One of the real treats of being an online news editor is to work with some terrific photographers and showcase the best of what they do.

When I was a newspaper reporter I didn't have the same appreciation, given how little of the work of my photographic colleagues actually made it into print. And most of that was in black and white. 

But I've been blessed at East Cobb Patch to work with a group of freelance photographers who are doing a truly outstanding job capturing our community in pictures. 

Most of them specialize in shooting sports, which is a very difficult thing to do well. But with high school sports in hiatus, they've demonstrated their versatility in so many ways this summer. 

Kent McCorkle, a respected local sports photographer, gladly took up the challenge to shoot the Pope, Walton and Wheeler high school graduations on consecutive nights. 

Another top-notch sports shooter, Cecil Copeland, came to Patch via a mutual friend, and is particularly adept with lacrosse, putting together this monster gallery from the AJO4LAX tournament at Pope. Last week, he enthusiastically went over to the East Cobb Library for the visit by local author Jon Jordan. 

Ted Mayer shoots for a number of Cobb Patch sites, handling for us photos of local former prep football stars at the G-Day game and the Sope Creek Fun Run. This weekend he shot the Juneteenth festival on the Marietta Square. 

Zachary Toth has been a trooper all summer for East Cobb Patch. In the last two weeks alone, he has shot the Chef's Culinary Tour event, the morning Playdate at East Cobb Park, Monday's EV day at GE Energy and yesterday at the Good Mews cat shelter.

I'm lining up plenty more for all of them, including youth sports. And I can't wait for high school football, when we can really turn these guys loose. We weren't online for football season last year, but we did get them out to the spring games at Pope, Walton and Wheeler. 

Kim Koch has been a versatile contributor for various Patch sites as well, and I loved the recent photo of a little girl and her father at East Cobb Park so much I put it together with Tim Langley's loving Father's Day column. And here's what she shot at the Sweet P's festival and the Taste of East Cobb. A people- and community-oriented eye is what it takes to do this photography well, and all of our contributors have that. 

I've put together a sampling of their work in this little gallery for your enjoyment, and as a salute from a very grateful editor. 

But to get a true appreciation for their work, click on the above links, and marvel again, as I have.