The Next Step is free
This photograph, featured on pages 20 and 21 of a new book called "The Next Step", shows Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook dunking in front of the Milwaukee Bucks' defense at The OKC Arena in Oklahoma City. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
A new book titled The Next Step, published by the OPUBCO Communications Group, features images and stories from the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2010-2011 season. Graphic Designer Matt Clayton designed the book and filled it with images from staff photographers at The Oklahoman and stories about the team from staff writers in the Sports Department. Here are a few of the images that appear in the book and a preview of a few of the pages.
The Next Step will be available for free at convenience stores around the Oklahoma City metro area starting on Saturday, July 23, 2011. You can read more about the Thunder by clicking here, or you can follow this link to see more pictures by The Oklahoman’s Photography Department. You can also get a closer look at any picture featured on Alternate Crop by clicking on the picture.
This layout on pages 10 and 11 features images of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook (left) by Staff Photographer Sarah Phipps and Kevin Durant in action against the New York Knicks by Staff Photographer Bryan Terry (right)
Oklahoma City Thunder fans cheer as the Thunder score the first points of the game during the first round NBA Playoff basketball game between the Thunder and the Denver Nuggets at OKC Arena in downtown Oklahoma City on Wednesday, April 20, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) reacts during the first round NBA basketball playoff game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, April 17, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City mascot Rumble the Bison slaps the hands of Thunder fans during the NBA basketball game between the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City, Thursday, January 13, 2011. Oklahoma City won, 125-124. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
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
Room with a view
The Santa Fe parking garage seen from 34 floors above downtown Oklahoma City at the Petroleum Club in the Chase Tower in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, July 5, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
I sat in an empty bar at the Petroleum Club in Oklahoma City on Tuesday afternoon. I was waiting for a Naturalization Oath ceremony to start, but I had arrived too early, so I sat and looked out the window and at the wallpaper. Using a 300mm @2.8 lens pressed up to the tinted windows, I looked for interesting shapes and designs in the city below, since I don’t often see the city from over 300 feet up.
Here’s a few of the pictures I took on Tuesday. You can see more pictures from The Oklahoman photo department by clicking here, or look for Oklahoman Photography Department on Facebook.
The view of a nearby building seen from 34 floors above Oklahoma City at the Petroleum Club in the Chase Tower in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, July 5, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
The view from 34 floors above downtown Oklahoma City at the Petroleum Club in the Chase Tower in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, July 5, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
A parking garage seen from the Petroleum Club in the Chase Tower in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, July 5, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
All-American images from the holiday weekend
Boy Scouts of America and Cub Scout troops carry a large American Flag during the LibertyFest Parade in Edmond, Okla., Monday, July 4, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
The Oklahoman photo staff collected some pretty pictures from events of the Fourth of July weekend. We photographed parades, flags, fireworks, and festivals. It wouldn’t be complete though, without pictures of people in the 100 degree heat or firefighters putting out grass fires.
Here’s a few pictures from the weekend if you missed them. There’s a gallery of some interesting images from the weekend or you can follow these links to see pictures from the fireworks at LibertyFest in Edmond, the LibertyFest parade, the Summer Classic Dog Show, or the Blackberry Festival in McLoud.
Fireworks show concluding LibertyFest at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond on Monday, July 4, 2011. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman
Eight-year-old Emily Winstead of Midwest City takes a bite of watermelon during a watermelon-eating contest at the McLoud Blackberry Festival on Saturday, July 2, 2011, in McLoud, Okla. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Amanda Cone, a handler's assistant from Dallas, holds Amber, left, a Burnese Mountain Dog and Bonnie, a Mastiff, during the OKC Summer Classic Dog Shows at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Thursday, June 30, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Duane Fletcher, 7, of Clinton, Oklahoma, reaches into a lion water fountain to fill up a water bottle at the Oklahoma City Zoo in Oklahoma City on Thursday, June 30, 2011. Fletcher and other children from First Baptist Church in Clinton visited the zoo on Thursday. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Macro photography-Bug version
A butterfly steps over to another flower to eat in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, June 22, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Readers of Alternate Crop will remember a few macro photography posts like this one a few weeks ago, or my first one last summer. If I’m not careful this is going to develop into a hobby. I’m not really a huge fan of insects or flowers. I think my interest in macro photography comes from an effort to slow down and take a closer look at everyday things. It’s also quite challenging to sneak up on a butterfly—a very different kind of effort than this job usually requires.
You can see more interesting pictures by clicking here. And remember you can click on any of the photographs featured on Alternate Crop, including these, for a closer view.
An insect rests on a wildflower in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, June 22, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
A spider walks on his web strung between two windows at a home in The Village on Thursday, June 16, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
A ladybug crawls across a stone wall on the north end of Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, April, 26, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
A butterfly rolls up its tongue after feeding on a flower in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, June 22, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Looking for pictures
Sarah Johnson (center) and Jadyn Barefoot (CQ) Barefoot, react as they learn dance steps during Hearts for Hearing Camp at the Oklahoma City Museum Of Art in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, June 21, 2011. Two Thunder Girls taught dance to the kids who are deaf or have hearing loss. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
The summer interns are probably already sick of hearing my speeches about looking for pictures that connect with readers. Pictures that tell a story or a convey a mood instead of simply proving an event happened. On Tuesday, I looked for kids’ reactions as they learned dance moves from Thunder Girls. Bryan Terry got a picture at a dive-in movie, recently, that really feels like summer. Here are a few pictures we’ve taken in the last couple of weeks.
For more pictures from The Oklahoman photo staff, click here. Also, if you haven’t seen the slideshow page recently there have been a few additions.
Swimmers watch Space Jam during Dive-In Movie Night at Pelican Bay Aquatic Center in Edmond, Okla., Wednesday, June 16, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
James Duncan kisses his great grandchild Bryson Jetter, 2, as his daughter Amby Duncan holds her during a Father's Day picnic at The Edmond Senior Center on Thursday, June 16, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Paralympic rower
Paralympic Rower Tony Davis gets his oars into place as he practices with rowing partner Jacqui Kapinowski on the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Tony Davis was a Rescue Diver in the US Navy. A crewman aboard the SeaHawk, the Navy’s version of the BlackHawk helicopter, he served overseas for 18 months only to be paralyzed in a car wreck on his way home to Washington state. We talked last week as we walked through the Devon Boathouse as Tony headed to rowing practice on the Oklahoma River. He told me that the feeling he got gliding across the water was similar to the feeling he got back in that SeaHawk helicopter. A BlackHawk helicopter flew over the boathouse as we walked out into the light of the morning sun. Tony the SeaHawk for several seconds and pointed it out to his rowing partner and his coaches as he followed them down to the river.
You can see more images from Tony’s practice by clicking here or you can click here to read Ed Godfrey’s story.
Tony Davis practices with rowing partner Jacqui Kapinowski on the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Tony Davis carries his oars toward the Devon Boathouse after practice with rowing partner Jacqui Kapinowski on the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. A car accident left Davis, a former Navy Rescue Diver, paralyzed. He taught himself to walk again by watching his son learn to walk, and has been rowing for two years. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Memories of Clara Luper
A crowd begins to gather as Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers set up Clara Luper's casket before she lies in repose on the first floor of the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City on Thursday, June 16, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Hundreds of people gathered on the first floor of the Oklahoma State Capitol to pay their respects to civil rights activist Clara Luper. In addition to creating a photo gallery featuring pictures from the event, we asked people in attendance to talk about the impact Luper made on their lives and lessons they learned from her. Click here to watch a slideshow of their answers and get a glimpse of the influence Luper has had on others since leading sit-in protests at Katz Drug Store in Oklahoma City.
Luper’s funeral is set for Friday, June 17, 2011 at 11AM.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol guard the casket as Clara Luper lies in repose at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, June 16, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Pictures I Like-Early summer version
Bill Zitzow, of Oklahoma City, holds an historic 15 star flag during the Flag Day Celebration ceremony at Midwest City Elks Lodge #1890 in Midwest City, Okla., on Sunday, June 12, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Some interesting pictures have been turned in by staff photographers at The Oklahoman over the last week or so. With only one exception, this collection of pictures was never published in the paper. There are galleries with more images from the Flag Day Celebration, the endeavor games, the Ozarka Oklahoma City Nationals Drag Boat Races, Mugglefest, the Mission Academy Graduation, and pictures from the last day of the NCAA Div. 1 Men’s Golf Championship at Karsten Creek.
The main dish at the Crawfish Festival in Yukon, June 4 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
Richard Browne, Endeavor Games athlete from Jackson, Mississippi practices the high jump in Edmond, Oklahoma , Friday, June 10, 2011. Photo by Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman
Team Oklahoma's Taggart Lockhart of Talihina, left, collides with Daniel Green of Team Texas during the Faith 7 Basketball Bowl at the Noble Complex on the campus of Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Okla., Saturday, June 11, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
The 2011 graduation class gathers in prayer with Oklahoma Outreach Foundation Board of Director Karen Mather during the Mission Academy graduation at the OPUBCO Auditorium on, Tuesday, June 7, 2011. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Schoolyard game still lives
A wall ball game behind Santa Fe South High School Oklahoma City, Tuesday, May 24, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
I guess I thought that my brother and I, with the help of some neighborhood kids, had invented Wall Ball. We’d play against a friend’s garage door in our suburban neighborhood back in the 80′s. I hadn’t thought much about it since then, so I was surprised to see the game being played during lunch behind Santa Fe South High School in Oklahoma City.
The rules are fairly simple: A player throws a tennis ball or racquetball against the wall, when it bounces back someone else has to catch it or wait for it to bounce and then field it. If that player bobbles the catch and drops the ball, or if the ball hits him, he has to run and touch the wall before another player can get to the ball and throw it back to the wall.
The kids at Santa Fe South had two balls in play at one time, which made for an intense game. Here’s a couple of pictures I made from the court while I waited for another assignment to get started.
Students play Wall Ball behind Santa Fe South High School Oklahoma City, Tuesday, May 24, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Wall Ball at Santa Fe South High School Oklahoma City, Tuesday, May 24, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
