Rev. Pam Normile blesses a cocker spaniel named Sipsey, during a Blessing of the Animals service outside First Presbyterian Church in Norman on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Visually, the service was very interesting. A semi-circle of chairs in a half empty parking lot,  a small table with a cross and dogs running around everywhere. You can watch a slideshow of the service by clicking here.

Miniature schnauzers Stella and Laney get their owner Charlie Crane, of Norman, tangled up in leashes during a Blessing of the Animals service outside First Presbyterian Church in Norman on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman

-John Clanton

Fair-goers enjoy the 2009 Oklahoma State Fair. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman

For this year’s State Fair I wanted to do a photo project that captured the sights and sounds of all the activities that take place during the ten day event. The thing that I wanted to do was display the package in a little different way than other projects are done.

The next thing was ‘how can I do this’. I thought about how digital cameras have made picture taking an instantaneous process these days. So this started me thinking about how in the ‘old days’ that instant photography was only available if you shot on a polaroid camera. The two of these processes quickly brought my idea together.

I would combine today’s digital photography with the ‘retro’ polaroid. Next, find a way to accomplish this. Since my digital SLR cameras can only do 35 mm format, I had to set them aside for this project and find me a digital polaroid camera? My search only had to go as far as my IPhone to get this done. I found an app that turned the built in digital camera into a digital polaroid. So now I was on my way. I grabbed my IPhone and my audio recorder , and was on my way to the 2009 State Fair.

As I walked through the fair I shot some of the little things I saw along the way, and recorded natural sound along with a few personal accounts of the thousands of people I saw enjoying themselves. In the end, I cam up with a slideshow that gives you a one minute and 30 second look at some of the things I saw at this year’s fair. Hope you enjoy. – Chris Landsberger

Michele Wright kisses the top of her son's, U.S. Army 1st Lt. David Timothy Wright II, casket as her husband Moore Police officer Tim Wright wipes the tears from his eye during graveside service at IOOF Cemetery on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, in Norman, Okla. Wright was one of two soldiers killed Sept. 14th by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2009, I covered the funeral for U.S. Army 1st Lt. David Timothy Wright II who was killed Sept. 14th by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. He was only 26 years old.

Unfortunately, I have had to cover many of these military funerals over the last few years, and over time I have developed a love/hate relationship with covering them. I hate to see another young military person passing away before their time, and the pain their family goes through. On the other hand I want to be there to cover these funerals, and capture these emotional moments to document, pay tribute to these fallen heros, and show our readers who this person was and what sacrifice this person and family paid for our country and each and every citizen of the United States.

Sometimes there is a big misconception that I, being part of the media, am there to exploit the situation. I can say for sure that the photographers I know and for myself, this is the furthest thing from the truth. When I am photographing a funeral, I have had many reactions to my presence. I am met with some that are very upset, and can not believe that I am there doing ‘this’ to the family. Others are of complete gratitude that I am there to remember the one that has fallen. The latter is always the reason that I am there. I never attend a funeral without the family’s permission, and in doing so I comply to the fullest extent to the family’s wishes. Each family is different, some have given almost full access, and others very limited to none at all. These request are absolutely fine with me, because these difficult situations are about the families not about me, it is a privilege for me to be there.

In doing my job I want to be able to do the best I can to pay tribute, and not let them be forgotten for what they have done for all of us. I admit it is not easy for me though. I am a husband and a father, and it is hard for me to see the pain these families go through. I see these difficult situations, and I put myself in their shoes at every funeral I attend.  I can not begin to comprehend the pain they are going through. It is an emotional roller coaster for me, because I do get emotionally involved, I have a job to do and it never gets easier. I am not afraid to say that I have had to take pictures through many tears that roll down my cheeks. All in all, I am always honored to be there, and always very sorry for the family’s loss.

I do want to say thanks to all the families for allowing me and my coworkers to be in attendance, and to say thank you to those that have fallen and to those that continue to serve on their missions. I wish you all God Speed.

-Chris Landsberger

Military personnel salutes the casket for U.S. Army 1st Lt. David Timothy Wright II during graveside services at IOOF Cemetery on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2009, in Norman, Okla. Wright was one of two soldiers killed Sept. 14th by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman.

Please take the time to view the slideshow from the funeral of U.S. Army 1st Lt. David Timothy Wright

Tall grass is silhouetted against the setting sun along 33rd street in Edmond near Coltrane Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman.

-Doug Hoke

Lightning strikes over the OPUBCO Communications building late Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, night as storms rolled across central Oklahoma. Photo by Hugh Scott, The Oklahoman.

Lightning strikes over the OPUBCO Communications building late Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, night as storms rolled across central Oklahoma. Photo by Hugh Scott, The Oklahoman.

Lightning strikes over the OPUBCO Communications building late Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, night as storms rolled across central Oklahoma. Photo by Hugh Scott, The Oklahoman.

Lightning strikes over the OPUBCO Communications building late Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, night as storms rolled across central Oklahoma. Photo by Hugh Scott, The Oklahoman.

-Doug Hoke

What detail! Radiator cap on a 1927 Buick belonging to Randy Dekker at the LibertyFest Car Show on the campus of UCO Saturday, June 27, 2009. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman.

1955 Chevy Bel Air convertible belonging to Annette Myers at the LibertyFest Car Show on the campus of UCO Saturday, June 27, 2009. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman.

1955 Ford F-100 pick up belonging to Kathy Bernhardt at the LibertyFest Car Show on the campus of UCO Saturday, June 27, 2009. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman.

Donna and Brandon Krist look at an original, unrestored 1959 Chevy Impala Sport Coupe with 50,000 miles owned by Dennis and Sharon Doughty of Edmond at the LibertyFest Car Show on the campus of UCO Saturday, June 27, 2009. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman.

1962 Chevy Corvette at the LibertyFest Car Show on the campus of UCO Saturday, June 27, 2009. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman.

1966 Cord Repro belonging to Dale Williams at the LibertyFest Car Show on the campus of UCO Saturday, June 27, 2009. This car is number 37 of 97 built in Tulsa. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman.

-Doug Hoke

Natalie Delpha, 7, plays "Simon Says, Smile!" during a class in Fink Park during Edmond Girl Scout Twilight Camp Monday, June 15, 2009. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman.

-Doug Hoke

Ashley McKee

Ashley McKee, The Oklahoman’s 2009 photo summer intern started this week. Ashley comes to us from The University of Montana in Missoula. Ashley went to her first assignment Friday, the reopening of the Rock Cafe in Stroud after its destructive fire last year. Here are a couple of her photos. Some were published on Saturday May 30 and more will run with the Food Dude’s column in the Life section this week. Look for more from Ashley as we get her up to speed and she finds some projects to work on.

The reopening of the Rock Cafe happened Friday, May 29, 2009, a year after the historic building burnt down. Photo by Ashley McKee, The Oklahoman

The reopening of the Rock Cafe happened Friday, May 29, 2009, a year after the historic building burnt down. Photo by Ashley McKee, The Oklahoman

-Doug Hoke, Dir. of Photography

A few of the 1400 third and fourth grade Oklahoma City public school students swim during the Wacky Water Wahoo water safety class at White Water on Thursday, May 21, 2009, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman

After it ran in the paper I received a number of inquires about how I took the photo. So, I thought I would take a few minutes and give a run down on how it was taken.

Overall, it was not very different from most other assignments that I go out on each day. The only difference was the equipment used to take the photo. Instead of the normal cameras I use from day to day, I used a Canon G9 point and shoot camera and an underwater housing that allows me to take the camera up to 140 feet under water. Luckily I did not have to go diving that deep in order to get the photo.
The next step was just trying to get a photo that I liked. As any of you who have been around a lot of kids playing and have a great time at a swimming pool know, it is chaotic to say the least. Knowing this, I settled in to be patient, and wait and shoot and wait and shoot……well you get the idea, till I got the photo that would work. I set the camera to a wide angle setting, and put the camera half way into the water with half the lens above the water and half under. From there I hoped to capture kids swimming above and below the surface. It took me about 45 shots or so till I got the one I wanted, which I believe was the 43 photo I took. As they say patience is a virtue.

–Chris Landsberger

Her school, and the track we would shoot at, Del City High School, is where I set a personal best in 1975, my senior year. My 5′-11″ pales compared to her record, but was still my personal best. My senior season had a couple of distractions for me. One, senioritis–my hat goes off to all those spring sport seniors who can stay focused, and photography, which has become my life-long passion and vocation.

Toni Young eyes the high jump bar at 6'-4", the height of her national record tying jump earlier this season. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklaoman

Doug Hoke high jumping during a dual meet at PCW in 1975.

-Doug Hoke