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
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 6 of 12
The Amazing Boobzilla breathes fire during the Carnival of Cleavage sideshow, Friday, June 11, 2010, in Bricktown in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Two days ago I found an old fortune cookie in my coat pocket. The fortune inside said ‘under-promise and over deliver.’ Clearly, I could have used that advice before I started the ill-fated attempt to get 12 months of pictures written into blog posts late in December. So here we are in January looking at pictures from June of last year, but I’m determined to get through the Best of 2010 series. Most of the pictures in Best of 2010 deserve another look and in some cases, this is the first time they’ve ever been published.
There was a slideshow about Vietnam Veterans in June that you can watch by clicking here. And, of course, there’s the entire Best of 2010 gallery and the Best Sports photo gallery.
Ana Gonzalez (right) and a friend join hundreds of other participants as they watch a performance during a street show before the Oklahoma City Pride Parade on Sunday, June 27, 2010. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Zachary English, 8, stands in the bed of a 1945 Ford fire truck during the LibertyFest car show on the University of Central Oklahoma campus in Edmond, Okla., Saturday, June 26, 2010. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Rylee Cook, 7, swims at Pelican Bay Aquatic Center, Saturday, June, 19, 2010, in Edmond, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Daniel Parker splashes water while sitting on his mailbox in front of his house in the Palo Verde Addition in Edmond, OK, after flood waters inundated a number of homes in the area, Monday, June 14, 2010. By Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
A busy holiday weekend
Over the weekend, I photographed Edmond’s LibertyFest parade, ParkFest and the fireworks. Fourth of July always provides great opportunities to make great images. Most are patriotic and colorful.
Cole Wolfe, 7, watches the LibertyFest Parade, Saturday, July 3, 2010, in downtown Edmond, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Fireworks explode behind a broncho statue during the LibertyFest fireworks show at the University of Central Oklahoma, Sunday, July 4, 2010, in Edmond, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
However, my favorite image from the weekend was from an eerie scene following the fireworks show at the University of Central Oklahoma. The campus was blanketed in a thick layer of smoke and as people left their cars lights created this spooky scene.
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
Check out our other holiday related galleries:
ParkFest and Fireworks here
LibertyFest parade here
Bricktown Red, White and Boom here
Independence Day 2010
Boy Scouts march with American flags during the LibertyFest Parade, Saturday, July 3, 2010, in downtown Edmond, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Since the Fourth of July fell on a Sunday this year, there were celebrations to photograph the day before. Some events made it through the weather, like Edmond’s LibertyFest Parade and the concert by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic with a fireworks display at Red, White, and Boom! The Yukon Freedom Fest, however, had to pack up early because of the rain. Hopefully the events today will avoid the weather problems.
Click here to see a photo gallery from the LibertyFest Parade.
And here for pictures from Red, White, and Boom!
Fireworks explode as the Oklahoma City Philharmonic plays "Stars and Stripes Forever" for the finale of their free Patriotic Pops concert during the Independence Day celebration Red, White, and Boom! east of the Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 3, 2010. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Ted Flanagan squeegies the rain off of his 1963 1/2 Ford Falcon, during Freedom Fest, in Yukon, Oklahoma, Saturday, July 3, 2010. Flanagan's Falcon won the People's Choice award at the event's car show before the rain ended activites. By Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
Have a happy and safe Fourth.
-Nate Billings
Fourth of July wrap-up
Fans watch fireworks at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Saturday July 4, 2009, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
The photographers of The Oklahoman were out in force to cover Independence Day. The weather shifted from nice to muggy and then rain in the evening. I’m glad we got the rain, but just wish it had happened either the day before or the day after. The RedHawks didn’t play their baseball game, but did have fireworks. Other fireworks shows were postponed. Here are some of the photos from the day.
To see a gallery from events around the metro area, click here.
For former President George W. Bush’s Independence Day visit to Woodward, click here.
A gallery of photos from Edmond’s LibertyFest parade is here.
And Bryan Terry did a cool time-lapse video from the LibertyFest parade that we highlighted in this blog entry.
Jesse Hardiman and Ava Welch, 1, walk during Bethany's Centennial Freedom Festival, Saturday, July 4, 2009, at Eldon Lyon Park in Bethany, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Boy Scouts carry a huge American flag in the LibertyFest Parade in downtown Edmond, OK, Saturday, July 4, 2009. By Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
Trent Nondorf, 4, left, and Ethan Nondorf, 2, wait for the start of the Quail Creek Fourth of July parade in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 4, 2009. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Kristen Gregory sported a festive Fourth of July headband during LibertyFest at UCO campus in Edmond, Okla. Saturday, July 4, 2009. Photo by Ashley McKee, The Oklahoman
Former President George W. Bush and wife, Laura, were given a warm reception when they arrived at Woodward's July 4th celebration and re-dedication of Crystal Beach Park. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Lauren Atkins, 9, from Norman, eats free watermelon at the Norman Independence Day Celebration at Reaves Park in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, July 4, 2009. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Darren Ransley slides on the tarp during a rain delay of the Oklahoma City RedHawks and Omaha Royals at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Saturday July 4, 2009, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
-Nate Billings
LibertyFest Parade
Bryan Terry shot a time lapse video of the LibertyFest Parade in downtown Edmond. There are 1754 still frames in the video condensing the two-hour parade into two-and-a-half minutes.
Paul Hellstern was covering the parade from the ground. You can see a gallery of his photos here.
Below are a couple of other still frames Bryan shot from the roof.
Boy Scouts carry an American flag down Broadway in Edmond, Okla., during the LibertyFest Parade Saturday, July 4, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
People watch the LibertyFest Parade on Broadway in Edmond, Okla., during the Saturday, July 4, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
-Sarah Phipps
