Best Sports Photos of 2020

Everything was impacted by Covid-19 during 2020 – including sports.  While the spring season was cut short and fall season started a little late, athletes were eager to hit the courts, diamonds, and gridirons!

Here is a link to the “PNJ Sports Best of 2020: Gregg Pachkowski’s top sports photos from the year” gallery on the Pensacola News Journal website:

https://www.pnj.com/story/sports/2020/12/31/pnj-sports-best-2020-gregg-pachkowskis-top-sports-photos-year/4077750001/

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Best News Photos of 2020

Needless to say, 2020 – the year of Covid-19 – was a very challenging year for everyone! Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), I needed to be out and about all year to get photographs despite the pandemic.

On the one hand, I definitely felt isolated as I was confined to home when not working… and my long awaited trip to Iceland got canceled.  On the other hand, as an essential worker, I did get to leave the house on a regular basis to cover pandemic news.  Of course, that made me vulnerable to catching Covid; thankfully, I didn’t contract it that year!

Here is a link to the “Best photos of 2020: PNJ photojournalist Gregg Pachkowski” gallery on the Pensacola News Journal website:

https://www.pnj.com/picture-gallery/news/2020/12/29/best-photos-2020-pnj-photojournalist-gregg-pachkowski/4057608001/

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Best Photos of 2019

Here is a link to the “PNJ best photos of 2019: Gregg Pachkowski” gallery on the Pensacola News Journal website:

https://www.pnj.com/picture-gallery/news/2019/12/27/pnj-best-photos-2019-gregg-pachkowski/2743042001/

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Best Photos of 2018

Every year has its highs and its lows. And 2018 was no exception.

In fact, 2018 had one of the biggest highs of my life — both figuratively and literally — as I was honored to fly with the Blue Angels. Soaring thousands of feet above Pensacola and the Gulf of Mexico in an F/A-18 Hornet was a thrill of a lifetime! I thank #7 Lt. Cmdr. Andre Webb, crew chief Kyle Wood, the whole Blue Angels team, retiring Naval Air Station Pensacola spokesman Patrick Nichols, and everyone at NAS Pensacola for the awesome experience.

The lowest point of the year was covering the aftermath of Hurricane Michael in nearby Panama City. Whole neighborhoods were destroyed and hundreds of people were left homeless. While it is never fun covering such events, seeing the outpouring of support from around the country and the strength of the residents to overcome this disaster first hand was truly inspirational.

My favorite images from the past year include these highs and lows and everything in between.

https://www.pnj.com/picture-gallery/news/2018/12/24/best-photos-2018-gregg-pachkowski/2410049002/

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Best Photos of 2017

Here is a link to the “Best photos of 2017: PNJ photographer Gregg Pachkowski” gallery on the Pensacola News Journal website:

https://www.pnj.com/picture-gallery/news/2017/12/26/best-photos-of-2017-pnj-photographer-gregg-pachkowski/108920544/

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Best Photos of 2016

I have finally got around to adding my “Best of” photo galleries from my work at the Pensacola News Journal from the past few years.

I was thrilled to be in Pensacola and to start working at the PNJ in 2016.  Beach, baseball and the Blues, who could ask for more? 

In 2016, I was fortunate to have covered the Blue Wahoos winning their division, the visits of our then future President, a wheelchair-bound high school student playing football, the homecoming of local baseball star Addison Russell who helped the Chicago Cubs finally win the World Series ending their 108-year drought, a paraplegic man walking thanks to the engineering achievements of IHMC and so much more.

Here is a link to the “Best of 2016: Gregg Pachkowski” gallery on the PNJ website:
https://www.pnj.com/picture-gallery/news/2016/12/27/best-of-2016-gregg-pachkowski/95892408/

 

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It’s Football Season!

I photographed the Boise State v Florida State football last weekend in Tallahassee for the Idaho Press newspaper. My friend (and colleague from the Daytona Beach News Journal) Brian Myrick is now the photo editor at the paper in Boise. Here are some of my favorite shots from the game.

Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019.

Cam Akers (3) runs for a Noles touchdown and a 7-0 lead after adding the extra point during the Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019.

Quarterback Hank Bachmeier (19) has the ball knocked loose during his throwing motion during the Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019. (Photo ©2019 Gregg Pachkowski)

Quarterback Hank Bachmeier (19) passes during the Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019.

Quarterback Hank Bachmeier (19) takes a hit during the Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019. (Photo ©2019 Gregg Pachkowski)

Quarterback Hank Bachmeier (19) leaves the field after losing his head from a hit during the Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019. (Photo ©2019 Gregg Pachkowski)

Khalil Shakir (2) takes down Isaiah Bolden (29) after an interception during the Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019. (Photo ©2019 Gregg Pachkowski)

Robert Mahone (34) runs for a big pick up during the Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019. (Photo ©2019 Gregg Pachkowski)

Khalil Shakir (2) gets taken down during the second half of the Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019. (Photo ©2019 Gregg Pachkowski)

Curtis Weaver (99) sacks quarterback James Blackman (1) during the second half of the Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019. (Photo ©2019 Gregg Pachkowski)

Curtis Weaver (99) celebrates after sacking the quarterback during the second half of the Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019. (Photo ©2019 Gregg Pachkowski)

Khalil Shakir (2) leaps to reel in a pass for a first down during the second half of the Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019. (Photo ©2019 Gregg Pachkowski)

Khalil Shakir (2) reels in an endzone pass for a touchdown cutting the Noles lead to 31-25 during the Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019. (Photo ©2019 Gregg Pachkowski)

Khalil Shakir (2) gets a foot down while catching an endzone pass for a touchdown cutting the Noles lead to 31-25 during the Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019. (Photo ©2019 Gregg Pachkowski)

Khalil Shakir (2) celebrates after catching an endzone pass for a touchdown cutting the Noles lead to 31-25 during the Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019. (Photo ©2019 Gregg Pachkowski)

Robert Mahone (34) shushes the Noles crowd after taking it in for a touchdown and a 33-31 Broncos lead during the Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019. (Photo ©2019 Gregg Pachkowski)

Boise State vs Florida State football game in Talahassee, Florida on Saturday, August 31, 2019. (Photo ©2019 Gregg Pachkowski)

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Look out MacGyver

While I pride myself on being a very organized person, life happens and things do go wrong.

For example, I recently went on a shoot only to realize that I was missing a couple of light stands.  It’s times like this that separate the amateurs from the pros; through years of training and experience, I confidently handle situations like this.

I didn’t panic.  I surveyed the situation and took note of my resources.  Luckily it was a rainy day and I brought along an umbrella.  Using my best Boy Scout problem-solving skills and doing my best MacGyver impersonation, I was able to create makeshift light stands by lashing my umbrella to a chair and using my equipment cart for another; the shoot went off without a hitch.MacGyver-lightstands

On my journey to achieving my Eagle Scout rank, I learned so many life skills like leadership, problem-solving, and the ever useful art of knot tying, that apply to this day. Above all, I have embraced the motto to “Be Prepared!”

As such, I have developed equipment checklists for different types of
shoots to be best prepared for each situation and to help minimize potential problems.  A quick check of the appropriate list, load up the car, and off I go.

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Illustrating “Pride”

I recently received a challenge to photograph someone illustrating the word “Pride.” As soon as I read this, I immediately thought about the images that I had taken a couple of weeks ago during the Make-A-Wish “Walk for Wishes” 5K. Among the many great stories and photo opportunities during the event, the photographs of Danielle Gisler came to mind.

Nineteen year old Make-A-Wish child Danielle walked the entire five kilometers on her own for the first time. While she was the very last person to finish the course, you might have thought that Danielle won the race by the enthusiasm that she exuded as she crossed the finish line.Make-A-Wish

Too bad that this didn’t happen this past weekend because Danielle’s accomplishment and her reaction were the epitome of the word “Pride”!  However, the challenge stated, “Over the next week please take and send one photo of a person which illustrates the idea of Pride.” It did not say to pull something from my archives, even if it was from a very recent event.

Luckily, this weekend the NCAA announced the March Madness bracket and a local college – Florida Gulf Coast University – had made the tournament. In fact, the men’s basketball team, cheerleaders, and a small crowd gathered at Alico Arena to watch the selection show on the jumbotron. Needless to say, there was great pride and school spirit in the air as this was only the second time in school history that the Eagles have made it to the big dance. While I got some great photos of the team and cheerleaders, this was too cliché!FGCU

On to plan B.  On Tuesday, Florida held primaries and local elections. I was covering the elections for the Naples Daily News. During mayoral candidate Teresa Heitmann’s concession speech, she expressed how extremely proud she was of her volunteers and her daughter Chandler, in particular, who served as campaign manager.campaign

This was good, but I wanted something more. Therefore, I spent some time at the Special Populations Center in Cape Coral and found what I was looking for. The facility offers a variety of programs for adults and children with intellectual disabilities with the goal of promoting independence through exposure, education, and experience in a safe, caring environment.

It was inspiring watching the excitement on the participants’ faces as they were given encouragement for achievements such as successfully finishing picture search puzzles or cutting up potatoes while learning how to cook.Special

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Cracker Day Rodeo

Overnight showers lead to muddy conditions during the 55th annual Cracker Day Rodeo at the Lee County Posse Arena in North Fort Myers, FL.

Bull Y-4 sends bull fighter Nathan Smith, of LaBelle, flying as rider Harley Howell runs to safety after being thrown.

Bull Y-4 sends bull fighter Nathan Smith, of LaBelle, flying as rider Harley Howell runs to safety after being thrown.

While the bulls belonged to the big boys…  the youngsters had their hands full riding sheep during the Muttin Bustin’ competition!

Chase Oake, 4, of Fort Myers, falls off his sheep during the Mutton Bustin' competition.

Chase Oake, 4, of Fort Myers, falls off his sheep during the Mutton Bustin’ competition.

And, yes, Chase was fine!  Just a little dustin’ off and he was good as new.

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