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By Joey Knight
Published August 31, 2007

As the ceaseless showers drenched South Tampa, we begged for a brief meteorological reprieve, imploring the dark gray sky to excuse itself from the water table for, oh, two short hours. ¶ This was the day we had planned - for weeks in advance - to photograph the cover and centerpiece story of the Hillsborough County prep football preview section you're reading. To this point, it had been a logistical breeze.

The subjects had agreed to navigate late-afternoon weekday traffic and convene at Plant High. Jerseys from five alma maters were acquired for the subjects to wear. Panthers coach Bob Weiner graciously gave us access to his stadium. Everyone was cooperating.

Except the clouds, which were unleashing rain in fat pellets.

Once again, improvisation would have to be summoned.

Fortunately, Times photographers Brian Cassella and Melissa Lyttle are as adept at changing plans as they are at changing lenses.

These two who, upon hearing our section would profile one player from each school (selected by his coach) who exhibits role model-type qualities, suggested we photograph the players doing those things that reflect their character.

Among the images they had captured: Tampa Catholic senior Justin Carter working the food line at Metropolitan Ministries, where he volunteers; and Middleton quarterback DeAndre Presley hanging with the two younger brothers for whom he serves as a de facto surrogate dad.

Now we were set to shoot the centerpiece: a portrait of five prominent, successful community members who happened to play high school football locally. The initial plan was to photograph these adult role models on the field at Plant High's Dads Stadium.

Plan B turned out even better.

With no foreseeable letup of rain, Cassella and Lyttle decided on a classroom shot. After Weiner generously granted us access to a room, the pair's creative juices percolated. Textbooks became props. Middle-aged bodies were shoehorned into desks. Paper airplanes were even crafted.

The result is what you see in the middle of this section: five respected citizens re-enacting some classroom irreverence of a previous era. As the shoot ended, the sun - of all things - began peeping through a window.

The rain had subsided, allowing us to shoot Plant senior receiving sensation and Muscular Dystrophy Association volunteer Derek Winter posing with 17-year-old Mitchell High student David Masterson for our cover.

How had the skies cleared so suddenly and miraculously? Maybe, just maybe, somebody up there was smiling on our efforts.

We hope they make you smile as well.

Behind the scenes

[Last modified August 29, 2007, 15:23:07]