My Freshly Emblazoned Car

Here are the pics I promised. To the car's credit...I actually did get an exclusive news tip because someone saw me in the car. So I will just focus on the plusses of driving a marked car.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

So BE HAPPY...the small stuff dosen't matter :-)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

So.... fellow news photogs! The consider the day in and day out trials of the biz....JOY! Every experience develops perseverance...and a lesson you learn from a bad experience you have now may save your butt in the future. So be glad in all things...your body will thank you for it.
-Cam

Nice surprise.

I was out some of last week with foot trouble...and now I return to drive a billboard!
No more ability to check things out in stealth. No more being understated during those tense or sensitive situations. ... Ohhh well.

Pics to come.

A Sad Day for News

Well, my station just lost the best photojournalist in the business. Pat Slattery has been at WSMV for 24 years and today he left to head a new department at Vanderbilt University. His shooting was truly great in every way. Pat would craft a story....his work was not just pictures...it was an experience. Pat hired me in 2000, and I have been in awe of his work ever since. Pat had it all...an eye for composition, an ear for audio, and good story "horse sense." You never saw Pat complaining and he always had time to mentor other photographers. I feel truly honored that I got to work with Pat...and that he considered me good enough to be a part of the team of photojournalists he assembled. The airwaves at Channel 4 will never be the same. Watch the video of Terry Bulger saying goodbye to WSMV Chief Photographer - Pat Slattery

Rising from the Rubble

Tornados are bad things. Back in April one swept through Goodlettsville, Hendersonville, and Gallatin...Destroying property and taking lives.

The picture above is from my house in Gallatin. It has to be torn down...and re-built from scratch. I lost my roof...and the whole corner of my house was picked up and slammed back down. I, however, was more blessed than many people in the area.

I was not home when it happened.

Amy Hawkins WAS at her house in Hendersonville when the storm blasted through. Amy placed herself over her children to protect them. She saved her children...but was paralyzed from the waist down in the process. She and her husband Jared have lost their house and their lifestyle has had to change because of Amy's injuries.

Over 50'000 people signed a petition to Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for Jared and Amy to get their house back...and It happened this past week.

The entire crew came to Hendersonville and built a new home in a week. The Hawkin's story was covered so much after the tornado that all the locals were out to cover the event...even though EM:HE is an ABC show. We had to shoot across the street, no live shots, no wireless mics - SO MANY RESTRICTIONS!

But the faces of the Hawkin's family members was worth it after the crowd yelled "MOVE THAT BUS!"

Of course many people came out to see the shows star ...TY. He didn't disappoint. The image to the right is him almost slapping my camera :-)

Sky 5...the CBS affiliates chopper made some circles around the site and some people on the EM:HE crew went ballistic! ...but that is another story for another time.

At the left is the Hawkin's new home...complete with a tornado safe room. The news crews spent all day out in the sweltering heat...and no chairs :-( ...but it was worth the time to do a GOOD story about people pitching in and helping neighbors rise from the rubble.

-Cam