How many times have we caught ourselves wishing we could be age 10, just for one summer day? Knightstown's Eric Cox shares those blissful moments captured through his lens from the other side of the state along the National Corridor. Enjoy.
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A deluge of spring rain left pools of water in neighborhoods, where eager kids race and splash for fun. As a community newspaper publisher, a big part of my job involves photographing children doing their various activities. This always delights our readers, and the kids, well, they become instant “celebrities” for the week.
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Like practically everywhere else in America, youth sports are a major attraction for kids and adults alike. Some argue that it’s all taken far too seriously. But, when the game is underway, only competitive spirit remains. Here, a young baseball pitcher grimaces as he struggles to hurl a good fast ball.
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Triumph and heartbreak are consistent themes in any sport. But, the feelings are concentrated when kids are playing. In this photo, a young football player reacts to his own good effort, and he looks to his parents in the stands for validation.
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Becoming a fire fighter is often a huge goal for young boys and girls. At a “touch-a-truck” fundraiser for a local schools event, this boy’s dream came true when he was allowed to operate a fire hose. His facial expression is self-explanatory.
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Organized chaos is how one parent described a baseball game among four- and five-year-olds in Knightstown. At this level, game rules are often eschewed so the kids can just get the hang of hitting, fielding and running the bases. Waiting for a hit, however, can be boring, as this young infielder discovered.
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The Ice Bucket Challenge was a huge fad a few years back. Knightstown Elementary School Prinicipal Danielle Carmichael took the opportunity to raise funds for a student project. To the delight of her young students, Carmichael graciously and humorously allowed them to dump buckets of water over her and other teachers’ and staff’s heads.
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Each July, Henry County kids converge on Memorial Park in New Castle, where the 4-H fair plays out. A variety of farm animals are shown and cared for. But, domestic pets are also points of pride for youngsters. After the annual dog show, a yellow Labrador retriever gets a hug of appreciation from its owner.
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A petting zoo is an almost fool-proof photo opportunity - especially when little kids are involved. A town festival brought out the local FFA chapter, which provided a children’s petting zoo featuring farm animals. This little girl’s face registers excitement as she gets close to a resting goat.
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What could be better for a young country boy than a mud pit made specifically for the purpose of doing belly flops? Not much, according to Jackson Lukens of Knightstown, shown here emerging from the chocolate pudding-like depths of a mud pit.
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A look of wonder passes over the faces of two young ladies meeting the heroine of the hit children’s movie Frozen.
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Knightstown’s Jubilee Days event features a carnival with rides and games for the kids. Posting up beside a kiddy rollercoaster, I found it easy to get good shots of children experiencing their first rides.
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Put 10 little boys in a line and make them wait to shoot free throws. Then, sit at a distance with a telephoto lens and watch the hilarity as they bide their time waiting their turns. Ten different kids equates to 10 different ways of doing that.
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“Put me in, coach!” The words from the John Fogarty songs Centerfield always come to mind when I see this photo of a young player waiting his turn to get in the game. Left in the dugout while his team battles for a win, this kid waited patiently and cheered his teammates on, in spite of his not playing at that moment.
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Nervous energy takes many forms in excited kids. Some chat. Some go to the bathroom. Some tug at their costumes. Others stand up and show off their skills before show time. Needless to say, when little kids gear up for big events, there will always be lots of delightful smiles in store for everyone.
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[author title="About Eric Cox" image="https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/28241_1340834717199_7040073_n.jpg?oh=c971a4ac1630007b5f1ab19421a4977f&oe=57A769E8"]Eric Cox is the publisher and owner of The Banner, Knightstown’s award-winning weekly newspaper. A husband, father, freelance photographer, photojournalist, writer, editor and cycling enthusiast, Cox is an Indianapolis native who resides in Henry County. [/author]
