2019 Georgia AAAA Boys Basketball Championship

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When I was a student at the Art Institute of Atlanta a few years back, I called Manny Rubio, an amazing photographer to interview him about working for Sports Illustrated. (Don’t ask me how I found his number in pre-internet days, because I have no recollection.)

He graciously took my call and answered my questions … a lot of them.

Rubio impressed upon me how difficult it was to become a great sports photographer. And over the years, I found out through personal experience, just how right he was.

It’s been a long time since I dreamed of becoming a sports photographer, and a while since I photographed sports on a regular basis. So I was excited to be asked to photograph the Georgia State Wheelchair Basketball Finals again this year.

When I arrived to photograph the wheelchair championship game, there was about two minutes left in the boys AAAA finals game.

The Carver Tigers basketball team played the Americus-Sumter Panthers for the fifth time this season. I was privileged to see them play for the Georgia High School Association 2019 Class AAAA state championship.

I watched and took photos while the two teams went back and forth, taking a lead, catching up, taking the lead again, tying the game again. Until AJ Watts pumped in a three-pointer with 28 seconds left in the game.

“When it left my hands, I knew it was good,” Watts told Mark Rice of the Columbus Ledger Enquirer.

I was at the opposite end of the court when Watts made the game changing shot, but I was ready to charge the court as soon as the buzzer went off.

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Cindy Brown

I'm an Atlanta wedding photographer who takes soulful, quirky and honest photos ...

I'm also an adventurous traveler and all-round nerd. I love to hike with my beagle/cattle dog Roux and best friend/spouse.

I was born in Atlanta, moved around a lot--30 cities and 5 states--and then came back.

After graduating from the Art Institute of Atlanta, I took a job at asmall newspaper in south Georgia, where I photographedhospital teas, pecan farmers, and beauty queens.

I photographed a biker funeral, death penalty protests andTed Bundy while interning with the Associated Press.

While a photographer for two dailies in Florida, I photographed Ronald Reagan, a train derailment and the dedication of a screened-in porch.

An unexpected life turn took me to Vermont where I fell in love with Bernie Sanders and on to Indiana, where I edited photos for a major daily, and nerded out getting a master’s and PhD.

After teaching photojournalism at colleges and universities in Florida, Indiana and Mississippi, I returned to Atlanta to earn myfifth degree--a Master's of Divinity.

My passion for storytelling with my camera and my interest in religious diversity led my to the field of wedding photojournalism.

I have documented weddings large and small, Unitarian and Pagan, indoors and out, Christian and Muslim, in backyards and in churches. The most exotic wedding I have photographed took place in Mexico and was officiated by aMayan shaman.

When I'm not photographing weddings, portraits or corporate events, I work on personal photo projects, visit friends in amemory-care home, and volunteer at a recovery center.