Spot of Color

A cardinal eats red berries in a tree in Washington Park.

'It's Been Long Enough'

I stood with family members and friends waiting for the arrival of the
2nd Bridge Combat Team of the Pennsylvania National Guard returning from Iraq.

I could feel their anticipation and excitement. They were holding yellow balloons, banners and flowers. When the procession of buses pulled up and the doors opened, the crowd burst into celebration.

It was hard for me to focus, I was completely overwhelmed.

I wandered my way through the crowd hoping I could capture an image that would reflect the power of their homecoming.

Back at the O-R, I sat at my desk still feeling the force of their reunion. I have never experienced anything like this before. I was swept away in their joy.

I could see the process of narrowing it down to one or two photos was going to be difficult. So many pictures reflected emotion, tears and loved ones embracing each other.

Then I came to an image that made me cry, I knew this was the one.

Hillary Sweeney of Holbrook gets a big hug from her parents, Louise and John Sweeney.

Sweeney is a specialist with the 2nd Bridge Combat Team of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

Valentine's Mail

On a cold, snowy morning, I was searching for a weather feature.
One of the few people out on the streets was U.S. Postal carrier Dolores Roppelt, delivering Valentine's mail.

Firefighter Killed

Washington firefighter John Riley looks on as a member of Canton Township Volunteer Fire Department comforts a fellow fireman at the scene of a Sunday morning blaze on Allison Avenue in Washington.

Jeremy Charles LaBella, 27, was killed Sunday, becoming the city's first paid firefighter to die while fighting a fire in the department's 104-year history.

Veteran's Day

The National Cemetery of the Alleghenies hosts its first Veterans Day program.

Sprinkler Art

Sometimes it can be a real challenge to find a feature photo. Trying to keep an open mind can be the hardest part.

After driving around Washington County looking and searching for an interesting subject, I was not having much success. I was just about ready to call it quits and head back to the paper featureless and frustrated.

Then finely something caught my eye.

As a photographer, trying to photograph something fresh can be difficult and sometimes I overlook the obvious right in front of me like a water sprinkler.

Looking at different angles and the use of lighting can produce an interesting image.

Harvesting Time