Kent State University defensive lineman junior Nate Terhune leaps over Ohio University defensive back freshman Shawn Harris after a fake punt and runs for a 61 yard touchdown. The Golden Flashes defeated the Bobcats 44-13 on Tuesday, November 19, 2013. 

The image above taught me a lot about shooting sports. Regardless of what team I am "shooting for", I should never be behind the action because things like this can happen at any time. If I was in front of this play and had caught it, it would have likely went in my portfolio. Instead, it stands just as a reminder of a lesson learned. 

Ohio University took on Kent State on Tuesday, November 19, and the Bobcats lost 44-13. ESPN 2 was covering the game, so it created an even more exciting game day atmosphere to photograph in. The play above can viewed at http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10004877&ex_cid=espnapi_public. 

Ohio University wide reciever red shirt senior Matt Waters struggles to hold on to the ball as he is brought down by Kent State University cornerback senior Darius Polk. 

Kent State University running back senior Dri Archer drops an incomplete pass as Ohio University safety red shirt junior Nathan Carpenter looms behind him. 

Last week I was assigned to take photographs of the SEPTA Correctional Facility in Nelsonville, Ohio, for an article for The Post on how halfway houses are an alternative to prisons in reforming non-violent offenders at lower costs. The assignment was open to whatever I wanted to photograph, so I got clearance into the facility and sat in on the only program that was in session at the time–a religious class lead by a local pastor. The residents were watching a sermon on television and the article was scheduled to run the next day, so I had to photograph the program and make it as visually appealing as possible. 

Resident Martin Stevens (right) watches a religous sermon on TV with resident David Brooks (left) presented by Jim Walz of Cornerstone Baptist Church at the SEPTA Correctional Facility in Nelsonville, Ohio on Monday, November 18, 2013. The religous program held on Mondays is one of many programs and opprotunites to enrich the lives of residents and to aid them in transitiong back to civillian life once they leave the facility.  

Resident Zach Clevinger (right) talks to pastor Jim Walz (left) of Cornerstone Baptist Church at the SEPTA Correctional Facility.

This last weekend I also covered my first men's basketball game of the season. Basketball is my favorite sport, so I really enjoy shooting it and look forward to spending as much time on the baseline covering games as possible. Ohio University defeated visiting Heidelberg University 85-57 on Saturday, November 23, 2013 at the convocation center in Athens, Ohio. 

An Ohio University cheerleader waves the "O" flag before the basketball game between Ohio University and Heidelberg University on Saturday, November 23, 2013. 

Ohio University guard junior Stevie Taylor drives up the court while guarded by Heidelberg University guard senior Dave Givner. 

Ohio University forward senior Johnson Ricardo takes a shot while contested by Heidelberg University guard junior Keith Mackle.

Ohio University forward senior Johnson Ricardo slams home a dunk in the first half of play against Heidelberg University.

Ohio University forward junior Maurice Ndour blocks a shot by Heidelberg University guard senior Dane Givner.

Ohio University forward freshman Wadly Mompremier blocks a shot by Heidelberg University guard senior Quintin Aden Jr.

Ohio University womens basketball player gather for a pregame huddle just prior to facing Xavier University at the convocation center in Athens, Ohio on Sunday, November 10, 2013. Ohio University defeated Xavier University 94-88 in their season opener. 

This past two weeks have been quite sports heavy. My next assignment in my photojournalism class is two-picture sports combo. The assignment requires both a sports action and sports feature photograph, so I've been attending every sporting event possible to get the best images I can. I feel a bit torn that I've been consistently shooting sports, as my heart lies with human interest-based stories. In light of this, I've come to realize that photojournalists, especially those who dream of working for a newspaper, must wear as many different "hats" as they can master. Newspaper photographers have to learn to shoot everything under the sun, and shoot it all well. Branching off from editorial work, I've decided to focus my sights on honing my sports photography skills first while I also work on polishing other styles of shooting. Sports are an action-packed break and provide a much quicker pace to work with from usual editorial work.

I photographed the womens basketball season opener against Xavier University at the convocation center here at Ohio University two weekends ago. It being my first basketball game I've shot in quite a while, my images show how far I have go in order to create consistently solid images and get into the groove of shooting basketball. I love watching, playing and photographing basketball and I look forward to catching as many games as I can this season.   

Ohio University forward sophomore Lexie Baldwin goes up for a layup while guarded by a Xavier University defender.

Ohio University forward sophomore Lexie Baldwin goes up for the basket against the contact of a Xavier University player.

Ohio University guard junior Mariah Byard is stripped of the ball by a Xavier University player as she goes up for the basket.

Ohio University freshman guard Yamonie Jenkins plays around a Xavier University defender for the bucket.

In addition to my sports assignments, I covered a few other editorial assignments recently as well. I covered the Veterans Day ceremony held here in Athens last Monday. Below is the only image I decently liked from my take.

Zara Pittaway, 3, sits atop Luke Pittaway's shoulders during Veterans Day ceremonies held in Athens, Ohio on Monday, November 11, 2013. The Pittaway family and their heritage orginates in England and Zara is the first of the family to be born in the United States. Luke Pittaway moved from Georgia to Athens to take a job as a professor teaching business at Ohio University.

I also photographed a rehearsal of a Ohio University School of Theater production of Cloud 9 as well as a portrait of two Ohio University hockey goalies. 

Maddie Davis, center, puts a pair of her earrings on Greg Atkin (right) as Alycia Kunkle, left, looks on during a rehearsal of act two of Cloud 9 in the Forum Theatre on Thursday, November 7, 2013. The production is put on by the Ohio University School of Theater. 

Becky Markert (left) Alycia Kunkle (right) rehearse a scene from act two of Cloud 9 in the Forum Theatre.

Sophomore Aaron Alkema (left) and freshman Ryan Heltion split time playing goalie for the Ohio University hockey team. They model their style of play after NHL goalies.

Two weekends ago I visited my girlfriend who attends Miami University and I also photographed Miami University's home volleyball game against Ohio University held at Millett Hall in Oxford, Ohio. The Bobcats defeated the RedHawks 3-2 on Saturday, November 9, 2013.

Miami University outside hitter senior Madison Dodd celebrates a scoring possession with other Miami University volleyball players.

Outside hitter red shirt sophomore Sarah Chaney spikes the ball against Ohio University defenders.

Miami University middle hitter red shirt sophomore Jenny Ingle shouts and celebrates with her teammates after scoring on Ohio University.

Ohio University middle blocker sophomore Karin Bull softly hits the ball over the net against a Miami University defender.

Ohio University volleyball players celebrate a score against Miami University.

Ohio University outside hitter freshman Mallory Salis spikes the ball down against a Miami player.

Miami University libero senior Madison Hardy raises her arms in protest against a referee call.

Ohio University outside hitter freshman Katie Horton taps the ball over the net against Miami University defenders.

Miami University outside hitter senior Madison Dodd shouts in celebration after scoring a possession with other Miami University volleyball players.

Miami University outside hitter red shirt sophomore Sarah Chaney pauses while setter junior Meg Riley slaps the court in frustration.

Miami University middle hitter freshman Paige Hill clenches her firsts and shouts in celebration after a block against Ohio University as Ohio University outside hitter red shirt junior Liis Kullerkann wears a frustrated expression behind her. The Bobcats defeated the RedHawks 3-2 on Saturday, November 9, 2013 during their match held at Millett Hall in Oxford, Ohio.

This week I've had a decent mix of assignments. I photographed two portraits, an event, and a sporting event.

 The next assignment in my photojournalism class is environmental portraiture. Last year, I sang at a beautiful church in Athens with the a cappella group New Chords on the Block. For my environmental portrait assignment, I decided to return to the church and photograph the pastor. 

Lynn Miller, pastor of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, poses for a portrait in her church located at 69 Mill Street in Athens, Ohio, on Tuesday, October 29, 2013. The church has been a part of the Athens community for 50 years and offers many monthly special events as well as The Bridge, a Lutheran Campus Ministry open to all students. 

This week I also covered an event in the Baker University Center called BBQ, Boots, and Bobcats. The event was country themed and featured a few activities such as cowboy hat decorating and a mechanical bull. Since the lighting conditions in the Baker Center were quite poor, I decided to use a strobe to create a more dynamic, cleaner light. Other than portraiture, I don't have a lot of experience with using flash for typical photojournalism assignments. Generally I've worked with the natural lighting to the best of my abilities, but I'm now trying to use flash more frequently to make it another tool I can use comfortably when on general assignments. Flash proved more difficult than I had anticipated in this assignment–especially in controlling the harsh shadows and color balance, but I look forward to refining my strobe abilities in future endeavors. 

Skylar Emmert, a Hocking College student, is thrown from the mechanical bull at BBQ, Boots, and Bobcats held at the Baker University Center on Friday, November 1, 2013.

Anna Bekavac (right) works on decorating her cowboy hat with her friends Kelsey Loree (center) and Annie Chester (left) at BBQ, Boots, and Bobcats.

Sarah Kahler laughs and gives a thumbs up to her friends as she rides the mechanical bull at BBQ, Boots, and Bobcats.

I also did a portrait of two Ohio University football players on Thursday, October 31, 2013, for a story in The Post about the successes of the team's offensive line.

Ohio University offensive linemen Mike Lucas (left) and Mike McQueen (right) have bolstered the offensive line for the Bobcats this year. 

This weekend I also covered the Ohio University field hockey team's season closer against Kent State University. This game was extremely engaging; the Bobcats tied up the game with a goal from red shirt junior Lauryl Desch just as regulation time ended in the last half of play, pushing the game into overtime. In double overtime, the Bobcats clinched the victory with a goal from senior Jessica Jue to end their season on a win. This astonishing victory earned the Bobcats a spot in the 2013 MAC Tournament. I had never shot field hockey before, and this was an amazing game to get my feet wet with. 

Ohio University junior Kristine Gegas chases the ball upfield. Ohio University clinched the victory against Kent State University 3-2 in double overtime on Saturday, November 2, 2013.

Ohio University field hockey players celebrate red shirt junior Lauryl Desch's (center) goal that sent the Bobcats into overtime as the clock ran out in the last half of regulation play. 

Ohio University senior Luli Gomez Teruel passes the ball while tightly guarded by Kent State University junior Jenna McHale.

Ohio University junior Caelyn Hartley drives upfield while contested by Kent State University senior Sabrina Binder. 

Ohio University senior Jessica Jue drives towards the goal while guarded by Kent State University players.

The Ohio University field hockey team celebrates senior Jessica Jue's game winning goal in double overtime at the Bobcats' last game of the season. 

A field hockey stick and glove lie on the field after Ohio University's game against Kent State University. The Bobcats clinched their season closer against the Flashesin double overtime on Saturday, November 2, 2013, earning them a spot in the 2013 MAC Tournament.