No More Floats For Me

I read this story last night and the whole thing really just scares the hell out of me. Looks like I won't be floating any rivers or swimming in any lakes from now on. No "Brain-Eating Amoebas" for me thank you.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298338,00.html

Happy swimming everyone and don't forget your nose plugs.

(you know I've gotta be serious about this to make a post without photos....we all know how much I hate "word" posts)

Hawgs Illustrated: Third September Issue

It's out. Pick one up, look at it, marvel at the pictures inside. You might read it while you're at it too.

Game Three: Arkansas 29, Kentucky 42

The Hogs lost their second straight game, which also happened to be their second straight SEC loss, on Saturday. It seems Arkansas didn't take much from the lessons they should've learned a week ago against Alabama. They seemed to have Kentucky under control early, but managed to lose the game again in the fourth quarter. The Razorbacks outgained the Wildcats in total yardage and ball possession time, but mistakes, penalties, dropped balls and miscues were their undoing. It didn't help that Darren McFadden and Felix Jones were both sick from a virus they contracted the night before the game.


Darren McFadden still rushed for 173 yards on 29 carries and had one touchdown.


Defensive lineman Antwain Robinson scooped up a fumble from Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson and returned it for a touchdown. That's Robinson's second touchdown, that I can think of, during his career as a Razorback.


Felix Jones had 241 all-purpose yards against Kentucky, including an 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It was Jones' fourth career return for a touchdown.


Fred Bledsoe, left, and Patrick Jones, right, sack Kentucky quarterback Andre' Woodson for a safety.


Despite all of Arkansas' gains on Saturday, Kentucky continued to rip apart the Razorbacks' huge weakness, it's lack of a defensive secondary. Andre' Woodson connected with receiver Keenan Burton in double coverage for the Wildcats' go-ahead touchdown.


Hey, at least "Bubba Hog" still has faith in his beloved Razorbacks. Right "Bubba Hog?"

Hawgs Illustrated: Second September Issue

This week's Hawgs issue came even faster than last week's. I spotted it on the breakroom table in Springdale on Tuesday. We put it to bed on Sunday. That's quick. Of course Darren McFadden graces this issue's cover. So far that's one cover for McFadden and one cover for Jones.

Game Two: Arkansas 38, Alabama 41

Saturday's Hogs/Tide game was quite the spectacle. Alabama outplayed Arkansas in the first half jumping to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. I can only imagine the collective panic and sense of dread that rippled across the state of Arkansas until quarterback Casey Dick conneted with tight end Crosby Tuck to finally put some points on the board in the second quarter. Bama ran the score up to 31-10 before the Hogs finally got things going with six minutes left in the third quarter.


Arkansas coach Houston Nutt chats up Alabama coach Nick Saban (a.k.a. the highest paid coach in college football) before the start of Saturday's game.


Darren McFadden rushed for 199 yards on Saturday.


Felix Jones wasn't too shabby himself with 16 carries for 100 yards.


Bama's stud receiver D.J. Hall ate the Razorback secondary alive with six catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns.


Arkansas safety Michael Grant brings down Alabama punt returner Javier Arenas.


The Hogs pulled ahead of Alabama 38-31 in the fourth quarter but couldn't hold off the Tide. Alabama scored on a touchdown pass with eight seconds left in the game. Arkansas tried to convert on one last play, but came up way short. All in all it was a decent game for Arkansas. Having a bye week just one week into the season hurt the Hogs on this one. If Arkansas had played last weekend and gained more game experience Saturday's outcome would've been different.

On a personal note, I don't want to hear "Sweet Home Alabama" again for a while. Imagine 92,000 fans singing the song at least a couple dozen times with improvised lyrics of "Roll Tide Roll" thrown in. It got old real fast. I even have visions of Hogs defensive coordinator Reggie Herring (pictured above) going home and stomping his beloved Lynard Skynard CD collection into itty, bitty silvery pieces after Saturday's loss. He's also screaming at the top of his voice but only little squeaks are coming out because his voice is shot from screaming all night in Tuscaloosa. Now I can't wait til the Tennessee game and hearing "Rocky Top" for three hours.

Arkansas faces Kentucky next in Fayetteville.

Back To Nature

With all of the rain we received over the weekend I decided on a whim to run out and shoot two of Bella Vista's waterfalls in action this afternoon. The whole experience, which I enjoyed thoroughly, made me realize (1) it's been years since I've shot a long-shutter waterfall photo and (2) I never get out anymore and shoot photos because I enjoy photography. For as great of a job that I have it has become just that, a job anymore. Hopefully this is something I can build on and get out and shoot things other than news photography and freelance assignments. I still have to shoot more of Sahar's senior portraits sometime soon, so that's another good step in the right direction.



As far as these photos go, the first and third photos were shot at the Lake Ann waterfall and the second photo was shot at the Tanyard Creek waterfall. I like em. Like I said, it's been a while since I've shot anything waterfall related. I even got out into the water up to my knees to get some of the photos. Yeah I had fun.

Hawgs Illustrated: First September Issue

Just had the new issue of Hawgs Illustrated handed to me at the office today. We put the magazine to bed on Sunday and here it is already in my hands on Wednesday. That's pretty cool. From this point on until the end of the football season the magazine is published each week between game dates, except for this week since Arkansas is on a bye. Look for the next issue in two weeks.

Game One: Arkansas 46, Troy (Alabama) 26

Arkansas kicked off their 2007 season against the Troy (Alabama) Trojans on Saturday. This was my first football game to shoot for Hawgs Illustrated since taking the job back in April. I've really been looking forward to the season getting started. I was a bit disappointed with my shooting as I felt I didn't shoot as well as I should have. I got restless and moved around a few times and ended up putting myself out of position for a couple of big plays. That won't happen again. First game jitters I guess. I need to remind myself to be patient.


Felix Jones was the star on Saturday against Troy. No. 25 finished the game with 287 all-purpose yards, which included 129 yards on 12 carries.


Darren McFadden racked up 151 yards on 12 carries. If he can maintain that kind of yardage all season they might as well just mail him his Heisman now.


Michael Smith racked up 59 yards on eight carries.


Defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard pressures Troy quarterback Omar Haugabook. Sheppard had five tackles against Troy.


Instead of leading his team in singing Arkansas' fight song as he usually does following a win, Coach Houston Nutt passed the honors to his star tailback Darren McFadden.

Unfortunately the Hogs have a bye this weekend and don't play again for two weeks. The next game is in Tuscaloosa against Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. I hope Arkansas works hard the next two weeks, Alabama's gonna be looking for payback from last years loss to the Razorbacks in Fayetteville.