Jr. Foods

Everyone has their places.

Places where they had a part in wearing the paint off the counter.
If a dive bar had a convenience store this would be it, Jr. Foods on the corner of 13th Ave. and Center St. in Bowling Green.
Cherished by those who frequented it and quickly walked by with an eye over the shoulder for those who didn't.
The chain's owner, Houchens Industries, will be closing the store over the summer and has already taken out the gas pumps in front.
Greeted with a gruff hello and a weary smile by manager Susie Meredith when I walked in, we talked for a bit, exchanged a few bad jokes and she agreed to let me hang out and photograph.
A constant stream of patrons dotting every point on life's timeline passed through the stores double doors.
Each was greeted with a "ding" from the doorbell and a quick remark alluding to an inside joke with Susie.
Roaring laughter, a pack of cigarettes, and another doorbell later they had gone and the cycle began anew.
A manager at the store for ten years, Susie said they will move her and her staff to another store and softly added an, "I hope," before lighting up a cigarette in the doorway.

Check out the full article on the Herald's website HERE.

Polar Plunge

Polar Plunging to ring in the new year...

Twenty Thirteen iEdition

Some of my favorite iphone snaps from 2013.

Twenty Thirteen

A look back at some of my favorite images of 2013. Enjoy!

Western Kentucky vs. Murray State Basketball

I was back at Diddle arena this afternoon covering WKU as they took on rival Murray State.
After falling behind in the first half, Western went on to win 71-64.

WKU vs. Southern Miss Mens Basketball

Western Kentucky topped Southern Miss last night in a game that came down to the last few seconds.

Nashville Santa Rampage

Nearly 1,000 revelers dressed as Old Saint Nick descended upon Nashville Saturday night taking part in the annual Santa Rampage tradition.

KHSAA State football Championship

The Kentucky State High School Athletic Association hosted the Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl at WKU recently. I made it out to a few of the games...here are a some of my favorite frames from the weekend.

Truck Stop Shopping

Jordan and I took a trip home last weekend for the holiday. We stopped at a bunch of truck stops along the way...

Controlled falling

Birds of a Feather

Late Fall

Bar None: A Story of Life and Love Overcoming the Walls of Jail

“God brought us together for a reason,” Marisha Smith said of her longtime boyfriend Joseph Walker. Smith, 32, and Walker, 30, first met while attending junior high in Bowling Green, but it wasn’t until after high school that the pair would begin dating in 2006. “I guess she just got prettier,” Walker said with a laugh.

Three months later Walker found himself in jail on drug charges, “She stuck by me that whole year,” Walker said. Twice a week, Smith would go to the jail for visitations to see Walker, load money onto his account for phone calls and bring him new clothes. “I don’t know why she’s stayed with me this long,” Walker said, “She could probably do a whole lot better, and without the headaches.”

In and out of jail over the next several years, Walker struggled to stay clean and remain a free man. Things were looking better when the couple’s first child, Acelyhne, was born in the summer of 2012.

October 9, 2012- “It is a day I will never forget,” Walker said. He had gone out to play a game of dice with some friends, but the party got out of hand leading to the murder of Demarcus Elliott. According to Walker he was at the wrong place at the wrong time, but failing to notify his probation officer that he had contact with police officials was enough to put him back in jail. While there, Bowling Green police charged him with the murder and because of his record, Walker is now facing life in prison if convicted.

“I’ve watched my daughter grow up in here,” he said, “It sucks.” Smith maintains that Walker is innocent and doesn’t believe that he will get life in prison. Either way though she says, “I will be with him till the end.”

Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar

This past weekend I was lucky enough to have garnered two awards in the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar annual contest. One for first place feature photo and one award of excellence for General News.
It is an incredible honor to be recognized among so many other amazing photographers.


First Place Feature

General News Award of Excellence

American Heart Associations Scientific Sessions 2013

I spent the past few days in Dallas covering the American Heart Associations Scientific Sessions conference. The convention center was incredibly graphic so in between the speaker photos and mug shots I was able to make some photos I like.