Best of the Week 9/8/08-9/14/08

Nate Billings never planned to become a photojournalist. He took pictures as a hobby growing up and worked as an assistant for his father, a commercial still and video photographer, but chose to study English Literature in college. Billings did not consider photography as a career until he was offered a summer internship at The Oklahoman in 2000 while working as the photo editor at Oklahoma State University's student newspaper, The Daily O'Collegian. He stayed on at The Oklahoman when offered a job in the fall, saying he would keep working in photojournalism as long as he was having fun. And, he still is. Billings graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Okla., and earned his bachelor's degree from OSU and his master's in English from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Steve Gooch has been a photojournalist in Oklahoma City for more than 30 years. His coverage of news, features and sports assignments has taken him across the state and country. Growing up in Oklahoma City in the 1960s & 70s, everyone knew a local naturalist/herpetologist named Bob Jenni, who would make TV and public appearances all over the state.
Gooch was always fascinated with the way Mr. Jenni could handle alligators, rattlesnakes, cobras and many other animals. He had dreams of becoming a herpetologist, however, his mother had a strict "no snakes" rule. So, photography was Gooch's career choice. He took photos for Northwest Classen High School's yearbook and newspaper, studied photography at the University of Central Oklahoma and worked at The Oklahoman on a part-time basis. In 1979, he wanted to start taking photos like you see on Navy recruiting posters (FYI-never trust a recruiter named "Speedy"). After three years assembling and testing underwater mines instead of taking pictures, he moved back to Oklahoma City as a photojournalist and has worked for The Oklahoman since 1982. Gooch enjoys keeping and photographing pythons as a hobby, and his images have appeared in national and international reptile magazines.

Chris Landsberger is a native of Oklahoma and, as a photographer, has been able to travel coast to coast and everywhere in between to cover news for the last 13 years. He has been a part history that included coverage of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh's trial and execution, President George W. Bush, and Super Bowl coverage. Landsberger, 38, is a photographer and asst. director of photography for The Oklahoman. He received a bachelor's degree in photojournalism in 1999 from the University of Central Oklahoma. He has worked his way from being a staff photographer at the Edmond Sun to chief photographer at the Enid News & Eagle and director of photography at the Topeka Capital-Journal. He has worked at The Oklahoman for 6 years.

Bryan Terry is a native of Oklahoma and is a graduate of Yukon High School. He first picked up a camera while attending the University of Central Oklahoma. After working for the school newspaper, The Vista, he interned at The Oklahoman. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism/Photographic Arts and joined the staff of The Oklahoman in 1999.