Ye Olde Take My Picture
On Sunday, I photographed the Medieval Fair at Reaves Park in Norman, Okla. I took pictures of a character called King Henry I as he knighted people in the center of the park, and after a few of the ceremonies, he turned toward my camera for an ‘official’ picture.
King Henry I, played by George Williams of Oklahoma City, poses with Draven Pierce, age 7, of Oklahoma City after Draven was knighted during a brief ceremony at the 34th annual Medieval Fair at Reaves Park in Norman on Sunday, March 28, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
If either one of you has forgotten about our ‘Take My Picture’ entries, you can click here to check them out. I’ve put up a gallery of images that we gathered from the fair, take a look at those by clicking here.
-John Clanton
Emotional basketball
OU's Danielle Robinson and Joanna McFarland, left, celebrate as Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw walks to half court after the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament in Kansas City, Mo., on Sunday, March 28, 2010. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Staff Photographer Bryan Terry was on the road over the weekend, covering the University of Oklahoma’s women’s basketball team. The Sooners beat Notre Dame last night and will advance to the elite eight in the NCAA tournament. Meanwhile, back in Oklahoma City, the Thunder lost to the Portland Trail Blazers. The night made for some emotional pictures on the court. Take a look at the galleries from the OU women’s team or the Oklahoma City Thunder or go to this link to read the game stories.
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant reacts as he misses a 3-pointer in the final second against Portland during the second half of their NBA basketball game at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Sunday, March 28, 2010. The Thunder lost to the Trail Blazers. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
The Big House
Early this month, I covered several state basketball tournament games at the State Fair Arena, better known as the Big House in the month of March.
Over the course of two weekends, I took 9,234 pictures in succession to create a time-lapse video of the state games. Not all frames made an appearance in the final cut, but a good chunk of them did to make the 2:17 video.
-Sarah Phipps
Best of the Year
The Oklahoman Staff Photographer Jim Beckel has placed in NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism Contest.
Paul Norwood watches helplessly as his neighbor's home is destroyed by wildfires in eastern Oklahoma County Thursday, April 9, 2009. These homes are in Oakwood East housing addition, near SE 15 and Westminster. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Last year, during an outbreak of wildfires, Beckel was sent to a neighborhood in Midwest City that is less than half a mile from his home. Beckel described a scene of chaos, but what caught his eye amid all the smoke, was a bright yellow truck. Paul Norwood, the subject of the picture, had helped firemen push the truck out of the garage moments before Beckel arrived. From across the street, Beckel began taking pictures. He took fewer than five pictures before Paul looked up at the smoke and Beckel captured an award winning picture. “It was a lucky picture,” said Beckel. Director of Photography Doug Hoke said today after we heard that Beckel had placed in NPPAs worldwide contest, that he doesn’t remember anyone at The Oklahoman ever placing in the contest. To see Jim’s entry, click here, or for NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism website, click here. Congratulations to Jim.
Pictures I Like-Basketball Edition
Pawnee's head coach David Page reacts to game action during his win over Watonga in the Class 2A boys high school basketball state tournament at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma March 12 , 2010. Photo by Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman
Looking through our photo archive after the weekend, it was hard to find picture that wasn’t taken at a basketball game. Here’s a couple of pictures from the high school championship games that jumped out at me, but really, there isn’t room on the blog for all the pictures I thought were good. Check out the galleries to see more high school basketball.
Norman head coach Matlida Mossman hugs Chelsea Key (11) after Key fouled out of the Class 6A girls high school basketball state tournament final between Midwest City and Norman at the ORU Mabee Center in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday, March 13, 2010. Midwest City won, 46-32. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Kelsey Barnwell kisses the championship trophy during the Class 3A girls high school basketball state tournament final between Kansas and Millwood Saturday, March 13, 2010, at the State Fair Arena, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
NFL scouts check their stop watches during the 40 yard dash at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma March 10 , 2010. Photo by Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Full-court Press
OSU's Matt Pilgrim blocks the shot of OU's Ryan Wright in the first half of the college basketball game during the men's Big 12 Championship tournament at the Sprint Center on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, in Kansas City, Mo. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
The Oklahoman’s photo staff is busy covering high school, college and professional basketball. Bryan Terry and Chris Landsberger are in Kansas City covering the Big 12 tournament, Nate Billings photographed the Thunder last night and Sarah Phipps, Steve Sisney and Nate will cover the state high school championships this weekend. Take a look at last night’s Bedlam game in Kansas City or a gallery of Nate’s pictures from the Thunder’s win over New Orleans.
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook passes the ball in the direction of Thabo Sefolosha (left) as Darren Collison of New Orleans looks on during the NBA basketball game between the New Orleans Hornets and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, March 10, 2010. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
A quick update
Jordan Perl (left) of California, and John Parkhurst of Tennessee, celebrate with recently altered signs after hearing that Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn lifted his hold on Senate Bill 1067. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Last Sunday I wrote about the activists who staged a campaign outside the Chase Tower in Oklahoma City. Their hope was to convince Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn to lift his hold on Senate Bill 1067. After camping outside the building for 11 days, the group got word on Tuesday that Coburn had lifted his hold. Activists changed their signs to read “Dr. Coburn just said yes,” and celebrated outside the building where Sen. Coburn has offices in Oklahoma City.
With Josh Parolin (left) of Los Angeles, Ca., in the foreground, James Block and LaShaye Leopold, both University of Oklahoma students, (at right) embrace as they celebrate with supporters of Senate Bill 1067 outside Chase Tower in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, March 9, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Abby Freeman, of Washington DC (left) and other supporters, get a hug from Oklahoma City resident Paul Young after he left his office downtown to celebrate with supporters of Senate Bill 1067 outside Chase Tower in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, March 9, 2010. Young, who works downtown said he first heard of the bill after he saw people holding signs in Oklahoma City. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
People On Sundays-campaigning
Members of the Coburn Say Yes campaign sleep outside the Chase Tower in Oklahoma City on Sunday, March 7, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
There’s more than 50 of them. They are mostly on the north side of the building where the wind isn’t as bad, packed into bright sleeping bags and blankets. Nobody’s moving at 7:30 a.m. Clasps on flags ping against poles at Park and Broadway. Thirty minutes later, cell phone alarms start chirping from underneath sleeping bags, and across the street valets at the Skirvin Hotel help guests with their bags.
Abby Freeman (right) joins others in a group hug for a friend during a meeting on Sunday morning in Oklahoma City on Sunday, March 7, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Several young women from Antioch, Calif., pack their equipment into a red pickup with shoe polish on the windows. They drove for 34 hours to spend a couple of nights outside the Chase Tower in downtown Oklahoma City, but they’ve got to get back home by Monday night. People have come from as far away as Virgina, Tennessee, Washington, D.C. and Washington state. They are a part of the Coburn Say Yes campaign. Most were inspired by a documentary called Invisible Children about a war that’s older than they are. Sen. Tom Coburn has put a hold on Senate Bill 1067. Members of this peaceful campaign say they’re not leaving Chase Tower until he lifts the hold.
Lisa Dougan hugs Jenny Le, of Antioch, Ca., who drove 34 hours to spend a few nights outside the Chase Tower in Oklahoma City on Sunday, March 7, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Tomorrow morning they’ll be up early, holding signs and greeting employees at the tower, but today is Sunday. They meet in a circle on the sidewalk; one group leaves to walk to church. Abby Freeman, a student from Washington, D.C., high-fives other students and asks if they are happy. “We’re doing it, we’re doing it. It’s going to happen,” she says of the group’s efforts to raise awareness. “These are lives that we’re changing.”
-John Clanton
Welcome to the Big House
Karl Francel cheers for Okarche during the finals of Class A high school basketball state tournament between Garber and Okarche at the State Fair Arena, Saturday, March 6, 2010, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Follow these links to galleries from the finals of the Oklahoma high school state basketball tournament:
Class A Boys, Class A Girls, Class B Boys, Class B Girls
“Congratulations! It is Championship Saturday and you have made it to the Big House,” 12-year announcer Steve Daniels proclaimed to a large audience at State Fair Arena.
The statement is as much a tradition as the Big House itself.
If you are fan of small-school Oklahoma high school basketball, then the Big House is your Mecca.
“I think at the first of the year it’s been ingrained in them now you want end up at the Big House … and they’ve heard that all their lives. This has now taken on the mythical proportion for some those kids,” said Daniels.
Karl Francel jumped up and down in his seat dressed in an American Indian head dress and covered in warpaint. He was one of the rowdy fans who run to their seats as soon as the doors open. They boo the referees and cheer on their teams.
“Man, the Big House is where it is at. It is so exciting to be here as a fan and it is where everyone dreams of getting to. It’s where a whole town can come out and support their boys. There is nothing like it in the world.”
Back at the announcers’ booth, Daniels plays an instrumental version of the state song.
The crowd sings in unison.
Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain
And the wavin’ wheat can sure smell sweet
When the wind comes right behind the rain.
Oklahoma, Ev’ry night my honey lamb and I
Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk
Makin’ lazy circles in the sky.
“Congratulations! It is Championship Saturday and you have made it to the Big House,” Daniels proclaimed for the fourth time in the evening.
Oklahoma’s state basketball tournament has been held at the State Fairgrounds Arena since the 1960s.
“Every small school player, coach and fan wants to come here. It is just a tradition. Now we have players playing on the same court of the same arena their grandparents,” he said.
With a combined 68 Big House appearances, 8 teams battled it out Saturday night in their quest for the golden ball.
“I think the history of it is so much, also. If you like history. I grew up a big baseball fan and the places like Fenway Park and Yankee’s Stadium are the places you have always heard of. And in Oklahoma high school basketball – the Big House is on that level,” Daniels said.
Roff fan Tracey Stephens cheers on the Tigers during the final of the Class B boys high school basketball state tournament between Roff and Red Oak at the State Fair Arena, Saturday, March 6, 2010, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Shelli Booker, left, and Jance Booker, 13, cheer on Cyril during the final of the Class B girls basketball state tournament between Cyril and Boynton-Moton at the State Fair Arena, Saturday, March 6, 2010, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Okarche celebrates in the final minutes during the final of the Class A girls high school basketball state tournament between Chattanooga and Okarche at the State Fair Arena, Saturday, March 6, 2010, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
-Sarah Phipps
State basketball tournament
Boynton-Moton coach Shartese McHenry celebrates after her team's win over Frontier in the Class B girls basketball state tournament at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, March 5, 2010. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
The state high school basketball tournament is one of the favorite events of our staff to cover. There is often a lot of negotiating among us to get to see who will get to cover the championship days because of the high potential for great pictures.
For a photographer, the reaction photos are the best thing about the state tournament. We get to see the athletes at their highest and lowest, often several times a day. Below are some of the reaction photos from the first two days of the tournament.
The finals for Class A and B are happening today at The Big House (aka State Fair Arena). We’ll post some shots from there when the action is finished.
For a gallery of all our photos from Thursday’s quarterfinals, click here.
Click here to see the semifinals from Friday.
Okarche's Kristen Meyer, left, Brooke Edwards, and Macy Kunneman celebrate as Seiling's Aubrey Colvard walks off the court during the Class A girls basketball state tournament at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, March 5, 2010. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
The Turpin Cardinals react after the high school basketball game between Okarche and Turpin in the Class A Boys state basketball tournament at Norman High School in Norman, Okla., Thursday, March 4, 2010. Okarche won, 42-39. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Hammon's Travis Thiessen, left, celebrates beside Tyler Thiessen, and Tyson Trout after winning their game against Glencoe in the Class B boys state high school basketball tournament at Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, Okla., Thursday, March 4, 2010. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
-Nate Billings
