George M. Steinbrenner Field, Spring Training site for the New York Yankees in Tampa, Florida, Thursday, March 8, 2012.

I was in Florida all of March, with the intent of shooting Spring Training. Unfortunately, I never got a Spring Training assignment. hurrumph. Maybe next year. But I kinda expected that to happen. That’s not to say I wasn’t busy with work. Don’t worry. I made some money while I was down there. But, rather than twiddle my thumbs waiting for a phone call, I just went to Steinbrenner Field. Nobody was playing, which was fine. I really just wanted to explore the field and see what I could come back with.

Rather than just show what this stadium and its facilities look like, I tried photographing it’s character.

Allen Born and his 10-year-old son Caleb Born, from Sacramento, California,  take pictures of the Yankees Spring Training Stadium in Tampa, Florida Thursday, March 8, 2012 for a school project. Rather than miss school, Caleb is conducting a school-sanctioned independent study. Caleb is a Giants fan saw them during Spring Training last year in the Cactus League in Arizona, but Allen is a “die hard” Detroit Tigers fan. Neither are big Yankees fans, but Caleb’s teacher is.

Over the holidays, I went on a road trip with Mom, her husband, Rick, and Grandmommy from Atlanta down to — get this — Treasure Island, Florida! Yup. Such a place exists. And no. it’s not an amusement park. ha! Can you imagine Grandmommy at an amusement park? hahaha! …we did get her on a Segway, though. But that’s for a later post.

The photos on this post are a bit quieter. Aside from Treasure Island, we went to DeSoto, Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, St. Petersburg, and a few other places.

After Geekfest 2011 ended, Monica Lopossay, Todd Spoth, Ben Rasmussen and I took a driving tour of Denver. And, as expected, I made some more photos.

Yup. That’s a guy dressed like Superman walking on stilts.

For a recap, here are the links to the other five posts…

One, Two, Three, Four, and Five.

The lovely and super-talented Johnny Andrews jumping for joy. Seriously, check out his website. He’s a bad ass! Oh. and that’s Monica Lopossay & Kai-Huei Yau eeking out of the right side of the frame. –they’re also lovely and super-talented.Oh. and speaking of lovely and super-talented… here’s Mahayla Gaylord.hehehe. Click here to see what prompted such vitriol from the otherwise lovely and super-talented Bettina Hansen..After we drove around Denver for a bit, Todd Spoth, Monica Lopossay, Ben Rasmussen, and I went to the Hotel bar….

…where we drank.

…and drank.

and then Chris Detrick showed up with his micro brews. …and we drank some more.

Monica Lopossay, Sara Lewkowicz, and Tamika Moore

Photo editor extraordinaire Mike Davis peers through the window… He probably heard there was beer.

…here’s the start of the next day.

that lady has a rad hat.

Photo by Mahala Gaylord. …can y’all hear the velcro sound as Ben Rasmussen & I pull our beards away from each other? crrrrrrrrrryyysh!Also. Ben is a Karate Kid. This fly was BUGging us (haha! see what I did there?) and like a bearded lightning bolt, he towel-snapped this fly …right into Monica’s water. WHAT AIM!Ben Rasmussen …Temptations! (say it with a sexy whisper) hehehe. As some of you may or may not know know, Ben Rasmussen has a fair share of cookbooks. This picture is a rif on the photography in debatably his best cookbook, “Temptation At The White House.” To understand this photo you have to see what this amazing cookbook is all about! Seriously. it’s amazing. click the link.Ben Rasmussen drives Monica & me past the demon horse to Denver International Airport.So long Denver!

After Kevin Martin was bested by a prank spearheaded by Bettina Hansen he gets a scrap of revenge. …He’s loved.

After Geekfest was over, Todd Spoth, Monica Lopossay & I went to see the Colorado Rocky Mountains Monday, September 19, 2011. It was GORGEOUS!!!

This Geekfest post is, by far, the MOST energetic. Up top, we got luchadores throwing hadouken blasts. Below, there’s evidence of the infamous Kevin Martin prank… and other crazy stuff!

Earlier in the day, there was a 5k race featuring lederhosen clad runners…

Sol Neelman shot it… because that’s what he does.

The Glob’s neighbor’s bathroom. Here’s the crescendo photo — the defining moment, if you will — of the infamous Kevin Martin Stipper Prank!

Click here if you wanna see a short slideshow of the scene unfolding.

Bettina Hansen organized this year’s print auction which benefitted the Chris Hondros Fund. The cash total was $666. ha! and so Melissa Lyttle grabbed a handful of bills and decided to put it in a safe place. hehehe.

Geekfesters descended on the Beauty Bar and shot the shit out of a Luchadore match.

These guys were also there. 

Leah Millis …awesome!

One of the luchadores decided to hide behind Denver Post video shooter Mahala Gaylord’s hair. To Mahala’s left (our right) is her roommate, Lindsay Pierce. 

…welp. Looks like he got found.

Lindsay Pierce and five carraaaazy dudes on our way to another bar.

Monica Lopossay tries resuscitating a moth at our bar table. We decided he was drunk. hahaha. Oh what fun! Ben Rasmussen, Todd Spoth, Monica Lopossay & I stumble onto our Rav 4. Thank God Todd doesn’t drink!

This is the third set of “quiet” photos from Geekfest2011 and the fourth post, overall. Hey look! it’s Monica Lopossay sittin pretty in a chair!

Photo of me by either Todd Spoth or Benjamin Rasmussen.  I was like, “hey guys. Can you watch my camera while I go to the bathroom?” And one of those guys made a really nice photo of me. …but when I got it back there were also a TON of out of focus frames of nothing. I’m pretty sure Todd was behind those. He was pressing my shutter button all weekend. C’mon Todd! actuations = resale value!!!

we …uh, got hungry at 2am. Don’t judge us.

sometimes I get distracted by shiny things.

John Moore.

Gettin’ my Sam Abell on! …art direction by Todd Spoth.And that’s the end of Geekfest. I made an exit photo in a puddle. Dont act like you’re not impressed.

Yeah. I know. What in the world is going on here?

This, my friends, is the friggin’ Kansas City Airport. ugh. This poor guy was watching the terminal from the hallway for who knows what reason? I don’t know why the rules are the way they are there, but I know they’re even more obtuse and ridiculous than any airport I’ve been to.

For example, I asked Monica if she wanted something from Starbucks. “Sure,” she said. I should’ve suspected something was off when I noticed that TSA worker guarding the door out of this tiny, weird, one-bathroom terminal. Seriously, Monica told me the ladies’ room had two toilets for, what…? at least six plane-fulls of people? ridiculous!

So, I asked the TSA lady — the brunt of everyone’s frustrations, I’m sure (poor gal) — how I should go about getting some coffee and Monica’s chai? Well, first things first. I need to bring my my ID and boarding pass because I’d have to go BACK THRU SECURITY. On top of that, I couldn’t bring any outside food or beverages into the terminal. So, I’d have to finish it outside. So, there’s no bringing chai back to Monica. She told me my choices were to get coffee from the Quiznos to my right, or pay too much over at the Wolfgang Puck stand next to it. I’m sorry, but if I’m gonna spend too much money on airport coffee it might as well be from Starbucks.

…what? am I  wrong?

y’know… it’s true. where are you supposed to recycle a shoe?Ben Rasmussen is SO excited to see us!awww! aren’t Ben & Abby Kirkbride just adorable?

This is what we look like before breakfast…

during breakfast AT SNOOZE!!! I ate the breakfast pot pie. 

before the official start of Geekfest Todd Spoth (y’all see him around the corner in his sunglasses?) Monica Lopossay & I checked out some of the local Denver shops — including the Safari Seconds Thrift Store. Including this little outfit. ….Photo by Monica Lopossay Location scouting by Todd Spoth.

Sol Neelman made Geekfest2011 the official launch pad for his brand new book: Weird Sports. It’s only $45, people.

Bettina Hanson  kept buying me drinks. …awesome!

hahahaha! who doesn’t love Surly ol’ Todd Spoth?I don’t know anyone who can pull off 2am better than Monica Lopossay.