Livestrong for Lockwood

Livestrong. That is what Ian Lockwood was all about and all his teammates knew it. Being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2009, Lockwood overcame the obstacle and was cancer-free last summer. Only in recent months did the cancer return to claim his physical life, but it failed to eliminate the impact his heart and spirit had on the community. The senior Navarre High School football player was well loved and supported by family, friends, and even others who never knew him personally. Many of those people gathered together on a dreary Friday afternoon at the football stadium to celebrate his life and shed a few tears. Former UF football coach Urban Meyer and former UF safety Ahmad Black (top photo) were present at the service and released black and yellow balloons along with Ian's parents symbolizing their release of Ian into heaven.

Here is Ian Lockwood in October of 2009. I took this photo during half time of their homecoming:


The Navarre players rally together and raise Ian's helment to honor their friend and fellow teammate:


Many cried and held hands tightly during the service:


Urban Meyer hugs Ian's father as his mother wipes a few tears:


On Wednesday, Feb. 2, a car wreck occurred on Highway 20 across from the new Walmart in Niceville. Here was one of the cars with damage:


Rocky Bayou beats South Walton, 1-0 on February 3rd:


Choctaw defeats Rutherford, 8-0 on February 3rd:


Choctaw loses to Washington, 55-53 on February 4th:


Fort Walton Beach beats Niceville, 45-14 on February 5th:


Students from Wright Elementary sing during their Black History Month Program:


Video:


Choctaw loses to Pensacola, 48-45 on February 11th:


Choctaw defeats Ponte Vedra, 3-0 on February 11th:


Check back for more updates!
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Playful Pygmies, Pumped Players, & Prideful Participants

Pygmy goats are entertaining, almost like dogs. This assignment (on January 19th) was a feature piece on a lady in Holt who owns a goat farm:

Video:


Fort Walton Beach plays hometown rival Choctawhatchee and wins 43-40 on Friday, Jan. 21st:



Right after the girls play, the boys duke it out on the court and Fort Walton Beach wins their third-straight series game, 60-50:



For the third year in a row, I photographed (and shot video) of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade on Highway 98 and Hollywood Blvd on Monday, Jan. 19th. I took a different approach this year and focused my interviews (for the video) on MLK's vision of helping others:





Video:


In the Boys soccer District 1-4A tournament, Choctaw battled West Florida Tech and won 9-1 to claim the district title:









www.melphotos.imagekind.com
www.nwfdailynews.com
www.varsitysportswest.com

Point~of~View

With the New Year underway, I thought I would take a fresh approach to my blog this year. With the amount of time I will be spending at the Daily News, I decided to add more images and less words to each post. Unless something needs an extensive explanation, only a sentence or two will describe each image. Here are images (and a video) from the first two weeks on the job. The top image is from a controlled burn off Highway 98 last Wednesday.

Two cheerleaders throw plastic basketballs into the stands during the grand opening ceremony of the new arena at the Northwest Florida State College campus in Niceville:


Men's hoops game on the night of the grand opening:


A snowbird getting his hair trimmed at the Winter Guest Fest on Okaloosa Island on Friday, Jan. 7:


Parents at Plew Elementary School are first place in the country for their recycling efforts:


Fort Walton Beach boys basketball vs. Niceville on Friday, Jan. 14:


Northwest Florida State College's women's bball on Saturday, Jan. 15:


Same night, same school, but the men play:


I captured a struggle for the ball during both games:


The men seem more dramatic:


VIDEO:

The 39th Annual Epiphany Cross Dive into the bayou by a local church:


That is all for this week! Post comments! And check out my site for purchasing these images: www.melphotos.imagekind.com.
www.nwfdailynews.com
www.varsitysportswest.com