A year in review...about a month late.

I know this has been the theme of the last few blog posts, but one of my New Year's resolutions this year is to be more consistent in my blog posts.  When I was in college, and even for the first year after, I posted my photos to this blog constantly.  When I moved to South Carolina to start my job at The Island Packet...I guess you could say life got in the way.  I keep telling myself that I'm going to be better, but then other things would pop up.

Last year was a pretty crazy year, mostly because I got married in May, and it seemed that there was always something more important to do.  This year I am making serious efforts to better myself.  I turn 30 in October and two of my best friends and I have decided that we are going to try and put our best face forward when we leave our twenties.  We are training to do a half marathon in New Orleans in January 2016, we have all decided to watch what we eat a little more (personally...I am doing Weight Watchers)...so I figure it is just as important to make sure that I continue to put that much effort into my career, and part of that is keeping up with my blog.  I will also be updating my website, which is very overdue for fresh photos...more about that later.

To get the ball rolling, here are some of my favorite photographs from the past year-ish.  Enjoy!

Whale Branch’s Malik Brown, left, and Chris Wilson celebrate after Brown tackled Johnsonville High’s quarterback in the second quarter of their game in the first round of the 2-A playoffs on Nov. 13, 2015 at Whale Branch Early College High School in Burton.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker speaks to a group of people at Blackstone's Cafe on Aug. 28, 2015 in Beaufort.

Terra Brewer, center, releases a paper lantern to honor her husband, Antonio Brewer, as family and friends watch during a vigil held for him on July 29, 2015 at Port Royal Apartments in Port Royal.  Brewer was shot and killed while in the car with his two-year-old daughter from another relationship and the girl's mother, who were both wounded, early in the morning on March 20 at the apartment complex.

Hilton Head Christian Academy's Andy Anderson, left, and Macee Tamminen share a emotional moment after their 68-60 win over Palmetto Christian in the SCISAA 2-A state championship on Feb. 28, 2015 at the Sumter County Civic Center in Sumter.

Bluffton students cheer while wearing Americana clothing in honor of the 9/11 attacks during Bluffton's game against Sol C. Johnson High School on Sept. 11, 2015 at Bluffton High School.

Photographs from the candlelight vigil for Jon Kinlaw on Jan. 10, 2016 in the parking lot of the Habitat For Humanity ReStore on May River Road in Bluffton.  Kinlaw was shot and killed in parking lot of the Dollar General on May River Road on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016 in Bluffton.

Ellis Phillips, right, of Richmond Hill, Ga., talks to Marcus and Patricia Dukes, of Claxton, Ga., while wearing a Donald Trump mask on Dec. 30, 2015 outside of the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa after seeing Donald Trump speak at the hotel.

Bo Guined, of Macon, Ga., exits the trailer that he sleeps in near the lot where he sells Christmas trees on Dec. 15, 2015 on Hilton Head Island.  “It’s my home away from home,” Guined said.  He lives there from the beginning of October, when he sells pumpkins, until the Christmas tree season is over.

W. Brantley Harvey Jr. sits for a portrait in his home called Marshlands on Dec. 16, 2015 in Beaufort.

The 8th & I Silent Drill Platoon perform on Oct. 16, 2015 at the Peatross Parade Deck in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Parris Island at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

Brooke Bowman, 11, left, and her sister Jenni, 6, both of St. Helena, hold on to their pumpkins as they climb down from the hayride after riding back from the pumpkin patch at Dempsey Farms U Pick on Oct. 12, 2015 in St. Helena.

Left: Shrimp and Grits dish made with locally caught shrimp at Saltus River Grill.
Right: Saltus River Grill executive chef Brian Waters stands for a portrait in the dining room at the restaurant in Downtown Beaufort on Thursday, Sept. 24 before opening for dinner service.  Waters only serves locally caught shrimp and seafood that he purchases from Sea Eagle Market in Beaufort.  "It has better flavor, it is fresher and we support a local business," Waters said.

Ashley Shoemaker, left, of Burton, and Jared Lewis, of Port Royal, stand for a portrait near the Port Royal Skate Park at the Naval Heritage Park on Dec. 2, 2015 in Port Royal.  The childhood friends are organizing a group to clean up the skate park in an effort to reopen the facility.

A drill instructor moves through the lines of recruits during a marching drill on Oct. 7, 2015 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

Marine recruits going through the Day Movement Course portion during the Crucible on Sept. 25, 2015 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

Sgt. John Eversley, a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, stands for a portrait on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 on the base.

Marine recruits going through the Day Movement Course portion during the Crucible on Sept. 25, 2015 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

More than 400 people showed up to hear Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush speak during his Town Hall meeting on Jan. 9, 2016 at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa on Hilton Head Island.

The wild marsh ponies on Little Horse Island off of St. Helena Island emerge from the fog over the marsh when they heard Venaye and Dave McGlashan call to them to let them know that they had put fresh hay out on Dec. 1, 2015.

A pair of juvenile Great Egrets wait out an afternoon storm on July 12, 2015 at the Cypress Wetlands in Port Royal.

Treena and Jermaine Jenkins stand with Bella, their 1-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, in what remains of the living room at their home on Nov. 21, 2014 on Bruce K. Smalls Drive in Burton.  Their home caught fire around 8 a.m. and when firefighters arrived on the scene they rescued Bella from inside.

Jeff Meyer, a Bluffton firefighter, center, goes through the decontamination stations during a hazardous material drill on Sept. 8, 2015 at an abandoned gas station off of Buckwalter Parkway in Bluffton.

All photos ©2015-2016 The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette and are not to be used without permission from those publications.

A little bit of everything...

A blog update with a little bit of everything that I have been busy covering in the past few months.

Jacob Preston works on a commissioned clay bowl on Monday afternoon in his pottery studio and store that is attached to the home where he and his wife live in Old Town Bluffton on Church Street.

A rescue diver with the U.S. Coast Guard out of Savannah, Ga. demonstrates how they would perform a water rescue during the Air Show on Sunday afternoon on the last day of the 60th Beaufort Water Festival at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Downtown Beaufort.

The Lowcountry Seabees pull their bed through a wall of water being thrown on them during the Bed Race on Friday evening during the 60th Annual Beaufort Water Festival on Bay Street in Downtown Beaufort.  The Lowcountry Seabees placed first in the race.

Amy Wilson hugs her daughter Belle, 6, while waiting backstage before for her to sing, "God Bless The U.S.A.," during the Talent Show on Wednesday night during the 60th Annual Beaufort Water Festival at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort.  Belle has wanted to sing in the Talent Show since she was 3 years old and always knew that she wanted to sing the patriotic song.  "I just love the music in it," Belle said.

Dancers from the Low Country Dance Center perform to the song, "Burnin' Up," during the Talent Show on Wednesday evening during the 60th Annual Beaufort Water Festival at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort.

The joint choirs of Mount Calvary Baptist Church and Central Oak Grove Baptist Church sing during the funeral service for Dominique Williams on Saturday afternoon at Grace Community Church on Hilton Head Island.

Male lifeguards with the Shore Beach Service dive into the sand to get to the "flags" first during the final event in the 18th Annual Lifeguard Competition on Wednesday evening at Islander's Beach Park on Hilton Head Island.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks to Sun City residents during the event hosted by the Republicans of Sun City Hilton Head on Wednesday afternoon at the Lakehouse Ballroom in Sun City Hilton Head.

Earl Williams on Hilton Head Island plays the harmonica during the Juneteenth Celebration hosted by the Mitchelville Preservation Project on Saturday afternoon at the Fish Haul Park on Hilton Head Island.

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, right, answers a question asked by Arthur Herman during his appearance in Sun City Hilton Head on Thursday afternoon in Bluffton.

James W. Pruitt stands for a portrait in front of his store, Pruitt's Grocery on Greene Street on Thursday afternoon in Beaufort.  Pruitt, who has worked as a grocer in Beaufort since 1953 when he graduated from Beaufort High School, will be closing the store and retiring on Saturday.

Thelma Thomas, of Savannah, Ga., sings a gospel song along with other members of the Aiken-Singleton family on Sunday evening during the 55th Aiken-Singleton Family Reunion on Aiken Place on Hilton Head Island.

Braxton Smith, 2, of North Augusta, plays in the fountain at Coligny Beach Park on Saturday afternoon on Hilton Head Island.

Beach-goers enjoy the South Beach at Hunting Island State Park on Friday afternoon.  A man was bitten by a shark while swimming at the beach earlier in the day.

Margaret Evans of Beaufort tears up during an impromptu vigil for the nine people shot at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston on Saturday night at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.  The vigil was put together by five women who met while attending an art opening at ARTworks on Friday night who thought that it was important for people to come together in Downtown Beaufort to talk about the tragedy in Charleston.

Jim Furyk celebrates after making his putt in the sudden death playoff against Kevin Kisner on the green on the 17th hole during the final round of the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing on Sunday at Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island S.C.

Jeremiah Davis, 11, of Bluffton, holds his breath before being submerged underwater by Brad Davis, left, George Moody, center, and Father Chuck Owens, right, during the Church of the Cross' annual baptism in the May River next the church at the end of Calhoun Street in Bluffton.  Jeremiah and his brother Isaiah, 9, were two of more than 50 people who were baptized on Sunday night.

All photos ©2015 The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette and are not to be used without permission from those publications.

A few random photos.

These are a few random photos that I have shot since the beginning of the year.  Enjoy!

Corey Cullom, 5, of Beaufort jumps in one of the bounce houses on Saturday afternoon during Fireworks for Lafayette, the event to celebrate the 190th anniversary of General Lafayette's visit to Beaufort, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.

Chuck, a Budweiser Clydesdale horse, is lead off of his trailer by one of their handlers on Friday afternoon before their parade down Calhoun Street in Bluffton.

Jake Ruley, 4, of Hilton Head picks daffodils on Sunday afternoon at U Pick Daffodils in Bluffton.  U Pick Daffodils is open, weather permitting, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Karla Williams of Hilton Head Island, center, does single unders as Lindsay Martin of Bluffton, left, counts for her and Lavonne Keister of Bluffton, right,  prepares to start her own set of single unders on Saturday afternoon during the 2015 Cross Fit Open at Conviction Training Facility on Hilton Head.

Jesus, played by Mario Cordero, carries the cross while guards yell at him during the performance of the "Living Stations of the Cross" on Friday evening at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Bluffton.

The performance of the "Living Stations of the Cross" was held on Friday evening at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Bluffton.

Mr. Peanut greets Aoife Hall, 5, left, and Leslie Schuelke, 8, right, both of Bluffton, outside of the Planters Nutmobile at the Lowcountry Home & Garden Show on Friday afternoon in Bluffton.  The Planters Nutmobile will be making an appearance at Hilton Head Island Wingfest on Saturday and will be back at the home and garden show on Sunday.

Melba Thomas, left, and Becky Trask, right, both of Beaufort, share a laugh as Thomas hands Trask a palm as she arrives for the mid-morning Palm Sunday service at The Parish Church of St. Helena on Sunday morning in Beaufort.

Sigler's Rotisserie and Seafood had Buffalo Shrimp Sliders for people to purchase during the Third Annual Taste of Bluffton on Saturday afternoon on Calhoun Street in Old Town Bluffton.

Bob Gregory, of Hilton Head Island, right, shows Carlos and Sarah Moleda, center, of Bluffton, the interior of their restored 1952 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon during the filming of the finale of the pilot for a new reality TV show called Wheels for Warriors on Sunday afternoon in Gregory's "mancave" on Hilton Head Island.

All photos ©2015 The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette and are not to be used without permission from those publications.

My first air show.

I just finished shooting my first air show this weekend and honestly it was pretty cool.  I spent about half of my time shooting video and the other half shooting photos and I found that it was pretty easy to convey with video how cool the flight formations and maneuvers that the planes demonstrated were, but with photos...its was a little different.  After spending three days photographing the planes I felt like my photos were all starting to look similar.  Still, I came away with a handful of photos that I was pretty happy with...and here they are!

Two Blue Angels pilots fly in formation during their portion of the MCAS Beaufort Air Show on Saturday afternoon on the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

The GEICO Skytypers fly in formation during the MCAS Beaufort Air Show at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort on Sunday afternoon.

Jake Peavey of Savannah and his son Luke, 2, watch as the Blue Angels take off during their demonstration on Sunday afternoon at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort during the last day of the MCAS Beaufort Air Show.

Andrew McGowan, 5, of Savannah, watches as the Blue Angels take-off while holding his own much smaller version of their iconic airplanes on Sunday afternoon during the last day of the MCAS Beaufort Air Show at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

Paratroopers glide to the ground during the USMC Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) demonstration on Sunday afternoon on the last day of the MCAS Beaufort Air Show at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

The USMC F-35B Lightning taxis past the audience after flying on the last day of the MCAS Beaufort Air Show on Sunday afternoon at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

Two GEICO Skytypers roll to pass by each other while flying during the MCAS Beaufort Air Show at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort on Sunday afternoon.

The Blue Angels fly during their demonstration on Sunday afternoon during the MCAS Beaufort Air Show on Sunday afternoon at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

One of the pilots of the Blue Angels' Fat Albert waves to the crowd after their flight on Saturday afternoon on the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort during the MCAS Beaufort Air Show.

The GEICO Skytypers fly in formation during the MCAS Beaufort Air Show at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort on Sunday afternoon.

All photos ©2015 The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette and are not to be used without permission from those publications.