But my heart was not into it. However, I was on assignment for People Magazine as a reporter and they pay well, so I am not complaining.

But as I always do when I am on a non-photography journalism assignment, I had my camera with me. After all, there are not enough words in the English language to describe the media frenzy that took place that day.




Here we have Larry Birkhead, one of three (or is it four?) men claiming to be the father of ANS' daughter. Birkhead is a photographer so he feels comfortable around other photographers. The media seems to like him as well, as he always seems willing to give a soundbite or a quote, even if he is rushing back into court after lunch.



Here we have Howard K. Stern, another man claiming to be the father of ANS' baby. Stern, not to be confused with radio DJ Howard Stern, is a lawyer so he is very uncomfortable around photographers and even more uncomfortable around reporters who are seeking a soundbite or quote, so he simply ignores the media. Naturally, the media takes this very personal and accuse him of hindering their job.



Here we have Geraldine Pearson, who works behind the deli counter at a small bodega across from the Fort Lauderdale courthouse. She is also claiming to the father of ANS's daughter. She is very media-friendly, but can't understand why is there such an obsession with this case. Not even during the Lionel Tate trial was there such a frenzy, she said. Tate, as you may recall, was the 13-year-old Florida boy who was sentenced to life for killing a 10-year-old girl after imitating a wrestling move he saw on TV. Pearson makes great Cuban coffee even though she is not Cuban.



Here we have Virgie Arthur, who is claiming to be ANS's mother but DNA tests have yet to confirm that.



And here, within this crowd, we have another psuedo celebrity, possibly even the real father of ANS' baby.



And here comes the media darling himself, who is most likely thinking to himself, "so this is what it feels like to be on the other side of the lens."



And here I am reaching over the crowd for a closer shot.



My old football skills are still with me as I battled it out with other photographers to get close enough to present you with this shot. You may have seen me on TV, if you're into this kind of stuff. I was wearing a Panama hat.



And as I crouched low to get a shot that would not look like the thousands of other photos being snapped at that moment, Birkhead looked at me and wondered if maybe I was the father of ANS's daughter.