First Winter shoots and Happy Holidays!

It's been a good while since I've added to the blog; thanks Maren for giving me a mild, virtual kick in the nether-cheeks to stay updated. Additional thanks are in order to Christi for laying the smack down on the UPC facilities folks. Due to her persistence, the South/North girls and boys hockey matchups (12/11/2009) were lit up like the Ralph. The floods should be on for every H.S. game in my opinion. Last year, I approached the UPC staff about this, and I have to at least give them credit for their honesty. They simply said that they won't be turned on for H.S., but will always come on for a Force game. It's a matter of economics. Now don't get me wrong; I truly enjoy Force games, but--that attitude is such a disservice to the Fargo public school system, who was instrumental in not only initial funding of the UPC, but responsible (and contracted) for future funding as well. The Force will have long since come-and-gone, and the Fargo school system will still be pouring dollars (yours and mine...the tax payers) into the UPC's upkeep. Participating schools deserve to bask in the bright arena ambiance just like the Force does. Period! (Just my 2 cents, of course).

For event updates, I've just begun to get a representative string of schools and sports, with the South/North varsity gymnasts (Dec 5th) starting out the season. Last night, I began post-processing these pics in earnest. To date, gymnastics at the American Gold Gymnastics facility is arguably my second most difficult environment to shoot in, but it's still preferable over my #1 lighting nemesis: the West Fargo H.S. gym. When I walk in there, it's so dark that I expect everyone to have their hands joined, holding a Seance while lit candle-tips wave in the mystic breeze, and un-satiated bats flutter among the high rafters. If the spirit of JFK is in this room tonight, please give us a sign...

On 12/10/2009, I hurried from my son's band concert at Discovery (he blew his first major solo on the Tenor sax during Jazz band. Move aside, John Tesh!) to arrive at the South/Moorhead girls basketball game with 9 minutes remaining in the 1st half. I loathe arriving at a game late; it's like missing the part where the bride says, "I do," at your 2nd cousin's wedding--but I don't get too down on myself. There's still the reception and dance to follow. Those pics are up and viewable on my site. It was a great spectator's game, as both teams played with a lot of 'scrap.' Elbows were cocked and ready to connect with cheek-bones from the moment I started firing the shutter.

And finally, it was pure pleasure to shoot the girls and boys South/North hockey matchups at the UPC on Dec 11th. As mentioned earlier in this blog, it was so wonderfully bright in there, I almost asked for a drink with an umbrella in it at the concession stand. I had received several requests from Bruins parents to shoot this game (and keep a special eye on their athletes), so was overjoyed to see the arena floods smiting the ice surface so dutifully that I could actually make out the sponsors' logos beneath the ice. Shame on me, but after only a little more than a week later, I can't remember a solitary sponsor. Perhaps my recall would have been better had I won a free, all-expenses-paid trip to Tierra de Fuego on one of the sponsors' dime. At any rate, the boys pics are up and viewable, and I hope to get the girls uploaded to their own gallery in just a couple days as well. It totally grieves me to say, that due to a memory card failure, I'll only be posting periods 1 and 2 of the girls game. The 3rd period has joined all my lost socks and pens--not to be viewed until I've passed on to the next plane of existence. Nuts!

To get back to the picture galleries, please click here.

Take care all, and don't forget to email me those requests at fmphotographer@cableone.net. I appreciate the correspondence, and will do my best to get back to you in the shortest available time-frame. Happy Holidays to all!