So.. I have been looking forward to this weekend for some time. FSU going to Nationals to compete! Cheerleading and dance squads from all over the nation converge on Orlando to forge their place into the national standings and I was going to make an attempt to get some photos here. Being the first time I have shot cheerleading in an venue such as this I was a bit nervous.
A buddy of mine who also acts as my assistant told me he would come along which made things a hell of a lot easier considering my camera equipment, tripod, laptop, external drive etc... (Thanks Mark) I owe you bro. So walked around, and met up with some friends and hung out watching the event until FSU all-girl went up.
Finally it was FSU's turn to go! Routine starts and wow it all happens and is done in just a few moments. These girls are flying, flipping, jumping, tossing, all over the place..... and boom done! Over in an instant and I am hoping I have some keepers.
FSU did well, only having a couple of drops. All in all it was a solid performance - and was enough to put them in 6th going into the finals!
Going into the finals the girls looked good - didn't look nervous at all and I thought they were going to peg their spot into the top 5. Unfortunately they did have a couple of mistakes and other squads were a bit more solid in their 2nd performance but we did place 9th in the nation! HELL YEAH!
After this Co-ed went up and NAILED their performance also enough to seal a spot into the finals! They perform later today and I hope I can make it up there to see the final performance around 6 pm!
Lastly I went over to catch FSU Golden Girls (our dance team) in their jazz performance... as usual they put on a hell of a performance. A bit different from others in the sense that it was powerful and didn't seem like a routine all the way up until the end! I am not exactly how they fared on placement, but I am sure its going to be strong.
Anyone that claims that "Cheerleading" isn't a sport or that Dance can't be entertaining owes it to themselves to catch one of these events. It is by far an eye-opening experience. I was very repetitive in my "wow!, Whoa!, man!" remarks through out the day! Everyone of these schools put on an incredible show! FSU, USF, UCF - all forces to be reckoned with!
The time in which these guys/gals put into their performances shows. I can't wait until next year...
Damon
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Life is too short... Friend murdered...........
While the Internet can be a joy it has it's dark side often providing information to one that he/she does not want to know. Whether it be catching your spouse cheating, proving your friend wrong on a bet, or in this case finding out that you had a dissolution to a friendship w/out your control. This tool we call the Internet has utterly dropped me to my knees yet once again.
Many of you that know me, know the situation with my now ex fiance, and the difficulty in getting through it. It's been the hardest time I think I have ever gone through, the only person I have fallen in love with ended things - alot more to the story but that's the gist.
Now we come to today, where I was just on here looking up some old people I went to school with to see how they were doing. Not so much to talk, but to see... So I am looking up names and run across someones blog. A middle school friend who I had kept in contact with little by little till she became married had a specific blog page dedicated to her. (what was this I ask my self) since the topic was unspecified. This goes to show, things can be taken at a moments notice. I'm aware of how bitter/sweet life is, I just wish others could see it. Even though this happened 2 years ago finding out about it has the same effect, if not worse - because I missed the funeral. To Jen's family, losing someone has an unexplainable pain that no one will be able to take away. I pray for everyone in your family and hope that all are coping. I am so sorry for your loss!
Damon
(So I click it, and this is what I see)
I just found Jennifer Depeal was murdered Monday night. Her husband shot her then killed himself. She was 4 months pregnant. She had two children ages 3 and 7 who were visiting their father that night. She was one of my closest friends in school and this news is very upsetting! Here is her obituary from Orlando Sentinel:
Jennifer Ann Depeal
DEPEAL, JENNIFER ANN, 26, was suddenly taken from us on Monday, June 12, 2006. She was a lifelong resident of Orlando, Florida. She is survived by her children, Hunter and Hannah Carr; children's father, Howard D. Carr; father, Michael J. DePeal and stepmother, Susan DePeal; mother, Michelle E. Elliot and stepfather Richard E. Elliott of Winter Park; sister, Kathleen DePeal; brothers, Dustin and Conan Kelley all of Orlando; paternal grandparents, Michael J. and Arleen DePeal of Hartwell, GA; great grandmother, Emma Seeley; extended family and loving friends. Funeral Service will be held at 7PM
Many of you that know me, know the situation with my now ex fiance, and the difficulty in getting through it. It's been the hardest time I think I have ever gone through, the only person I have fallen in love with ended things - alot more to the story but that's the gist.
Now we come to today, where I was just on here looking up some old people I went to school with to see how they were doing. Not so much to talk, but to see... So I am looking up names and run across someones blog. A middle school friend who I had kept in contact with little by little till she became married had a specific blog page dedicated to her. (what was this I ask my self) since the topic was unspecified. This goes to show, things can be taken at a moments notice. I'm aware of how bitter/sweet life is, I just wish others could see it. Even though this happened 2 years ago finding out about it has the same effect, if not worse - because I missed the funeral. To Jen's family, losing someone has an unexplainable pain that no one will be able to take away. I pray for everyone in your family and hope that all are coping. I am so sorry for your loss!
Damon
(So I click it, and this is what I see)
I just found Jennifer Depeal was murdered Monday night. Her husband shot her then killed himself. She was 4 months pregnant. She had two children ages 3 and 7 who were visiting their father that night. She was one of my closest friends in school and this news is very upsetting! Here is her obituary from Orlando Sentinel:
Jennifer Ann Depeal
DEPEAL, JENNIFER ANN, 26, was suddenly taken from us on Monday, June 12, 2006. She was a lifelong resident of Orlando, Florida. She is survived by her children, Hunter and Hannah Carr; children's father, Howard D. Carr; father, Michael J. DePeal and stepmother, Susan DePeal; mother, Michelle E. Elliot and stepfather Richard E. Elliott of Winter Park; sister, Kathleen DePeal; brothers, Dustin and Conan Kelley all of Orlando; paternal grandparents, Michael J. and Arleen DePeal of Hartwell, GA; great grandmother, Emma Seeley; extended family and loving friends. Funeral Service will be held at 7PM
Photography: Copyright Infringement (education!)
Ok, it's a fact that most people think it's simply ok to go out and take photo's off of other's sites and steal them. You may not know it's theft, but what you're doing is. (Copyright Infringement) is a crime - and sadly goes un-noticed. YES Some photographers do not care, however MOST don't know their rights either. It's sort of like the guy that paid 4k to much for his car - and learned later about it. First time shame on you, second time shame on me.
I have been nice, even requested that my photos have a photo-credit on them and I would allow use. My attorney requested I sent out a reminder to do so - and it went either unanswered or very unprofessionaly responded too.
Anyone that didn't - a letter went out to myspace to have them removed. It's not a joking matter... YOU don't work for free, what makes me any different?
What you are doing is willful COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT. In no way have I granted the rights to my pictures. If I find that you are utilizing my pictures on any site, for fun or otherwise I will ask once to remove then I will seek an injunction. As well, I may seek damages.
To update you on copyright law, read below.
Avoid copying or otherwise using images you find on web pages without permission of the copyright owner.
These and other uses violate Federal copyright law. The copyright owner can sue infringers for damages (the owner's lost profit), profits (any profit the infringer made), statutory damages (up to $10,000 and as much as $50,000 for willful infringement), and attorney's fees and costs. They can get injunctive relief, and infringing copies and the equipment used to produce them can be impounded and destroyed. (Ie. computers, printers, etc)
It is also a criminal act to violate Federal copyright law (see 17 U.S.C.A.§ 506). It may qualify as a Federal misdemeanor (with a fine as much as $10,000 or imprisonment for up to one year.)
Don't Copy, Modify or Display Images You FindThe Copyright act gives the copyright owner (photographer) the exclusive right to reproduce or modify their work, and to exclude others from doing so. Copying includes copying or saving their image to your hard drive, or copying to other mediums, like scanning a photo from a book and turning it into a JPEG file.
Modifying a work, say by cropping, coloring, distorting, enlarging, etc. is not a way around this law. Creating a derivative work "or any other form in which a work may be recast, transformed or adapted" is an infringement.
If you take a copyrighted image without permission, and put it on a web page, web site, print on a photo etc... you are violating the exclusive right of the copyright owner to display his work. (See 17 U.S.C.A. § 106).
Just another peeve of mine.....
I have been nice, even requested that my photos have a photo-credit on them and I would allow use. My attorney requested I sent out a reminder to do so - and it went either unanswered or very unprofessionaly responded too.
Anyone that didn't - a letter went out to myspace to have them removed. It's not a joking matter... YOU don't work for free, what makes me any different?
What you are doing is willful COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT. In no way have I granted the rights to my pictures. If I find that you are utilizing my pictures on any site, for fun or otherwise I will ask once to remove then I will seek an injunction. As well, I may seek damages.
To update you on copyright law, read below.
Avoid copying or otherwise using images you find on web pages without permission of the copyright owner.
These and other uses violate Federal copyright law. The copyright owner can sue infringers for damages (the owner's lost profit), profits (any profit the infringer made), statutory damages (up to $10,000 and as much as $50,000 for willful infringement), and attorney's fees and costs. They can get injunctive relief, and infringing copies and the equipment used to produce them can be impounded and destroyed. (Ie. computers, printers, etc)
It is also a criminal act to violate Federal copyright law (see 17 U.S.C.A.§ 506). It may qualify as a Federal misdemeanor (with a fine as much as $10,000 or imprisonment for up to one year.)
Don't Copy, Modify or Display Images You FindThe Copyright act gives the copyright owner (photographer) the exclusive right to reproduce or modify their work, and to exclude others from doing so. Copying includes copying or saving their image to your hard drive, or copying to other mediums, like scanning a photo from a book and turning it into a JPEG file.
Modifying a work, say by cropping, coloring, distorting, enlarging, etc. is not a way around this law. Creating a derivative work "or any other form in which a work may be recast, transformed or adapted" is an infringement.
If you take a copyrighted image without permission, and put it on a web page, web site, print on a photo etc... you are violating the exclusive right of the copyright owner to display his work. (See 17 U.S.C.A. § 106).
Just another peeve of mine.....
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Cops Harassing The Homeless.......
Well... here is my first blog page. No, I have no issues with law enforcement, actually just the opposite if you know me. I DO have a problem with ignorance however. This is an event that has changed me quite a bit in a matter of 24 hours, and introduced me to some great people. Individuals from the City of Orlando, and ACLU amongst others. This was a post I sent to the City of Orlando and all district heads...
Enjoy, and take it for what it's worth. And remember this is only two individuals. No reason to dislike anyone, but you can form your own opinions... If you dont like it, oh well.
Strike up brownie points by belittling homeless!
Re: Officer Cody Jackson, Officer Gillespe
To whom it may concern on Tuesday evening around 11:00 pm I got off of work and went to the 7-11 across from the Wild Side restaurant near Lake Eola. "I believe that to be Summerlin" though not 100% as I am not very familiar with that area. While in 7-11 I was getting food, and over heard the workers there making fun of a gentleman outside who was homeless, and laughing about how the police officers in question told them (the workers) that this guy had a masters degree but was homeless. They then stated that the officers had run into this guy a few times and stated that the homeless person was one of Orlando's finest citizens. (Wow, way to go OPD.) Any how I then proceeded to tell the gentleman provoking the conversation that he needed to put himself into this guys shoes before they were to sit there and bash the guy. He proceeded to curse me out, telling me I'm the f@#%ing reason that these "bums" were all over Orlando etc... Now, I am one to be civil - but I did exchange some words back and fourth, never as colorful as what you see above here. I the extent was pretty much telling the guy he deserve to be in the hell the homeless person was.
Now, as I walked outside you had a Gillespie sitting next to the homeless individual and speaking to him in a rather condescending fashion. While I did not fully hear all of the conversation at first, when people started coming outside (including the inside 7-11 guy to tell me to never return to his @#$%ing store) Office Gillespie started getting louder and louder asking him why he was at the 7-11, why he didn't have a place to go, why he was bothering people. He was not conducting an interview per say, he was making an example if this gentleman (homeless person) or trying to at least to make it look like he was doing his job but at the expense of this guys place in life at this time. As I had stated the kid inside decided to come out and scream vulgarities and to never come back into his store. Officer Gillespie asked me (from his sitting position) all comfortable, looking very UNPROFESSIONAL, what was going on. I began to tell him, and Cody Jackson who had his car parked (to the left 3 spaces) from where we were, tells me to get the hell out of here and that I don't know what I'm getting my self into. My words at the immediate time were telling the guy from 7-11 (worker) to go back inside - and I then focused on Jackson who was now walking towards me pulling his collar out, vest to vent, etc... trying to assert his position as a "cop". Jackson still sitting there telling me "to get the hell off the property." (NICE WORDS FROM ORLANDOS FINEST.) I was located in my car at this point, window down, and Jackson is still making statements like this, telling me "You don't know what world he came from" I guess he meant the homeless person or what not. Maybe Orlando condones all of this action from these poor examples of public servants, but I think it's rather sad. I know several of your officers old and new. Some I grew up with, which has pushed me to pursue going to the Sheriffs Office as a Deputy. I can honestly say, as many times as I have ridden as a 10-12 I have NEVER seen a Deputy Sheriff act in the manner that your "boys in black" did. I am by no means saying it never happens, any municipality has it's issues, I am just saying the S.O. seems to have a different caliber of individuals on the road, and not some cocky kid (e.g. Jackson).
Finally I make a call to your com center (911) as I did not have the non-emergency readily avail. I asked for a Sgt. or LT. to please give me a call, as I wanted to discuss the issue that was outstanding. He calls me back, already very standoffish. I am aware you're to protect your soldiers so to speak, but if you're officers are making you look bad then you would think you would be interested in hearing about it. Clearly from the Sergeant's tone and demeanor you can tell where Jackson gets his professionalism from. I tried to explain the story to this gentleman only to keep getting (I don't see where they were unprofessional.) (I don't see where they were unprofessional.) Are you serious? While Gillespie didn't say too much, and was trying to find out what was going on, he was by no means in the right here either.
While I do not doubt the jobs of everyone there at the PD, I am sure this probably wont make it further than all the people I will email it to. I can only hope something is done about it. Maybe OPD needs to get Jackson out with an FTO for some more training! And maybe have him work for a homeless shelter for some community service and sensitivity training. I am not saying the homeless should be put on a pedistool, but they are human beings. I dont like being begged for money like any one else, but I can be a human being and not belittle them in front of everyone at a store.
(Just to add to this.) Before I walked into the store the two OPD officers were inside. The gentleman outside (as I passed and another patron passed) never asked for anything. He was just sitting there. While we both could argue it was because of the officers inside, we could find that he wasnt actually bothering anyone. Maybe just asking him to leave vs. patronizing the guy in front of everyone and trying to make an example by being very loud would have been easier....
Thanks for listening,
Damon
Enjoy, and take it for what it's worth. And remember this is only two individuals. No reason to dislike anyone, but you can form your own opinions... If you dont like it, oh well.
Strike up brownie points by belittling homeless!
Re: Officer Cody Jackson, Officer Gillespe
To whom it may concern on Tuesday evening around 11:00 pm I got off of work and went to the 7-11 across from the Wild Side restaurant near Lake Eola. "I believe that to be Summerlin" though not 100% as I am not very familiar with that area. While in 7-11 I was getting food, and over heard the workers there making fun of a gentleman outside who was homeless, and laughing about how the police officers in question told them (the workers) that this guy had a masters degree but was homeless. They then stated that the officers had run into this guy a few times and stated that the homeless person was one of Orlando's finest citizens. (Wow, way to go OPD.) Any how I then proceeded to tell the gentleman provoking the conversation that he needed to put himself into this guys shoes before they were to sit there and bash the guy. He proceeded to curse me out, telling me I'm the f@#%ing reason that these "bums" were all over Orlando etc... Now, I am one to be civil - but I did exchange some words back and fourth, never as colorful as what you see above here. I the extent was pretty much telling the guy he deserve to be in the hell the homeless person was.
Now, as I walked outside you had a Gillespie sitting next to the homeless individual and speaking to him in a rather condescending fashion. While I did not fully hear all of the conversation at first, when people started coming outside (including the inside 7-11 guy to tell me to never return to his @#$%ing store) Office Gillespie started getting louder and louder asking him why he was at the 7-11, why he didn't have a place to go, why he was bothering people. He was not conducting an interview per say, he was making an example if this gentleman (homeless person) or trying to at least to make it look like he was doing his job but at the expense of this guys place in life at this time. As I had stated the kid inside decided to come out and scream vulgarities and to never come back into his store. Officer Gillespie asked me (from his sitting position) all comfortable, looking very UNPROFESSIONAL, what was going on. I began to tell him, and Cody Jackson who had his car parked (to the left 3 spaces) from where we were, tells me to get the hell out of here and that I don't know what I'm getting my self into. My words at the immediate time were telling the guy from 7-11 (worker) to go back inside - and I then focused on Jackson who was now walking towards me pulling his collar out, vest to vent, etc... trying to assert his position as a "cop". Jackson still sitting there telling me "to get the hell off the property." (NICE WORDS FROM ORLANDOS FINEST.) I was located in my car at this point, window down, and Jackson is still making statements like this, telling me "You don't know what world he came from" I guess he meant the homeless person or what not. Maybe Orlando condones all of this action from these poor examples of public servants, but I think it's rather sad. I know several of your officers old and new. Some I grew up with, which has pushed me to pursue going to the Sheriffs Office as a Deputy. I can honestly say, as many times as I have ridden as a 10-12 I have NEVER seen a Deputy Sheriff act in the manner that your "boys in black" did. I am by no means saying it never happens, any municipality has it's issues, I am just saying the S.O. seems to have a different caliber of individuals on the road, and not some cocky kid (e.g. Jackson).
Finally I make a call to your com center (911) as I did not have the non-emergency readily avail. I asked for a Sgt. or LT. to please give me a call, as I wanted to discuss the issue that was outstanding. He calls me back, already very standoffish. I am aware you're to protect your soldiers so to speak, but if you're officers are making you look bad then you would think you would be interested in hearing about it. Clearly from the Sergeant's tone and demeanor you can tell where Jackson gets his professionalism from. I tried to explain the story to this gentleman only to keep getting (I don't see where they were unprofessional.) (I don't see where they were unprofessional.) Are you serious? While Gillespie didn't say too much, and was trying to find out what was going on, he was by no means in the right here either.
While I do not doubt the jobs of everyone there at the PD, I am sure this probably wont make it further than all the people I will email it to. I can only hope something is done about it. Maybe OPD needs to get Jackson out with an FTO for some more training! And maybe have him work for a homeless shelter for some community service and sensitivity training. I am not saying the homeless should be put on a pedistool, but they are human beings. I dont like being begged for money like any one else, but I can be a human being and not belittle them in front of everyone at a store.
(Just to add to this.) Before I walked into the store the two OPD officers were inside. The gentleman outside (as I passed and another patron passed) never asked for anything. He was just sitting there. While we both could argue it was because of the officers inside, we could find that he wasnt actually bothering anyone. Maybe just asking him to leave vs. patronizing the guy in front of everyone and trying to make an example by being very loud would have been easier....
Thanks for listening,
Damon
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
No I am not affiliated with any other "Event" photographers.
So, recently (last month or so) I keep getting emails, and myspace messages asking me if I am affiliated with 2 certain photographers here locally. One of which is using his photography to "sleep" with models (and those were this individuals exact words for doing what he does), the other well, hes actually a damn nice guy.
I won’t give out the name of the first, however the second (Tony Artica) of KnightLyfe is a damn nice guy. He IS in it for the photography, to meet people (male or female in the business), and for the love of the art.
I started doing club photography way before the majority, just not on the same scale. Nor do I just give my stuff away for "free" as the others do. Sorry, just the way it is...
I will allow some usage, however it’s for certian individuals etc... You don’t work for free... so why do "we" have to? If they are good enough to steal, they are good enough to pay for. IF YOU’RE AN ARTIST - you would not let me steal your music nor would I, you wouldn’t let me steal your name, why do you steal from us photographers?
Damon
I won’t give out the name of the first, however the second (Tony Artica) of KnightLyfe is a damn nice guy. He IS in it for the photography, to meet people (male or female in the business), and for the love of the art.
I started doing club photography way before the majority, just not on the same scale. Nor do I just give my stuff away for "free" as the others do. Sorry, just the way it is...
I will allow some usage, however it’s for certian individuals etc... You don’t work for free... so why do "we" have to? If they are good enough to steal, they are good enough to pay for. IF YOU’RE AN ARTIST - you would not let me steal your music nor would I, you wouldn’t let me steal your name, why do you steal from us photographers?
Damon
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