All-Star Games

I always forget that after graduation and before teenagers head off to college there are a large amount of All-Star games.

First the football All-Star game at Bald Eagle Area High School. Can't wait for football season to start.

Then was the softball All-Stars.

Enjoyed the expression on this one.

Rising Stars

I have been anxious to blog these photos for several weeks but was waiting for them to be published first. This year we did a special section, titled Rising Stars, about outstanding graduating seniors from around the area. I met with 4 of the 11 students (11 for 2011) to take their portraits. I tried to incorporate activities they were involved with and show who they were. The first photo of each person is the image that was published, and then there are a few extra shots that I liked.

Catherine is a lacrosse player and a dancer who had a large involvement with the Best Buddies program and student senate.

Chelsea was a varsity cheerleader, was Miss Foliage 2010 and got accepted into a very elite nursing program.

I tried three different locations trying to get this photo the way I wanted it. We were having difficulties with mother nature, the winds were strong and the sun was very bright. The first attempt at this photo Chelsea had hair across her face, the second attempt was on cement and there were to many smashed pieces of gum and I thought the gray was too dull, and this was our third attempt. I'm not sold on the shadows from the tree, but the tree helped for her to be able to smile and not be squinting with the sun.

Kip was class president and a football player is will be attending the Air Force Academy.

Sara who was the drum major and involved in all the musical groups the school had to offer, is also a go-kart racer on the weekends.

We are the Champions!

Last week I photographed the PIAA State Softball and Baseball Championships. It was a busy day running back and forth between the two Penn State stadiums but the day led to some great photos.

The biggest game of the day for me was the softball game with one of the teams in our coverage area that I've photographed a lot this season, Philipsburg-Osceola. They were playing a high school from my hometown for the class AA title.

Rex pitched the entire game for the Mounties.

The game ending out, a foul ball caught by short stop Wilson.

Celebration! This photos ran 6 columns across the entire front page of Saturday's paper.

Zac and Kerri

I had a friend from high school, Kerri, message me about an idea she had for her upcoming wedding. As a personal touch to the table numbers her and her fiance thought of places around State College that meant something to them, and each table would represent these places. To welcome guests at each table they will find a photo of Zac and Kerri in each of these places, holding a sign that is the table number. I loved the idea and we spent one Saturday afternoon running all around the Penn State campus and downtown.

Of course the first stop, and what will be the head table at the wedding, the lion shrine.

Mmmm the creamery.

In addition to each location I tried to have the couple posed in a different way to add more character to each photo. Let's go STATE! Outside the entrance to the student section.

We also stopped to do a few nice photos since they hadn't had engagement photos done.

Hintz Alumni center has so many great spots to photograph including these large white columns.

And of course, the ring!

Softball Playoffs

I apologize I have been slacking with blogging lately, things have been busy with high school sport playoffs and graduations.

This is the Philipsburg-Osceola softball team PIAA State quarterfinals game last week. The team has advanced and will be playing in the State championships at the end of the week.

Teammates congratulate Kate Burge after her out of the park home-run in the fourth inning.

Chelsea Rex hugs Carly Gonder after her hit in the seventh inning that batted in the winning run.

Portraits

To help out a friend I did portraits last week of a girl who will be featured in the Penn State President's Philanthropy Report. I'm excited to be published in a campus publication and think the photos came out pretty well. She is an accounting major so we took photos around the business building on campus where the majority of her classes are.

Welch Pool

The weekend marked the official kick off to the summer, the heat was here, the sun was out, and the new Welch pool opened. At the end of last season they closed the pool, filled in the space and started all over to create the new four million dollar facility.

Visitors of all ages took part in the ceremonial first splash.

Tube slides!

As this little boy traveled through the slide all I heard was wooooooow, wooooow, wooooow!

The current tunnel, also known as lazy river.

I can't wait to have a day off and go enjoy the pool myself!