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2011 ISC Hall of Fame Photos

2011-09-04T10:58:00.000-07:00

This year's Hall of Fame breakfast was one close to my heart, as good friends Dave Blackburn and Robert Gray were inducted each for their valuable contributions to the ISC. I'm not particularly fond of waking up early during my "working vacation" to share breakfast and take photos, but this year it seemed effortless. I was just as excited, I am sure, as the family and friends who attended to honor their well-deserving inductees. I was doubly glad also that the breakfast was so full of joy, and laughter as friends recalled those stories that I am sure inductees had hoped their friends had forgotten. All in all, it was one of the best breakfasts I've attended and by the turnout and the looks around the room, I know I was not alone. You can view the photos by clicking HERE or go to the Sports/Fastpitch/2011 ISC HOF Breakfast gallery.

The long shot

2011-07-31T18:27:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that for some time now I have viewed it as a "long shot" that I would ever cover slowpitch. As many of you know, my photography has grown around the world of fastpitch and as such, I'm not exactly unbiased. But this weekend, my lens and I, found ourselves at a dusty field in Huntington Beach, California, photographing and dare I say, enjoying, a game of slowpitch. The game, well...it is quite different from what I am used to, but one thing did strike me as the ball was lobbed to the next batter. Everyone there was enjoying the game. The sense of competition and the same desire to win, was very much present. So, it was not long before I began to feel at home; my camera focused on the batter, my feet firmly planted on the foul line grass, ready to sprint should the batter hit a foul tip directed at my head or worse yet, my lens. You can see the photos by clicking HERE.

2nd Annual California Classic Tourney

2011-06-26T18:51:00.000-07:00

I've just posted the photos of the recent California Classic Men's Fastpitch Tournament which took place in San Diego, California. You can see the photos by clicking HERE or by clicking on Sports/Fastpitch and the 2011 California Classic gallery.

This is my second time at this tourney and it has quickly become one of my favorites. The reasons? The level of play, the great location, the facility and the folks that run the whole thing. Oh, and seeing local and not-so-local friends (such as the guys on the photo in this post) makes it all that much better. Thanks for the beers guys!

What happened with the SCIFL photos?

2011-06-11T15:48:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what happened but sometime in May I took photos of our local league and just plain forgot to post them. There aren't many photos as I was only there for a couple of games. But as is usual in this league (SCIFL) there is never a lack of action. So I belatedly share with you some photos of the SCIFL's games this past May and hope you will forgive the mind bleep. You can see the gallery of photos by clicking HERE or look for the "2011 SCIFL May" gallery of photos under Sports/Fastpitch.

It never rains in Southern California...well, hardly ever.

2011-06-06T22:24:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I was in the beautiful (albeit wet) city of Santa Barbara, California, photographing the 21st annual Best of the West tournament. Although some rain was expected, I was hoping to have complete coverage of the tournament. Alas, it was not to be so, and early on the 2nd day of the tournament the weather gods turned against us and the skies broke open; leaving us all (players, directors, fans, photographers) wanting more and wishing for a better ending. Nevertheless, Saturday's games provided some great action that I now share with you. You can go directly to the gallery by cliking HERE or check out the 2011 Best of the West gallery, under Sports/Fastpitch.

First SCIFL Photos of the Season

2011-03-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, I dropped by our local Santa Fe Springs "Little Lake" park and took in some of the action at the SCIFL tournament. Arriving in the early afternoon did not give me a lot of time to shoot but I did get enough time to catch up with some friends and get a couple of action shots. It was my first outing this season and I have to admit, I missed it much. It was great being out at the ballpark and just enjoying a great game of fastpitch. You can view the photos I took here: 2011 SCIFL - March.

Midland, Michigan

2011-02-19T13:50:00.000-08:00

Despite being busy taking photos of the 2010 ISC Men's World Fastball Tournament, I found some time to explore the quaint town of Midland, and it's many attractions. I have posted some of the photos I took of the town at the 2010 Midland Michigan gallery, under Places. Check out what Midland, Michigan has to offer. If you were there and did not get a chance to see it, come and see what you missed out on.

More ISC Awards photos added

2011-02-06T15:16:00.000-08:00

In our rush to get the last set of ISC photos uploaded we overlooked some of the award ceremonies that had yet to be posted. If you click on the ISC Awards gallery you will find that the Youth Games, ISC II and Legends awards ceremonies photos have been added to the gallery. Enjoy.

2010 ISC Photos Uploaded

2011-01-29T22:22:00.000-08:00

Three photo galleries from the ISC Men's World Fastball Tournament at Midland, Michigan have been uploaded. The three galleries can be found under Sports/Fastpitch, and they are labeled: 2010 ISC Action, 2010 ISC - Around the Ballpark and 2010 ISC Awards Ceremony. You can click any of the words to take you to the corresponding gallery.

As a bonus, I have put together a 2-minute video of some of the action photos taken at the ISC. I think you will find it enjoyable and it will give you a brief (and I mean very brief) glimpse at what you can find in the galleries. Enjoy and Happy New Year (belated)!

Hall of Fame Breakfast

2010-09-07T22:21:00.000-07:00

This year I was asked by the ISC to cover the ISC Hall of Fame Breakfast. I had attended before as a guest, but coming in as a photographer gave me a different insight into the event. For all the inductees, this is a very important moment in their lives. Their years of playing the great game of fastpitch is finally recognized not only by the ISC organization but by their peers and fans. So I wanted to do justice to the moment and cover as much as I could of the event. Of course, I am never satisfied but I hope that the resulting images satisfies everyone that attended and participated. Click HERE to see the gallery of photos of the breakfast.

2010 ISC World Tournament - Opening Ceremonies

2010-09-06T16:57:00.001-07:00

The ISC Opening Ceremonies, a favorite of mine, is truly the start of the great ISC Men's Fastpitch World Tournament. Unlike the action photos that I like to take during the tournament, the photos from this event have a more relaxed feel. They show the optimism and hope of the first day of play as well as the spirit of the players. It is a time to bring the kids in, march in with your fellow team players, honor those that will enter the Hall of Fame, and stand in a great field with dozens of players. For me, it is a time to see old friends (wearing a different uniform?), see how big your kids have grown, and maybe make new friends. Any which way you cut it, it is a great day and I hope you enjoy looking at the photos as much as I did taking them. Click on the link HERE to take you to the gallery of photos.

Raymond Angulo Memorial Tournament

2010-08-31T21:58:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I went to the Raymond Angulo Memorial Tournament hosted by Ernie Marez and the So Cal Rebels, and held in Corona, California.

Each year this tournament helps raise money for 8-year old Joseph Raymond Angulo, a little boy who suffers from cerebral palsy. It is our hope that we can continue the fundraising by giving the proceeds from the sale of the photos from the tournament gallery to the Angulo family. So, if you have a few minutes, and some spare change, we urge you to purchase one of the photos and we will send 100% of the profits to the family. All you have to do is click HERE and make your purchase.

Ribbon Cutting

2010-07-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

The iconic Theme Building at the Los Angeles International Airport recently reopened its doors (and its famous rooftop) after a 3-year, multi-million dollar renovation. This renovation was triggered by the deterioration of the 50-year old building; the deterioration being to such a degree that some pieces of it started to fall on the street below. The photos which you can access by clicking HERE are of the press-conference announcing the reopening.

The perfect weekend

2010-06-29T20:20:00.001-07:00

This past June 19th and 20th I went down to San Diego to shoot the first annual California Classic Tournament hosted by he California A's (Dave Welding & Greg Hicks) and the California Silverhawks (Christopher McGhee). The tournament was held in a beautiful new facility: Sportsplex, USA, in Santee and the weather, as is common in lovely San Diego, was absolutely perfect. No less perfect, for me, was being able to finally meet, after many years of quiet admiration, a photographer that in fastpitch circles needs no introduction: Bob Otto. I have been a fan of Bob since I first discovered fastpitch and always strived to copy his great work. So it was indeed an honor, for a few brief hours to share the fields with Bob under the sunny skies of San Diego. You can see Bob's photos HERE and you can also browse mine by clicking HERE.

Best of the West

2010-06-15T20:47:00.000-07:00

This past June 6th, I dropped by the 2010 Best of the West fastpitch tournament being held in beautiful Santa Barbara, California. As always, this tournament did not fail to provide many gifted players and many an exciting play. Although, I was only there for one of the two days of the tournament, I think you will agree that there was plenty of action to go around as well as some unique moments. You can see the photos by clicking on the 2010 Best of the West gallery under the Sports/Fastpitch galleries or simply click HERE.

Balancing Act

2010-05-29T13:52:00.000-07:00

This past May 23rd I dropped by Santa Fe Springs, California, to photograph a SCIFL (Southern California Independent Fastpitch League) weekend tournament. Digital cameras have revolutionalized photography, with ever improving equipment available. However, it's also a balancing act -- wanting the newer technology that is better or faster -- while at the same time, having the equipment that is battle tested and reliable. At the shoot this past weekend, I was armed with the old and the new. I had my trusty, "steady Eddie" D200 with which I've taken thousands of shots over the past few years, along with their newer, faster, D300s to try out. I was looking forward to testing out the new Nikon, billed to be faster, the better to capture the talented, and ever-increasingly faster players that I photograph. It is faster, to be sure, but I was disappointed that it malfunctioned in its first use, and prevented me from sharing all of the shots I took that day. Looks like this new Nikon could have used a bit more beta testing. In the end, the balancing act was won by "steady Eddie", my D200, which produced the photos shown in my latest gallery of shots. Tried and true, hope you enjoy "Eddie's" work (and mine).

Tommy Scott Memorial Run

2010-05-01T16:32:00.000-07:00

This past Wednesday the LAX Airport Police observed the 5th anniversary of the death of its first fallen officer, Tommy Scott, with a 5k run in his memory. More than 50 officers/civilians ran the length of the course which circles the LAX Airport and finished the run by doing 20 push ups, followed by a moment of silence. I had the honor of recording the event. The attached video is a compilation of the photos that I took. (Click on the arrow at left in the bar below). You can also view all the photos of the event by clicking here.

Cuba Libre

2010-03-29T15:56:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday I was in Los Angeles photographing a rally in Echo Park. This particular rally was close to my heart as the catalyst for the event was based on some recent events that occurred in Cuba (my birthplace). The event was to support the "Ladies in White"; relatives of prisoners of conscience, these women (who dress in white) recently went into the streets of Cuba to protest the wrongful imprisonment of their loved ones. In return the government beat them as they walked the streets in silent protest. The event in Los Angeles was to show solidarity and support for these women and to bring attention to human rights violations on the island. The event was put together by actor Andy Garcia and other celebrities. Present were Maria Conchita, Steven Bauer (of Scarface fame) and Perez Hilton (entertainment blogger) as well as Mexican comedian George Lopez who is married to a Cuban. Click here to go the gallery: 2010 Cuban Rally in Echo Park

First Day of Spring

2010-03-22T20:26:00.000-07:00

It is a sure sign that spring is here when the fastpitch fields are filled with players and surrounded by fans. This past weekend, and on the first day of spring, I found myself in Santa Fe Springs once again, sharing the ballfield with our local (and talented) Southern California players. Other commitments had kept me from shooting the first day of this their first tournament of the season but with camera in hand I went on Sunday to at least catch some of the action. As always, there was no shortage of action to be captured and friends to say hello to. So, although the gallery is not very extensive, I share with you what I consider the best rite of spring: playing fastpitch under sunny skies and sharing it with the best of friends. Click here to see the photos: 2010 SCIFL.

St. Patty's Day 2010

2010-03-21T20:49:00.000-07:00

This year the Los Angeles' St. Patrick's Day celebration was a bit different. There was no parade but instead a festival which was held at the LA Live complex. This complex sits in the middle of downtown Los Angeles and is quickly becoming the place to go in downtown Los Angeles. Surrounded by large venues (Nokia Theatre, Staples Center), loads of restaurants and nightclubs it is a vibrant center. It was no less so on St. Patty's Day when the wonderful Dublin All-Star Marching band played for our fellow Angelenos. We were also graced with the wonderful sounds of Ken O'Malley and the Twilight Lords and no less impressed by the ballads sung by Ms. Connie Monroe. The ever-present Emerald Society's Bagpipers were there as well bringing that special Irish touch which only bagpipes can bring. All in all, despite there being no parade, it was a great Irish celebration and I was happy to be there and see it all unfold. You can see photos of the day at our 2010 St. Patrick's gallery. Enjoy!

2010 AAU International Tournament Photos Posted

2010-02-02T10:12:00.000-08:00

The photos of the 2010 AAU International Tournament have been posted in the 2010 AAU gallery. The tournament as always was excellent thanks to the hard work of Alex Linares and Ken Hackmeister who are the brains behind this wonderfully run tourney. Thirty eight teams graced the fields of Disney's Wide World of Sports and I was there to see (and hopefully, capture) it all. I am a lucky girl (ahem, photographer) indeed!

This was my seventh consecutive visit to this tournament and I have to say it just gets better every year. It also gets harder to try to photograph everyone and everything that happens on those fields. So, if you don't see yourself in the photos, do not despair; I shall be there again next year with camera in tow. Just tap me on the shoulder and let me know you are out there and I will do my darndest to capture you in your full glory! Enjoy the photos.

Slideshow Update

2010-01-08T16:21:00.000-08:00

I have updated the opening slideshow on the homepage to include some more recent photos. For those of you not familiar with the slideshow, it resides in our home page and it plays a series of photos of different events that I have photographed throughout the years. I know that many of you are familiar with my sports photography but I also do a great deal of event photography and some travel photography as well. So, if you have a few minutes, log onto our website and take a look at our updated slideshow. Who knows? You may be featured on it!

Go to www.maddysphotos.com or click on the photo to go to our home page.

2008 ISF Jr Men's Championship - Yukon, Canada

2010-01-02T18:23:00.000-08:00

Some of you may have wondered whatever happened to the photos I took in 2008 at the Jr Men's World Championship in White Horse, Yukon, Canada. I was particularly excited about this tournament because of its location: the Yukon and because I do not often get to shoot young fastpitch players. However, access in this tournament was limited as the tournament already had an official photographer. Nonetheless the good folks at White Horse graciously allowed me to shoot anywhere around the ballpark as long as it was not on the field. I have not posted these pictures until now in deference to the official tournament photographer and to not impact her sales. It has been almost 18 months now but reviewing these photos brought back all the excitement. In particular the game between Argentina and New Zealand stands out. The heart shown in that game can be seen in many of the photos but those of us who were lucky enough to watch it in person will never forget the hair-raising ending, the reaction of the winning Argentine team, and the standing ovation given by the fans.

The photos are posted under 2008 ISF Junior Men's World Championship (click link or photo above).

Santa Con

2009-12-12T20:38:00.000-08:00

Today, I participated for the first time in a nation-wide tradition called "Santa Con". For those of you not familiar with the event, you can look it up in Wikipedia but in a nutshell Santa Con is a mass gathering of people dressed like Santa Claus who for one day roam the streets of the city bringing holiday cheer. I was intrigued by the concept and so joined over 500 other individuals and roamed the city streets of Los Angeles (in costume, of course). There were many photo opportunities most of which you can see in our 2009 Santa Con gallery; however, some costumes were not for (ahem) public consumption; I will leave that to your imagination . Nonetheless, you can enjoy the many versions and interpretations of a Santa suit. I think the women in particular were most creative but there were a few guys that showed incredible ingenuity. So, pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa, pull up the gallery and view hundreds of Santas as they wreaked havoc on a cold and rainy Saturday in Los Angeles. Ho, Ho, Ho!

Red Rock Revisited

2009-12-06T14:05:00.000-08:00

I'm playing catchup this weekend and so have posted the last set of photos I took at the Red Rock tournament in 2007. As I reviewed the photos for posting it brought back many memories of that field and that tournament. One of my favorite tournament for many reasons: location, players, quality of game, I still miss shooting this tournament two years later. Click here to take you to the gallery of photos for the 2007 Red Rock Tournament and enjoy revisiting one of the greatest tournaments that men's fastpitch has to offer. Let's hope we can one day soon return to this beautiful venue.

Field of Dreams

2009-12-01T21:42:00.000-08:00

I was in Quad Cities photographing the ISC II Tournament of Champions this past August and it just so happened to be a couple of hours from the actual Field of Dreams. So, off we went to look at this famous site and I must say it did not disappoint. It is the film site for the baseball movie of the same name. As baseball movies go, this one quickly became a classic and the field, I suppose, became a must place to visit for baseball and movie fans.

If you are not a baseball fan, this may not strike you as all that interesting, but I can tell you that if any place can convert you this one can. A pristine field of green grass against a jaw-dropping azure sky, a striking (and ghostly) corn field, visitors reverently walking and playing in the grounds, and you have a magical place. You need not be a fan to recognize that.

So, as you peruse the photos, may it bring back some joyful memories of playing in your own backyard or as I did, may it help you recognize the beauty of something as simple and beautiful as a baseball field, on a hot summer day.

When walls come tumbling down

2009-11-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

This week I was invited to photograph a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. I jumped at the chance to do something so interesting and unique in Los Angeles. Starting out with a gala reception featuring the famous german chanteuse Ute Lemper and ending with the ceremonial tearing down of an artists' wall on Wilshire Blvd., the evening was filled with interesting people and great opportunities for photography. However, some of the activities kept me on my toes as they also provided challenges. In an effort to re-create the atmosphere of an old nightclub for the gala event the wonderful lighting people had used a chemical fog that enveloped the entire room. This resulted in a sultry ambiance that sent my camera readings off the charts and made capturing that "sultry" ambiance a bit (ahem) of a challenge. I have to admit that I did mutter under my breath on several occasions but I am very happy with the results. The street event also offered its own unique challenges having to fight for space with hundreds of media photographers who were just as determined as I to photograph the tearing down of the wall. I ended up hanging over a barricade on a platform overlooking the wall and praying that the barricade would hold. I think I have bruises in my abdomen from doubling my body over the fence. No pain no gain. Still, I would not trade in a moment of that evening. It was as if we were all participating in a historic event ourselves; over 700 people meeting on Wilshire Blvd., at midnight just to watch... how incredible is that? The photos have been posted under our cultural events category in the gallery: 2009 Fall of Berlin Wall Event. Enjoy!

2009 ISC II Photos - Final Galleries

2009-09-04T17:03:00.000-07:00

It is in a bittersweet mood that I finished the task of reviewing and uploading all the photos for the 2009 ISC II - Tournament of Champions. Bittwersweet because it signifies the end of the fastpitch season for me. No more standing in the field and sharing it with the very talented athletes who play this great game called fastpitch. No more smelling the sweet smell of grass as I stand too close to the foul line to get just the right shot. No more chattering with the managers and players as they return to their positions on the field. But all is not lost, as this will all repeat itself next year. Until then I hope you join me in re-visiting, through my photos, the wonderful tournament called the ISC II.

I have uploaded two more galleries: the first gallery is of the photos taken during the Opening Ceremonies (2009 ISC II - Opening Ceremonies) and the second gallery has photos taken around the ballpark of the fans, players and staff (2009 ISC II - Around the Ballpark). My thanks to everyone who each year make this tournament an unforgettable experience for me. From Blair Setford who each year gives me access so I can photograph this great tournament. To the game controllers who always happily accept the task of babysitting my equipment and keep me in stitches with their stories and jokes. To the players whose athletic prowess challenge me each and every game as I try to capture with photographs what they do so easily and with such talent. And last but not least, the umpires, for who I feel a close kinship; sort of brothers in arms you might say, sharing the field game after game but never playing in it.

ISC II Photos Posted

2009-08-31T10:51:00.000-07:00

After a long weekend of post-production work, I finished the "action" photos of the Tournament of Champions tournament. They are posted under the "ISC II - Action" gallery (see here). I still have photos from the Opening Ceremonies to post and some photos I took around the ballpark. Hopefully I will have those up this week. Enjoy!

2009 ISC II - Tournament of Champions

2009-08-24T16:42:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the many people who have inquired about photos taken at the 2009 ISC II Tournament of Champions. I just returned to California today, Monday, August 24, 2009 and have begun the "post tournament production work" on the huge batch of photos taken at the tournament and expect to have them up for viewing and purchase this week.

Thank you to those of you who have emailed me and to those who I ran into at the tournament for your kind words on my photography. I hope this batch will live up to the compliments.

Stay tuned for the photos, they are coming right up !

Twitter

2009-08-04T21:45:00.001-07:00

Maddy's Photos has finally succumbed to the "Twitter Revolution". You can check us out at http://twitter.com/maddysphotos. As many of you know, I am getting ready to shoot the ISC II - Tournament of Champions in Quad Cities so in preparation I have decided to post a photo of prior ISC II tournaments on Twitter;one picture per day. It has been exciting to join this new technology and find another way to share my photos with you. Let me know what you think and if you want to follow us - even better.

Catching Up

2009-07-19T23:03:00.000-07:00

I've been catching up with my photos this weekend and reviewing old photos to upload. I have started with the 2008 Best of the West tournament which many people have asked me about and it looks as though I never posted. So, they may be a little old but they are now posted here for all posterity. Enjoy!

Hongi

2009-07-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

This past 4th of July weekend I was invited to shoot the prestigious World Fastball Invitational in Monkton, Ontario, Canada. I can’t begin to express all the thoughts that come to mind when I think of this past weekend and how fortunate I am to be involved in such a great sport that attracts such great people. Our gracious hosts Brian Baillie, Kevin Quipp and Sandra Machlan who made my job that much easier by providing everything and anything I needed; the people of Monkton whose hundreds of volunteers make this one of the best-run events I have ever seen; the caliber of players and umpires that come to this tournament and the locale of this wonderful tournament made this a most memorable experience for me. Which brings me to something I learned this weekend, called the “Hongi”; the Hongi is a traditional Maori greeting which is done by pressing one’s nose to the other person when they meet each other. It is believed that when the two noses meet, people exchange their breath and the visitor becomes one of their tribe. I had the privilege to watch a “Hongi” in person as the New Zealand team honored one of their own Paul Walford at the tournament. It dawned on me then how much of this we already do as part of the fastpitch community. No, we do not touch noses, but instead we share in the experience called “fastpitch” and as such become part of the “tribe”. I am far from being a player but I’d like to think that through my photography I have joined the fastpitch tribe and through the images I capture I hopefully bring the “tribes” closer together. You can see the photos of the World Fastball Invitational here.

Heartbreak

2009-06-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

Sometimes digital photography can break your heart. This past weekend I was called to shoot the Best of the West fastpitch tournament in beautiful Santa Barbara. I spent two days on the ball fields, capturing what I thought was some of my best shots, and it was all for not. As many of you have seen, I carry quite a bit of gear, and in open parks such as the one in Santa Barbara I have to be watchful of where the gear is at all times as it is open to the public. I even take advantage of my friendships with the fans and players to keep an eye on the gear when I am not around. However, all precaution aside, I like to keep the digital chips with me. In case the gear disappears, I always have the images that I have worked hard to capture. This past weekend something went horribly wrong and I lost the case that contained the chips with the photos of the last day of the tournament. I can’t describe the feeling of losing those photos and the sense of disappointment in not being able to provide Dave, the tournament director, and the players the images that they saw me taking throughout the tournament. This has given me time to reflect and reconsider my approach and with the help of my very able husband we are working on a workflow process to avoid this in the future. So for now, if you do not see your team in the photos, know it was not intentional and that I am truly sorry for the loss. In the meantime, I was able to save some photos from the first day and some from the second. You can find them here for your viewing pleasure.

Slideshow

2009-05-02T19:39:00.000-07:00

I've been experimenting this weekend with putting up videos of the photos I take. I usually make digital slideshows of my photos to present my work. I find that it is alot easier to sit through a quick presentation (with music) than to sift through hundreds of photos. So, I am very excited that I am now able to publish my little "vignettes" here on my blog. Hope you enjoy it.

A pleasure

2009-04-19T23:17:00.000-07:00

After almost a decade and a half I found myself once again on the grounds of the annual Renaissance Pleasure Faire. As luck would have it, it is now held in Irwindale, California which is very close to my mother's home. So, with camera in hand, and I must admit, not many expectations, I entered the world of Queen Elizabeth and her merry court. I found that the faire has become quite the photographer's magnet as I was not alone in carrying a large camera body and matching lens throughout the day. However, this event is something to be experienced rather than captured. I for one was mesmerized by Queen Elizabeth's paramour, the Earl of Leicester, fascinated by the "Bargain Midwife" selling (pardon the word) testicles, and happy as a pixie watching children and young girls dance around a maypole. It is a cacophony of sights and sounds and one you should not miss. Just in case you do, however, here are some photos of the event to wet your appetite.

2009-04-11T23:21:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday I had the opportunity to photograph the AIREX exercise at the LA/Ontario airport for the Ontario Airport Crash & Fire division. For those of you not familiar with the event, this is an unrehearsed, full-scale, aircraft incident drill to evaluate the operational capability of the airport's emergency management system, in a real-time, stress environment. Access like the one I was given does not come easily and I was grateful for the opportunity to be able to go anywhere and shoot anything I liked. So much so, that I had a close call with a helicopter that was taking off and had it not been for an alert fireman who warned me I may not have been writing this blog today! The event offered much to shoot as there were multiple things happening at once: an explosion, a smoke-filled airplane loaded with victims and and a tarmac that became an emergency treatment area as victims were brought in and treated. The "victims" were volunteers from a local college and there was no lack of acting on their part. I saw many a gasping, choking, wreathing in pain victim which just added to the "reality" of it all. You can see them and the wonderful fire crews at work here .

Celebrity

2009-03-26T22:52:00.000-07:00

Call it the luck of the Irish (I am one after all, by marriage) for this year I was lucky enough to be called back to shoot the Los Angeles St. Patrick's Day Parade. This event is always fun one to do as I always have something interesting to shoot or I get to meet someone interesting. This year was no exception; I not only met the beautiful Vera Jimenez (here pictured with me) but a myriad of police officers, firemen, celebrities and hundreds of school children who make this such a wonderful event. A favorite of mine was the band from Baja California whose "colonial" looking uniforms and enthusiastic cheerleaders made it that more special. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. You can see them here

Women's Fastpitch at Fullerton

2009-03-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

Steve Miner, a good friend and Assistant Coach for the women's fastpitch team at San Diego State University got me access to shoot their team at a local game against Cal State Fullerton. I don't often have the chance to shoot women's fastpitch so I was very excited about getting this opportunity. It did not disappoint. The game was exciting and had quite a bit of action. I think the women bring a different flavor to the game with their chants and their energy but they are not any different from the men when it comes to being tough and competitive. It was truly a pleasure to shoot them and I hope I get the opportunity to do so again. The photos are posted here if you wish to peruse them.

Santa Ana

2009-02-24T22:48:00.000-08:00

For the past two weeks I have had the opportunity to explore a nearby town that I usually do not get the chance to visit. Santa Ana, as I have come to find out is a melting pot of attractions. The civic center has the beautiful Ronald Reagan Federal building and the charming Old Courthouse where yours truly got her marriage license. It is also home to the Bowers Museum and a locally-famous neighborhood called the Flower Park with hundreds of old houses all impeccably kept and harking back to the 1920's and 30's. Though not within its city limits the Crystal Cathedral is also nearby and worth taking a slight detour to see. Click here to see some of the photos I have taken in the past few days of the undiscovered city of Santa Ana.

AAU Tournament - 6 years in a row

2009-02-02T17:45:00.000-08:00

Once again I had the privilege and the luck to shoot the AAU Men's Fastpitch Tournament in Orlando, Florida at Disney's Wide World of Sports. Great weather and a superb facility make this one of my favorite tournaments. However, it is the mix of players from all over the United States, Canada and the Caribbean who flock to this tournament that make the tournament so special. It is also a very competitive tournament and as any player will tell you anyone can win it but anyone can lose it too. For all these reasons, I love to shoot this tournament but the 40 teams and 6 fields with games continuously playing throughout 3-1/2 days, make it a challenge. You can check out the gallery of photos here . Let me know what you think.

Dia de los Muertos

2008-11-04T19:49:00.001-08:00

For the second year in a row I attended the festivities at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in honor of Dia de los Muertos. This has got to be by far one of my favorite Los Angeles' festivals because of the creativity and the great tradition behind this event. This day which is shared by many people in Latin America honors those who have passed on by making altars in honor of the dead which offer their favorite food and feature their beloved personal items. The event at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery goes a bit further by offering an altar competition and providing traditional entertainment among 3 stages. The cemetery comes to life with the altars and the thousands of people that patronize the event; most of them in costume themselves honoring the day. I have a great deal of fun photographing this event and I hope I have done justice to the hard work that goes into putting this festival together. You can see this year's photos of Dia de los Muertos here.

Virginia City

2008-09-19T11:43:00.000-07:00

Jim and I are off this afternoon to the NAFA Masters West Tournament in Carson City, Nevada. I was there last year and had the opportunity to visit the nearby town of Virginia City. I have always been fascinated by western lore and love the fact that Virginia City (sans cars) still looks like a western town. I did not have much time when I visited last but I got in some good shots. I have uploaded the photos under Places/Virginia City 2007. I think you'll get a kick out of them. Enjoy!

A new day

2008-09-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally got my blog up and I am very excited. I hope to use this medium to share with you my favorite photos and to hopefully speak a bit about photography, sports and whatever adventures I run across as I shoot. Stay tuned!