Friday Night Lights - On Assignment For The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Way behind on blogging.  High School Football is back in full swing.  Here are a few shots from my last few assignments for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The Harrison High School band performs during a game against North Cobb High School, Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Kennesaw, Ga. Branden Camp for The AJC

Valor Christian football players of Colorado warm up before a high school football game against Greater Atlanta Christian School, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in Norcross, Ga. Branden Camp for The AJC

Greater Atlanta Christian cheerleaders pose for a photo before a high school football game against Valor Christian of Colorado, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in Norcross, Ga. Branden Camp for The AJC

Greater Atlanta Christian football players warm up before a high school football game against Valor Christian of Colorado, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in Norcross, Ga. Branden Camp for The AJC

Harrison’s Lawrence Shadd III (15) attempts to catch a pass during a game against North Cobb High School, Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Kennesaw, Ga. Branden Camp for The AJC

Greater Atlanta Christian's Robby Fowler (5) converts a fourth down run for a first down as he eludes the tackle from Valor Christian's Chase Lopez (29) during a high school football game against Valor Christian of Colorado, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in Norcross, Ga. Branden Camp for The AJC

A referee signals good on a kick by Greater Atlanta Christian during a high school football game against Valor Christian of Colorado, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in Norcross, Ga. Branden Camp for The AJC

Americus Police Officer Laid to Rest - On Assignment for The Associated Press

I recently covered the funeral of  Americus police officer Nicholas Ryan Smarr, who was shot and killed while responding to a domestic dispute.  His lifelong friend Georgia Southwestern University police officer Jody Smith was also killed while responding to the same dispute.

It was very painful to watch a small town mourn the loss of one of their own.  Here are images from that day.

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Portrait of Cherry Glover - On assignment for Atlanta Journal-Constitution

She didn't stop smiling the whole time I was with her.  Yet, her story rips your heart out of your chest.  She has a developmental disability that prevents her from living a normal life.  She has four children, but currently has custody of one, her 7-year-old daughter, Asia Glover.  Read her story at AJC's website.

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Cherry Glover, who has a developmental disability, said All About Developmental Disabilities has been a big part of her life. “They really feel like a family to me, because I never had that,” said Glover, shown in her Atlanta home. “And they’ve really been there to help me just grow and learn, and I never fail … because they’ve been there for me. They have my back.” Branden Camp for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Cherry Glover, who has a developmental disability, lays her head on her daughter, Asia Glover, 7, in hopes of getting her to smile at their Atlanta home as they pose for a portrait. Glover and her four kids are one of more than 100 families in metro Atlanta that will be helped by All About Developmental Disabilities’ Adopt-a-Family program this year. Branden Camp for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Cherry Glover (left), who has a developmental disability, and AADD caseworker Dionne Walker have worked together for several years now. Besides helping Glover with “life skills training” and tracking her progress, Walker assisted Glover in compiling her family’s wish list for the Adopt-a-Family program. Branden Camp for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Weather - On Assignment For AJC

I've recently been assigned to a lot of breaking news for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC).  On these specific assignments, I hit the road blindly.  I turn the radio on and listen for where the action is and then drive there.  

On the first couple of images, I drove up Northside Parkway in Atlanta and looked for severe weather damage to photograph after several tornados hit the area.  I parked my car on the side of the road and began making my way through neighborhoods that were hit the hardest. 

Martha Jane Jones, 88, was kind enough to invite me in her home and show damage that hit her neighbors house.  

Here are some images from severe storm coverage and general weather coverage over the last week.

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88-year-old Martha Jane Jones, holding her dog, Molly, poses for a photo while looking out at a tree that fell on her neighbors home, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, in Atlanta. The National Weather Service says a tornado has touched down near Atlanta as heavy storms continue to sweep through parts of the southern region. Branden Camp for AJC

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Martha Jane Jones, 88, reacts to the damage outside her Atlanta home, where a tree fell after severe thunderstorms rolled through the metro area on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. Branden Camp for AJC

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Martha Jane Jones, 88, stands inside her Atlanta home, where a tree fell after severe thunderstorms rolled through the metro area on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. Branden Camp for AJC

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A man is reflected in a puddle of water at the base of Kennesaw Mountain on an overcast day.  Branden Camp for AJC

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Rusty Cullens make his way to his car that is covered in debris after severe thunderstorms rolled through the metro area on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. Branden Camp for AJC

On Assignment for NBC News

NBC News reached out to me recently and asked me to cover a church service in Atlanta.  This was a great assignment where I had to be patient and hunt for the images.  The congregation was very thin at the beginning of the service, but eventually filled in.  By the way, I live for hunting images.  I love when the image isn't there waiting for you.

I've recently been focusing on my portrait work more and more as I shoot assignments.  Portraits in this kind of situation are tough, because I sometimes only have a few minutes with a subject.

I had to quickly walk around and find different places to set up the portrait shot.  I settled on one before the service and kept my eye out for where I would shoot the second portrait. I spent about two minutes with Pastor Billy Honor before the service and then another two minutes following the service.

On this particular assignment, I was covering a black church's reaction to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump becoming President-elect Donald Trump.  The first shot is of church member Octavia Jones reacting as Pastor Billy Honor was preaching that  "IT'S TIME FOR HEAVEN TO START RAISING HELL. YOU HAVE TO BE DILIGENT AND KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN. I WANT YOU TO SPEAK UP. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD."

It was at this moment that worshiper Octavia Jones jumped out of her seat and spread her arms in front of this beautiful stain glass window and began to shout.

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Octavia Jones reacts as pastor Billy Honor preaches during a church service at Pulse Church, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Atlanta. Branden Camp / for NBC News

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Billy Honor, pastor of Pulse Church, poses for a portrait following a worship service at his church, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Atlanta.Branden Camp / for NBC News

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Pulse Church congregants holds hands during a service, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Atlanta. Branden Camp / for NBC News

I was struck immediately by a man wearing a "Black Lives Matter" shirt in a church.  No religion, no politics, right?  Here we had religion and politics clashing together.

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D'Andre Mayberry enters Pulse church before a church service, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Atlanta. Branden Camp / for NBC News

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A woman prays during a church service at Pulse Church, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Atlanta. Branden Camp / for NBC News

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Congregants listen as pastor Billy Honor preaches during a church service at Pulse Church, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Atlanta. Branden Camp / for NBC News

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Billy Honor, pastor of Pulse Church, poses for a portrait before a worship service at his church, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Atlanta.Branden Camp / for NBC News