[MINOR ASSIGNMENT 3] Random Life Moments

 By: Chloe Malson

[ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAIT 3] Ethan Pearson

 

Ethan Pearson is a Scuba Diver. "The best part of scuba diving is the feeling of being all alone nothing but you, your equipment and the ocean."

[Minor assignment 3]

Rule of 3rds 

Framed 

low apeture framed 

High aperture framed 

Clean background 

silhouette 

[PHOTOSTORY 2: MOTION] I do it for my son.

 By: Sarah Aceves

Shelby McGowan, a beloved wife and mother of one, sets down her keys in the Burn Boot Camp shelving. "I work out to be a better mom. I realized I wanted to be here for him for the long run and to even be able to hold him."  

A large whiteboard displays a specialized list of exercises inside Pooler, Georgia's Burn Boot Camp. This workout regimen was designed for Shelby McGowan's private session.

The training floor remains empty before the private workout session. This facility provides specialized groups fitness workouts, personal training options and a in building daycare for local residents.

Shelby McGowan prepares for her first exercise of the workout. For McGowan, her fitness journey started in September of 2025 when she attended Orangetheory Fitness.

Shelby McGowan completes the first repetition of a weighted Romanian Deadlift. "When I tried Orangetheory I liked it, but it didn't have a daycare and didn't fit in my schedule."

Shelby McGowan slides down into her weighted slider ipsilateral reverse lunge. She chose Burn Boot Camp as it was the only gym in her area that had childcare on site.

Shelby McGowan prepares for her 100-pound weighted glute bridge.  McGowan also has personal goals such as being more active and losing weight while gaining muscle.

Shelby McGowan reaches the top of the weighted glute bridge. "Setting goals has been hard, but I tend to set a goal of 5 to ten pounds of weight loss every three months. Smaller goals help me stay on track."

Shelby McGowan powers through her weighted reverse flys. "It's so much more than just working out for me. It is my peace, my time when I don't have to be worrying about dinner. It's just me and my workout."

Shelby McGowan squats to the bottom of her second repetition. McGowan didn't only add in exercise to her life: she changed her entire diet to prioritizing proteins, vegetable and clean ingredients.

Shelby McGowan starts her first set of her weighted reverse flys.  "I haven't only adjusted my diet, but I also adjusted my whole family's diet. We even check every single food label on a product we want to buy. However, on holidays we don't care, those are our cheat days."

Shelby McGowan grunts through her rope rows. However, for McGowan, the journey hasn't always been easy or without setbacks.

Shelby McGowan powers through her first pull-up on the new resistance band. "The day before my birthday I threw my back out at the gym. My anxiety skyrocketed because I couldn't go to the gym for three months while I was in rehab." 

Shelby McGowan fully extends downward before starting another repetition. After McGowan's back injury, the only thing that was difficult for her were the athletic conditioning days as it involves more cardio.

Shelby McGowan prepares for her final exercise, supermans. "So far I have lost 50 pounds and gained over 10 pounds of muscle in less than a year."

Shelby McGowan starts her first set of Supermans. McGowan has no true goal weight because she has built habits for life and considers that as her success.

Shelby McGowan walks back to re-rack her weights after finishing her workout. "Every day I try, or at least I hope, to inspire my son through my workouts to be more fit and active."

Shelby McGowan walks back to her son, Cooper McGowan, after she finishes re-racking her weights.

 McGowan mentions that Cooper is her number one accountability partner asking every day after daycare, "We go to gym mommy?" 

Shelby and Cooper McGowan start to walk hand in hand as they leave Burn Boot Camp. "At the end of the workout, when I get to see him, I am reminded of why I am here. I am here for him." 

[PHOTOSTORY 2: OUTDOORS] Downtown Perry Celebrates the 250th Birthday of America

 By: Jackson McKenzie

Crowds begin to gather in Downtown Perry, Georgia to celebrate America's 250th Birthday July 4. Perry's celebration, known as "Red, White, & Boom", has been an annual tradition since 2017.

Amanda Finch, dressed as Lady Liberty, welcomes guest as they arrive for the festivities. Finch is an acrobat performer with over two decades of experience and has served as Lady Liberty for the past three years at the celebration.

Families begin to fill the front lawn and take pictures in preparation for the celebration. The event is expected to have over 12,00 attendees, the most it has ever had before.

Luke Mastervick strolls the streets of downtown dressed as Donald Trump. Mastervick dressed as Trump in hopes of bringing laughter to everyone at the celebration regardless of their political views.

Julie Forrester promotes a new brewery coming to Downtown Perry to ongoing patrons. Vendors line the streets to promote local businesses and build engagement with residents of Perry.

Beth Tabor explains to a patron how to participate in a Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) pop-up memorial. Tabor is a member of the DAR and helped set up the table with other members.

American flags line the sidewalk to create the full DAR memorial. Each flag contained the name of a Veteran who the writer would like to be remembered.

Bronwyn Young helps place American flags for the memorial. Young is also a member of the DAR and assist those needing help participating.

Jacob Weil of Middle Georgia Gellyball leads a pop-up interactive shooting game for kids. The celebration features many interactive activities for kids to enjoy besides the fireworks and vendors.

At the main stage, DJ Lawrence Taylor hypes the growing crowd up with music. Taylor, professionally known as DJ Mix Master T, has served at the event for three years and has DJ'd as far as the Dominican Republic.

Finch dances with an attendee as the celebration starts to gear up. Finch and Taylor serve as a big part of getting the crowd up involved and excited as dusk approaches for the fireworks.

Kelley Dukes participates in the "Wobble" dance. Dukes is a Warner Robins native who attended the event for the first time this year after hearing about it from word of mouth.

Grace Williams, dressed as a founding father, screams in excitement as her favorite song comes on during a dance-off at the main stage. Williams has attended the celebration for the past eight years and dresses up for it each time.

As dusk approaches the main lawn becomes packed with excited attendees eagerly ready for the fireworks. Throughout Houston County, Perry's celebration is the only one who held fireworks on July 4 with others happening days or even weeks before the actual date. 

Only a couple of streets away from the main stage, hundreds of unlit fireworks quietly await blast off to light up the sky. The show will use more than five different types of fireworks.

Adam Dotson of Southern Sky Fireworks prepares the last few fireworks in preparation for the big show. Dotson has been a technician for the celebration for almost half a decade. 

A firework is carefully wrapped and prepared with just an hour to spare before the show. The crew in charge of the fireworks had been delicately preparing the show since 1 p.m. the prior day July 3.

Back at the main stage the crowd dances and celebrates one last time as the sun sets behind the buildings in Perry. A laser light show accompanied DJ Taylor along with his final run of music.

While other dance, friends Mark Eversgerd (left) and Beth Brittain (right) play Mahjong as they wait for the fireworks to begin. Both Eversgerd and Brittain have attended the celebration since its creation.

Jack and Nisha Banter watch as the fireworks begin to end the celebration. Throughout the show 670 fireworks were fired to celebrate America's Semiquincentennial.