Fighting back

Instructors Victoria Little, Sam Barksdale and Ryan Hoover, rear, demonstrate martial arts techniques for neutralizing an active shooter on Thursday January 10, 2013 at Ryan Hoover's Extreme Karate in Gastonia. Hoover is now offering classes for educators to prepare for an active shooter situation on campus. 

I'd like to state for the record, this was a fun assignment. 

This local martial arts school is offering classes just for teachers and other school employees to learn how to neutralize an active shooter on campus, which, if you don't mind me sharing my opinion, is a much better idea than arming custodians as one Ohio school board just voted to do. 

I had the time, so I went ahead and set up some studio lights, which was really necessary, since the place was darker than a coal miner's backside. I seem to get good portrait and studio assignments less and less these days, so I always value the opportunity to pull that gear out when I can. 

It didn't hurt that the instructors were perfectly cast for their parts; just look at the face on Sam Barksdale (the bad guy) in the bottom picture! 

Welcoming 2013 with a bang

The Cherryville New Years Shooters conclude their shooting tour of the town at Cherryville's football stadium on Tuesday January 1, 2013.

Mark Britton holds a flashlight on Matt Friedell, from left, Spence Houser and a woman who's name could not be confirmed while another friend takes pictures as the Cherryville New Years Shooters conclude their shooting tour of the town at Cherryville's football stadium on Tuesday January 1, 2013. Houser injuried his trigger finger during the day of musket shooting.

Smoke and flames burst from the barrel of Perry Franklin's musket as the Cherryville New Years Shooters conclude their shooting tour of the town at Cherryville's football stadium on Tuesday January 1, 2013.

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. 

Ink

Photo of local woman Kayla Coley for a story about people with tattoos being discriminated against when applying for jobs. 

East Lincoln, 2A State Champions

Tarboro defensive back Aaron Moore, left, breaks up a pass intended for East Lincoln receiver Jesse Earnhardt in the end zone during the NCHSAA 2A state championship game at Wake Forest University on Saturday December 1, 2012.

East Lincoln receiver Tyler Brock reacts after catching a touchdown pass in the second half during the championship game.

East Lincoln receiver Jesse Earnhardt outruns a host of Tarboro defenders.

East Lincoln receiver Jesse Earnhardt catches a pass as Tarboro defensive back Najee Brown takes a tumble.

Jack Rhodes congratulates his son, East Lincoln linebacker Justin Rhodes, after they defeated Tarboro.

East Lincoln running back Marquis Pharr dives into the endzone past Tarboro defenders Radja Bobbitt, left, and Quentin Roberson.

Operation Wedding Gown

Zina Thornton, from left, and sister Cherrelle Thornton look on as employee Sara Alenduff helps their friend Diana Song, from Fayetteville, NC, choose a wedding gown during the 2nd Annual Brides Across America Gown Giveaway at Poffie Girls bridal and formal boutique in Gastonia on Sunday November 18, 2012.

Forty two brides who serve in the U.S. armed forces or are marrying a service member received a free package of a designer dress, tiara, veil, shoes and one piece of jewelry with a combined retail value of over $2,000.

Crowders in Color

The fall color seems to just keep hanging around at Crowders Mountain, even when most of Gaston County has already dropped it's leaves. I was driving down Linwood Road on Wednesday between assignments and I had to pull over and take this picture. 

I keep wanting to get out and enjoy the picture possibilities while it lasts, but things keep coming up on my days off. Crossing my fingers for Thursday.

Scared Stiff

Performer Mac Hawkins jumps out and scares visitors on a tour of the Haunted Mill in Belmont on Sunday October 21, 2012. 

Performers John Bailey, right, and Ben Longstreet clown around for a photo while waiting on 'fresh meat,' the term the crew uses to refer to visitors, at the Haunted Mill in Belmont.

Get well soon

Emma Bowen, 6, from left, Maylee McNair, 5, Alexandria Bowen, 9, and Mallory McNair, 11, take turns writing on a large card for all the victims of a recent outbreak of E. coli infections, including the McNair sisters' cousin Jordan McNair who is still hospitalized, during a prayer vigil for the victims at Firestone Wesleyan Church on Union Road in Gastonia on Saturday October 20, 2012.

At the time of the vigil, 106 individuals, including one toddler who passed away, have been diagnosed with the illness after visiting the Cleveland County Fair. 

Rita Welch, left, and Veronica Gibson offer support to Bennie McClannon, seated, as Christopher Bridges and sister Renee Bridges light candles during a prayer vigil for Jordan McNair, McClannon's grandson, and other E. coli victims at Firestone Wesleyan Church on Union Road in Gastonia on Saturday October 20, 2012.

Soccer Action

North Greenville's Brooke Domingo reacts as Belmont Abbey players celebrate a goal by Ananda Gebreyesus during the soccer match at Belmont Abbey on Saturday October 6, 2012.

Lees-McRae goalkeeper Kaitlyn Briggs dives for the ball as Belmont Abbey's Ananda Gebreyesus attempts a shot on goal during the soccer match at Belmont Abbey on Wednesday September 26, 2012.

The Woman in Pink

Two-time cancer survivor Kim Beverly, founder of The Woman in Pink, poses for a photo at It's A Girl Thing Salon on Second Ave. in Gastonia on Thursday October 4, 2012. The Woman in Pink, which she runs with two partners, works to donate wigs to women suffering hair loss due to cancer treatment. 

Biker Church

Husband and wife Jewel and Jimmy Stiff with the Christian rock band Apprehended Ones perform at Biker Church at The Homestead Lodge on Stowe Road in Gastonia on Sunday September 30, 2012.

Scott 'Shoes' McCurry joins other motorcycle enthusiasts and their families watching Apprehended Ones perform.

The Rev. Ben Smith speaks during Biker Church. He says he tries to avoid getting too 'preachy' with the alternative service.

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.

Perilous Peaks

Most people don't know this, but there are at least six small aircraft wrecks in the Black Mountain Range, home of Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in Eastern North America.

All the ones I'm familiar with are small Cessna type planes like this one. Some crashed into the mountain due to weather, and at least one set down under control after a mechanical problem. The pilot and passenger in that one both survived. Most others were not so fortunate.

It isn't too hard to fathom why there are so many. Most of these planes fly below 5,000 ft in unregulated airspace. Most of the Black Mountain range is over 6,000 ft in elevation and often obscured in clouds.

The saddest part of the story, perhaps, is that both of the crash sites I've been to so far are only fifty feet below the ridge line. A little bit more altitude and they probably would have made it.

I'm currently trying to find out more about the history of some of these incidents and hope to locate all the wrecks. If you know anything please let me know.

A second chance for the Loray?

A view of the Loray Mill in Gastonia on Monday June 25, 2012. Gastonia leaders announced Monday the acquisition of a Federal Housing Administration loan of almost $21 million to reconfigure the historic mill into loft apartments and retail space.

A few weeks ago a developer announced plans to redevelop two historic high rise buildings in downtown Gastonia into apartments. This week it was announced that another developer has secured a major piece of the funding necessary to start a project to redevelop the historic Loray Mill into apartments. 

For a lot of people in the area, myself included, this is great news. For all too long these structurally sound but very old, and in the case of the Loray Mill, historically significant structures have been abandoned for decades. 

There are still quite a few challenges ahead for the projects, but I'm just glad to see these buildings put back to good use. 

Read Out in Pride

People circle in Center City Park on Main Avenue in Gastonia and light candles during the PFLAG Gaston (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) 'Read out in Pride' event on Thursday June 21, 2012. The group is touting the event as the first ever LGBT pride event in Gastonia.

Your Out!

Queen City Mustangs catcher James Snover tags out Gastonia Post 23's Garrett Lowery at home in the first inning of the game at Sims Legion Park on Sunday June 17, 2012.

Nightscapes

I took a few night street scape photos of downtown Gastonia, above, and Belmont  recently for an ad campaign for a local car dealership. I've yet to see what the paper did with them, but I figured I would go ahead and share them here.

For those who are interested, the bottom photo was made by "light painting" the scene with a flashlight during the long exposure.  

The graduations

Paula Regalado celebrates after receiving her diploma during the Belmont Abbey College commencement program on Saturday May 12, 2012 in front of the Belmont Abbey Basilica in Belmont. Regalado was named Student of the Year later in the program.

Enjoy a few photos from the graduations I covered in the past few weeks. I only shot five this year, which is down one or two from previous years.

Carmen McMillan puts on her hood  during the Belmont Abbey College commencement program on Saturday May 12, 2012.

People cheer for graduates as they receive their diplomas during Kings Mountain High's graduation exercises in John Gamble Stadium on Friday June 8, 2012.

Peyton John Woodman, facing, embraces Mikael Anton McCollum after Highland School of Technology's graduation ceremony for the class of 2012 on Saturday June 9, 2012.