I recently covered the funeral of Americus police officer Nicholas Ryan Smarr, who was shot and killed while responding to a domestic dispute. His lifelong friend Georgia Southwestern University police officer Jody Smith was also killed while responding to the same dispute.
It was very painful to watch a small town mourn the loss of one of their own. Here are images from that day.
This is a powerful story about two churches, one white and one black, coming together to work through race issues. Associated Press writer Rachel Zoll and I worked on this story together in Macon, Georgia.
The Rev. James W. Goolsby, Jr., senior pastor of the First Baptist Church, left, and the Rev. Scott Dickison, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Christ, right, pose for a photo at Dickison's church in Macon, Ga., on Monday, July 11, 2016. There are two First Baptist Churches in Macon _ one black and one white. Two years ago, Dickison and Goolsby met to try to find a way the congregations, neighbors for so long, could become friends. They’d try to bridge the stubborn divide of race. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
Paul Bronson, left, joins hands with District Attorney David Cooke during a Black Lives Matter prayer vigil at First Baptist Church, with a predominantly African-American congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Monday, July 11, 2016. Pastors of both First Baptist Churches in Macon are trying to bridge the stubborn divide of race against a painful and tumultuous backdrop. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
The Rev. James W. Goolsby, Jr., pastor of the First Baptist Church, left, and the Rev. Scott Dickison, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Christ, walk together in Macon, Ga., on Monday, July 11, 2016. In September 2016, they plan to lead joint discussions with their churches' members on racism in the history of the U.S., and also in the history of their congregations. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
The Rev. Scott Dickison teaches from a book of sermons by Martin Luther King Jr. during a Sunday School class at the First Baptist Church of Christ, a predominantly white congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Sunday, July 10, 2016. This class was held days after the fatal police shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota, and the fatal ambush on Dallas police. "It’s weeks like these when we need more than ever to be with God’s people," Dickison told the roomful of congregants. (AP Photo/Branden Camp
Paul Bronson prays during a Black Lives Matter prayer vigil at First Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Monday, July 11, 2016. The pastors of both First Baptist Churches in Macon are trying to bridge the stubborn divide of race against a painful and tumultuous backdrop. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
Parishioner Bea Warbington-Ross sings during a worship service at First Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Sunday, July 10, 2016. The retired human resources specialist says, "There’s no reason for Sunday to be the most segregated day." (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
A parishioner at First Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation, leaves after a worship service in Macon, Ga., on Sunday, July 10, 2016. There are two First Baptist Churches in Macon, one black and one white. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
Marty Price, 11, attends a Black Lives Matter prayer vigil on the steps of the First Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Monday, July 11, 2016. The pastors of both First Baptist Churches in Macon are trying to bridge the stubborn divide of race against a painful and tumultuous backdrop: the 2015 massacre at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina; the much-publicized deaths of blacks at the hands of law enforcement; the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the sniper killing of white Dallas police officers. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
The Rev. James W. Goolsby, Jr. poses for a portrait at the First Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Monday, July 11, 2016. The 59-year-old Atlanta native and graduate of Morehouse College and Mercer’s McAfee School of Theology, has been the pastor here for more than 12 years. He said he and a previous pastor at the white church tried to build ties between the congregations but the effort didn’t go very far. This time is different, he said, in part because of his relationship with the new pastor, Scott Dickison. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
In this Monday, July 11, 2016 photo, the Rev. Scott Dickison poses for a portrait at the First Baptist Church of Christ, a predominantly white congregation, in Macon, Ga. The 33-year-old North Carolina native and Harvard Divinity School graduate became the pastor about four years ago. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
Members of the community join hands during a Black Lives Matter prayer vigil in front of the First Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Monday, July 11, 2016. The pastors of both First Baptist Churches in Macon are trying to bridge the stubborn divide of race against a painful and tumultuous backdrop: the 2015 massacre at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina; the much-publicized deaths of blacks at the hands of law enforcement; the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the sniper killing of white Dallas police officers. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
Parishioners clap during a worship service at the First Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Sunday, July 10, 2016. There are two First Baptist Churches in Macon _ one black and one white. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
The Rev. Scott Dickison teaches from a book of sermons by Martin Luther King Jr. during a Sunday School class at the First Baptist Church of Christ, a predominantly white congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Sunday, July 10, 2016 - days after the fatal police shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota, and the fatal ambush on Dallas police. "It’s weeks like these when we need more than ever to be with God’s people," Dickison told the roomful of congregants. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
One of my assignments this week was to find photos that show how cold the weather was. My comfort zone is to head to downtown Atlanta and take photos of people dressed in warm clothing. Instead, I drove around looking for interesting subjects and something slightly out of the box. I love farms, which I'm sure you'll notice when skim through past blog post. I saw a sign for horse stables and couldn't resist. Niki McDonnell, the head instructor at The Stables at Towne Lake, and worker Rebecca Thompson allowed me to hang around as they worked in their horse stables. After spending a few hours at the stabel, I headed to Kennesaw State University to document people walking around campus in the freezing weather.
Rebecca Thompson works inside a horse stable on a cold day, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, in Woodstock, Ga. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
Rebecca Thompson works inside a horse stable on a cold day, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, in Woodstock, Ga. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
Niki McDonnell prepares a horse for riding lessons inside a horse stable on a cold day, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, in Woodstock, Ga. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
Rebecca Thompson yawns while she works inside a horse stable on a cold day, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, in Woodstock, Ga. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
Belinda Maurer cleans a horses hooves inside a stable on a cold day, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, in Woodstock, Ga. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
A Kennesaw State University student walks on campus on a cold day, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, in Kennesaw, Ga. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
Kennesaw State University students play a game of bubble soccer on campus at sunset, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, in Kennesaw, Ga. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
I'm four weeks into my last semester in college at Kennesaw State University north of Atlanta. Throughout my entire college career, I've always had a camera hanging on my shoulder. I have been hired on the spot by photo editors simply because I had my camera at the right moment.
I also believe that if you are aspiring to be a photojournalist, you really should have a camera at all times. You never know what will unfold right in front of you. New York Times staffer Tyler Hicks won a Pulitzer while covering a mall shooting with a small camera while he was in Kenya. His wife eventually brought him his professional gear.
I took these images for the Associated Press after one of my evening classes. Class let out a little early and I was making my way back to my car. As I was walking across campus, I spotted a bunch of college students running around in big bubble suits. The sun was falling behind the trees and the sky turned to that nice blue color, lined with purple colored clouds.
As a last note, I highly encourage you to visit AP's image blog and study away. This is how I learn and grow as a photojournalist.
Kennesaw State University students play a game of bubble soccer on campus at sunset, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, in Kennesaw, Ga. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
If you ever hang out with Associated Press photo editor Mike Stewart, he always ends the conversation with "happy hunting" or "go make an image." Every time I'm on assignment, both these sayings echo through my head. I have this good anxiety that runs through me every time I head out to find an image. I'm afraid of not making a good image. AP staff photographer David Goldman says he always works until he is mentally exhausted in order to make a great image. I've made this my goal as well.
My favorite assignments have been the ones where I have to go out and find an image when the photo editors says something like, "It's January and people are out enjoying spring like weather. Take a photo that tells that story."
Here are some of my favorite images that I've had to go hunt down this month.
