I know, I know. I’m a week(ish) late on this post, but things have been busy in Mississippi. Not only have I entirely moved out of one apartment and into another (with relatively little mess), I have also been working full-time, dodging overthrown footballs AND been offered wine on assignment (and turned it down) at 1 p.m. from a native New Orleanian.

I photographed the North Forrest-Sumrall matchup last Friday night.

Most of the area games were delayed or cancelled due to a HUGE front of thunderstorms rolling through the area about an hour before the games kicked off. Luckily, my game only started 20 minutes behind schedule, and I was able to stay for the entire first quarter before heading back to the newsroom to submit my photographs.

Since the game started a little late, I took the time to make some feature images.

North Forrest wait beneath the concession stand before the North Forrest-Sumrall game Friday night at North Forrest High School. (Photo by Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

North Forrest cheerleaders Emily Patton, left, 16, and Laykin Posey, 16, hang a sign before the North Forrest-Sumrall game Friday night at North Forrest High School. (Photo by Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

You can check out more images from the waiting and the actual game at the Hattiesburg American Web site.

I went to the local airport last Saturday to photograph some troops coming in for basic training. (Photo gallery this way.)

I was waiting in the shadows for the plane to land behind a HUGE blue hangar. In my time sitting there, I noticed how the light and shadows were playing on the side of the building, and I knew I had to photograph this.

When you’re photographing something like a pageant, you have a lot of interludes between shooting.

This is what I noticed on one of those a few weeks ago during Miss Hospitality.

I was waiting by a local high school before an assignment, and when I jumped out of my car to get my camera equipment, I saw the following bumper sticker on a woman’s car who just pulled up. I couldn’t NOT take a photo of it.

Not gonna lie: It put a huge smile on your face. It may have also kind of brightened my day a bit, too.

Who would have thought they sold stickers like this?

I ventured up to Indiana to document a wedding this past weekend. The day was long, but it was absolutely perfect: from the weather, to the couple and their wedding entourage to the location.

This was my first wedding since shooting my cousin’s two years ago, so I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect other than to be on my toes. I ended up spending most of the day photographing the preparations, the formal portraits, the ceremony and then the reception, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

In fact, I’m rather excited about the results.

I’ve still got A LOT of images to edit, but there will be more posted eventually! Let me know what you think!

This past week has been pretty crazy, work-wise AND personally.

Want to know why?

Check out all these links and photo galleries. I think they explain it all.

Miss Hospitality pageant photos (here and here)
First Tee of the Pine Belt celebration (here)
Regina Adams appreciation at Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist (here)
Body found in apartment (here) –> This was a surprise Sunday afternoon, and now knowing what happened makes it pretty crazy.
PCS teachers prepare for school (here)
NFHS football community service (here)
First day of school at the DuBard School (here)

And last but not least, Sumrall football practice.

Sumrall High School player Brian Hartfield (12) dives to catch a pass Wednesday afternoon during practice. (Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

More images can be found at the Hattiesburg American Web site.

What have you been up to recently?