Photo of the Day - Oh Atlanta!



Oh Atlanta - a great thought and a great song by the Little Feat that has been on my iTunes playlist for a while . Now that the Florida/Florida State rivalry week is over it is time to keep this football season rolling! This will be a short week because my wife and I will be headed up to Atlanta on Thursday night to attend the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome. The game should be amazing and I can't wait to watch and shoot the two best teams in the country as they face off with a spot in the Rose Bowl on the line.

This photo was taken the last time I was in the Georgia Dome when the University of Florida men's basketball team was there for the Final Four. We had a lot of success last time I was there and hopefully the football team will have that same kind of success on Saturday.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your Monday was a great start to your week. If you haven't been by in a while be sure to stop by my website. See you tomorrow!

Photo of the Day - It's beginning to feel a lot like...



Wow hope the day after Thanksgiving was as good for you as it was for me! I refuse to call this day "black Friday" because I refuse to participate in that type of consumerism. I am all for gifts for Christmas and everything that goes with it but I think it pushes things to a different level offering "doorbusters" etc. at 4:00 a.m.

Had a great day doing some things around the house, went and bought our first Christmas tree for the new house and did some decorating this afternoon. It already smells great in here! Here's a rough iPhone shot of our Rat Terrier Otis helping with the lights:



After that we had a great dinner with some leftovers from Thanksgiving as well as some fresh food with our family and then had a fire out back while we watched the Gator Men's basketball team knock of the #2 Michigan State Spartans. What a great game!

I took the above photo a couple of years ago in our rental house in Jacksonville, Florida. I think it works today since we got our tree up and ready for the holidays as well as had our first fire in the back yard. All in all an outstanding day!

Big day tomorrow since we will be heading up to Gainesville to go to the FSU vs. UF game to finish off this rivalry week. Britt and dad will be up in the stands and I will be shooting it from the sidelines. Very special day as it is Tim Tebow's last game in The Swamp. I have been honored to watch him play and I am even more honored to be able to shoot his final home game. Tons of pressure for both of us but luckily for me the Gator Nation only cares about how one of us does in the end! :-) GO GATORS!

Thank you so much for stopping by for today's photo of the day! Have a great weekend and be sure to stop by next week for Monday's photo of the day!

Photo of the Day - Happy Thanksgiving!



Happy Turkey Day everyone! I hope you all had a great day enjoying great food and giving thanks for great family and friends. I'm stuffed!

Today's photo isn't the best I've got but it is definitely fitting for today. I took this shot while touring around Cade's Cove in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. I took the shot with my 300 f/2.8 lens with my 1.7x teleconverter attached, so needless to say the shot was taken from quite a long way away. Even from far away and not 100% tack sharp I figured it would be a good shot for today. The rest of my shots from wildlife viewing that day can be viewed here.

Hopefully you didn't eat a bird this big all by yourself today! Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you had a great holiday! Please be sure to stop in again tomorrow for the last photo of the day this week! See you tomorrow!

Photo of the Day - Zooming By:



When I sat down at the computer tonight to figure out what to post for today's photo of the day I really didn't know what direction I was going to take for Thanksgiving Eve. Fortunately it hit me right in the face and made sense. Earlier in the day my wife was flipping through my photo editing program picking some photos that she liked and that we plan to use in an upcoming project. This was the one that was up on the screen so thanks Britt!

This photo speaks a lot about this year that is already winding to a close - the time has literally zoomed by! It seems like just yesterday I was getting ready to graduate law school and start getting ready for the bar exam and here we are now getting ready for the holidays and working through gift ideas. If time flies like this now, I can't imagine what is going to happen when we have a son to chase around! Either way, I can't wait!

This photo was taken in Downtown Jacksonville in December of last year and like I said above it really feels just like yesterday. My good friend Brad was passing through town so we went out on a little nighttime photo walk. His eye for creative composition and just all out great shots kicks my butt but for whatever reason I'm still willing to shoot with him :-) Anyway, for those that aren't really into photography the way this image was created was by using a wide zoom lens and setting the camera for a long exposure and compose the image where you want it to start and then either zoom in or out depending on the effect you want to create. It can definitely lend to some interesting and creative shots especially at nighttime. The above is one of quite a few zoom pulls that I worked on that night.

Thanks so much for stopping by and hopefully you were able to check out the photo of the day from home today instead of at work, but either way I'm glad you're here. If you are traveling this holiday please travel safely and enjoy the time with family and friends. Hope to see you here tomorrow if you have time with all of the eating you'll likely be doing! I'm ready for some turkey! See you tomorrow!

Photo of the Day - Rivalry Week:



Going to have to be a quick one today since the family and I are headed to Gainesville this afternoon for the kick off to the UF/FSU rivalry week - the men's basketball game. I still help the sports information department as a spotter for the stat crew so I call most of the home games while the guy next to me enters it into the computer which then goes up on the scoreboard, on the game feed and into the stat sheet. It's a pretty cool job and I love it. Look for me at the scorer's table tonight - I'll be on the end of the table right next to Coach Donovan.

Thank you so much for stopping by again today and I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all who read and posted comments or contacted me about yesterday's post. It truly means a lot to know that I have friends out there and how truly caring you all are. I felt better right after I finished writing last night and it is heart warming to hear from so many of you. Eric was a special person to a lot of people and he will be sorely missed but never forgotten!

Time to head to Gainesville! Go Gators!!!

Photo of the Day - In Loving Memory:



This Monday was certainly a challenge. When I sat down tonight I didn't want to write. I wanted to make a short post saying today was too difficult, I didn't have time and I would be back tomorrow. Then I thought for a second and realized that everything Eric taught me over these past 9 months was exactly why I shouldn't pack it in and feel sorry for myself and post.

Today I lost a friend to ALS or better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. He was 48. If you would have asked me what ALS was 9 months ago when I learned he had been diagnosed I couldn't have told you the first thing about the disease. Embarrassingly enough when I initially found out he was ill, being the optimist that I was, I wasn't 100% that it was even terminal. I had a lot to learn.

After finding out what it is and how quickly and indiscriminately the disease attacks your body I was terrified about what was to become of my friend. To my amazement Eric didn't feel the same way. When he announced his diagnosis to all of our friends it was literally the week before I took the bar exam. I still found time to take a break and send him a short message of support and he didn't miss a beat in responding telling me to keep my focus and that I was going to pass the test and that I was already "practically a lawyer."

Eric was always a hero to me. I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with him and his son in December of 2005. Eric's son is autistic and it was literally awe inspiring to watch the two interact. The love they shared was like no other and they fished together any spare moment they had. They didn't communicate verbally to one another, but they didn't need to, their bond was just that strong. It was truly amazing.

He was a man of the island and had lived there all of his life. Our first stop - the home, workshop, and gallery of the one and only Bob Rauschenberg. Eric knew him as well as the gallery manager and he often fished off of his dock. Walking through this amazing artist's work area and gallery while looking at pieces that have yet to be seen by the world and others that were very famous works was my first experience with Eric and something I would never forget.

Our next stop on this adventure of a day was to a neighboring dock to do some cast net fishing. Eric was a champion cast net fisherman (seriously!) so he definitely had to show off his skills. Throwing a cast net well is truly an art form and Eric was a master. Within no time he had fish in the bucket and was throwing for more. Unfortunately his net became caught on a piling. Before I knew what was going on he was in a neighbor's kayak paddling out to retrieve it just in time for the owner of said kayak to run outside with his 2 Rottweilers and yell "Hey! He's stealing my boat!" I've never seen a human stand up in a kayak so fast in my life. Eric continued on his way however while explaining what he was doing to the more than angry kayak owner. He freed the net, returned the boat and we lived to cast another day. We laughed about this adventure often. The afternoon ended far too soon.

We managed to get together with a bunch of friends one last time in Gainesville for the Orange and Blue spring football game this April. Eric was his normal jovial self with plenty of laughs shared all around. We didn't talk about ALS much that day but more importantly (at least to him) what was going to happen with the Gators this coming season. His walk was a bit slowed and his speech slightly slurred but that didn't slow down his spirits at all. He walked all day and we ended up heading to Copper Monkey for dinner where we shared even more stories and laughs. When it was time to say goodbye I hoped that it wouldn't be the last time we said goodbye face to face but I think we both knew it would be. Again, the day ended too soon.

Over the next seven weeks is where I learned the most about what an amazing person Eric was and that he was a true hero. He updated us as often as he could and as often as his body would let him but he always had his family and friends as his number one priority. He often talked of tough days and tough thoughts but he was never negative about what was going on in his life. His outlook on life continued to be nothing but positive and upbeat and even when he was facing adversity and barely able to walk or talk, he was still smiling and encouraging others. It really put things into perspective for me when I would wake up and have a rough start to the morning and get down on myself and others for something petty only to read an update on Eric and how he may have been struggling physically but emotionally and spiritually he was at the top of his game. He is truly a hero and an inspiration.

I chose the above photo for numerous reasons today. First off Eric was a master fisherman and this is one of the few shots I have and I am willing to post of a fisherman. Secondly it is from my favorite spot in the world to shoot, especially when I am down, County Dock in Mandarin. This spot was where I went when all in my world was lost. The sunsets and natural beauty would quickly snap me out of my funk and remind me that things would be alright and that as much as i hated to admit, I wasn't the one in control. Today, learning the bad news, I wanted to go to this spot and just sit and take in the beauty again. Unfortunately I was 3 hours away so all I could do was focus on my memories and my photos. Eric was such a fan and encouraged my work. I think he kind of felt responsible for some of my creative side by showing me Rauschenberg's work and studio. He would always have a positive word and thought on my work even if I wasn't feeling the same. I'm not sure Eric ever saw a photo of mine he didn't like, but even if he did, there's no way he would tell anyone else in the world. Just one of the many things I will miss about my friend. His kindness, upbeat attitude, and encouragement will forever live within every photo I take.

He passed peacefully and with dignity early this morning but he leaves behind his inspirational story and attitude that he exuded in the most dire of circumstances. He is truly one of my heroes and will be unbelievably missed. Thank you for all that you taught me Eric. You left us too soon. Rest in peace my dear friend, your body is yours again.

Photo of the Day - Century Tower:



An early post today but I wanted to get it in before the busy night ahead. Looks like I will be taking another detour away from the road trip photos today but better a photo than no photo! We are about to head up to Gainesville for the basketball game tonight and then I will be shooting the FIU game tomorrow. I'm looking forward to a fun couple of days in Gainesville. GO GATORS!!!

Thanks for stopping by for Friday's photo of the day and please be sure to stop by again on Monday and we'll do it all over again! Have a great weekend and see you Monday!

Photo of the Day - Then and Now:



This is going to be a fly by since I had a crazy day and it didn't end until just now. I know I promised we'd move to day 3 of the roadtrip today but here we are still on day 2. Forgive me :-) I'm looking pretty rough in these shots from day 2 of the trip and I'm feeling pretty rough right now (tired). So I'll leave you with that and shots of me during my "hippie" days. :-)

Thanks for stopping by and I'm sorry it's a short post today but still plenty to do before bed! See you tomorrow!

Photo of the Day - Reflecting:




Another day has passed but the photo of the day today is still from day 2 of our cross country road trip. Day two was filled with way more stops than we had planned and I wanted to share at least one more photo from this day before moving on down the road.

After we got back in the car and continued to head west we realized that sometime after lunch we would be passing through Oklahoma City on our way to Amarillo. We weren't at all sure where the Oklahoma City National Memorial was or where the Murrah Building once stood and since we didn't have a GPS or an iPhone we hoped that there would be plenty of signs. Once we got to the downtown area we saw right away it would be easy to find.

When we arrived to teh site where the Murrah Federal Building once stood it was an unbelievably different scene than the one we all saw on the news on April 19, 1995. The memorial area was beautiful and so peaceful and thanks to the time of day it was not very crowded at all. We walked around for quite some time reading about the memorial and taking in all of the the symbolism that the designers had used in creating the memorial. It was really difficult to comprehend the loss of so many innocent lives on that day. The memoria was beautifully done and is a place I strongly suggest visiting if you are ever in the area. Be sure to check out the Oklahoma City National Memorial web site to learn about the memorial and al lof those lives that were touched during this national tragedy. We must never forget.

The above photo was taken at the base of the beautiful reflecting pool that is one of the centerpieces of the memorial. It was an absolutely beautiful day so the sky as well as the rest of the memorial was reflecting crystal clear, and I took advantage of the conditions in order to create the best mirror image I could. In case you missed it, the full blog post from that day of our roadtrip can be found here and the photo gallery from day 2 can be found here

Thank you so much for stopping by again today while I post my photo of the day from across the country. Be sure to stop in again tomorrow and I promise we'll move on to day 3 of the road trip for Thursday's edition of the photo of the day! See you tomorrow!

Photo of the Day - Three Zero Six:



Welcome back to the photo of the day! As you may or may not know, I am currently posting a series of photos from a cross country road trip I took with a best friend during the summer of 2008. Hopefully this series will keep you around because I assure you there are plenty of exciting photos and memories from this trip that I plan to share. So stay tuned!

After we survived Beale Street during the night of our first leg we made it back to the hotel and discussed a few things while I uploaded some of my photos from the day. One of the things mentioned was that Memphis was very significant historically (in a bad way unfortunately) because it is known as the city where Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. We discussed the event and what learning about it in school meant to both of us and then researched whether it would be feasible to make a short stop at the Lorraine Motel prior to heading on the next leg of our journey to Amarillo, TX. It was finally decided that we would get up a bit earlier in order to make a short visit and I cannot tell you how glad I am that we did.

The next morning was an early one but we were ready to get the hell out of that hotel as fast as we could anyway (see my original day 2 blog post linked below). When we arrived we immediately noticed how gloomy the weather had become and also that no one else was there. As it turns out by mistake, we arrived prior to the museum opening but this actually worked out for the timing of our day anyway. This also allowed for us to walk around and take everything in without the interference from any other visitors which I think we both enjoyed.

After walking around for a while and taking a few photos it was time to head on our way. We both agreed it was an amazing and worthwhile experience to visit this historical site. It really enforced to both of us how unbelievably sad and unfortunate to lose such an amazing civil rights activist when our country needed him the most.

The above photo is one of my favorites from walking around that day. The door and room number remind us of a bleak day in our Nation's history while the new wreath shows that we still remember that day and the man we lost. The curtains in the window show how many of our citizens (then and now) shield their eyes or their beliefs from what is truly right and even more people who tend to hide behind the curtain when it is most important to walk out the door and help those truly in need. I think the whole scene can still serve to remind us all of how far this country has come in our Nation's short life while also reminding us how far we still must go.

Thank you for stopping by this evening for my photo of the day. If you haven't done so in a while be sure to stop by my webpage or if you're looking for a change stop by my flickr page or swing by facebook and join my fan page! Please be sure to check in tomorrow for Wednesday's photo of the day!


My blog entry from this day of the trip can be viewed here and a gallery of my photos from this leg of the trip can be viewed here.

Photo of the Day - Memphis Blues in Red:



Back in the work week again. Man how that weekend flew! Some of us may have had the blues when we walked into work this morning but the good news is Monday is almost over! I had a great weekend but it was SO busy!

As some of you may know in the summer of 2008 I took a cross country trip from Jacksonville, Florida to Seattle, Washington with one of my best friends to deliver a vehicle to another one of our great friends. Long story short - He got a job in Seattle but left his car behind due to how quickly he needed to start work and due to the expense of having it shipped out west. We were discussing this during basketball season before a game and I (only half seriously) suggested that if he could wait until this summer, I'd be happy to drive his car out to him. Summer rolled around and he got in touch after he had moved out asking me if I was still interested. I honestly hadn't thought about it since I half heartedly mentioned it to him so I said I'd get back to him. The more I thought about it, the more appealing it became but I still needed a travel partner. I called the only person I could think of that 1. I could handle riding in a car with for 10+ days and 2. that had a schedule as free as mine and after a call his flights were booked from Portland to Jacksonville. That's right, he flew here to drive back with me. Now THAT is a best friend.

So after my spring semester of law school was over (literally the DAY after my last final), we were off. The route wasn't a direct one because 1. we wanted to see some of this amazing country and 2. it wasn't our car :-) Kidding of course. This photo was taken at the end of our first leg from Jacksonville, FL to Memphis, TN. After some adventures at the hotel we headed out for dinner on Beale Street and came across Rum Boogie a blues cafe. We ate outside so we could take in the sights on the street but were still able to hear the great music. After we finished dinner we headed in to listen some more and so I could get a few shots of the musicians. This is one of my favorites. The lighting and his face really set the mood for me and even though the lighting is red, you can tell the blues are running strong.

I will be running a series of photos of the day over the next few days from this trip to show some of my favorite pictures from the trip as well as to force myself to finish blogging about it. I know it has been over a year already and we had so many amazing experiences but life has been crazy. Still no excuse. Be sure to read my full blog entry on day 1 and stop by tomorrow for another installment of my photo of the day!

Photo of the Day - Albert & Alberta:



Time really got away from me yesterday but I feel obligated to at least get the post up late. Busy day yesterday and an even busier day today with a housewarming party for family and the Gator game this afternoon. I'm excited for both! Hope all goes well & GO GATORS!!!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you on Monday for another edition of the photo of the day! Have a great weekend!

Photo of the Day - Brrrrr!



Whew! Another late entry tonight. It's been a busy day filled with work, an awesome Emerge Lakeland event, and some house organization before this weekend.

The "hot" topic of the day around here is how cool it is! I swear I think it went from 78 degrees to 58 overnight! The cooler weather is definitely welcome considering how warm it has been this far into November. When I walked out of the house this morning I couldn't believe it!

The above photo was taken in Jackson, Wyoming during my cross country road trip. The winter of 2008 was a pretty severe one up there and it lasted longer than normal so when we went on our trip there was a significant amount of snow still on the ground. Up to 6 feet in some areas and on some trails. Being a native Floridian I haven't ever seen this much snow on the ground, let alone walked on it so I was in for quite an experience hiking on some closed/snowed in trails in Grand Teton National Park. We stopped to eat lunch at Jenny Lake and I honestly couldn't resist making my first effort at a snow man - in May! I definitely enjoy the cool weather but have decided I could definitely do without snow. The rest of the set from that day of the road trip can be viewed here.

Thanks so much for stopping by today and I truly hope the rest of your week is cool, but not too cool! :-) Please be sure to stop by my website and I hope to see you back here again tomorrow for another photo of the day!

Photo of the Day - Veterans Day:



I admit it. I used this exact same photo a year ago today for my Veterans Day post but it really is the best way I can show how I feel on this day and the photo has such a special meaning to me. This day should hold a special place in every American's heart and mind. It is not just a day off from work to relax and catch up. It is a day to stop and reflect on memories of your own service, family members who served, and honoring these amazing people by showing them how much their sacrifice truly means to us.

The above photo was taken on the day my grandfather, a World War II Navy Veteran, passed away. I honestly didn't know what to do with myself that afternoon while we were home with family so I went into his room to look around. There were so many things there that were representative of his amazing life and I took photos of many of them. This hat was one of the most interesting to me. It reminded of all of his stories he used to tell about his experiences and his medals hanging on the wall. It was a symbol of a significant chapter in his life. He left his family and all of the comforts of home he had grown to know and love to fight a war for his country on foreign soil and in foreign seas. He did this for his family, and for his country. What is most amazing however, is he did this for millions of people he had never met, to protect them and the freedoms we all so comfortably enjoy still today. This selfless attitude that he and millions of other past and current military men and women exude should be given the utmost respect and honor. I cannot imagine what it takes but I am so thankful we have our Veterans and service men and women!

Thank you so much for stopping by today and when you leave, be sure to thank a Veteran in your own special way sometime this week. We all know someone so thank them! I thank my grandfather every time I think of him or see a photo like the one above. Thanks again for coming by to view the photo and be sure to stop by again tomorrow for another photo of the day!

Photo of the Day - Huh?



Huh? What's that sound? Oh it's our alarm sounding not once but TWICE today! As new homeowners, one of the things we had installed to protect our beautiful new investment was a security system. The house was already pre-wired so it wasn't nearly as expensive as it could have been but it was still a full day installation. Everything is all set up and we even had a "pet friendly" motion sensor installed. Unfortunately, when they designed this piece of equipment they clearly didn't have our Rat Terrier Otis in mind. We're not quite sure how he's doing it but he is becoming a pro about getting attention from us and from the alarm monitoring company. Hopefully we can figure it out soon since we could do without having the alarm company call twice a day and I imagine his ears could use a rest from that siren. :-)

This shot was taken very early in my digital photography history. I was testing out a new 50mm f 1/8 and the only subject I had was Otis. He was watching and very interested in what I was doing but he wasn't being a very coopertive subject. I finally crossed the line of frustration and asked aloud "why aren't you helping me out here buddy?" and for a split second he turned his head and I ended up with the above shot. It is definitely one of my favorites of Otis and it really speaks to his personality. I see it often and I'm always reminded of this day and the fun I had shooting.

Thank you for stopping by on this Tuesday's version of my photo of the day! If you haven't been in a while please make sure to check out my website and please keep your eyes peeled for new updates! See you tomorrow!

Photo of the Day - Windblown:



Whew! What a crazy Monday! I think I could probably say that about most days that begin the work week but this one blew by - literally. I completely lost track of time and was tied up with some cleaning and other things and here it is after 1 and I still haven't finished the photo of the day.

As some of you may know, Hurricane (now Tropical Storm) Ida has been brewing in the Gulf for the past few days and is now making landfall. Fortunately, at least for now, we aren't in the direct path of the storm, but with a weather pattern that powerful we definitely still felt some of the effects. The weather today was a really weird mix of a cloudy fall day with tropical force winds. It was hard to get used to but really interesting to watch from my office window. The moisture was mostly in the air and very little made it to the ground where we need it most. Hopefully we will get some moisture (but not too much) out of this system before it is all said and done! Thoughts and prayers with those directly in the path and hopefully there will be no major damage.

The above shot was actually taken at a NASCAR race of all places during the Gatorade Duel races held at the Daytona International Speedway in 2008. My dad and I have been going to these races and the Daytona 500 for quite some time and it is always a blast to watch and take pictures. This lady was enjoying a strong breeze from all of the passing cars during the race. It really can get windy when all of the cars go flying by. Although this wind was artificially created, it does a good job symbolizing how a lot of us felt on this windy Monday!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I am sorry I was a bit late tonight! Hope to see you again tomorrow (or later today) for the next installment of the photo of the day! See you then!

Photo of the Day - Key West Sunset:



Well the sun is setting on another work week so happy Friday and even more importantly happy weekend! It has been a long and busy week and I certainly have been looking forward to this weekend!

This shot was taken in Key West, Florida after two of our very close friends were married. The wedding was in the morning so the bride and groom graciously invited us all up to their suite to watch the sunset later in the day and what a view they had! Fortunately I brought my camera gear along with me and managed to get a few shots off during the party. There were tons of boats in the water offering "sunset cruises" so I had to watch and time it just right if I wanted one of them to be the subject of the shot. Fortunately I managed to get it right at least once and the result is above! This was a great vacation for us with great friends and beautiful scenery that we will never forget.

Now it's time to sink that ship and beat the Vanderbilt Commodores this weekend. I have a busy one since I will be shooting the game from the sidelines but honestly it's hard to call it work since I have so much fun doing it! Hopefully your weekend will be just as fun as mine!

Thanks so much for stopping by! If you haven't checked out my website in a while definitely make sure to stop by. Please have a safe and fun weekend and I look forward to seeing you back here Monday for another photo of the day! See you then!

Photo of the Day - Feeling Like Fall:



Over the past week it has finally started to feel a little bit like Fall and for that I am thankful! This year has been nuts down here in Florida with all of these record setting hot days in late October. I was hit twice with the heat wave because it seems like we moved from Jacksonville further south right as it started to get nice in Jacksonville - what were we thinking?!? Fall is definitely one of my favorite times of year and hopefully this cool nice weather lasts to make up for how long it took to get here!

This shot was taken at a "Pumpkin Patch" last year in Mandarin sometime before Halloween up in Jacksonville. Every time I see this shot in my collection along with a few others, my thoughts immediately go to "Fall." Hope the weather is just as great for you as it is for us down here and have a great Fall season!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope to see you back again tomorrow for another photo of the day! See you then!

Photo of the Day - Almost There:



Welcome back and happy Hump Day! For a long time Wednesday didn't really have much meaning to me while I was in school because I was usually only away from home for 3 or 4 hours a day. That changes pretty fast with a job and everything else we have going on here!

Today's shot has a few meanings so I'll get to explaining. Obviously with my mention of hump day this can definitely represent the fact that we're "almost there" in the sense of getting through another work week and making it to the weekend. In terms of the baseball season, the World Series is almost over and one team is almost to a World Championship. The series has been fun to watch and although I don't have a team in the game, I will be rooting for a game 7 because that is definitely the ultimate in any sport - one game to determine it all. The pressure and excitement is like none other. One of these days I'd love to have the opportunity to shoot some MLB baseball and maybe even a playoff series! Time will tell!

Today's shot was taken during last year's college baseball season when the University of Florida took on the University of Miami. As I have mentioned in a previous post, baseball, like all sports is difficult to shoot. One of the biggest challenges in sports photography is to get something different. Obviously you have to cover the game and give usable (hopefully better than just "usable") but more importantly you have always got to look for ways to cover the same sport people have been watching for most of their lives. Photographers use tons of creative ways of doing this, some more mechanical than others, but I am always looking for ways to change it up a bit and see the sport in a different way. During this game I was working in the first base box and the runner for UF was a definite steal threat so the pitcher was throwing to first in order to keep the runner close. After watching it a few times I realized this would be a great chance to shoot something "different." I took a few groups of shots but this one is definitely my favorite! The rest of the set from that game can be viewed here.

Thanks so much for stopping by and please come back tomorrow for more! See you tomorrow!

Photo of the Day - Let the Streamers Hit the Floor:



Ok! Back on track - a little late but still on the right date! Another busy night filled with working late and a mayoral victory party which was actually a jump off party for the run-off. Exciting times in local politics in Lakeland Florida! The run-off should be even more exciting and I look forward to following the race closely! May the best candidate win!

On to the photo! I am still in a basketball mood this evening and this photo is a reminder of one of my favorite memories of Florida basketball. This photo was taken from our seats at the 2007 National Championship game when the University of Florida defeated Ohio State. This shot is a symbol of a lot of things for me. It reminds me of all of the hard work I, along with hundreds of others, put into this basketball team in order to get it to where it now is. It reminds me of leaving a year too soon and missing out on not one but TWO national championship rings - ;-) I'm not bitter. It also reminds me of law school. As odd as it may sound, I made the decision to take a vacation with my wife and friends in April before my law school exams were to take place in May. Maybe it wasn't that extreme of a decision since I survived my first semester of law school after driving to Indianapolis for the first Final Four and National Championship, but it was still a lot to handle.

Law school and basketball were two competing interests in my life at the time. My going to the game and then later passing all of my exams proved to me that these two competing interests could both survive and be a part of my life and I am happy that they both still are today.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you will check in and see what I have in store for tomorrow! See you then!

Photo of the Day - A New Season!



First off I must apologize for missing the photo of the day yesterday. I had plans on doing the post early (during my lunch break) since I was going to have a very busy afternoon/night. Unfortunately that didn't happen and here we are.

I will still count this as Monday's post and hopefully I will be able to make another post around the regular time this evening. On with the photo.

Today's photo as many of you may know is of the University of Florida's Men's Basketball Coach Billy Donovan during the UF vs. UCF basketball game that I had the opportunity to shoot last season. This post was more significant yesterday since the Gators had their first exhibition game of the season last night. That game is part of the reason (other than poor time management) that I was unable to post a timely photo of the day yesterday. I absolutely love this time of year because of the cooler weather, football season, and the start of basketball season.

My roots are in basketball and that has really been where I grew up as a "sweathog" for Florida Southern Basketball, then as a volunteer manager for them, and then I had the opportunity to work for Coach Donovan as a student manager and then a program assistant (not the same as an assitant coach) during my college years. Man I have had some great experiences and have plenty of stories to tell! I can't wait for the regular season to start and I am excited for both my Florida Southern Mocs and my Florida Gators!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I am sorry my Monday post is late but hopefully I can get back on track here today. Please be sure to check out my webpage if you haven't already and be sure to stop by later today for Tuesday's photo of the day!