Hindu deity makes a clutch grab in Georgia Southern win

Who needs Photoshop?

I swear, this is totally real. It's simply the result of being in a particular spot at a particular moment in time. Shoot enough frames, you're bound to come up with some surprises.

Georgia Southern wide receiver Mitch Willford made a clutch reception on fourth down in the fourth quarter against Elon that allowed the Eagles to run out the clock. He celebrated, as did offensive lineman Zach Lonas. Their bodies and arms lined up in way you could never have planned for. It's phenomenon totally unique to still photography.

Anyway, a four-armed receiver ought to haul in anything that comes his way.

Touchdown Jesus, Southern style ...

I'm sure many of you are familiar with the famous football icon at the University of Notre Dame known as "Touchdown Jesus."

Well, my colleague at the Morgan County Citizen, Angelina Bellebuono, e-mailed me a pic that's almost unbelievable, at the same time not surprising. It kind of speaks volumes about football, religion, and the South. What's funny is that Angelina didn't know she made this image when she pressed the shutter button.

She was simply doing what many of us news photogs do when shooting sports. That is, shooting pictures of the scoreboard after important plays to mark the score, time, down and distance, etc. to help with captioning later on.

"When I began editing, I realized I was looking at DaVinci's 'Last Supper.' Without the supper. I never saw it as I was actually shooting the image," she said in her e-mail.

It kind of reminds me of religious apparitions you hear about on occasion. You know, like the Virgin Mary appearing in a cloud formation or a potato chip shaped like Jesus.

Angelina wondered if it was subliminal. I say not. There's nothing subtle about religion and football here in Georgia.

Some might say they are one in the same.

1980s madness ...

Okay, I feel really old.

 After the Statesboro High School marching band performed their '80s Madness routine at halftime Friday night, Tyler Smith, 17, told me I was one of the few people who recognized he was portraying Slash of Guns-n-Roses.

"People were coming up to me and saying 'Hey Ozzie!'"

Madness, indeed!

Testing brand loyalty

Canon has created a bit of a stir with photo geeks.

I've been a long-time Nikon user and fan, but heck yeah I'd drink my cup 'o joe out of this!

Alas, according to this article in Photo District News, this way cool coffee mug was created only as a a giveaway to photographers covering the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and there are no plans to mass produce them.

C'mon Nikon - capitalize!

Michael Jackson and his role in photojournalism education

When it comes to teaching my class at Georgia Southern University, I'm not ashamed to admit that I steal lots of ideas from others who teach photojournalism.

I've stolen more than a couple from my friend Mark Johnson at the University of Georgia. I'm a little undecided about incorporating one of his latest techniques. As you can see, the results can be both horrifying and thrilling at the same time. For the full story, go here.

No mere mortal can resist ...

JOUR5370 dances to "Thriller," Athens, Ga., March 4, 2010. (Photo/Mark E. Johnson, www.mejphoto.com)

Used with permission

P.S. There might be a video on the way.

Christmas cheer on the hardwood

Just thought this was fun. Not running in tomorrow's paper, but I think we can find some space for it sometime this week.

Georgia Southern ladies' basketball fan Wes Bonner shows some Christmas spirit as well as a soft touch from three-point range while participating in the Subway Shootout during a timeout at Monday's game against Kennesaw State at Hanner Fieldhouse. Bonner dresses as Santa Claus this time of year for his medical sales job. "The kids like it, so I thought I'd spread a little joy here tonight."