Oklahoma City memorial photo wins September contest



(Photo by Keith Birmingham)



On April 19, 1995, then truck driver Keith Birmingham “had left the truck stops on the north side of Oklahoma City,” he says, “and was heading south toward downtown” when a bomb destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah federal building.

Sixteen years later, Birmingham, now retired and venturing into photography in a big way, has taken the winning picture in Truckers News’ September “public places” photo challenge, a shot of a visitor viewing the east wall of the memorial to victims of the tragedy.

Birmingham receives Ben Long’s “Complete Digital Photography” and publication in Truckers News’ November issue as prizes.

Nearing NE 23rd Street in 1995, “I saw smoke and debris still in the air from the blast,” Birmingham says. “By the time I reached downtown, I was passed several times by first responders heading that way. I wanted desperately to take an exit and try to help, even though no one yet knew what had really happened. I stayed on I-35 continuing south solely because I thought my 70 feet of truck would only get in the way.”

Birmingham visits the memorial often. “I go there largely to meditate,” he says. “It helps soothe my anger for this event, and 9/11.” He’s compiled a gallery of pictures from the memorial at his website, http://hkbphotostudio.com.

October’s photo challenge: Interiors

This month’s contest asks for pictures taken inside. Indoor portraits, interior scapes, views of and through windows to the outdoors — all represent potential here. It could be an opportunity to show off the custom work you’ve put into the dash or sleeper compartment, too. Winning photos will be published in the December edition of Truckers News, and the winner also will receive Ben Long’s “Complete Digital Photography” guidebook.

Drivers can enter via our Flickr photo group (https://flickr.com/groups/truckersnews) or by posting photos on our Facebook page’s wall (https://www.facebook.com/truckersnewsmag) and following up with an email of details to Senior Editor Todd Dills. Drivers with a photography interest are encouraged to join the group. Find full contest rules below.

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Past winners of the challenge will not be eligible to compete for the prizes for six months, but are encouraged to shoot to the theme.

To enter to the October challenge

Via Flickr
1. Post your appropriately themed, high-resolution (at least 1,500 by 900 pixels) photo to the group pool at https://flickr.com/group/truckersnews by midnight Oct. 31. (Alternately, you may email Todd Dills at [email protected] if you’re having difficulty posting.) 
2. Send an email with your full name, location/mailing address and your trucking business’ profile in brief (who you drive for or whether you run on your own authority as an owner-operator, etc.) to Todd Dills at [email protected] — include “photo challenge” in the subject line and a link to the original Flickr location of your entered picture as well.

Via Facebook

1. Post your appropriately themed photo to Truckers News Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/truckersnewsmag by midnight Oct. 31.

2. Send an email with your full name, location/mailing address and your trucking business’ profile in brief (who you drive for or whether you run on your own authority as an owner-operator, etc.) to Todd Dills at [email protected] — include “photo contest” in the subject line and indicate your Facebook profile name if different from your actual name.

3. Attach the highest-resolution version of the picture you posted to the Facebook page.