans. The atmosphere was loud and crazy in the arena. I also think that the game made more good reaction pictures from the players than any in recent memory.
Some of the photos from the game are below. And you can check out a full gallery from the game here.
OU’s Courtney Paris (3) waves to fans after fouling out of the game with 38.2 seconds left in the second half of the women’s college basketball game between Oklahoma and Tennessee at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Monday, February 2, 2009. OU won, 80-70. Paris finished with 9 points and 12 rebounds, breaking her streak of 112 consecutive double-doubles. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
OU’s Whitney Hand (25) reacts after a play in front of Tennessee’s Alex Fuller (2) and Glory Johnson (25) in the second half of the women’s college basketball game between Oklahoma and Tennessee at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Monday, February 2, 2009. OU won, 80-70. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Tennessee’s Glory Johnson (25), middle, steals the ball from OU’s Jasmine Hartman (45), right, next to Carlee Roethlisberger (10), left, as Tennessee’s Briana Bass (1) looks on in the background in the first half of the women’s college basketball game between Oklahoma and Tennessee at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Monday, February 2, 2009. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
OU fans hold signs referencing Pat Summitt’s attempt at 1,000 wins in the women’s college basketball game between Oklahoma and Tennessee at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Monday, February 2, 2009. OU won, 80-70, keeping Summitt’s record at 999 wins. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
OU’s Danielle Robinson (13) reacts in front of Tennessee’s Alicia Manning (15) after a play in the first half of the women’s college basketball game between Oklahoma and Tennessee at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Monday, February 2, 2009. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
OU head coach Sherri Coale, left, and Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt hug before the women’s college basketball game between Oklahoma and Tennessee at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Monday, February 2, 2009. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
To check out the full gallery of photos, click here.
-Nate Billings
Congrats to Jim Beckel and Steve Gooch
Every month the Associated Press has a photo contest. All photos from Oklahoma members that are moved on the AP wire service are eligible to be the “Photo of the Month” for Oklahoma. For those of you not familiar with the news business, the AP is how we are able to get pictures and stories for the paper and NewsOK.com from national and international stories that we cannot cover ourselves. The Oklahoman is one of the members.
I am happy to report that in the contest for December, Jim Beckel finished first and Steve Gooch won third. Beckel won for one of the photos he shot of children with Santa Claus. He wrote about the experience of taking those pictures in a previous entry.
Here’s the winning photos:
Danny Nichols breaks into tears at the thought of sitting on Santa’s lap during a visit to Penn Square Mall in Oklahoma City, Dec. 12, 2008. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Trey Bowman, 7, of Houston, plays in an obstacle course in the Mobile Science Museum in Oklahoma City, December 30, 2008. Science Matters, a mobile museum with hands-on exhibits and activities for children, will debut Tuesday at Science Museum Oklahoma. The museum will travel to schools in rural Oklahoma, providing discovery learning opportunities in areas of the state where museums don’t exist. BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN
I will try to put up the pictures from our winning entries in future contests. If an Oklahoman photographer does not win, we will quietly pretend the contest doesn’t exist.
-Nate Billings
