In my most recent Spring Preview portrait post, I might have made it seem like the studio is not a fun place.

but…

…as you can see, if you give a hula hoop to some people and fun can’t not be had.

While I was testing my lights/figureing out which wrestling move to showcase, Bubba Mullens’s foot wound up in Mark Colabucci’s nostril. Mark was pissed. rightfully so. I was worried the mood on “set” was going to be testy and short. But these guys have wrestled and been friends for a long long time. Bubba — I love his name! — apologized and made sure Mark was okay. Mark settled down, but the amazing thing was how fast. It seemed like Mark let himself be mad for ten seconds — enough time to touch his nose to check for blood. And then he was fine.

Mixing liquid nitrogen with boiling soapy water creates an intense, but harmless explosion. A scenic foggy calm ensues, which George Boyer, age 7, is seen playing in. The liquid nitrogen demonstration was part of Johns Hopkins University’s 2nd annual Physics Fair Saturday April 30, 2005, hosted at the Bloomberg Center for Physics and Astronomy.

This is the image that started my love affair with trying to show the surreal possibilities in a real situations.

The 10 am update is (supposed to be) a regular blog feature showcasing some of the best stuff from my archives.

Right here…

awww. c’mon. why aren’t you laughing?

I made this little pun while prepping for a shoot involving several thousand dollars (5 figures!) worth of gems and jewelry yesterday.

Al Paglione takes reprise from cooking during the 2006 Eddie Adams Workshop to chomp on a Cuban cigar…This is Al Paglione. He and his son help cook at the Eddie Adams Workshop. Meeting him was pretty great! I was shooting him with my 17-55mm and he was totally jockin’ me about my zoom. He was talking up the Nikon 50 f/1.4 — which I have — and so, I decided to take that lens out of my bag and snap it on my camera for a spin. So, everything after this photo are shot with the 50mm. He was right, that lens is awesome…I gave a print of this photo to Al’s son Jerry, and he started crying and gave me a huge hug. Those two bicker like the Jersey boys they are, but there’s so much love between the two of them…The Eddie Adams Workshop in Jeffersonville Saturday, October 7, 2006.

The 10am Update is a regular blog feature showcasing the best work from my archives. enjoy!

Saturday, September 26, 2009.

My assignment was to shoot the football game. But this kid was too cool to ignore.

The 10am Update is a regular feature showcasing some of the best images from my archive.

Monica Lopossay, in early morning fog, while arriving at the Eddie Adams Workshop Barn in Jeffersonville, NY, for the Black Team pre-workshop clean up.

For all you newcomers to the professional photo biz, The Eddie Adams Workshop is now accepting applications. May 28th is the application deadline.

Stay posted for more images from my time as a student and as a Black Team member.

I was building my lighting set up for a recent shoot and it resulted in a really cool, dark, creepy image.

The best thing about it, is that it gave me lighting ideas for my upcoming Athletes of the Year shoots. Sunmee Huh is lit with two gridded alien bees to her right and left.

A fox family member sits by the Owings Mills 7-Eleven it frequents on a regular basis

I made these images back in 2004, when I was an intern at the Patuxent Publishing Co. I was filling up my car with gas after an assignment, and I looked over and saw a fox. I looked around to see if anyone else pumping gas was phased by this. Come to find out, they’re regulars. These guys like people — well, at least they’re not too scared of us. I got really close to the one in these two images, only using a 50mm lens.

There was another one who preferred to stay in the shadows by the wooded area. The dumpster seems to be their main source of food. I wonder, if after more than five years, they’re still hanging out at the 7-Eleven in Owings Mills. Maybe I should investigate?

Reservoir’s David Kuper, bottom, lost to River Hill’s Evan Shebel 11-2 during the 140 weight match. Reservoir defeated guest River Hill 42-16 Tuesday, January 5, 2010.

Here’s the Howard County Times story.

Lesson learned: when the winning team is depicted by one of the kids who lost their match, there’s a good chance the sports editor will get yelled at by a mom, coach, or dad. Then that wrath, more than likely, will get deferred to me. In Howard County, River Hill is the school to beat. The school’s been open for, I think 12 years, and already half of their gymnasium’s wall is practically covered with Sate Championship banners. I don’t think there’s been one year when they haven’t won at least two State titles. So, when a school like Reservoir demolishes them in wrestling, the parents and coaches want to SEE (that’s what I do.  I show.) VICTORY.

I get that. I know that. But the image above met two criteria. It was by far the most dramatic photo from the night that had a fighting chance reprinting in newsprint. You see, Reservoir has one of those awesome spot lights occasionally used in High School wrestling matches. I love them! I’m a big fan of reduction in photography. — especially since there’s always at least one person sitting in the front row with a blinding white t-shirt. So, I love those lights. Our newspapers’ printing presses, however, don’t.

Unfortunately some of the below photos might be seen as “too artsy,” by the powers that be. I also get that. A silhouette of boys in their headgear really has no business accompanying a game action story.

And that’s where this blog comes into play. I now have an audience for these cool photos that have no reason to be published. So, from the bottom of my heart, thanks for looking and being that audience.

So, enjoy.

River Hill’s Michael Ada defeated Reservoir’s Jase Zester 3-2 during the 189 weight match.

Reservoir’s Sean Quinn pinned River Hill’s Jacob Benedict during the 215 weight match.

Reservoir’s Josh Hamilton lost to River Hill’s Brandon Barnes during the 285 weight match.

Reservoir’s Josh Knox pinned River Hill’s Patrick Linden in :57 during the 112 weight match.

Reservoir’s Seth Rowell defeated River Hill’s Ryan Blum, foreground, during the 125 weight match. Reservoir defeated guest River Hill 42-16 Tuesday, January 5, 2010.

Reservoir’s Bubba Mullens defeated River Hill’s Nick Oliver during the 130 weight match.

Reservoir’s Raman Ziaee was pinned by River Hill’s Nick Connolly in 5:44 during the 135 weight match.

Reservoir’s Robby Greer defeated River Hill’s Jack Noonan 9-8 during the 145 weight match.

Reservoir’s Mark Colabucci pinned River Hill’s Ryan Noonan in 1:48 during the 152 weight match.

Reservoir’s Mark Mike Mullens defeated River Hill’s Arvind Stone 1-0 during the 160 weight match.