Fourth of July wrap-up

Jim Beckel been a member of The Oklahoman's photo staff for 25 years. During that time, he and his cameras have covered virtually every type of news and feature story imaginable, traveling to all regions of Oklahoma to document events and provide photo coverage to accompany reporters' stories.

The greatest benefit of his job is the opportunity to meet a wide variety of wonderful people, from all walks of life, who allow him to share their stories through his photos. His career as a photojournalist has allowed him to understand that covering the plight of a homeless veteran is every bit important as photographing a high-ranking state official speaking about policy matters.

While it's true that I am employed by The Oklahoman, I try to be constantly mindful that the person I am actually working for is the reader of our newspaper.

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.

Graduated from UCO in 1979 with degrees in History and Philosophy. Returned for three semesters in Photojournalism. Worked for the Photographic Services Dept. at UCO in 1981. Went to work for the Edmond Sun from May 1981 until Dec. 1981. Began at the Oklahoman in Jan. 1982 and worked there until June 1983. Worked as a photographer at Kerr McGee Corporation from June 1983 until May 1985. Have worked at the Oklahoman from May 1985 until the present.

Born in Missouri, Sarah Phipps graduated of Northwest Missouri State University with a degree in Mass Communication and French in 1999.

After an internship with the St. Joe News-press, Sarah moved to Oklahoma for a full-time job at the Edmond Sun. Sarah joined the Oklahoman in 2007.

Sarah covers a large amount of sporting events and can often be seen on the sidelines at Oklahoma State football games

Steve Sisney—married Brenda Joyce (Pierce) of Velma, Oklahoma in 1977. They have three children—Brent, Jason, and Tana; and four grandchildren. Sisney has been a staff photographer for The Oklahoman since 1987. He has photographed presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush and covered the Republican National Convention in New York City in 2004.
He has covered notables The Rolling Stones, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Wernher Von Braun, Charlton Heston, Virginia Madsen, Tom Selleck, Michael Douglas, Mike Douglas, Sarah, Duchess of York, David, Robert and Keith Carradine, Ernest Borgnine and Dennis Weaver. He has been on the sidelines shooting the University of Oklahoma’s football team in three National Championship bowl games including the 2000 game (which they won). He was on site at the Oklahoma City Murrah Building bombing within 20 minutes of the blast and had nine photographs in the official commemorative volume “In Their Name.”

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.