Kicking off high school football

On Friday I tagged along with Nick and photographed the high school football Kickoff Classic between Niceville and Fort Walton Beach. I borrowed the paper's Nikon body and 300mm lens for the game and also brought along my monopod. As I stepped onto the side of the field, the excitement I had for the game resurfaced from a place so well hidden inside of me. The dim yet bright lights, the silly string sprayed in the air by the students, the band dancing to their music, and the players lined across the side in their jerseys signified the reality of the long-anticipated football season. I was ready.

The second half of the game consisted of the Varsity players, who started the half on a 14-14 score. Niceville pulled ahead of Fort Walton Beach with a final score of 42-35. Here are a few varsity shots I photographed:







The first half consisted of both freshmen and junior varsity players. They pulled both sides to a 14-14 score just in time for halftime. Here are a few photos from that half:







During half time I took a few pictures of the color guard on the field. This picture was my favorite:



Both galleries are on the web at the Daily News' varsity sports site: www.varsitysportswest.com

Drill Tosses

The Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team tossed M-1 rifles during a performance at the fitness center on Eglin Air Force Base on Monday, August 17. The drill team, which started more than 60 years ago, travels to different Air Force bases across the globe to perform for communities and schools. Here are my two published photos:

July in the works

Just before the fourth of July, I took a portrait of an Eglin Air Force Base airman, who was celebrating his first fourth of July as a U.S. citizen:


I traveled to the Gulfarium later that week and photographed a summer camp petting stingrays and feeding horseshoe crabs:


During the flag-raising ceremony in Fort Walton Beach, I took pictures of the Emerald Coast Legends winner as she sang the national anthem to honor military personnel:


On Saturday, July 11, two former football rivals gathered at Fort Walton Beach high school's football stadium to practice football fundamentals with middle school kids as part of the Junior Players Skills Camp. Former Choctawhatchee and Auburn football player Willie Gosha (left) and former Fort Walton Beach and Florida State standout E.G. Green watch as the campers run sprints:


Willie Gosha challenges one of the campers during a drill:


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