Your AP monthly contest results

nate billings — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:03:59 +0000

I have gotten behind on posting our department’s winning images from the monthly AP photo contest. Here are our winners from recent months. Congratulations to all.

FIRST PLACE, FEBRUARY: Residents work to clean up damage to a home in the Oak Tree housing addition on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009, after a tornado hit the area on Tuesday in Edmond, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman

THIRD PLACE, FEBRUARY: Firefighters work to extinguish flames in a barn that was set ablaze by a grass fire near SE 108th and Maguire Road in Slaughterville, Oklahoma, on Friday February 20, 2009. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

SECOND PLACE, ARPIL: Flames leap out of a broken gas line in Midwest City, Okla., Thursday, April 9, 2009. Fire crews in Oklahoma and Texas raced Thursday to control wind-whipped wildfires that destroyed dozens of homes, forced evacuations and shut down parts of a major highway. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

THIRD PLACE, APRIL: Iowa Tribe volunteer firefighter David Milby with his wife Bonnie Milby at the Integris Baptist Burn Center in Oklahoma City Monday, April 13, 2009. Photo by Paul B. Southerland, The Oklahoman

FIRST PLACE, MAY: 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. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman

SECOND PLACE, MAY: Graduates watch fireworks following the 2009 University of Oklahoma Commencement at the Gaylord Family -- Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Friday, May 15, 2009, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

-Nate Billings

Lone Grove Tornado

nate billings — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:30:57 +0000

So far, at least eight people, possibly nine, are dead after a tornado moved through Lone Grove, Okla., Tuesday night as part of the rare February severe storms that struck our state. Usually after a big news event, I feel like writing something about what it was like for us as photographers or how hard we worked to cover the story. We had people working Tuesday night and others starting before dawn Wednesday morning, but I don’t want to write about that today.

Right now, the details of how we spent Wednesday don’t seem very interesting compared to what the people and emergency workers in Lone Grove have been through or what many of them have lost. So, let’s keep the attention on them.

Here’s some of our photos from Lone Grove.

Lone Grove firefighter Greg Allen (top) and volunteer Jack Brown search through broken trees north of Highway 70 in Lone Grove following deadly storms the day before around Lone Grove, Okla., Feb. 11, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Margie Hughes, left, gets a hug from her sister Neda Wilson as they look at Margie’s destroyed home following deadly storms the day before around Lone Grove, Okla., Feb. 11, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman

John Taliaferro sees the remains of his furniture store in first light after Tuesday’s deadly tornado in Lone Grove, Okla., on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

A home on Highway 70 was destroyed in Tuesday’s deadly tornado in Lone Grove, Okla., on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

Lone Grove firemen search a home for unaccounted people on the north side of SH 70 in Lone Grove, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN

Trina Quinton sits with a lost dog at her cousin’s destroyed furniture store, John’s Furniture, on the north side of SH 70 in Lone Grove, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN

Searchers look through mobile home debris for four unaccounted for persons on Brock Road in Lone Grove, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. The rails in the tree are the base of a mobile home. BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN

Deric Brawley, 12, sits with his dog on a friend’s couch inside their destroyed home following deadly storms the day before around Lone Grove, Okla., Feb. 11, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Gov. Brad Henry talks with Sue Rose while surveying damage at the Bar K Mobile Home Park in Lone Grove, Okla., Wednesday, February 11, 2009. On Tuesday, February 10, 2009, a tornado moved through Lone Grove killing at least eight people. Rose was unable to seek shelter in time to avoid the tornado and rode out the storm in a mobile home with four other people. The mobile home was damaged, however, the people survived. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

Dennis Parker holds his granddaughter, Brooklyn Hickman, 3, while sifting through belongings from his destroyed mobile home at the Bar K Mobile Home Park in Lone Grove, Okla., Wednesday, February 11, 2009. On Tuesday, February 10, 2009, a tornado moved through Lone Grove killing at least eight people. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

Tammie Rose searches for items to salvage from the destroyed mobile home in which her daughter, Shawna Inlow, used to live in Lone Grove, Okla., Wednesday, February 11, 2009. On Tuesday, February 10, 2009, a tornado moved through Lone Grove killing at least eight people. Inlow and her three boys were able to ride out the storm safely in Rose’s cellar. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

Neda Wilson reacts as she looks at her sister’s destroyed home following deadly storms the day before around Lone Grove, Okla., Feb. 11, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman

To see a photo gallery of more pictures from Lone Grove and photos from damage in the metro area, click here.

-Nate Billings

Alternate Crop » Paul B. Southerland

Your AP monthly contest results

Lone Grove Tornado