MUDD Volleyball
Jake Witcher of Mustang, Okla., falls in mud during the MDA M.U.D.D. volleyball tournament at the Silver Stallion Club, Saturday, July 25, 2009, in Mustang, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps,The Oklahoman
Mud splatters during the MDA M.U.D.D. volleyball tournament at the Silver Stallion Club, Saturday, July 25, 2009, in Mustang, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps,The Oklahoman
Players play volleyball during the MDA M.U.D.D. volleyball tournament at the Silver Stallion Club, Saturday, July 25, 2009, in Mustang, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps,The Oklahoman
As photojournalists we often put ourselves in dangerous situations. We risks ourselves and camera gear to chasing storms. We risk getting tackled by football players while on the sidelines or being hit by a foul ball. In the winter, I always carry a bag with a pair of dry socks, waterproof pants, extra gloves and other various winter items. Last week during the scorching heat wave I carried extra water to stay hydrated. As photojournalists it is important we prepare ourselves for the worst.
So, last weekend when I was assigned the MDA MUDD Vollleyball tournament, fellow staff photographer Nate Billings warned me to wear clothes that I did not care about. It was the best advice I have had in a while. I had no choice but to put myself in the line of fire of flying muddy water in order to get the pictures I wanted. My old jeans I wore are now a nice rust color. At least I got some decent pictures.
-Sarah Phipps
People on Sundays
Ronnette Jenkins (left) and JoJo Shells ride their horses near NE 50th and Post Road in Oklahoma City on Sunday, July 26, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Ronnette Jenkins dreams of starting up her own Round-Up club. Leather boots and saddles creak together as she stops her horse in an elementary school driveway on Sunday afternoon. Ronnette has been around horses her whole life. She convinced JoJo Shells to get on one about 3 years ago, and their sons are riding too. “It’s nature,” she says, “Peace of mind. It relaxes you when you got good horses.”
-John Clanton
Media-Out of Play
Members of the media stand "out of play" during a training exercise at the former post office building near SW 5th and Hudson in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Both of you may have noticed some commotion outside the old post office building on SW 5th in Oklahoma City on Wednesday morning. Oklahoma City Police and other emergency responders were participating in a training exercise inside the building, which they called ‘Fawlty Towers.’ Mock terrorists took over Fawlty Towers, complete with volunteers, mock injuries and mock fatalities. I joined other photographers and reporters behind the Out of Play signs and tried to make pictures of the event.
I caught a flashlight right in the lens as I joined other news photographers in following Oklahoma City Police Officers search through rooms at Fawlty Towers. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Eventually, the media joined the officers as they searched the first floor of Fawlty Towers. We photograph assignments like this fairly regularly, whether its Oklahoma City Police, Oklahoma County Sheriffs department or local fire departments. Police and firefighters take their training seriously, so it’s important to show that in the pictures. But it’s also important to give some perspective to the event. I tried to include something in these pictures to make it obvious that this is training. Sometimes it can be as simple as composition, but in this case, most of my pictures include members of the media, and one of them includes my own reflection.
News photographers watch as Oklahoma City Police Officers search through rooms at the old post office building during a training exercise at the building near SW 5th and Hudson in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
To see more pictures from this assignment, and other photo galleries, click here.
-John Clanton
People On Sundays
Jay Miles holds his son Jay Jr., as they spend time together on the shores of Lake Hefner on Sunday, July 19, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Jay Miles relaxes on the trunk of his car under a shade tree. Behind him, sailboats take to the water at Lake Hefner. “We like the breeze. Don’t have to worry about the heat,” said Jay, who explains that the family visits shady spots at the lake almost every day. Jay and his wife Melydia talk about their car, a 1973 Impala that Jay is remodeling, about the boats, car shows in the summer, and about their young son, Jay Jr., who manages to crawl into the front seat as we talk.
-John Clanton
The best rodeo in Oklahoma
Austin Vincent, of Des Moines, New Mexico, jumps on his steer in the steer wrestling event during the International Finals Youth Rodeo at the Shawnee Expo Center on Friday, July, 17, 2009, in Shawnee, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
We cover a lot of rodeos at The Oklahoman. The one that our photo staff looks forward to the most every year is the International Finals Youth Rodeo in Shawnee. The great thing about the IFYR is that most of the competition happens during the day. Rodeo can make great pictures, however, most of the rodeos we photograph happen at night or in dark, dingy arenas.
The beautiful atmosphere of this rodeo really comes through in the sun. The daylight allows us to use higher shutter speeds to stop the action better as well. So, the IFYR is the best rodeo, for pictures at least, in Oklahoma.
Here are some photos and galleries of pictures from the competition.
Cody Carlton of Mims, Florida, gets thrown off a horse during saddle bronc at the International Finals Youth Rodeo in Shawnee, Okla. Thursday, July 16, 2009. Photo by Ashley McKee, The Oklahoman
Tyler Taylor, of Stephenville, Texas., kneels down to say a prayer before his go in the bull riding event during the second day of competition in the International Finals Youth Rodeo at the Shawnee Expo Center on Tuesday, July, 14, 2009, in Shawnee, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Landon Parrish, from Kayenta, AZ, holds on the shoot rail as the bull he was trying to ride gets out of the gate early at the International Finals Youth Rodeo in Shawnee, Wednesday, July 15 , 2009. Photo By David McDaniel, The Oklahoman.
Cole Miller, Lahoma, Okla., wears a friend's hat while that cowboy competes in bull riding during an evening session of the International Finals Youth Rodeo at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center in Shawnee, Wednesday, July 15, 2009. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Bullfighter Rob Gann gets rammed by a bull at the International Finals Youth Rodeo at the Shawnee Expo Center on Thursday, July, 16, 2009, in Shawnee, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps,The Oklahoman
Stetson Cravens of Eufaula, Okla., falls to the ground after being dragged by a bucking bronc during the bareback bronc at the International Finals Youth Rodeo in Shawnee, Okla. Thursday, July 16, 2009. Photo by Ashley McKee, The Oklahoman
Taylor Hayes, of Bryan, Texas., tapes up his wrist as he prepares for his go in the bull riding event during the second day of competition in the International Finals Youth Rodeo at the Shawnee Expo Center on Tuesday, July, 14, 2009, in Shawnee, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Cody Tyler White, of Choctaw, Okla., competes in bull riding during the final round of the International Finals Youth Rodeo in Shawnee, Okla., Saturday, July 18, 2009. By Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
-Nate Billings
Woody Fest
Randy Crouch, right, tunes his guitar with fellow flute player and bandmate at his side at the Brick Street Cafe during Woody Fest in Okemah, Okla. Photo by Ashley McKee, The Oklahoman
Woody Guthrie is a legend. He influenced some of the most inspired singer-song writers to date including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and bands like The Band and the Rolling Stones. It was an honor to travel to his birthplace to shoot a celebration just for him. The festival itself was right my alley. Bluegrass, rock, folk, blues, and country-western music and style surrounded my every move. I met young and old alike who shared a common love for music and playing music. I love going to a place or an event where it doesn’t matter how much you know or how good you are at something, but because you are there celebrating one person or thing, you are family. It is that small town goodness we all forget about sometimes.
Okie Noodling
Marion Kincaid of Peru, Kansas, unloads a catfish during the Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley, Okla., Saturday, July 11, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Bryan Terry went yesterday to the weigh-in of the Okie Noodling Tournament, where people catch flathead catfish with only their bare hands, in Pauls Valley, Okla. Men with bloody knuckles heaving flatheads can make for some images you don’t see every day. Bryan said the event was saturated with professional photographers and video crews. No doubt some of this popularity is due to the “Okie Noodling” series of documentaries about this unique tournament. Here’s some pictures from the weigh-in.
Jon Bridges of Bartlesville, Okla., brings in a catfish during the Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley, Okla., Saturday, July 11, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Lee McFarlin of Stillwater, Okla., demonstrates noodling during the Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley, Okla., Saturday, July 11, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Fans watch as a catfish is brought in during the Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley, Okla., Saturday, July 11, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Marion Kincaid of Peru, Kansas unloads a catfish during the Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley, Okla., Saturday, July 11, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
A catfish is unloaded before being weighed during the Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley, Okla., Saturday, July 11, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Fans watch catfish swim in tanks after their during the Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley, Okla., Saturday, July 11, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Jon Bridges of Bartlesville, Okla., brings in a catfish during the Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley, Okla., Saturday, July 11, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
-Nate Billings
Pictures I Like
Virgil "Cowboy" Kalbaugh places his hand against a panel of the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall on the name of Brent Street, Sunday, July 5, 2009, in Piedmont. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Here’s some interesting pictures from the staff over the last couple of days. Some of these were published in the paper and some were not.
Michael Roeder hits the water as he goes down on his wake skate run during the first day of the Air Nautique WWA National Championships on Wednesday, July 8, 2009, on the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City, Okla. by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Steve Murphy (21) breaks his bat in the seventh inning during the minor league baseball game between the Omaha Royals and Oklahoma City RedHawks at the Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Monday, July 6, 2009. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Jacquelyn Renner, 9, places her nose against the chalkboard to experience older forms of student discipline during 1889 School Camp at the 1889 Territory School in Edmond, Okla. Tuesday, July 7, 2009. Photo by Ashley McKee, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Fourth of July wrap-up
Fans watch fireworks at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Saturday July 4, 2009, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
The photographers of The Oklahoman were out in force to cover Independence Day. The weather shifted from nice to muggy and then rain in the evening. I’m glad we got the rain, but just wish it had happened either the day before or the day after. The RedHawks didn’t play their baseball game, but did have fireworks. Other fireworks shows were postponed. Here are some of the photos from the day.
To see a gallery from events around the metro area, click here.
For former President George W. Bush’s Independence Day visit to Woodward, click here.
A gallery of photos from Edmond’s LibertyFest parade is here.
And Bryan Terry did a cool time-lapse video from the LibertyFest parade that we highlighted in this blog entry.
Jesse Hardiman and Ava Welch, 1, walk during Bethany's Centennial Freedom Festival, Saturday, July 4, 2009, at Eldon Lyon Park in Bethany, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Boy Scouts carry a huge American flag in the LibertyFest Parade in downtown Edmond, OK, Saturday, July 4, 2009. By Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
Trent Nondorf, 4, left, and Ethan Nondorf, 2, wait for the start of the Quail Creek Fourth of July parade in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 4, 2009. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Kristen Gregory sported a festive Fourth of July headband during LibertyFest at UCO campus in Edmond, Okla. Saturday, July 4, 2009. Photo by Ashley McKee, The Oklahoman
Former President George W. Bush and wife, Laura, were given a warm reception when they arrived at Woodward's July 4th celebration and re-dedication of Crystal Beach Park. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Lauren Atkins, 9, from Norman, eats free watermelon at the Norman Independence Day Celebration at Reaves Park in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, July 4, 2009. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Darren Ransley slides on the tarp during a rain delay of the Oklahoma City RedHawks and Omaha Royals at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Saturday July 4, 2009, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
-Nate Billings
People on Sundays
Chad Johnson works out at Eastside Boxing in Oklahoma City on Sunday June 28, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Chad Johnson got a late start as a fighter. He trains at Eastside Boxing, a gym where trainers hope to change young people’s lives through boxing. Johnson, who works as a banker, is an amateur, but hopes someday to get 20 fights as a professional boxer. Sunday evening finds Chad alone at the gym near 36th and Lottie, working on a punching bag behind a window full of boxing trophies.
-John Clanton
