Around the ballpark

I have posted the last of the 2011 ISC World Tournament galleries: Around the Ballpark. These photos are always my favorite because they show the camaraderie among the players as well as those watching the games. The gallery features photos of the Opening Ceremonies and photos taken around the ballpark. I enjoyed seeing all the photos after all this time and I hope you do the same. Click HERE to see the gallery of photos.

My first SCIFL tourney of the season

This past weekend, I once again picked up my camera gear and headed for Little Lake Park, where our local fastpitch league plays. This was my first time this season but it was about the fifth tourney for SCIFL. It is always old home week when I return to this park and to the familiar faces that to me signal that the summer is here and best of all fastpitch season. Click HERE to see photos of the tournament, and if you feel up to it, let us know how you feel about the photos by clicking on the "Like" button. We'd really like to have your feedback.

The Women and the Bombers

Steve Miner
SDSU Asst. Coach

Last Friday, I took in a game between the San Diego State University women's softball team and the old Vista Bombers (circa 1991). This is not the first time these two teams have met, in fact it has become an annual tradition as one of the women's coaches is a former Vista Bomber himself (Steve Miner). It was late in the afternoon when the game began, leaving me very little light to capture the action, but what I did catch was wonderful. Not only are the girls great athletes but it was nice to see that time and age had not dampen the abilities and spirit of the Vista Bombers. You can check out the gallery of photos HERE.

2011 ISC Hall of Fame Photos

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

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

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?

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.