just some photos by Eric T. Wright
The staff at the Gadsden Times fulfilled our annual obligation to be reflective of a years work and to put together a “Pictures of the Year” package. Each of the photographers was allowed to pick several photographs for the section. I had a hard time picking photographs; in fact I’m terrified at the thought of the looming contest season.
I was in an odd spot for picking photographs because I had only shot for half of the year. I only remembered a few photos and there are other photos I am sure that I love I just couldn’t think of- during the crunch to put the section together.
As I pulled my photographs I tried to pull one from each of a few mental categories- not contest categories mind you as those are created by people who seem to never have taken a photograph of put together a newspaper- I digress. I wanted something a little newsy- a little reportage from a big event hence the National Guard deployment. I also love detail photographs in the newspaper because they give such texture and are opportunities to play with color and light in a quick way- that gives us the green peas. People love animal photos as evidenced by the perennial winners in MSNBC’s pictures of the week, do you know what people love more than animal pictures? That’s right baby animal pictures- I shot the ducklings while watching the State IRS raid a car dealership- so I just happened to have the 400mm 2.8- guess what great bird lens. The foggy trestle bridge is another favorite- it combines a Gadsden landmark with a great foggy day- I was on my way into work on a day where I wasn’t scheduled to shoot- but when I saw the beautiful fog enveloping downtown Gadsden I started making a few frames, first I hit up the Emma Sansom monument and then I made some other very foggy photos- and in an effort to make a package I decided to steal a few more moments out of the office. As I made the turn at First and Locust and heard my tires squee on the railroad tracks I snapped my head right to look at the bridge and I couldn’t make it out. I stopped in a nearby lot and dashed towards the trestle as the fog was burning off. I made a few frames and the ghostly spectre of the bridge ended up my favorite from the day. Last but certainly not least was from very near the begging of the year. The Master Gardener’s display Garden at the County Extension office is a gold mine for me photographically. I tend to shoot there several times a year when they are prepping for their swale, during the sale; at various classes they hold for the public- such beautiful foliage and flower pictures result. I received a call from an inside source after one of the coldest mornings all year, he told me that someone had left the sprinklers on overnight and it was a veritable Winter Wonderland along Meighan boulevard. I had a great morning freezing and shooting the ice-coated plants and I love the arches and fangs of this particular bush.
So here are my photos, some of my favorites and I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed shooting them. While my job responsibilities now don’t require nearly as much shooting and a lot more sitting at a desk- still love photography and the creation of art.