People in the Trenches

Inventory. Seven black shovels in the truck....

Sat, 25 May 2013 12:33:00 -0500

Inventory.

Seven black shovels in the truck. http://on.fb.me/12UOFSS

Seen on Rt. 66

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:58:29 -0500

Seen on Rt. 66

Tim Henry, OG&E employee, was talking to me as I was...

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:55:50 -0500

Tim Henry, OG&E employee, was talking to me as I was shooting. He even offered me something to drink.

“They’re from Louisiana and they get it. Those guys aren’t contractors. We’re part of a consortium of nine states. Whenever a disaster happens in one, we all go. They’re here now. They’ll stay as long as we need them. When Katrina hit, we went there…. [Those power lines] will be hot tonight.”

Shout out to all the people out there working on infrastructure. Tim told me OSHA regulations state they can only work 16 hour days. Otherwise they would be on the clock non-stop.

The jazz choirs and musicians from both Norman high schools...

Fri, 24 May 2013 20:30:37 -0500

The jazz choirs and musicians from both Norman high schools performed a benefit concert on Wednesday evening. Their talent is impressive and the crowd was several hundred. I found out last night they raised over $13,000. All proceeds went to our local American Red Cross.

Two other benefits planned for this coming week. Music4Moore is a gathering of local musicians on May 29th. That same evening, there’s going to be a nationally televised concert featuring Blake Shelton. They’re filming it from the Chesapeake Engergy Center. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m.

I know there are other benefit events planned. Keep tuned in to local radio, news and facebook coverage for events and times. Every little bit helps.

They came in on a three wheeler from Chandler to help the locals...

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:18:00 -0500

They came in on a three wheeler from Chandler to help the locals with cleanup. It’s a balancing act, stopping people you don’t know and asking for their photo. And I get pulled into the minutia of photography in fairly short order: geez this light is harsh, I wish I could get closer to the house, do I keep that light pole in the background, is that a good way to have them stand?

I’m chatting of course, but all this is going through my head and I want to get a good shot. So I tend to take a lot because I know once I let them go, that’s it.

“Uh, ma’am? I hate to be rude but we came here to work.”

Life can be so wonderfully random sometimes. I stopped on the...

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:04:00 -0500

Life can be so wonderfully random sometimes.

I stopped on the highway to photograph some girls collecting money for tornado victims and I happened upon a documentary film crew. Gabe, pictured here, is in the process of riding his wheelchair across America.

You read that correctly: He’s wheelchairing across the United States.

They were filming here in Oklahoma when the storms hit and decided to stay for a bit. They were on their way to Carney when I encountered them. Said one of the crew members: “People have been so amazing helping us along the way. We have to help. We HAVE to.”

I would have shot him in action, except his chair was taken apart and packed away when I encountered the group. He was so accommodating though, and offered to do anything within reason so I could get a shot.

Check out Gabe’s amazing project.

PS: Now I’m kicking myself that I didn’t get the whole crew. Sigh. http://on.fb.me/130tzBn

He stood there for a bit and while I was composing he got...

Thu, 23 May 2013 13:03:00 -0500

He stood there for a bit and while I was composing he got distracted by another worker who drove right into my frame. He tried to jump off the truck after the guy drove off, but I wouldn’t let him.

“Hold up! That was a great shot! Stay up there for a sec…” http://on.fb.me/18lmYVu

The owners and operators of D&D Truck Sales and Service, Inc...

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:03:21 -0500

The owners and operators of D&D Truck Sales and Service, Inc have been feeding people in Bethel Acres, Oklahoma since the tornado struck on Sunday.

“I live around here and I didn’t get hit. I just want to give something back.” http://on.fb.me/11eUvQG

“It’s my mom’s house. She lives here with my grandpa. He’s a...

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:03:00 -0500

“It’s my mom’s house. She lives here with my grandpa. He’s a diabetic and in a wheelchair. He didn’t even want to go in the bathroom…that’s it right there…”

and she pointed to what’s left of the structure you see over her right* shoulder.

“They just rolled him over to it and he sat through the storm right by the door…We never thought we would get one here. We hear the sirens and just run out and look at the sky like everyone does.”

“What made your mom decide to take shelter this time?”

“She seen it.”

Ironically, the neighbors who live in a mobile home came to this house for refuge in the interior bathroom. That home, maybe 250 yards away, wasn’t touched.

*our left—the chair is leaning against it. http://on.fb.me/11d7Zwp

“We’re just trying to salvage valuables and stuff that can’t be...

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:03:00 -0500

“We’re just trying to salvage valuables and stuff that can’t be replaced. Pictures, documents…stuff like that.” http://on.fb.me/14z1H9m

It was a miserable, soggy day for most of the day yesterday. Yet...

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:03:00 -0500

It was a miserable, soggy day for most of the day yesterday. Yet the people in Bethel Acres, who got slammed by a tornado on Sunday, were out in force despite the rain.

Alta has no power, no water, no roof. She’ll be out of her home for the next three months or so while repairs are done. Most of the trees on her property will have to come down. But she won’t have to rebuild completely. She was lucky in that regard.

She made the decision to put in an underground shelter 40 years ago.

“How many times have you had to take shelter?”

“Oh, not too many…I remember one time we were having a couples bridge game and the sirens went off. Boy, we were crammed in there that night.” http://on.fb.me/16Ou6vB

I know the city of Moore very well—I drive through there all the time and I grew up not far...

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:47:52 -0500

I know the city of Moore very well—I drive through there all the time and I grew up not far...

http://on.fb.me/13Dyc37

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:03:47 -0500

http://on.fb.me/13Dyc37

Buckle up, everyone! http://on.fb.me/1179gPw

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:34:18 -0500

Buckle up, everyone! http://on.fb.me/1179gPw

Feeling sad and blue? Here’s a Molly for you....

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:48:58 -0500

Feeling sad and blue?

Here’s a Molly for you. http://on.fb.me/18YVaHO

Woo!! Tornados!!

Sun, 19 May 2013 20:27:49 -0500

I know!

I didn’t tell them to do that. I swear. http://on.fb.me/13A1fo5

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:03:00 -0500

I didn’t tell them to do that. I swear. http://on.fb.me/13A1fo5

Tornado party! http://on.fb.me/17R5rqC

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:48:36 -0500

Tornado party! http://on.fb.me/17R5rqC

No adult body parts were harmed in the making of this photo....

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:03:16 -0500

No adult body parts were harmed in the making of this photo. http://on.fb.me/14Fu8Sd

Seen at the Norman train depot. http://on.fb.me/10FdldS

Sat, 18 May 2013 17:18:28 -0500

Seen at the Norman train depot. http://on.fb.me/10FdldS