I have the privilege over the course of this fall to shoot the Vikings Organization and their kids in Pop Warner Football out of Stokes County, NC. I have put together a short slideshow of the first shoot last weekend. I hope you enjoy!

For those who are following along, or ive met on my journey. Made it to Tulsa, though the car seemingly hasnt ness. made it to Tulsa in one piece. Need to get that looked at Monday. It's nearly impossible to shoot and blog day to day, so- im just shooting now, editing and hope to get days two-six blogged tomorrow as there is NOTHING on the schedule.

So, im exhausted, but im alive. As i've travelled across the country, I have met some really interesting folks. And, unfortunately, to blog about it, and to live it at the same time is virtually impossible, at least with the schedule ive been keeping. But I know along the way, I have perhaps took a few risks in order to get the shot. So, for Rick (the stranger I met at Borders waiting for my film to develop) I survived East St. Louis, and well, the shooting wasnt premium at the Casino.....so....I may have went to the riverside park at 1am to get the good shot of the Arch, but hey, here I am to tell you about it. And- ill blog all about that and the armored personel carrier the cops used to do raids later.

Mr. Weiss (the farmer I met near Lebanon IL) I will blog more about our talk later. And so- as I move on to Tulsa, just a quick note to say im safe, and im tired, and I cant wait to get to a destination with a layover for a few days.

Oh- and thanks to all of you who are following along on this journey. BTW- if you ARE reading this, say hello so I know im not talking to the empty room.

Leaving out at sunrise from Winston- Salem, I swung in for a quick Krankies Cafe Au Lait and I was off. Up to Mt. Airy, NC for a quick pass by, and then into the Blue Ridge Mountains. First- I dont know where you guys live, but the price of gas in VA was an astounding 2.29 a gallon. Incredible stuff. So- after making it up the Fancy Gap pass and into the Blue Ridge Mountains I headed over to Hillsville, VA. Loaded up the car with Ice and Water,and off I went.

I stayed off of the main Interstates and up thru the mountains I went. Nothing much to report in VA, the standard fair. And into W. Va I went. Still off the main roads I couldn't believe the scenery, and poverty of W. Va. Later that night, someone at the host family sight said "I often feel that W. Va is one of the most underrated states". And I have to fully concur. It was beautiful. From a grunge standpoint it had some of the best decayed barns that side of the MS (I have to say this because of finding THE most amazing decayed barn in America on Day 2, details later.


So- zigzagging back and forth on the backways and hollers of W. Va I went, I only would take the interstate which was seemingly all elevated until I saw something interesting from it off in the distance, and then I headed to that which I had seen. I did this for the first 30 miles of the state, and somehow stubled into "Grace's Bend, WV" where I met Dakota and Jake, clearly skipping school, and clearly enjoying the most of the day trout fishing with their mentally handicapped friend at the damn.





This is where Al Gore's "digital divide" was never made more clear to me when the littlest of the trio said "Hey Mister, are you gonna take our picture with that "kinda camera or soemthin". So I asked him would that be ok, he agreed it would be, and so off I went to shoot he and his friends, I thought it became one of the more memorable moments of day one.




Up from there, I went to Beckley, WV, having had a client from their once, who did nothing of talk good things about the place, and so- in that, i felt like it was worth a look. While Kristin had called in to say Travel Channel refers me to Mama Anna's, the local firefighters referred me to Fosters Tavern where I had the best club sandwich made on some kind of odd Cheese Pullman Loaf. Coupled with a Blue Moon (Two Oranges), I thought it made a perfect WV lunch. I think the servers name as I recall was Jessica, and she was a spunky sort, posing for a picture and what not.




From there, I tooled around town before heading to Charleston, WV where I shot the capital building at nearly dusk. My initial thought about the place was - wow, this is a charming city, and then wow, they dont really protect their state buildings very well. The capital road was riverside, it was VERY easily accessible to park in front of , and within 400 steps be inside. So, it made for a fast stop. Later ill post a few shots that I took additional to the one posted here. I practiced some bracketed shooting to make some HDR. After the quick fly-by there, I headed over to Huntington, WV, another VERY underrated town. Beautiful churches, gorgeous gothic architecture, great old theaters, it was quite the find. I enjoyed my hour there.






Next, crossing over to Ohio I stopped in to take a few shots in South Point Ohio and then up to Dayton I went to celebrate finally Dr. Chris' Phd. In the tiredness of the day, I forgot to bring my camera out to the sunset in Dayton, a regret, but- we celebrated with German Beer and "appetizers", some kind of balls.

And then alas- I got to see the good doctor rule the world in Final Fantasy XIII. And sleep it was. A long day one. For the entire set of photos, join me here.

While I have been going to the track now for over a year, it was my profound privilege to be able to be able to provide some coverage for The Center For Clinical Research 100. Covering the event on behalf of the sponsor, as well as using the behind the scenes access I have been able to garner being a "track rat" really does allow for a better sense of it.

Being "press" for this event, it was completely different covering it than being a normal fan. The pit access pre-qualifying and the buzz and hub-bub of activity surrounding the night, inclusive of the cars flying in and out of the live pit while you filming makes for the most , to use a phrase, "joy-riding" experience possible.

I connected with some local track officials mid-race and got roof top access to vantage not only the CCR Pain 100 in the Sportsman Stock division, but also the 2nd of two 25 lap modified races where Tim Brown of Cana, VA plowed James Civali- a relative newcomer to the track in a "Southern Welcome" to the track. Given the nature of the pit, a melee broke out in fist-i-cuffs, and I was able to get most all of that on video (to be posted at a later date).

Chatting with those same press officials, it seems like I may be slowly able to gain more access into the track, into the press corp, and into the "madhouse" fully....more to come- here are some candids of the night.

Alright guy, so, we are all VERY aware that I very much DIG the south. But what you definitely aren't aware of is, ok, wait for it, i've never been to the midwest. I know , I know, WHAT? Who hasn't been to Chicago, or Cincinnati, or Indianapolis, or St. FREAKING Louis. Keeping in mind- im still NOT going to Chicago or Cincinnati but, at least i'll finally lay my eyes upon "the gateway to the west".

I have flown into all of these places. I have seen the arch from the plane. I have wondered my eyes down the Mississippi River from 20k feet. But- i've never gotten out. So- next week, im on the road, in the car, with the camera, up to see Dr. Chris in Dayton, OH (tell me THAT is not Americana at its finest, then, dowwwwwwwn thru the midwest, landing in Tulsa, OK , then back thru Little Rock, Memphis and those other VERY Southern places I never get to go, let alone spend time in.

So- nearly three weeks, out on the highways and byways. This blog is now lit up to post daily to. Welcome to it, I guess its officially the Boy In The South blog now- for all things Boy.