The Masters start today in Augusta, GA (4/8/2010). All the media attention is on the come back of Tiger Woods. I thought it would be a nice change to see a short video clip featuring the ladies of the LPGA that was taken last year by Chase Jarvis. Enjoy!
One of the blogs I do follow on a regular basis is posted by a well-known commercial photographer, Chase Jarvis (www.chasejarvis.com). His latest post gives props to a new set of creative minds and how they filmed a car commercial. This commercial is just really cool and really different. The commercial was filmed mostly with Canon 5D’s and a few small handy cams mounted to R/C vehicles (that’s the really cool part of it). Here are a couple of videos about the commercial. I hope you enjoy and also check out Chase’s work.
This first video is the full length commercial.
This second video is the behind the scenes footage of how it was filmed, which will give you the sense of 1/10th scale.
The new hybrid cameras are brining a new dimension to the new visual artist. It’s a great time to be a photographer.
I am very passionate about photography. I always have a camera with me. It’s like having a security blanket that brings me comfort and confidence. If any one knows me at all, they will tell you I am just laid back and very reserved. The camera brings out my real inner creative soul.
I am primarily a portrait photographer. I think of myself as a “character” photographer. I put this category somewhere between a lifestyle and an environmental portrait photographer. I like to capture people on location in “their” moment and in “their” surroundings doing what they enjoy.
Earlier this month I attended a roller derby match. It was the Gold Coast Derby Girls vs. the Steel City 
Derby Demons. When I think of roller derby, I think of the old wooden floor that is elevated and banked on the ends that also has a handrail outlining the perimeter of the rink. The women would wear crazy get-ups and bash each other and try to flip their opponent over the rail. A real knock’em, sock’em sport. This is what I was expecting when I heard the roller derby was in town. I figured this would be a fun-filled night to hang with the buds and the chance to take some great “character” shots.
Well…….. The roller derby was held at the local casino out in the parking lot. The rink was makeshift, made out of plastic 12×12 inch garage floor puzzle pieces. The seating was classic aluminum stadium stands. The crowd of people, priceless. Even though the rink was not what I envisioned, the participants and onlookers were an eyeful.
The first half of the action I sat on the floor in between some other photographers. With a Canon on my left and a Nikon on my right with their big 200 
f/2.8 lenses, I was in the middle with my little Leica M8 sporting a 90mm or a 50mm. I have to say if you have never used a rangefinder for action, it can be a challenge. I would hear their motor drives running in each of my ears while I was just one click at a time. I did get a chance to glance over at there LCD’s and noticed a lot of deleting going on. I had fun with the camera, which was borrowed from one of my other jobs.
This is one of my favorite shots from the event
As an artist I like to be different. I like to crop my images, stretch my frames, drag my shutter and pan to show the action. I converted most of the images to black and white, because I thought it gave it a sense of nostalgic throwback from the 70’s. It was like I was paying homage to a dead sport.
The athletes were sporting booty shorts and fishnets, apparently the choice of uniform. Their jerseys boasted such bully names as Stone Bitch Blues, Kitten Not Submittin’, Sookie Skankhouse, Madame Abagael, T’sunami and Freek-a-Rella. Let the derby begin……
The action was a little on the mild side for roller derby standards. Not the typical “cat scratch fever” you would find back in the old days when the sport was at its peak. But, nevertheless, it was a fun-filled
adventure with plenty of people watching and laughing on the inside. I know nothing about roller derby, so I was trying to follow the play-by-play action that was going on. All I got out of it was that one person from 
each team starts in the back and has to make there way up through the other players and lead laps. They get points by doing this. I really didn’t know what was going on, but I had fun and got some great shots.
Roller derby is growing in popularity again. If you live in the South Florida region and are interested in attending a match, check out the Gold Coast Derby Girls website for a schedule. Here is the link to their website: www.goldcoastderbygrrls.com/.
The setup of the roller derby was not what I envisioned, but I did have a wonderful time, hung out with my friends, and got some great shots. I will quote from USA television network’s old slogan, “Characters Welcomed“, maybe that should be my slogan.
To see more of the images from the event click here: ROLLER DERBY.
