Tuesday, April 17, 2012

DUI Checkpoint

On Friday night the media was invited out to photograph a DUI checkpoint. Several of the police stations along with MADD and SADD were involved in the checkpoint that was funded by a grant to the State College Police and Penn State Police. When they said the checkpoint would be on North Atherton I knew exactly where it would be. I've driven through checkpoints on that stretch of road on my way home from work on several occasions. It was really interesting to be on the other side of the checkpoint.



I think the most interesting part of this checkpoint was the new flashlights "that smell your breath" (as the slogan says). There is a meter on the side of the flashlight that can detect the smell of alcohol in the air and aids in the officers asking people to take a field sobriety test. They have been using the flashlights since last fall but this was the first I got to see one up close and in action.


I hung out photographing for about an hour, from 11-midnight, and they only stopped one car, but the night was young, and until the end of the evening they charged 6 people with DUI. To most cars the officers enforced the zero tolerance rule and encouraged drivers to have a safe night.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Mounties Softball

Today I headed to Philipsburg-Osceola to photograph softball. Last time I photographed this team they were getting crowned the 2011 PIAA State softball champs in early June. After graduating several girls they are back this year to battle to the playoffs. Todays chilly game didn't go as well as they would have liked though. With several umpire/coach arguments and some confusing calls the Mounties lost to Central 6-4, the first time loosing to them in 20 some years.




Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Lady Raiders

I knew the nice weather in March was too good to be true. Today the baseball game I was sent to cover got snowed/hailed out right before it was to start. I left the community fields and headed over to a softball game on the other side of the county that didn't get hit as hard with the inclement weather. I had perfect timing with arriving, the first frame I took was a grand slam hit deep into center field.


The runs kept rolling in through the first several innings.

This field is also great to shoot at since there is a hill behind right field which helps to make a great clean photo of the pitchers.


Hopefully the wintery weather blows through quickly and we get spring back for spring sports!