Baseball season

I covered my first baseball game of the 2014 season. I love baseball season!!

Behind the scenes of an OR

Sometimes the most interesting thing about the job is getting to go places that you wouldn't normally see. In this case, I spent an afternoon in an operating room with a surgeon learning about the newest technology he is using: robotic surgery through a single site. Click here for the full story and video.

Motorcycle shop fire

When I pulled up to the scene of a garage fire behind a home, it was hard to get a good angle. At one point, the local fire chief motioned over to me letting me know I could get closer. It was pretty amazing to be able to get close and capture the firefighters in action. Click HERE to see the video report.

When I pulled up to the scene of a garage fire behind a home, it was hard to get a good angle. At one point, the local fire chief motioned over to me letting me know I could get closer. It was pretty amazing to be able to get close and capture the firefighters in action. Click HERE to see the video report.

President Clinton at the Peace Center

I was assigned to photograph former President Clinton as he spoke at The Peace Center. I have been able to photograph him a few times over the years. It's interesting that I've had a few people interested in the actual press pass. Sorry guys, I hold onto all my old press passes.

Brush fire destroys homes

I have photographed many fires over my 12 years of working as a newspaper photographer. Often, I see exhausted firefighters stop to rest nearby, but this time I noticed a local resident, Betty Carter, right, go up to one of the firefighters. She told me she had just asked if he was okay and if he needed anything. I thought it was a sweet moment as a large brush fire ended up destroying four homes in the Riverwood Farm community in Greer.

Snow!

A state of emergency was declared for South Carolina even before the first snowflake fell in Greenville. Once the snow started falling steadily, I wandered around downtown looking for a local feature. I photographed a lot of different scenes this afternoon, but this was definitely my favorite. I liked the determination of this little girl as she makes a snowball.

Lucy Baker looks in the direction of her family as she makes a snowball while playing in downtown Greenville on Tuesday, January 28, 2014.

Family waits to see boy that plunged into a 140-ft well

As I was leaving work for the night, I got a call that a boy had fallen in a well and that I needed to check on the story. When I arrived on scene there were many first responders and people gathering at the rural intersection. I got a few pictures of the firefighters from afar and then waited to hear more. I made this photo of the boy's family as they waited for him near the medical helicopter.Click here for the full story with more photographs that ran in USA Today.

2014

I have been off of blogging for a little while to focus on my news photography. However, I am planning on kickstarting my blog again for 2014. So, my first post of the year will be dedicated to a few of the photographs I made in the last year that have stayed with me. Too much rain has taken its toll on crops throughout the state. However, Tommy Fisher, owner of Fisher’s Pick Your Own, said his crop of peaches has fared well as contract workers bring in the harvest on his Greer orchard.

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Family and friends of a mother and child injured and two children killed in a house fire on Daisy Drive in Easley attend a vigil at the home Sunday, July 21, 2013.

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Tamera Fowler, right, helps Mohit Gandhi, left, with his cap before the start of Southside High’s graduation ceremony at the Bi-Lo Center on Wednesday, June 5, 2013.

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Firefighters respond to a woman trapped inside a flipped SUV in the intersection of East North Street and Academy Road.

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A participant in the St. Francis Sports Medicine Goodwill Mud Run crawls under ropes during a race on October 6, 2013.

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Jerzy Gruszczynski, who was a member of the Polish Resistance during World War II, shows his number that was tattooed on his arm during his imprisonment at Auschwitz.

Behind the scenes.

Often I photograph opening night of shows and concerts, but it is rare to get behind the scenes access. Access to national theatrical performances is even more unique. Recently, I had the opportunity to spend some time in the afternoon with cast members - Pumbaa and Rafiki - of The Lion King. Later, I was invited backstage to photograph them preparing for the show in the make-up room. Here are a couple of pictures of Rafiki. If you would like to read about The Lion King stars' experiences in the City of Greenville and watch the video (shot by John Olson), click here. And the gallery of photos can be viewed here.

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At home with Beija-Flor

The Greenville News front today was a story about the jeans company, Beija Flor, that was started by a Greenville mother-daughter team. I got the spend some time at home with the women behind the denim. I enjoy the assignments where I can spend some time and catch the natural moments. In an age where everything needs to be instant, these opportunities can be hard to come by. This photograph was my favorite of the shoot. Want more info? You can read the story here.

Tragic accident.

Recently, I was sent to a construction accident that left one worker dead and one injured. The other workers were noticeably upset by the situation. After the firefighters pulled the body of their friend/co-worker out of the site, officials took the gurney over to the crew. They gathered around the body and prayed. It was an extremely touching and emotional moment.

State Primary.

Every election and primary season, I always try to find a different way to photograph people voting. Not always an easy task. This primary happened to have a fairly low voter turn out, which is what I tried to illustrate. I found it interesting that the Patriot statue (a mascot for JL Mann High School) stood watch over the empty polls, the poll workers had time to sit down and that voters were able to walk right up and vote.

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Candidates decertified.

Traveled to Anderson, S.C., to photograph one of the candidates who had been decertified before the June primary. The reporter and I interviewed him next to his truck filled with campaign signs he had retrieved from the side of the road. You can read the story and watch my short video here.

Inside One.

I recently received a tour of One, the newest building to hit the Greenville skyline. Crews continue to work on the building as they dangle over Main Street. Here are two of my favorite shots. I definitely couldn't handle working at such heights everyday. I also shot a quick video, check it out here.

With sadness....

On May 13, 2012, my mom lost her battle with Pancreatic Cancer. There is no doubt we will miss her sense of humor, love, kindness and friendship. We will carry her in our hearts forever.While I am the photographer of the family, my sister is a great writer. Here is a photograph from a few years ago that I made of my mom long before her diagnosis along my sister's "Things I Learned From My Mom." We love you, Mom.

“Things I Learned From My Mom”: 1. Never leave the house without makeup. Ok, maybe if you're in labor. 2. Be careful what you say in public because you never know who might be listening. All Jews know each other! 3. Love your family above all else, and be there for them no matter what. 4. A corollary to the above: your sister is your best friend. 5. A woman should always be able to manage her own (and the family's) finances. 6. A husband and wife can be equal partners in a marriage even though they might contribute in different ways. 7. Choose friends who like you for who you are, not what they think you can do for them. Hang onto your true friends for life. 8. Don't buy an overbred puppy, or you might end up with more than you bargained for! Like, say, a dog who can climb on countertops, jump over gates, and eat pizza out of the refrigerator. 9. Nordstrom’s is good. Harrods is better. 10. Chocolate is a non-FDA approved antidepressant. 11. Schoolwork takes precedence over boys. 12. Really take the time to listen to your children and understand who they are as individuals. They are your ultimate legacy.

I hope we can make you proud, Mom.

South Carolina Primary

South Carolina is making national news because its the first primary in the South. Over the last week or two I have been sent all over the Upstate of South Carolina to photograph the republican candidates for president. Here are a selection of photographs from a few different events. These photographs are not an endorsement of any candidate.