Downtown Fire

December 31st, 2009 , Laura

Breaking news!  The life of a photojournalist can be quite exciting at times.  You never know what assignment you will get each day, and sometimes you get a phone call and you just have to start running.  Well, that is how my morning started.  I got a call from one of our reporters at 7:00 a.m., and she told me that there was a fire in downtown Enterprise.  I was half awake, but I put some clothes on, brushed my teeth and ran out the door.  When I arrived on the scene, I could immediately tell this was going to be a big deal.  The fire had started at Lanny’s gym, and appeared to be spreading to other businesses.  As I am typing this, firefighters from Enterprise, Ozark, Daleville and Fort Rucker are still battling this blaze, although it appears to be somewhat contained now.  However, I think the downtown area will have massive smoke damage.  Please check out my photos and leave me some comments.  Happy New Year!

Firefighters work to put out the fire at Lanny's gym.

 

A close-up of firefighters working to extinguish the flames.

 

Smoke covers Main Street in downtown Enterprise.

Christmas

December 7th, 2009 , Laura

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Yes the holidays are here, and all the Christmas festivities are underway.  This is always the busiest time of year for me because every town, church and civic group has some sort of Christmas celebration that I have to cover.  Now don’t get me wrong here, I do have fun covering these events because they are excellent opportunities for feature shots.  However, I have been covering Enterprise, Al., and Coffee County for over three years, and there is a slight sense of déjà vu when I cover one of these events.

The Enterprise Christmas Tree-Lighting Ceremony is one example, and I just happened to have covered it again this year.  Back in 2007, I took this photo of a little boy sitting on Santa’s lap, and I got a great deal of positive feedback afterwards.  Later on, I submitted it for the 2008 Alabama Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, and I received first place for Best Feature Photo.  Now after receiving the award, I find it difficult sometimes to find a different type of shot for an event that is covered every year.  I know I am not the first photographer to run into this problem, but I try not to produce the same shots every time I cover an assignment, whether it is using a different angle or using light in a different way.  I guess what they say is true; nothing is better than the original.

Santa 1

At left, Santa Claus meets with 11-month-old Kai Noa after the Enterprise Christmas Tree-Lighting Ceremony Dec. 6, 2007.

Santa 2

Above, eight-year-old Elizabeth Jester tells Santa what she wants for Christmas after the Enterprise Christmas Tree-Lighting Ceremony Dec. 4, 2009.

Homecoming

October 16th, 2009 , Laura

Seniors

The Enterprise High School seniors are recognized on the field during the halftime show.

     This is one of my favorite images from the Enterprise Homecoming game against Northview on Oct. 2.  After the halftime show, the entire senior class was called to the field and recognized.  You could see how excited the kids were to be there at the game, and I think it was important that we give them a little credit.  The Enterprise class of 2010 will have spent their entire high school career without an actual high school.  Not many of us can imagine what that is like.

     For almost three years I have watched these students and this community pick itself back up after tragedy which came in the form of a March 1, 2007 tornado that made a direct hit on Enterprise High School and killed eight students and one senior citizen.  I have to say for an outsider, this town can take a little adjustment, but most of the people are very open and welcoming.  The evidence can be seen in the students at Enterprise High School.  There is a sense of camaraderie and a commitment to tradition.  These things were missing in my personal high school experience.

     Please check out my new audio slideshow on the EHS Homecoming and tell me what you think.

Tim Tebow

September 25th, 2009 , Laura

_MG_3273                                                                                                                                

Tim Tebow celebrating Florida’s victory over Troy.

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Tim Tebow lines up to make a play.

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Troy defenders Rod Winston (41) and Eugene
Kinlaw (99) chase Florida quarterback Tim
Tebow at the Swamp.

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Tim Tebow in the huddle.

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A close-up of Florida quarterback Tim
Tebow as he looks to make a pass. 

    For my first blog, I thought it would be appropriate that I do something sports-related since sports photography is such a big part of my job at The Southeast Sun.  I recently got a chance to go see the Florida Gators play for the second time during the reign of Tebow.  Florida was playing the Trojans from Troy University, which is a team that my paper covers during the season.  I was looking forward to the game, but it did not turn out quite like I expected.   

    The sky was dark and gloomy as the game prepared to start, and just after kickoff, the rain came down.  I absolutely hate covering sports in the rain because it is so uncomfortable, and it is never good for your equipment.  There were probably 30 or so photographers out on the sidelines with big expensive lenses, and it sure was nice to see that I wasn’t the only one with a plastic bag and a towel.  A garbage bag and masking tape work just as well as that expensive rain gear any day.

    During the first quarter I had high hopes for the Trojans.  They weren’t getting anywhere, but they weren’t backing down either.  Then Florida scored their first touchdown, and it was downhill from there, and the rain came down too.  When the rain finally started to die down, I focused my attention on the star, Florida’s quarterback, Tim Tebow.  He really is a force to be recognized, and his fans are really dedicated.  I stopped counting the blue jerseys with the number 15 in the crowd not long after I got down to the field.  The Gators defeated the Trojans 56-6 Sept. 12, at the Swamp.

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