[PHOTOSTORY 2: MOTION] Bonfire Event

 By: Peter Heissenbuttel

Residents gather around one of the 2 fire pits and roast marshmallows during a bonfire social at Revelry on Friday night. The event gives students a chance to meet neighbors and spend time together outside of class in a relaxed setting.

Maya Thompson, right, roasts a marshmallow while Nathan Cruz, center, looks at a phone beside the courtyard fire pit. Small moments like these helped turn the bonfire into a casual social event where residents could unwind and connect.

A large group of residents fills the courtyard as the bonfire event draws students outside for food, drinks, and conversation. Community events like the gathering help create a more social atmosphere and encourage residents to get to know one another.

Residents continue talking and relaxing around the fire pit as the bonfire social carries on into the night. The event brought together students from across the community for an evening centered on food, conversation, and a shared outdoor space.

Students sit around the fire pit, eat snacks, and talk with friends during the evening bonfire. Organizers use events like this one to help residents build friendships and feel more connected to the apartment community.

Tyler Brooks, right, and Marcus Hill laugh while sharing snacks near the bonfire Friday night. Their interaction reflects the lighthearted atmosphere of the event, which encouraged residents to relax and socialize.

Residents gather closely around the fire pit as more students join the bonfire social in the courtyard. The growing crowd shows how community events can turn a common outdoor area into a place for residents to connect.

 Residents warm their hands and roast marshmallows over the fire while talking with friends. The bonfire served as a central meeting place for students looking for a simple way to spend time together on campus housing grounds.

 Students spread out across the courtyard, with some gathered at the fire pit and others talking at nearby tables. The layout of the event gave residents space to either join the larger crowd or have smaller conversations with friends.

A smaller group remains in the courtyard near the fire pit as the night grows later. The quieter scene shows how the event moved from a larger social gathering to a more relaxed close among friends.

 Ethan Lopez, left, and Caleb Martin, right, smile toward the camera while sitting near the bonfire with other residents in the background. The photo highlights the laid-back atmosphere that made the event feel welcoming and informal.

[PHOTOSTORY 2: MOTION] Night Fishing

 By: Layne Kafsky 

Aarington Brown, an aspiring fisher, sets out to prepare for a session of night fishing at Lake Burton. "I have always loved marine life. I graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in marine biology with a focus on chemical ecology," Brown said.

Aarington Brown is looking for fish at his fishing spot in preparation to start fishing. Night fishing is a sport in which you fish for freshwater or saltwater fish at nighttime in order to raise your chances of catching more predatory fish because this is when they are most active.

Aarington Brown is picking out a rod for his nigh fishing session. Different types of fishing require different rods including rods for fly fishing, deep sea fishing and freshwater fishing, which Brown practices the most. 

 

Aarington Brown selects his fishing rod and prepares them for a night of fishing. "I've always loved to go  fishing, I have deep sea fished many times and I fish in local lakes offten. Some of my friends in the fishing community on Lake Burton told me about night fishing and it's been something I've enjoyed getting into," Brown said. 

Aarington Brown inspects his fishing rod to make sure there are no issues before casting. "Some of the largest bass I have ever seen caught have been from people night fishing. I haven't been super successful at it but I am still fairly new to the sport," Brown said. 

Aarington Brown goes through his tackle box to pick a lure for his fishing rod. A tackle box holds bait, different lures, fishing line, and other tools used in the sport of fishing. 

Aarington Brown cuts his fishing line to the appropriate length for freshwater fishing. "You always want to adjust your line depending on where you're fishing because having too much causes it to get tangled in trees or things on shore and can ruin a night of fishing..it's happened to me many times," Brown said. 

After finding the right lure for his rod Aarington Brown attaches it to his fishing line. "It is very important what kind of lure you're using when you fish. When I am night fishing at Lake Burton I am usually looking for bass and they are mostly attracted to green colors so that's what I'm using here," Brown said. 

Aarington Brown searches  for live bait to use while fishing. "I typically like to use live bait when night fishing because since the fish can't see as well they rely heavily on underwater movement to pinpoint their prey," Brown said. 

Aarington Brown looks for the best spot to cast his first line. "When night fishing, you want to fish in places that are shallow. Fortunately for me, the fishing community on Lake Burton is very generous and many people open their docks for others to night fish on because they are all typically near shallow water," Brown said. 

Aarington Brown casts his fishing line into the lake. "I don't like to throw my line too far away when night fishing because I like to keep my eyes on my lure and see what's around it," Brown said. 

Aarington Brown monitors his fishing line for any movement in the water. Even the smallest tug on a fishing line can indicate a fish has taken the lure. 

A large bass swims near Aarington Brown's fishing lure and line. "I catch the most bass when I am night fishing. They are always the most active at night and its fun to see the bigger fish you typically wouldn't see during the day," Brown said. 

After getting no tugs from any fish Aarington Brown removes his line from the lake and switches methods. "It really depends on the night, some nights the fish will be biting like crazy and others there won't be many out," Brown said. 

Aarington Brown throws bait into the lake in hopes of catching smaller fish with a net to use as live bait. "I have noticed that sometimes, when fishing for bass specifically, using minnows as bait works best," Brown said. 

To get a better look at where the smaller fish are gathering Aarington Brown uses a high beam LED light to spot and attract the fish. " In most cases the small fish all swim together so it is easy for me to spot them especially under a bright light, this always helps me figure out where I need to be casting my line," Brown said.  

After spotting a group of minnows near a floating boat Aarington Brown reaches into the water with a net in hopes of catching some. "Smaller fish are probably the hardest thing to catch because they move at such high speeds and it's easy to lose them in the dark water," Brown said. 

Aarington scoops his net through the water toward another group of minows. Using bait found in the same lake allows Aarington Brown to continue fishing without relying solely on the lures in his tackle box.

After striking out on catching live bait, Aarington Brown once again tries to catch a bass using his rod.  "Some nights I will catch multiple fish, and others like tonight, I won't catch or see many. You never really know where the fish are going to be," Brown said. 

After an unsuccessful night of fishing Aarington Brown packs his gear up and heads home. "No matter how the night goes with fishing it's still good practice and I always enjoy it no matter how many fish I catch," Brown said. 

[PHOTOSTORY 2: MOTION] The pickleball boom shows no signs of slowing down

 By: Dylan Waits 

A group of pickleball players gather on the court at Ted Wright Park in Warner Robins Georgia. Many of the people wanted to get there early to beat the Georgia summer heat. 

A pickleball player holds a pickleball in their hand while sitting on the bench as they wait for a game to start. There were over five different groups playing across 12 courts on the morning of Friday, July 3. 

 LEFT Jaqueline Randall watches as Cori Oliver hits a ball underhand after a serve. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States with a 171.8% increase over the past three years according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.  

Jaqueline Randall reaches out to hit a ball with her paddle trying to keep a rally going. Jaqueline recently got into pickleball, and this was only her second time playing. 

A pickleball player reaches down to grab a pickleball after their team failed to get it over the net. Pickleball is a sport meant for all ages as people were participating from all ages from kids to seniors.

 Brandon Pollock reaches his arm back to try and backhand a pickleball flying right towards him. There were many stores advertising their business at the pickleball courts to try and take advantage of the popularity of the sport. 

LEFT Moises Serrano Vargas stumbles backwards to try and hit a pickleball between his legs as Brandon Pollock watches. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025 which is a 22.8% increase from 2024. 

 LEFT Bailey Moore and Noah Ruiz sit and watch a game of pickleball being played by their friends. Bailey Moore discovered pickleball through the military as they were required to do some activity for training. 

A pickleball flies over the net onto the other side waiting to be hit by a player. Many pickleball courts are built with outdoor lighting allowing people to play at night. 

LEFT Moises Serrano Vargas and Brandon Pollock both go to hit the ball between them at the same time. Warner Robins opened North Houston Sports Complex in June 2021 with 12 indoor pickleball facilities to give residents more places to play. 

A pickleball player reaches their hand on the ground to grab a pickleball to eventually serve. There have been adult pickleball leagues beginning to spread as well as intramural sports leagues at universities.

LEFT Moises Serrano Vargas tosses a pickleball to Noah Ruiz for him to serve. Pickleball courts can be seen all throughout middle Georgia with at least five parks and facilities that have courts. 

 Brandon Pollock takes a drink from his water bottle while he sits on a bench waiting for a game to finish. Many of the players at the courts play for hours with some people getting up to six games played in a row. 

Moises Serrano Vargas wipes the sweat from his eyes after playing a round of pickleball. Ted Wright Park features 12 pickleball courts with all of them being filled at 10 a.m.

Moises Serrano Vargas holds up a pickleball that he is eventually going to serve. Over 200 colleges have pickleball sports programs although many being club sports many think it could become a college sport in 5-10 years. 

Brandon Pollock runs to his right to try and hit a ball going out of bounds. Pickleball appeals to a lot of people as it is a mix of tennis and ping pong which service different demographics. 

Jaqueline Randall gets in a ready stance as she awaits the other teams' serve. Jaqueline Randall and Bailey Moore were so new to pickleball that Cori Oliver took over a role as to teach them the rules while they were playing. 

LEFT Noah Ruiz awaits a pickleball hit by Bailey Moore during her serve. With the rise of pickleball big retail stores such as Dick's, Academy and Walmart have begun selling pickleball paddles. 

LEFT Moises Serrano Vargas and Noah Ruiz await as Bailey Moore jumps in the air to hit a pickleball. Pickleball is continuing its growth into 2026 and beyond with court infrastructure and global outreach. 

LEFT Noah Ruiz, Moises Serrano Vargas and Jaqueline Randall touch paddles at the end of their game. In Pickleball touching paddles is a sign of respect and to symbolize a good play or game.