A couple of portraits

State legislator Mark Danish

Five-time state championship wrestler Kevin Norstrem.

Skipper

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel signing autographs.

Regional Champions

Head coach and star player of Wharton after winning the regional championship.

High School Basketball

Basketball Wins, Soccer Loses

It's state playoffs time here in Florida. Soccer is done, but there will be more basketball to come this week.

Some Much-needed Perspective

This morning the information on my first assignment sheet took me to the wrong place and a half an hour later than it was supposed to be. Then at the assignment I had a PR lady following me around telling me what I could and could not photograph. So I was in a frustrated and sour mood when my second assignment hit me with some perspective at the exact right time. It was strawberry pickers at a local farm. Watching them in the hot sun hunched over for hours made me realize I had nothing to complain about, that my job is awesome and I should be thankful for it even on days that aren't as smooth as others. Today I gained a little knowledge on where my food comes from and a lot of respect for the people who make it possible for me to eat strawberries.

Strawberry pickers wait in line to have their boxes inspected and counted at The Parkesdale Farm in Dover, Fla., Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. The pickers are paid $1.50 per cardboard box, with the fastest pickers filling over 100 boxes a day.

The finished product. 

Ye Knight Parade

The Prosecutor

Prosecutor Richard Gale listens as the defense argues that two of the five bite marks on Jasmine Bedwell could have been self-inflicted, in regard to the upcoming trial of Richard McTear who is accused of throwing Bedwell's child out of a car window into I-275 in 2009.

Missed Buzzer Beater

Bucified Bert of Tampa reacts as a Robinson's buzzer shot misses to send the game into over time during Thursday's Class 5A regional quarterfinal in which Boca Ciega went on to defeat Robinson 52-46 at Robinson Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013.

Snakes

Aubrey Pierce, 28, right, shows Jesus Garcia's pet snakes Pythagoras and Ziggy to Pierce's daughters Aubreyanna, 9, and Brenijah, 6, outside their home in Ybor Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013. Garcia regularly takes his snakes on walks around the neighborhood. 

Monster Trucks!

I photographed the Monster Jam this Saturday at Raymond James Stadium. Eight-year-old me was going nuts. It's a bit of a loose edit, but come on, it's Monster Trucks.

Bored Middle Schoolers

I photographed a middle school's first inaugural career day. None of the speakers managed to keep the students from boredom. This a presentation by a specialist in female pelvic reconstructive surgery. He did not mention any specifics about his job other than that robots were involved.