Swim bike run

Athletes race into the water to start the Arcadia Lake Triathlon and Aquabike at Arcadia Lake in Edmond, Oklahoma on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
It’s not often that I get to work as the sun rises while wearing crocs and swim trunks, but if there’s a triathlon in one of the area lakes, I get to do just that. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the Arcadia Lake Triathlon and Aquabike in Edmond last weekend.
You can see more images of the triathlon by clicking here, or you can follow this link to see more photo galleries from assignments around the Oklahoma City metro area. Remember that you can get a closer look at any picture featured on Alternate Crop by clicking on the image.

Spectators watch a close race as Brad Steele (left) and Boz Anderson (#218) sprint toward the finish lineduring the Arcadia Lake Triathlon and Aquabike at Arcadia Lake in Edmond, Oklahoma on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Boz Anderson swims toward shore during the Arcadia Lake Triathlon and Aquabike at Arcadia Lake in Edmond, Oklahoma on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Rowing on the river

Rowers compete during the USRowing Masters National Championships on the Oklahoma River, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Staff Photographers covered the USRowing Masters National Championships on the Oklahoma River over the last weekend. You can watch a video of the competition by clicking here, or you can click here to see more images from The Oklahoman’s photography department.

Rowers compete during the USRowing Masters National Championships on the Oklahoma River, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Marilyn Faranzen with the Minneapolis Rowing Club cheers on rowers during the USRowing Masters National Championships on the Oklahoma River, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

A team from Fairmount/Nashville after winning the Men's Heavyweight AA 2x Final during the USRowing Masters National Championships on the Oklahoma River on Friday, Aug. 12, 2011. Photo by Zach Gray, The Oklahoman

A member of the Malta Boat Club team hangs his head after breaking an oar in the Men's Lightweight C 2x race final during the USRowing Masters National Championships on the Oklahoma River on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011. Photo by Zach Gray, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Pictures I Like-getting caught up

Honor guard carries the flag draped coffin during the funeral for 2nd Lt Jered Ewy, 33, of Edmond, at Henderson Hills Baptist Church, Thursday, August 11, 2011. Photo by David McDaniel, The Oklahoman
In the last 12 days, the War in Afghanistan has affected families close to home, we’ve had swings in the weather between extreme heat and severe storms, OU and OSU started up the football season, students went back to school and grass fires started around the Oklahoma City Metro area.
Here’s a couple of pictures that stood out over the last two weeks. You can see all of our photo galleries by clicking here.

Music teacher Amy Thomas greets students arriving by bus as a thunderstorm moves through on the first day of school at Rose Union Elementary in the Deer Creek School District in Oklahoma City Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011. Photo by Paul B. Southerland, The Oklahoman

Norman firefighters work to put out a fire that totally involved numerous apartments at 1111 Oaktree Avenue on Friday, August 5, 2011, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

Scott Sanchez prays over Manuel Garcia, a homeless man, after providing him with water from the City Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City Friday, Aug. 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

Two women walk to further inspect a large fire in Edmond on Saturday, August 6, 2011. Photo by Zach Gray, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Farewell to the summer interns

Derius Brown, 9 of Yukon, dunks his head underwater at Will Rogers Park in Oklahoma City Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
This summer three photography students joined The Oklahoman Photo department as interns; Zach Gray, from Oklahoma State, Garett Fisbeck from the University of Central Oklahoma and Ashley R. West from the University of Oklahoma. Friday is their last official day as interns. Here’s a few our favorite images they produced that you may not have seen on Alternate Crop before.
Hopefully, we gave them a chance to photograph the different types of assignments that news photographers are typically sent to. You can see more images from the 2011 summer interns and staff photographers at The Oklahoman by clicking here. There have been a couple of new slideshows recently too, including one about the Oklahoma City Royals senior softball team, by Garett Fisbeck.

James Paul looks around at some of the more than 6,000 owls on display in the home that he shares with his wife, Doran Barrett, on Wednesday, June 29, 2011. Both Paul and Barrett are deaf and recently celebrated their 40th anniversary. Photo by Zach Gray, The Oklahoman

Steve Bearfoot participates in the parade during the Red Earth Festival at the Cox Convention Center Friday, June 2, 2011. Photo by Ashley R. West, The Oklahoman

Jerry Dyre greats teammates on his way in to the dugout during a game at the Plex in Oklahoma City, July 19, 2011. Dyre played for the Oklahoma City Royals because they were short one person. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

Tell Judkins wipes his eyes after resurfacing at Lake McMurtry near Stillwater on Friday, July 8, 2011. The group was looking for catfish to enter into the 12th Annual Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley, Okla. Photo by Zach Gray, The Oklahoman

Anna poses in Tribal print clothing near the Oklahoma River and the Chesapeake Boathouse in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, July 13, 2011. Photo by Ashley R. West, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
A camp without limits

Shaylin Wells, age 12, of Jenks, Okla., gets rolled around in a padded tube during a summer class camp at Mat Trotters Gymnastics in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, July 27, 2011. Oklahomans Without Limits (OWL) is a summer camp for kids who are blind or visually impaired. The camp pairs each visually impaired child with a sighted buddy for the week long camp. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
I take my daughter to gymnastics class every week. As soon as she walks in and sees the equipment and the coaches, she can’t wait to get her shoes off and get into the gym. At first, it was a very different experience for a group of children who visited Mat Trotters Gymnastics in Oklahoma City on Wednesday. The kids, who are blind or visually impaired, visited the gym as part of the Oklahomans Without Limits summer camp. Some of the kids had never been to an overnight camp or a gymnastics gym before and couldn’t see what awaited them.
They walked gingerly on the soft, carpeted floors and felt of the balance beams and the padded obstacles. Before long, and with help from their sighted “buddies,” the campers were accustomed to their surroundings and having fun. They rode zip lines, jumped into foam pits and walked on the balance beams. But the most heartwarming moments happened when the campers were able to “fly” while strapped into a harness and hoisted into the air. That’s when I saw some familiar expressions of joy.
You can read the story by clicking here, or you can see more images from the Oklahomans Without Limits summer camp by clicking here.

Kane Barton, age 16, of Oklahoma City, who is visually impaired, "flies" in a harness at Mat Trotters Gymnastics in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, July 27, 2011. Oklahomans Without Limits (OWL) is a summer camp for kids who are blind or visually impaired. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
World Cup of Softball 2011

The sun sets during the championship game of the World Cup of Softball between the USA and Japan at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Monday, July 25, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Staff Photographers at The Oklahoman have been covering the World Cup of Softball out at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City for the past several days. The tournament ended with a 6-4 victory for the USA over Japan in the championship game Monday night.
Below are a few images from the competition that you may have missed. You can follow these links to see images from Team USA’s games against the Czech Republic, Canada, Australia, Saturday’s game against Japan, and Sunday’s win over Great Britain. You can also click here to see more photo galleries by staff photographers.

Kelly Grieve (2) slides into first after attempting to steal during the World Cup of Softball at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City on Friday, July 22, 2011. The USA beat Australia 5-2. Photo by Zach Gray, The Oklahoman

Michelle Moultrie (15), a left-fielder for team U.S.A., dives for a ball during a game between The United States and Great Britain at the World Cup of Softball at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Sunday, July 24, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

Magdalena Loudova (12) of the Czech Republic misses a catch for an error during a game in the World Cup of Softball at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Thursday, July 21, 2011. The USA beat the Czech Republic, 7-2. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

USA pitcher Keilani Ricketts (10) catches the ball tossed from catcher Ashley Holcombe (23) as Japan's Eri Yamada (11) slides home to score in the first inning during a game in the World Cup of Softball between the USA and Japan at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 23, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
OKC Royals Living Life to the Fullest

Players of the Oklahoma City Royals pray before beginning a game at the Plex Sports Complex in Oklahoma City, July 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
For the last few weeks, I have spent some quality time with an extraordinary group of gentlemen.
The Oklahoma City Royals are a group of 75+ senior softball players that get together every Tuesday night to fellowship and play the sport they love.
Sports intern Tariq Lee and I worked on this story together. I produced a slideshow separate from his story and we somehow came out at the end of it with a great package that is featured in the sports section of the Oklahoman and on its very own nDepth page on NewsOK.com.
One of the most profound moments I witnessed while doing this project was when one of the guys pulled out a piece of paper with the name of a condition he had been diagnosed with. He had to write it down so he could remember what it was called and tell the other guys about it.

A player for the Oklahoma City Royals reads a new condition that he has been diagnosed with, Polymyalgia rheumatica, to his fellow teammates at the Plex Sports Complex in Oklahoma City, July 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
The condition was polymyalgia rheumatica, a syndrome with pain or stiffness, usually in the neck, shoulders, and hips.
I was inspired by the positive outlook of the players. I won’t ruin any more of the story for you, I’ll just say that I hope I’m this cool when and if I turn 80-years-old.
Check out Tariq’s story and my slideshow here: OKC’s Boys of Summer

Ray Rowland gets ready to bat during a game at the Plex in Oklahoma City, July 19, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

Loal Buttram runs onto the field during a game at the Plex Sports Complex in Oklahoma City, July 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
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
In the last 24 hours

Voodoo pilgrims bathe in a waterfall believed to have purifying powers during an annual pilgrimage in Saut d' Eau, Haiti, Saturday July 16, 2011. The annual pilgrimage to Saut d' Eau venerates the site where believers say the Virgin Mary, whom many here revere as the goddess of love, Ezili Danto, once appeared. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Comparatively speaking, the last 24 hours have been pretty slow. Even so, there were almost 1,800 pictures input into our Merlin archive system since Saturday at around two o’clock. There are pictures from religious festivals, weddings, war, protests, golf tournaments, soccer games and fights to name just a few. Here are a few pictures from the last 24 hours. Click here to see more images or click here to see all of our photo galleries.

Cathy Reilly performs during the Chevy Bricktown Banjo Bash near Sheridan Avenue and Oklahoma Avenue in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 16, 2011. The event was part of the annual convention of the Fretted Instrument Guild of America. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

U.S Marine Cpl. Devin Cross, 22, of Richmond Ind., with Delta Company 1st Tank Battalion out of Twentynine Palms, Calif., waits to board a helicopter home as his company wraps up their deployment Sunday, July 17, 2011 at Combat Out Post Shir Ghazay in Helmand province, Afghanistan. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Brian Viloria, of Waipahu, Hawaii, right, lands a punch against WBO flyweight title holder Julio Cesar Miranda, of Mexico, in the 3rd round, Saturday, July 16, 2011, in Honolulu. Viloria defeated Miranda after 12 rounds. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
-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
