Yesterday I was hired to shoot some Flag Football at a Tournament in Chilliwack which had over 200 teams competing at various age levels. Was non-stop action with about 16 games happening at the same time!

The team I was covering was the Royal City Frontiersmen and I believe they went 500 on their day of games. The action was non stop as flag is a fast moving game and each offense has three downs to cross midfield and then three more to get to the end zone or turn the ball over to the other team.

Having been a tackle football coach and player for most of my life I never really thought much of flag football. But after watching these young players show me how to play it at a high intensity level I am now a fan and hope to watch and shoot more of this exciting game again.

So it finally happened!! I had the pleasure of shooting a “Destination Wedding” in Puerto Vallarta, at the Riu Vallarta.

The resort was terrific and it was great fun to get to know so many new people and to catch up with those I have known for years. Aiden the bride got us all set up in a group on WhatsApp so we could all communicate and plan dinners and excursions with ease.  Kept us all in the loop and allowed us all to pick and chose when to participate and when chill alone.

The Groomsmen and the Groom were dressed for the weather as it was Mexico hot!! But then of course what wedding in beach country is not on the hot side?

Not to be out done the ladies were also dressed for the weather in identical dresses of different colours and look FABULOUS!!

Oh yes and another first for me was shooting a wedding party that included a Bridesman…..Brian was that man and from what I saw on the wedding day he was the guy that got things done for the ladies…everything from steaming wrinkles out of the Bridesmaid’s dresses to fetch beers for us all during the after ceremony photos.

Few Brides I have had the pleasure of shooting have shown this kind of Joy while reciting their vows!  Of course there were also a few seconds of faltering words and almost tears as well which is a common thing at such a huge moment in one’s life.

To the happy couple I would like to say “Thank You” for allowing me the honour of capturing your “Big Day”

and I wish you much Happiness and Joy!!

Spent a wonderful Sunday morning walking along the Fraser River in Derby Reach Park with my wonderful wife JoAnn. Anyone who knows me would know I would never be talked into a hike or walk without bringing at least one camera and knowing how to get the best herbal medicine so that my body will be prepared for such adventure.  Bringing a camera certainly slows down the walk and I often have to rush to catch up with her. It might be because we were face to face with nature, I found myself worrying about my health.

I truly love this area we live in!! There is beauty all around where ever we look. This is a particularly wonderful time of the year when it is cool and crisp and the sun shines.  We get to see all the new snow on the mountains that surround us!  My day job often has me traveling in my truck all over the valley so why would I not carry at least one camera with me at all times.  Did not have a ton of calls to make today so I did shoot a few frames during my travels!  Here are just a few for all to enjoy!!

Saturday morning I decided to go check out some of the action at Exhibition Park where ARFC was holding an Alumni day with a full slate of games taking place. It was a mostly dry chilly freakishly windy day!  Sadly I had other commitments on the day so was only able to watch and photography the Ladies game against Nanaimo.  Their opponents arrived with just 12 players so game was forfeit and they played each other 12 on 12 just for fun.  ARFC got off to a slow start but by second half they seemed to be able to score at will!!

It is well known around Abbotsford that I have a huge passion for sports photography but not many people realize I shoot many other things like Weddings, Portraits, and on and on.  So if you find yourself in need of a photographer drop me a line and lets see if we can work together.

Okay so I have been sucking huge at blogging on any kind of regular schedule!  Hopefully this is the start of a more regular blogging activity!

So what have I been up to since my last blog almost a year ago.  So many shoots since then to even try to cover so let’s just talk about what I have done so far this year!!

Early on this year we got an unexpected wonderfully sunny day on a Saturday!  Not wanting to waste our good luck Jo and I called up our Niece, Brooke, to join us for a drive to Golden ears Park so we could have a walk along the shores of Alouette Lake.  We had a great time as did many other people we saw as we wandered.  Scenery was amazing and the lake was so calm.

Late last Friday afternoon I received a Facebook message from my good friend Bill Mueller, who coaches basketball at Robert Bateman Secondary , about a game they were hosting versus crosstown rival Rick Hansen Secondary.  As I had nothing else planned I headed out to shoot the action.  Sadly the home team got soundly thrashed and it was obvious why Hansen is the defending Provincial Champs!!

Woke up Saturday morning to a brilliant blue sky and crispy temps.  As I had planned to shoot UFV’s first ever Women’s Rugby Sevens home tourney I was overjoyed with the weather.  Got my workout in then had some breaky and packed the gear I would need for the day of high intensity USport!!  It was a great event and UFV won their first ever game .  Should mention this team is in just their second season ever and are playing teams from much bigger school who have been at it much longer.  Although they earned just the one win, they never quit, and even with dwindling numbers due to a couple of serious injuries they for sure had the respect of all their opponents!!

I was very lucky this past weekend to be allowed to photograph this years Vancouver Sevens from field level at BC Place. It is beyond exciting to be that close to this kind of action. Remember we are talking about the best 16 Men’s Rugby Sevens Teams in THE WORLD!!  They are all fast fit and furious and hungry for the wins.  The extra part of the show is in the stands! The fans (all 38,00 0 who attended each day) are awesome.  Many come dressed in crazy costumes and are energy filled and cheer their guts out for every team.  Of course they cheer loudest for Canada and Fiji the two local faves!!  This event is special to me for another reason as well  One of the stand out players on Team Canada played football for me when I use to coach High School Football and this event is the only time I get to see him in action LIVE!! He did not disappoint as he score 3 trys during the tourney.  In the end our Home Team did not walk away with any hardware but they took extra long in their walk around the stadium after being eliminated. Looked like anyone wanting a picture or autograph got just what they wanted from their fave player!! I am already looking forward to next years event.

Hey my picture is on the cover of What’s on!! Thanks to my good friend and fellow Photographer Jean Konda-Witte , I was once again given the opportunity to help out with promo photos for the Fraser Valley Stage‘s production of Hello Dolly which is playing Feb. 23 – March 4. Must say again that actors are becoming my fave people to shoot they are always just so in to it and make my job behind the camera so easy. Jean has done a great job marketing this show and I have loved the way she used my images. We even got some exposure on the big digital sign on Sumas Way!!  I am looking forward to attending the show!!

Some weeks ago a friend of mine, Jean Konde-Witte, asked me to help her out with a studio shoot as she does not have a space large enough.  Large was important because the shoot was for the cast of the Fraser Valley Stage’s production of “The Christmas Survival Guide”.

 The shots we would take would be used for advertising purposes both in print and social media.  It was a hot night in my studio space and shooting actors adorned in sweaters, hats and flannel onesies was a tad unpleasant but the cast was amazing and we all had a ball.

 Just from this shoot alone I have no doubt this play with be hilarious and am sorry I will not be in town to attend the show myself. If you are looking for a night out that is sure to be a hoot get tickets now before they are sold out.

Finally here is a sample of the finished advertising product.

This past weekend I covered the last stop on the Toronto Wolfpack’s world recruiting tour.  The Toronto Wolfpack is a professional Rugby League team dedicated to progressing through the English Rugby Football League’s (RFL) ranks, from League 1 to the Super League. They are Canada’s first professional Rugby team, and the world’s first transatlantic major professional sports team. No surprise they picked our little berg of Abbotsford for their west coast tryout location. British Columbia has been a hot bed of rugby action for decades what with Rugby Union, Rugby Sevens, and Rugby League teams all over the province.  Our High School, Community, and University Programs have over the years produced many International Level players.  The players trying out for a spot with the Wolfpack included locals as well as players from many parts of the USA and some were even as young as 17.   I have been around and have participated in contact sport for many years and I have never seen anything as intense and high energy as this work out was.  After the team hopefuls ran through several ball handling drills they moved on to some very hard hitting tackling drills.  Next was a high octane…….. non stop action……. live scrimmage which left several players bloodied but still smiling. After handshakes all around the players cleaned up and joined the Coach and managers of the Wolfpack at the Townhall for a bite to eat and a couple pints because come on what goes better with rugby than a pint or two of frosty beer!! Now all await the word on whether or not they will be joining the Pack in TO!!