Finally back under the lights

I heart high school football. I think it is one of the best things that we get to do as newspaper photographers. So I love getting out and into a game. I've been either on day shift or out of town so far these season, and finally got out to knock the rust off.







Al Soderman and his son, Amphi student Alan Soderman Jr., 16, cheer on the Panthers at Amphitheatre High School Oct 9, 2009 in Tucson, Ariz. Amphi went on to beat Sahuarita 21-7. Alan Jr. has cerebral palsy but does not miss a home football game with his dad.

Tucson Skies

Aurelia Cohen, far right and members of Flam Chen pyrotechnic theatre troup support a community awareness event about falling water table levels in the Rillito River in Tucson Arizona on Sept. 12, 2009. Water levels in the river have fallen over 100 feet in the past century due to pumping for industry and municipal use.

General Promotion Ceremony

I had the pleasure of witnessing the promotion ceremony of an Air Force Brigadier General today. The attention to detail and procedure and detail is something that makes the military a pleasure to photograph. I was lucky enough to make some pictures of the honor guard preparing for the ceremony and then did my best to stretch my creativity during the ceremony itself. Brigadier General Paul T. Johnson, commander of the 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. He is responsible for one of the largest installations and flying operations in the United States and oversees more than 6,700 airmen, 3,200 civilians and 100 aircraft.

Sam Abell's Signed Book up for Auction

Photojournalism is a relatively small community that at times can band together with the goal of taking care of folks in our industry who really need it.
Currently, St. Petersburg Times photojournalist
Stephen Coddington is in a battle with big insurance and trying to keep his family together. If you are able to make a contribution, please follow the link above to the A Photo a Day Story that gives options for helping out. One of the latest is a great opportunity to get a one of a kind piece of photo journalism history:
There's currently an eBay auction of world renowned photographer Sam
Abell's latest hardcover photo book, The Life of a Photograph, signed
by the master himself. Published in 2008 by the National Geographic
Society.

Search for item #260456026357

or go here http://tinyurl.com/mbed9u

The Fountain

Natalie Guillen is a passionate and talented photojournalist, and someone who thirsts for life. When she makes friends, they are for keeps, when she dances, she flies, and she never passes up a fountain.



Plaza Colón, Old San Juan.

Salsa

Puerto Rico is credited in most circles to be the birthplace of salsa dancing. The other place credited is New York City. In Old San Juan, at the Newyorican Café, they can claim both, and have live salsa bands that perform in the intimate but beloved space that was once touted as one of the last places in San Juan that one could go to get a truly authentic salsa experience. In recent years it has slowly gone the way of a tourist bar, but remains wildly popular and has plenty of opportunity to celebrate the Latin groove.

Skate Park

As important as eyes are to photography, so are ears. After bolting for some shelter from a downpour in the Puerto Rican surf destination of Rincón, I heard a rumbling coming from behind me. It turns out that what I heard was skateboards whooshing through a concrete course in an echoing building. It was the perfect time of day, and although we missed sunset on the beach, I had a great time meeting some nice people and exploring a little color and light.