I did photos last week on where things are a year after the Tornado Outbreak of 2012. Most of what I shot was in Opossum Hollow in Menifee County. Some of the homes have either been rebuilt or replaced, but there are still several that have not, with the most visible sign from last year's deadly twisters being all the downed trees that line the hillsides and backyards. I heard a lot of sad stories last week, making me realize that I've taken too many bad storms for granted over the years.

An American Flag flaps in the wind on a bathtub pipe, on what's left of the of Jill Adams' house on Opossum Hollow Road in Menifee County. The flag was placed there by a Frenchburg Job Corps volunteer.

Tim Williams describes the 2012 tornado that hit rural Menifee County. Williams and his family survived their house being blown away by laying down in the house's crawl space.

Ralph Davis survived the 2012 tornado that hit Opossum Hollow Road in Menifee County, but his long time girlfriend Anita Smith, seen in the photo on the wall, was killed when their mobile home was blown away in the storm.

 

Davis breaks down crying as he talks about how his long time girlfriend Anita Smith was killed when their mobile home was blown away in the storm.

 

A mobile home was later donated to Ralph Davis.

 

One of Ralph Davis' trucks was blown several hundred feet over a cliff.

 

A memorial is under construction at the Menifee County Courthouse, to commemorate those killed during the 2012 tornados.

 

The community of West Liberty took a direct hit at 5:51 on March 2, 2012. Although the town has a long way to go toward rebuilding, it has come a long way in a year's time. This photo was taken from behind the hospital, Thursday, February 28, 2013. 

 

My 11-year-old son Cameron has been going with me to the Touchstone Energy All-A Classic since he was in second grade. He asked me for a camera last year, and then this year he made pictures good enough for me to send out to the state's media, along with mine. He got pictures published in the Lexington Herald-Leader and the Cincinnati Enquirer. The Herald-Leader front page had one of his photos along with one of mine. I was really proud of that! In the picture below, he's not smiling because he likes to take pictures, but hates to be in them.

I didn't really know what to expect the first time that I shot the state bowling tournament in 2012. From a photographer's point of view it was extremely hard to shoot because nobody ever designed a bowling alley with photography in mind. The light is horrible, but the fans are loud. It's not like bowling that you see on ESPN, where the crowd has to be quiet. The bowlers here have full blown cheering sections that never hush. I think that's why I love shooting high school sports so much. No two tournaments are ever the same. Each sport brings it's own level of excitement and has little nuances that make it unique.