Where the Buffalo roam
Last week, Staff Photographer David McDaniel travelled to Pawhuska to photograph the Buffalo Roundup on the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve. In addition to getting still images for the newspaper, David produced this video for NewsOK.com.
-John Clanton
Kites in Enid
Last week, an event titled W.O.W. Kites over Enid attempted to break the Guinness World Record for the most kites in the air at one time. Staff Photographer David McDaniel covered the event for the newspaper and produced a video for NewsOk.com.
-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
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
When the ice forms…
One of the few things I can say for sure about working as a newspaper photojournalist is that when the folks on TV tell everybody to stay inside, that’s our cue to go outside. Jim Beckel, David McDaniel, Paul Hellstern, John Clanton and Steve Gooch grabbed their Class II reflective safety vests and headed out to cover the ice that had metro roads in terrible shape on Monday. I think they all made it through the day without falling or being involved in auto accidents. I hope most of you out there were as lucky. Check out some of the photos from the icy day below.
To see the full photo gallery of the winter weather, click here.
Teacher Ann Hawkins helps soften a student’s fall as he slips on the ice outside Chisholm Elementary School during winter weather in Edmond, Okla., on Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. BY JOHN CLANTON, THE OKLAHOMAN
Two motorists try to escape their car which overturned on the icy Turner Turnpike near the Wellston exit outside of Wellston, Okla., Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Nikole Edwards scrapes ice from her car windows after she and other employees at Farmer’s Insurance at NW 23 and Villa were released early because of deteriorating weather conditions Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Walking cautiously on an ice-covered Broadway Extension, an unidentified women tries to keep her balance after the car she was in was involved in a minor accident near Hefner Road in Oklahoma City, January 26, 2009. BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN
A view of an accident in the 2700 block of west Britton Road due to the icy weather, Monday, January 26, 2009. BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
A truck from the City of Edmond drops sand on 33rd street east of Boulevard during winter weather in Edmond, Okla., on Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. BY JOHN CLANTON, THE OKLAHOMAN
Check out the rest of the pictures here.
And be safe out there.
-Nate Billings
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Staff photographers Jim Beckel, Paul Hellstern and David McDaniel covered the Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities in the metro area. Jim Beckel said that the positive energy at the parade in Oklahoma City was as high as he has ever been around, no doubt due to the holiday’s proximity to the inauguration of Barack Obama as our 44th President of the United States.
Here’s a selection of their work.
To see a gallery of more photos from Martin Luther King Jr. Day, click here.
Barry Braxton holds a sign and American flags near the replica of the Liberty Bell outside the Oklahoma History Center during a bell ringing ceremony with Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and about a dozen children as part of local observances of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Oklahoma City, Monday morning, Jan. 19, 2009. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Dennis Lewis and his nieces Paula Jones, 8, and Nesha Henderson, 9, march in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Oklahoma City, Monday, January 19, 2009. BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Members of Zeta Phi Beta hold a banner as they walk in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Guthrie, Okla., Monday, Jan. 19, 2009. BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Lynn Green waves a V for victory with a cutout of Barack Obama on the Oklahoma County Democratic Party float in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade, Monday, January 19, 2009. BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
The Star Spencer High School marching band’s drum major Brandon Wright gets low with his baton while leading members of his marching band during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in downtown Oklahoma City, Monday afternoon, Jan. 19, 2009. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Oklahoma City civil rights pioneer Clara Luper waves after being introduced to crowd inside the Oklahoma History Center where march participants gathered following the walk. More than 300 people walked along the Clara Luper Corridor to the Oklahoma History Center where there were brief speeches and then culminated with a bell ringing ceremony for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Oklahoma City, Monday morning, Jan. 19, 2009. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
A view of the crowd at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Oklahoma City, Monday, January 19, 2009. BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Guthrie citizens march in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade as it passes down Oklahoma Avenue in front of the Masonic Lodge in Guthrie, Okla., Monday, Jan. 19, 2009. BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
A silent march participant holds a sign inside the Oklahoma History Center after the walk ended there. More than 300 people walked along the Clara Luper Corridor to the Oklahoma History Center where there were brief speeches and then culminated with a bell ringing ceremony for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Oklahoma City, Monday morning, Jan. 19, 2009. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
To see a gallery of all of the photos, click here.
-Nate Billings


















