Thunder Beach Through the Years

I have photographed the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally in Panama City Beach ten times over the past five years. The biannual event takes place in the spring and fall and it's back this week in all its glory. From the burnouts to the babes, here are a few photos from past Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rallies. (All photos by Andrew Wardlow/Panama City News Herald)

Kyle Ives performs during the motorcycle stunt show at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach in 2009.

A burnout is performed during the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally in Panama City Beach on 2010.

Leah H. washes a motorcycle at Crazy Marlin's during the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally in Panama City Beach in 2010.

Hundreds of motorcycles lined the grass at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach in 2009.

Bikers move along U.S. 98 in Inlet Beach in 2009.

Johnny Hankins waits for the beginning of the Kevin Kight Memorial Bike Parade in Panama City Beach in 2008.

Sam Croslin paints eagle flames on a bike at the Shoppes at Edgewater during the Thunder Beach motorcycle rally in 2006.

Keith and Lisa Johnson pull into Ms. Newby's on Thomas Drive in Panama City Beach. Thousands of bikers descended upon Panama City Beach for the Thunder Beach Spring Rally in 2010.

Jason Aldean in Panama City Beach

Jason Aldean performs at The Fun Never Sets Country Music Fest at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach, Florida on Saturday night. Aldean is known for his hits “Why,” “She’s Country,” “Big Green Tractor” and “The Truth.” He recently scored five nominations for the 45th annual Country Music Association Awards, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Album for “My Kinda Party,” and Single and Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson. “Don’t You Wanna Stay” is just one of the No. 1 singles off his fourth studio album, “My Kinda Party,” certified Double Platinum. This year’s best selling country album, selling more than 1 million copies, is ranked No. 4 on the all-genre top-selling albums list behind Adele, Lady Gaga and Mumford & Sons. (Andrew Wardlow/Panama City News Herald)

9/11 in Panama City

I photographed several 9/11 memorial ceremonies and events around Panama City this weekend. Here are a handful of photographs from those events.

Marine veteran Bob Cornelius salutes the flag during the 9/11 memorial service at the Panama City Marina on Sunday. (Andrew Wardlow/Panama City News Herald)

Retired U.S. Navy Seal Bill Bruhmuller gets emotional as the National Anthem is sung during the Panama City Remembers 9/11 event at Smith's Yacht Basin next to the Shrimpboat Restaurant on Saturday. "We must show patriotism and loyalty to America," Bruhmuller said. "You never heal from something like this, but you get to go ahead and be strong for the people who lost their lives. That’s what they would have wanted." (Andrew Wardlow/Panama City News Herald)

Twisted steel girders from between the 9th and 12th floors of Tower 2 of the World Trade Center were the backdrop for the 9/11 memorial event at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City on Sunday. Along with the girders, Tyndall's 9/11 memorial includes scorched limestone from the Pentagon and chisled segments of flagstone from a quarry near Shanksville, Pa. (Andrew Wardlow/Panama City News Herald)

Craig Robarts, with Panama City Beach Fire Rescue, carries a fire hose while participating in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at the Laketown Wharf condominiums in Panama City Beach on Saturday. The camaraderie shared between the fire fighters and those who were killed on Sept. 11, 2001, kept the memorial event a celebration of life. (Andrew Wardlow/Panama City News Herald)

A moment of silence is observed during the 9/11 memorial event at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City on Sunday. (Andrew Wardlow/Panama City News Herald)

Maj. David Hern holds up the American and Canadian flags during the 9/11 memorial event at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City on Sunday. (Andrew Wardlow/Panama City News Herald)

A red, white and blue wreath was placed at the 9/11 Memorial at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City on Sunday. (Andrew Wardlow/Panama City News Herald)

 Helen Landry was among hundreds of visitors to the 9/11 memorial service at the Panama City Marina on Sunday. (Andrew Wardlow/News Herald)

Tropical Storm Lee in Panama City

Okato Nakamura waits for waves during the long lulls in between sets as the swell from Tropical Storm Lee pushes into St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach on Wednesday. Tropical Storm Lee was the twelfth named storm and thirteenth system overall of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, developing from a tropical disturbance over the Gulf of Mexico on September 1. It was designated as Tropical Storm Lee the next day. Due to the large size, as well as the slow forward movement of the storm, heavy rainfall occurred in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the panhandle of Florida. Several drownings occurred along the Gulf Coast due to the rough surf conditions brought upon by Lee. For more surf photos visit hangtenphoto.com
(Andrew Wardlow Photography)