Chesapeake rain

"Heavy rain from Hurricane Irene falls on the Chesapeake Bayhawks before they take on the Boston Cannons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on August 27, 2011 in Annapolis, Maryland. The Bayhawks would be eliminated by the Cannons in the Major League Lacrosse semi-final."

Shooting two lacrosse games on Saturday was difficult.

Heavy rain fell and strong winds gust the entire time, so keeping the front element of my lenses clean, dry was almost impossible.

I realized that keeping a second body with a wide-angle lens with me would be a hazard because several inches of water flooded the field. So keeping it dry and safe would have been an added pressure aside from trying to get images in focus with the torrential downpours.

Alas, this was one of the few wide frames I got off and liked before stashing the wide in the dry press box. Only if ThinkTank Photo would design a, in my opinion, long awaited rain cover for a pro body and wide lens - then I wouldn't have been so scared of drowning a camera and lens.

Rabil

"Paul Rabil #99 of the Boston Cannons celebrates with teammate Brad Ross #10 after a goal in the second quarter against the Chesapeake Bayhawks in the Major League Lacrosse semi-final at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on August 27, 2011 in Annapolis, Maryland. The Cannons won, and would go on to win their first MLL title."

Spent a couple hours in a complete downpour (read: a Hurricane Irene) shooting my favorite past-time: Lacrosse.

I grew up playing the sport in Maryland and always have had some sort of connection to the game. Simply search it here on my blog and you'll find a ton of images and stories.

However, I've never gotten the chance to shoot the Major League Lacrosse. Luckily, I got the call to shoot not one game, but two semi-final games in Annapolis.

The fun part of the weekend, minus the sideways rain, was that some of the players I played with growing up and others I photographed in college where gunning for the championship. That would include, according to my shot list - "THE most popular player in the world" - Paul Rabil.

I wouldn't go that far, then again, I should agree. He has more Facebook fan pages than, umm, who knows. The guy is simply popular and very talented.

Left after five

"New York Yankees starting pitcher A.J. Burnett (34) wipes his face after giving up a home run against the Baltimore Orioles' Mark Reynolds (12) in the second inning, the first of six runs Burnett would give up in the inning, during a baseball game in Baltimore, Friday, Aug. 26, 2011."

This weekend has been a schedule of change. A lot of news happening on the east coast, as well as sports action taking place.

I've been changed around a couple times, but that's the life of a freelancer. I cannot complain - I am still working.

Last night, I was called last minute to cover the New York Yankees taking on the Baltimore Orioles.

A hot, humid night as hurricane Irene came into town, the game was full of action because of some questionable pitching. But this ended up being my favorite moment of the night.

Now back to getting wet in the rain.

City

"Carrying balloons, a man walks down the sidewalk near the East Village in New York City, Ny., Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2011."

Was in New York City yesterday and spent a lot of time on my feet.

I kept thinking back to this guy, as I wish I could have floated around. Probably would have saved my feet the pain that they're in today.

But I had a great day in the city. Simply love the energy.

Placement

"Starting pitcher Ross Detwiler #48 of the Washington Nationals warms up before taking on the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park on August 22, 2011 in Washington, DC."

Sometimes you hit a homer, other nights, you struggle to get on base. Most of the time, you feel like you're in the right. Your mind tells you to use a certain lens and anticipate the action from the unquestionably perfect spot.

But there are other times where your brain, even with the help of luck, cannot predict the output of the game. Not sure if that was the case last night or that there just wasn't much happening.

The game started slow. Everyone next to me seemed to be in the same situation, as no telling pictures had been made early in the game.

Working a game alone has its risks, too. Deciding when to go into the media lounge to transmit a couple pictures is one of them. Most times, you can file a couple pictures and resume shooting without anything major happening. Last night, I was filing for all of five minutes when the main play of the game, a multiple run homer, occurred.

It certainly was the peak of the game, as when I returned to shooting, things were again lackluster.

It's the way of the game. You hope the next game is better than the last visually speaking - whether you had a great game shooting or not.

Idealr

"A man stands on the sidewalk in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco, Calif., Tuesday, July 26, 2011."

Still working on some recent street images from other cities and neighbors I've wandered through.

I was really attracted to the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco, Calif. Then again, I am always attracted to places I probably shouldn't be walking on foot. And with that, when I am somewhere new - I am naive.

So it could have been perfectly safe. Or not. Who knows. That's me being curious and not caring.

One day I'll find and in, or just get the courage, to walk down east Monument Street in Baltimore.

Mark Poppins

"A man looks at his shadow as he holds an umbrella near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011."

Went through my tiny take of Washington, DC., from the other day and forgot about this moment.

Not only was I attracted to this scene because of my cliche-loving-desire to photograph umbrellas, but to oddity of the scene.

In jest, I said, "Look there is Mary Poppins’ brother – Mark." But as we approached I cranked off about 10 frames before we got too close and the moment was over.

Playing tourist

"Visitors walk around the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011."

My friend Matt Mills McKnight is in town for some photo meetings north and south of Baltimore, so I thought I could do my part in showing him around and give him a place to rest his head at night.

Picked him up in Washington, DC., yesterday and showed him some of the nation's most iconic monuments he had never seen in person before.

While I am in the district a lot for work, I don't really walk around downtown much because of all the tourists (read: tourists and traffic). Not to mention, I've been to Washington to see the monuments pretty much every year since fifth-grade.

They still amaze me and it's always fun to shoot around acting like a tourist from another country when there.

Missing element

"A car is parked along a steep road in San Francisco, Calif., Wednesday, July 27, 2011."

There is nothing worse than stalking a spot waiting for another element.

This scene had everything going: color, light, composition - but was missing the moment.

I would have done with a single person walking by. But didn't even get that.

Sometimes the photo just doesn't come together and you're left wondering what it might have been.

At the top

"Hikers lay exhausted on Logan Pass at Glacier National Park in West Glacier, Mont., Sunday, July 31, 2011."

I made a small hike while at Glacier National Park, which was a fairly steep grade in melting snow.

While the elevation was somewhere near what I was used to when living in Salt Lake City, it still kicked my ass. Those at sea level don't realize such simple hikes at a moderate elevation can simply kill your lungs. Not literally of course.

I still remember mountain biking and feeling as if my brain was going to squirt from my ears from the height when in the mountains.

As for these two, they were gasping for some air. Not sure where they were from, but obviously they needed some oxygen and weren't finding much.

At the bottom

"A park visitor fixes her hair as wind blows along Going-to-the-Sun Road at Glacier National Park in West Glacier, Mont., Sunday, July 31, 2011."

Visiting national parks is always memorizing. It's also sensory overload for the pupils.

While most of my pictures tend to be "Ansel Adams" I do try and seek warm bodies to compliment the amazing landscapes.

I am not sure what drives me to always get a human in my photographs, it's probably my journalistic instinct, but I think when I am in wilderness I want to show that I wasn't the only person there.

This image was near the bottom. The top comes tomorrow.

Glacier

"Hikers ascend and descend a snowy, yet warm Logan Pass at Glacier National Park in West Glacier, Mont., Sunday, July 31, 2011."

I had the pleasure of getting into Glacier National near Kalispell, Mont., yesterday.

Ibreath a breath of fresh air as I've been missing mountains and higher elevations ever since moving from Utah back to Baltimore.

Catching a flight back home now, but wanted to share a frame while I had the time.