The Road To Recovery
On May 24, 2011 life was changed for many Oklahoman as multiple tornados tracked across the state leaving in its wake the devastation of destroyed homes and loss of life. The path of destruction hit Calumet, Okla. and leveled the family home of Jesse, Miranda and Copper Lewis. Luckily no one was injured, but the family lost most of everything they owned as the tornado spread their belongings for miles northeast from where their home once stood.
Friends and family start the search through what is left of the home owned by Jesse and Miranda Lewis west of El Reno, Wednesday, May 25, 2011. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
The following day friends, family, neighbors and complete strangers voluntarily arrived to provide aide for the Lewis family, as they began the process salvaging any personal items they could find, and take the first steps of recovery after the tornado. Miranda Lewis was able to recover a few very important items like her undamaged wedding dress, husbands wedding ring and the boots he was married in.
Through out the process Miranda kept an extremely positive attitude as she picked through the rubble that was once her home, and even took the time to laugh as she modeled an undamaged red dress she found in the pile of debris.
Miranda Lewis makes the best of a bad situation as she models a dress that was undamaged by Tuesday's tornado that destroyed her family's home west of El Reno, Okla., Wednesday, May 25, 2011. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Having experienced this life changing event, the Lewis family is now moving forward , and beginning to rebuild. They are living in a rental home just a few miles from their old home , and will rebuild where it once stood. Over the next year or so I will be following the Lewis family as they work to recover and rebuild, and will provide updates on their progress along the way.
On my first visit with Miranda and her family she took the time to read the emotional words she wrote down a few days after that express her sorrow of loss and gratitude for all those she knew and did not know that worked side by side with her and her family as they took the first steps on this long road to recovery.
-Chris Landsberger
Watching the Clouds Go By
The other night I had a few minutes of down time before the start of a high school soccer game that I was shooting at Deer Creek. As I waited for the game to start, my mind began to wonder just like a kid that plays the outfield in t-ball, and I began to notice the very interesting cloud formations that were floating by overhead. In order to not let them go to waste, I grabbed my camera and went to work. Here are a few of the clouds formations I captured. You can see a few more photo in the photo gallery.
Cloud formations in the sky on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, in Edmond, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Cloud formations in the sky on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, in Edmond, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Cloud formations in the sky on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, in Edmond, Okla. This photo was shot under exposed to capture the gold light in the clouds from the sunset. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Cloud formations in the sky on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, in Edmond, Okla. This photo was shot under exposed to capture the gold light in the clouds from the sunset. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
The Big Question
This week was a good week that kept me busy shooting, but the bad part of that is most of everything I shot is to be published at a later date. That means those photos are not ready to hit our blog just yet.
After looking back over the week, there was a very fun moment that I was able to witness. On the cold Tuesday March 29th night at the Bricktown Ballpark where the Oklahoma City Redhawks were playing an exhibition game against the Houston Astros. Baseball fan Mitchell Walser had put together a plan to take his girlfriend Heather Carlquist by complete surprise.
It was late in the game and the Redhawks were having fun with the fans by spotlighting couples with the ‘Kiss Cam’ to broadcast them on the outfield monitor. The fun was wrapping up when the camera targeted Mitchell and Heather as the last couple to give each other a kiss. Mitchell calmly gave Heather a kiss, stood her up, led her to the center isle, and to her surprise Mitchell got down a one knee and asked Heather the big question. In Heather’s reaction, all she could do was smile ear to ear and cover her face in her hands as she was presented the ring.
Heather Carlquist reacts as she is surprised with a marriage proposal by boyfriend Mitchell Walser during the exhibition game between the Redhawks and the Houston Astros at the Bricktown Ballpark on Tuesday, March, 29, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
By the way she did say yes! Congrats to Mitchell and Heather.
-Chris Landsberger
Fashion, basketball and other recent assignments
Curbside advertiser Aaven Ross waves to traffic that passes by Liberty Tax Service at Pennsylvania Avenue and Hefner Road on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011, Oklahoma City Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
I have gathered up a few photos taken over the last few weeks that I thought you might enjoy. Some of the photos made it to publication in the Oklahoman and others did not, so there is a chance you might have seen a few of these already. Nevertheless, I thought they might be of some enjoyment even though it might be your second time to see them. I will do my best to make a consistent post once or twice a week to offer a closer look at photos you just might like. If you would like to see even more photos check out the Oklahoman Photo Gallery page as well.
Northwest Classen soccer player Ericka Ramirez poses for a photo with her father Luis at the Northwest Classen soccer field on Wednesday, March 23, 2011, in Moore, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Matt Shepard of Catoosa reacts after a first round loss to Tuttle's Isaac Beard in the in Class 4A 145 pound match during the 90th annual Oklahoma High School state wrestling tournament on Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Mood Retro Fashion Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Fort Gibson's Nana Wallace, front, celebrates with her teammates after the 52-51 overtime win over Cache during the championship game of the 4A girls state championship tournament at the Big House in the State Fair Park on Saturday, March 12, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Cache's Katelynn Martine (21) reacts after missing two free throws in the final second of the 52-51 overtime loss to Fort Gibson's Jodi Glover (14) and the Lady Tigers during the championship game of the 4A girls state championship tournament at the Big House in the State Fair Park on Saturday, March 12, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Corn Bible's Ellie Troyer (30) reacts after the 42-36 win over Timberlake as Lady Tiger Erin Overton (12) walks off the court during the opening round of the Oklahoma high school Class B girls state basketball tournament between the Corn Bible Academy and Timberlake High School at the Big House in State Fair Park on Thursday, March 3, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Deer Creek Lamont fans show their school pride and cheer on the Lady Eagles during the opening round of the Oklahoma high school Class B girls state basketball tournament between Deer Creek Lamont and Erick at the Big House in State Fair Park on Thursday, March 3, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
-Chris Landsberger
Biletnikoff Award Winner Justin Blackmon
Oklahoma State University’s Biletnikoff Award Winner Justin Blackmon leave the field after the Bedlam game against Oklahoma University. The sophomore had a great season edging out his rival to the south Ryan Broyles to with the honor of the nations best receiver. He has come a long was since I first took a photo of him back in 2007 when he was still in school at Plainview High School. -Chris Landsberger
Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon walks off the field after the Cowboys 47-41 loss to Oklahoma during the Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Plainview High School wide receiver Justin Blackmon poses for a photo at Plainview High School on Monday, Sept. 24, 2007, in Ardmore, Okla. Blackmon is producing huge stats on the field this season, and hopes to get noticed by Division 1A colleges. By CHRIS LANDSBERGER, The Oklahoman
OU pictures, looking forward to Bedlam 2010
Here is the second installment of the photo department’s look at some of our favorite photos for both Oklahoma State and Oklahoma this season, as we prepare for Saturday’s bedlam matchup in Stillwater. Today’s entry has OU football pictures, and Tomorrow we will post some of the best pictures from past Bedlam football games.
Oklahoma's Kenny Stills (4) spikes the ball after a touchdown reception during the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Texas Tech Red Raiders (TTU) at the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Aaron Williams (4) of Texas tries to make an interception but cannot hold on to a pass intended for OU's Ryan Broyles (85) in the second quarter of the Red River Rivalry college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Texas Longhorns (UT) at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, in Dallas, Texas. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
OU's David King, right, and Jeremy Beal force Tim Jefferson of Air Force to fumble during the second half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Air Force Falcons at the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles (85) dives into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and Utah State University Aggies (USU) at the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
OU's DeMarco Murray (7) dives for a touchdown in front of Blake Gideon (21) and Chykie Brown (8) of Texas in the fourth quarter during the Red River Rivalry college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Texas Longhorns (UT) at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, in Dallas, Texas. OU won, 28-20. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
OU's Ryan Broyles scores a touchdown in front of Utah State's Chris Randle during the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and Utah State University Aggies (USU) at the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
DeMarco Murray (7) is tackled by Greg Reid (5) as Christian Jones (7) leaps over them during the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and Florida State University Seminoles (FSU) at the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 11 2010, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma's Landry Jones (12) reacts as he walks off the field after a Mossis Madu fumble in the red zone during the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Missouri Tigers (MU) on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010, in Columbia, Mo. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Jamell Fleming (32) strips a pass from receiver Armon Binns (80) in the end zone during the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Cincinnati Bearcats (UC) at Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Check back Wednesday for more photos on the lead up to Bedlam.
-Chris Landsberger
Superstitious
I know it is unfounded and nothing is true to predict any outcome of events, but I have to admit to being a little superstitious. So being that I had the opportunity to cover the start of the NCAA baseball post season regional (which if you did not know is most likely the most superstitious based sports there is around) I always find it interesting to watch for the little thing baseball players do to insure a win. Here is a portrait I captured of the University of Oklahoma’s Garrett Buechele wearing his glove over his hat. Almost at all times Buechele wears his glove this way except when he is covering third base for the Sooners as they move on to the Super Regional this week. Maybe it does work??
Oklahoma's Garrett Buechele wears his glove over his hat before the start of the NCAA regional baseball game between the University of Oklahoman and Oral Roberts University on Friday, June 4, 2010, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Long Day at the Ball Park
Oklahoma's Tyler Ogle (35) reacts with teammate Danny Black (9) after Ogle's game winning score during the bottom of the ninth inning in the Sooners' 3-2 win in the fourth game of the Big 12 Baseball Championship between Oklahoma and Kansas at the Bricktown Ballpark on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Yesterday I had the assignment to cover the last two evening session games of the four game set in the Big 12 Baseball Championship at Bricktown Ballpark. It looked as though it was going to be a great day to cover some baseball, but Mother Nature had other thoughts. The first game that started at 4pm between Baylor and Kansas State lasted all of an inning and a half before the rain decided to make an appearance and stay awhile. After about a three hour rain delay, and chasing around weather features, the Bears and the Wildcats went back into action to finish their game under the full moon.
The second game between OU and Kansas was to start at 7:30 now was pushed back to a start time of about 10:35 pm. Since my deadline to get photos back to the paper was 10:45 pm, I have just enough time to shoot OU’s starting pitcher at the top of the inning and their first few at bat in the bottom of the inning before I had to start sending photos back.
I went back out to the field when I was done transmitting to try and get some much needed ‘better’ photos. Which did not go so well. For a fan, the game was great KU had a no hitter going to the 5th inning, and the 1-0 lead over the Sooners, but for a photographer who is in need of some action photographs it was not what I was looking for in a late game. I kept telling myself the next inning will be better, the next inning will be better, and the next thing you know it was the bottom of the 9th inning at 1:15 am with KU holding onto a 2-1 lead. Then karma decided to pay it forward for me since I had done my time for the day when the Sooners hit a two run shot to win the game 3-2. Photos of the Sooners’ celebration made it well worth the wait to finally get to bed at 3am.
Here are a few photos from the two games. Click HERE for full gallery.
Sooners mob teammate Cody Reine, right, after his hit to drive in two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Sooners a 3-2 win over Kansas in the fourth game of the Big 12 Baseball Championship between Oklahoma and Kansas at the Bricktown Ballpark on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Sooner baseball fans brave the rain over the Baylor dugout in the rain delay during the third game of the Big 12 Baseball Championship between Kansas State and Baylor at the Bricktown Ballpark on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
A baseball fan takes refuge under a small piece of paper as he tries to stay dry in the rain delay during the third game of the Big 12 Baseball Championship between Kansas State and Baylor at the Bricktown Ballpark on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
-Chris Landsberger
Oklahoma Tornadoes
Last night members of the photo staff were out capturing images of aftermath caused by the tornadoes that hit central Oklahoma. View the images in the gallery here.
A woman injured on SE 84th street is attended to north of Highway 9 after a tornado touched down Monday, May 10, 2010, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Good Friday
Just a quick update for the morning of Good Friday.
Storm clouds break on Good Friday as a cross is silhouetted against the blue sky on Friday, April 2, 2010, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
