I haven’t been shooting lately. That is due to the fact that I am the photo editor for my school’s paper, the College Heights Herald. To say that is has been an eye opening experience managing 15 people would be a massive understatement. Although it has been challenging, I can’t say that I would never be an editor at a newspaper. Having the opportunity to pick the visuals for any publication is an honor but, doing it while trying to graduate Cum Luade and juggling another job, is nerve wrecking. Enough of that, on to the photos. This past weekend I shot Hilltopper Hysteria, an event that introduces the mens and womens basketball teams to the public. I was rusty but I enjoyed it. Hopefully I can clean my shooting game up before the 2015 Mountain Workshops! Thanks for looking! 

Freshmen center Nathan Smith smiles as he peers into the arena moments before being introduced to the crowd during Hilltopper Hysteria. Alyssa Pointer/HERALD

Junior forward Anton Walters emerges into Diddle Arena as he is introduced to the crowd during Hilltopper Hysteria. Each basketball player picked a specific song to play, and some danced as they were introduced to the crowd. Alyssa Pointer/HERALD

Senior guard Micah Jones poses during the introduction of players at the beginning of the event. Alyssa Pointer/HERALD

Sophomore cheerleader Nathan King, center, dances as the cheerleading team sings an upbeat version of the children’s song “Father Abraham” minutes before performing a routine in front of the Hilltopper Hysteria crowd Saturday. Alyssa Pointer/HERALD

Junior guard Ima Akpan (20) dribbles past sophomore forward Tashia Brown (10) during a scrimmage game in Diddle Arena. Alyssa Pointer/HERALD

Junior guard Fredrick Edmond (25) completes a dunk after soaring over redshirt junior Chris Harrison-Dock (51) during Hilltopper Hysteria. The crowd reacted with cheers and applause. Alyssa Pointer/HERALD

Red shirt junior guard Chris Harrison-Docks (51) passes the ball to a teammate during the scrimmage game. Alyssa Pointer/HERALD

Lady Toppers Head Coach Michelle Clark-Heard, now in her fourth season, talks with the audience during the introduction of the players. Alyssa Pointer/HERALD

Junior guard Fredrick Edmond (25) pushes past redshirt senior Nigel Snipes (21) during a scrimmage game. Alyssa Pointer/HERALD

Shirley Flynod, grandmother of freshman guard Marlon Hunter, wishes junior forward Anton Waters (42), right, a winning season during the meet and greet portion of Hilltopper Hysteria. Alyssa Pointer/HERALD

I have been getting pretty decent with lighting, these last couple months. Today, I photographed some cocktails for HerScene Magazine. Here are a few of my favorites. 

Also, they tasted BOMB! Thanks to Emily Hornback, WKU Alumnus and Bar Manager at 211 Clover Lane Restaurant. 

I have not been keeping up with posting. Mostly due to the complications of my website, which I will be revamping soon. Here a few photos that I made while documenting a local marching band as they prepared for the upcoming football season. 

This photo essay isn’t in any order, yet. I will edit them down and post the essay on my website. This is a loose take of some photos I liked.  I will be making a summer compilation post soon, since my last day is FRIDAY!

There is also a short video I made for this piece. I will have to find it and post it later. 

As always, captions follow the images. Thanks for scrolling!

1. Sophomore Tae’Shaun Cooksey (center), guzzles water as the band takes a short break during their morning practice. Cooksey plays the clarinet and has been in the Central High marching band for two years. During practice, water breaks were spread out in inconsistent increments, becoming a short luxury for the students. Breaks were a time to sit and relax, check smartphones for notifications and hydrate before heading back in the heat, on the field.

2. Senior Baritone player, Ton’eisha Taylor (from left) hums a note for senior drum major, Ruth Metellus and freshman Tuba player, Kaydra Jones-Ford, to imitate during a break in their shared 12 bed sleeping quarters. With no internet or television, the band members relied on each other for entertainment, resulting in a strengthening of old and new relationships between upper and lower classmen. As drum major, or field commander, Metellus (middle) is one of the two student leaders of the band. She shares the role of directing the band, keeping the time during performances and assisting other members with learning sheet music.

3. Sophomore and member of the drum-line, Tae-Ahn Lea, 15, over-confidently adjusts a tuba around his body, in hopes of winning a playful bet, by performing a few notes while the band took a break during practice. After a few hopeless attempts, followed by playful teasing from the assistant band director, Stachelle “Scooby” Bussey (right), Tae-Ahn bowed out and went back to his drums. “Stop. You’re singing in [the tuba],” Bussey said while simultaneously laughing and instructing Tae-Ahn on tuba lip placement.

4. A lunch table erupts in laughter as Jameelah Yusuf (from back left), Eboni Porter, Linda Houser and LaChea Cooper (far right) recount stories of the food served during camp. The group was in tears as Yusuf tried to justify her attempt at dressing her taco salad with a bowl of, what she thought was guacamole and sour cream but turned out to be a slice of key lime pie. “She looked at the bowl [of pie] with a straight face and said, ‘I forgot the tomato,’” someone recounted, as the students around the table gasped for breath in between laughs. Some students did not eat meat for religious reasons, which was Jameelah’s case, or had food related issues that limited their options. Toward the end of the week, Jameelah was ready to go back home to see her family.

5. Drummer Raven Johnson (from left), Central High School band director, Thomas Cheatham, drummer Kaleb Wharton and [name] discuss their positioning for performing in the second half of the field show. Cheatham, 42, started playing music at a young age, played in the marching band at Central High and went on to study the medium in college, receiving a bachelors degree in music from Kentucky State University. The main goal for this years camp was to learn the field show. A feat Cheatham said, even with all the weather complaints, was accomplished. “It’s like building a new house. You can see the progress but it’s not really looking that good. And then their is progress. After you see that progress, not only does it feel good to me, but it feels good to see the kids know that their successful,” said Cheatham, “It’s pretty dag-on awesome.”

6. The rhythm of the drum-line could be heard a quarter mile away as the Central High School band marched down Pine Tavern Road toward their practice field before they began rehearsal. Days were long, starting at 6 a.m. and ending around 10 p.m. The band spent 8 hours outside, practicing their field show, in one of the many fields located on the campgrounds. When they were not playing on the field, they were sectioned off in groups learning new music for the upcoming season.

7. As the sun began to set, Tuesday, July 28, Cheatham ordered the band to complete twenty Central High School jumping jacks, which is an equivalent of forty. Light physical discipline was ordered whenever the band was unable to complete tasks asked of them.

8. An inhaler sits on top of a trumpet during the first morning of band camp, Monday, July 27, 2015. Many of the band members were supplied their medicine regularly each morning before heading to the practice field.

9.After dinner, freshman Sanaa Bullitt, 13, walks toward the exit of the cafeteria with her clarinet and music. “I’m ready to go [home],” Bullitt said. Sanaa did not like going to band camp and was somewhat frustrated that the freshmen in the band were sometimes singled out for extra work. Lions Camp Crescendo has no wireless Internet or television and a camp wide 11 p.m. bedtime. “I think [camp] made them stronger,” said Thomas Cheatham, the band director.

10. Freshmen to the band, Terrance Moore Jr., has been playing the trumpet since 7th grade. “I’m looking forward to learning all the marches and getting it right,” said Moore.

11. Central High marching band twirler, LaChea Cooper (center), erupts in laughter while dancing down a formed Soul Train dance line during the last night at camp. Lions Camp Crescendo owners ordered pizza and played music for the students to celebrate the end of a long week. Members of the Central High marching band sat on one side of the room and mingled while members of another participating band lined the other side. Occasionally, when a popular song was played, the students would join together and dance. Their bodies twirling around in synchronized steps, exuded a mix of enthusiasm for completing the week long camp and fatigue from the physical labor.

12. Central High School band director, Thomas Cheatham, 42, talks with the band before their last evening practice, Thursday, July 30, 2015. Cheatham has been playing instruments since the 4th grade and is an alumni of Central High.