Black Friday

I spent Friday morning covering Black Friday. Here are my favorites from the day. Thanks for looking, comments, feedback always welcomed.

Mike

'We are not just numbers in a study'

Mary Freshwater, of Greenville, holds a stained piece of clothing and bottle of her infant son who died soon after being born with an open spine. Freshwater showed the items to the National Research Council committee on contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune at the USO in Jacksonville on Thursday.

Read the story here-
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20071118/NEWS/711180403

"General Drift"

Charles Seaton, Jr. with his car "General Drift" Friday, Nov. 2, 2007. For profile story on drift cars an the people who own them. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

Join Our Town..........

Nicholas Pryor, with the organization "Join Our Town," gestures to a voter as they walk towards the polling location at the Hampstead Community Building Tuesday, November 6, 2007.Hampstead voters went to the polls to vote on the incorporation of Hampstead. The incorporation of Hampstead, NC did not pass. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

Ocean Isle Beach Fire coverage

This past Sunday myself, fellow photographer Briana Brough and Star-News Director of Photography Mark Courtney documented the events as they developed at the scene of a deadly fire on Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. Below is the front page of The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C. The New York Times and several other newspapers published the images. Star-News Director of Photography Mark Courtney updated starnewsonline.com and transmitted images to the Associated Press and New York Times wire. I spent most of the time across the street from the chapel documenting mourners grieving the loss of loved ones. Being news photographers, It is our job to document and record events. Sometimes they are happy events or sadly they are tragic ones. The goal is to do it with sensitivity and respect. Capturing storytelling images and being sensitive to those you are covering, it’s a thin line. I feel we did a great job covering the story, writers included. Below is a link to a gallery of images from the scene-

http://www.starnewsonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=WM&Dato=20071028&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=1028003&Ref=PH

Sea Creatures

King Cobra ultrasound

A king Cobra at the Capr Fear Serpentarium is sedated before receiving an ultrasound to get a better look at an esophageal mass Monday, Oct. 15, 2007.Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

King Cobra ultrasound

Tanith Tyrr, curator of reptiles, carefully handles a highly poisonous King Cobra snake before it received an ultrasound to get a better look of an esophageal mass at the Cape Fear Serpentarium Monday, Oct. 15, 2007. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

Senior Golfers

Irv Ryerson, 92, stretches as fellow golfer Charles Girhard, 89, waits to tee off at Olde Point Country Club Monday, Oct. 8, 2007. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

Senior Golfers

Golfer Anne Gray walks with her putter at Olde Point Country Club Monday, Oct. 8, 2007. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

Barry Coleman cleans out one of three cannons after they were fired from Battleship Park for the kickoff of Riverfest 2007 Friday, Oct. 5, 2007. Cannons were fired as the Meka II, piloted by Captain Horatio Sinbad, traveled along Cape Fear River and exchanged in a mock battle firing at each other. The Southport Historical Society fired the cannon "Thor God of Thunder" and Barry Coleman fired a series of shots with his smaller cannons. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

High School mascot

Hoggard High School mascot Montrel Williams, 18, takes a break at halftime during the game against White Oak Friday, Oct. 5, 2007. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

NC State Ports Authority Time Lapse

Haw Hill Mud Raceway

I spent this past Saturday at Haw Hill Mud Raceway, These are my favorites from the day. Also check the audio slideshow I produced

http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/multimedia03&folder=hawhillmudraceway

Two horses rest after a carriage tour in Wilmington Friday Sept. 28, 2007. The horsedrawn carriage is operated by Springbrook Farms. A recent audit of horse and carriage operations in New York City revealed problems with lack of adequate food, water and shelter for the horse that pull carriages. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

Left to right, New Hanover's Hunter Lancaster(34), Darryll Pulliam(1) and Wayne Leonard(4) break up a pass for White Oak's Devin Davis at Legion Stadium Friday, Sept. 21, 2007. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

Morgan's produce stand

Woodrow Wilson Morgan, 79, unloads mums Thursday at his produce stand along N.C. 53 in Pender County.

High School Football Fans

Ashley High School fans Kenneth Williams(front), Ashley Healey and Cameron Caruthers cheer on the team during the game against Jacksonville at Ashley High School Friday, Sept. 21, 2007. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

Mixed drink Illustration.

Lacy McKee, 5, makes a sand angel while her brothers John and Ross McKee (cq) go surfing with volunteers with Surfers Healing at Wrighstville Beach Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007. Surfers Healing, founded by Israel and Danielle Paskowitz, is a camp for children with Autism. Israel and Danielle formed the free camp after Their son, Isaiah, was diagnosed with autism at age three.

recent work

Hoggard High School football player Jonathan Cooper lets out a yell as he lifts weights at the school Monday, July 16, 2007.

Detail shot of roots of a dead tree at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC.

Todd Miller(cq), with the North Carolina Coastal Federation, spreads oyster shells in the water Friday, August 31, 2007. The North Carolina Coastal Federation in partnership with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, University of North Carolina Wilmington, the N.C. Coastal Reserve Program, J&B Aquafood and Airlie Gardens are working to restore three acres of oyster reef habitat. Volunteers and workers with the North Carolina Coastal Federation spread oyster shells set with oyster larvae at Dick's Bay. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

Church repair

Burgaw Presbyterian Church member Billy Murphy makes a repair to a light fixture at the church. Murphy, a long time church member, helps with maintenance and repairs at the church. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

Cheryl L. Cushine

Cheryl L. Cushine, Author of The Dust Busting Chronicles, sits in her home with a copy of the book and her dog Millie Monday, Aug. 20, 2007. Cushine wrote about caring for her parnter who was diagnosed with cancer while coping with her own Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

First day of school

Students leave Burgaw Elementary School to board buses on the first day of school Monday, Aug. 27, 2007. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

Dr. Marsha Fretwell

Davis Health Care Center resident Margaret Batogowski greets Geriatrician Dr. Marsha Fretwell in her room at Davis Health Care Center Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007. Davis Health Care has announced it will have an around the clock Geriatrician and medical students who are studying geriatrics through a partnership with Coastal Area Health Education Center (AHEC) of Wilmington, NC. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

Carolina Beach Skate Park

Dylan Carter, 12, skates at the Carolina Beach Skate Park on Monday, August 13, 2007. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

Surfers Healing

Surfer Joshua Paskowitz holds onto Jacob Pittman, 6, as they catch a wave at Wrightsville Beach Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007. Surfers Healing, founded by Israel and Danielle Paskowitz, is a camp for children with Autism. Israel and Danielle formed the free camp after Their son, Isaiah, was diagnosed with autism at age three. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS

Wilmington International Airport

A jet crosses the runway that is being painted at Wilmington International Airport Wednesday, August 15, 2007. For story on growth at ILM. Staff Photo By Mike Spencer/STAR-NEWS