Robert Hanashiro

SPORTS SHOOTER v. 97
19 December 2006

LEADING OFF

Two Stories

By Robert Hanashiro, Sports Shooter

I meet a lot of people --- some famous and others not famous --- it is one of the great perks of my job as a staff photographer with USA TODAY.

During the Holiday Season I think a lot about my family and I also think about some of the people I've met through the years that have made an impression on me.

Sports Shooter has also provided me with a sort of extended family, people I've met through the newsletter, website or workshops that I continue to chat with from time-to-time. To me that has been a real perk for all of the time and energy I put into Sports Shooter.

Yeah, I'm going to kinda get sappy on you ... but hey! ... it's the Holidays, I'm Sports Shooter's Big Kahuna, so I'm allowed...

There are two people this Holiday Season whose stories I'd like to share with you because I've been thinking a lot about them recently. These guys are special ... courageous, humble, in many ways just like the rest of us, but are involved in very extraordinary situations.

Marcus Yam was one of 20 college students enrolled in Sports Shooter Academy III this past November. Like all of the participants, he was enthusiastic and excited about being a part of The Academy. This was his "workshop year" ... attending the Eddie Adams and Mountain Workshops in addition to the Sports Shooter Academy III.

I made it one of my jobs to poke and prod Marcus to get more out of him at events and during the nightly editing sessions. I called him "Mister 155" when he moved 155 photos into his loose edit folder after the first day of shooting and got on his case when he shot into horrible back light at a swimming event.

As Marcus later told me "My childhood dreams were to travel through the golden state of California." And that's what he planned to do for a couple of weeks after the Sports Shooter Academy. A little over a week after SSA IV, I received an urgent email from Ventura Star staffer Dana Bowler informing me that Marcus was involved in a very bad accident while visiting the Bay Area. Dana also attended the Mountain Workshop in the fall and had met Marcus there.

Here is Marcus' story:
"After completing Sports Shooter Academy III, I was ready for everything and anything but a car accident. In a blink of an eye, I was like sardine stuck in a crushed can. I was heading northbound on interstate 880 passing through San Leandro. This was the final leg of my journey before a stop in San Jose and then a flight back to Buffalo.

"Traffic that night was congested, but was in a steady flow. My heart started beating as my eye caught glimpse of a vehicle cutting close from the side and onto the *** inches in front of the my car. In shrieking horror, another car was losing control and was headed towards us. There was nothing left to do. I thought I was done for good. Crash. I was completely knocked out. Bits and pieces of my memory recall being woken up by a stranger named Ken, and seeing a lot of headlights.

"We had been flipped onto the opposing side of the thruway and collided with another vehicle. I remember seeing a lot of wreckage and blood all over. My blood. I couldn't feel any pain at that point; I must have been numb from the overwhelming pain in my legs being crushed. I've seen plenty of motor vehicle accidents, as I've had to photograph a few. When the firefighters had to cut me out, in all my confusion, I thought of the irony that prevailed. Recollection is painful, as a child lost her life in the accident. She was ejected out of a vehicle upon collision as she wasn't buckled in. I would have traded places, as there is nothing more precious than a life of a child. It haunts me still.

"The car accident left me with minor knee injuries and minor skull fractures. Picking up a camera to my left eye was nearly impossible without pain. Doctors were prescribing me painkillers and all sorts of medication, despite my protests. Doctors promised me that I would lose some form of vision in my left eye periodically during the healing process and that I would get constant headaches in my front lobes. They weren't lying. As soon as I got back to Buffalo, I remembered an important lesson that I learned while covering the Big West Swim Meet under the guidance of Donald Miralle and Robert Hanashiro: If you get wet or get knocked over, just keep shooting. Don't miss the moment.

"I took home from the Academy an important lesson: Perseverance as a photographer, and as a person. It brought me to Atlanta immediately for the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar with an open heart and a smile. Bad things will come and go, but the good things will stay with you forever. Life is precious, live the moment.

"In a blink of an eye, my life has changed in many ways from the accident. Buckle up and drive cautiously. You never know when things might lose control. My post SSA III experiences has brought me closer to my emotions, and closer to my thoughts. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is traveling this holiday season."

After reading Dana's email and forwarding on the little info I had to the other workshop staff members I tried to contact Marcus. I didn't know what hospital he was admitted to or what his condition was. But Jordan Murph got in touch with him via cellphone later that day and reported that Marcus was doing fine, but had several broken bones, including a couple of skull fractures. A day later, Marcus contacted me by email ... and told me he was "doing better" but his one comment at the end really gave me the true measure of him:

" I'm just really, really sad that a little girl died in the same motor vehicle accident. I feel guilty. Given a choice, I would have traded places with the little girl."

When I saw a "Fun Pix" taken in Afghanistan last month (http://www.sportsshooter.com/funpix_view.html?id=6022) showing Anthony Bolante with a big smile on his face, his arm around a young village boy, it brought a smile to my face... "That's the Ant-Man," I said to myself.

My buddy Rod Mar introduced me to Anthony (aka "Ant-Man") Bolante several years ago. Back then I only knew him as a Reuters shooter up in Seattle. But as I got to know him better I found out that he was also an Army officer (soon to be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel) and a helicopter pilot in the Washington National Guard. For the past several months he's been deployed as the Aviation Operations officer on loan to the Oregon Army National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team that is the backbone for the task force stationed at Camp Phoenix, Kabul Afghanistan.

After I saw the Fun Pix I immediately emailed Anthony, asking how he was and asking out of curiosity "why he does what he does" ... he replied to me the next day: "As Rod Mar has heard me say more times than I can count, I do this service for friends and family like you Bert ... be well bruddah ... I will fly a flag in your honor tomorrow, bro.... Aloha for now ... Anthony."

Anthony, and thousands of his fellow soldiers, is all away from home during the Holidays. I can't keep the thought out of my head about how afraid I was 34 years ago when I had to register for the draft and watching the CBS Evening News' coverage of the war in Vietnam. As journalists sitting in our underwear in front of our fancy computers at home listening iTunes and surfing the web it's easy to marvel at the work and courage of "war photographers". But what of the actual warriors ... those guys out there doing their jobs in a really crazy situation, far from home and family?

Here's what Anthony told me:
"Why do I still do this as a "citizen-soldier" as I have been home in Seattle with my wife for a total of only two months in the past 36 months? I see it everyday in the eyes of the children of Afghanistan who are suffering after nearly two decades of Soviet occupation and then after nearly a decade of the Taliban and Al Queda. Their oppression reminds me that those who can help, must help those who cannot help themselves.

"There is hope in Afghanistan and we as a coalition force have made significant headway toward Afghanistan's self sufficiency. The issue is that there are idiots out there who are trying to kill us coalition forces as we conduct missions like MEDCAPS, which are military impromptu clinics to help the poor villages throughout the country with some medical care. Then, those same bad guys are trying to blow us up with IEDs or they snipe at us as we build irrigation ditches to help restore agriculture in a country that has been ravaged by nearly a century of overgrazing and water pollution. It saddens and also angers me that I have lost many colleagues here in Afghanistan in the past few months, all because in each instance, we were trying to help the people of Afghanistan.

"These concepts are evidenced by the photo I am attaching to this Email, Bert. While I have a million photos of my aviation team flying helicopters on combat operations, the photo of me with my US Army Engineer buddy Major Sean "Gusto"Gustafson standing with some of the neighborhood of families of the village of Zangalan in Herat Province, Afghanistan is more indicative in that it shows a photo of a grateful group of villagers that are helping us Americans rebuild a dam that a Soviet Union Army tank blew up in 1979 during their ruthless occupation.

"The Soviets blew up this 300+ year old dam and flooded the valley destroying the original village of Zangalan. Its original 1,500 occupants had to evacuate the valley and only a small handful of about 500 remain today after that dam flooding destroyed the landscape. Pictured here are the next generation of the Zangalan village who want to reclaim their homeland and the dam will allow the re-growth of agriculture in the valley. More importantly, the US Army engineers were mentoring the Afghan National Army engineers "how" to fix the dam themselves. This all relates to "teaching a man how to fish" is a way more important concept than just "giving a man a fish to eat."

"Strategically, the more stable and self sufficient countries that fostered terrorist organizations like Afghanistan did in the late 1990s where Al Queda and the Taliban thrived, the safer our homeland of the United States will be. I love my wife, my family, my friends and my colleagues like many of you Sports Shooter road warriors out there. I dearly miss experiencing the freedom to live making beautiful images of magical sports moments and can't wait to get back to doing photography on a daily basis. In Afghanistan, a man's "good living" is that he's got a new plastic tarp over his mud hut. Literally. I bear these sacrifices and endure these dangers in order that those I love can sleep well at night.

"PS: I complete my 16-month combat tour in Afghanistan in June 2007. After I am done in Afghanistan, my wife Roo (Clarissa) and I are going to our hometown of Honolulu for a month to surf and unwind after being shot-at and nearly blown-up in Afghanistan and then we return home to Seattle where we're going to finally build our ski cabin in the North Cascades mountains before I go back to work as the Seattle Reuters photog. And, oh yeah, I'll be a helicopter pilot back in the Washington Army National Guard doing boring things like fighting forest fires and conducting high-altitude mountain rescues again ;-)"

As the Holidays approach, consider all of the cool people you've meet in your life and your work. Think about the Marcus Yams and Anthony Bolantes out there and say a quite thanks that these people have crossed your path and made our lives better all the better.

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Juggling assignments for USA TODAY, holiday shopping, planning another Sports Shooter Academy and getting a newsletter out BEFORE Christmas is really a labor of love. Obviously I get pretty sentimental this time of year and you'll all have to indulge me as I make some much-needed MAHALOS to the people that really make all of this possible. So here goes...

Thanks to my colleagues at USA TODAY for their help and for sharing my vision for improving this professional and promoting education; to my SportsShooter.com partners Brad, Grover, Jason, Joe and Mike ... these guys are the best and prove everyday that I'm really a figure head that takes all the credit; to Matt Brown, Myung Chun, Wally Skalij, Michael Goulding, Donald Miralle, Jordan Murph and Crystal Chatham ... the people that really make Sports Shooter Academy what it is: THE coolest photography event of the year; thanks to my mom Helen and my dad Seico for giving me the real start I got in this business ... a love for reading, journalism and photography; my rabbi Bob Deutsch for listening to me whine and not holding me to any of the threats I make and lastly, but most importantly to the loves of my life Deanna & Emma whose patience, understanding and sense of humor are undeserved by me but definitely appreciated and though I might not say it enough.

'Nuff said!

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Sports Shooter v.97 features an article by Yana Paskova on her recent project she did on a Bulgarian psychiatry ward and the struggles of improving health care in impoverished eastern European countries.

In keeping with the season several friends of Sports Shooter give us a Holiday message and make their New Year's resolutions and The Photodude returns to the Sports Shooter Newsletter and tells us his predictions for 2007.

Paul Myers, Darren Carroll and Zach Honig check in with their regular columns and The Count --- Eric Risberg --- returns to these pages with his recommendations on a vintage port and a good "short" cigar.

The Sports Shooter Newsletter Annual Contest details are announced and we have shameless plug for Sports Shooter Academy IV April 4-8, 2007.

So sit back, turn up the volume on the "Elvis Christmas" CD ... and enjoy Sports Shooter v.97!

A Dark Room
By Yana Paskova

Over 5,000 miles divided my grandfather and my home in Chicago when a stroke crippled him to a hospital bed in Vidin, Bulgaria. Uninvited, my imagination flooded the gaps in my grandmother's description of her two-week care for him. She said she brought him clothes, bed sheets, water, food, and even medication the hospital's thinning funds could not afford; what I pictured was two old people in a country of nearly eight million who had never viewed a hospital as a place of healing.

Months later, when my other grandfather spent a few precarious nights in the same hospital (for a stroke as well,) I was far closer-since I was actually in Bulgaria visiting my family as the summer of 2005 expired. I could touch the decade-old hospital mattress, as well as dig my fingers into the crumbling walls, feel the mosquitoes descend above my hair, see a hungry desperation in the patients' eyes.

While Bulgarians undoubtedly dealt with this reality to a numbing degree, I felt the Western media was relatively unfamiliar with the struggles of what used to be the Eastern Bloc-countries that were just learning how to speak of the ills of its people and formerly communist-run institutions. Bulgaria had not endured recent wartime atrocities such as that of its neighbor, former Yugoslavia, but its citizens were certainly suffocating under more silent killers- such as hospitals that decayed in a political system that tried, with mixed success, to live up to new European Union standards for Bulgaria's accession on Jan. 1, 2006. For example, if Bulgaria did not fight any corruption, fraud and money laundering that drained funds designated to its health institutions, the country would lose EU monetary grants that could rejuvenate them.

A few days later, when I returned to the States to begin my last year of college, I discovered I lacked the verbal capacity to describe the hospital to my American friends. This was odd, considering I'd spent half of my college career on journalistic and creative writing. But for the first time I believed pictures could tell this story better than words, or perhaps that I couldn't tell it without images, and wanted others to see what I had-maybe because of the passion one felt when entering their first year of professional shooting, as I had; maybe because I'd always heard nightmarish stories of what happened if you were unfortunate enough to fall ill in Bulgaria, but had emigrated as a twelve-year-old, before anyone let my eyes record its realities; maybe because despite growing up in a family of doctors, I'd only witnessed the more sanitary side of any medical staff's heroics of working in an environment that disarmed them from tools needed to heal their patients.

This hospital's financial maladies did not allow it provide its psychiatry wing with enough of the basic services necessary for patients' recovery. This means: 1. Inconsistent medical treatment; 2. No security personnel, cameras, or locked, insulated rooms for unstable residents; 3. Lacking mental stimulation for its patients; 4. Minimal treatment for leaking ceilings, bursting bathroom pipes, and rodent and flea invasion.

As usual, I split the next summer between the States and Bulgaria, but for the first time, I wanted to divide my time in Bulgaria between my family and the hospital. I confess intimidation surged throughout me as I introduced my intentions to the chief psychiatrist-the one responsible for granting me permission to shoot on its premises. He granted it after I explained I wanted to tell the hospital's story in an effort to help it; I thought it would benefit from informing others outside Bulgaria of what its citizens faced when they fell ill-by a possible combination of outside funding to a country that lacked it and pressure on the government to slowly create a more functional health care system. I didn't think my essay would accomplish all that, but I hoped it would initiate the dialogue that would.

But first, I had to start a conversation with the patients themselves, and make sure they understood and agreed with what I wanted to do. And so, I spent almost my entire first day of "shooting" actually speaking with the patients. First, I introduced myself. Then, I told them I wanted to photograph and write about their life at the hospital, and try to publish the pictures abroad in hopes of improving their life. It sounded like the ordinary way to obtain permission, although it was anything but; these were not people used to media attention, so I wanted to repeat my query even after most patients had given consent to be photographed, and approached hospital staff to confirm the individual patients were lucid and medicated enough to understand me.

I only shot on seven sporadic days, a few hours each day. The chief of psychiatry and I had agreed I mostly pick his working days (or those of his substitute.) And so, I could not always choose the time of day, or the actual day of my visits. There were times I wanted to catch the beautiful morning light or the slant of the sunset rays through the windows, but simply could not be there. I experimented with my 580EX flash, but the green- and yellow-colored walls cast a sickly hue over my images. A lot more damning to my desire to "write with light" were the completely un-bouncable (is this even a term?) cathedral-tall ceilings adorned with miniscule, flickering lights. Nonetheless, I tried to use my flash only when I thought absolutely no setting would salvage the image.

Soon I wished to use it even less-not only because I meant to be unobtrusive, but also because it detracted from the rooms' natural gloom I tried to convey in my photos. The flash hits-and-misses and abysmal illumination forced me to claw myself to rare pockets of natural light. I managed to time my visits to a sunset when the golden light streamed through the entire length of the soaring windows-though it mostly hit the hallway. But the patients spent a lot of time there, sitting on couches, leaning on walls, smoking. I realized this was a more important story-telling moment than I'd initially considered. The doctors confirmed this when they told me the greatest hurdle in their patients' healing was the lack of funds to create social activities and distractions from the routine inside their four-walled residences.

There used to be a pay-per-view TV, but paying to watch it became a problem for the financially incapable, which describes most of the patients there. This leaves many patients unable to advance their mental development. As the head psychiatrist explained, one of the greatest problems was that patients had no way of developing their communication skills. "They don't have much to do," he said. "They sit out and grab some coffee and a cigarette, but that's about it. And being psychologically ill, a deficiency they need to overcome is the one with their social communication."

It wasn't only scarce light that paused my shooting. One evening when I strolled into the building, the patients surrounded me and exclaimed, "Ohh, you should have been here. This morning, a heroin addict entered the hospital, and then immediately escaped." (The term "escaped" might be a bit inaccurate, as the doors to the hospital were only locked at night, there were no safety bars on the windows, or any video-monitored, keyed, padded rooms for more active patients. In short, patients could walk around town almost unrestricted. This is one renovation for which doctors really worked to gain funds.) As the evening progressed, muffled screaming suddenly reached my ears. A nurse ran toward it and helped a middle-aged woman carry a young, skinny man inside a room. His eyes were closed, his mouth agape and scabs and tattoos marked his skin. While I itched to shoot the moments as they passed me by, a sense of deep intrusiveness overcame me, and I let my camera hang by my side. The woman, who I later discovered was this heroin-addict's mother, did not know me. I felt that her eyes, blinded with terror and pain, would not process what I was doing. And so, I waited. Half an hour passed before she noticed me standing on the side, and asked, "Little girl, what are you doing in a place like this?"

I told her what I was doing there and why-and she then actually asked me to shoot, to record her story: "Look at this place! Talk about this, please. Everything about it is horrible, except for the personnel. They try their best, but how can they help my son heal without any money?"

A doctor overheard her and said whenever the country could not provide funds for medication, it came out of doctors' salaries or the patients' dwindling pensions. He questioned how Bulgaria's health care institutions would then handle the new EU standards: "How are we going to join the EU like this? People won't have the money to pursue the kind of educational guidelines the EU will impose or bring their hospitals up to code. These standards work in wealthier countries only. How can we pay to live up to them when we have doctors and professors driving taxis at night so they can make ends meet? This is a societal problem on a grand scale. There isn't any structure in Bulgaria to help the mentally ill. What we really need is a strong Social Service system."

The mother nodded, and continued to talk. She said her son's drug habit had buried her economic status under substandard poverty, and since she could not pay for the out of town drug center, she brought him here.

"Money for his treatment? Well, where can I get this money? I've been fired from almost every job I've taken because I've told them about my son. I've also told them I need the money but I won't steal from them, because that would be a sin. But I still won't hide what is happening to him, because that would also be a sin. I believe everyone has a path. God exists--he must. You can't heal until you believe. And my son will heal this time. This will be the time he heals."

Her son awoke the next day, sober but angst-ridden, and I spoke with him about the project. He was accepting of it and even said he wanted to stay in the hospital to heal. Sadly, the next day personnel told me he'd walked out, never to return.

The rest of the patients also let me into their rooms and their minds. I explained I not only wished to get to know them and talk with them, but also photograph the routines they'd follow if I were not there. I honestly was not sure whether that would be possible. However, most of them warmed up so quickly to our interaction, to puzzling together their life for me, to going about their daily life around me, and to occasionally advising me on what to shoot: "Show everyone the walls! Look how they're peeling here," or "Come with me if you want to see how the ceiling leaks on us when we are in the bathroom," or "My mattress has fleas; they bite so much, I can hardly sleep at night."

I will admit an encounter with the latter bothered (I stopped short of using a terrible pun here) me quite a lot, as those who know me could tell you I am openly bug-o-phobic. But my fear of the blood-sucking creatures did not compare to the anvil-heavy feeling I carried in my stomach as I continued speaking with the people to whom I gradually grew closer. There were times when I distinguished between the weary faces of doctors and patients only because the former wore medical garb, and that shocked me. I wondered if their expressions masked hopes that the hospital and the minds inside it would heal. The patients enjoyed telling me about their lives, feeling as if others would hear and care about them. I was happy to be the potential conduit for that, but also began to feel I had somehow gotten lucky.

I first sensed this while talking with a younger patient who used to work in Greece with his wife. His mother had suffered long years of manic depression in this very hospital, and one day, the same fears and delusions forced him into this hospital.

As he dragged a puff from his cigarette, his eyes wandered to the yard beyond the window, and he murmured, "You are living your life, so enjoy it. You have places to go, things to do. We go nowhere; do nothing. Sometimes I look out of that window and think about what my life could've been. I could've lived; I could've traveled. But then this happened."

Another patient (who called himself the "Pharaoh") told me, "Don't forget that you have your mind, and you don't need anything else." I suppose it would've sounded prosaic when uttered by anyone with sound health, but the words came from a man confined to other people's care for life.

On my last day, I printed each doctor and patient a photograph. Many had never before possessed one. As I watched patients tape the pictures above their beds, I leaned against the peeling wall in solitude with my thoughts. I had slowly realized that while this experience taught me much about photography (using an environment with little activity and light,) and about interacting with my subjects (listening to what they wanted you to tell, and respecting what they didn't,) my greatest lesson was one in motivation-in my personal and professional life, both of which I would try to take for granted less than before. When the patients and doctors asked me to return in 2007, I wanted to tell them all this, but I again lacked words; so I just promised I would. Instead, as gratitude, I hoped my images would shed light on the worth of each of their lives.

(Yana Paskova is a writer and photographer based in Chicago, IL. She is a recent graduate of University of Wisconsin-Madison. This is here first article for the Sports Shooter Newsletter. To see more of here work, check her SportsShooter.com member page: http://www.sportsshooter.com/visualfix and her personal websites: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yanapaskova and http://www.lightstalkers.org/yanapaskova .)

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Sports Shooter News & Notes
By Sports Shooter Staff

The Sports Shooter Newsletter Annual Contest Deadline Feb. 4, 2007
Do you think you made a great sports photograph this year? There is one way to find out. The Sports Shooter Newsletter is again trying to find out what were the best sports photographs of the year and you can help by entering.

This year's contest will feature five categories, plus the Photo of the Year:
1) Best Action Photo
2) Best No Pro, No College
3) Best Sports feature
4) Best Sports Picture Story
5) Best Student Sports Photo
6) Photograph of the Year

The deadline for the Sports Shooter Annual Contest is midnight (Pacific Time) Super Bowl Sunday Feb. 4, 2007. The contest is being sponsored by Roberts Distributors and Samy's Camera.

The Best Action Photo is any image depicting game action on the field of play or within the arena or stadium holding the event.

Best No Pro, No College entries should be images from a sports event that does not involve a professional or major college team. This could be high school, junior college or even little league events.

"Sports Feature" entries can be any image that does center on game action. This category should include photographs of jubilation and dejection as well as portraits.

The Best Student Sports Photo category is open to FULL-TIME students or students working in an internship and have NOT GRADUATED at the time the entry was made. Entries for this category can be any sports - related images, action or feature.

Best Sports Picture Story entries should contain no more than 10 photographs and should have a defined story related to sports or athletes. Photographs should be ordered (labeled) in the way the photographer wants the entry to be viewed. Complete captions are important. "Photo essays" are also eligible to be entered in this category.

The Photo of the Year entries will be gathered from the winners of the other categories and will receive the top prize from Sports Shooter. YOU DO NOT SEND ENTRIES IN FOR THIS CATEGORY.

All entries must have been taken during calendar year 2006.

Who Can Enter:
The Sports Shooter Contest is open to newsletter subscribers and members of SportsShooter.com only.

If you receive the monthly e-mail version of the Sports Shooter Newsletter, you are eligible to enter the contest. If you've been reading Sports Shooter on the web only, you can subscribe via and request to be placed on the mailing list. SportsShooter.com members in good standing are also eligible to enter.

I recommend that you look at previous winners of this contest before entering. To see last year's winners go here: http://www.sportsshooter.com/contest.html

IMAGE PREPARATION
Size:
We recommend all images be prepared in Adobe Photoshop. Images should be sized at 72 DPI with the largest dimension NO LARGER than 15 inches. Files should be saved as JPEGs at a quality setting of 8 (or medium). Check baseline optimized when saving if available.

File Name:
Decide on a unique photographer's code of 4 to 6 letters to be used to label each of your entries. Your entries should be first labeled with the number of the category it's to be entered in: 1 - Best Action Photo; 2 - No Pro, No College; 3 - Best No Ball; 4 - Sports Picture Story; 5 - Student Sports Photo --- followed by your unique code; followed by sequential two-digit numbers corresponding to the number of photos you are entering in that category.

EXAMPLE:
3rodmar01.jpg ("3" = Best No Ball category; "rodmar" is the unique photographer code; "01" indicates it is your first entry in this category.)

ANOTHER EXAMPLE:
4bradm07.jpg ("4" = Sports Picture Story category; "bradm" is the unique photographer code; "07" is the number of the photograph in the picture story.)

Captions:
A complete caption is required for each entry. Your caption should include the location the photo was taken, the date it was shot, ID's and your byline. This information should be written in the "File Info" portion of the image in Photoshop.

EXAMPLE:
Los Angeles, CA - 3/9/2006: Seattle forward Rashard Lewis throws down a slam dunk over Kobe Bryant during the first half of the Supersonic's 142 - 138 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Photo by Rod Mar, The Seattle Times.

Also in the "Caption Writer" field in File Info, type in your e-mail address. This is very important ... your email address must be included within the File Info of your entry!

Submitting your entry:
Entries are to be submitted by e-mail and must be received by midnight (Pacific Time) on Feb. 4, 2007. Entries are limited to 10 per photographer. A picture story counts as a single entry. Email entries to: contest2006@sportsshooter.com.

In the "Subject" field of the email header, type in "Contest Entry" followed by the number of entries attached to the email. For instance if you have 3 entries attached out of 6 total, type in the Subject field: "Contest Entry 3 of 6".

You can enter an image in just one category. For instance, you cannot enter a killer prep football photograph in the "Best Action" category and also enter it in "Best No Ball".

Failure to follow the rules for labeling, captioning and preparing entries will result in disqualification. Files that are sized too large will not be accepted. Send entries to: contest2006@sportsshooter.com.

Double-Check Your Entry
Before e-mailing your entries, please take a few minutes to double check that you've sized your images correctly, have a complete caption in the file info and the entry is labeled correctly. ALSO: Please virus scan your entry.

Failure to follow any of the entry rules will result in the disqualification of your entry. Also if you submit an entry into the wrong category, it is up to the judges' discretion to move it to the appropriate category.

Judging for the contest will be announced after the deadline passes.

Spots Still Available For The Spring Sports Shooter Academy
There are still room in the Spring Sports Shooter Academy, to be held April 4 - 8, 2007 in Southern California.

The Sports Shooter Academy is a hands-on workshop that gives participants an opportunity to gain experience, improve their photography, learn new techniques and spark their creativity by covering NCAA Division I sports events through an arrangement with the Big West Conference.

To apply for Sports Shooter Academy IV, download an application form: http://www.sportsshooter.com/pix/ssacad/SS_ACAD_APP_4.zip. Participants must also submit a 20-image portfolio as part of the application process.

"This educational program is a great opportunity for college students and working pros to make photographs in an environment where learning and growing as a shooter are emphasized," said Robert Hanashiro, Sports Shooter founder, "This is by far the best workshop I have ever been involved in as a participant, faculty member or organizer. The growth we see in all of The Academy participants during this workshop is simply phenomenal."

Faculty members accompany participants to events, offering advice and information on lens selection, lighting, positions and how to creatively cover the sport. Participants edit their work under the guidance of the faculty and critiques are held at the end of each day of shooting.

The Sports Shooter Academy IV schedule at this writing will include college baseball, softball, men's volleyball, tennis, crew and water polo. Additional sports include: professional beach volleyball, boxing, rugby, and horse racing.

The Sports Shooter Academy IV faculty includes Brown, a Southern California freelance photographer, Seattle Times staff photographer Rod Mar, Los Angeles Times staff photographers Wally Skalij and Myung J. Chun and Hanashiro, USA TODAY staff photographer and Sports Shooter founder.

"I think the theme of this workshop really sums up what we want to accomplish ... 'See Better. Shooter Better," said Hanashiro.

Classroom sessions at previous workshops have included: using remotes, digital workflow, lighting basics, arena lighting and sports picture stories. Additionally location portrait lighting sessions will be on the workshop schedule where participants will help set up and photograph an athlete.

Sports Shooter Academy IV is reasonably priced at $450 for full-time college and university students and $550 for working professionals. After Feb. 14, 2007 the registration fee goes up to $ 500 for full-time college students and $600 for working professionals. Payment deadlines and other details will be emailed to applicants once they submit their application forms and are accepted into the workshop.

More details on previous Sports Shooter Academy workshops are available at these SportsShooter.com links:
http://www.sportsshooter.com/workshops.html
http://www.sportsshooter.com/education/workshop_profile.html?id=22

"Sports Shooter Academy is more about seeing the picture as much as it is about shooting it," said Michael Goulding, a staff photographer at the Orange County Register and an instructor at SSA II and III. "The process you go through as a participant in The Academy is great. You're on site with good photographers ... and you talk about the picture you want to shoot there and how to see them. Then you go into the editing room and then into the critiques with them and follow that evolution all the way through."

"I think it really grounds you in the idea you have to see the picture before you really make the picture. When you see better, you shoot better," Goulding added.

Companies supporting Sports Shooter Academy IV are Canon USA, Think Tank Photo, Apple Computer and Samy's Camera.

* * *

The Photodude is BACK!!!

Well, dudes and dudettes, it's been a long time since The Photodude has spoken, and now I'm back after months of partying with my boy K-Fed, helping Isiah Thomas with player personnel decisions, sharing spitting tips with T.O. and giving fighting lessons to Carmelo.

Here are my predictions for 2007

Jan. 1 -- USC's Dwayne Jarrett hurdles two Michigan defenders into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown in the Rose Bowl. SportsShooter.com member Wally Skalij captures the moment with a remote camera mounted on Jarrett's leg with a super-lightweight carbon fiber super clamp that is mounted to Jarrett's left shoe, aptly named, the "Air-Wally-Zoom-Cam".

Jan. 2 -- Traditional basketball powerhouses Louisville and Wake Forest face each other in the Orange Bowl. NCAA. executives mistakenly assign a three-man basketball officiating crew to the game.

Jan 3 -- SportsShooter.com members Dumb and Dumber post Fun Pix of themselves from the Fiesta Bowl, which they say "sucks".

Jan. 8 -- In the BCS championship game, Ohio State soundly defeats Florida, 40-20. The Buckeyes immediately begin practices for an NFC playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys after the NFL decides every team in the NFC sucks.

Jan.14 -- Ohio State defeats Dallas in the NFC Playoffs, and Terrell Owens spits in the face of Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith.

Jan. 21 -- Ohio State faces the Chicago Bears in the NFC title game with a chance to advance to the Super Bowl. Troy Smith out-performs Bears' quarterback Rex Grossman, throwing for three touchdowns and running for two, before Chicago's Tank Johnson pulls a gun on Smith at the Bears' four-yard line, ending the Buckeyes' Super Bowl dreams.

Feb. 4 - SportsShooter.com members Dumb and Dumber pay their own way to Miami to shoot the Super Bowl for free, but complain that the halftime show "sucks" because Prince performed, not the Backstreet Boys, n'Sync or 98 Degrees. Dumb and Dumber post Fun Pix of themselves wearing Speedos on Miami's South Beach, then call each other "Ninja's" on their cute MySpace pages.

Feb. 10 -- Of the roughly 3,000 Sportsshooter.com members, 2,500 schedule work or freelance jobs on February 14, not remembering that it's Valentine's Day.

Feb. 14 -- 2,500 SportsShooter.com members buy flowers for their loved ones in lieu spending time with their loved ones, yet still have to sleep on the sofa, in the doghouse, or worse.

Feb. 26 -- SportsShooter.com member Brad Mangin runs out of gas on his annual "Can't go to Spring Training Without Running Out of Gas" trek from Pleasantville, CA to Scottsdale, AZ.

Mar. 10 - SportsShooter.com members Brad Mangin, Rich Pilling, Michael Zagaris, Bob Binder, Chris Covatta, Martha Jane Stanton, Eric Risberg, Deanne Fitzmaurice and Darren Carroll dine at the Grotto, in Scottsdale, AZ. Three things of note: the meal marks Mangin's 12th straight dinner in a row at the Grotto, Carroll spends the entire night again denying that he is The Photodude, and Pilling wishes Rod Mar was there so he wouldn't be the shortest guy in the room.

Mar. 15 -- First round of the NCAA tournament begins. The NCAA erects a six-feet tall brick wall around the court so photographers will not rush the court as they did last year at the end of the UCLA vs. Gonzaga game in Oakland. Also, Sports Illustrated begins three straight weeks of running floor-remote Hasselblad shots and overhead remotes, undergoing a vast change from last year, when they ran three straight weeks of overhead remotes and floor-remote Hasselblad shots.

Mar. 19 -- In "The Shot Seen Around the World", Sports Illustrated runs a photo from the NCAA Tourney shot by a photographer actually holding a camera and pressing the auto-focus and shutter buttons.

Apr 1. -- Baseball's Opening Day. A record 379 "Fun Pix" are submitted from ballparks all over the country of guys holding long lens, wearing ball caps and heavy jackets.

Apr. 4 - Sports Shooter Academy IV begins in Southern California. New faculty member Rod Mar of the Seattle Times talks about his kids for four days straight, forcing seven Academy students to throw up in their mouths.

Apr. 8 -- Tiger Woods wins the Masters by 56 strokes over his nearest competitor, Phil Mickelson. Sports Illustrated's headline reads, "Masterful".

Apr. 15 -- Tax Day. 3,000 Sports shooter members incorrectly file their taxes, conveniently "forgetting" that one cash payment for a freelance job back in February, all the while "remembering" to write-off their subscriptions to "Maxim" and "FHM", which they read in order to "study lighting techniques".

Apr. 26 -- Churchill Downs Workshop begins. 8,000 frames of steam rising from the backs of horses and 7,000 panned blur shots of horses vie for the coveted "Front Page" of SportsShooter.com

May 19 - WNBA season opens.

May 22 -- A sports fan in Duluth becomes the first fan to notice that the WNBA has begun play for the year.

May 27 -- 91st running of the Indy 500. Google searches for "Danica Patrick + bikini" surpass those for "Britney + no + panties".

June 5 -- Kansas City Royals are mathematically eliminated from the baseball postseason.

June 6 through July 27 -- Nothing in sports happens except for regular season games in Major League Baseball and the WNBA so no one cares.

July 28 -- NFL football training camps begin. SportsShooter.com members Dan Powers and Steve Apps cover the Green Bay Packers first practice like it is the Super Bowl, and then battle like Liston and Ali to see who can update their member page first. Each posts nine photos of Brett Favre, and one of an overweight lineman riding a bike with a little kid.

Aug. 8 -- The inaugural "China Bowl" is played in Beijing between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. SportsShooter.com members Dumb and Dumber pay their way to China to shoot the game for free, but complain that it "sucks" that there are no Chili's restaurants in China, which "sucks".

Aug. 18 -- Little League World Series begins. Boston Red Sox win bidding war for the "posting rights" to Japanese Little Leaguer Go Matsumoto, a 5-10 pitcher, offering $60 million for the right to negotiate with the 13-year old.

Sept.1 -- College football season opens with the annual rites of autumn. Classified posts searching for used 400mm/2.8 lenses, message boards posts about "which monopod", "which belt bag", and "which roller bag" dominate.

Sept. 8 -- A student on SportsShooter.com offers to trade a kidney for a red monopod cover.

Oct. 26 -- Pro Bull Riders tour hits Las Vegas for the championship meet. Sports Shooter member Donald Miralle carves a hole in the back of a live bull and mounts a camera with a fisheye lens into the bloody gap, then wins contests with his photo of a rider hanging on for dear life covered in blood.

Oct. 28 -- World Series concludes, but no one is sure who won because the television camera guy running onto the field after the final out trips over Major League Baseball photographer Rich Pilling, whom he mistakes for third base.

Oct. 31 -- NBA's season begins with a new basketball designed by Spalding.

Nov. 6 -- General Election Day. In a stunning upset, Democratic nominee Oprah defeats Republican Charles Barkley.

Nov 23 -- Black Friday. Numerous SportsShooter.com members flood the message boards to complain about having to get up at the crack of dawn to shoot shoppers at malls. Others complain that at least those people have jobs at all. SportsShooter.com members Dumb and Dumber agree that malls and photographers other than themselves "suck".

Dec. 5 -- After numerous complaints by players that the new ball "gives them cold sores, psoriasis and hangnails", the NBA reverts back to the leather basketball.

Dec. 21 - SportsShooter.com member Robert Beck follows the lead of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and officially adopts his trusty assistant and sidekick Kojo Kinno.

Dec. 31 -- The Photodude starts worrying about his next year's predictions...

* * *

A Letter To Santa
By Darren Carroll

Dear Santa,

I promise I've been a good boy this year. So here's what I want for Christmas:

I want a new button for categorizing SportsShooter.com message board posts. Just to the right of the "Inappropriate" button, the "Who Gives A Sh*t?" button will prove extremely useful for people who try to turn every thread on the message board, regardless of the original topic, into an excuse to list either a) every piece of equipment they own, or b) how many airports and/or time zones they've flown through in the past two days. If "Who gives a Sh*t?" is too harsh, I'll settle for the "Oh, Just Shut Up Already" button instead.

I want the small cadre of "big name" folks who used to contribute meaningful, insightful, informative, and educational posts to the message board to come back, thereby making the message board truly meaningful, insightful, informative, and educational again. I want everybody who managed to drive them away in the first place to check out www.fredmiranda.com.

I want a nice, smooth transition from half-joking about SS.com to being serious about the state of our profession to go here. But I can't think of one. So...

I want magazines and newspapers to step up to the plate and start taking an interest in where our business is heading--and where their pictures are coming from. We can kick and scream all we want, but as long as the major players in the editorial market see nothing wrong with running what basically amount to handout photos from the NBA or the PGA Tour, or using pictures from "agencies" (or "wire services," or whatever they're trying to pass themselves off as) who don't pay their photographers, those practices will continue to be legitimized and, therefore, continue. Some of us are to blame for providing the means by which these agencies can operate, but at the same time, they wouldn't be operating if they didn't have a market to enable them, either.

I want a figurative pair of balls. I'm sick of biting my tongue, of being non-confrontational and just hoping that photographers who accept bad deals (and the people who offer them in the first place) will just fade away. I want to have the guts to walk up to some of these "wire service" photographers who are working for free, look them in the eye, and call them on it next year.

I want everybody else who cares about where our business is headed to do the same.

Oh, and I want world peace. I mean, I ought to throw in at least one thing that I stand a chance in hell of getting, right?

(Freelancer Darren Carroll is based in the winter wonderland of Austin, Texas.)

* * *

PREACHING TO THE CHOIR

This is not science.

By Paul Michael Myers, Brooks Institute of Photography

See the seashells by the seashore.

Shhh. Listen.

Pick one up and hold it to your ear: where ever you are in the world, you are no longer there: where ever you are in the world you are instantly there, ocean side, with the sea crashing all around you.

One of the best feelings I know is this transcendence of time and space in humanity towards memory. In the instance of remembrance we are at one with our past, present and future selves catalyzed through sensory stimulation. The transcendental experience of art is that moment when we are at one with the emotional content of an image, song, sculpture or performance. We transcend our surroundings and become one with the artistic creation through memories.

The shell reaches up for my ear, again.

I am sure there are many rational explanations as to the shaping of seashells. There are probably even logical understandings of how sounds are amplified through a seashell and brought to our ears. These only get in the way of why I feel so many memories when hearing that sweet song.

I am writing about the feelings that spring from memories.

The seashell carries with it an audible reminder of the energy in the ocean, an echo of the currents, a memory that results in a form. The forces of the sea shaped the seashell. The tradition of the sea retold again and again for anyone who picks it up and places it to their ear. The content is shaped by the interactions of the ocean and the animal over time.

Setting down the seashell I turn towards a photograph.

A photograph is a seashell for your eyes. It carries with it the currents of humanity and echoes the light that formed it. When we look upon photographs they surround us in our memories and spurn our emotions in the moment of communion by allowing us to dwell within. We view the actions, interactions, the daily life and landscapes of other people, places and times than those we currently inhabit. Photographs are born of certain questions about human subjectivity that brought the technology into existence. Those questions are asked with each exposure and confirmed through the senses and in hearts of the audience.

And though it is possible to use a camera, I am writing about the feelings that spring from memories.

(Paul Myers is a faculty member of the Visual Journalism Program at Brooks Institute of Photography in Ventura, CA. Prior to his arrival at Brooks, Myers worked for a variety of publications including newspapers in Freeport, IL and Marysville, CA.)

* * *

Sports Shooter End Of The Year Resolutions, Thoughts, Wishes & Ramblings
(Editor's Note: The Sports Shooter Newsletter asked photographers what their thoughts were of the past year � and give us their predictions for 2007. We asked that these musing could be serious or funny and they should be honest. Or at least as honest as they wanted to make them.)

Too Old Fashioned?
From David Burnett

Well, as someone who is perhaps a little too old fashioned on Fridays and Sundays, I still long for the days when we could work the way we would like to work (check this image: http://tinyurl.com/ymgg2v from a poster site of Joe D batting.) I'd love to know what happened on what day in the 1950s that caused MLB to finally decide to get photographers OFF the field.

Clearly, up until the early 50s, you could still shoot from near the on-deck circle. Before all the old timers are gone, it would be interesting to know what the event was (did someone cause Yogi to trip while pursuing a fly ball?) that started the inexorable slide from shooting with a normal lens to shooting with a 600.

Bidding Adu to 2006
From Trent Nelson

Season's greetings from snowy Utah, where the Jazz are 16-5 with the highest winning percentage in the NBA (what?!) and Real Salt Lake just acquired Freddy Adu. All is good in Salt Lake City (at least as I write this) where me and Chris Detrick will gladly kick anyone's ass at Guitar Hero 2 any day of the week.

To all the gloom and doom newspaper photographers, I'd like to spread a little holiday optimism. Amid all the stories of layoffs and plunging print circulations this year, you may have missed two stories from December: 1) The New York Times Co., predicted a 30% increase in their online revenues for 2007; 2) Newspapers are dominating their local Internet advertising markets.

This is the year to take advantage of the web revolution. It's no longer enough to simply send your photos in and collect a check. You need to find ways to interact with your readership, and push photojournalism into their faces. This is a time of change when you can blaze your own trail. Take advantage of it.

We're in a transition phase, not a death rattle. As we move from print to the web the dust will eventually settle. Hopefully we'll still be standing when it's done. That's my hope for 2007.

Year - End Multiple Choice Question
From Vincent Laforet

So how does it feel to be an endangered species?

Any different than you felt before you found out you were soon to be extinct?

Here's a series of multiple-choice questions to wrap up the year...

The single biggest threat to professional photographers today is:
a. Auto-focus
b. Blogs / Citizen Journalists
c. Chimping
d. De-Interlaced Video
e. Our market-based Economy and the bean counters that run it.
f. The Future
g. Gullibility
h. HDTV
i. The Internet
j. Jazz Drives
k. Karma
l. Lemmings
m. Microphones
n. New Technologies
o. Other Photographers.
p. Panic
q. Quantity over Quality
r. Royalty free Stock Images
s. Speed over Substance
t. Television
u. Undercutting others
v. Video Phones
w. Whining
x. Xerox machines
y. You?
zzzzzzzzz wake me up when the sky is falling... on second thought - let me sleep through it.... as far as I'm concerned we all have to adapt whether we like it or not - things change with or without you and it's best not to be one the receiving end of change... as long as we continue to strive to produce quality work that clearly stands out from the rest - there will be a place for us somewhere and a justification as to why we should be paid for producing it. The moment we start to produce sub-par work to fill in some unknown void/need/trend - we become our own worst enemies - forget all the above outside factors.

Photographers will play a central role as to how their craft evolves - and right now I think many of us tend to forget that fact. We tend to focus far too much on how to insulate ourselves from change or on the contrary - we embrace it too quickly and jump headfirst into new media without giving enough thought as to how we can best make our own unique contribution to a craft that is already practiced and mastered by others. I think we should remain focused on being positive and proactive in our current craft's future.

Being an endangered species is kind of cool - it means that at least people are paying attention to you don't it?

Work For Hire, Chili's Barry Bonds � 2007 Predictions
From Thomas Witte

As with every year, several million dollars will go directly in to corporate ledgers because to many photographers forfeited their copyrights and never saw a penny of the re-sales. Despite this fact people are lining up to sign the NYT, AP, Bloomberg and several other WFH contracts. Meanwhile the sane ones will continue to watch in stupefied disbelief while cashing our royalty checks and answer stupid questions like "how can you afford an Audi?"

Chili's goes out of business forcing Rebilas to check in to an insane asylum. We still see a steady stream of SportsShooter.com "Fun Pix submissions, here on out he's only wearing white robes and Kleenex boxes for slippers.

In a rare instance, there will be riots in 65 college towns. Sixty-four will riot because they lost during March Madness, one because they won.

Barry Bonds will report for Spring Training but is not medically cleared to play. Doctors explain that they were never able to do the "cough test" because Bonds' Jingle Bells had shrank to the point of nonexistence from years of steroid use.

Global Warming causes it's first direct human fatalities when temperatures are too high for ice to form in NHL arenas. Thirty two million Canadians commit suicide within weeks.

The NBA tries to use another new ball, this time they go with NERF.
The Hamilton County Justice Center decides to add black strips to it's jail uniforms to help the Cincinnati Bengals feel more at home.

Tom Cruise lands another movie. Even Xenu can't explain why/how.

2007 Wish List
From Robert Beck

Next year I'll follow Barry Bonds for three months as he teeters towards the record and he'll pull a hamstring three shy and won't play again for the rest of the season. In '08 he'll play for the Devil Rays and hit four in his first game back. Frakes will be holding a seminar at the game and every student will have a shot of the big one.

I hope my kids are happy and healthy for another year (At my age you hope for things one year at a time.).

I hope to shoot an NFL game from the front-lit sideline.

I predict that everyone will want a Marcella Visa Card and that, once again, I will fail to open my first "Pete's House of Toast," a restaurant that serves different types of toast only.

I would like to see the Padres sign a pitcher with less than 15 years of experience and ANY lifetime 300 hitter.

I would like to ink Z to a book deal.

I would like Canon to make my 24-70 sharp and develop a flash that exposed my images properly and consistently.

I wish more parents would let their kids walk or ride their bike to school. Or anywhere for that matter. And screw those travel teams. What about kickball?

I hope they outlaw the use of hand-held phones in a moving vehicle. And outlaw reading anything in a moving vehicle. And outlaw the applying of make-up in a moving vehicle. Why don't we just get rid of moving vehicles. I want to cry when I think of the state of our p***t.

I don't want to listen to anyone's conversation on a cell phone anymore. From now on, if I here one, I'm joining in. Then The King of the K will start filming it and we'll become rich mother-effers from our realty show.

Why is Michael Irvin on ANY talk show or preview show? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I do enjoy The Dan Patrick Show (especially when KO is on) on ESPN Radio.

I have turned into my Dad...Except I'll never be that fabulous.

I want more music by Los Lobos and Van. More songs like The Road To Gila Bend, Better Way and Waiting On The World To Change. Listen to "Imagine" once a week. Listen to any Beatles song once a week and remember when.

I wish for better etiquette out in the line-up. I wish skaters would trash their own stairwell, curb, garden bench and lunch table instead of the ones at the school. Learn to build your own rails for goodness sakes.

I hope that they discover a cure for cancer and that doughnuts and cookies are good for you. Wouldn't you like to be the lab guy for that one? "Ralphie seems to really like the maple bars but he won't touch the chocolate old fashions."

Can I leave my shoes on at security? Quit sending the 80 year white bag through secondary.

Learn how to play a musical instrument...I will too.

Be a good sport.

AND ... see Kojo wear his seat belt!

Thanks Roberto!

From Kohjiro Kinno

2006 was an interesting year for me. It was a year I bought my first digital SLR, D200, and bought an extra card reader because I am a prepared person. No, actually I thought I lost it, bought a replacement, and found the original later. I still use film cameras mainly, but I can now take my digi cam and shoot "stuff", if you know what I mean...stuff.

2006 was also another year I have been working for the boss, Robert Beck. Working for "Mr. Beck", one might think it is surfing for an hour before heading off to a assignment, or getting perfume sprayed on your feet and smelling like a teenage girl all day, or driving 200 mph trying to catch a earlier flight home, or "massaging" his dog, or shooting water balloons at neighbors with his son, or whatever. And sometimes it is.

But for the most part, it is watching him care for his family, getting ready for the assignment all day, taking care of business while on assignment, coming home to download, edit, burn, ship film at the airport, massage dog, cook dinner, work on Marcella.com, and passing out after a 67 hour day and doing it all again the next day on a different assignment. I know many people do the same everyday, but not many do the same with the passion, energy, and enthusiasm, as that old guy. And for that, I respect him!

Thanks Roberto for a rad year, and wish everyone a happy holiday season!

A Wish, A Prediction and a Resolution
From Matthew Mendelsohn

Wish:
While I know we can't put the genie back in the bottle, I wish we could all take one or two steps backward, to a time in which people had normal eyes rather than Photoshopped white ones (looked at a cover of People lately?), when a photograph represented absolute truth, and when photographers actually had to focus their own cameras, rather than rely on some stupid dot in the center of a viewfinder. I further wish that I never see another photograph of Britney's crotch (with C-Section scar to boot), or of Paris Hilton walking in or out of a nightclub, or, quite frankly, of 32 photographers rushing the field to take a picture of two football coaches shaking hands, a photo that in the history of journalism has never been used in an actual newspaper. Finally, I wish that corporations like MediaNews, which continue to buy up--and then destroy--storied newspapers around the country would explode and dissolve in a fiery burst, just like the ending of Lord of The Rings: Return of the King, which I finally saw last night, years after everyone else, on my brand new humongous television.

Prediction:
Corporate "synergy" (whenever you hear this term, run very fast) will continue to eat away at journalistic access. Coverage rights of the Oscars and Emmys will be sold to Getty, or better yet, TMZ.com; College bowl coverage will we pool only (with Getty providing the feed); and museums and institutions like the Smithsonian, which recently announced an exclusive, 30-year deal with the Showtime network, will take a page from the Wal-Mart playbook and treat journalists like persona non grata. Except, of course, Getty, which will have already brokered a deal to assume the copyright of the Declaration of Independence.

Resolution:

The same as 2005 and 2006: to spend more time outside shooting pictures than inside sitting at my computer, watching a spinny beach ball tell me I'm frozen again.

New Year's Resolutions
From Jordan Murph

A few of the things I hope to accomplish in 2007:

1. Graduate from college with a degree of some sort.
2. Land an internship somewhere...err, anywhere in the United States.
3. Convince the supreme powers at UH to allow photographers to shoot from locations besides on the floor directly behind the volleyball court and in the corners of the basketball court. Fans bring 70-200's and 300's to "cover" events, and photographers aren't allowed in the stands, concourse, or any place else...yet!
4. Eat lots of pineapple like Don Miralle.
5. Scour eBay for a rockin' tie-dye Lithuania basketball tie-dye t-shirt like The Kahuna has.
6. Listen to Myung Chun's advice and visit a place called www.CommonSense.com.
7. Stop bothering Matt Brown with phone calls 24/7...or at least cut back a little bit.
8. Eat a giant sandwich or burger at a restaurant somewhere in America and have it re-named after me.
9. Visit a 14,000 foot peak and an erupting volcano by the ocean in the same day.
10. Somehow make it to the Olympics in China in 2008 as an assistant or shooter. Ok, ok, a really farfetched and early resolution.
11. Work my butt off and make killer pictures all year long and be the best that person that I can be. Amen to that.

"I Would Like To See ..."
From Chuck Liddy

I would like see peace between the Canon shooters and Nikon shooters.

I would like to see the end of inane message threads.

I would like to see those same people who start those threads to learn to spell...maybe then we'll take them seriously.

I would like to win the lottery.

And forget about those folks who say they'd keep working...I'll be shooting travel photos as I transverse the globe.

Two Things For 2007
By Michael McNamara

First, I'd like to spend more of my paycheck on photo books and less of it on movies. There are great books out there that I want to add to my shelves, and there is a lot more inspiration from people like Seliger, Demarchelier, Nachtwey and Salgado than there is in "You're a funny guy Sully. I like you. That's why I'm going to kill you last."

Second, I need to put more of my ideas down in a central place. I love Moleskine books, but I have a habit of buying new ones much more often than I fill up the old ones. In fact, I think that until last month, the deepest I'd gone into one of them was about 15 pages.

Wishes and Predications�
From Rich Pilling

My wishes for 2007 and beyond are for a peaceful world in which small children like Ron Vesely's little daughter Laura, Paul Cunningham's adorable girls Lucy and Grace, JD's son Luis, Stephen Green's children Aidan and Shea as well as my beautiful daughter in-law Kelly and son Scott's baby to be born this summer (as well as ALL the children in the World) can live in harmony without the threat of destruction and war.

I predict in 2007 there will be a Brad Mangin sighting at the Pink Pony, an Eric Risberg sighting at T Cook's, that Paul Cunningham will have a strong desire for Single Barrel Rum, Grover Sanschagrin will again fall in love with a woman wearing glasses (that one is too easy!), the Yankees will not reached the promised land but the Mets will, Karen Warren and Robert Seale adopt a new kitten, Jason Burfield and family think long and hard about moving out of the city but stay where they are, Ron Vesely comes REAL close to trading in his SUV for a "real" car and everyone in ss.comland will have a very prosperous 2007.

The Razor's Edge, Predictions for 2007

From Gary Bogdon.

George Bush will still try to make everyone believe that we are going to stay the course in Iraq, and win that war... Yeah, Right!

Hillary Clinton thinks she has a shot at winning the presidency in '08....Yeah, Right!

Bob Knight will become the all time leader in NCAA history passing Dean Smith, and he says records to him mean nothing...Yeah, Right!

Ohio State will embarrass the Florida Gators for the National Championship title on Jan. 8th, causing Gator fans to long for the 'Spurrier Days' again.

Knicks coach Isiah Thomas and Denver coach George Karl will square off at each other in an ESPN 3 HD pay-per-view special at The Garden in NYC.

Tampa Bay Bucs injured QB Chris Sims (his spleen was ruptured in a game and removed) wants to know who removed coach Gruden's heart from the team.

Brad Mangin and Barry Bonds have both signed a 1-year multi million-dollar contract to return to their beloved San Francisco Giants for some more love.

FSU head coach Bobby Bowden will say 'dad gum' 500 times in post game press conferences in 2007 surpassing all previous NCAA records.

Penn State grandpa "Joe Pa" will coach from a lazy boy recliner in the first half of the season in Happy Valley.

PhotoShelter's dynamic duo of Grover and Allen, have inked a deal to replace Regis and Kelly Ripa for 2 weeks in the summer of '07, upsetting Clay Aiken, again!

Louisville Courier Journal's Bill Luster, signs on with Veteran Records to record Burl Ives classic Christmas hit- "Silver and Gold" from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer hit TV classic.

As Jim Rome says: "Rack 'em, I'm out"...Happy New Year

And Now � Fearless and Semi-Informed Predications For 2007
From Jonathan Daniel

Ah 2006...

The year I became a father.
NOTHING beats that.
The year of family cheese and the teasing that came with it. Can ya pass me summore cheddar, please, ya hey?
The year of...da Bears.
The year David Cantor finally swore off MLB, the Tigers and calling me after White Sox games and bought a trailer home in the parking lot of the Mud Hens.
The year of 90 wins, no playoff dates, and a Ves left with only memories of a bug zapper and a nick in his World Series ring.
The year of the frozen, wet and almost pictureless World Series. 'Cept for a shot by Jed Jacobsohn, of course.
The year still photo dudes got even with television dudes at the World Series. You're welcome.
The year Scott Rovak asks for everyone's address IN THE WORLD so he can send out Christmas cards with a photo of the Red Birds celebrating...with, of course, his own bad self in the photo.
The year someone in St. Louis shot a month of football season with one of MY 1G cards.
Did I mention the year I became a father?

The year of the two-month cold.
The year the Cubs just sucked (see the last 50 years).
The year of...da Bears.
The year featuring a fall of almost flawless editing from fellow Getty colleague Chris Chambers. Youdaman.
The year Jim Prisching of the Chicago Tribune make almost all of us look bad the day AFTER a Bears game. (Except for what my editor did, of course.)
The year the boss finally got married.
The year Jamie Squire and I learned about "road sleep."
The year Milwaukee is named the "Drunkest City in America."
The year Chicago comes in 6th and New York comes in...what, 34th? in the same contest. Yeah, right.
The year that suddenly, every sports shooter in Chicago wants a stinkin' kringle from the Mars Cheese Castle in Wisconsin.
The year of Babies 'R Us, Toys 'R Us and Diapers 'R Us.
The year of the three-month cold.
The year that Bret Favre refused to retire (see Michael Jordan).
The year that saw Jeff Phelps spend six hours freezing in a helicopter in his PJs.
The year da Bears actually played two Monday night games worth watching.
The year the Cubs payroll reached 300 MILLION DOLLARS with nothing to show for it.
The year Brad Mangin started asking people about spring training ten minutes after the final World Series game, AGAIN. Chooch.
The year GWB finally got his November come-upin's and Morry Gash got to stick it to his neighbors.
The year of the four-month cold.
The year of the sweetest little smile I've ever seen in my life, thanks to Luis.
HEY!
Did I mention the year my wife and I became parents?
NOTHING beats that.

Predictions for 2007
The year da Bears win their second Super Bowl (and I live to tell the tale yet again)... AND the year Bill Smith blocks all of the Chicago photographers AGAIN! for whatever trophy shot we can grab.
The year the White Sox play the Cubs in the World Series and Steve Green and Ron Vesely wrestle nude in the middle of the Dan Ryan expressway for the "Second City All-Nude Baseball Team Photographer Title."
Jed Jacobsohn, of course, gets the shot. The rest of us leave da area because...it's just a gross concept.
The year the Bulls take their first NBA title in the post-Jordan era...with another special post-season appearance by "The Caveman." Fear Benny, right, Joe Raymond?
The year the Chicago Fire wins the MLS Cup and team photog Brian Kersey finally locates the bum who stole his computer from Wrigley Field...three years ago. OOOOh-Lay, Oh-Lay, Oh Lay, Oh Lay...BK! BK!
The year Bret Favre retires. Thank gawd.
The year I retire...the diapers. I hope.
The year Luis learns all about the "inside pitch."
The year David Cantor finally stops drinking with minor league umpires. NNnnnaaa.

The year I get back at Al Tielemans for a "suggestion" to wake me up at the World Series. Oh yeah, dude...it's coming.
The year the CONCACAF semi-finals and finals come to Chicago. OOOOH-Lay, Oh-Lay, Oh-Lay, Oh Lay!
The year Steve Dunn actually gets a real case of "The Blues."
The year two more "bosses" and a card thief from St. Louis get...engaged.
The year the Chicago Blackhawks actually make the playoffs.
Opps, sorry. Every NHL team makes the playoffs, right? This year, it's the Mighty Hawks! Well, maybe. Coach Denis Savard actually says "Thanks, guys" after every post-game interview session with the media. A hockey coach with class. Last of a dying bred. He deserves a playoff spot. Opps, that's right...he's got one.

The year Brad Mangin starts asking people about spring training ten minutes after the end of the World Series YET AGAIN. Dude...please, for the love of gawd, get a life.
The year Chris Covatta and me update our "members page" AND get invites from Bert Hanashiro to be on the faculty for a "Sports Shooter" seminar. NNnnaaaa. Unless it's a class about cooking with FIRE. Then...please be aware...we plan to cook Bert Hanashiro slowly over an open pit, tied to a surfboard. CLASS! Bring your own basting brushes, please!
The year I will continue to be...a father.
NOTHING will beat that.

Peace.

* * *

THE COUNT

Discoveries of Port; Cigars That are Short

Eric Risberg

The view from the balcony of Quinta dos Malvedos, the 116-year-old estate house of Graham's Port, presents one of the most sweeping vistas of any wine country I have visited. Terraced vineyards cascade several hundred feet down to the Douro River below, which winds its way through the valley to the Atlantic Ocean. The only sound is an occasional passing train rolling along the river to nearby Tua or returning to Oporto. On the surface, it seems that little has changed in this remote wine region over several decades.

During a recent visit in September, however, I found that beneath the stillness, a lot of changes have taken place. My best discoveries were these: vintage port can be appreciated much sooner now, and some single-quinta vintage ports present quite an incredible value.

What constitutes a vintage port, the flagship Portuguese wine that accounts for only about two percent of production and is the most renowned type? A vintage year for a producer's main blend is "declared" about three times every decade upon declaration by the individual port house. Vintage ports are aged in barrels about two years before bottling. The decision to declare is an important one where reputations are at stake. In non-vintage years, however, producers will study the wines made from a single quinta which provides the backbone of vintage port; those single-quinta ports can also be declared "vintage ports" on their own. Single-quinta vintage ports usually are not declared the same year a main blend is declared.

A few common beliefs about vintage port are that it needs to be held 10 to 30 years or more before being opened and that many of the grapes used to make the wine are stomped by foot (think "I Love Lucy"). While foot treading is still employed as a practice by port houses large and small, producers such as Symington Family Estates - makers of Graham's, Dow's, and Warre's - are relying more and more on robotic lagars (the tanks in which grapes are crushed) in place of human foot treading. For Graham's 2000 port, for example, 56 percent of it was made using the robotic lagars, and for 2003, the number rose to 78 percent. The very efficient mechanical treaders never need a bathroom or smoke break, nor do they have to stop to eat or sleep.

Bottling times, too, have improved over the years. Rupert Symington, joint managing director of Symington Family Estates, explained during a recent visit that the robotic lagars have helped make their vintage wine better as a result of more controlled (and easily adjustable) treading areas, consistent pressure on the grapes and other factors. Many vintage ports, according to Symington, now can be enjoyed within mere months of their release instead of waiting years for the rough spots to be worked out in the bottle.

For those who pay close attention to terroir and are interested in single-vineyard wines, a number of the single-quinta vintage ports are worth looking for and are definitely a value.

Most of the single-quinta wines are released about eight to 10 years after the vintage. On average, they cost about one-half of what a regular vintage port does. For example, a 1998 Graham's Malvedos single-quinta vintage costs about $40, compared to the current 2003 Graham's vintage at about $85. What I like about the single-quinta vintage ports is that the flavors are more individual and pronounced. In addition to the Malvedos, others to look for are Dow's Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeiro, and Warre's Quinta da Cavadinha.

Another excellent discovery on this recent trip was white port served as an apertif. A hotel in Oporto greeted us at check-in with a chilled glass of dry white port, mixed with tonic and garnished with a lemon. This is a very refreshing drink on a warm day. While white port is very common in France, it can be hard to find in the U.S. One to look for is the Fonseca Sirocco; it pairs well with Marcona almonds.

Short smokes
It seems lately that being able to enjoy a good cigar hasn't been as easy as it used to be. One problem is trying to find a place to smoke; even in Europe, it's getting more difficult. The second issue is finding the time.

To combat this, I've found myself enjoying smaller cigars such as petit robustos, mini belicosos, and tres petit coronas. For a long time I shied away from them, thinking they burned too hot, but after trying a number of them, I have found out that it just isn't true. While I'll always enjoy a nice corona gorda or double corona, there are a number of times where I can't devote an hour or more to its full enjoyment. Many of these short smokes offer a lot of enjoyment in a third of the time. And the smaller size has allowed me to smoke them in some European cafes, where the sight of a regular sized cigar wasn't allowed - strange as that may seem in a haze of cigarette smoke.

One of my favorites to look for is the Dominican Fonseca Sun Grown # 4 Petit Belicoso. At a few dollars a stick, it's quite a bargain. Recently introduced is the Davidoff Millennium Short Robusto - more expensive, but a very smooth, rich smoke. Other selections to look for: the Ashton VSG Enchantment, one of the strongest and smoothest little torpedos around. A little bomb! A small torpedo that I really like is the spicy Cameroon-wrapped Ashton Heritage Belicoso #2. And one can never go wrong with an Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story.

Out of Cuba come a number of small smokes as well. Last year, the Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto was introduced, and on its way soon is the new Montecristo Petit Edmundo. But two favorite tres petit coronas are the smooth San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe, and lively Le Hoyo du Depute.

Best wishes for the New Year!

The Count

(Eric Risberg. AKA The Count, is a staff photographer with the Associated Press based in the San Francisco Bay Area. A frequent contributor to the Sports Shooter Newsletter.)

* * *

BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED

A computer for your camera bag

By Zach Honig

How many times have you found yourself wishing you had brought your computer along on an assignment, but left it back at the office to cut back on gear? There's a new breed of computer in town, and it comes with a belt clip.

Have you ever tried transmitting or basic editing on a PDA? Now you can tone and caption in Photoshop and transmit using your favorite FTP client or email service with a device not much than a PDA. Several companies including OQO (http://www.oqo.com/hardware/basics) and Sony (http://tinyurl.com/m9tcu) have released handheld computers capable of running Windows XP Professional and any software titles that don't require a dedicated graphics card. Both devices will be compatible with Windows Vista when it becomes available.

After researching models from both companies for several weeks, I decided to go with the Sony UX-180P, a much more powerful and feature rich machine. As with any computer, there are many reasons why you may feel you need the Sony UX, but plenty to keep you away. The UX-180P is not as powerful as its full sized counterparts, and there's virtually no possibility of upgrading components, but for its size and weight, it's an extremely capable machine.

The Basics
The UX-180P is powered by a 1.2GHz Intel Core Solo processor, and if you're the type of computer buyer that only looks at numbers, it may seem like a step back in time. In order to keep things compact and prevent overheating, it's necessary to use a lower powered processor. The Core Solo processor certainly gets the job done. Photoshop is speedy and high definition video plays seamlessly in QuickTime.

More concerning is the inability to add additional RAM. Sony's UX-180P model ships with 512MB of RAM, and their newer (but more expensive) UX-280P model packs a full gig of RAM - neither is upgradeable. Both models lack dedicated graphics cards, so graphics memory is borrowed from system RAM.

You won't be storing your entire photo library on the UX, as the UX-180P and UX-280P ship with 30GB and 40GB respectively. As the machine does not ship with an optical drive, 6GB of precious hard drive space is set aside for the machine's restore partition. Both models include a built in USB 2.0 port, and the included docking station adds three more USB ports and a FireWire 400 port allowing you to connect external devices.

One feature that I'd like to see on the next UX is a compact flash and SD card reader. Sony provides a memory stick slot as they do on all their machines, but as the vast majority of photographers use CF and SD cards, the memory stick slot may not prove useful. External card readers can be connected using USB.

If your eyes aren't what they used to be, you may find the UX's 1024x600 4.5-inch LCD a bit difficult to read, but the incredibly high pixel density makes any image on screen look amazingly sharp. Because of the device's glossy screen, reflections may become distracting depending on ambient light. Text is readable, though you may have difficulty reading from the screen for extended periods of time. Sony includes magnification buttons on the right side of the unit allowing you to enlarge text for easier reading.

In addition to the magnification buttons, the device has a thumb-stick pointing device placed just above near the top right corner. To the left of the device's LCD are left and right mouse buttons, a button launching an on-screen menu, allowing you to control screen brightness and orientation, and an easy on/off button to control the device's wireless functionality. The main system power switch has an ingenious hold mode, so the device won't turn on and drain battery life in your bag.

Although equipped with a touch-screen, Sony includes Windows XP Professional so functionality is limited. The thumb stick makes it easy to control the mouse and type while holding the machine in two hands. You're not going to want to write a novel on the UX, but the backlit keyboard will suffice for short emails and photo captions.

One component that definitely has room for improvement is the battery. The included battery won't keep you going all day. If you anticipate needing more than 2.5 hours of battery life between charges, Sony sells an extended battery with twice the capacity of the included standard battery, but you'll pay an arm and a leg with the $300 price tag. The extended battery also adds weight and bulk to the formerly 1.2lb machine. To help conserve battery life, I've made a habit of placing the device in hibernate mode when not in use.

Like all notebook computers, the UX is capable of connecting to an external monitor (with a maximum resolution of 1600x1200), keyboard, and mouse using the included dock. My primary machine is an Apple PowerBook G4 with 30-inch Apple Cinema Display. Using a crossover Ethernet cable, I can connect the Sony UX to my PowerBook. Microsoft's free Remote Desktop Connection client for Mac OS X allows me to use the UX with my 30-inch display at full resolution (as you're not using the UX's graphics card). You can also mount the PowerBook's SuperDrive, allowing you to read DVDs for software installation.

Editing
I installed a complete set of photo editing software to use on my UX. Photo Mechanic and Adobe Photoshop CS2 function just as they would on a larger machine - although you may need to take out the reading glasses to see menu options and EXIF data. Though Photoshop is just as functional on the 4.5-inch screen, I'd always choose editing on a full sized computer over editing on the UX, if the situation allowed.

The Core Solo processor runs both applications seamlessly. Because the screen size inhibits multitasking, the 512MB of RAM installed in the UX-180P has proved sufficient for JPEG images. If you can afford it, I would suggest spending an extra $200 and purchasing the higher model that ships with 1GB of RAM, as memory is not upgradeable with either model.

Transmitting
The UX is one of the most connected notebooks available today. Sony includes Bluetooth, 802.11g, Ethernet, and Cingular EDGE WAN (wide area network) access. One of the most convenient features of the UX, besides the impossibly small form factor, is the ability to connect to the Internet at moderate speeds wherever Cingular EDGE service is available. The EDGE network, though often moderately fast, can sometimes provide speeds closer to those you would achieve with a dial-up modem. The service is expensive with Cingular's pricing structure at $60 for Cingular subscribers with voice service and $80 for those without. The ability to surf the web and transmit images from almost anywhere may prove invaluable.

Earlier this month I visited the Minneapolis Star Tribune for a weekend as part of my summer internship search. Approximately five minutes after my arrival, I was sent out on a spot-news assignment with staff photographer Richard Sennott. We drove to the Minneapolis suburb of Ham Lake, where a school bus crashed into a traffic light injuring 18 students.

On the way to the accident scene, I was able to find the exact location of the accident using Google Maps and by visiting the web page of a local television affiliate. Shortly after departing the scene, I made a quick edit and selected an image to transmit back to the paper for use on the Web, sending it off in an email as Rick drove down the highway. Readers visiting StarTribune.com were presented with a breaking news image before we even returned to the office.

Star Tribune staffers each have notebook computers with Verizon Access wireless cards, though it's not always practical to carry a bulky machine along to every assignment. The Sony UX would ensure that every photographer has a completely wireless computer with them at all times. In this day and age, the ability to transmit images remotely is crucial.

Extras
The Sony UX comes with a few extra, though not necessarily useful, features. The device includes two cameras - a webcam mounted on the front of the unit and a 1.3 megapixel still camera on the rear behind the screen. Neither camera produces exceptional image quality with a level of quality comparable to what you would achieve with a camera phone.

Another feature I could probably live without is the fingerprint reader, which is often temperamental. The reader, mounted near the top left corner of the device, allows you to login to the machine, decrypt the hard drive, and retrieve saved passwords - when it works. You can also configure the fingerprint reader to function as a scroll wheel for use with the Web. The reader is completely functional after each restart. But despite my thorough troubleshooting, it often ceases to function after placing the device into hibernate mode. Luckily, you can still login to Windows using a traditional password, should the fingerprint reader fail.

Another feature that has proved useful several times is the Bluetooth GPS unit, which Sony sells separately for $150. The UX ships with Microsoft Streets & Trips 2006 Essential Edition. If you want turn-by-turn driving directions, a $40 software upgrade is required. The hardware/software combination is functional, but the GPS receiver leaves much room for improvement, as I haven't been able to receive a signal without a direct view of the sky. I've joked about mounting the GPS on the hood of my car, but you should be able to receive a signal from your dashboard.

This may sound trivial, but Sony also ships the device with a wrist strap. Because the device is so small, it could easily slip out of your hands, cracking the screen. The included wrist strap provides cheap insurance against clumsy owners. Also in the box is a soft case, complete with belt strap. Now not even I am geeky enough to walk around with this thing on my belt, but it you feel so inclined as to slide your fanny pack waist strap through the device's case, you have that option.

Bottom Line
There's certainly room for improvement, but as the first device to offer incredible functionality in such a small package, Sony hit the spot with their UX-180P. That said, if you're tight for cash, this might not be the best time to purchase. Computer manufacturers are constantly releasing faster, cheaper, and more capable machines, and the Sony UX-180P has been around since July.

I purchased my unit on eBay for $1200. I try to stay away from eBay whenever possible, but if you find a UX for a good price ($1200 is the lowest I've seen), and have a genuine need for such an incredible machine, you shouldn't pass this up. I'm partial to Macs. In fact, I haven't owned a PC in years - some may even say I loathe the Windows operating system, but given the opportunity to purchase the UX-180P all over again, I wouldn't think twice.

(Zach Honig is a self-proclaimed techno geek and is attending the University of Missouri. You can check out his work at: http://www.sportsshooter.com/zach and at his personal website: http://www.honigphoto.com)

* * *

Holiday Wishes From Roberts Distributors
By Jody Grober

Everyone in the Roberts Family, Christy, Ed, Dawn, Doris, Stacy, Jeff, Bobby, Laura, Bruce and myself would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to the entire gang that makes Sports Shooter possible and to all of it's members that keep it alive and thriving. It is our honor to have this opportunity to work (and play on occasion) with all of you.

Thank you for a fantastic year in 2006 and best of luck in 2007!!

(Roberts Distributors is located in Indianapolis, IN. Jonathan "Jody" Grober can be emailed at: jgrober@robertsimaging.com. To place an order, call: 1-800-726-5544. You can check out Roberts' online product catalog at: (http://www.robertsimaging.com.)

* * *

Holiday Specials From Penn Camera
By Jeff Snyder

Happy Holidays to the entire Sports Shooter community!

Penn Camera has just been named as, "Photo Industry Reporter's 2006 Dealer of the Year".
We're quite proud of this accomplishment. Read the story here: www.photoreporter.com

Also, From Photo Reporter a few reason's why Penn Camera is the "Pro's" choice:
http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=&num=21&vol=14&articleType=n&articleID=1183

Here are some last minute gift ideas...and specials from Penn Camera.

Besides having all of the Nikon D80, D200's D2HS, D2XS, Canon Xti, 30D, 5D, Mark IIN and Mark IISN Bodies in stock, we have so many products for you to buy yourself this season.

Lexar FireWire High Speed Readers $59.99 (Reg $79/While they last)
Available in FireWire or USB 2.0

Point & Shoot Digital's are HERE and in Stock - Canon - Nikon - Casio - Leica -Olympus - Panasonic - Pentax - Sony www.penncamera.com Take a look!

"Best Business Practices for Photographers" by John Harrington, a fellow SportsShooter.com Member! http://www.penncamera.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=8237

Sandisk Memory Cards & Readers for every application you have!
http://www.penncamera.com/search/default.asp?KEYWORD=Sandisk

Lexar Memory Cards, Readers and USB 2.0 Portable Drives!
http://www.penncamera.com/search/default.asp?KEYWORD=lexar&F_MATCHES=AND

Nik Sharpener Pro Software - Performs like magic on your images!
http://www.penncamera.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=7558

Canon Digital Video - Have you seen the new HV-10? A tiny HD video camera, that gives you amazing results...A MUST see
http://www.penncamera.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=8081

We're accepting orders for the new Lastolite EzyBox, a NEW hotshoe softbox, for shoe mounted strobes...It's a great solution for your multiple strobe set-ups! http://www.penncamera.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=8338

Nikon's Capture NX Software - Process your RAW files
http://www.penncamera.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=7886

LensBaby 3G - All new, and very cool! Foe Nikon & Canon
http://www.penncamera.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=8254

Gretag Macbeth's Eye One Display - Calibrate your Monitors with ease.

http://www.penncamera.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=6952

VisibleDust products - The best way to keep your camera sensor clean and dust free!

http://www.penncamera.com/search/default.asp?KEYWORD=VisibleDust

QuickPro's DVD Instructional Guides -
Available for: Canon 30D & 20D, Nikon's D50, D70 and D200 http://www.penncamera.com/search/default.asp?KEYWORD=QuickPro

Bogen's 175F "Justin Clamp" - For your remote SB800 or 580EX Strobes

http://www.penncamera.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=5488

MFuel's World Jack - Power adapter that works worldwide
http://www.penncamera.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=8212

ExpoDisc - White Balance made easy and accurate
http://www.penncamera.com/search/default.asp?KEYWORD=ExpoDisc

Quantum Turbo Slim Compact Battery - NEW, and fits in your shirt pocket!
http://www.penncamera.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=8341

Nikon's "Speed of Light" DVD featuring Joe McNally - INCREDIBLE!
http://www.penncamera.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=6345

These are just a few last minute suggestions for the holiday gift giving season....I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season!

Happy Hanukkah and a big Merry Christmas!

(Jeff Snyder can be contacted at Penn Camera at: 1-800-347-5770 or FAX 301-210-7370; Email: jsnyder@penncamera.com; AOL Instant Messenger: JeffPennCamera. On the web: http://www.penncamera.com.)

* * *

Ho, Ho Ho! Holiday Greetings From Samy's Camera
By Louis Feldman

It has been a wonderful year for Samy's Camera and our partnership with Sports Shooter. We are proud sponsors of the ss.com web site and both Sport Shooter Academy workshops in 2006 and we look forward to a fun and prosperous year in 2007!

Just a few equipment notes for December � remember when you make those important multi-media decisions, give Samy's a call for great pricing on all of your digital video and audio needs for 2007. With so many photographers and publications making the plunge into more multi-media, Samy's carries the full line of digital video cameras and accessories from all of the leading makers like Sony, Canon and JVC.

Also Samy's is an authorized Apple Computer reseller, so if you need a new high-powered portable like the MacBook and MacBook Pro or a screaming fast desktop computer like the ultra-cool iMac or blazing-fast G5 Quad, give us a call for current Sports Shooter pricing.

It seems Think Tank Photo has a new and innovated product announcement every month � we have in stock all of their popular bags and cases from the new Airport Acceleration backpack to the Glass Taxi long lens case to the always-popular Pixel Pocket Rocket compact flash card wallet.

Samy's Camera is the largest photographic rental house in Southern California and we have stores in Los Angeles (Fairfax main store), Pasadena, Santa Barbara, Venice and Orange County. http://www.samys.com/rentals.php

Here are my tips for the last minute holiday Sports Shooter shopper:
* Every photographer has an Apple iPod right? But if they are a discriminating music lover they want great sound � the Shure E2c Full Frequency Sound Isolating Earphones (http://www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=8009) or the new cool SHURE E3 Sound Isolating Stereo Earphone (http://www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=8011) would make a fabulous gift.

* The Epson P2000 and P4000 photo storage devices are IN STOCK at Samy's. The P-2000 features and 40 GB hard drive, while big brother P-4000 sports a 60GB hard drive. No need for power or a laptop, this portable viewer/storage device has a big 3.8-inch LCD screen, built in card slot and runs on an interchangeable, rechargeable battery. Imagine clearing your cards while you're still out on location shooting ... or driving back to the office.

* Never get lost with a GPS. Samy's stocks many of the COOL Garmin portable GPS units:
http://www.samys.com/browse.php?cat=0&mfg=66.

* Toy Cameras --- Holgas, Lomos, Pinhole cameras, LensBaby --- these are always great gifts for that special person in your life. Check out Samy's complete stock of cool "alternative" cameras!

* A cool point & shoot is Canon's new, sporty-looking PowerShot G7. The G7 is the latest addition to Canon's fabulous lineup of versatile, high-quality pocket cameras. At 10 mega-pixels and a top ISO of 1600, the G7 is the perfect camera to use in those quiet, low-light situations where a digital SLR might be too obtrusive. Check out the specs at: http://www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=9683

* The ExpoDisc is the easy to use custom white balance solution that helps you get a correct color balance every time. The ExpoDisc neutral diffusion filter that gathers ambient light and passively transmits 18% of it through to your camera's light meter, effectively producing a 'gray frame'. You then set a custom white balance using the 'gray frame' that results in accurate color in most lighting conditions. Check out samyscamera.com or give us a call for pricing info.

And one last reminder that Samy's is your one-stop shopping location for all of your lighting (Dyna-Lite, Profoto, Hensel, Speedotron, Chimera, Photoflex) and remote (Pocket Wizard, Bogen, Gitzo) needs.

Samy's will be involved again with the Sports Shooter Academy in April and the Sports Shooter Newsletter Annual Contest. Happy Holidays!

(Contact Samy's Camera in Los Angeles by calling (323) 938-2420 and ask for an industrial sales representative. Also check out Samy's Specials on SportsShooter.com or Samy's web site at: http://www.samys.com.)

* * *

Acknowledgements

As always, thanks to Special Advisors & Contributors: Deanna & Emma Hanashiro, Brad Mangin, Rod Mar, Trent Nelson, Jason Burfield, Grover Sanschagrin, Joe Gosen, The Photodude, Reed Hoffmann, Paul Myers, Darren Carroll and Bob Deutsch.

Thanks this month to: Yana Paskova, Zach Honig, Eric Risberg, Robert Beck, Kohjiro Kinno, David Burnett, Chuck Liddy, Vincent Laforet, Matthew Mendelsohn, Jordan Murph, Thomas Witte, Michael McNamara, Jonathan Daniel. Rich Pilling and Gary Bogdon.

I welcome any comments, corrections, suggestions and contributions. Please e-mail me at bert@sportsshooter.com.

The Sports Shooter Archives as well as tons of cool resources and information can be accessed through the Internet at http://www.SportsShooter.com.

Use of the content of the Sports Shooter Newsletter is prohibited without the expressed written permission of The Big Kahuna and the author of the article.

Opinions, rants, raves, insults and praise whether intend or not, are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Sports Shooter and public sensibilities.

--

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                     SPORTS SHOOTER ACADEMY IV
       The COOLEST photography event of the year
                                    April 4 - 8, 2007!
              www.sportsshooter.com/workshops.html
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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