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Black Cowboys - On Assignment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sandra Brown, senior visual editor for AJC, sent me a text asking if I was available to cover an assignment. I briefly looked over the assignment and noticed it was near Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. I was a little confused how I was going to take photos of some cowboys in Union City. I actually passed the ranch, because the ranch was really a house with a dozen horses in the backyard and situated right off of Flat Shoals Parkway. Once I parked in the driveway and grabbed my gear, I was immediately transported to another world. I honestly forgot I was shooting an assignment on a super busy road near the one of the busiest airports in the world until Arkansas Dave took his stallion along the parkway.

Logan Dansby, 12, prepares to clean a pony on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City. Branden Camp for AJC

Logan Dansby, 12, prepares to clean a pony on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City. Branden Camp for AJC

Arkansas Dave rides his horse on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City. Branden Cam for AJC

Arkansas Dave rides his horse on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City. Branden Cam for AJC

Arkansas Dave and his son Logan Dansby, 12, clean a horse on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City. Branden Camp for AJC

Arkansas Dave and his son Logan Dansby, 12, clean a horse on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City. Branden Camp for AJC

Arkansas Dave rides his horse on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Arkansas Dave rides his horse on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Billy Ray Thunder holds a glove on his ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Billy Ray Thunder holds a glove on his ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Arkansas Dave poses for a portrait on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Arkansas Dave poses for a portrait on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Arkansas Dave rides his horse on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Arkansas Dave rides his horse on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Justin Brown, 11, sits on the bed of a truck as his grandfather, Billy Ray Thunder, demonstrates how to ride a horse on his ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Justin Brown, 11, sits on the bed of a truck as his grandfather, Billy Ray Thunder, demonstrates how to ride a horse on his ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Arkansas Dave, right, cleans his horse while is son, Logan Dansby, 12, ties up his pony on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Arkansas Dave, right, cleans his horse while is son, Logan Dansby, 12, ties up his pony on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Billy Ray Thunder and his grandson Justin Brown, 11, feed the horses on his ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Billy Ray Thunder and his grandson Justin Brown, 11, feed the horses on his ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Billy Ray Thunder, Justin Brown, 11, Logan Dansby, 12, and Arkansas Dave pose for a portrait on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Billy Ray Thunder, Justin Brown, 11, Logan Dansby, 12, and Arkansas Dave pose for a portrait on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Logan Dansby, 12, walks away from his pony on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Logan Dansby, 12, walks away from his pony on a ranch off of Flat Shoals Parkway, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Union City, Ga. Branden Camp for AJC

Check out the story on here on AJC.

Politics as usual

Politics are in full swing again. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution sent me on several assignments covering 6th District Rep. Karen Handel and her opponent Lucy McBath.

Campaign signs are displayed in a window as man enters the Cobb County GOP headquarters, Saturday, Oct.6, 2018, in Marietta, Ga.

Campaign signs are displayed in a window as man enters the Cobb County GOP headquarters, Saturday, Oct.6, 2018, in Marietta, Ga.

Democratic candidate for 6th District Lucy McBath, who is running against Republican Rep. Karen Handel, speaks to campaign volunteers and supporters, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Atlanta

Democratic candidate for 6th District Lucy McBath, who is running against Republican Rep. Karen Handel, speaks to campaign volunteers and supporters, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Atlanta

Cobb County Commission Chairman Mike Boyce, left, talks with a woman during a breakfast meet and greet at the Cobb County GOP headquarters, Saturday, Oct.6, 2018, in Marietta, Ga.

Cobb County Commission Chairman Mike Boyce, left, talks with a woman during a breakfast meet and greet at the Cobb County GOP headquarters, Saturday, Oct.6, 2018, in Marietta, Ga.

Democratic candidate for 6th District Lucy McBath (L-R), former Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick, and Sally Harrell, who is running for a Dunwoody-based state Senate district, listens as Jon Ossoff speaks to campaign volunteers and supporters…

Democratic candidate for 6th District Lucy McBath (L-R), former Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick, and Sally Harrell, who is running for a Dunwoody-based state Senate district, listens as Jon Ossoff speaks to campaign volunteers and supporters, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Atlanta.

Democratic candidate for 6th District Lucy McBath, who is running against Republican Rep. Karen Handel, walks with former Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Atlanta.

Democratic candidate for 6th District Lucy McBath, who is running against Republican Rep. Karen Handel, walks with former Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Atlanta.

A Trump flag hangs from the ceiling as people talk during a breakfast meet and greet at the Cobb County GOP headquarters, Saturday, Oct.6, 2018, in Marietta, Ga.

A Trump flag hangs from the ceiling as people talk during a breakfast meet and greet at the Cobb County GOP headquarters, Saturday, Oct.6, 2018, in Marietta, Ga.

Rep. Karen Handel greets guest during a breakfast meet and greet at the Cobb County GOP headquarters, Saturday, Oct.6, 2018, in Marietta, Ga.

Rep. Karen Handel greets guest during a breakfast meet and greet at the Cobb County GOP headquarters, Saturday, Oct.6, 2018, in Marietta, Ga.

Democratic candidate for 6th District Lucy McBath, who is running against Republican Rep. Karen Handel, speaks to campaign volunteers and supporters, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Atlanta

Democratic candidate for 6th District Lucy McBath, who is running against Republican Rep. Karen Handel, speaks to campaign volunteers and supporters, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Atlanta

Americus Police Officer Laid to Rest - On Assignment for The Associated Press

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.

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Black Cowboys - On Assignment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Road Trip Down South

I've been working on a personal project along with my dad for over a year now.  We are slowly but surely making progress.  We are working on a film about Studio One, the recording studio where "Sweet Home Alabama," 38 Special hit "Hold on Loosely" and many more major southern rock songs were recorded.  

The man behind the sound is Rodney Mills, a Georgia native and legendary producer/engineer who has been making large footprints in the music industry for the last several decades.

We took a road trip to Mills' hometown of Douglas, Georgia to film him mixing a live show at The Martin Centre.  

South Georgia was as southern and as beautiful as I hoped.

On our way to Douglas, Georgia, we made a stop to watch farmers work in the cotton fields.

A cellphone photo of an old pharmacy in downtown Douglas, Georgia.

A man steps into my camera frame as I'm taking photos of lights outside of The Martin Centre in Douglas, Ga.

Producer and Engineer Rodney Mills mixes for country artist Winston Slade.  Mills produced and engineered Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, Gregg Allman, and many more notable artist.

Producer and Engineer Rodney Mills mixes for country artist Winston Slade.  Mills produced and engineered Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, Gregg Allman, and many more notable artist.

Country music artist Winston Slade performs at The Martin Centre in Douglas, Ga.

Country music artist Winston Slade performs at The Martin Centre in Douglas, Ga.

Producer and Engineer Rodney Mills mixes for country artist Winston Slade.  Mills produced and engineered Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, Gregg Allman, and many more notable artist.

Chuck Camp, my dad and fellow filmmaker, poses for a photo at The Martin Centre in downtown Douglas, Georgia.

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Atlanta Protest in response to police shootings

As tensions rose again following recent police shootings of unarmed black men, I covered Atlanta's reaction for The Associated Press.  Demonstrators gathered at the Center for Civil and Human Rights and then marched in the streets of Atlanta following the police shooting deaths of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Georgia NAACP president Francys Johnson speaks to a reporter at the Center for Civil and Human Rights before marching with demonstrators through downtown Atlanta, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in response to the police shooting deaths of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla. and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

Demonstrators march in Atlanta on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in response to the police shooting deaths of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla. and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

An Atlanta police officer watches demonstrators march during a protest in Atlanta on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in response to the police shooting deaths of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla. and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

Black Lives Matter protesters march in downtown Atlanta, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in response to the police shooting deaths of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla. and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C.  (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

A young boy holds his fist up while wearing tape over his mouth during a Black Lives Matter protest at an entrance to Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in response to the police shooting deaths of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla. and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. The Black Lives Matter chapter of Atlanta is boycotting major retailers following the recent police shooting deaths involving black men. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

A demonstrator sits at the Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Site during a protest in Atlanta on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in response to the police shooting deaths of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla. and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

A demonstrator burns sage at the Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Site during a protest in Atlanta on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in response to the police shooting deaths of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla. and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

Black Lives Matter protesters argue with a man outside a restaurant during a protest in downtown Atlanta, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in response to the police shooting deaths of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla. and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C.  (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

A demonstrator holds a sign during a protest in Atlanta on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in response to the police shooting deaths of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla. and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

Demonstrators block an entrance to Lenox Square Mall during a Black Lives Matter protest in Atlanta, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in response to the police shooting deaths of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla. and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C.  The Black Lives Matter chapter of Atlanta is boycotting major retailers following the recent police shooting deaths involving black men. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)

An Atlanta police officer tells Black Lives Matter protesters to move out of the street during a protest in downtown Atlanta, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The protesters gathered in response to the police shooting deaths of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla. and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C.  (AP Photo/Branden Camp)