I avoid Black Friday shopping every year. It's a time where everyone, I mean everyone, is out shopping after the Thanksgiving. Long lines, bad parking and "apparently" great shopping deals. I prefer Cyber Monday. I sit back relax my pajamas while I surf the net for tech deals. 

This time, Daily Press sent me to cover for the Virginia Gazette at Williamsburg's quaint shopping areas, New Town. I didn't see lots of hoppers with multiple bags. Everyone I've talked said they did shopping on Thanksgiving Day or just avoided shopping all together. 

Stuart Brown, Arlington, Va., smiles with his children from left, Kendall Brown, 10, and Peter Brown, 12, with Paul Sheehan as Santa Claus who looks at picture taker Deena Walls, worker for New Town Williamsburg, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. I'm normally the photographer in the family, Brown said, I'm glad I can be in the picture this time." Meeting with Santa and picture taking are free, said Paul. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)

Nina Gokita, 10, shows off her Black Friday purchase, a heart locket with the letter N at Justice in New Town Williamsburg, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. According to her mother Tonya Gokita, Williamsburg, Nina bought the locket with her birthday money. "I bought this for 40% off and I'm happy, Nina said. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)

Owner Amanda Wilbourne of Nautical Dog places dog related items in a bag for her loyal customer Amanda Stendardo, Woodbridge, Va., after purchases at New Town Williamsburg, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. Wilbourne was offering her customers Nautical Dog cash for every $50 spent towards $10 off purchases in January, she said. She will also offer the deal tomorrow on Small Business Saturday. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)

Pro tip for shoppers: The best time to go shopping is at Midnight closer to 3 am in the morning. Many shoppers are already sleeping and Thanksgiving door busters deals extend till Black Friday evening. I think it's a better deal then staying in line at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Reserve your time with family. 

Pro tip for photographers: Scout your locations earlier in the week. Small businesses are willing to have you around, then big box stores. Bath and Body Works didn't want me in to photograph inside the stores, but was OK with me outside the doors. 

Whats was your best deal that you got from Black Friday shopping? If you didn't go shopping, what other actives did you do? Sleeping till 3 p.m. counts. 

Mass Communication Tennessee State University studMass Communication Tennessee State University student Antoine Rucker is excited beginning of the event.ent Antoine Rucker is excited beginning of the event.

Feature on Ohio University Compass.

More than 500 students made up 25 teams that scrambled to finish scripting, shooting and editing a short film during the 10th annual 48-Hour Shootout Film Project, Feb. 10-12, on the Ohio University Athens Campus.

On Friday, producers from each team received their genre, prop and line of dialogue for their film. Each student team was faced with the task of creating a three- to five-minute film within 48 hours from scratch.

Presidential Teacher Award winner Frederick Lewis, who advises the event, said "It is an opportunity for students to collaborate and learn how to work under pressure."

The two first-place winners were Take-It-Easy Production's "Dust Jacket" and Illegal Entertainment's "Home." Chridos Pa Nivika Productions won third place for "Infinity." The judges didn't reward a second place finisher because of the tie for first place.

Magnum Opus Production, a one-person production team, received the first standing ovation in competition history and won the newly created Audience Choice Award with the film, "We NEED A Hero."

The winner of the Freshmen/Sophomore Team competition was Abstrakt's film "Dreamcatcher." Second Class Studio received honorable mention for "Stone Cold."

Judges for the competition included: David Urano, Ohio University director of video and photography services in University Communications and Marketing; Keith Newman, faculty/administrator at the Ohio University Lancaster Campus; and Tennessee State University professors Joe and Melissa Richie.

The competition is hosted by Ohio University School of Media Arts and Studies.

---

More photographs on my facebook.

Second Class Studio, Mike Mytnick, right, hold camera for a lighting test on Meg Nicol, left, as glitter is blown in the air

OUGDA team Ryan Mohler, right, and Beth Carter reviews their animated short at the Grid Lab.

Team Eric Williams Beard finishes last minute touches on their short in Bromley Hall.

The winter weather didn't stop these dads from visiting their favorite Bobcat. Dads Weekend was packed with many memories and great activities. What is your favorite memory?

Graphic Designer | Photographer | Editor | Producer 
Sonya Paclob Photojournalism, Undergraduate Student 

Photographers
Audrey Kelly Photo Illustration, Undergraduate Student
Wayne Thomas Photojournalism, Graduate Student 
Pat Taylor Photojournalism, Graduate Student
Ohio University Athletics Department

---

I proposed to do edit the multimedia work for University Communication and Marketing team for Dads Weekend. I wanted to take the opportunity to use After Effects skills I learned in class a few days ago and created a upbeat jazz work. I thought about what Dad music would sound... Jazz. 

Software: Photoshop, Bridge, and After Effects

Link: After Effects Wiggle Text tutorial

---

Over Dads weekend, I took some photographs when my roommates dad's came and visited. It was filled with ice, snow, getting locked out, and Indian food.