tough choices

I can't think of any situation where I would want to run a wire picture over a staff photographers picture. Although, sometimes I just don't see any way around it. After all, I work for a newspaper and our prime objective is to tell stories---that includes telling stories of the game.

So last weeks Seahawks game came down to the wire. Seahawks were driving the ball in the final minutes of a close game---looking as if they were going to score a touchdown. On a simple play that has been done thousands of times, the teams two superstars---Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander---goof up a hand-off and fumble the ball away. The other team scored. Game over.

This is no knock on the photographer. He is one of the best sports photographers I've been around and there would be no logical reason for our one photographer at this away game to have set up behind this play. It would have been an extreme low percentage shot---and could've missed us the winning the touchdown had he been out of place and things have done slightly different.

But sometimes, it is no ones fault and things just happen. The wire captured an image that summed it up. While our photographer was right on the play---it was backs of players. This picture of the fumble really did tell the story of the game.

Our photographer sent in a picture of Hasselbeck walking off the field, head down in disappointment. It wasn't the best dejection shot. Losing game 2 of the season doesn't mean that's the outlook on everything. So I am not sure the mood was quite accurate of the overall game story- especially when Alexander was smiling and laughing after the game.

It's not an easy decision to make. Our photographers work very hard shooting the best possible pictures from each game. I hate to have to run someone else's picture after we spend a lot of effort into getting what we have. With all honestly, I hope this is one decision that never gets any easier for me to make.