Tuesday, March 11, 2008

I had the chance to hang out today with Stingers shortstop Barrett Kleinknecht for a portrait shoot. Barrett is a great guy and very fun to work with. Today was a great chance for me to spend sometime working on portraits using off camera lighting. I did a lot of “lighting” while I was in school but haven’t had the chance recently, I really enjoyed playing with light again. This photo is my favorite from the day.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

While covering the State Basketball Championships this weekend in Columbia these three girls, members of the Double Dutch Forces, an award winning group from Columbia were waiting in the wings to perform between games. I didn’t have time to photograph their performance but I love this quiet little moment of them waiting.

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Tough day for the Lee Central Girls
my heart goes out to them

Saturday, February 23, 2008

I just really like this one…

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

I had the chance to cover a Zumba class at a local gym this morning. This is a photo I made for me. On a side note, I LOVE square photos.

Friday, February 08, 2008

Perry Grice is the Marketing Officer for Anderson Brothers Bank in Mullins, and a really, really nice guy. This is the last photo I took during our meeting yesterday and yet another example of a photo that may not read well in the paper but I really like.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

I was on an assignment today for an upcoming story, while the reporter was doing his thing I set up my camera and flashes. I had everything the way I wanted it but needed a “stand in” for my subject. Ray was kind enough to step in for me. Thanks Ray. Look for the “real” photo in Sunday’s paper.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

These types of stories are why I entered into this career in the first place. When John called me last Thursday and asked me if I would rather go on a story about a giant mushroom or cover a press conference happening at the same time my response was a very quick “yes”. Mushrooms always trump press conferences. Dwight and I headed to the home of C.W. “Cam” Choate to see what was up with this giant mushroom he had found near his Florence home. Sometimes these types of stories don’t make the best photos yet there is something I like about this one. I have been told by a few people that its a “nothing” photo, however to me it was more about the opportunity I had to hang out with Mr. Choate and learn a little about his life. My favorite part of this job is getting to meet the different people in our community, it never stops amazing me how willing people are to allow me into their lives, tell me their stories and allow me to make their photograph. Some photos are good, some are great, and some just become favorites because of the people and stories they are associated with. This is the case here, I love this photo, “nothing” or not and I love what I do for a living everyday.

I always wanted to be a cheerleader when I was a kid. They just seem to have so much fun. As it always is things look different from the outside but as I watched the Wilson cheerleaders at last nights basketball game I wanted to be 16 again.

Monday, January 28, 2008

I was ten years old in 1986 sitting in Mrs. Solomon’s fifth grade class watching as the Challenger exploded. Tonight I went to Lake City to cover a candle light vigil honoring Dr. Ronald E. McNair who was killed that day; I can’t believe it was 22 years ago.

Tilted horizons often confuse viewers in the daily paper and as a rule I don’t shoot with my camera at any sort of angle, however rules are meant to sometimes be broken and tonight when I saw the lines set up in this photo I let the camera lean a bit. Thoughts welcome.

Morning News Photo/ Rebecca J. Ducker

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Clinton volunteers Victoria Johnson and Keire Stackhouse rally support for Senator Clinton at Five Points during the S.C. Democratic primary.

Joe Griffith and Marc Clinedinst, both volunteers with the Barack Obama campaign hit the streets in Darlington on foot to encourage people to get out and vote during the S.C. Democratic primary.

As I have mentioned before whenever I am out working I always try to take photos for myself that may not run in the paper sometimes there are no faces showing. This is the last photo I took today, three-year-old McKenzie Manning of Hartsville went to the polls with her mother Nikole Williams-Manning to support Barack Obama. I loved the way she was holding her mother’s hand.

Morning News Photos/ Rebecca J. Ducker

Poll workers Helen Harrison, Allan Anderson, and Tonya Small look over the newspaper while waiting for voters at the Poyner School in Florence during the South Carolina Democratic Primary.

Hillary Clinton supporter Leo F. James Jr., sits across the street from the Poyner School to show support for Senator Clinton. James, a Florence native was the first person to vote at the Poyner School arriving 10 minutes before the polls opened at 7 a.m.

Decked out in her red, white, and blue, 9-month-old Kimiya Douglas gets a hug from her mother Kim Rhodes before Rhodes casts her vote in the South Carolina Democratic Primary.

Morning News Photos/ Rebecca J. Ducker

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Harry Gause of Florence reads a sign inside the Maple Park Community Center, the voting location for Florence Precinct 11 on the morning of the S.C. Republican Primaries.

Poll worker Brenda Gibson sets up Rhonda Weatherford on a voting machine inside the Maple Park Community Center on the morning of the S.C. Republican Primaries.

Mark Weatherford prepares to vote in the S.C. Republican Primaries at Florence Precinct 11 on January 19, 2008.

Voters enter and exit West Florence High School in the pouring rain during the S.C. Republican Primary on January 19, 2008.

Voters wait to sign in at West Florence High School, West Florence precincts 1&2, during the S.C. Republican Primary on Staurday, January 19, 2008.

Voting machines sit under the West Florence Knight as voters cast their ballots in the S.C. Republican Primary at West Florence High School on January 19, 2008.

Morning News Photos by: Rebecca J. Ducker

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Ric Flair stands in support of Republican Presidential hopeful former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at Powers Aviation in Florence on Thursday January 17.



Charlie and Ben Weaver proudly display their Huckabee bumper stickers at Thursday’s rally.



A Huckabee campaign worker waits by the exit of Powers Aviation after the Mike Huckabee rally on January 17.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Tomorrow in sports check out the prep page on Trinity Collegiate varsity girls basketball.
Whenever I am on assignment I try to find at least a few photos that are different from what is needed for the daily paper. They are photos I take just for me as a way to challenge myself to look harder, see more clearly, and take chances that I can’t always take for the published paper. It is these little moments which remind me everyday how much I love my job.