Airport Rangers

Some of the 800 volunteer Airport Rangers pose for a portrait at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on Thursday, August 3, 2006.

© Mark M. Hancock / NewsEagles for American Profile magazine

The Airport Rangers program is composed of volunteers who regularly ride their privately-owned horses around the parimeter of the ninth-largest airport in America to ensure safety and security.


Airport Rangers program coordinator David Poynor prepares Shalako, a 13-year-old Chestnut, before a ride at the Airport Rangers station near Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.


Airport Ranger Terry L. Stevens prepares Chaves, a 6-year-old Rocky Mountain, for a ride at the Airport Rangers station near Bush Intercontinental Airport. Many horse owners rode trails around the airport prior to Sept. 11, 2001. After 9-11, airport officials closed the trails.


Terry L. Stevens rides patrol atop Chaves, 6, as a jet departs Bush Intercontinental Airport. Riders patrol and secure the 12,000-acre wooded perimeter of the airport, which includes some wetlands where only horses can travel. Airport Rangers are trained and can respond to any airport needs including search and rescue operations.


Tamsen Valoir rides Silver Sam, an 8-year-old Arabian, during patrol at Bush Intercontinental Airport. Fellow horseman Richard Vacar, director of the Houston Airport System, suggested a way for airport security and riders to cooperate.


Jill Sisler holds on as Chloe, a 6-year-old Missouri Foxtrotter, stops from a gallop during patrol at Bush Intercontinental Airport. Sisler bought Chloe specifically to join the program and give back to the community. The Airport Rangers program became a successful partnership while initially costing the airport less than $50,000 in training and trail clearing.


Pam Thonsgard rides Meg, a 22-year-old Grayed Pinto, on patrol at Bush Intercontinental Airport. While most riders are only armed with cell phones to report abnormalities, about 50 off-duty law enforcement officers in the program also carry firearms. Thonsgard said she finds and reports illegal activities during almost every patrol.


Terry L. Stevens dismounts and leads Chaves, 6, across a drainage culvert at Bush Intercontinental Airport. While most riders are only armed with cell phones to report abnormalities, about 50 off-duty law enforcement officers in the program also carry firearms.


Airport Rangers Tammy Powell (left to right), David Poynor and Pam Thonsgard chat atop their steeds during patrol at Bush Intercontinental Airport. First-time Houston airport visitors also appreciate seeing horse riders patroling the woods when they glide into Texas.

Please read the Texas Profile story by Beverly Burmeier and see additional photos in the slideshow.

Geriatric prisoners

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Elderly, handicapped prisoners are separated from the general population but remain within the Estelle Unit compound of the Texas State Prison System in Huntsville on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006. As the prison population ages, the prison system must care for additional needs of elderly prisoners.


Daniel Guiterrez stares into the distance as he waits for lunch at the Estelle Unit of the Texas State Prison System in Huntsville. Guiterrez, 87, is the oldest prisoner in the unit.



Robert A. Bell, 82, professes his innocence at the Estelle Unit of the Texas State Prison System.



Elderly prisoners watch television to pass time at the Estelle Unit of the Texas State Prison System.



Joe Anthony, 74, reads a newspaper to pass time at the Estelle Unit of the Texas State Prison System.



Elderly, disabled inmates get their lunch at the Estelle Unit of the Texas State Prison System. Other inmates bring food to those too disabled to get themselves through the line.



Prisoners eat lunch at the Estelle Unit of the Texas State Prison System. Most elderly unit inmates have one or more physical limitations.



Charles Nelson, 65, (center) talks with other prison inmates at the Estelle Unit of the Texas State Prison System.



A blind inmate finds his way back to his bunk at the Estelle Unit of the Texas State Prison System.



A blind, elderly prison inmate sits in his wheelchair near a window at the Estelle Unit of the Texas State Prison System.

Please read "Old-timers doing time" by Sarah Moore.
 

WO-S knocked out

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

West Orange-Stark's DePauldrick Garrett (No. 24, left) takes a savage hit from Giddings' Alan Dock (No. 11, right) while trying to catch a pass during a high school football playoff game in Humble on Friday, Nov. 24, 2006. No. 4-ranked Giddings won the game 21-13 and knocked the undefeated Mustangs out of the playoff race.

Award winner:
2nd Place, Sports Photo, Press Club of Southeast Texas, Excellence in Media Awards
 

Midway in motion

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Riders scream on the Spin Out ride during the South Texas State Fair at Ford Park in Beaumont on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2006.


Riders scream on midway rides during the South Texas State Fair at Ford Park in Beaumont. Rides (from left to right) are the Century Wheel, the Orbiter and the Cliff Hanger.
 

Blessing for a sailor

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Brandon D. Marks (top, center) arrives for mass with (from left to right) fellow sailor Brandon Bardney, Marks' grandmother Helen Landry and his aunt Peggy Williams at Blessed Sacrament Catholic church in Beaumont on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006. The church honored Marks with a mass and special prayer before he leaves to serve in Iraq.


Brandon D. Marks sings with family members during mass at Blessed Sacrament Catholic church in Beaumont. Family members include (from right to left) his mother Tracy Daire; brother Mark Kevin Daire, Jr., 13; grandmother Helen Landry and grandfather Enrite Landry.


Brandon D. Marks holds his cousin Kaija Wilson, 2, during mass at Blessed Sacrament Catholic church.


Brandon D. Marks prays with family members during mass at Blessed Sacrament Catholic church. Family members include (front row from right to left) his mother Tracy Daire; brother Mark Kevin Daire, Jr., 13; cousin Kaija Wilson, 2; grandmother Helen Landry and grandfather Enrite Landry.


Brandon D. Marks and his mother Tracy Daire deliver the blessed sacraments to Father Henry Davis during mass at Blessed Sacrament Catholic church.


Father Henry Davis sings during mass at Blessed Sacrament Catholic church in Beaumont.


Parishioners give their energy and prayers to Brandon D. Marks as Father Henry Davis conducts a blessing during mass at Blessed Sacrament Catholic church.


Brandon D. Marks leaves after a mass and blessing in his honor at Blessed Sacrament Catholic church.

Images are part of the Charlton-Pollard series.
 

The Cyclist

Photo mosaics by © Mark M. Hancock / NewsEagles

Jennifer Reynolds poses for a photo mosaic with her racing bike in Port Arthur on Monday, Oct. 9, 2006. To get a competitive edge, cyclists often assemble their bikes with parts from different manufacturers.

Award winner:
1st Place, Illustration, NPPA Region 8 4th Quarter clip contest



For comparison to The Guitarist or The Librarian, this is a scaled 5-by-5 frame section of the image above.


As I've said before, there's no way to digitally experience these images. Detail information can give a viewer a headache. This is an approximate 1:1 section of frame No. 20.

For curious folks, here's the data:

* No. of frames: 225 (15 x 15 frames)
* Shooting time: about 3 hours with no breaks
* Image assembly time: about 9 hours
* Approx full-scale width at 360 ppi: more than 30,000 pixels or 150 inches (12.5 feet)
* Approx full-scale height at 360 ppi: more than 19,680 pixels or 98.4 inches (8.2 feet)
* Approx full-scale file size: 1,689.75 Meg (expanded)
* Exposure range: f/11 at 1/250th on 200iso to f/5.6 at 1/4th on 400iso depending on time and cloud cover
* Initial print size presentation: 32 x 21.68 LightJet print in 40 x 32 frame.
* Number of limited-edition prints: 25 before fine art retirement (editorial, commercial and promotional uses reserved).

* Approx full-scale images are based on 1:1 printing (about 5.6 x 3.6 inches at 360 ppi). Each frame within the image could withstand enlargement to 16 x 20 inches.
* Potential size of future photo mosaics: 1070 x 1070 frames ... you do the math, I've already got a headache.

Enough for now,
 

Texas FM-1

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

A truck hauls a logging tractor along Texas FM-1 in Sabine County on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006. The state's first farm-to-market road was paved by the state at the urging of area industries.


Sheena Williamson, 15, mows the easement by her home in Bronson, Texas as a lumber truck passes.


Pineland Route 1 carrier Sandra Creech delivers mail on Texas FM-1 in Sabine County. The road was designated as Texas FM-1 on April 23, 1941.


A log truck moves from a dirt road onto Texas FM-1. The winding road travels through former lumber towns, pine forests and farmland.


A log truck turns onto Texas FM-1 in Sabine County. The state continues to maintain the road.


A log truck passes under a railroad tressel near Pineland, Texas on Texas FM-1. Temple Lumber Co. and two gas companies initially convinced the state to pave the road and keep their trucks from being stuck in the mud.


A log truck moves along a long stretch of Texas FM-1 in Sabine County. FM-1 successfully freed farmers from muddy roads and spread the concept throughout the state.

Please read "FM 1 in East Texas piney woods is the original country road" by F.A. Krift.
 

Ataya family reunites

A happy ending for a Beaumont family from Lebanon.


Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Beaumont pediatrician Dr. Raja H. Ataya (right) hugs his daughter Ramona, 22, (left) as they are reunited at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on Wednesday, July 26, 2006. Ramona, her mother and their cousins were vacationing in Beirut, Lebanon when the conflict with Israel began.


Carla Abousaad, 7, of Clear Lake looks for comfort from family members during a reunion at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.


Neim Abousaad of Clear Lake (center) holds his wife Nada (left) and daughter Caren, 15, (right) as they are reunited at Bush Intercontinental Airport.


The Ataya family from Beaumont (from left to right) Raj, Ramona and their father Raja are reunited at Bush Intercontinental Airport.


Dr. Raja H. Ataya (top left) and his cousin's family are reunited after their return from Lebanon at Bush Intercontinental Airport. The women of the family were vacationing in Beirut when the conflict with Israel began. The Abousaad family of Clear Lake (from left to right) are Carla, 7, Caren, 15, Nada, Neim and Carol, 11.

Please see additional photos by Fayrouz and read "Relieved family reunited after relatives come home from Lebanon" by Beth Gallaspy.

Images are part of the faces of immigration series.
 

Moody Garden's Aquarium

I've been too serious too long. Since the world seems to be unraveling this week, I'll take Marie's advice and post some "nice" images today.


Different colored sea anemones sway in the current at the Aquarium at Moody Gardens in Galveston on Monday, July 3, 2006.

Photos © Mark M. Hancock



A yellow tang swims in the Aquarium at Moody Gardens in Galveston.


A black trigger fish swims in the Aquarium at Moody Gardens in Galveston.


An eel draws in water in the Aquarium at Moody Gardens.


A shark swims over another shark in the Aquarium at Moody Gardens.


A sea turtle swims in the Aquarium at Moody Gardens in Galveston.


Two seahorses hold onto vegetation in the Aquarium at Moody Gardens.



A pair of sea dragons swim in the Aquarium at Moody Gardens.