Life Of DDS

As I walked onto the field of the SuperDome, I was excited. It was one of the most important Classics in recent history, specifically the most important since 2003 when Grambling and Southern were involved in a shootout. Southern took that one, making me, a freshman, shed some tears.

Now, five years later, it’s nearly the same predicament. Grambling is undefeated, Southern needs a win to be involved in a coin flip to get to the SWAC. So I was definitely ready to get this game started.

I had to be at the game early so I could get my field pass, so I was there by 11:30. Idling around the stadium, I ran into the best-looking royal court ever to grace GSU since I’ve paid attention to them. I took some pictures with them, and took numerous pictures of them, just to kill time.

As the game got closer to starting, I was definitely ready to shoot. The bands marched out, and I took my usual shots. Then, it was time for the team of the year to enter. The G-Men came out to a nice roar from the crowd. They were amped up and ready to go.

Then, the team cringing on hopes of a win entered. They are also amped. Maybe a little too amped up. As a player ran toward me, I noticed he was pretty crunk. As I snapped pics of #7, i felt my camera give a light snap, and then, horror struck.

My camera gave me a look equivalent to the “Ring of Death” for the XBox 360: Error 99. This is one of worst messages that a photographer can receive, especially while using a Canon lens.

There are some solutions to the problem. However, there was no solution to this problem. The camera kept showing that dreaded error, despite my desperate attempts to make it work. I remembered the solutions well, because it had done it before. But, over time, the error went away.

So now, I’m out of commission. Not sure when I’ll be getting a new camera or if I’ll be able to use a school camera for a while, but I’m definitely out for now. Don’t worry. I still shot the game, thanks to Glenn E. Lewis of the Yearbook. He let me use his bazooka lens during the second half, the more interesting half.

But my Digital Rebel XT has lived a long, good life. But it’s time for it to be serviced or fixed. Hopefully, it returns to its old self.

It’s that time of the year again. Turkey time. DarrylDSmith.com wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving. Make sure to save me a plate!

Updates with me…I just finished two photoshoots on the campus of Grambling State University. I’m looking to post them as early as next week. I have to go through and edit them, but it shouldn’t take too long…at least I don’t think.

I’m also gearing up to leave for the good ole Bayou Classic tomorrow. I’ve been waiting for this trip ever since we knocked off Prairie View in a nice fashion. Hopefully, we win to avoid the idiotic coin flip that the SWAC has in store. Hopefully, Gram demolishes Southern. No offense to them, but people from Southern get on my nerves with their cockiness.

If you didn’t know, I’m doing $30 photoshoots for those in the Grambling/Monroe area. If you are interested, drop me a line at darryl@darryldsmith.com.

Keep watching this blog, as I’ll try to update every few hours during the Bayou Classic to keep you entertained. This is of course if we have free Internet at the hotel I’m staying in.

Until next time,
Darryl D. Smith
“Ludacris of photography”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mnyD8Zv1vY

I may not agree with our President’s policies, but come on now. We are supposed to all show love for one another. At least fake a smile and a firm grip for the cameras. Bush has already been ridiculed for the longest. He didn’t need this.

I know some of you will disagree with me, but Bush probably isn’t that bad of a guy. He takes all the blame while VP Dick Cheney wields all the power. Ever notice how Dick is not in the news? I wonder why is that. We all know he is the most powerful VP ever to come through the White House.

Maybe he’s smarter to keep his business out of the media. Poor Bush though. Just looking lost in front of the world’s leaders.

This week has been pretty….interesting. I’m still suffering from a swollen dislocated finger, but that’s minimal.

First off, I checked out my tires Monday for a routine inspection. Found out my driver rear side tire was showing wires. For those of you that don’t know, that’s the warning sign that a tire is about to go. Luckily I caught that, as I don’t need to have a blowout on the highway doing 70 miles an hour.

So, I decided to get my tires changed on Tuesday. Heading to the shop, my passenger front tire goes out. So I change the tire to the donut with some help from my roommate. Since I’m at the bank, I pull out $200 (rent money) to fix the tires. I’m thinking I can get a full set of 4 for $200. I mean…the economy is bad so they’ll take whatever they can get right?

Wrong. The guy at the shop said $280. I’m like, “No way.” So I decide to hit up good ole Wally World to see if they have a cheaper price. I get there…they start asking all the questions they need to ask. I’m answering them and everything.

Out of nowhere, the lady asks for the keys, without telling me the price. I quickly ask for the price, and she says $300. I was pretty much stuck because my car was letting me know on the way to Wal-Mart that it wasn’t going too much further. Defeated, I hand in the keys and get to work on my research paper that’s due at 11 a.m. It was 9:30 a.m. when this happened by the way.

So, Wal-Mart lifts up the car, takes the tires off, and all that. However, they come to me sideways. “Um…we don’t have the tires you need.” What?! How in the world did you take off my tires, KNOWING you don’t have the tires I need? I figured it was a tactic to get more money, but I needed new tires.

So, I try to figure out how much extra it is, and the price skyrockets to nearly $400. I almost slapped the cashier for insulting my wallet. I decide to just get two new tires, as it’s right at $200. They put the tires on the front, and I’m on my way to class.

The next day, my driver rear tire is flat. I’m figuring it’s the cold, so I go put some air in it. I’m good. Thursday morning, I wake up again and it’s flat again. I’m baffled. Then, I decided to check something. I open the trunk, and the tire that got flat when I was on my way to the shop was NOT there.

No…there’s no way…yeah…they did. Wal-Mart took my flat out the trunk and put it right back on my car. I’m not mad, as I think it was an honest mistake. I go to Wal-Mart and explain the situation. They look at me like I’m dumb. “What do you want us to do?” Um…what do you THINK I want you to do? I want my good tire back! DUH!

Bad news though; a truck had already came and picked up the tires that was on my car, so I’m stuck again. Two managers confer over the phone, leaving me idling watching Finding Nemo on their complimentary TV in the area. So they finally reach a decision. They’ll give me a new tire for half off. I’m broke, but I take the deal. Beggars can’t be choosers, and I need to get home, right?

So, in a nutshell, I got three tires for right at $220. Not bad I think. It could be worse, but I think I’ll be good. The other tire is a “brand new” used tire, so it should hold me for a while. Now, I just have to figure out a way to make rent, and I’ll be good.

And they say the auto industry need a bailout…

You can go here for the photo gallery.

By GSU Sports Information

Fans of Grambling State and Louisiana Tech were treated to an early season thriller as both teams met for the first time ever in the Assembly Center in Grambling, La. on Tuesday night. An 8-0 run in overtime proved to be the difference as Tech recorded an 80-74 victory over Grambling State before 4,217 fans.

Tech led by as much as nine at the 9:13 mark in the first half before Grambling battled back to take a 32-29 lead after back-to-back lay-ups by George Akpele and Ariece Perkins in the closing seconds. However, Tech managed to close the half down 32-31 after Olu Ashalou recorded a lay-up with five seconds left.

Grambling managed to hang tight throughout the second stanza with its WAC foe as the Tigers tied the contest at 62-all on a free throw by Marcus Coleman. After a Tech turnover, Grambling moved ahead 65-62 after a trey by Andrew Prestley with 1:24 remaining but Tech regained a 66-65 margin at the 34 second mark after two free throws from Kyle Gibson.

Tiger point guard Ariece Perkins was fouled with six seconds left and sent to the charity stripe with a chance to move the Tigers ahead. Perkins tied the contest after connecting on 1-of-2 free throws and a last-second desperation shot by Gibson rimmed out to force overtime.

Tech took control of the extra period with an 8-0 run as Grambling was held scoreless for nearly two-and-a-half minutes. Grambling couldn’t find its offensive groove from that point as Tech went on to record the history-making win over the Tigers.

Andrew Prestley led GSU with 27 points and 10 rebounds while Kenneth Cooper led four Bulldogs in double figures with 22 points and 11 boards.

You can go here for the photo gallery.