No Ordinary Day
“No Ordinary Day” is a visual diary of the events, both large and small, that serve as milestones in people’s lives. The black and white photo column was published weekly in The News & Observer from 2003 to 2007 and was shared by colleague Takaaki Iwabu and myself. It was a celebration of the struggles, triumphs and tears we experience as we travel from birth to death. Our goal was to document moments in time that might otherwise have been missed; sometimes it’s the tiniest incident in one’s life that has the most profound effect.
![Russell Henderson, 30, poses in his homemade stormtrooper costume with a cardboard cutout of Humphrey Bogart during a Raleighwood Cinema Grill's annual Academy Awards Gala. Henderson and members of the 501st Legion's Carolina Garrison, a 'Star Wars'-themed costuming group, were stationed in the lobby to greet guests as they arrived. 'I'm a big fan of the movie,' said Henderson, who was 4 when he first saw 'The Empire Strikes Back.' 'I decided one year to be a stormtrooper for Halloween and in doing some research came across these guys [the Carolina Garrison].' Henderson said he joined the group to take part in the many charitable events the garrison does for seriously ill children. By day he is an officer with the Burlington Police Department.](http://www.travislongphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/image12.jpg "Russell Henderson, 30, poses in his homemade stormtrooper costume with a cardboard cutout of Humphrey Bogart during a Raleighwood Cinema Grill's annual Academy Awards Gala. Henderson and members of the 501st Legion's Carolina Garrison, a 'Star Wars'-themed costuming group, were stationed in the lobby to greet guests as they arrived. 'I'm a big fan of the movie,' said Henderson, who was 4 when he first saw 'The Empire Strikes Back.' 'I decided one year to be a stormtrooper for Halloween and in doing some research came across these guys [the Carolina Garrison].' Henderson said he joined the group to take part in the many charitable events the garrison does for seriously ill children. By day he is an officer with the Burlington Police Department.")
![Chapel Hill High harrier Jack Bolas raises his arm as he wins the 4A boys cross country state championship at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons. Bolas, 18, won the 3-mile race with a time of 15:33.10 to help Chapel Hill High take the team title. 'I couldn't get my mind off the pain. Sandy [Broughton High's Sandy Roberts] put me in a lot of pain early on. It was easily the most difficult race of the season,' Bolas said. After winning the race, Bolas returned to the home stretch to cheer on his teammates. 'The individual title was on top of everything else. But the team title was most important,' he said.](http://www.travislongphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/image20.jpg "Chapel Hill High harrier Jack Bolas raises his arm as he wins the 4A boys cross country state championship at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons. Bolas, 18, won the 3-mile race with a time of 15:33.10 to help Chapel Hill High take the team title. 'I couldn't get my mind off the pain. Sandy [Broughton High's Sandy Roberts] put me in a lot of pain early on. It was easily the most difficult race of the season,' Bolas said. After winning the race, Bolas returned to the home stretch to cheer on his teammates. 'The individual title was on top of everything else. But the team title was most important,' he said.")
![Dressed in a polar bear costume, David Serxner, 41, emerges from the 40-degree waters of Lake Raleigh during the second annual Polar Plunge on Saturday. About 70 participants took part in the event, which raised more than $14,000 for the N.C. Special Olympics. 'I don't think; I just jump in,' Serxner said. 'I get really heavy. That thing [the costume] takes on water. That's why I have the floatie.' Serxner said, 'It's all for a good cause and it's the one day of the year I get to take the polar bear out of the closet.'](http://www.travislongphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/image23.jpg "Dressed in a polar bear costume, David Serxner, 41, emerges from the 40-degree waters of Lake Raleigh during the second annual Polar Plunge on Saturday. About 70 participants took part in the event, which raised more than $14,000 for the N.C. Special Olympics. 'I don't think; I just jump in,' Serxner said. 'I get really heavy. That thing [the costume] takes on water. That's why I have the floatie.' Serxner said, 'It's all for a good cause and it's the one day of the year I get to take the polar bear out of the closet.'")
