Put On Your Game Face!

Tonight,  I was perusing the wedding photographic society forum.  A comment was made to another forum participant that he needed to add an avatar to his profile so people could associate a face with a forum post at our bi-monthly meetings.  This is something that I have not done yet either.

So I grabbed one of my favorite models and photography assistants named Sophie Jackle.  She was so thrilled that  I was going to actually allow her to touch my camera.  This is something that she is typically not allowed to do.  One would think that this because of my concern that she may accidentally damage my gear.  Actually, I may also be afraid that she would show me up with better and more creative photography.

Anyway, I sent up my 580EX flash unit with a 28 inch umbrella soft box as a key light.  I sent my 430 EX II with a grid spot for a rim light.  The intention here was to make a simple casual head shot for the forum.   I put my 50mm F1.8 lens on my camera and installed it on my tripod.  Nothing fancy.  Just trying to take a simple head shot for the forum.  The tripod would help make it easier for Sophie and me less nervous. 

H

ere is the headshot we ended up with for the forum.  I merely demonstrating what a game face was to my daughter Sophie using a souvenir I bought at one of my trips to Lambeau Field.   Here is the shot she took.  See I told you I should have some concern about her showing me up.  Great job Sophie!!!

Remember in previous posts,  I mentioned that we had to keep things even in our house between our two daughters. This works between fathers and daughters also.  Here are a few examples of  Sophie’s game face.

So next thing we knew, we heard footsteps. Apparently, our game face growls sparked this sweet and innocent little girl’s curiosity.

 

She is so cute and innocent.  I had to share another one also.

 

Remember that keep it even stuff.  Well, here are some shots of  Savannah’s game faces.

 

For good measure, one  rather loud one without the  helmet.  Apparently, she wanted to make sure you knew who was giving you the  game face !!


Now we had to pull out another one of my helmets for this “brown helmet” game face variation. 

 

Finally and last but not least,  a game face duet with a little Gene Simmons mixed in for good measure.

Did I tell you that both of my girls are requesting to dress up as Gene Simmons for Halloween this year?  Well, of course I had nothing to do with that request.  Do not believe my wife Jackie if she tells you otherwise.  Do you see my Mr. Simmons figurine perched on the shelf proudly watching Sophia doing her Gene Simmons imitation?

Till next time.  See ya soon!!

Note: Facebook readers can see bigger and higher quality versions of these photos by clicking  the “View Original Post” link on the Facebook page  below.  This will show this same post on my blog website. 

Gene Spolar finally gets a chance

 

Photo Credit: Scott Anderson – Racine Journal Times

As I pointed out in my previous posts, I grew up in Racine, Wisconsin as a Green Bay Packer fan.  In Wisconsin, both my older brother “Intense Dave” and I played YMCA youth football.  My brother played one season for the (in)famous “Cardinals”.  The Cardinals were led by coach, family friend, and devote NFL Cardinal(St. Louis at the time) fan Gene Spolar.   The YMCA cardinals, like the NFL cardinals, were not really successful in the YMCA league. 

In fact, the team was winless for several seasons. 

At the beginning of the season the year that my brother played on the team, Gene Spolar provided the team with a little inspiration.  He said that if they could win just one game, he would then shave his head completely bald.  The 70s was a time when bald was not in fashion.  Yes, the team did win that one game that eluded them for the past several seasons and Gene was a bald man.  I would like to think that my brothers effort on the field was the straw that broke the win-less camel back.  That was my recollection anyway and I will stick to it.

Today, it another David and Goliath story with the under dog Cardinals playing the favored Pittsburgh Steelers.  When I think of the Cardinals(now in Arizona),  I always think of our friend and coach Gene Spolar who never wavered or gave up on his beloved Cardinals.  It takes a lot of guts to be a Cardinal fan in Packer country.  Well,  yesterday, the Racine Journal Times paper columnist Peter Jackel wrote an article about Gene Spolar.  His sons Tony, Tim and Toby are taking Gene to Raymond James Stadium for the Cardinals- Steelers  Super Bowl.  Gene celebrated his 70th birthday on Friday.  What a present for you Gene!!!  I wish you the best on Sunday.

Packer Gnome felt at home in the snow

 

For people that know me,  it is old news that I am big Green Bay Packer fan.  I grew up in Racine, Wisconsin and have followed the Packers since the early 1970s after meeting Bart Starr at the local YMCA in 1971.  I also run a Green Bay Packer fan site called PackerIQ.com which has Packer trivia, NFL picks contest, user submitted Packer “tundra” trivia, and Packer news.   It has been around since 1998-9.

Over Christmas, I received a present from my favorite big brother “Intense Dave”(my only brother- but do not tell him I told you).   He sent me this Packer  Gnome that proudly lives at our oak tree by the driveway to our home.  I never thought he would experience the snow this quickly here in Raleigh, NC.  I am sure that he feels right at home. This picture was taken during our recent snow.

Good night Philip

Well, it was an interesting weekend in the NFL playoffs.  The outcomes of the games remind us of the parity in the NFL.  With the exception of the San Diego-Pittsburgh game, the visitors took it to the home teams.  So much for “home field” advantage in the modern day NFL playoffs.

The Arizona Cardinals will be in their first NFC championship game after beating the heavily favored Carolina Panthers .  Up until this season, the Cardinal franchise has only won one playoff game in 61 years.  As I watched the game,  I came to realize why  Larry Fitzgerald gets the press he does. He is amazing with his hands. He was catching everything that came his way.  The Arizona Cardinals defense (with a little help from the Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme) showed that they really exist.  Guys like Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner do their talking on the field and leave their egos at the house.  

Shut Phillip Rivers!

The San Diego Chargers squeaked into the playoffs with a late regular season run. After beating the Indianapolis Colts, they were touted as a team that could go all the way.  All the NFL analysts have stated that the San Diego Chargers are Phillip River’s team and not LaDamian Tomlinson’s team anymore.  If only Philip could play as well as he as his ego. 

I was glad to see the Chargers go down just because I am so tired of hearing about Phillip Rivers.  I understand that he went to college at NC state in my current home town.   Even as a Carolina Tarheel graduate, I enjoyed watching him as a player at NC state.  When he turned pro, the money and his head got the best of him.  I prefer a player that quietly does his talking on the field and does the talking with class off the field.  Maybe Phillip can learn a few things from LT.  I think it sends the right message to our children that idolize these players when they present themselves with class.  

Well, the Steelers did the job and we do not have to hear his mouth anymore this season.  Good night Phillip !!  Hopefully,  next year you will lead your team to better than a barely-over .500 record and keep your mouth shut and play with class.