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.

High school student overcomes disability to become cheerleader.

Here is a video that I did at the end of 2013 that won top 10 best multimedia pieces in 2013 in the Associated Press Sports Editors competition earlier this year.
 

In Tune and On Track

Here is a video that I did last year that I was particularly proud of.  It was the first solo project I took on at The Island Packet.

A long, long, long overdue update...

So it has been a little over two years since I last posted a blog update.  It has been a very busy two years and a lot has happened, but that is still no excuse for my blog silence.  Here's the first of several catch up blog posts with my favorite photos over the past two years.  All photos © 2013-2014 The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette.

Third graders Brian Wilson, left, and Trey Middleton, right, hold on to the legs of their desk during The Great Southeast Shakeout, a region wide earthquake drill, at 10:16 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014 in their classroom at Robert Smalls International Academy in Beaufort.

From left, Riley McDaniel, 14, Gabby Mylander, 14, and Tabitha McDaniel, all of Greenville, relax before the live simulcast of the Jimmy Buffett Concert at the Highway 21 Drive on Thursday, June 19, 2014 in Beaufort.

Members of the 2014 graduating class of Whale Branch Early College High School share a moment of celebration before lining up for their commencement ceremony in the gymnasium on Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at Whale Branch Early College High School in Seabrook.

Paige Inglis, middle, practices one of her strokes with help from volunteers Anne Watts Tuckwiller, left, 13, and Quinn Fleming, 13, right, during the Special Olympics swim team practice on Saturday, April 26 at the YMCA of Beaufort County in Port Royal.

Patrons hang out on the patio at Panini's on the Waterfront on Friday, March 30, 2014 on Bay Street in downtown Beaufort.

Felicia Alfaro, of Dalton, Ga., adjusts the copilli on her six-year-old daughter Aaliyah's head as her other daughter, Lilyana, 4, waits before the opening ceremony of the last day of the 2014 Low Country Pow Wow and Cultural Festival on Sunday, March 3, 2014 at Millstone Landing in Hardeeville.

Confederate soldier reenactors fire their weapons at the Union soldier reenactors during the 2nd Annual Civil War Battle of Pocotaligo reenactment on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014 at Frampton Plantation in Yemassee.

Sloan Colleran, 2, of Bluffton walks on the platform to get a closer look at the giant boiled peanut on display at the Boiled Peanut Festival on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014 at the Promenade in Bluffton.

Macah Plew, 4, of Bluffton, smiles as Officer Jake Higgins with the Bluffton Police Department shows him the dashboard of his police vehicle on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014 during the inaugural National Night Out held at Bluffton’s Law Enforcement Center.

Alex Greger, owner of Ripfly Watersports in Bluffton, does tricks on his fly board on the May River on July 3, 2014 near the Calhoun Street dock in Bluffton.

Scott Martin, right, of Hilton Head Island, helps Chris Madsen, 13, of Hilton Head, into the cockpit of his 1943 Stearman PT-13 on Saturday, April 26, 2014 during the Hilton Head Island Air Day at Signature Flight Support on Hilton Head.  Martin offered a special during the event where attendees could pay $50 to go on a 15 minute ride in the airplane.

Participants do yoga on stand up paddle boards during the "YogiBoardHHI" class sponsored by The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, Outside Hilton Head and BIC Stand Up Paddleboards while trying to set a record for the most people participating in a stand up paddleboard yoga class on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at Shelter Cove Harbour on Hilton Head Island.

Several of the boys in Cub Scout Pack 212 of Bluffton watch as the pinewood cars fly by in one of the earlier heats of their annual Pinewood Derby Races on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Bluffton.

Emma Briggs, 6, left, and her friend Carli Jedrzejewski, 6, right, both from Pooler, Ga., make snow angels during the Hilton Head Snow Day on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at Shelter Cove Community Park on Hilton Head Island.  The event is sponsored by The Island Rec Association and New River Auto Mall and all proceeds go to a scholarship fund through The Island Rec Association.

Jackie Barnes clears 12-6 feet in the girls pole vaulting event during the Beaufort Track Classic on Saturday, April 4, 2014 at Beaufort High School in Beaufort.

Battery Creek's Cooper Raheem tries to shoot the ball as Wade Hampton's Daniel Gordon tries to block his shot during the boys Class 2-A high school basketball playoffs on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 at Battery Creek High School in Beaufort.

Battery Creek's Mark Hetrick catches a pop up ball during their game against Wade-Hampton High School on Thursday, May 1, 2014 at Battery Creek High School.

Hilton Head Island's Lexi Lainhart, right, hugs Estelle Murphy, left, after Murphy scored the first goal of their game against James Island Charter High School on Friday, April 26, 2014 at Hilton Head Island High School on Hilton Head Island.

McKeil Patterson cheers along with the cheerleaders on the Beaufort High School junior varsity cheerleading squad on Sept. 19, 2013 at Beaufort High School in Beaufort.  Patterson has Cerebral palsy and is a member of the varsity cheerleading squad at Beaufort High School but on weeks when the varsity football team is away she cheers with the junior varsity squad.

The band Cranford Hollow, from left, Dallas Ackerman, Eric Reid, John Cranford and Phil Sirmans, stand for a portrait in their studio on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014 on Hilton Head Island.

A dragonfly rests on a dried leaf on Monday, Sept. 16, 2014 at the Cypress Wetlands in Port Royal.

Runners cross the Woods Memorial Bridge on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014 during the 2nd Annual Bridge to Bridge New Year's Resolution 15K group run hosted by Palmetto Running Company in Beaufort.  More than 160 runners participated in the run and registration was free.  Donations were accepted to benefit the construction of the Spanish Moss Trail.

The trophy sits on the ground before the trophy ceremony following the final round of the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing on Sunday, April 20, 2014 at Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island S.C.

John Baglione of Beaufort looks at a book with his dog Avril while browsing at The Friends of the Beaufort Library Annual Fall Book Sale under the pavilion at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park on Friday, Sept. 26, 2014 in Beaufort.  The book sale will continue on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.  All proceeds from the book sale will go to benefit The Friends of Beaufort Library.

Dorsey Mitchell, of Graniteville, samples pulled pork while his gradson, Hunter Mitchell, 5, sits on his shoulders on Saturday, June 7, 2014 during the final day of the S.C. BBQ Association sanctioned Third Annual Lowcountry Habitat for Humanity High on the Hog BBQ Festival at Whitehall Plantation on Lady's Island.

A plate of chilaquiles, a traditional Mexican dish, and a shot of tequila as prepared by Brandon Carter, executive chef at The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 in the kitchen at The Inn at Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton.  Carter recommended the dish as a good hangover dish for those who may have too many drinks while celebrating St. Patrick's Day.

Michael Youmans, left, and his dad David, watch as James Youmans, center, looks up at barber Ray Harvey as he gets his first haircut on Wednesday night at Harvey’s Barber Shop in Beaufort. Harvey has been cutting David’s hair for 50 years. Harvey gave Michael his first haircut. That makes young James, 1, the third generation to sit in Harvey’s chair.

Thanks for looking.  I plan on posting again soon so check back!