I traveled down to the Patients Without Borders free health clinic in Wise, Va., over the weekend.  The turnout for the event astounded me.  Thousands of people, most of whom were underinsured or uninsured, traveled great distances to receive free medical, dental or vision treatment.  You hear numbers and statistics regarding Americans with little or no insurance all of the time but to see the crowds and hearing people’s stories was eye-opening.  I’m grateful that I had the chance to document this cause.

– John W. Adkisson

“One more battle, and I have to go home,” 10-year-old David Woodford said.

And soon, the Great Plastic Light Saber Clash continued.

David joined a group of four neighborhood children, as they re-enacted an epic “Star Wars” battle in Southwest Roanoke on a recent Monday night.

Shouts from Damian Harmon, 6, overpowered the clacking of the plastic swords.

The battle climaxed to a faux execution of the eldest warrior, Keagan Harmon, 13.

Wielding two swords, Steven Caldwell delivered the finishing blows to Keagan, who fell to the ground laughing.

Shortly, the others smothered the fallen boy. But as if the laughter had revived Keagan, play resumed without missing a thrust.

While his parents are at work during the summer, Keagan said he and his brother and sister don’t get to go outside much until later in the evening. The computer and television fill the daytime void.

“It was actually one of the highlights of the week,” Keagan said.

–By John W. Adkisson

John W. Adkisson, a native of Charlotte, N.C., is an intern with The Roanoke Times. He attends the University of North Carolina.

Summer moments: A slice of life as seen through the lens of a Roanoke Times photographer. Summer Moments will publish each Monday through the end of August. Got an idea for the photo column? E-mail natalee.waters@roanoke.com.

During the summer months daily assignment work can be slow and, on the rarest of occasions, I might not even have any assignments. Thursday happened to be a no assignment day. With our schedules both open, summer intern John Adkisson challenged me to a shoot out with these rules:

1. Best single photograph wins.

2. The photo must be shot between the hours of 10:00 am and 12:00 pm.

3. The photo must be shot outdoors.

4.  Photographing people you already know is not permitted.

5. The photo can be black and white or color.

6. Both photos would be judged by Chris Zaluski, Multimedia Producer at The Roanoke Times.

I accepted the challenge and then realized that I might be in over my head. The quality of light between the agreed upon hours is not optimal for making photographs. In addition to that, I’m competing with an emerging photographer who is full of energy and has a fresh perspective on a city I’ve lived in for three years.  And lastly, there isn’t too much outdoor activity happening on a late weekday morning.  With that litany of excuses I set out to find my photo.

After cruising through a few neighborhoods I found this moment. I also learned that the popular activities during the agreed upon hours are either walking or porch sitting.

-Jared Soares

Lacalvin Hickman (left) and A.J. Johnson share a laugh while fighting over a water hose after washing their car Thursday morning in Northwest Roanoke. The duo spent the morning washing their car for the week.

On Wednesday afternoon, I asked Jared if he wanted to have a shootout.  He agreed and later showed me a video of a Great White shark eating a seal in the spirit of friendly competition.  The challenge was on.

When we started on Thursday morning, I drove around for the first hour unable to find anything interesting.  I started to sweat a little bit and wondered if I was going to find anything at all.  I drove past this neighborhood on a whim and, luckily, I found Gladys hanging clothes out on a clothesline.

Gladys Hubbard, of Roanoke, hangs clothes out on a clothesline on Thursday morning near the intersection of Keats St. and Centre Ave. in Roanoke.

After returning to the office, I thought I’d done a decent job, but I took one look at Jared’s photo and knew he’d won.  Jared captured a real moment in the late morning heat.  I’m glad Jared accepted the challenge, and I’m okay with getting beaten by an awesome photojournalist.   It was a fun experience and challenge.  Until next time.

-John Adkisson

Judges Comments:

Marvin Fuentes of Roanoke sleeps during the lunch hour while working Tuesday afternoon at the new Green Ridge Recreation Center in Roanoke County. The building is expected to open in January 2010, offering an indoor pool, a walking track, a small waterpark and other features. John W. Adkisson / The Roanoke Times

I was photographing this walking tour of a new recreation center in Roanoke County, when I spotted this guy taking a nap.  I thought about how awesome naps are, in general.  I remember taking naps in kindergarten when I was a kid, after gulping down a carton of milk.  It’s a shame that as you get older there’s less time for naps and nobody around to hand you a carton of milk.