Norwood family

Christine Norwood is surrounded by Daniel Aquino, Fatima Ceballos, Francisco Ceballos, and Victor Ceballos at her home in Beaumont, TX, Tuesday, December 11, 2007. Norwood took in 6 of the Ceballos children after their mother was deported to Mexico. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Lamar Basketball

Lamar's Lamar Sanders dunks during the first half against Louisiana College at the Montagne Center in Beaumont, TX, Saturday, December 8, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Lamar's Brandon McThay steals the ball from Louisiana College's Dustin Cole at the Montagne Center in Beaumont, TX, Saturday, December 8, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Aldine Basketball

Aldine's Brandon Williams goes up for 2 points against Eisenhower High School during the Boys and Girls South Texas Shootout tournament at the Montagne Center in Beaumont, TX, Saturday, December 8, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Christmas Parade

Sosh Garanger peeks through an opening in the Neches Federal Float prior to the start of the Beaumont Christmas Parade downtown in Beaumont, TX, Saturday, December 1, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Ozen Basketball practice

Derrick Savoy goes up for the basket during practice at Ozen High School in Beaumont, TX, Wednesday, December 5, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Central Basketball

Central's Katrina Harris drives around Midway's Cokie Reed during the Boys and Girls South Texas Shootout tournament at the Montagne Center in Beaumont, TX, Saturday, December 8, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Humble Christian's Kadeem Coleby and Central's during Boys and Girls South Texas Shootout tournament at the Montagne Center in Beaumont, TX, Friday, December 7, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Girl Gamers

Holly Westbrook poses for a portrait at her home in Nederland, TX, Tuesday, November 27, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Lumberton Football playoffs

The Lumberton Raiders return to the lockerroom after a devastating first half to Waller during the Class 4A Division II football playoff at Abshire Stadium in Deer Park, TX, Friday, November 30, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Waller's Eddie Brown attempts to break through Lumberton's Jeremy Carter (6), Anthony Beard (49), and Travis Wilkerson (25) during the Class 4A Division II football playoff at Abshire Stadium in Deer Park, TX, Friday, November 30, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

The Lumberton Raiders take the field against the Waller Bulldogs during the Class 4A Division II football playoff at Abshire Stadium in Deer Park, TX, Friday, November 30, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Ozen Girls Basketball

A'lexus Brannon goes up for two points against Dayton during the first half at Ozen High School in Beaumont, TX, Tuesday, December 11, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Teacher/Student communications

Barbara Abel poses with her cell phone in her classroom at West Brook High School in Beaumont, TX, Tuesday, November 20, 2007. Abel says she primarily uses her cell phone to communicate with students outside of class. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Westbrook Football

South Houston's Eric Leaks tries to break the tackle by West Brook's Michael Williams at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown, TX, Saturday, November 17, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley
West Brook's Christine Michael tries to go through South Houston's Dewayne Autrey at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown, TX, Saturday, November 17, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Park Dedication ceremony

Friends and family try to comfort Travis Berg, father of Spc. Ryan Berg as he cries during a dedication ceremony for the Spc. Ryan Berg Sabine Pass High School Athletic Complex in Sabine Pass, TX, Saturday, November 10, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

BISD Meeting

Students from Caldwood Elementary School sign the National Anthem prior to the Beaumont Independent School District meeting at the Administration Building in Beaumont, TX, Thursday, November 8, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

An example of pulling flowers out of my ass and noone even noticing. First of all the time on the assignment was all wrong. It said 6:30, the meeting wasn't due to start until 7:15. Second of all, it was a MEETING! Third of all, I get something cute and it doesn't even run in the paper or on the net! AAAAUUUUGGGHHH

Bond Election

George Hudspeth and the Reverend David Robertson hug during the BISD bond initiative celebration party at the Entergy Building in Beaumont, TX, Tuesday, November 6, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Buffet

Scott Bish loads his plate from the lunch buffet at The Beaumont Club in Beaumont, TX, Tuesday, October 30, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley


The story is about the do's and don'ts of buffet eating. This man is clearly displaying a dont. Evidently the editor wanted a do but didn't bother to tell me that.

I had an interesting discussion with the features editor over this pic. His concern was because I cropped out the head of the subject he wondered if readers would wonder about the identity of the eater. My arguement was that because I cut off the head of the diner, he becomes an "everyman". The editor was also concerned that because I asked the diner his name, he might assume that his image would appear in the paper and would be disappointed that I cut off his head. One-It's my job to get thier names, Two-I don't think we can allow what our subjects May assume dictate how art is edited.

Halloween Decorations

Lindsey Kimbrow places spiders in a web in a room known as "The Attic" in preparation for the Trunk or Treat celebration at the First United Methodist Church in Orange, TX, Tuesday, October 30, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley


This photo was cropped by the assistant photo editor due to extreme cleavage. While I understand the sensitivity to such issues, I can't control what the subjects wear. And I did try to shoot her from a different angle, but it took away from the web and it wasn't much more modest.

School Security

Beaumont Independent School District Police Officer, A. Ginns patrols the breezeway as students walk to class at Ozen High School in Beaumont, TX, Thursday, November 1, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley


The assignment was to shoot the state attorney general speaking about school security inititives. I think showing school security inititives made for a much more dynamic photo than just a talking head.

Richard Body Search

Debbie Richard talks to the Beaumont Enterprise while searching for her son, Timothy Richard after he was murdered in Jefferson County, TX, Tuesday, November 6, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Bubba Moore

Bubba Moore performs at Kryptonite on Crockett Street in Beaumont, TX, Wednesday, November 7, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Buu Mon Bamboo Festival

The Buu Mon Temple Lotus Dancers perform the Lotus Hand dance during the Second Annual Southeast Texas Bamboo Festival and Kathina/High Ordination Ceremony at the Buu Mon Temple in Port Arthur, TX, Sunday, October 28, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Chyna Nguyen (8) walks through one of the bamboo gardens at the Buu Mon Temple during the Bamboo Festival in Port Arthur, TX, Sunday, October 28, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Bamboo gardens on display reflect thier leaves in water feature during the Second Annual Southeast Texas Bamboo Festival and Kathina/High Ordination Ceremony at the Buu Mon Temple in Port Arthur, TX, Sunday, October 28, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Church Anniversary

Brother Bailey Harris gives the sermon during the 150th anniversary of the congregation at Old First Orange Baptist Church in Orange, TX, Sunday, October 28, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Suicide Attempt

A family member taunts the media as Beaumont Police officers and SWAT members remove weapons from a home where a 61 year old white male barracaded himself earlier in Beaumont, TX, Sunday, October 28, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley


While not an excellent photo, it does bring up an interesting point. I did get some crap for turning in a pic with a man flipping me off. But, some papers allow these type of photos and some don't. And since I am new here, I didn't know the policy on that. Personally, I feel if that what was happening on the scene, then that's what I should photograph. It gives an accurate description of what was going on. But editors are notoriously more sensitive than photographers, and the non-dancing-around-flipping-me-off photo ran in the paper.

On another note, this is probably why newspapers shouldn't allow photographers to post top page photos without editorial approval, because I would have posted the one of the guy flipping me off.

Pre-Kindergarten

Brooke Bell plays with blocks during her pre-kindergarden class at China Elementary School in China, TX, Monday, October 29, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Cindy Galvan and Rosie Alvarez work on building a tower out of blocks during Pre-kindergarten class at China Elementary School in China, TX, Monday, October 29, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Maria Rodriguez wanders around the room as other students play with building blocks during Pre-kindergarten class at China Elementary School in China, TX, Monday, October 29, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Bascillica Jubilee

Cardinal Daniel N.DiNardo and Bishop Curtis J. Guillory offer the Eucharist to parsishoners during the Jubilee Year Celebration Mass of Thanksgiving at the St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica in Beaumont, TX, Sunday, October 21, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley


Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo waits to receive the Eucharist during the Jubilee Year Celebration Mass of Thanksgiving at the St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica in Beaumont, TX, Sunday, October 21, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Sand Erosion on Bolivar Pennisula

Sand drifts over shells and pebbles during a high wind at the Roll Over beach access on Bolivar Pennisula, TX, Tuesday, October 23, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley


Sand drifts over shells and pebbles during a high wind at the Roll Over beach access on Bolivar Pennisula, TX, Tuesday, October 23, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Father's Custody

Joe Atkins works at his desk as his daughter, Hollie Atkins watches tv at their home in Lumberton, TX, Tuesday, October 2, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

VX Protest

Residents march to St. John's Missionary Baptist Church from the Carver Terrace Park to protest VX nerve agent waste material being transported to the area for inceneration in Port Arthur, TX, Saturday, September 29, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Church Celebration

Ruth Le Rosen and Wanda Hefley sing during the 105th anniversay hymn sing at the First Baptist Church in Port Arthur, TX, Saturday, September 22, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Clint Black

Clint Black performs at the Lutcher Theater in Orange, TX, Thursday, September 27, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Pauper's Grave

A homemade cross marks the spot where Billy C. Crowe is buried at Magnolia Cemetary in Beaumont, TX, Monday, October 15, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Artist Portrait

Artist, Grace Megnet poses for a portrait at her gallery on 9th Street in Beaumont, TX, Monday, October 15, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Rice Festival

The Freakout takes fairgoers on a wild ride at the Texas Rice Festival in Winnie, TX, October 6, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Opening Day at the Fair

Justin Stephenson, aka BoBo the Clown, taunts crowds to dunk him in the water during the South Texas State Fair at Ford Park in Beaumont, TX, Thursday, October 11, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

A long horned steer waits in the livestock barn to be shown during the South Texas State Fair at Ford Park in Beaumont, TX, Thursday, October 11, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Children play one one of the rides during the South Texas State Fair at Ford Park in Beaumont, TX, Thursday, October 11, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Aiden Ibarra (3) points to the fair as he waits behind the fence for the opening of the South Texas State Fair at Ford Park in Beaumont, TX, Thursday, October 11, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Lamar Volleyball

Lamar's volleyball team runs laps during practice at McDonald Gym at Lamar University in Beaumpnt, TX, Tuesday, September 25, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Lamar's volleyball team practices at McDonald Gym at Lamar University in Beaumpnt, TX, Tuesday, September 25, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Soldier Party

The American Post celebrates the homecoming of 4 local solidiers. Didn't think I would get much out of this. But it wasn't terrible. It wasn't great, but it wasnt' terrible.


Scott Boyer, Sgt. Major visits with friends and family during a welcome home party at the American Legion in Beaumont, TX, October 7, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Sgt. Dusty Trahan drinks a beer during a welcome home party at the American Legion Post in Beaumont, TX, October 7, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley

Corporal Steven Gaudet enjoys a smoke after a big meal during a welcome home party at the American Legion Post in Beaumont, TX, October 7, 2007. Beaumont Enterprise, Tammy McKinley