Arkansas 28, Western Illinois 24

Bobby Petrino made his official debut as the Razorbacks' head coach on Saturday in Fayetteville in front of 70,537 fans. It wasn't the win most had expected, but it was a win nonetheless.


Casey Dick was the hero last night. He went 25-41 with 318 yards in the air and ran for two touchdowns.


True freshman receiver Joe Adams scored Arkansas' first touchdown of the season and the first of his Razorback career.


True freshman running back De'Anthony Curtis gave Arkansas fans hope for the future on the ground. Curtis had 69 yards overall.


True freshman receiver Greg Childs had a great night. Six receptions for 88 yards and one touchdown.


I swear junior receiver London Crawford is cursed. This ball was catchable. It was in his hands.


The Razorback Marching Band on the field at Reynolds Razorback Stadium complete with a freshly-painted Razorback logo. (This one's for you Mr. Buffalo)


This cutie is the lil sis of freshman safety Khiry Battle. Didn't know it when I took the picture. Cute huh?

The Hogs face Louisiana-Monroe next Saturday in Little Rock. They need to get their game together cause it's on to Austin against the Longhorns the following weekend.

Frisco Fest

Headed down to Frisco Fest with my camera today after dropping Sahar off at work. My goal was to gather some random stock images from the event. I have to admit it was a rather weird feeling to be there with a camera and not be shooting for The Morning News.

A Photo Is Worth Seven Figures

I was assigned to cover jury selection today for Walmart Stores Inc.’s court battle with former CEO Tom Coughlin over his $17 million retirement package. Myself and several other members of the local media ended up staking out a courtroom whereCoughlin and his team of attorney’s met for more than three hours. Instead of continuing with the scheduled jury selection set for 1 p.m., Coughlin and his attorney’s reached a deal with Walmart Stores Inc.’s attorneys at about 12:30 p.m. After a bit of a cat and mouse game with us, Coughlin and his wife exited the Benton County Courthouse with attorney Tim Brooks. I followed them from the courthouse to their vehicle shooting photos the whole way trying to get a shot of them with the building in the background. The frame pictured above is not the image that ran in the paper, but is very similar. What makes the photo above so special is the tidbit of privileged information exposed and in sharp focus in the arms of Coughlin’s attorney. The actual settlement amount Coughlin received from Walmart Stores Inc. was embargoed by Circuit Judge Jay Finch for 20 days.


A closer look at the legal pad clutched in Brooks’ arms reveals an amount of $6.75 million, the same amount that was filed today by Walmart Stores Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well in this case it’s more like seven figures.

Hawgs Illustrated: Vol. 17, Issue 9

The last issue of Hawgs Illustrated before the season gets under way on Aug. 30. It'll be all football for me through December after that. I'm excited.

Football Season Begins

Yes it has been a while since my last post. I've been busy all week covering the start of Arkansas' football season for Hawgs Illustrated. Bobby Petrino is in full command of the Razorbacks now and is instilling his form of football into the program. Practices have been incredibly fast paced. A big change from the Houston Nutt days.


Senior quarterback Casey Dick and senior offensive center Jonathan Luigs report for the Razorbacks' first day of practice.


Arkansas senior strong safety Dallas Washington wraps up teammate Elton Ford while running coverage drills.


Starting quarterback Casey Dick passes the ball during practice.


Wide receiver Joe Chaisson hauls in a pass.


Freshman wide receiver Joe Adams turns upfield after a catch.


Arkansas junior tailback Michael Smith takes a handoff from running backs coach Tim Horton.


Arkansas defensive end Antwain Robinson cools off while running defensive drills during the Razorbacks' first day of practice in Fayetteville. The temperature was near 100 degrees on the opening day of the Razorbacks' season. It was brutal. Thank god it has cooled off since then.

Arkansas' season kicks off on Aug. 30 in Fayetteville against Western Illinois. I can't wait.

Child's Play

I shot some family portraits yesterday. This little one was not very cooperative during the group shoots, but once she was let loose and allowed to be herself she turned into photo gold.


These are just two of my favorites from the session. I got a ton of photos of her compared to the other groups and individuals I took. The family loved them. Guess that's all that really matters huh?

A Word From God

Another dashboard shot, this one from last month in Manila. I'm telling you the billboard advertising market is huge in the Philippines.

Living With The Dead

This is a photo story I shot during my recent trip to the Philippines about Filipinos living in two cemeteries in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The photo story was published this past weekend in TMN.

"Head" Out On The Highway

You could even say "Ed out on the highway." Yeah, I'm silly. I had to share the photo though.

Goodbye Philippines

Well we're broke and sitting in the airport in Narita (Tokyo), Japan waiting for our long-haul flight to Chicago. Our Philippines vacation is over. It was really sad leaving this morning. We're already talking about our next trip, but for now we've gotta get home and get back to work and pay off our bills.

I miss you Mindoro. I miss your people. I miss your beautiful countryside with your rice fields and Carabao.


Goodbye beautiful beaches. This is a shot of White Beach in Puerto Galera in Mindoro the day before Typhoon Frank blew in.


This is White Beach two days later with the remnants of Frank still hanging around.


Goodbye Mangyans. I can't wait to return to take more photos of these wonderfully friendly and mysterious people.


Goodbye Sabong (cockfighting). I miss your Meron and your Wala.


Goodbye to all of the malls in Manila. You've taken all my money. I'm through with you....for now.


Goodbye extremely poor, yet hospitable people of Manila. You have the most resourceful ways of making your homes, even amongst the dead. (Photo story to come from this one)


Goodbye to our wonderful bahay (home) in Mansalay. You're the best second home I've ever had.


Goodbye all of you unpredictable brownouts. Ahh life in the Philippines.


Goodbye Citadel Inn in Makati (Metro Manila). You're the best second-second home in the Philippines. Although we spent waaaay to much time with you this trip. Less time in Manila is a better time spent in the Philippines.


Now what was it I ran off and forgot to buy before leaving. "Honey! Where's the Fighting Cock Conditioner?"

See you in a couple of years Philippines. Ingat!

We're Safe

No pictures with this update, but I just wanted to let you all know that Alona, Sahar, myself and the rest of our family here in the Philippines are safe. We were in the resort area of Puerto Galera when the typhoon (hurricane) hit Mindoro on Saturday. This is the first chance I've had to get onto the internet since then. We arrived back in Manila this morning and will remain here until we leave for home on Monday.

The typhoon was wicked and I have my own experiences to share when I get home. The SuperFerry that sank was just off the coast of Mindoro in the Tablas Strait between the islands of Mindoro and Romblon. More than 750 people lost their lives when the ship capsized in midst of the typhoon. I know how it is first hand on these ferrys (I've traveled on a ferry three times this trip alone) and most of the passengers were most likely asleep or trying to sleep when the shipped rolled over. I can picture the scene in my mind, how horrible. The entire country is outraged that the ferry even set sail when the ship's company knew the area was under a Signal Three Warning (the highest warning in typhoon conditions).

My Kuya (brother-in-law Nelson) said most of the Filipinos in Mindoro and the other nearby islands, and maybe most of the country as a whole, won't be eating any fish or squid for the next month for fear of ingesting something that might have feasted on a victim of the sinking. Creepy huh? I asked several others the same question and they all confirmed it. Whenever a ship sinks and many lives are lost nobody eats the fish for a while.

I'll have some photos up soon.

Mansalay = Home

With a little over one week left in our one month vacation here in the Philippines I'm already beginning to feel a bit of sadness about leaving. Most of all I'm going to miss what has become a second home to me, Mansalay. Life in the provinces of the Philippines is a bit like taking a step backwards as far as the everyday things we take for granted in America. Like a fully air conditioned home, public water, hot showers, etc. But you get used to the change. My second home is very inviting, warm with friendship and teeming with life that you don't get back home. It's obvious that most people in the provinces here are very poor, but even when you encounter the poorest residents they greet you with friendly smiles that the you would never find from someone in their situation back in the states. This is a life people here are used to, they know no different and they are content with it. As long as they have food on their tables and health in their families they are happy.

The above photo is of fishing boats on Mansalay Bay getting ready to head out for a night of fishing.


Rush hour in Mansalay shot from the terrace of our house.


Street basketball on a Mansalay backstreet.


Schoolchildren smile for the camera on their way home from school.


The Mansalay fish market in the morning. You'll always find something interesting from the sea in the Mansalay fish market.


Students at Mansalay Catholic High School head for their classes after getting a back-to-school speech from their principal. MCHS is also where Alona attended school.


JR, my nephew, plays with one of the family dogs outside of the billiard hall run by Tatay, my father-in-law.


A Mangyan waits for other members of his family while shopping at the Mansalay Central Market.


Residents of Mansalay wait in line to buy government rice at Mansalay Central Market. There is a huge shortage of rice going on in Asia right now and the prices have inflated tremendously. To stem the price inflation the Philippine government offers rice at a discounted rate once a week to families across the country. Two kilograms a week for each family for .25 cents a kilo.


Mansalay and Mansalay Bay from the Globe cell tower hilltop.

I'm going to miss you Mansalay.

More to come.