In remembrance, In support, In recognition

Last week I had only one assignment because I was feeling physically ill in the later half of the week. For my one assignment, I drove to Miramar Beach to photograph a crime scene where several students from Chile were shot. I arrived several days later to take photos outside the town home and found several tea candles and flowers by the front door.



Earlier this week, I was sent to Choctaw Beach to photograph a house that burned to the ground. I was told after calling the firehouse that no one was inside of the house during the fire or injured. After driving down a narrow dirt road and getting lost at one point, I finally found the house. It was next to another house and a farm. The proximity between that house and the house next to it was small, so I was surprised the fire was well contained. I took several pictures of the damage before the owner politely asked me to leave.



Yesterday I had two assignments. First I went to Uptown Station to photograph and shoot video of a billboard signing in support of the F-35 jets coming to the area. I watched the board fill up with signatures as the sounds of country music blasted in the background. Some people had their kids sign the board and others signed their spouse’s name. I was only there for about forty-five minutes out of the four hours they were going to have the board available for signatures, but I am sure the board was filled up completely.



VIDEO:


Next, I drove over to Bruner Middle School to photograph the eight grade students watch Civil War re-enactors showcase the lives of the soldiers. There were four stations, each pertaining to a certain aspect of the solder’s lives. There was one station with the women and home life, another with the life of a Yankee soldier, one with the southern soldiers, and the last had an Irish soldier. They showed the foods that they ate, the blankets they would sleep in, the items they used for recreation, and the weaponry they would use. The photo published was the Irish soldier who showed his weapon to the students.



Today I went with Nick to the 2nd Annual 30a St. Patrick’s Day Parade near San Destin. Nick shot video and I did stills. The crowd was small, but the beads, clovers, hats, and smiles were large. The 23rd Highlanders International Performing Bagpipe & Drum Band was there playing their bagpipes (bottom photo) as well as a man dressed in a leprechaun hat and beard playing the harmonica. I photographed everything from the parade to the leisure activities going on beforehand. I created a gallery with more images.