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
Some recent unpublished pictures
David Downing, of Gatesville, Texas, rolls crates of dogs back to the grooming area of the exhibit hall 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
I looked through all the pictures we’ve taken in the last 21 days trying to find the best pictures that haven’t been published in the newspaper. There’ve been several blog entries on this topic over the years. Sometimes there just isn’t room for all the pictures that we wish we could get in the paper. Here’s a couple that stood out over the last three weeks.
You can always see more photo galleries by clicking here or take a look at our slideshows page by clicking here.
Two-year-old Dylan Costener holds the head of a doll while playing in the splash area at Harvest Hills Park on Wednesday, June 29, 2011. Photo by Zach Gray, The Oklahoman
Mikala West, 13 of Mustang, a member of Youth Force, from St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City cleans a window screen during a mission trip cleans windows during a mission at Strawberry Fields Senior Center in Mustang, June 20, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, 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
Clara Luper 1923-2011
Clara Luper, civil rights leader and educator, in a Nov. 20, 1988 photograph by staff photographer Jim Argo.
Since Clara Luper’s death on Wednesday, June 8, the photographers at The Oklahoman have been remembering her through our archive photos and making new pictures to document the mourning of her death and celebration of her life by our community. Below are more pictures of the civil rights leader and links to galleries and slideshows we have made the last week or so.
Click here for a gallery of photos from Clara Luper’s life
Here are photos from Clara Luper in repose at the state Capitol
This gallery features Clara Luper’s memorial service
Finally, an audio slideshow about memories of Clara Luper
Mrs. Clara Luper of Oklahoma City and other demonstrators outside the privately-owned Doe Doe Amusement Park in Lawton, Okla. Demonstrators protested a segregation policy barring blacks from the park's swimming pool. Staff photo taken June 11, 1966. Twenty-two demonstrators, including Mrs. Luper and 10 children, were arrested for blocking the entrance to the amusement park.
Civil rights pioneer Clara Luper reacts to the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Luper was watching TV with Councilman Ronald "Skip" Kelly, her daughter Marilyn Hildreth and 9-year-old Alexia Grant at the Freedom Center at NE 26th and Martin Luther King Avenue in Oklahoma City , Okla. January 20, 2009. Photo by Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman
Gov. Dewey Bartlett, center, looks on as NAACP youth council adviser Clara Luper accepts a donation from an unidentified woman. Funds were raised for the NAACP' s Freedom Center as hundreds marched to the state Capitol in memory of the slain Martin Luther King on April 6, 1968. Photo by Robert Taylor, The Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma civil rights leader Clara Luper was honored by the state as her body lay in repose on the first floor of the state Capitol, Thursday, June 16, 2011. Her dark wood casket remained closed as a pair of Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers stood silently on either side of the casket. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Family members laugh and applaud a speaker during the memorial service for Clara Luper. At left is son Calvin Luper. Next to him is daughter Marilyn Hildreth. . About 2,500 people celebrated the life and legacy of Oklahoma City civil rights pioneer Clara Mae Shepard Luper during a lively service in the Cox Convention Center that lasted more than three hours, Friday, June 17, 2011. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
From left, Sasha Wilson, 8, granddaughter of Clara Luper, Chelle Luper Wilson, daughter of Clara Luper, and Oneita Brown, sister of Clara Luper, sit together during the graveside memorial service for civil rights activist Clara Luper at the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens cemetery in Spencer, Okla., Friday, June 17, 2011. Luper was 88 years old when she died on June 8, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Rev. A. Byron Coleman, middle, speaks next to Colin Boldien, a Luper family friend, during the graveside memorial service for civil rights activist Clara Luper at the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens cemetery in Spencer, Okla., Friday, June 17, 2011. Luper was 88 years old when she died on June 8, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Be sure to check out our audio slideshow of memories of Clara Luper.
-Nate Billings
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
WCWS softball 2011
Alabama's Kelsi Dunne (00) pitches during the Women's College World Series game between Baylor and Alabama at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Friday, June 3, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
We’ve been photographing the Women’s College World Series softball championship here at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City for the past several days. The good news is that both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State made the tournament this year. The bad news is that OU and OSU were both eliminated on Saturday after only two games each.
Here are some of The Oklahoman’s photographs from the tournament so far. If you’d like to see photo galleries from the games, you can check out our photo gallery page.
OSU fans Megan Castle and Copan Combs cheer on the Cowgirls during the Women's College World Series game between Oklahoma State University and Baylor at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Thursday, June 2, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
OU's Haley Nix (5) catches a fly ball in the fifth inning during a Women's College World Series softball game between the University of Oklahoma and Arizona State University at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Thursday, June 2, 2011. ASU won, 3-1. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Arizona State celebrates after a home run by Katelyn Boyd (17) in the fifth inning during a Women's College World Series softball game between the University of Oklahoma and Arizona State University at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Thursday, June 2, 2011. ASU won, 3-1. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma's Destinee Martinez (00) makes it to first as the ball goes past Missouri's Ashley Fleming (30) in the seventh inning of a Women's College World Series softball game between the University Oklahoma and Missouri at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Saturday, June 4, 2011. Missorui won, 4-1. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma State's Chelsea Garcia (8) dives for the ball in the first inning of a Women's College World Series softball game between Oklahoma State University and California at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Saturday, June 4, 2011. California won, 6-2. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
A fan catches a home run ball as Alabama's Jennifer Fenton (7) walks away during the Women's College World Series game between Florida and Alabama at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Sunday, June 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
Alabama's Jazlyn Lunceford (2) dives for a ball as Jennifer Fenton (7) looks on during the Women's College World Series game between Flordia and Alabama at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Sunday, June 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
Baylor celebrates a walk-off home run by Holly Holl (6) during the Women's College World Series game between Baylor and Missouri at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Sunday, June 5, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
You can see more photos on our photo gallery page.
-Nate Billings
Some overlooked pictures
Andre Sparks with UCO's Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity tackles Michael Atako during a game of football at Positive Tomorrows, Wednesday, May 18, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
In the last 30 days we’ve been so busy showing pictures from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA playoffs and, more recently, with storm coverage, that we’ve glossed over some other events that made some interesting pictures.
Here are a couple of images from recent assignments. You can see pictures from The Oklahoman photography department by clicking on our galleries page. You can also look for Oklahoman Photography Department on Facebook.
Oklahoma's Brianna Turang hits the wall as she chases a ball in the outfield during the Sooners' game against Tulsa during the NCAA Softball Regional at the OU Softball Complex on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman, Okla., on Sunday, May 22, 2011. The Sooners lost the first game to the Golden Hurricane 4-3 in 9 innings. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Kansas State University's Erik Kynard easily clears 6'11" at the 2011 Big 12 Track Championships at John Jacobs Track Complex at the University of Oklahoma on Saturday, May 14, 2011, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Tanner Nelson (33) of Dale leaps the fence to chase a foul ball during the Class 2A high school baseball championship game between Wister and Dale in Shawnee, Okla., Saturday, May 14, 2011. Wister won, 4-2. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Game four loss for Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (35) reacts late in overtime during game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Oklahoma City Arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Monday, May 23, 2011. Dallas won in overtime, 112-105. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
The Oklahoma City Thunder lost game 4 of the Western Conference Finals to the Dallas Mavericks at the OKC Arena in Oklahoma City on Monday, May 24, 2011. Here’s a few pictures from staff photographers at The Oklahoman. You can see more images by clicking here, or read more about the Thunder by clicking here.
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a turnover in game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Oklahoma City Arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Monday, May 23, 2011. Dallas won in overtime, 112-105. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Tyson Chandler (6) of Dallas, gets an elbow in Kendrick Perkins' face and is called for a technical foul during game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Oklahoma City Arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Monday, May 23, 2011. The Thunder lost game 3 to the Mavericks 112-105. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka (9) reaches for the ball behind Tyson Chandler (6) of Dallas during game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Oklahoma City Arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Monday, May 23, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
A Dallas Mavericks fan walks past Thunder fan Meghan Dailey (left) as she makes her way to the OKC Arena before game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Oklahoma City Arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Monday, May 23, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Westbrook the photographer
Before the start of game 3 of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Russell Westbrook walked by my remote camera and pressed the shutter button.
It was nice of him to make sure my camera was working before the start of the game. Below is a picture I took of him taking a picture and the photo he took with the remote camera.
See our photo gallery of game 3 by clicking here.
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook takes a picture with Oklahoman photographer's Sarah Phipps' remote camera before the start of game 3 of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the OKC Arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Saturday, May 21, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook takes picture on Oklahoman photographer's Sarah Phipps' remote camera before the start of game 3 of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA basketball playoffs between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the OKC Arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Saturday, May 21, 2011. Photo by Russell Westbrook, Alternate Crop special contributor
— Sarah Phipps
Three photographers and thousands of Thunder pictures
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (35) dunks the ball as Russell Westbrook (0) celebrates near Mike Conley (11) and Shane Battier (31) of Memphis in the fourth quarter during game 7 of the NBA basketball Western Conference semifinals between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the OKC Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 15, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday at the OKC Arena. They’ll advance to the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. Three photographers covered game 7 for the Oklahoman. Using remotes, hand held cameras and one photographer roaming the OKC Arena for pictures of fans reacting to the game, we took a total of 8,916 pictures. Then we spent several hours sorting through the images that we use to tell the story of the game.
You can see all of our final images by clicking here or read more about the Thunder and their win over the Grizzlies by clicking here.
Wearing a foam finger and cheering from Loud City, Sabrina Darville, of Oklahoma City, celebrates a Thunder basket during the second half of game 7 of the NBA basketball Western Conference semifinals between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the OKC Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 15, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) takes the ball to the hoop past Marc Gasol (33) of Memphis in the first half during game 7 of the NBA basketball Western Conference semifinals between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the OKC Arena in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 15, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
