A Titan of a player

I had a photo shoot earlier this afternoon at Gadsden City High School with Alabama signee Jerrell Harris for the cover of the May edition of the Sports Report that is put out by HighSchoolGameDay.com.

He is a super nice young man (even if he is going to Alabama). I told him to look for me on the sidelines. Maybe I'll see him this fall if I can get to Tuscaloosa. I know I'll see him in Athens. He should get lots of playing time, if not starting for the Crimson Tide. I wish him luck.


I was pleased with just about every shot and pose we asked Jerrell to do. He never complained, which made my job easier. Maybe some day I'll get the hang of this photography stuff.


Watch out for this Titan. He will be playing for years to come.

TALLADEGA is an old Indian word for 'The big one happens here!'

Yep.....that's what they get for building this huge complex on an old Indian burial ground. Maybe that's why strange things always happen here. You know the big one's gonna happen, but you can't ever really relax, 'cause it can happen more than once during a race.

Maybe, just maybe, TALLADEGA is the Indian word for 'Murphy's Law'. Despite the equipment problems I had all weekend, I had lots of success shooting out of the tower at the exit of turn two. That seemed to be the hotspot all weekend.

'Bout time!!!!!


When I first started shooting NASCAR, retired Atlanta Motor Speedway track photographer Ted McMahan told me he didn't want to see any images unless the car was upside down or on fire. After a short Google search, this image of Kevin Harvick on fire after the last lap wreck has made its way on the wire services to Italy and France. FIRE, GOOD!!!


The same for this image......FIRE, GOOD. Image, worldwide.


It pays to be patient. Some folks had left to shoot at other locations before the action started.


This is the first 'Big un' during Sunday's race.


And this is the 'Big un' during Saturdays Nationwide race.


A.J. Allmindinger is helped from his injured race car after the last lap wreck. His car stopped below the tower where I was shooting from.


A crowd gathers at the fence to watch A.J. as he literally beats the shit out of his race car because of a mechanical problem with the drivetrain. His car didn't look like it had too much damage, but he was sitting below the tower, revving the engine and trying to shift it into gear, but the car wouldn't move. My guess is he tore the transmission out of it during the wreck.


Like I said earlier, some folks left just before the action began. Ernie said if he would leave, the 'Big un' would happen in front of us in two laps.....it took three laps before it happened. Ernie, I hope at the next race I shoot, I see you and David riding off into the sunset again. Thanks.


TROUBLE IN TURN TWO!!!!!!


I didn't see anyone staring at him.


Some people just know how to have fun!!!!


And some people are too easily entertained!!!!


I think Kurt Busch left some debris......


Something about this is just creepie to me.


But security kept a close eye on things all weekend long and things seemed to have run smoothly, which is unusual, security wise. There were a few glitches along the way, but it wouldn't be Talladega without some suprises, now would it?

You gotta love Barber Motorsports Park

Wow......even though it's a local track, I don't come here but a couple of times a year, I find something else to love about this place. Not only is it a world class operation and very pleasing to the eye, just everything behind the scenes seems to work to perfection. No muss, no fuss. Just read what Dean Adams from Superbike Planet wrote about it this past week. http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Apr/08041610thingswelove.htm

Maybe some other tracks could learn something from the good folks at Barber.

Now. for some visual stimulation........



Track owner George Barber has these very large and interesting sculptures set up all around the track, from ants attacking motorcycle riders, to Indian chiefs standing on the hill side overlooking the event, to giant spiders. Bizaar.......


Si senore...... I thought these were Corona Lights......


Don't shoot....I'm only a rider!!!!!


Damp spots? He should have shaken it off better.....


This explains why he is a camera pointer an not a still photographer!!!!!


See my post and rant about security at the Atlanta NASCAR race. This County Deputy likes to have fun without taking himself too seriously. These guys treat everyone with respect and try to keep it light hearted, while doing their job.


I wasn't on deadline and I thought I had it easy.......


The last remnant of a victory celebration at the podium.


It's hard to make a bad image at Barber. Really hard.


See......Every where you look, the opportunities to make artful images are there.


Zemke.


Duhamel.


Spies.


And the winner or both Superbike events this weekend, Matt Mladin.

I had a good and enjoyable weekend shooting the Honda Superbike Classic at Barber Motorsports Park this weekend, but it is still a lot of work. I shot tons of images and the editors of the publication I shot for were more than pleased. I hope I can keep up the good work this weekend as the NASCAR circus comes to town.