BU Women vs. UAM Sept. 1st

Thursday night, September 1st, the Belhaven University Women's Volleyball Team was in action with their second game of the season.  Their opponent this night was University of Arkansas at Monticello.  Once again, this was a home game for the BU women.

Gabriella Zorzoli (#15), Erin Bradley (#10),
Samantha O-Malley (#11), Christina Atwood (#7



While the crowd was smaller than opening night, the students and others in attendance were supporting and cheering for the green and yellow Blazers.

Natalie Davis (#14)



I wasn't able to arrive at the match until late in the second game.  The BU women had won game one and moved quickly to win game two.  Before I left Rugg Area, the BU women were well in control of game three and the match against the green jersey and black shorts women from UAM.

Christina Atwood (#7), Leigh Anne Huddleston (#13)



Head coach of the Lady Blazers is Ashley Stahas in her first year at Belhaven University.  Her Graduate Assistant is Jordan Lay.

Christina Atwood (#7), Erin Bradley (#10),
Leigh Ann Huddleston (#13)


Here is the BU Women's Volleyball roster for the 2011 season:

1       Siobhan Hardy                    SOPH                 Arlington, TX
2       Katherine Owen                  SOPH                 Murrieta, CA
4       Serita Ingram                      SR                       Longview, TX
6       Alyson Plyler                       FR                       Spring, TX
7       Christina Atwood                SR                       Vancleave, MS
8       Taylor Williams                   JR                     Duncanville, TX
9       Lauren Zell                          JR                       Madison, MS
10     Erin Bradley                        JR                        Lubbock, TX
11     Samantha O'Malley             JR                       Sugar Land, TX
12     Erin Hampton                      SR                      Sugar Land, TX
13     Leigh Anne Huddleston        SR                 New Braunfels, TX
14     Natalie Davis                        JR                       Ballwin, MO
15     Gabriella Zorzoli                 SOPH                Germantown, TN

Belhaven University Football

Saturday, August 27th, the Belhaven University men's football team took the field to open the season.  The game with Texas College , Tyler, Texas, was played at Newell Field, home of Belhaven University football.  My arrival was mid-way through the first quarter, but BU was already leading and never looked back. 

The 6:00 p.m. kickoff made the hot day somewhat cooler, especially with a north breeze from the north. I was able to produce some quality digital images of our offense and defense before sunlight left beyond the western horizon.  Due to less that typical stadium lighting (this field is also used by Jackson County Schools), my work was almost completed.

I must get an image or two of the cheerleaders for their sponsor, Dana Marsalis.  Mission accomplished.  Not only a group picture of the squad, but some images of push-ups on a board following a BU score (One push-up per point on the scoreboard).  Since BU scored more than 40 points in the game, quite a workout for the poor soul doing the push-ups!

The next football game is in Pineville, LA, close to Alexandria, LA.  I won't make this trip, but hope the BU men fight hard, but clean and no serious injuries for either team.

Belhaven University Volleyball 8-26-11

Belhaven University's Rugg Arena

Wonderful news!  College and University sports are back in action---finally.  On Friday night, August 26th the Belhaven University women's volleyball team began their season at home on campus.  Their opponent was Xavier University.  This was my baptism into women's volleyball action.  Add taking digital images to the mix and it was tense work.



Samantha O'Malley (#11),  Natalie Davis (#14)

 Our BU women won the match, but the excitement continued for five games to determine the winner.  BU started out winning two lopsided games, but the next two games Xavier found their rhythm.  So, it came down to game five which BU won.



Natalie Davis (#14), Erin Bradley (#10)

A great crowd helped keep the excitement level at a fever pitch and encouraged the BU women throughout the games.

I don't know how our women's team match up with conference opponents, but they will make it interesting.

Lincoln Co. 4-H Club 2011

This is the fourth year I have had the priveledge to take digital images, make prints and produce a coffee table book for the annual 4-H Club and FFA in Lincoln County. What makes this even more enjoyable is seeing these young men and women growing up year after year.

The evening starts with the 4-H motto, Pledge of Allegiance, and a prayer. Dinner has been prepared by several of the women. This year it included, salad, rolls, beans, BBQ beef and dessert.



Once the dinner is completed the auctioneer starts the bidding on the first animal for sale. Different organizations or companies place their bid and the highest bidder has now purchased the pig, goat or cow.

If the animal wins at the regional or state competition, a higher price will probably be paid at that point.

The grounds for this 4-H and FFA gathering is tremendous. In the main building they have offices, rest rooms, kitchen and the large gathering room which includes a show area for the animal and owner.

Another building is open air on the sides for showmanship events. The third building houses the animals during these events. It is a first-class facility that everyone in Lincoln County is proud to use.

Twins Second Birthday

How time can fly! That's a saying you hear for many different situations or events, i.e. high school reunions, life in general, marriages, deaths, dating, but especially true with children or grand children.

This popular saying is especially true with other children or grand children aren't seen every day. You continue with the last image when you saw them. Then the next visit with them provides you with a dramatic difference, more so when they are young.



Our twin grandchildren, Sterling and Mary Presley, had their second birthday celebration at our home on Saturday, Jan. 15th of this year. While their actual birthday is Jan. 16th, it worked out better to have it on Saturday.

While the tearing into the birthday cupcakes was a bit on the slow side, tearing into the wrapping paper seemed to be a much easier task!

When your birthday is so close to Christmas, it seems unfair. Not enough time between the two events to properly shop for that great gift or two. You sort of run out of ideas after Christmas is over. But, gifts were found and everyone enjoyed our time together.

Twins Christmas 2010

It has always been wonderful to have Jennifer and Joel visit our home in the past. We enjoy the conversations, meals and being with each other. When the twins came along, they are the bonus. Yes, we are proud card-carrying members of the grandparents society which uses the slogan---love them, spoil them and leave them!

Christmas time takes on a new meaning with the toddlers in our group. While we each enjoy opening our individual gifts, it is quite entertaining to see the development of the twins opening packages and trying out their new toys and clothes.

Their personalities continue to grow and change. More words spoken, especially "Papa G" which really surprises me. I would have thought "Mama Di" would have been easier.

Most exciting is seeing both twins taking their new books, sitting on the floor and beginning to "read" the pages. Quite entertaining.

We cherish these toddlers as they grow and mature. It won't take long before they're providing more entertainment and conversation. We'll love these years forever.

Dana and David Cole's Wedding

There are some people you meet in this world for the first time and you immediately know they are professional in their work and and wonderful people meet. This is definitely the case with Dana and David Cole.

In October of 2010, I took digital images, produced a video clip, produced a coffee table book of images and had a blog article about Melaine Fowler's wedding. Melaine mentioned to Dana about how I handled myself at her wedding and suggest Dana call me to discuss her December wedding photography needs.

Dana and I emailed back and forth and she came to the conclusion that she wanted me to document their wedding on December 27, 2010 at the historic Fairview Inn in Jackson, MS.

When I walked into this wonderful historic inn, it wasn't long that David Cole walked up to me and said, "You must be Greg". It wasn't long before Dana walked up to us and I concluded this was Dana. You see, I hadn't meet Dana face to face until this night for the wedding!

This wonderful inn has an incredible gathering room with fireplace and quality furniture. Boy, was this going to be a fun place to plan creative photography.

I asked David how the two of them met and wait until you hear "the rest of the story." David grew up in Puckett, MS. and Dana in the Jackson, MS area. David has two daughters, Cameron (14) and Karlee (11). Early in their lives it was determined they both had a rare blood disorder. They were taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center and specifically to the Children's Cancer Clinic. Guess where Dana works. That's right, she's an RN in that facility!

So Dana and David have know each other for fourteen years. Some kind of story wouldn't you say.

Dana has two children, Morgan (14) and Brady (9). Two families of three changes into one family of six! Things will be a changing around the house. Dana's mom told me at the meal there's a particular dinner Dana prepares that they eat one portion and freeze the remainder for another meal. Well, she had to work hard to make the entire portion go around for everyone to enjoy in one meal instead.

The wedding itself was off the main room, down three steps to a room with another fireplace and Christmas decorations. A wonderful setting for a wedding and for me to take digital images. The four children were the attendants at the wedding to keep the family theme.

Following the ceremony and more pictures, we all sat down to a wonderful meal. You had a choice of salad, either steak or salmon for the meat selection with would include asparagus and grits. Desert was wedding cake, of course. Except you had two choices, either wedding cake or red velvet cake. For me, I took the latter. The food couldn't have been cooked any better.

Overall, it was a wonderful event for family and friends and me as the photographer. From the beautiful Fairview Inn itself, the wonderful bride and groom, to their immediate families, the inspirational words from the minister and the delicious meal, it was a wonderful memory in end year 2010.