Work of November

At first glance, November sort of came and went. At second glance, I remember how much actually happened.

Tennessee football, high school football, breaking news, the holidays, experimenting with my film cameras – it was sort of a whirlwind. Photojournalism is understandably a race against time, but as the days become shorter it is also a race against light. Whereas I usually take my time working the light I am now attempting to make every second of golden and blue light count.

I’ve also fallen in love with a focal length, as nerdy as that sounds. For the past ten months I’ve been using a 17-55 2.8 DX (crop sensor) lens not made for my full-frame D3S. My co-worker Saul lent me his old film-era 35mm f/2 and it has quite literally stolen my heart. When I began taking photography seriously I used to call a 35mm a “dirty thirty.” The perspective was so uninviting to me; I loved my 17mm lens on a full-frame body. Today I could never touch a 17mm lens. For me and the way I shoot, a 35mm just works. I am hoping to scrape together a few dollars to purchase the newer f/1.8 or f/1.4.

Here is a fun little video and my favorite photos from the month!

University of Tennessee students cross a pedestrian bridge above Cumberland Avenue as the sun sets over the campus in Knoxville, Tenn., on Tuesday, November 14, 2017.

ORNL scientist and Liane B. Russell fellow Kelly Chipps tours the lower level inside the decommissioned Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility inside Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Pigeon Forge firefighters wait to take the stage during an event honoring first responders on one year anniversary of the Gatlinburg fires at Patriot Park in Pigeon Forge.

A dog rests in the bed of a pickup during the annual UT Homecoming Parade in Knoxville, Tennessee on Friday, November 3, 2017. For the first time in 30 years, the UT Homecoming Parade returned to Cumberland Avenue.

The Pride of the Southland Band makes its way down Cumberland during the annual UT Homecoming Parade in Knoxville.

Farragut’s Isaiah Gibbs (6) runs the ball during a game between Farragut and Cleveland at Farragut High School in Farragut, Tennessee on Friday, November 3, 2017.

Farragut’s Tanner Corum (16) pushes away Cleveland’s David Dorsey (23) during a game between Farragut and Cleveland at Farragut High School in Farragut.

Cleveland’s Kellye Cawood (12) looks to pass during a game between Farragut and Cleveland at Farragut High School in Farragut.

Farragut’s Isaiah Gibbs (1) is tackled by Cleveland’s Micaleous Elder (1) during a game between Farragut and Cleveland at Farragut High School in Farragut.

Voters register to vote at Bearden High School during city council elections in Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday, November 7, 2017.

Stephanie Welch supporter Mark, who wishes to not give his last name, campaigns outside of Bearden High School.

John Bridges, of the Gatlinburg Fire Department, poses for a photo during a memorial service held at at Rocky Top Sports World marking the first anniversary of the Gatlinburg wildfire in Gatlinburg, Tennessee on Tuesday, November 28, 2017.

Volunteer Sarah Christian puts on a bib before serving during the 31st annual Thanksgiving Day Celebration dinner for the needy served at KARM on Broadway in Knoxville.

Fellow co-worker and photojournalist Brianna Paciorka helps me experiment for an illustration.

Mary Evelyn Rogers, 4, of Jackson, Tennessee, waves her pom poms during an SEC conference game between Tennessee and Southern Miss at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) hands the ball to Tennessee running back Ty Chandler (3) during an game between Tennessee and Southern Miss at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee running back John Kelly (4) flies through the air after being tackled by Southern Miss defensive back Curtis Mikell (19) during an game between Tennessee and Southern Miss.

Tennessee running back John Kelly (4) runs the ball during an game between Tennessee and Southern Miss.

Tennessee Head Coach Butch Jones watches the game during an game between Tennessee and Southern Miss.

Tennessee defensive back Maleik Gray (4) does a backflip after defeating Southern Miss.

A police officer and an attendee chat as the sun sets during a game between South Doyle and Central high schools at South Doyle High School in Knoxville, Tennessee on Friday, November 17, 2017.

Central’s Luke Ferguson (15) stretches during a game between South Doyle and Central high schools.

Central players celebrate the win during a game against South-Doyle.

Campus Car founder and UTK junior Ryan Cunningham poses for a photo atop his Jeep Cherokee in Knoxville, Tennessee on Wednesday, November 15, 2017. While other ride share companies like Uber or Lyft require drivers to at least be 21, Cunningham has special insurance for his younger drivers and developed a phone app for people to use the program.

Wesley Lee poses for a photo at his newly opened Checkers Restaurant along Winfield-Dunn Parkway in Kodak, Tennessee on Wednesday, November 29, 2017. Wesley and his father Terry own and manage over 40 businesses in three states.

Lady Vols warm up during a game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and Wichita State at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee on Monday, November 20, 2017.

Tennessee’s Meme Jackson (10) blocks a shot by Wichita State’s Keke Thompson (1) during a game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and Wichita State.

A Tennessee player walks down the court during a game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and Wichita State.

Tennessee Head Coach Butch Jones walks along the sidelines during a game between Tennessee and Missouri at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri, on Saturday November 11, 2017.

Missouri running back Larry Rountree III (33) is tripped up by Tennessee linebacker Shanon Reid (21) during a game between Tennessee and Missouri at Faurot Field.

Tennessee tight end Ethan Wolf (82) lands in the end zone for a touchdown after catching a pass from Tennessee quarterback Will McBride (17) during a game between Tennessee and Missouri at Faurot Field.

The moon rises behind the scoreboard during a game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium.

Evvy Doolittle, 3, of Farragut, is mesmerized by the light display at the Light the Park Christmas light display at Founders Park in Farragut, Tennessee on Wednesday, November 29, 2017.

Zoe Fulghum immerses herself in the lights at the Light the Park Christmas light display at Founders Park.

Ride leader Jackie Taylor-Tente smiles as she leads the group along a rural road during a group bike ride in Maryville, Tennessee on Tuesday, November 14, 2017. Knox MPC created a map of all walker/biker accidents with cars and found that Alcoa has the most per capita.

Oakland’s Justin Jefferson (6) fumbles the ball while being tackled by Maryville’s Will Orren (4) during the semifinal round TSSAA football playoffs between Maryville and Oakland high schools at Maryville High School in Maryville , Tennessee on Friday, November 24, 2017.

Oakland’sThadd Chapman (55) gets emotional after falling to Maryville while speaking with Maryville’s AJ Davis (3) during the semifinal round TSSAA football playoffs.

A Tennessee fan watches the teams warm up during a game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday Nov. 25, 2017.

Tennessee defensive back Nigel Warrior (18) warms up during a game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday Nov. 25, 2017.

Vanderbilt wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb (16) celebrates a touchdown during a game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday Nov. 25, 2017.

Tennessee linebacker Quart’e Sapp (14) tries to tackle LSU running back Derrius Guice (5) during a game between Tennessee and LSU at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) is sacked by LSU corner back Kevin Toliver II (2) during a game between Tennessee and LSU at Neyland Stadium.

Dylan White, a UT junior studying biochemistry, walks beneath a colorful tree along 12th and Laurel Ave in Fort Sanders in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, November 9, 2017.

A school bus was involved in a crash along I-40 eastbound near Hall of Fame Drive in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, November 9, 2017. There were no children riding the bus at the time of the crash.

Oakland’s Alexander Jones (65) chats with Michael Turk (97) during the semifinal round TSSAA football playoffs between Maryville and Oakland high schools at Maryville High School.

Jean Manning, of Knoxville, makes some last minute preparations to the float during the annual WIVK Christmas Parade along Gay Street in Knoxville, Tennessee on Friday, December 1, 2017. Around 100 floats along with bands, dancers and characters entertained thousands of spectators as the lengthy parade made its way through downtown.

Eugene Cooper, of Knoxville, walks down Gay Street in his Grinch costume looking for a place to sit among the thousands in attendance during the annual WIVK Christmas Parade.