SPRING SPORTS

   
     I haven't really had much opportunity to get out and photographer too many spring sports competitions this year like baseball, softball, track, soccer, tennis, golf.
     This week I was finally able to get out and get some photos at a few area baseball games and then on Thursday I got some photos at a track and field meet in Three Lakes. I just wish the temperature was a little warmer than 40 degrees, it was a bit chilly out there with the wind.
     The spring sports season was always my favorite season to take photos in, the first was the fall season. I like being outdoors taking photos of athletes in action.
     Probably two of my favorite events at a track meet are the pole vault and the jumping events like the long jump and triple jump. I enjoy seeing the athletes reaction as they try to pole vault over that bar or come crashing into the sand pits of the jumping events.
     Regionals are beginning this week, but I'm not sure I've I'll make it to any of those, I hope I do.
     Enjoy the rest of the season! Summer is almost here!

SPRING IS FINALLY HERE

   
    Well, it took some time, but spring is finally here and there's nothing better in spring than sunsets. Yes, there are sunsets in other seasons, but the spring and summer seem to bring out the best.
     I love photographing sunsets. If you look on my wall at home, it is covered in sunset photos I have taken in the past -- on Shawano Lake, the Wolf River, the Wisconsin River and now Boom Lake as well.
     My favorite of all these is one I took about three years ago when I was working at the Shawano Leader as presentation editor. I was driving through Cecil as the sun was setting and was hoping I'd run across a nice picture. I was going past the dock that is right on Shawano Lake and there is was!
     It was a grandfather and his grandson out there fishing, silhouetted by the sunset. I pulled over, jumped out of the car and started making photos. The best one was as the grandfather and the grandson were facing each other and the grandfather was helping to fix his grandson's fishing line.
     That photo almost didn't make it in the paper. At first the grandfather didn't want his picture in the paper, but after about 15 minutes of talking to them about fishing and having Shawano Lake close to their home, he agreed to us using the photo.

     A photo I just took Wednesday night is probably my second favorite sunset photo of all-time now. I was driving over the County Road W bridge from Rhinelander into Pine Lake when I noticed the sunset creating a real awesome shade of red, orange and purple. I pulled over to the side of the road and shot a few frames.
     I don't know what it is about sunsets that I like the most, maybe it's because they are relaxing and I'm not thinking of anything else when I'm shooting those photos, or if it's the bright colors, but I don't think I'll ever get bored with sunset photos.
    Here are a few I've taken recently.
    Enjoy!