Today, I had my first photograph published on the front page of the Local & State Section of the Odessa American newspaper in Odessa, TX. The article is listed here (http://www.oaoa.com/columns/gene011107.htm) http://www.oaoa.com/columns/gene011107.htm . As the article says, we've only been here since last Saturday. Kim was going to a job interview at WalMart to become one of their photographers and we stepped right into this. Quickly, we had just pulled into the parking lot and I waited for these two old ladies to get out of their car and then I parked next to them. Before Kim could get around the end of the van, this creep had stolen the 93 year olds purse and took off running. The guy in the hat saw it happen and took off after the guy, jumping out of a moving pickup. The other guy was at the opposite end of the parking lot about 200yds away and saw the commotion and new something was happening. He took off after the guy, chasing him back into the grasp of the first guy. I didn't see anything, as I was still in the van until Kim hollered that the guy had stolen the purse. I grabbed my camera so I could get some evidence shots in case the guy got away. In the excitement, my first shots didn't come out because I had been set for low lite shooting. When I realized it, switched to auto and got many shots of the capture and attempted escapes. I also managed to get a good shot of the license of the getaway car speeding away from the scene...yes, I'm bragging a bit...These guys were real heroes and I'm going to do everything in my power to see that these guys get recognized for their bravery and community service. The picture below is the one in paper. It's not on the website.
Ken



http://gallery.photographyreview.com/data/photography//500/medium/purse-snatcher-captured.jpg

Congratulations on the published photo, and welcome to Texas! I hope you don't expect it to be this exciting on a regular basis. Of course, I know very little about Odessa, so maybe that does happen there on a regular basis. Well anyway...that's an interesting story and you got a nice shot there. Thanks for sharing.

Paul

Congratulations on getting published Ken, and I'm glad the story had a happy ending, at least for most of the people.

I hope the move went well, and I hope Kim's interview went well. Keep us posted.

Looks like you're off to a good start!

Great to hear, Ken. A good photo and a good story to go with it...

Nice going Ken!! Glad they decide to take your volunteer submission and turn it into a good public relations and warning piece. I know right where you were, my son lives just a few miles from there and frequents that Wal-Mart on the loop. We went to that location to have a few prints made when we were in Odessa last September.

Congratulations on getting published! Great story as well. The Nikon Samurai strikes again!

Congrats Ken. That good samaritan story has 3 good samaritans in it. One of them is you.
Did the license plate result in another arrest?

Thanx everyone...

Paul...Thanx for the welcome...it's kind of a Welcome back, actually...hehe...I've lived here before and have lots of family here...I'm kind of the wanderin' soul...btw...watch out for falling birds...hehehe

Michael...The move went very well...we kind of took our time and shared the driving, so it went pretty easy. As for the job, We'll know tomorrow how the interview went...She was extremely nervous...not only because of what happened in the parking lot, but because it is her first interview in 18 years and she had no idea what to expect.

AV....Good start...well I guess you could say that...we did have the negative turn into a positive.

Ken


Michael...the move went good...we kind of took our time and shared the driving and it made it a lot easier....

To continue...

Steve...thanx for the kudos...I was nervous as all get out. I'm a large guy and would have attempted to pursue this guy, but with my disabilities and a broken toe, I don't move too fast, so I thought of the next best thing...hehehe

OT...Thats fantastic...maybe I'll finally get to meet you next time you're in the area. PLEASE, keep me posted...we'll do a bbq at our place and have a pool party!!!!!

Speed....Thanx for the kudos, but sad to say...It wasn't the Nikon that recorded the deed...It was the K-Team....

Chunk...thank you and yes, I was one of the samaritans, but not to leave anyone out, there were actually many of us. Not only the original guy, who recovered the purse and brought it back and then chased down the bad guy...the second guy who intercepted the creep...there were the many people who wrote down partial license #'s and alerted us to the vehicle fleeing...the people who stayed with the 2 victims and supported them, The first guys wife who called the police and stayed with victims...my wife who initially helped the victims...It was in a way...a community of samaritans...That kind of got lost in the story. As for the car...I haven't heard anything. I'm not sure they could even charge the woman with anything, unless they can prove she was an accomplice. It was the mans wife. If need be, I did get a viewable side view of her face as well...but it probably won't be needed...

Again...thanx everyone for the pats on the back...my wife said I walked around here with a swelled head all morning and she wondered how I got through the doors...hehehe...
Ken

Well you certainly know how to make an enterance to a new town! Good job though Ken.

I did a similar thing at a race track, they wound up with a large fight in the stands, one guy popped a cop from behind....but the photos clearly showed who started the fight and who hit the officer. I didn't even have to go to court, the photos took care of that :)

I did however have a real scare last night as I drove home from a basketball game I saw flashing lights and it looked like they were at my house :eek: It was the fire dept.
Fotunately for me it was 2 houses North of me. Hopefully everything was OK there though.

JS

Congratulations, Ken. Good job on getting your photo in.

Wow JS...it definitely pays to keep a camera near...like you I hope everyone is ok at your neighbors house....The cops didn't even take my name or request the pictures...they said they had enough witnesses...hehe...and of course the suspect. I think he admitted it to the cop anyway...hehe
Ken

Thanx masdog...take care of the cheeseheads up there for us...hehehe

Congratulations on getting published! Great story as well. The Nikon Samurai strikes again!

I don't think the Nikon Samurai get to take credit for this one. I am betting Ken used his Pentax digital SLR for this :p

I don't think the Nikon Samurai get to take credit for this one. I am betting Ken used his Pentax digital SLR for this :p

Hi John...sorry...ur bet can't be accepted as the answer was already given a few posts above...hehehehe....GO SAMURAI'S...GO K-TEAM....
HEHE
Ken