Georgia
Through the Lens: 21st Annual Georgia Classic – University of Georgia Athletics
ATHENS, Ga. – This past weekend, I had the opportunity to cover all of Georgia’s games in the 21st Annual Georgia Classic.
With our team coming off an impressive weekend at the Clearwater Invitational in Florida, I was excited to be out at Jack Turner Stadium in Athens.
As a photographer, it is part of my job to show the action during the game, but also the moments before and after. This image of Sydney Kuma and Sara Mosley is the perfect example of a quiet moment between teammates before the intensity of competition starts. Another part of my job is to stay out of the way and the mirrorless cameras I use allow me to take photos silently which is very helpful when being close to a moment like this.
In this photo, Ellie Armistead prepares to step off the base before a pitch is thrown. When I am covering any sporting event, I always try to show how close I am to the action with detailed photos like this one. The 70-200 telephoto lens I use allows me to zoom in really close to focus on details nobody else can see.
After a few innings, I like to get out of my position in the dugout and walk around to find a different angle or perspective. It was a beautiful day on Saturday and this photo shows that while also showing the support of the fans for our team.
When capturing the action of a game, there can be a lot of obstacles that get in the way of focusing your camera. This photo of Rachel Gibson pitching is cleaned up by taking an overhead angle behind home plate.
Whenever I am covering Georgia softball, I am always prepared for home runs. I prefer to focus on the emotion and joy of the batter rounding the bases instead of the moment the bat hits the ball. This photo of Jayda Kearney rounding third to celebrate with her coach and teammates is one of my favorites from the weekend.
With a 16-35 wide angle lens, I am able to take photos that have a perspective closer to what the human eye sees. For this photo, I crouched down for a lower angle to emphasize the focus of the photo which was Madison Kerpics running out to the pitcher’s circle.
Sara Mosley capped off the weekend with an outstanding performance at the plate on Sunday. She went 3-for-3 with two home runs and drove in five of Georgia’s eight runs. I like this photo of her celebration after her second home run because it shows more emotion than her first. Even during a game where the same thing happens twice, a small change in someone’s reaction can make a big difference for the final photo.
I am certain there will be a lot more moments like this throughout the season. Softball is always a blast to photograph and I am looking forward to the rest of an exciting season.
# @UGAsoftball #
Seven small and rural Peach State cities are hosting exhibits as part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street ‘Voices and Votes’ program.
Georgia’s inaugural “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” exhibit launched Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Putnam County Administrative Building. This is a partnership of Georgia Humanities, Georgia Writers Museum and the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street initiative. (David Plazas/AJC)
Our soon-to-be 250-year-old democratic republic endured major stress tests recently that shook the faith of citizens across the political spectrum.
A presidential assassination attempt at the April 25 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner engendered conspiracy theories on social media that further pushed people into their corners.
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AJC Opinion Editor David Plazas (center) stands with Georgia Writers Museum board member Chip Ward (left) and board president Lou Benjamin (right) at the inaugural “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” exhibit in Eatonton, Georgia on April 25, 2026.
Celebrate your republic across the state
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David Plazas joined the AJC as opinion editor in 2025. His goal is to create the ultimate platform for conversations, debates and idea exchanges in the South. He spent 25 years at the USA TODAY Company working his way from reporter at The News-Press in Fort Myers, Florida, to statewide opinion and engagement editor at The Tennessean in Nashville.
Flood Watch
from WED 4:00 PM EDT until THU 8:00 AM EDT, Walton County, Haralson County, Newton County, Lamar County, Henry County, Fannin County, Troup County, Pike County, Bartow County, Meriwether County, Clayton County, Heard County, Dawson County, Douglas County, Jasper County, Gwinnett County, Banks County, South Fulton County, Carroll County, Butts County, White County, Union County, Fayette County, Upson County, Walker County, Catoosa County, Cherokee County, North Fulton County, Cobb County, Paulding County, Lumpkin County, Gilmer County, Polk County, Hall County, Whitfield County, Murray County, Forsyth County, Spalding County, Jackson County, Gordon County, Barrow County, Floyd County, Towns County, Dade County, Pickens County, Coweta County, Rockdale County, DeKalb County, Chattooga County
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced Tuesday that he plans to join U.S. Senate candidate Derek Dooley on a campaign tour Thursday in northeast Georgia.
Dooley, a Republican candidate who describes himself as a “political outsider,” has a series of five stops. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp plan to support the candidate, who, like Kemp, grew up in Athens.
Dooley, the son of University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley, and himself a former college and NFL coach, is running against GOP candidates Buddy Carter, Mike Collins, and others. Carter and Collins are members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Republican primary is on May 19.
Dooley’s tour begins at 9 a.m. at the McEachin Farm, 600 U.S. 29, Danielsville, followed by a stop at the Franklin Springs Public Safety Building at 10:30 a.m. on 2525 West Main St.
The next stops are 12:30 p.m. at the Crossroads Café, 4654 Ga. Highway 115, Demorest; 2 p.m. at Linda’s Place, 66 Doyle St., Toccoa; and 3:30 p.m. at the Homer Fire Department, 243 Sycamore St., Homer.
Dooley, who has a law degree from UGA, will also make stops on Friday in Fannin, Hall, and Morgan counties.
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