Panthers vs Raiders

Carolina cornerback James Dockery, right, breaks up a pass intended for Oakland receiver Rod Streater in the second hald during the NFL game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Sunday December 23, 2012. 

Carolina receiver Louis Murphy, right, congratulates Steve Smith after he caught a touchdown pass in the first half. 

Oakland linebacker Miles Burris, left, breaks up, and nearly intercepts, a pass intended for Carolina running back DeAngelo Williams. 

Oakland quarterback Matt Leinart throws a pass to running back Mike Goodson. 

DNC 2012

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Last week was possibly the longest of my career as a photojournalist, in terms of hours worked, but I wouldn't have traded the assignment to cover the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte for anything.

There were so many things to see and pictures to take that it was impossible to take it all in. With something like 10,000 members of the news media present not much went on without being captured on camera, and each day I would look at slideshows from other publications just to see all kinds of things I missed.

I don't have the skill (or interest, if I'm honest) to put down all my thoughts in words. My brain is DNC-ed out. So enjoy this slideshow of some of my favorite DNC photos while I try to recover.

Everything's better with Butter

U.S. Olympic Team member Eric 'Butter' Hurd poses in his paddling gear at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte on Tuesday June 26, 2012. Hurd and his teammate Jeff Larimer will be competing in the tandem canoe slalom event in London this week.

I have the unique privilege this year of pulling for one of my friends, Eric "Butter" Hurd, who is competing with teammate Jeff Larimer in tandem canoe slalom at the London Olympics this week. 

I took the photos above a few weeks ago before he left for London (Jeff lives in Atlanta and wasn't available) and the photo below is from U.S. Team Trials at the whitewater center earlier in the summer. 

U.S. Olympic athletes don't get much support, unless they play basketball or they're an attractive female. That sounds rough, but it's essentially true. It doesn't help that in North America NBC has a monopoly on using the Olympic Games to fill space between commercials. As long as that practice is allowed to continue, only the popular sports will generate lucrative sponsorships for a few select athletes that make good talking points.

In any event, I'll be pulling for Butter this week, and if you want to show your support he has T-shirts on sale for a small donation with a design based on my photo below. I think they look pretty cool. (Disclaimer: I receive no profit from the sale of the shirt. The screen printing company is taking a chunk, but most of it goes straight to Hurd). 

Here's the link to buy a shirt.

Olympic Team Trials for Whitewater Slalom

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Presidential Visit

President Barack Obama waves as he boards Air Force One at the North Carolina Air National Guard Base at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Wednesday March 7. Obama spoke at the Daimler Trucks North America Mount Holly Truck Manufacturing Plant about initiatives to promote alternative energy and fuel efficient vehicles. 

My little home town was graced with a presidential visit today, and I drew airport duty. 

If sitting around at an airport all day to get pictures of a plane landing and a guy waving doesn't sound very exciting that's because it isn't. But this is the first time a sitting president has come to Gaston County in longer than I can remember (I think the last was Clinton) and Air Force One is just plain cool. 

So pardon me for feeling like a little kid inside when I got to watch this monster of a plane land, and take off a few hours later, at a relatively close distance. 

And pardon me if I enjoy having the leader of the free world come to my little home town to talk about an important issue, namely energy, and announce new efforts to promote sustainability and fuel-efficient cars and trucks. 

If nothing else, the light was good and it was an easy assignment. 

Until next time, Mr. President (which will probably be when the Democratic National Convention comes to town in a few months). 

Air Force One comes in for a landing at the North Carolina Air National Guard Base at Charlotte Douglas International.  (click on photo to view larger)

Panthers vs Buccaneers

Tampa Bay wide receiver Arrelious Benn catches a pass pass in the end zone during the second quarter of the game against Carolina on Saturday December 24, 2011 at Bank of America Stadium. The pass was initially called incomplete, but on review was ruled a touchdown. 

Carolina quarterback Cam Newton evades Tampa Bay defenders Quincy Black, left and Frank Okam during the first quarter. 

Carolina running back DeAngelo Williams breaks the tackle of Tampa Bay defender Ahmad Black during the second half. 

ACC Championship

I devoted a great deal of time during Saturday's ACC championship game to trying to find and get shots of one specific Clemson assistant coach that had local ties. He may or may not have actually been on the sidelines at any point during the game, but I did manage to get a few decent shots of game action.

And on another note, I dropped my stainless steel water bottle as I was getting out of my car (I had to park about five blocks away, just FYI), splitting it open at the bottom. Normaly they have free bottled water in the field media workroom (I've heard it referred to as the 'media lounge'), but today? All out.

So I had to ride the elevator up and down and all around, then walk half way around the concorse amid screaming fans just to pay $4 for a bottle of water.

At the end of the evening, I would say my day was better than the Hokies' but worse than the Tigers'.

Graduation time again

Nataya A. Smith celebrates after receiving his diploma in Welding Technology during Gaston College commencement in Bojangles Coliseum on Friday May 13, 2011.

Panthers vs Falcons

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Futbol to Football

North Gaston High School senior Drew Stewart practices kicking field goals at Revolution Park in Charlotte on Monday January 26, 2009. Stewart, a soccer player since childhood, has become a skilled football kicker in just two years and has chosen to make football his sole collegiate sport.

Panthers vs Lions

Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith reacts after having a pass broken up by Detroit Lions defender Leigh Bodden (#28) during second-half NFL game action at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday November 16. The Panthers defeated the Lions 31-22.

A Cold Welcome for McCain

Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain waits in a vehicle with wife Cindy after arriving at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport on his "Straight Talk Express" campaign jet on Friday October 17, 2008. McCain will be making a speach in Concord on Saturday.


The Gazette received a press release from the McCain campaign on Friday that lead us to believe the Senator would be speaking briefly after arriving at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport that evening.

My evening assignment to shoot a high school homecoming parade had been rained out, so with nothing else to do I was eager to shoot some national news.

As it turns out, the only thing I shot was McCain walking down the steps of is jet, getting in an SUV, and being whisked away in his motorcade without so much as a glance or a wave! I felt like some sort of paparazzi!

Apparently, the vague press release was simply notifying media when and where McCain would be arriving so we could get shots of him doing just that. A simple phone call probably would have cleared things up, but instead I waited ignorantly in the cold, rainy darkness in front of a Wilson Air terminal for basically nothing.

I sent in all of two pictures in case they wanted to preview his speech in nearby Concord on Saturday, but--not surprisingly--none ran.

The truth is, I was getting up very early the next day shoot McCain's speech, so I was thrilled to be getting out of there earlier than expected. While the other Gazette photogs were out shooting prep football in the cold rain I was relaxing at home!

Touchdown!

With the fans reflected in his visor, Carolina running back DeAngelo Williams runs through the end zone for a touchdown in the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday October 5, 2008. The Panthers defeated the the Chiefs 34-0.

Obama returns to Charlotte (Barack this time)

Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) brought his message of change to Charlotte Sunday, where he spoke to a crowd of over 20,000 people gathered in the streets of uptown.

In a location in front of the Charlotte Federal Building seemingly chosen more for security reasons than for viewablility, Obama attacked John McCain and the economic policies McCain shares with President Bush and denounced the republicans for trying to market themselves as agents of change.

Obama had scheduled a visit to the queen city in July, but was forced to cancel when his chartered plane was forced to make an emergency landing with mechanical issues. Since July, the traditionaly republican North Carolina has become a legitimate battleground state where polls indicate the vote could go either way--a fact that hasn't slipped past the Obama Campaign.

This week alone has seen three visits from the campaign. One week ago on Sunday Sep. 14 Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden spoke in Charlotte and Michelle Obama hosted a roundtable discussion on women's issues on Thursday just blocks away from where her husband spoke yesterday.

With less than two months until election day, it is expected that the Obama Campaign will be visiting North Carolina again next month. At this time the McCain campaign has not announced any plans to to appear in the state.

View more photos from the event at http://www.gastongazette.com/

Panthers Preseason Opener

Carolina running back DeAngelo Williams fumbles the ball in second-quarter preseason game action against the Washington Redskins at Bank of America Stadium on August 23. The ball was recovered by carolina wide receiver Steve Smith for a touchdown. Panthers wide reciever Steve Smith, below, gestures to the crowd during warm ups.

Uptown Crit

Cyclists make a turn at the corner of Church Street and Second Street in uptown Charlotte, top, during the men's 50-mile Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium on August 2. The pelaton in the women's 25 mile race, above, rounds a corner of the uptown course.

Katharine Carroll, left, leads the pack by a 15 second margin on her way to winning the women's 25 mile race.

24 Hours of Booty

Cyclists ride on Queens Avenue in Charlotte, during the seventh annual 24 Hours of Booty charity ride on July 25, 2008.Theron Pickens, right, rides in the 24 Hours of Booty charity ride in Charlotte wearing a tutu--the result of a lost bet--on Friday July 25, 2008.

‘Fired up’ and no Obama

David Claytor of Chester, SC leads a crowd gathered at James Martin Middle School in Charlotte, NC in the chant "Fired up and ready to go!" on July 7, 2008. Barack Obama was scheduled to speak to this crowd of “Working families” and campaign volunteers about the US economy, but was forced to cancel after his plane was grounded with mechanical issues in St. Louis.

The crowd was “Fired up and ready to go” for Barack Obama yesterday at James Martin Middle School in Charlotte, but they ended up leaving a little disappointed after the Democrat senator from Illinois was a no-show.

Obama was scheduled to speak to the invitation-only crowd of volunteers and “working families” about the struggling US economy, but those plans were canceled after Obama’s charter jet was forced to make an unscheduled landing in St. Louis with mechanical problems.

At about 12:30pm campaign staff brought bottled water and granola bars for the supporters—some of whom had arrived as early as 9:00am for a chance to see the presumptive democratic nominee.

It was announced shortly before 1:00pm that Obama would not be able to make his engagement. Instead, he would be phoning in from St. Louis to deliver his speech by conference call. Powered by hope, it would seem, Obama supporter David Claytor of Chester, SC stood and lead the crowd in an energetic chant of “Fired up and ready to go” in an effort to boost morale during the wait for Obama’s address.

Claytor and his wife both work in charlotte area schools and volunteer for the Obama Campaign. “Oh, surely” he replied when asked if he would come out when Obama does make it to Charlotte.

In his roughly 10 minute address, Obama did indeed promise to return to charlotte soon—and as well he should. Though North Carolina has elected democratic governors, the state hasn’t voted for a democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter.

NC Lieutenant Governor and democratic gubernatorial candidate Bev Perdue, US senate candidate Kay Hagan, and several local politicians took the floor in the media center of the middle school in Obama’s absence. There is no word as to when Obama will reschedule his visit to Charlotte.

Right: Democratic US Senate candidate Kay Hagan speaks to the crowd gathered at James Martin Middle School in Charlotte, NC on July 7, 2008.