Alien inflatables and plenty of pictures
Rides light up the Midway at the Oklahoma State Fair at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City on Thursday, September 15, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
There are plenty of pictures and stories to catch up on if you haven’t been to our photo galleries page lately. The Oklahoma State Fair is underway at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. We have photo galleries of Leon Russell’s concert and pictures from the fair on Friday. High school and college football continues as well. You can see images from Thursday night’s high school games or Friday night’s games in the metro.
Earlier this week I photographed the Goodwill Games at The Children’s Center in Bethany. Staff Writer Scott Wright wrote a story about some of the residents and patients at the Children’s Center and the obstacle course competition between Washington High School and Bethany High School. You can read Scott’s story by clicking here.
Chris Schatz reacts as he is pushed onto the field by nurse Sydney Stell (right) and music therapist Rachel Nowels at halftime of the high school football game between Bethany and Washington in Bethany, Okla., on Friday, September 16, 2011. Residents of The Children's Center played drums with the high school bands from Washington and Bethany. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Ada's Dillon Holder (28) breaks away from a Grant defender during a high school football game between Ada and U.S. Grant at C.B. Speegle Stadium in Oklahoma City, Friday, Sept. 16, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Macro photography-A better version
Perched on a window screen, a robber fly eats a small moth in Oklahoma City. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
As both of you know, I’ve been trying to get good macro pictures in my spare time by reversing a 50mm lens. I’ve written a couple of blog posts about it. Staff Writer Ken Raymond recently wrote a story about a student at OU who puts my macro pictures to shame.
Thomas Shahan’s pictures have been published in magazines around the world and even sold to M.I.T. to be used in scientific textbooks. It was by looking at his macro pictures that I found out that the insect doing the eating in the picture above is called a Robber Fly.
You can see more pictures by staff photographers at The Oklahoman by clicking here. You can always click on photographs featured on Alternate Crop for a closer view.
-John Clanton
Pictures I Like-from last weekend
Honor guard members carry the casket during the funeral for 1st Lt. Damon Leehan at Henderson Hills Baptist Church on Thursday, August 25, 2011, in Edmond, Okla. Leehan was killed in Afghanistan Aug. 14, when a military vehicle he was riding in struck an IED. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
There has been plenty to photograph and some sad and interesting news stories in the Oklahoma City Metro area in the last week or so. You can follow these links to read stories about Mississippi Kites in Noble, Oklahoma, Officer Chad Peery, who made an appearance at an Oklahoma City RedHawks game, and Byron Rivera, who talked to The Oklahoman for a story about his son Crystian Rivera.
You can click these links to see pictures from events like the Cardboard Boat Regatta, funerals for 1st Lt. Damon Leehan and 2nd Lt. Joe Cunningham or see all the galleries from the Photo Department at The Oklahoman.
Oklahoma City police officer Chad Peery and sons McKade, 6, left, and Morgan, 4, are greeted by members of the Oklahoma City RedHawks as Peery rolls down the third-base line in his wheelchair while rounding the bases after the third inning as part of the "Home Run for Life" promotion during the minor league baseball game between the Oklahoma City RedHawks and the Iowa Cubs at RedHawks Field at Bricktown in Oklahoma City, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011. Peery was left paralyzed after being beaten while trying to break up a fight at bar earlier this year. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Kristy Wicker releases a recovered Mississippi kite at WildCare on Thursday, August 25, 2011, in Noble, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Byron Rivera, the father of Crystian Rivera, reacts as he talks about his son during a meeting with Staff Writer Tiffany Gibson at The Oklahoman on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011. Crystian Rivera has been arrested in connection with the death of his ten-month-old sister. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Leah Sparks helps her son Kye Sparks, 6, out of their boat during Edmond's Cardboard Boat Regatta at Arcadia Lake in Edmond, Okla., Saturday, August 27, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Patriotism in general
Standing on a pedestrian bridge, Ted Krey, of Yukon, holds an American Flag over I-240 on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011. Krey says he will hold the flag over traffic from a different pedestrian bridge around Oklahoma City everyday until Sept. 11. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Driving west on I-240 last week I saw a flag poking out of the fence on a pedestrian bridge and out over traffic. As I pulled into a nearby parking lot, I guessed that Ted Krey was probably the guy holding the flag. You’ve probably seen Ted around Oklahoma City. He runs the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon holding the flag. I’ve photographed him at anniversaries for the Oklahoma City Bombing and a few other events. Krey is a retired Marine and was also a first responder in 1995 after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building.
On Wednesday, as he held the flag, drivers waved and honked as a show of support for Ted’s efforts, the troops overseas, or maybe just patriotism in general. Only one guy flipped him off.
You can read Staff Writer Bryan Dean’s article about Krey by clicking here, or you can see more pictures by The Oklahoman photo staff by clicking here.
Standing on a pedestrian bridge, Ted Krey, of Yukon, holds an American Flag over I-240 on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Finding common ground
Imam Arif Abdullah (left) and twins Isaiah (right) and Isma'il Calhoun greet friends before prayer during the Langston Ramadan Iftar Dinner 2011 at Langston University OKC campus in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
During Ramadan, Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and sex during daylight hours. After the sun sets, they break the fast with a meal called Iftar. The breaking of the fast could happen at home with friends and family or in a more formal, banquet setting. Religious groups in Oklahoma City gathered this week for inter-faith Iftar dinners that featured local officials and community leaders.
At Langston University’s Oklahoma City Campus on Tuesday, Imam Arif Abdullah, from Masjid Mu’min, a Mosque in Northeast Oklahoma City, and Pastor George Young of Holy Temple Baptist Church, both spoke of togetherness and of finding common ground. Mohamed Elyazgi, an Oklahoma City resident who grew up in Libya, told me how fasting in the daylight hours helps remind him of what others don’t have. It’s a reminder to give to charities and appreciate God’s gifts.
Wednesday night, the Inaugural Capitol Interfaith Iftar featured perspectives on fasting by Rabbi Abby Jacobson, Pastor Young and Imam Imad Enchassi along with speeches by local political officials. Here are a few images from two of the recent Iftar ceremonies. You can always see photo galleries from The Oklahoman’s staff photographers by clicking here.
A group prays during the Capitol Interfaith Iftar at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, August 17, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Muslims pray while their Christian and non-Muslim guests get their meals (background) during the Langston Ramadan Iftar Dinner 2011 at Langston University OKC campus in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Farewell to the summer interns
Derius Brown, 9 of Yukon, dunks his head underwater at Will Rogers Park in Oklahoma City Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
This summer three photography students joined The Oklahoman Photo department as interns; Zach Gray, from Oklahoma State, Garett Fisbeck from the University of Central Oklahoma and Ashley R. West from the University of Oklahoma. Friday is their last official day as interns. Here’s a few our favorite images they produced that you may not have seen on Alternate Crop before.
Hopefully, we gave them a chance to photograph the different types of assignments that news photographers are typically sent to. You can see more images from the 2011 summer interns and staff photographers at The Oklahoman by clicking here. There have been a couple of new slideshows recently too, including one about the Oklahoma City Royals senior softball team, by Garett Fisbeck.
James Paul looks around at some of the more than 6,000 owls on display in the home that he shares with his wife, Doran Barrett, on Wednesday, June 29, 2011. Both Paul and Barrett are deaf and recently celebrated their 40th anniversary. Photo by Zach Gray, The Oklahoman
Steve Bearfoot participates in the parade during the Red Earth Festival at the Cox Convention Center Friday, June 2, 2011. Photo by Ashley R. West, The Oklahoman
Jerry Dyre greats teammates on his way in to the dugout during a game at the Plex in Oklahoma City, July 19, 2011. Dyre played for the Oklahoma City Royals because they were short one person. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
Tell Judkins wipes his eyes after resurfacing at Lake McMurtry near Stillwater on Friday, July 8, 2011. The group was looking for catfish to enter into the 12th Annual Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley, Okla. Photo by Zach Gray, The Oklahoman
Anna poses in Tribal print clothing near the Oklahoma River and the Chesapeake Boathouse in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, July 13, 2011. Photo by Ashley R. West, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Komodo Dragons
A young female Komodo Dragon on display at the Oklahoma City Zoo, August 01, 2011. Photo by Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman
Staff Photographer Steve Gooch photographed Komodo Dragons at the Oklahoma City Zoo on Monday. He used an off-camera strobe to light the lizards, while he took the pictures through the glass at the exhibit.
Seeing his pictures in the paper this morning reminded me to look back through some of the interesting pictures that our staff photographers have taken at the zoo over the years. Follow this link to see a gallery of some of the animal pictures we’ve collected, or click here to see more photo galleries. Remember that you can click on any image featured on Alternate Crop to get a closer look, or look for Oklahoman Photography Department on Facebook.
A young female Komodo Dragon on display at the Oklahoma City Zoo, August 01, 2011. Photo by Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
A tribute to ‘The Freakshow’
Cheryl Bulmer gets a hug from a wrestler before a match by members of Sooner World Class Wrestling at the historic Yale Theater in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in south Oklahoma City on Saturday, July 23, 2011. Bulmer's son Dallas Bulmer, who wrestled under the name Crisstopher "The Freakshow" Crow, died in a car accident on June 22, 2011. Saturday's show was the third of three tribute shows dedicated to Bulmer. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
This was going to be Dallas Bulmer’s night. They’d planned it for months. Bulmer’s character Crisstopher “The Freakshow” Crow was supposed to take the spotlight during a cage match at the end of a show by Sooner World Class Wresting. Instead, his friends gathered around the ring for a ten-bell salute as they started the third of three tribute matches dedicated to him.
Dallas Bulmer was killed in a car wreck on June 22, 2011. He was 21 years old.
“We’re going to put on the show that we think he would want to see,” said Dallas’ brother Brandan Bulmer, who wrestles under the name Drake Gallows. Brandan and two of his brother’s friends talked about Dallas and Saturday night’s show as they stood outside the historic Yale Theater in the Capitol Hill neighborhood south of downtown Oklahoma City.
“It’s not just a show that he would be proud of… He would expect no less,” said Brandan. “We’re gonna (expletive) bust ass today just because I know that’s what he would do.”
The lights above the ring and the room full of people only intensified the sweltering, relentless heat inside the old theater. After a Battle Royal to start the show, wrestlers spilled out into the alley behind the theater to sit in the evening shade. As the metal doors to the alley swung open, Drake Gallows and two other wrestlers talked about what they’d do in the upcoming cage match. Chants from the crowd drifted into the alley: “Freakshow, Freakshow, Freakshow…”
Brandan Bulmer, who wrestles under the name "Drake Gallows" poses between matches during a show by members of Sooner World Class Wrestling on Saturday, July 23, 2011. Bulmer's brother Dallas Bulmer, who wrestled under the name Crisstopher "The Freakshow" Crow, died in a car accident on June 22, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Brandan Bulmer, who wrestles under the name "Drake Gallows," talks with other wrestlers, including Eric Torres (left) who wrestles under the name "Rick Russo." They critique their show and plan the next match during a show by members of Sooner World Class Wrestling on Saturday, July 23, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Brandan Bulmer, who wrestles under the name "Drake Gallows" (right) flips Kevin Mowery, who portrays wrestler Kevin Sanchez, over the rings during a show by members of Sooner World Class Wrestling. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
OKC Royals Living Life to the Fullest
Players of the Oklahoma City Royals pray before beginning a game at the Plex Sports Complex in Oklahoma City, July 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
For the last few weeks, I have spent some quality time with an extraordinary group of gentlemen.
The Oklahoma City Royals are a group of 75+ senior softball players that get together every Tuesday night to fellowship and play the sport they love.
Sports intern Tariq Lee and I worked on this story together. I produced a slideshow separate from his story and we somehow came out at the end of it with a great package that is featured in the sports section of the Oklahoman and on its very own nDepth page on NewsOK.com.
One of the most profound moments I witnessed while doing this project was when one of the guys pulled out a piece of paper with the name of a condition he had been diagnosed with. He had to write it down so he could remember what it was called and tell the other guys about it.
A player for the Oklahoma City Royals reads a new condition that he has been diagnosed with, Polymyalgia rheumatica, to his fellow teammates at the Plex Sports Complex in Oklahoma City, July 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
The condition was polymyalgia rheumatica, a syndrome with pain or stiffness, usually in the neck, shoulders, and hips.
I was inspired by the positive outlook of the players. I won’t ruin any more of the story for you, I’ll just say that I hope I’m this cool when and if I turn 80-years-old.
Check out Tariq’s story and my slideshow here: OKC’s Boys of Summer
Ray Rowland gets ready to bat during a game at the Plex in Oklahoma City, July 19, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
Loal Buttram runs onto the field during a game at the Plex Sports Complex in Oklahoma City, July 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
A completely random sampling of pictures
The sun sets behind Kelly Haney's sculpture "The Guardian" atop the state Capitol in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 9, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
I looked through Merlin today and collected a few pictures that probably deserve a second look. They represent what we’ve been up to over the last couple of weeks. You’ve seen blog posts on Alternate Crop about the triple digit heat here in central Oklahoma and about the International Finals Youth Rodeo. We’ve also been noodling, photographed fires, rain storms, and little league baseball.
There are plenty of photo galleries of those events and more that you can see by clicking here.
Firefighters walk approach a fire at the Twin Lakes apartments on 6103 NW 63 in Warr Acres, Okla., Wednesday, July 6, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Two-year-old Kadence Stockman of Pauls Valley grimaces with her mother, Mary, as Bobby Arthur grabs the mouth of a catfish in a mobile fish tank at the 12th annual Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley on Saturday, July 9, 2011. Photo by Zach Gray, The Oklahoman
Two pedestrians try to take shelter from the rain as they run across the intersection of Main and Broadway in downtown Oklahoma City on Tuesday, July 12, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Gage Gilchrist takes a dive to the base during the USSSA World Series youth baseball tournament , Tuesday, July 12, 2011. Photo by Ashley R. West, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
