Oklahoma March Madness
Stetson Clawson poses for a portrait Saturday, March, 12, 2011, at the State Fair Arena. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
The high school basketball season came to end this weekend with the state basketball championships at the State Fair Arena and the Mabee Center in Tulsa. Oklahoma photographers Sarah Phipps and Chris Landsberger covered classes 2A, 3A, 4A at the arena while photographer Nate Billings covered classes 4A, 5A in Tulsa.
While at the Big House, Sarah and Chris explored the culture of fans by shooting portraits and collecting audio. See the photos and stories they discovered here.
Snyder basketball fan Tyler Roberts during the championship games of the Oklahoma 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
See all the high school basketball championships galleries by clicking here:
Ft. Gibson reacts to their win over Cache as Cache's Katelynn Martine (21) reacts in the 3A girls championship game, Saturday, March, 12, 2011, at the the State Fair Arena. Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman.
Edmond Memorial's Jared Jobe (5) celebrates as James Woodard (3), right, and Obi Emegano (15) hug at the end of the Class 6A boys basketball state championship game between Midwest City and Edmond Memorial at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday, March 12, 2011. Edmond Memorial won, 53-43. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
- Sarah Phipps
Images from the MLK Parade
Dennis Lewis and his son, Dennis, Jr. walk the parade route during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Oklahoma City on Monday, Jan. 17, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Dennis Lewis was in second grade when Martin Luther King Jr. was killed. He met Martin Luther King III once, and even traveled to Memphis to see where the civil rights leader and pastor was assassinated. Lewis started carrying an American flag in the MLK Parade in Oklahoma City in 1982. He’s near the front of the parade every year. “It’s a day of togetherness,” he says as he waits for the 2011 parade to start. “It should be like this everyday.” This year Dennis’ son walked next to him, carrying a portrait of King. “I wanted to show my son and the younger generation behind me, the significance of the day and the sacrifices that was made before us.”
To see more images from this year’s parade, click here.
State Representative Anastasia Pittman carries a portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. during the Martin Luther King Jr. parade in downtown on Monday, Jan. 17, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
The SGI-USA float passes by spectators during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Oklahoma City on Monday, Jan. 17, 2011. SGI-USA is a Lay Buddhist Organization. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Best of 2010-The rest of the months
John Pfeiffer, of Pfeiffer Angus Farms, walks across a dried up part of one of his ponds on his ranch near Orlando, Wednesday, December 15, 2010. Photo by David McDaniel, The Oklahoman
I’ve strung this out too long. I think that by Jan. 12, 2011, we should be looking at pictures from this year and not looking backwards. So this is it. A colossal blog post featuring some of our best pictures from the last four months of 2010. Click on all the links to past posts, galleries and slideshows and you’ll be all caught up on 2010.
Roderick Norwood Jr., 2, trick-or-treats, Saturday Oct. 30, 2010, in the Mesta Park Neighborhood in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
We’re always busy in the fall with high school and college football, RedHawks baseball, feature stories and the usual newspaper assignments. We produced slideshows about Route 66 Bowl, Moore High School football Head Coach Scott Myers, and Kody Turner, a high school football player who died after football practice in September. Sarah Phipps worked on a story about Oklahoma City Firefighter Kent Collins, that was published in October, and there’s a nice slideshow about the 2010 Bedlam football game.
OSU's Justin Blackmon (81) catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Aaron Williams (4) of Texas in the second quarter during the college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Texas Longhorns (UT) at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas, Saturday, November 13, 2010. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
James Bowman gets a hug from one of his caregivers, Sherry Spangler, at a home he shares with roommates in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, August 25, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Our interns, Miranda Grubbs and Mitch Alcala left us at the end of July. We wrote about their pictures, and we had some other interesting posts toward the end of 2010. Some of our memorable pictures and posts include Welcome to the South Pole, OSU and OU pictures just days before Bedlam, 5 years at The Oklahoman, Happy Halloween, the State Fair, black mud and minnows, the most photographed rainbow of the year, Bryan Terry’s pictures, and Of Light and Shade.
Visitors to the Oklahoma State Fair ride the tram on Wednesday, September 22, 2010. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
School principal JoAnn Simpson-Miller talks with a distraught Jorge Gonzales, 5, as he sits on the floor outside his kindergarten classroom at Sunset Elementary School on the first day of classes in Edmond Thursday, August 19, 2010. Photo by Paul B. Southerland, The Oklahoman
A member of the Oklahoma State marching band keeps playing while walking through praying members of the Oklahoma football team 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
If you haven’t already, click here to see our best news and feature pictures of the year or click here to see our best sports photos of the year. We publish new photo galleries everyday at this site and this page holds an archive of our slideshows going back to Feb. 1, 2008.
I looked through thousands of pictures from 2010 to write about them for Alternate Crop. If we had a Photographer of the Year Award at The Oklahoman, I would nominate for Bryan Terry. His name is the only one that made the final edit during every month of the Best of 2010 series. He routinely brings back compelling pictures from a wide variety of assignments. In 2010 he he got nice images everything from Division 1 college football and NBA basketball to junior rodeos, candlelight vigils and neighborhood picnics. If such an award actually existed, Bryan would likely received a refurbished soccer trophy from 1984 during a banquet that would be held on my back porch.
So, that’s it for 2010. We’ll get back to concentrating on our newest pictures and multimedia projects.
-John Clanton
Inauguration Day
Tim Francis, of FrameMaster Gallery in Edmond, unrolls a portrait of Governor Mary Fallin as he replaces the portrait of former Governor Brad Henry in the House of Representatives Chamber at the Oklahoma State Capitol before the Inauguration of Mary Fallin in Oklahoma City on Monday, Jan. 10, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Mary Fallin was sworn in as Oklahoma’s 27th governor, and the first female governor, during a ceremony today outside the State Capitol in Oklahoma City. Staff Photographers Jim Beckel and Chris Landsberger photographed the ceremony outside, while I stayed inside to watch a much quicker ceremony. One with considerably less fanfare and no Toby Keith. Tim Francis, who owns FrameMaster Gallery in Edmond, Oklahoma, was hired to switch out the portrait of Brad Henry that hangs in the House of Representatives Chamber, with a portrait of Oklahoma’s newest Governor, Mary Fallin.
Gov. Mary Fallin enters the ballroom with her husband Wade Christensen during Fallin's inaugural ball at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Monday, January 10, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Maybe it’s because I’m a photographer, but the process of switching out an official portrait in the House of Representatives Chamber seemed intriguing to me. I thought of it months ago when I was on assignment in the House Chamber. Brad Henry’s portrait had been in pretty much the same place for eight years, for awhile next to George W. Bush, and then next to Barack Obama. I was reminded at the Capitol today, though, that the portraits did get moved around once or twice-unofficially. So, Mary Fallin’s portrait is locked into place for at least four years until it is moved to a more remote corner of the House Chamber, next to Brad Henry.
You can watch a slideshow of our images here, or take a look at the photo gallery that includes all the pictures we took from today’s ceremony.
Mary Fallin with husband Wade Christensen by her side is sworn in as governor by Chief Justice Steven Taylor during the 2011 inauguration of Mary Copeland Fallin as the 27th Governor of the State of Oklahoma at the Oklahoma State Capitol on Monday, Jan. 10, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Best of 2010-Part 7 of 12
Tyke Kipp of Lordsburg, N.M., takes cover after falling off his horse in the saddle bronc event during the International Finals Youth Rodeo in Shawnee, Okla., Friday, July 16, 2010. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
We’ve made it up to July. At this rate we’ll get through last year’s highlights by next week. One of my favorite fourth of July pictures was taken by Sarah Phipps this month. We also had more flooding, International Finals Youth Rodeo in Shawnee and the 2010 Sitting Volleyball World Championships in Edmond. There were a couple of slideshows worth looking at, one about watermelon seed spitting, the other one is about catfish noodling. Remember, you can take a look at all of our photo galleries or you can click on these images to see larger versions.
People leave in a haze of smoke following the LibertyFest fireworks show at the University of Central Oklahoma, Sunday, July 4, 2010, in Edmond, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City Fire Department Chaplain Ted Wilson comforts the mother of drowning victim after he told her the body of her son had been found in the Oklahoma River. Oklahoma City firefighters and nearby residents searched the receding waters of Lightning Creek in south Oklahoma City Tuesday morning, July 7, 2010. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Veteran Paul Jones, of Guthrie, hugs his daughter Allison Robinson, after he looks up names on the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall at Reaves Park in Norman on Sunday, July 4, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
USA's Kari Miller (10) and Nichole Millage celebrates a point during the 2010 Sitting Volleyball World Championships Women's gold medal match between USA and China, Sunday, July 18, 2010, at the University of Central Oklahoma, in Edmond, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Ryan Hammer, the father of Chasity Hammer, pauses in front of the casket during the funeral for Katrina Griffin and her children, Christian Griffin, 8, and Chasity Hammer, 6, at First Baptist Church in Blanchard, Oklahoma, Friday, July 30, 2010. The bodies of Griffin and her two children were found burned in their home near Dibble, Oklahoma, on July 23, 2010. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Best of 2010-Part 5 of 12
Bethel's Michael Ragland celebrates after the win over Eufaula in the Class 3A State Baseball Championships between Eufaula and Bethel at Shawnee High School on Monday, May 17, 2010, in Shawnee, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
May was a busy month and the hardest month so far to edit. The first really severe tornadoes hit in May and there was a bizarre hailstorm on May 16, 2010.We produced a couple of slideshows this month, one featured pictures from Dog Parks around the metro area, the other is the MOOD 2010 Swimsuit preview.
The Best of the Year gallery is now online, click here to take a look at the 95 best news and features pictures from all the Staff Photographers at The Oklahoman. There will be a seperate Best of the Year Sports gallery coming soon.
Riley Thompson, 8, of Edmond, Okla., plays on mound of hailstones in the Sam's Club parking lot on Pennsylvania Avenue near Memorial Road, Sunday, May 16, 2010 in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Standing on a fallen tree, Caden Bolles looks over damage to his family's home in Little Axe, Oklahoma on Tuesday, May 11, 2010. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Anthony Middleton, 11, left, makes bubbles as his brother Jackie Middleton, 9, right, chases the bubbles while parents Michael Snider and Jennifer Snider sit on the porch with DeJay Middleton, 6. at their home in Cordell, Okla., Thursday, May 6, 2010. Anthony, Jackie and DeJay have ALD (adrenoleukodystrophy). Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Chantz Whitehead takes photos of the grand entry before the Edmond Junior Rodeo on Friday, May 7, 2010. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Texas A&M celebrates their win over Baylor following the Big 12 Championship game between Texas A&M and Baylor, Sunday, May 30, 2010, at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Best of 2010-Part 3 of 12 (Brought to you by basketball)
Kevin Durant (35) of Oklahoma City tries for a rebound as he is fouled by Josh Powell (21) of Los Angeles during the NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Friday, March 26, 2010. Oklahoma City won, 91-75. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
In March, the photo department put 3,418 pictures into Merlin. Almost half of them had the word ‘basketball’ somewhere in the cutline. With high school and college teams in playoffs and championship games and the Thunder season in full swing, we spent plenty of time sitting on baselines around the state. Needless to say, basketball pictures dominated this month’s selections.
OU's Amanda Thompson reacts in the second half of the 74-67 loss to Texas A&M in the women's college basketball Big 12 Tournament championship game between the University of Oklahoma and Texas A&M University on Sunday, March 14, 2010, in Kansas City, Mo. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
An Oklahoma City Police Officer carries a handcuffed George Rodriguez to a police car near 2200 SE 47th after being arrested in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma March 09 , 2010. Rodriguez was arrested at the scene after a woman was set ablaze. Photo by Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman
Okarche's Kristen Meyer celebrates the Lady Warriors win over Chattanooga in the finals 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
Boynton coach Shartese McHenry celebrates after their 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
Laneacea Smith prays during the Shadows of the Cross service at chapel at Eddie W. Warrior Correctional Center, Sunday, March 28, 2010, in Taft, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Remember to click on the images above for a larger view and remember to click here to see photo galleries created by our photo staff.
-John Clanton
Best of 2010-Part 2 of 12
Cody Delaney, a sixth-grader, wrestles at Perry Junior High School in Perry, Okla., on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
I’ve written before about searching through Merlin. About how memories of assignments come back as you scroll through the images. Unique or unusual assignments can stick with you, make you feel like you photographed them just a few days ago. Other times assignments feel very distant, like you wouldn’t have remembered them without searching through Merlin to find the pictures. The Perry High School wrestling assignment is one that feels like I was just there a few weeks ago. You can click here to watch the slideshow I made about the history and importance of wrestling in the small Oklahoma town.
Chris Landsberger revisited Catherine Titus, who lives in Wilson, Oklahoma with her dogs, while Sarah Phipps began a story about an injured firefighter. His recovery took most of the year and she checked in to photograph him through the process of getting back to work. If you want to skip ahead to that slideshow click here, but I was going to save it for October. Sarah published another slideshow in February about a wheelchair basketball team, you can watch it by clicking here.
Catherine Titus walks with her dogs on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010, in Wilson, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Dallas Junior Wheelchair Mavericks head coach JT Terry celebrates a score during the National Wheelchair Basketball Association's 2010 Southwest Conference, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, at the University of Central Oklahoma Wellness Center, in Edmond, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Covered with water and smoke, an Oklahoma City firefighter works on a church fire in Spencer, Okla., on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
I wrote yesterday that we’d try to squeeze in a few of our best pictures from each month and so far we’re on pace to do that. As always, you can click here to see our current photo galleries.
-John Clanton
Championship football and the playoffs
The Oklahoma Sooners celebrate after winning the Big 12 football championship game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers (NU) at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, in Arlington, Texas. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Staff Photographers Bryan Terry and Chris Landsberger photographed the Big 12 Championship game on Saturday night in Dallas, Texas. Here’s a couple of pictures that you didn’t see in the newspaper. To see all the pictures Bryan and Chris turned in from the game click here. To look at other galleries including photos from high school football playoff games in Oklahoma, click here. Remember that you can click on the images on Alternate Crop to see a larger version of the image.
Oklahoma's Trent Ratterree (47) and Eric Mensik (69) celebrate the 23-20 win over Nebraska during the Big 12 football championship game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers (NU) at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, in Arlington, Texas. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
OU's Pryce Macon celebrates after bringing down Nebraska's Taylor Martinez during the Big 12 football championship game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers (NU) at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, in Arlington, Texas. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Millwood's Brandon Swindall (11) misses a catch in the end zone as Zach Griffin (11) and Dakota Semrad (40) of Hennessey defend on second down of Millwood's final possession in the fourth quarter during the Class 2A high school football playoff semifinal game between Millwood and Hennessey in Yukon, Okla., Saturday, December 4, 2010. Hennessey won, 29-28. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Bedlam football
OU coach Bob Stoops reacts after 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 Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Staff Photographers from The Oklahoman covered the big game last night in Stillwater. The reaction photos after the game tell the story better than I could. To see a gallery featuring all 82 pictures that were turned in from the game, click here.
An Oklahoma State fan reacts in the stands after the 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
A broken OSU fan's paddle fell to the sideline 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. OU won, 47-41. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
