Yesterday the University of South Carolina football team announced that quarterback Stephen Garcia, a fifth year senior was off the team for good.  If you live in South Carolina or went to USC, then you no doubt have heard about all of the trials and tribulations this guy has been through over the past five years.  This year (2011) is the tenth season I’ve been photographing NCAA college football.  That means more than 100 games, thousands of players, and at least 50,000 images. During that time I can’t think of a single student athlete which I have photographed that has been as controversial, both on and off the field as Garcia has.  So with that in mind, I put together a gallery of 20 images taken over his five year college career at the University of South Carolina, from the first photo I took of him speaking to the media on August 5th, 2007, to the last photo I took of him leaving the field after his last play in the Gamecocks loss to Auburn on October 1st, 2011.

Once you’ve taken a look through the images in the gallery below, I would love to hear your thoughts on all of this. I’ll save any of my comments until everyone has had a chance to chime in, but most importantly I want a conversation to take place, and I want these photos to be a catalyst for that.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

-Brett

Four years ago I was asked to photograph the first of many structural beams for the National September 11 Memorial and Museum as they rolled out of Owen Steel Company Inc., in Columbia, S.C., on September 11, 2007. As I arrived on location along with a film crew just before sunrise the workers at Owen Steel were already busy preparing the rigging to lift two massive I-beams onto a 50-foot flat bed trailer for their journey across the United States. There had been many sleepless nights leading up to this moment as a sense of tension and accomplishment filled the air of the massive building, while officials with the NS11MM met with executives of Owen Steel to witness this process. After the beams were lowered onto the trailer and strapped into place, all of the employees made their way to the parking lot to watch the tuck depart and begin to make its way through downtown Columbia toward the unveiling at Finaly Park.

The rest of the morning was filled with incredibly intense emotion as police officers, firefighters, and family members of those who lost their lives in the attacks on the World Trade Center arrived to see the beams first hand. One family member even remarked how seeing and touching the gleaming white steel beams on a truck eventually bound for Ground Zero was incredibly important to them as a means of moving forward.  Its pretty amazing to think that in just 24-hours that all of the victims families might feel this same way, and in 48-hours when the NS11MM opens to the public everyone will get to experience that feeling for themselves.

For me this was an extremely meaningful event to be asked to photograph, and because of that I decided to capture these images in a very reactionary manner to convey the sense of awe and pride that I felt while witnessing this process. The images were originally captured in color using Canon 20D DSLR cameras and were converted to black and white in post production. I chose to make this conversion because I felt that it helped convey what I felt the first time I saw these freshly painted, gleaming white beams surrounded by the grit of an industrial metal fabrication facility, and the symbolism of that juxtaposition.

We would love to hear your thoughts, feelings and reactions to these images, as well as your reaction to finding out that the steel work for the National September 11 Memorial and Museum was handled by a company located right here in Columbia, S.C.  Feel free to share below.

Images are available for editorial license in our National September 11 Memorial & Museum archive gallery.

Here are a few of the outlets from Seattle on the west coast to NYC on the east coast that published my images last night.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/army-s-new-fitness-tests-add-taste-of-battlefield-1.2722013

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=13028950

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/armys-new-fitness-tests-857171.html

http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/national/117202543.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014368274_armyfitness02.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/01/national/main20037925.shtml

http://www.tdtnews.com/story/2011/3/2/72813

http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1512110234/Army-swaps-sit-ups-for-combat-run-in-new-PT-tests

http://www.statesman.com/news/nation/armys-new-fitness-tests-add-taste-of-battlefield-1290144.html

http://www.salon.com/wires/us/2011/03/01/D9LMNSTO0_us_army_new_fitness_test/

http://dailycaller.com/2011/03/01/army-swaps-sit-ups-for-combat-run-in-new-pt-tests/

http://www.newstimes.com/news/articleGallery/Army-s-new-fitness-tests-add-taste-of-battlefield-1036257.php

http://www.kansas.com/2011/03/01/1741926/army-swaps-sit-ups-for-combat.html

For those interested, and not inclined to read the full story by my AP colleague Susanne Schafer, here’s the caption version. The new set of standards now includes two separate fitness tests, one which resembles the PT tests of the past 30-years which includes pushups and a 1.5 mile run, while adding new elements like wind sprints, long jump, and a hybrid sit-up/leg lift called the rower.  The new test requires soldiers to don full battle gear and take on a 400-yard run, then immediately complete an obstacle course that involves balance, agility and strength.  The latter of the two tests seemed more like an agility drill from the NFL combine, rather than an Army fitness test.  This all made sense when I spoke with Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, who oversees all training in the U.S. Army.  Hertling said that the goal for these exercises, along with new nutrition guidelines is to bring today’s soldiers up to the level of elite athletes.

NASCAR driver Kurt Busch, takes the high line into turn 1 at Darlington Raceway, during the 60th running of the Southern 500, on Saturday, May 9, 2009, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Brett Flashnick)

The clock showed it was 2am, as I made way home to Columbia in the back seat of Mary Ann’s car early Sunday morning, following the 60th running of the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, in Darlington, SC. I was completely drained from two non-stop days of making my way around the “Lady in Black” while on assignment for the Associated Press, but was content as could be, and didn’t mind the fact that it would be 3am or later before my head hit the pillow.

A crew member for NASCAR Sprint Cup series driver Michael Waltrip, inspects tires in the garage area at Darlington Raceway, before the 60th running of the Southern 500, on Saturday, May 9, 2009, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Brett Flashnick)

For me, the spring race weekend at Darlington is one of those events that I look forward to every year. Perhaps its my male DNA, or my southern heritage, coming to the surface, but I love cars, and the idea of getting paid to photograph some of the fastest cars, and best drivers in the world for two solid days, just puts a smile on my face. This is my third consecutive year of photographing Darlington weekend, and it has somehow managed to fill the void of not being able to cover my other favorite May sporting event, the Kentucky Derby.  Working in an environment like a NASCAR track is something that you have to experience to truly understand.  When my friends who aren’t into cars, or car racing, see my excitement as Mother’s Day Weekend approaches every year, I always have to explain why I have so much fun taking photos of “guys driving in circles.”

The pit crew for NASCAR Sprint Cup series driver Joey Lagano, works to complete a pit stop, during the 60th running of the Southern 500, at Darlington Raceway on, Saturday, May 9, 2009, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Brett Flashnick)

To me working a NASCAR race is the closest you can come to photographing a riot or working in a war zone.  Its one of those places, where you have to work with your head on a swivel, especially in the garage area while the practice sessions are going on.  During the few hours these teams have to get their cars dialed in for the track conditions before qualifying it is pure chaos, as cars are constantly coming in and out of their designated garage stalls, all rushing to get the most they can out of their machines, with little regard for anything other than that.  One of the most difficult things about working in the garage area is that you can’t hear anything due to the ear plugs you are required to wear to salvage your hearing.  You can’t understand how loud these cars are until you are around 5-10 of them starting up simultaneously.  During the practice sessions the mood of the garage area changes from pure chaos, to hurry up and wait, as drivers take the track to see if the adjustments their crews have made, make the difference they need to push their cars to the edge.

NASCAR Sprint Cup series driver, Clint Bowyer, center, talks with his crew, during the practice session for the Southern 500, at Darlington Raceway, Friday, May 8, 2009, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Brett Flashnick)

The crew for NASCAR Sprint Cup series driver, Matt Kenseth, wait on their driver to return to the garage area, during the practice session for the Southern 500, at Darlington Raceway, Friday, May 8, 2009, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Brett Flashnick)

As day turns to dusk, the chaos of practice wraps up, and gives way to the much more organized qualifying sessions (which were cancelled for the NASCAR Nationwide series and postponed for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series this year due to a passing series of thunder storms this year). Once all drivers are qualified for the race, and have their assigned starting positions for the week, the Nationwide series

Drivers make their way around Darlington Raceway, as a full moon rises over the front straightaway stands, during the 60th running of the Southern 500 on Saturday, May 9, 2009, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Brett Flashnick)

race can begin.  By the time that relatively short race is over, and the images are transmitted back to AP in New York, it is just after 12:30 am before you pack up, and head home after a 15 hour day, only to be back at the track 8 hours later for festivites for the main event.

Saturday morning at the track is a completely different atmosphere than Friday morning, which gave me time to take in the sights a little bit.  As I leasurely walked around the track making images of pre-race features, I visited the FOX broadcast compund to chat with a friend who was working as the technical director for the days broadcast, had some interesting coversations with some of the races past winners including Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, and David Pearson, made friends with fans who were just waking up from the revelry the night before, and snapped some photos with my BlackBerry 8900 for a few twitter and faceook updates.  During my exploration, I noticed some changes that made this weekend feel a little bit more like the races of old, than the new world of corporate sponsorships.  This year, NASCAR and Darlington decided to go old school, and revive the name of the Southern 500, which used to be the fall race held at the track.  They also decided to paint the wall the retro red and white candy stripe to coincide with the 60th running of this event.  After dropping off my pre-race photos to be transmitted to AP in New York, I grabbed a quick bite to eat at the press center, and geared up for driver introductions, and the start of the race.

The sun was just starting to set over turn four as the green flag droped, and the 37 cars in the field charged down the front straightaway.  After capturing the start of the race, I began moving around to the positions I had scouted earlier in the day to begin making the images that I wanted.  First up was the outside of turn one, where I was blasted with little bits of rubber, and sprayed with grease and oil as the pack charged past me at well over 100mph.  After a making a few images from that position I was happy with I made my way back to the media center for my first card drop of the night, and then began floating around the pit area making images of the leading drivers and their crews as they came in for fuel, fresh tires, and minor adjustments.  As the night wore on, and the full moon begain to rise over the stands, my lack of sleep didn’t seem to phase me, as I was running on pure adreniline.  After 500 miles around the Lady in Black, several dramatic crashes, and lead changes, previous Southern 500 winner, and 50 year old driver Mark Martin, took the checkered flag in distinguished fashion, with no burnout and a simple victory lap.  It seemed like a fitting end in to an evening that was 60 years in the making, and as my head hit the pillow in Columbia three and a half hours later, I couldn’t have been happier that I was there to witness it with my own two eyes, and the two camers over my shoulders.

Fans watch drivers make their way around Darlington Raceway on the jumbo screen, during the Diamond Hill Plywood 200, Friday, May 8, 2009, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Brett Flashnick)

9/27/07 - Columbia, S.C., Local alternative rock band Closer, rehearses for their upcoming performance at the Five Points End of Construction Celebration on Friday, October 5, 2007. The group which has been together off and on for almost eight years consists of David Reed, (vocals, guitar), David Baker, (bass), and Nathan Reed, (drums). © 2008 Brett Flashnick/All Rights Reserved

After reading the story The Day the Music Died in The State today, about how Richaland County just shut down all of the bands that practice at the Sumter Street Storage sheds, I really can’t help but wonder what can be done to help make this area more friendly to the creative community.  The Sumter Street Storage facility was not only a safe haven for up and coming musicians to practice over the past 20 years, but it was a source of creativity for my own visual art as well.  I made the above image of the alt. rock band Closer as the practiced inside of their rented shed in late 2007.  I cringe to think of all the tax money that the Columbia Talent Management project just spent on a survey about how to attract the creative class to the area, when the answer is simple.  Prove that you are there to support them!  Most creatives didn’t get into their respective fields to get rich, or famous, they probably didn’t even choose it at all, it chose them.  We create because there isn’t anything else we could envision doing, or because creating fills a deeper part of our souls and fulfills our lives, and the lives of those who are inspired by what we create, be it music, art, poetry, etc…  The easiest thing you can do to help out is show them that they have your support.  I know this was a ruling made by the county fire marshall, but what now?  Now is the time for Columbia to step up and provide, or just even allow a place like Sumter Street Storage to operate.

As featured in the Oct. 30 - Nov. 6 MSNBC TWiP: As tears stream down his cheek, Quentin Patrick, center, clad in a red prison jumpsuit, signs paperwork during his bond hearing at the Sumter-Lee County Detention center, Monday, Nov. 3, 2008, in Sumter, S.C. (AP Photo/Brett Flashnick)

As I checked my Facebook page before heading out for a 12 hour photo day on Saturday, I was a bit perplexed when I saw that friend and fellow shooter Chris Keane had left me a note for me to check out MSNBC’s The Week in Pictures for Oct. 30 – Nov. 6, 2008.  Much to my surprise one of my images from the bond hearing of Quentin Patrick, who is accused of killing 12-year-old, trick-or-treater, T.J. Darrisaw, when he fired 29 rounds from his AK-47 through the front door of his house in Sumter, S.C., upon seeing the 3 masked figures, outside of his home on Halloween night, and thinking he was about to be robbed.  This image came from my second day of covering this extremely emotional tragedy for the Associated Press, and can be found in Oct. 30 – Nov. 6, TWiP at the following link http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27578284/displaymode/1107/framenumber/7/s/2/