longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend: Recently Added Galleries and Collections

Red, White and Blue Gallery

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:57:27 GMT

2011: Texas Six Man D-I Championship: Throckmorton Vs Borden County

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:47:08 GMT

This past weekend, we witnessed a championship game of the highest caliber. The teams and their fans came into Shotwell Stadium with a great deal of anticipation. They were charged for a state championship football game. The emotions of the crowd surged and fell along with the momentum changes between the teams on the field; each turnover, each defensive stop, each score shifted momentum back and forth between each team and fans. One side of the stadium would sigh with disappointment while another side came alive with cheers. And this adrenaline, this emotional surge, ebbed and flowed from one side of the field to the other like a swift tidal current and only intensified as the clock wound down to the end of the game. After the game was over, I felt exhausted simply from being in the current of such a great collective sharing of emotion and excitement.

Homer asks in The Iliad, “What god drove them to fight with such a fury? ” I have found myself asking – as I believe others do – why do we love this game? Why do the young men on the field play so hard? Why do the fans get so “into it?” It is not necessary for our daily survival…………… Or is it? There is no gold or silver to plunder. There are, however, trophies to be won. Trophies are important. They are tangible; they are a testament to the fact that a team won a championship. More importantly, trophies are a signpost that points to something else that is much more important than the trophy itself. The trophy is a visible symbol of an invisible triumph that takes place in the heart of each young man, each coach, and each supporter; an invisible yet very tangible pride that births in the heart of each person involved. Therefore, what these young men are after is something much more enduring than the trophy. The trophy remains in the case after the games are finished, and we move on with our lives. The real triumph, the undefinable thing that the players and coaches are pursuing, remains in the heart for life. And that triumph is the one that anyone who has ever pursued a goal can understand; the understanding that staying the course is not easy, winning is not easy, finishing is not easy, and is only accomplished after much sacrifice, many hard hours of work, and yes, even enduring the disappointments that go hand-in-hand with the pursuit of accomplishment. This triumph is one of finishing the race well, completing what one sets out to do, and the final result is this – enduring satisfaction with what one has done. This satisfaction can be experienced by anyone who has given their all in pursuit of a goal. It is not reserved exclusively for those who win the ultimate prize.

Well done.

2011 Texas Six Man Division One Championship Game: Throckmorton 48, Borden County 36

2011 Texas Six Man State Championship Gallery - Cropped for Wide Angle Format

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:43:56 GMT

2011: Texas Six Man D-II Championship - Richland Springs vs Motley County

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:17:57 GMT

Congratulations to Richland Springs. Your playoff run in the past ten years is incredible. It is a testament to all the hours of hard work every one of you has put into your sport. You also have one of the most loyal fans I have ever met. Her photo is featured in this gallery.

Congratulations to Motley County. Your accomplishment in this years playoff run is recognized and respected. Your running backs made some excellent runs, some for touchdowns, against a very good Coyote defense. You never gave up in this game and that earns a tremendous amount of respect in my book.

2011 Texas Six Man Division II Championship: Richland Springs 76, Motley County 28

2011 Basketball: Knox City @ Rule

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:01:26 GMT

Playoffs 2011: Borden County Vs Rankin

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:20:43 GMT

Semifinals 2011: Borden County vs Valley

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:57:40 GMT

This game was played in thick, cold fog. Usually, I can see the field lights long before I reach the stadium. I can use those lights to find my way to a stadium even if I am not famiiar to the area. However, tonight, I could not even see the field lights until I was just a block or so from the stadium. The mist and fog seemed to come in waves over the field. However, the wet weather did not stop Borden County and Valley from playing an exciting, suspensful football game. Initially, touchdown answered touchdown from both teams. Borden County seized momentum after their goal line stand in the second quarter and increased their lead throughout the third quarter. At one point in the third quarter Valley was 27 points behind but mounted an incredible rally to pull within five points before time expired. Borden County and Valley both played with determination and heart.

What god drove them to fight with such a fury?......Homer

Final Score: Borden County 61, Valley 56

Slideshow Gallery

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 04:47:47 GMT

Cropped Format for Semifinals 2011: Borden County vs Valley: The Fog Bowl

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 04:12:44 GMT

I have never been to a game where the fog and mist has been so thick.

"The Fog Bowl" is a good description of the game's weather conditions.

2011: Newcastle vs Bryson

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:29:03 GMT

2011: Borden County vs Ira

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:18:12 GMT

PLayoffs 2011: Throckmorton vs Knox City

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:42:05 GMT

Bi-District 2011: Borden County Vs Aspermont

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:59:04 GMT

North Texas Autumn

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:09:25 GMT

Various Things

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:50:54 GMT

Bi-District 2011: Newcastle vs Jayton

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 08:27:57 GMT

Autumn in North Georgia

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:35:35 GMT

2011: Lueders-Avoca @ Rule

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 21:36:21 GMT

Autumn Splendor

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:02:24 GMT

Tremont in the Smokies

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:01:28 GMT

The Piano

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:31:32 GMT

Autumn in Cherokee National Forest

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:45:44 GMT

Smokey Mountain Autumn: 2011

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:52:19 GMT

Sunflowers

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 01:17:05 GMT

The Storms

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 04:26:19 GMT

The Garden

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:25:52 GMT

Beauty, Light and Rest

The Dragonfly

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 02:27:15 GMT

The Incredible Living Flying Machine; The Dragonfly

2011: Knox City @ Rule

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 22:06:10 GMT

2011: Colorado City Vs Merkel

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:50:36 GMT

2011: Colorado City Vs Merkel in Abilene, Texas (Cropped Format)

cmtown@srcaccess.net (longskyimages.com: Photography of Charles Townsend) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 20:12:50 GMT