Good Interruption

I have to interrupt my "Ten Trip" Journal at this time to share with you all a very neat experience this evening. I also call it a foot in the door. Or fate. Or just a good old "meant to be".

It all kind of started with me moving back home to the Niagara area, from living in Barrie and Owen Sound for the previous ten years. Over that time I had been able to spend countless hours, days off, and any other free time that came my way..with my camera. It was an old 35mm camera, passed down to me by my late Grandfather. The camera did its purpose well for me and was like an old friend. It is now retired and on a shelf on my mantle. After many years with this camera, and many empty roads, I decided to make the move home.

My plan was to branch out and become succesful with my photography. "Further my career with virtually the only thing I know how to do without thinking about it" were my words. Was I mentioning old friend? I have always found that things happen to those that wait, and for those in the right spots at the right time, or as well, for those that just know someone that helps them out. I have an old friend, who happens to be family with as well as good friends with another old friend of mine. Confused? It's very simple actually. And, when I think about my experience and how both of these old friends have interwoven into this tale of tonight, I feel proud. I thank both of my old friends for still being old friends, yet new ones at the same time and helping me to experience more with my photography. I am glad I moved home. Let me share with you this experience..

This evening, I was invited along with an old friend of mine, Dan Dakin. I have known Dan since I was in Grade 9, which would have put me at 13 years old. I never grew too close to Dan throughout the years due to different roads, however I find it quite intriguing that Dan is now the Sports Photographer & Writer for the Niagara Falls Review. Dan invited me to shadow him this evening at his coverage for the Junior B hockey game at the Niagara Falls Memorial Arena. And so we met again, after at least eight years of not seeing the other, and I spent the evening alongside Dan as he shot and wrote about the winning game for the Niagara Falls Canucks, as they beat the Fort Erie Meteors, with a score of 7-1 in 3 periods.

For a complete story on this game, click here for Dan's writeup for the Review.

What an experience. Dan showed me some neat tricks with my camera, gave me many hints and suggestions for Sports photography, and pointed me in the right direction for more projects of this type and other genres that local newspapers will want to see and have. Kudos to Dan for being a good friend, and mentor. I appreciate the evening and it was a fun game to see at the same time. Dan's words this evening, which will probably always stay in my mind are: "Camera equipment can be like an old man, you have to treat them well" So true of a statement. I look forward to more shoots of the such in the near future..in fact, my camera batteries are charging up again, for another adventure tomorrow. Another sports event? Here are some of the shots from this evening's hockey game: