Short Notice Assignment

I recently received one of those phone calls we "aspiring 'professional' photographers" look forward to getting - an actual assignment - AND - one that pays.  That's the good news.

The bad news was the call came on a Thursday and I needed to shoot on Friday.  Oh Boy!

Orono High School Athletic Director Mike Archer has been assembling a series of inspirational/motivational posters of the some of the stellar athletes at Orono High School.  The posters are mounted in the hall near the gymnasium and each photo of each athlete has a word printed on it that describes both the person in the photo and the characteristics we hope all athletes (and non-athletes alike) aspire to.

For the winter sport season Mike needed a shot of Hockey, Swimming and Track and Field.  I had travel plans for Saturday and that Friday too if the truth is to be told here but I was able and willing to take on the two scheduled on Friday.

His description of what he desired was simple; action shots of Cameron Dwyer swimming the butterfly stroke and Michael Brown making a save on a shot on goal - both 'head on' capturing "the moment!"

Friday was THE day because there was a swim meet at the pool on Campus and the boys Hockey team had the ice at the Alfond for practice.  Okay---game on!

First, a call to my friend Kevin Bennett, a fabulous shooter for the Bangor Daily News.  Kevin has always been gracious in sharing advice, technique and answering my questions.  On more than one occasion I've accompanied Kevin while he was working and he never tired of my inane endless questions on every conceivable photographic topic from "what is this White Balance thing" to how to correctly spell jpeg?  Kevin Bennett Rocks!

So I told him my assignment, knowing that he had shot swim meets at that pool.  He was quick to answer and his advice was right on.  "Bring lights, it's dark as a pocket in there.  Wear shorts - it's hotter than blazes in there.  Wear shoes that won't slip, plan to wet (both you and your camera) and May The Force Be With You!"

Oh Boy!  I'm in trouble.

First I shot Cam Dwyer.  Cam is a super stud of a swimmer (and baseball player) from a family of other super athletes.  Panic set in upon arrival at the pool when I learned that Cam would NOT be swimming the Butterfly tonight.  Oh Boy! I'm in BIG trouble.  Options?  NONE.  Pretty hard to make out faces with the other strokes, let alone something that conveys POWER and STRENGTH.

Quickly now.... quickly.......the Meet starts in 15 Minutes.     Oh Boy.  More Trouble.

Talk to the Coach.  Tell him what I want.  "Sure,"  he says, "how about I have him jump in lane four right now, swim the butterfly towards you and have him jump out and get ready for the meet?"  Great!  What is that warm liquid running down my leg?  Kevin was right, I'm getting wet


Justin clamped an SB800 flash to the lifeguard stand at camera left, zoom all the way out, set to half power, remove dome diffuser, attach Pocket Wizard radio transceiver, aim halfway down Lane 4.  Put second SB800 flash with Pocket Wizard on paint stick, hand to my lovely and capable assistant (Andi), tell her to stand camera right with flash aimed at center of Lane four.  Fire two test frames, make exposure adjustments and holy crap here he comes signal Cam to start. I shoot, shoot, shoot.  He stops and looks up at me.  I chimp through the LCD real quick.  The coach gives me the "glad I could help" look, and I'm done.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm lens at 200mm, Dynamic 21 pt. autofocus, Manual Mode, f2.8 at 1/250th, Matrix Metering, ISO 800, Auto White Balance, two SB800 flashes fired via Pocket Wizard.

Move over to Alfond Arena for Hockey.  We wait for the peewee league to finish their practice and out comes the Zamboni.  Andi points out the Goalie - Michael Brown - and I introduce myself and tell him what I want to do and beg him to ask one of his friends to protect me from either an errant check or puck to the back of the head.  Mike is very gracious.  He casually calls his Mom to bring his Varsity Game shirt - which of course she does.  I get the green light and out on the ice I go.

Two SB800s set TTL on light stands at 45 degrees camera right and left.  Frame it up, Mike's buddy starts taking shots.  I work on timing.  Look at the LCD.  Make some adjustments.  Ten minutes go by, the coach starts to get antsy.  I'm done.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm lens at 70mm, Dynamic 21 pt. autofocus, Manual Mode, f3.2 at 1/250th, Matrix Metering, ISO 400, Auto White Balance, two SB800 flashes fired TTL with +2 EV dialed in, pop-up flash used in Commander Mode with -2 EV dialed in for just a hint of on-axis fill.


Great night.  Great kids.  Can't wait to see the posters in the halls at the High School INORONO.

Winter=Basketball INORONO

Our long winter in Maine has officially begun.  

I usually consider winter to be the time between when the World Series ends and Spring Training begins but as the parent of a High School Basketball athlete, I've learned that winter really begins with the opening Basketball game and ends at the Bangor Auditorium. 

Here INORONO, "winter" began Friday night with the opening games of our Orono High School boys JV and Varsity basketball season.

The JV squad played well but faced a very talented GSA team.  With several Seniors on the Varsity team the JV Boys will each have a lot at stake as they work hard to earn a spot on next year's varsity team.

The Varsity Boys came out gunning and held on to get a big win under Coach Coleman in his first year. Off to a 13-0 start in the first they held off a steady charge by GSA to get the win.  Above Seniors Tyler Eddy and Sam Chase drive for points.

Coach Erin Porter's squad got the JV season off on Saturday night.  After a sluggish start the girls composed themselves and really put together a great game for the win.  Like the boys, the girls Varsity team, with seven Seniors, will need the JV girls to work hard and next year many of them will be playing for Coach Jessica Libby Witham.

Following the JV girls the Varsity girls came out to face Mattanawcook Academy's team in MA's first year in Class C East after being in Class B for years.  Once the girls settled in they played well only to fall short by just one point.  Below Senior Kate Berry saves a ball headed out of bounds while Senior Laura Triandafillou executes the final play of the game and puts up a shot as time expired that bounced around and out.  The hard fought contest came down to that last play and the Riots came up short on a play that could have easily gone the other way for the win.

So it goes in all sports, as in life, that sometimes you execute and it's just not quite enough.  

All the Cool Parents and other fans are looking forward to the rest of the season and those of us with Seniors don't want to think about our long winters next year when our girls are all away at college.

So good luck to all of the Riot Winter sports and we'll be seeing you out there on the court INORONO.

Soccer's Growing Legacy At Orono High School

I used to hate soccer.  Being American and having been raised a baseball fan, such a state is quite normal; especially for people in my age group "demographic." 

When my kids began to play youth soccer INORONO I hated soccer even more liked soccer even less.  A bunch of little kids running up the field joined at the hip until every once in a while the ball squirted out.

Many of you will be surprised pleased to learn that my view of soccer has evolved, although I must admit that what I hate about youth soccer is the same thing that I love about it; that kids with no athletic ability whatsoever have the opportunity to play a team sport that would not have had that experience when I was their age.  When I was 7, the kids with no athletic ability played the clarinet and never had the opportunity to be a part of a team on a sports field.  Today many of those kids get to have that experience and while they may ultimately end up in the band (a team sport of its own) I believe they are better for having played this game.  

Soccer at Orono High School over the last several years has been exceptionally exciting and has in no small part, contributed to my own evolution.

Just last Wednesday our Boys and Girls teams both played in the Eastern Maine Championship games.  While both came away with heart-breaking losses, it is a testament to our kids, our coaches, our parents and our Middle School and Rec Department leagues that they were there.

Coach Caballero took over the Varsity Boys team last season after we lost a long-time coach, teacher and friend, Mr. Berthiaume to cancer.  Mr. Caballero took this group and in just his second season brought the boys to within one win of playing for a State Championship.  

Meanwhile for the girls, a virtual dynasty of sorts is underway.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Girls Varsity team played in the Eastern Maine Championship.  Think about this.  Each Senior has played in two State Championship games and four Eastern Maines.  While the gold ball has thus-far eluded Coach Dyjak and his squads, the fact that the team is there every year says a LOT about him as a Coach.  I think most of the girls really recognize how lucky they are to play for him and it shows in the way they play; with discipline, with skill and with class.

This year's loss for the girls in the Eastern Maine Championship game was a real heartbreaker.  Down by three at half-time, they worked their way back to tie it.  In the first overtime they hit the right post, hit the left post and hit the crossbar but just couldn't get the break they needed to win.  The second overtime period saw similar action.  Finally it came down to penalty kicks.  Three rounds of penalty kicks were needed before finally succumbing to the ultimate State Champs. 

I'm not a betting man but if I were, I'd bet that next year at this time, we'll be talking about another run at the State Title - and maybe even that gold ball.

What a great program.  What a great legacy.  What a great group of kids, coaches and parents here INORONO!

Our Bog Walk

Yes, the first snowfall of the season has blanketed our town and forced many to dig out the snow shovel, find the ice scraper and top off the windshield washer fluid.  Here INORONO we might be complaining a but today's snow was little more than an inconvenience - although with the media hype I'm sure the local grocers all appreciate the increase in bread and milk sales.  

Today's winter weather had me already missing the autumn weather we INORONO love so much with the low, but still warm, sun and the crisp dry air.  Just a few short weeks ago Andi and spent a lovely afternoon at the Orono Bog walk and if you haven't been, you're missing a gem here INORONO.

The Bog was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service in 1974 and in 2002 and 2003 a boardwalk was built to allow people to enjoy the natural wonder right here in our backyard.

The boardwalk is 4200 feet long and loops right through the heart of the 616 acre Orono Bog.  There are seven interpretive stations along the way and to get the full experience of the bog, be sure to read them all.  Flora and fauna are in different stages at different times of the year so don't be shy about coming back in the spring, summer and to enjoy the spectacular reds of fall.  With just about exactly a month left in this year's season, come explore the Bog before it closes for the winter.

Be sure to check out their website at www.oronobogwalk.org.

It's a bog, it's a boardwalk, it's cool and it's INORONO!

ECLECTIC "Soul" INORONO

When Tracy Darcy opened her Metropolitan Soul store in downtown Bangor six years ago, she liked to describe it by stating it was filled with "adornment and accessories for the body and home."  With the August opening of the downtown Orono store her eyes still sparkle when giving that description, while simultaneously calling the phrase "passe" and insisting on a one word description for this newest addition to Orono's business district; "eclectic." She follows with another single word, "Funky."  It isn't long before she adds "family friendly"and when pressed about "why Orono?" she can't help it when she confidently admits that while there is something for everyone here, she feels the store will fit into the "College Vibe".

Cara Oleksyk (pronounced like the 'car' and not 'care') was equally passionate and animated in her descriptions.  Cara focussed more on the artsy element of the store.  She loves the local art that is displayed and sold here.  Cara also loves the connections that are made when a local artist is given the opportunity not only to show work, but to be able to sell work and have a venue for the work to meet the customer and ultimately for the customer to know the artist.  "Local" was theme in speaking with Cara.  Bicycle parts from another downtown business, Rose Bike, are sent away to artisan instead of going to the landfill, and are made into useful, attractive and just plain cool accessories for the home, the dorm room or camp.  She loves this circle of life and art and I have to admit, I thought it was pretty cool.

Orono's Metropolitan Soul adds a new flair in downtown that compliments the other stores and adds a certain something that seems to make it fit right in and feel like it's been there longer than just since August.  You will find art, reusable hand-warmers, vintage clothing, shoes, many re-purposed items along with unique and practical gifts.  Who knew there was even such a thing as a personal birthday cake - complete with icing - that you simply mix up, throw in the microwave and present to that special someone?

Check out www.metsoul.com and find them on facebook.

Funky And Eclectic, the Metropolitan Soul is worth the visit and is another reason we love living INORONO!

Blogging v Life Plus Some Beautiful Orono High School Seniors

I just knew this would happen.  Here I am a mere four posts into my blog and suddenly it's two weeks since my last entry.  Did I run out of ideas already?  No.  Have I lost my inspiration to talk about what makes Orono a great place to live?  No.  I simply ran out of time on my weekend to get it done.  Weekends, plural, actually.  Last weekend was dominated by softball and this one I spent in a classroom at Eastern Maine Community College doing my every-three-year Maine EMT refresher class.  I have, however, taken the liberty of showing off three examples of what makes Orono High School great.  Seniors Ashley Thibeault, Allison Walton and, of course, Andi Foster; a triple A of seniors, Allison, Andi, Ashley.  These three are busy enjoying their Senior Year and all that brings, balancing studies, social lives and that ever-looming College Application Season.  

Wherever you each end up for college, I'm certain you'll each be successful and rest assured, each of the Dad's will be close by, eating Tums and practicing our marksmanship!  :-)  Good luck ladies and don't forget about the rest of us here INORONO.

Kid Friendly, Dog Friendly, Heart Friendly - The Orono Farmer's Market

Ah, harvest time.
Fresh vegetables, fruit and bread.  What better way to start a late summer Saturday INORONO.

Since 1994 the Orono Farmer's Market has been bringing local residents together to visit, to chat and shop for our families.  Located in the University Steam Plant Parking Lot generally between Graduation and Homecoming, and in the Downtown Parking Lot, generally from Mid October until May, the market is THE place to go for fresh products!  With thirty-three members, all who come do so with products they produce.  From Apples to Zucchini, Cheese to Sausage, Beef to Wheat Grass, you can find a wide assortment of delicious, fresh and AWESOME food products.

Of course, some of the products are season-specific but even in the dead of winter, there are root crops, meats, cider, and maple syrup.  Many are "organic" and all will leave you wanting more.

September though, is the best!  Fresh sweet corn, blueberries, and apples.  It doesn't get any better.

So come visit if you haven't already discovered it.
Tuesdays 2p-5:30p June-October
Saturdays 8a-1p April-November

For more information on the Orono Farmer's Market please visit their website at www.oronofarmersmarket.org

The Orono Farmer's Market - INORONO