Every once in awhile, a photojournalist will capture an image that they really like.  Images that will make the reader cry, fret, hate or laugh out loud. Pictures that wield an emotional comment have done their job. They have communicated.

A myriad of daily assignments confront a newspaper photographer day in and day out. Every assignment or situation has the moment in which the best picture can be made.  In the wound up world of a photographer, patience is our strong virtue.  It is born from waiting endless hours in the rain for a weather feature, photographing at schools when all the kids are hamming for the camera, or commuting from San Francisco to Santa Rosa at five PM on deadline.  It pays off in the family life too.

Last Saturday, I knew the assignment for girls playing chess had potential for good photographs.  I was struck by how young the players were.  One junior player in particular, Cassandra Wright, 6, of Penngrove caught my eye.  She was animated and seemed to love the competition chess serves up.  I had to wait awhile, but when Wright watched a potentially game ending move by her opponent, her eyes opened the widest they probably have ever been, in reaction.

Click!  I had my picture.  She was fun to photograph, making face after face after face.  Too many to publish, really, even for the online version of the Press Democrat. The photo gallery from the event is here.

Cassandra Wright, 6, of Penngrove, reacts to a move by her opponent, Saturday February 20, 2010 at Ursuline High School in Santa Rosa Ca., during a chess tournament for girls. The tournament was put on by Chess for Kids Inc., of Santa Rosa. Kent Porter / Press Democrat 2010

In photoshop, I put together a panel to show the expressiveness…

Cassandra Wright, 6, of Penngrove reacts to her opponents moves, Saturday February 20, 2010 at Ursuline High School in Santa Rosa during a chess tournament for girls. Kent Porter / Press Democrat 2010