Dale W. Clarke II, 28, is torn between two lovers. One has been a part of his family since he was a kid and the other he met three years ago.

Although Clarke is majoring in criminal justice at Alabama State University, photojournalism is starting to ease in to its place and steal his heart.

A love for criminal justice plays a major role in his family: His father is a retired Michigan state trooper, and his mother is a sheriff’s deputy. Clarke himself was in security when he served a four-year stint in the U.S. Air Force, so he naturally leaned toward criminal justice when he started college.

He found his new love in 2006 when a friend needed help taking pictures for their college newspaper, The Hornet Tribune.

Clarke said he likes to catch people off guard at public events: “You have a better chance of getting better pictures.”

A year ago, Clarke started D2 Photography to make money and perfect his craft. He has photographed political commentator Jeff Johnson and actor Charles S. Dutton of “Roc” fame. His most memorable shot so far was then-presidential candidate Barack Obama during a campaign visit to Birmingham, Ala.

Clarke loves the reaction he gets when people notice his work.

“I like seeing my images put on print or on the Web,” he said.

As for his affair with photography, he is truly glad he met “her.”