NaplesPix.com

The Crosstown Showdown - Naples High at Barron Collier

2009-10-25T21:07:00.006-04:00

The always anticipated match between Barron Collier High School and Naples High was made only higher this year because Naples came into the contest with a 4 and 2 record,while Barron had been undefeated.

In Friday's game, Naples defense was able to held the Cougars to only 3 points, which came on a spectacular 46 yard field goal in the first period.

If you look the pictures on naplespix.com you will see Barron's starting Quarterback Mark Schoenfeld suffered an ankle injury and was replaced in the second quarter by backup Julio Gomez.

Team Pictures

2009-10-20T22:55:00.002-04:00

This is just a note for anyone looking for "Team Pictures" along with the individual portraits taken for the FBCN Beacons of the Outreach Tackle Football League, or for First Baptist Academy and its Fall Sports Teams.

I have posted those pictures online for those who want to order re-prints, or prints in different sizes. A reminder that you can also "crop" photos to your liking. A full length body shot can be cropped to a head shot. So play around.

If you are looking for specialties... such as Trading Cards, Plaques, Magazine Covers, and the like, email me Michael@naplespix.com and we will explain how we order those items.

So to see these pix, navigate to www.naplespix.com/team-pictures

October Sports Compilation

2009-10-19T14:58:00.007-04:00

It sure has been a busy month so far, and I have been barely keeping up with photographing events, much less editing, processing, and posting the pix! Unfortunately what has suffered the most has been announcing and writing my updates here. If you are one of those who checks here for the latest, I apologize for not being current.

So, without further ado... some of the most recent additions:

FBA Middle School Soccer versus Village School from October 1st.

Barron Collier JV Football hosts Gulf Coast High also from October 1st.

Cross Country meet at Lemon Bay in Englewood. This was from Saturday October 3rd, and while there were a score of schools represented, I have shots from the JV Women's squad from FBA (because my daughter is on that team), but also some from Naples High, and some of the Varsity Men's finish.

Freshman Football - Pametto Ridge visits Barron Collier. Again from October 1, 2009. A busy day!

FBA's Middle School Volleyball Team. I was taking individual action shots back on September 15th. There is no focus on the opposing team here.

Football - First Baptist Academy at Bradenton Christian School. From October 2nd.

Football - FBA hosts the JV team from Evangelical Christian of Fort Myers on October 8th.

Outreach Football: Pee Wee, Junior, and Senior division games featuring teams from First Baptist Church - The Beacons, from Marco Island - The Eagles, and Community School of Naples - The Seahawks.

FBA Volleyball with pix from both the Varsity Team and Junior Varsity Pix.

Bishop Verot Freshman Football at Barron Collier.

Bishop Verot JV Football at Barron Collier.

More Football: FBA hosts Cape Coral Christian from October 16th.

Please check out these galleries and tell other friends, relatives, teammates, and even your opponents to look for pictures on Naplespix.com.

Football: Outreach Tackle Football League

2009-09-28T22:31:00.006-04:00

The Outreach Tackle Football League in Naples, Florida has expanded this year. Last year the First Baptist Church of Naples team "The Beacons" had one opponent in three divisions. They faced Pee Wee, Junior, and Senior teams from the Marco Island Eagles. This year there are also teams in two divisions from Community School of Naples, where Junior and Senior division teams have been fielded. Community School has also adapted their soccer field for Football games, including this past week's installation of Goal Posts.

Coach (and youth Pastor) Kevin VanDuser of FBCN said that the league is very likely to expand again next year. He said he had to turn away 50 players this season, and is already planning on ordering equipment for at least that many more players next year. He also has had serious interest expressed from other existing youth teams in the area to join the Outreach league.

The teams play their games on Saturday mornings, and this week I took photos of some Junior Division games at the Community School field. I hope to get to some Pee Wee and Senior Division games on future visits.

Take a look at the gallery of pix from this week, and check back for more in the future at www.naplespix.com/football

Football: FBA hosts Princeton Christian

2009-09-27T11:26:00.005-04:00

Well, Friday night was exciting for First Baptist Academy, as they were holding their first ever night game at their new field. The new lights had only been installed on Wednesday, and there was a new scoreboard as well.

The sky was ominous, with flashes of lightning in the East, dark swirling clouds overhead, and thunder in the background. But the game started at 7:30 as planned, with FBA hosting a young and fledgling Princeton Christian School team from Princeton, Florida.

Now Princeton (I digress), is a small town in Miami-Dade County, formerly a depot along the old Florida East Coast Railroad. As you may have by now wondered, it was actually named after Princeton University, and according to an entry in Wikipeedia, many of the original buildings were painted with University's Black and Gold colors.

I was told that Friday was PCS's first Varsity football game, and while FBA is in its first season, the PCS team was clearly over-matched. FBA came out and scored quickly and often. By the time the rain started, FBA already held a commanding lead.

As for pictures, I was watching the sky more than the field in the first quarter and was reluctant to bring out the equipment with what I expected as an imminent deluge (having been through this before - only to have micro-processors fail when soaked). By the time the game resumed, and I got the cameras on the field, the clock was running continuously under the FHSAA "mercy rule", consequently I did not have as much time to shoot as usual. The final score was FBA 56 and PCS 8.

Please enjoy what photos I did get at http://naplespix.com/football/2009-High-School-Gam and tell your friends.

Football: First Baptist - First Home Game Ever!

2009-09-19T10:20:00.005-04:00

Well, a brand new Football program at First Baptist Academy of Naples holds it's first home game at it's brand new field on Orange Blossom Drive in Naples. The Lions hosted the Knights from Highlands Christian School of Pompano Beach. Neither team had the other on the schedule a few days ago, but FBA lost it's scheduled competitor, Sarasota Out Of Door because of Rosh Hashana, and Highlands scheduled competitor could not field a team.

FBA came into the match after two large defeats on the road, and having never scored an offensive touchdown. In this game, the Lions offense was much improved, scoring 3 touchdowns, and twice making successful 2-point conversions. The Knights scored 4 touchdowns and a field goal to win 31 to 22.

FBA's improvement in just it's third game gave great enjoyment to a large crowd in an entertaining match, and creates a hopeful atmosphere as the school readies for it's "homecoming" game next Friday.

2009-09-17T06:58:00.003-04:00

Here are some shots from a middle school soccer match at First Baptist Academy on Tuesday September 15, 2009. I stopped by briefly, and took a few shots as I calibrated some settings on a new telephoto lens.

You can see all the shots at www.naplespix.com/soccer

FBA Middle School Volleyball

2009-09-16T16:53:00.004-04:00

I stopped by FBA yesterday afternoon and watched some of the middle school girls volleyball match. Frankly I was limited in time, so I did not take any pictures of the opposing team, and I was testing settings with a new telephoto lens. The result, a handful of close-ups of some of the FBA girls. Enjoy. www.naplespix.com/volleyball

High School Football is Back!

2009-09-05T14:09:00.006-04:00

Well, First Baptist Academy opened their Inaugural Football Season, with their first official game, Friday night in Moore Haven, Florida. The Moore Haven Terriers played host to the FBA Lions. The Terriers had little difficulty with the young FBA team, which includes a substantial number of players who would be on a Freshman squad if attending a larger High School.

Nevertheless, First Baptist was cheered on by a large and vocal crowd of fans who travelled from Naples to witness the first-ever game for the Christian High School. The loudest cheer of the night came when Senior Running Back Michael Rodriguez picked up a kickoff, and ran it back 100 yards for The Lions first, one, and only touchdown of the game.

While the game was lost 56 to 6, most of the FBA fans left pleased, knowing this team will improve under the experienced leadership of Head Coach Billy Sparacio. Moore Haven fans were also treated to some exciting play, including running back Fred Hall's 5 touchdowns.

Look for the pictures on www.naplespix.com/football

Football Scrimage: First Baptist Academy hosts Southwest Florida Christian Academy

2009-05-24T13:07:00.005-04:00

Well, it has been a while since I last posted. I'm glad to be back. This Winter and Spring had been extremely disappointing for photography sales. With the bad economy, few were spending money on discretionary items. I could see the cutback in my sales. I was taking pictures of Baseball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Basketball... and almost nothing was selling. Some of these sports never sold a single print. I finally became so discouraged, I put my camera away, and considered closing down the website altogether.

The announcement that my friends at First Baptist Academy were going to hold their first ever High School Football game - really a scrimmage in preparation for their debut season next fall - got me to break out the camera once again and trod the sidelines. I do enjoy shooting the action.

So, after a couple months in my economic exile, I return now with my first offering of new photos...

It was a great Saturday afternoon. It felt hot with tropical humidity that we have not seen in months. The sun was strong through scattered clouds, and only occasionally a breeze would try to develop, first from one direction and then another, but seldom for long enough.

There was a good sized crowd on both sides of the field, with at least as many from Fort Myers as Naples. The scrimmage rules were 10 plays per team, and then change possession. Water breaks, but no half time. Both teams played well for the first two thirds of the scrimmage, but as players were platooned, Southwest Florida Christian's passing game became more than FBA could counter with its running game.

I am sure players and coaches learn a lot they will use over the summer to improve for when the season begins.

Team Pictures

2009-02-25T19:10:00.005-05:00

Teammates. The word implies membership, but there is often something more. There is a shared experience. Often hardships as well as success. At it's highest, it indicates a bonding, a tie not easily broken. Each teammate a unique but integral part of a greater whole. The team becomes part of each member's own identity.

Bonds like those developed on athletic teams during the most challenging years of life, as youth metamorphasises into adult, can last a lifetime.

I think of my older brother's best friends, the ones he has been able to count on when the chips are down, have been the high school teammates. The guys who tasted victory and endured defeat together, are still there for each other, 40 years later.

Teammates. It's a relationship. Sometimes, for a lifetime.

I just finished producing a custom "team picture" project for the First Baptist Academy Girls High School Basketball Team. I invite you to take a look at how we combined a team picture with action shots into one piece, that will hold memories together for a lifetime. Choose the "Team Pix" button on the menu bar at naplespix.com to see how they came out.

If you would like to honor your team with something special, email me and we can talk about your ideas, and see if we can make them happen.

And please remember to email me for any of your photographic needs. If I may say, we are quite versatile and creative. We not only shoot sports, but can help with personal, family, event, and commercial photography as well.

Thanks,

Mike

Lacrosse: Golden Gate Titans at Gulf Coast Sharks

2009-02-19T09:36:00.007-05:00

I was invited to take pictures of Tuesday's Lacrosse match between Gulf Coast High and Golden Gate (yes, you can ask me to shoot your favorite school or club teams, and I will try to accommodate!) I was happy to come, in part because I had not only never shot pictures of Lacrosse before, I had never even seen a game. My knowledge was limited to the Lacrosse stick or racket kids play with.

It's actually a very exciting, fast moving, hard-hitting sport, that to my eye melds soccer with hockey. I was amazed to learn Lacrosse is the oldest team sport in North America, with a variation played by Native Americans, perhaps as far back as 1100.

In this match, Gulf Coast dominated throughout, but not surprisingly, because their program is older and more seasoned that Golden Gates'. I was also told that the Barron Collier team may be the best in the county, since they have been in operation the longest. I think a Cougar - Shark match would be a game to see for anyone who hasn't yet watched Lacrosse. You might become a fan.

Please take a look at the new Lacrosse Gallery on Naplespix.com!

Sunshine Athletic Conference Girls Middle School Division Championship: FBA vs. St. Anne's

2009-02-15T18:52:00.005-05:00

Valentine's Day held not so much a massacre, but a hard fought battle, that in the end could have gone either way, but the roses went to the ladies of First Baptist Academy, as the 7th grade middle school Basketball team won it's Sunshine Athletic Conference division championship against St. Anne's.

Early on it seemed to be St. Anne's game to lose, as they took charge through the first quarter and most of the first half. FBA came back late in the second though, to close the gap to two points at the half. The the third was a scrappy battle , reminiscent of a Celtics-Lakers battle. In the fourth FBA gained a lead, but it began slip away just minutes from the close. A couple of clutch field goals and free throws finally sealed the win for the Lions, second championship in two years.

Our picture gallery includes action shots, and shots of the winning team members holding the trophy, and cutting down the net.

2009 District-12 Division 4-A Ladies Soccer Championship Semi-Finals

2009-01-24T18:31:00.004-05:00

Wednesday was cold and beautiful. Wednesday night was just plain cold. But in Immokalee the action was hot on the soccer field. It was the semi-final matches of the District Championship for the ladies, and all four teams came ready to play. In the first match Golden Gate's Lady Titans were up against the Lady Bears of Palmetto Ridge. Palmetto was strong and consistent throughout, securing a berth in the Finals with a 4 to 0 win.

By the time the second match began, temperatures had fallen to the mid 40's and kept falling throughout. The game could not have been closer, with Naples and Lely finishing regulation and overtime with a 2 - 2. The match was decided by a series of best of 5 "penalty kicks", pitting each teams Goal Keeper alone against a single shooter. Naples secured the victory.

See all the action in a special gallery for the playoff by clicking here.

High School Basketball: Barron Collier hosts Palmetto Ridge

2009-01-24T18:18:00.003-05:00

This past Tuesday, the Palmetto Ridge Bears came down to Barron Collier to take on the Cougars in Boys High School Basketball. We have action shots from all three games; Freshman, JV, and Varsity.

When you look for the pictures of your favorite players, check through each category for the games of interest. Click here to go to Basketball on Naplespix.com

High School Boys Varsity Basketball - Gulf Coast hosts Barron Collier

2009-01-24T18:02:00.004-05:00

This was from a week ago, when the Barron Collier basketball teams travelled across town to Gulf Coast. It was two fantastic games with opposite results. In the first game, the JV squads battled hard with Barron finally edging the Sharks 55 to 51.

In the second game, Barron, arguably the favorite to win, just could not overcome the relentless defense of Gulf Coast. The Sharks just would not give an inch, and because of last minute strategies and intentional fouls, the outcome was much closer than the final 71 to 64 score looked.

Be sure to tell everyone to see the great game pix on Naplespix.com

JV High School Basketball - First Baptist Academy hosts Palmetto Ridge

2009-01-11T10:41:00.003-05:00

The Lions of FBA have had a good season, but coming off a two week Christmas vacation without practice, proved to be the lump of coal in their stocking when they lost badly to Community School on Monday. The Palmetto Ridge Bears were going to bear the brunt of the Lions frustration.

As with the girls team on Thursday, the boys were not holding back anything. Their shooting was accurate, feet were fast, and defense strong. They were willing to penetrate and drive to the basket. The result was a near 30 point win.

See pix from this game by clicking here.

Thanks,
Mike

High School Soccer - Palmetto Ridge host Golden Gate

2009-01-11T10:14:00.002-05:00

Thursday night featured a nearly full moon and chillier temperatures than we have experienced in recent days. But inside the lines the action was hot at Palmetto Ridge High School in Naples, Florida. The Bears were host to both JV and Varsity squads from Golden Gate High, and the intensity was high, but without the kinds of spectator antics we saw earlier in the week at Barron Collier.

I arrived in the second half of the JV match, but what became obvious was how well matched the teams were, especially on defense, as they finished with a 0 - 0 tie.

In the Varsity game, the battle was just as hard - with the Bears holding the highly successful Titans to one goal in the first half, and only giving way in the final 10 minutes of action. Golden Gate notched their 12th win 4 -0.

See action shots from each game on Naplespix.com

click here to go to the Soccer Page!

Thanks,
Mike

First Baptist Academy JV Girls host Golden Gate

2009-01-10T13:51:00.003-05:00

From Thursday afternoon, January 8, 2009. The Golden Gate High School Girls Junior Varsity Basketball team travelled to First Baptist Academy to face the Lions, who were still licking their wounds from the previous Monday night loss to the Sea-Hawks of Community School.

The Lions came out roaring, and never let up, as if they could atone for Mondays outcome. The play on both sides was strong and serious, and Golden Gate made a strong push in the second half, but could not overcome the first half lead the Lions had built.

See pictures from the game on Naplespix.com by clicking here, and tell all team members, friends and family to check them out.

Thanks,

Mike

High School Boy's Varsity Soccer - Barron Collier High hosts Gulf Coast High

2009-01-07T16:44:00.003-05:00

I attended the Soccer match between cross-town rivals Barron Collier and Gulf Coast High Schools held at Cougar Stadium Tuesday night. Both teams played all-out. Emotions were high even on the sidelines and in the stands.

Barron seemed to have the edge through most of the game, but Gulf Coast capitalized on a penalty kick, and scored again, but could not overcome Barron's 4 goals. Barron prevailed 4 to 2.

Click here to check out all the action shots on Naplespix.com

Thanks,
Mike

High School JV Basketball - Community School hosts First Baptist Academy

2009-01-07T10:23:00.004-05:00

Well, we're into a new year, and new sports season, and shooting action pix! The holidays and personal activities had us on the sidelines for a few weeks, but now we're back on the real sidelines and baselines!

Thanks to Coach Gene Rochette at The Community School of Naples, we were able to take in the two JV games there Monday night. The very capable CSN teams both handled the young FBA teams easily. One might presume that because of the involvement of several middle school athletes in the composition of the FBA teams that they are not "up" to the High School JV level, but that would be a misjudgement. Both teams have fared well so far in the season, with the FBA JV men at 7 -2 including this loss. The women have a very respectable 5 -3 record.

Please check out the pictures from both games online at Naplespix.com

Here is a link to the Women's game.

Here is a link to the Men's game.

Please feel free to pass these links along to others who may enjoy the pictures, and your support helps keep pictures coming.

Thanks,

Mike

Girls High School Soccer: Evangelical Christian at First Baptist Academy

2008-11-15T10:03:00.003-05:00

First Baptist Academy's Girls Varsity Soccer team has many 8th grade students, and just a few High School girls playing. I also understand that Evangelical Christian School's JV team is dominated by middle school girls. So these two teams with outwardly different classifications, are at the core, probably competitive in the essential age and experience departments.

I don't know if that matters to you.

I did have the pleasure of watching much of their game on Tuesday at FBA, and reminded myself that it is early in the season for both teams, and each will likely improve as the weeks go by.

You can see the pictures by clicking here.

Again, I remind you that you can order prints or downloads of pictures you like, and that enthusiastic support helps keep the pictures coming! Tell everyone who might not know about the website, and send links to friends and family.

Thanks,
Mike
Naplespix.com

High School Soccer: Palmetto Ridge High hosts Gulf Coast High

2008-11-14T10:49:00.011-05:00

Tuesday night I watched one of the early games of the Soccer season at Palmetto Ridge Stadium. As small crowd was on hand to watch the Boys JV and Varsity matches.

I arrived late, and caught the second half of the JV game, which then ended quite prematurely after a foot or leg injury to a Sharks player. The game was on hold until the EMS was able to attend to him, and transport him to the hospital. By then, time had expired, and the Sharks were awarded the win 5 -0.

You can view the shots I did get by clicking here.

The Varsity game was strongly contended. The Bears managed to hold off the Sharks 3 -1. You can see pictures from this game by clicking here.

Please pass along the link and tell other players, parents, and friends to look at the pictures on Naplespix.com.

Thanks,

Mike

The Coconut Bowl - District Championship

2008-11-12T08:10:00.005-05:00

Naples High and Lely High have both had stellar seasons. They came to the Coconut Bowl seeking the Class 3A District 14 Championship with identical records of 7 - 1 overall, and 3 - 0 in the District. Both teams secured a playoff berth, but this game would also provide a first round home field advantage.

From my point of view it was one of the most entertaining games I've seen all season. While the final score of 50 -33 looks lopsided, the game from the sideline did not.

Lely shocked Naples (and the rest of us too) with an 80 yard run for TD in the first 16 seconds of the game, and the two teams started exchanging touchdowns and the lead through the three quarters. It was not until the fourth that Naples got a leg up, but Lely never gave up, scoring, converting, and recovering an on-side kick in the fourth. It was an interception by Naples with just over 3 minutes left that sealed the deal.

Spectators surely got their money's worth. Click here to go to the pix!

I have posted a large number of pix from the game. I hope you will enjoy looking for your favorite players, and I could use your help to share links to this blog or the naplespix.com website to others who would like to see these and other games there. You might want to link from your own page to Naplespix.com.

Remember, you can order prints in all kinds of sizes right on the website, and if you have a question, problem, or special request, just email me, and I will try to help.

If you have a team or league you would like covered, email me and let me know.

Thanks,

Mike

Naplespix.com

Help! It won't print the size I want!

2008-11-08T13:03:00.003-05:00

It has only now come to my attention that some people may be wanting to purchase prints of pictures, but the website says they are too small for any print size. It stands to reason that there are others who may have wanted larger sizes of pictures offered only in small sizes.

There is a solution. If you email me which picture will not print at the desired size, I am in most cases able to go in and replace it with a larger file which will print. Just let me know anything you may want about a certain picture, and I will try, and probably can help.

If you don't care why this happens... read no further. TMI follows:

I have realized that because I try to quickly process hundred of pictures from each game, and select, crop, and correct them and then upload so you can see them, one detail has fallen through the cracks... file size... number of pixels per inch. To ensure print quality, Smugmug has limiting software that filters available enlargements by pixel dimension, so if I have cropped a large photo into a small one, the vertical by horizontal pixel count is reduced and limits the size they will print. So there have been pictures that will only print at 4 x 6... or 8 x 10... and apparently some wouldn't even print at 4 x 6.

Ironically I was consulting with Smugmug about that this week, because I want to order some very large prints for FBA and FBCN to display, but the available print size was not as large as we wanted. Since I shoot mostly RAW format now (which produce extremely large detailed files), I am able to re-process those shots through Adobe Camera Raw (and Photoshop) and increase the pixel size when converting back to JPEG, all while preserving the quality.

Today I had an email from one person which put it all in front of me. They had a picture they wanted, but it would not allow any size print. So I just reprocessed that shot, and now they can enlarge it significantly.

I am going to try to implement a solution in my workflow so future pictures will not show as unprintable, however, I may not have time to go back and re-process the thousands of pictures already posted from the past. I hope if there are or have been pictures you wanted and could not get, or sizes you wanted, but could not order... you will email me and let me know. For now it will be easier to fix them on a case by case basis.

Thanks for the feedback, it helps me make things better for you!

Mike
Naplespix.com

Football: The FBCN Beacons final games of the 2008 Season

2008-11-05T07:32:00.004-05:00

It seems to me that it was a more successful start to a football program than anyone had a right to expect, but perhaps with the experience of so many veteran coaches involved, it's not a big surprise.

Having watched several practices and many games, being on the sidelines with the coaches and players, and in some cases right on the field, I can report that these kids may never again have this kind of compassionate, patient, encouragement from skilled coaches in their sporting careers.

While I have watched and listened in amazement at the insults and foul language that can be hurled at players in other leagues from the sidelines, I saw coaches at FBCN games take mistakes and lapses as teaching and encouragement opportunities for boys and young men. What role models they are to these who will grow up to be players, coaches, and fathers themselves. Understanding that competitive sport is an inward test of courage, resolve, and perseverance, along with a physical demand to push beyond ones' previous limits, to face and overcome fears and doubts, and to often "play" with pain - these coaches are in a position of molding the evolving character and confidence in young men. I have been impressed with what I have seen.

When I considered that many of these boys had never played tackle football before, and indeed probably never been allowed (much less instructed) to physically frustrate, impede, or hit another person with their body... they came a long way. I suspect that this will open opportunities for them in football as they move along in school.

For players, coaches, parents, family, and friends, let me encourage you to look at all the galleries of all the games and practices from this season again. Find shots of your favorites that you would like to preserve, and honor your players with mementos of their effort and diligence. Take note that you can order more than just snapshots.

There are large prints, and even framed prints on canvas. Think of Christmas cards (yes we can help with those), and gifts with pictures printed on them (t-shirts, sweatshirts, aprons, playing cards and much more). There are downloadable files available for your computer too. Think how honoring a series of pictures downloaded onto a digital picture frame would be! Email me for some options.

Some people have asked about poster size prints. Yes. Others about Black and White versions - Yes. Some have asked about soft and hard cover books - Yes. There is three-dimensional wall art, and almost anything you can think of, we can locate, and put a picture with it. Just email me and we'll figure out something special.

To see the latest galleries of pictures from the final games of the season click the link below:

Pee Wee Division

Junior Division

Senior Division

I will also be placing the team pictures and individual portraits online soon. Those will be available in larger sizes.

Oh, and remember... you can crop pictures down from what you see on the screen, and in some cases even change the orientation from horizontal to vertical (or vice versa). When you click to buy a picture, that becomes an option (before you have to pay - you see and decide). If you see a picture you really want, but it's not quite framed the way you want... email me before you buy it, and I will see if we can make some custom changes to it. Almost every picture you see has more in the original shot than what shows.

Let me know what you like, and what you would like. Thanks for your support, and a great season!

Mike

Naplespix.com

JV High School Football: Gulf Coast Sharks host the Palmetto Ridge Bears

2008-11-01T00:05:00.005-04:00

Thursday night was the last game of the 2008 football season for the Gulf Coast JV Sharks and the Palmetto Ridge JV Bears. The game was great, and players from both teams fought hard, many hoping to impress the Varstity Coaches for next year, and others hoping for a chance to be called up to the Senior Squad for the remainder of this season.

Look at pix from this game by clicking here.

See the fabulous Freshman game first!

Look at all the Football pictures by clicking here.

Look at all the sports pix on Naplespix.com by clicking here.

Thanks,
Mike

High School Football: Gulf Coast Sharks at Lehigh Lightning

2008-10-29T12:15:00.004-04:00

Friday night was "Homecoming" for the "Lightning" at Lehigh Senior High School. Half-time provided a band, a parade of floats, a "surprise" homecoming couple (at least that's what it looked like), and a lot of rain.

Sadly enough for Lehigh, there was more than rain on their parade. The "Lightning" was kept in a bottle, while the Sharks of Gulf Coast High attacked again and again. By the time it was all done, Gulf Coast had a 42 -21 victory. Click here to go right to the pictures.

And I think I've done enough word play.

I am sorry I didn't get these pix up sooner, but my schedule, being sick, and having to deal with less than ideal exposures from the rainy conditions, required more time to process the shots. I hope you enjoy seeing them, and please tell everyone who might be interested how they can see them on Naplespix.com!

Thanks,

Mike

Freshman Football: Barron Collier Cougars at Palmetto Ridge Bears

2008-10-24T11:34:00.003-04:00

Well, Thursday afternoon started out gloomy, and became a torrent. Not just the weather, but the last game of the season for the Barron Collier Freshman Football team. It was not easy for anyone to sit through what became a downpour in the second half, but Bears fans enjoyed the team's effort.

I have many pictures from the game here.

Be sure to tell all friends, family, school and teammates about the website, and order Christmas and Birthday gifts with pictures on them to commemorate the Football season. On Naplespix.com, you can buydownloadable digital picture files for your computer, or many gifts from T-shirts to playing cards with your favorite picture on it.

I also have the ability to have hard or soft cover "books" produced with pictures from the website. Contact me for information.

Thanks for spreading the word!

Mike

Naplespix.com

PS: JV game pix still to come!

High School Football: Naples High Golden Eagles host Barron Collier Cougars

2008-10-18T08:59:00.002-04:00

The much awaited showdown between Naples High and Barron Collier lived up to its billing as a top level event in High School Football. Both sides came out gunning, and both Golden Eagles Tailback Greg Pratt and Cougars Tailback Quin Thornton put on tremendous displays of running talent.

Both teams displayed talent and determination, both as Barron came back strong in the second half, and with Naples defense finally holding off a final Barron push in the red zone that could well have turned the game.

Enjoy this weeks pix. You can go directly by clicking here... or check out all our sports pix on Naplespix.com

Thanks,

Mike

Freshman and JV High School Football: Gulf Coast Sharks at Golden Gate Titans

2008-10-18T08:23:00.004-04:00

I had not shot but a few frames of Freshman Football this season, but had several reports of how well teams had been playing from school yearbook photographers who had been assigned to games. So I have been looking forward to getting to a game.

I had a request a few weeks back to shoot Gulf Coast JV, and this Thursday was the best on my schedule, so I went over to Golden Gate High School where the Titans were hosting both JV and Freshman squads from the Sharks. With one troubling exception, both games were enjoyable for fans. The dark moment was when a player from Gulf Coast had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance with a possible neck injury. Our prayers are for his complete recovery. I can accept sprains, strains, and even broken bones as a part of football, but neck and head injuries while rare, are most upsetting, and the quiet fear of many parents.

Please look through and enjoy photos of both games. These players don't get the attention the Senior squads do, but also play their hearts out. I don't know how many chances I will have to shoot the JV's or Freshman this season, but I will try when I am able.

A link to the Freshman game is here. A link to the JV game is here.

Would you kindly email a link to our site to friends, family, teammates, and schoolmates who might not know about Naplespix.com? And remember, you can buy digital downloads and many gifts for Birthdays, Christmas, and other occasions with these pictures of your favorite players, cropped to your liking printed on them! Regular, large and extra large prints are also available of many pix... Even pictures printed on Canvas and mounted in frames.

Thanks,

Mike

Naplespix.com

Volleyball: Palmetto Ridge Bears host the Gulf Coast High Sharks

2008-10-14T00:16:00.004-04:00

As I mentioned in the previous article, I went to the Volleyball match at Palmetto Ridge on Monday night, and caught some good action between the Bears and the Sharks of Gulf Coast High. Gulf Coast was quite succesful.

My interest in being there was to work on my Volleyball photography techniqe. The gym at Palmetto Ridge offered a high platform above the bleachers, which provides a very good location for many shots. This night I spent most of my time there, working to anticipate where the action would be. Focus is always a challenge when shooting indoor sports without a flash. Some of the reasons I try not to use a camera mounted flash include the way it can cast shadows behind players, creates "red-eye", and can be a distraction to players. There are times in which flash is valuable, and there are ways to utilize it that reduce those effects. But tonight I wanted to work without it.

The reason it affects focus, is because light level is low, and shutter speeds have to be high to stop action... then the appature on the lens has to be wide-open to let in the most light. This creates a shallow "depth of field", and means the focus has to be "spot on" the target, or your subject will be out of focus.

Okay, TMI I'm sure. But these are some of the things I take into account, and why I try different ways to bring you the best action shots I can.

Look for players you know... and tell them their picture is on Naplespix.com.

Thanks, we'll see you at a game soon!

Mike

Volleyball: FBA Middle School hosts Marco Island Charter

2008-10-13T23:52:00.005-04:00

I wanted to try some more Volleyball pix, and since the rain cancelled soccer this afternoon, it seemed a good time to shoot a few at FBA where the Lions were hosting Marco Island Charter School.

I caught a few minutes of the B team action and then some of the A Team - Silver Division. (I was told there is also a Gold Division).

I didn't get many, but take a look if you have girls on either team. I am working on "technical" aspects. Today I was shooting "vertically" to try and get more of the action larger on my sensor. I was also using a faster shutter speed for better stop action, but pushing my ISO sensitivity higher. For you, I was trying to get a visual relationship between players and the ball.

Later Monday night I shot some High School action at Palmetto Ridge. The play itself is more "verticle" with higher jumps and shots. I also noted more rhythm to the play, as more often than not, each side used its three touches to set up strategic returns. The younger players have not yet achieved that level, and as a result, the play is a bit more erratic, and for the photographer, harder to anticipate for shot making.

If you see some student you know, let them or their family know you saw it on Naplespix.com!

Thanks,

Mike

High School Football: Gulf Coast Sharks host Barron Collier Cougars

2008-10-11T11:48:00.002-04:00

Friday night the Sharks were laying it wait for the Barron Collier Cougars, perhaps hoping that by wearing black for the night game they could surprise the cougars. It didn't work. In an important district game, the Cougars defeated the Sharks 38-20.

At first it looked like the Sharks plan was going to work. They scored first on an interception. A blocked field goal and blocked extra point didn't help though. Then Barron and Senior Quin Thornton combined with Cougar Quarterback Nate Garland and the offense managed to gain 433 combined yards.

If you look through the pictures on Naplespix.com, you'll see one of those blocked kicks, along with many other heroic efforts by both teams on both side of the ball.

Please pass along the link, and tell all teammates and families where to look for pix!

Thanks,

Mike
Naplespix.com

Barron Senior player Quin Thornton rushed 23 times.

Football: Marco Island Eagles at FBCN Beacons

2008-10-04T22:26:00.009-04:00

I think if the truth were told, most boys would thrill at the opportunity to play outside in the rain, slip and slide on wet grass, splash in puddles and wallow in mud. Watch almost any boy when his mother is not around, (and plenty even with mom around), and the puddle is target one.

Today, in the middle of the afternoon, the Senior Divisions of the Marco Island Eagles Football teams, and the Beacons of First Baptist Church of Naples Outreach got the chance of a boys lifetime. They got to run, hit, and tackle one another during a deluge, as the field at First Baptist began to flood with inches of rainwater. It was not as much fun to be a spectator, although a surprising number persevered. Eventually lightning forced a premature end to the sodden spectacle, but not before everyone was soaked to the bone. (If you look closely at the picture above, you might wonder if anyone drowned... fortunately not!)

I have finally been able to post pictures from all games! Those who attended the morning session, but left before the rain came may enjoy looking at the Senior game gallery. You'll be thankful that your laundry will be less challenging than for those Senior players.

I hope you will follow the link to naplespix.com, and look for pictures you would like to save. Remember that there is a wide variety of types and sizes of prints and other merchandise from which you may choose. There is also the option to download a digital file of pictures you want to keep for your computer.

By the way, my sneakers kept opening the dryer door, and slowed their eventual drying significantly.

Thanks,

Mike

Football: Naples High Golden Eagles host the Gulf Coast High Sharks

2008-10-03T23:40:00.005-04:00

It started out looking like it would be a high scoring game, but perhaps because of a blizzard of penalty flags throughout the game, after initial scoring, Naples High and Gulf Coast were locked in a 13-6 battle for a long time. Then as time was winding down, the Gulf Coast Sharks managed to tie the Golden Eagles at 13 each. It led to a double overtime, in which each team had a chance to score within four downs from the 10 yard line. Eagles and Sharks traded scores in the first overtime, but a Shark turnover in the second gave the Golden Eagles a chance to kick for a 3 point win after they were rebuffed in three tries.

See the action on Naplespix.com.

Thanks,

Mike

Golf at the "Quarry" in Naples. Golden Gate vs. First Baptist Academy

2008-10-03T17:09:00.007-04:00

I had the pleasure of being invited to take pictures during a golf match between Golden Gate and First Baptist Academy yesterday afternoon at The Quarry. I had never been to the Quarry before, and may I tell you, I was blown away by how beautiful it was there!

As a former working quarry, there are a couple of huge man-made lakes on the site, and at times (I think on the second hole) where I felt like I was in Savannah. Then on the third, with stands of pine in the distance, I could have been in North Carolina. Of course it was a gorgeous sunny day, and the humidity was down, so that added to it as well. It is worth a visit, and It looked like a great course to play too.

I, on the other hand, was there to take pictures of these fine young golfers. I am sure I would have been distracted by having some guy snapping away for a couple of hours during my golf match, but they were all gracious as could be. I hope the results are pleasing to them.

Even though you may not know any of these players, you might enjoy a few of the shots. Perhaps you're looking at a future PGA, or LPGA tour player.

Let me know if your league want photos taken, and we'll see what we can schedule.

Thanks,

Mike

Football: Barron Collier Cougars JV host the JV Indians of Immokalee High

2008-10-03T12:18:00.005-04:00

Thursday night at Cougar Stadium, Barron Collier's JV Football team hosted the JV squad from Immokalee High. Much to my surprise, it was a low scoring event, with Barron coming away the victor 6 to nothing. Immokalee had a touchdown called back on a penalty, and the Cougars defended the goal line against several Indian assaults from the red zone in the final two minutes of play.

I have some pictures on the website, so check out naplespix.com to see the action shots.

Tonight I expect to cover the Naples Golden Eagles as they host the Sharks of Gulf Coast High. It should be an exciting game, so look for pix over the weekend.

Volleyball: FBA ladies host Gulf Coast Sharks

2008-09-29T22:18:00.008-04:00

I have to admit, I have not shot volleyball before. I was not planning on shooting it today either. So why do I have volleyball pictures to share with you? Well, I could ramble on, but suffice to say, I stumbled upon a match at FBA, was asked (with some perceived enthusiasm) if I was going to shoot, so I said I would - after the soccer match.

Now, I find that every sport has differences in the best way to shoot, and it takes some experimentation to see what angles, focal lengths, shutter speeds, lighting etc. work best for each sport. So I had to do some experimentation today, and I will continue to learn better ways to capture the players and action. I might not have presented these "experimental" shots, were it not for the fact that these players put such enormous effort into their work, and probably don't receive the kind of attention other sports do. So I feel compelled to find some of my shots that worked, and present them here.

Update: I have finished my editting and processing for the New Volleyball gallery which you can see by clicking here. It took some time to evaluate, crop the photos, and perform color correction. Shooting indoors is always a challenge, because there is seldom adequate lighting for action photography, not to mention the artificial lighting changes colors dramatically. I hope you enjoy these pix, and as always, please mention to other players and parents that we have some shots they should check out on Naplespix.com.

Thanks,

Mike

Soccer: FBA Varsity Men host Seacrest Country Day School

2008-09-29T22:05:00.004-04:00

First Baptist Academy played host to Seacrest Country Day School for a Soccer match this afternoon. It was hard fought, but the second half belonged to Seacrest, and so did the game.

I snapped a number of pix, and the coloring was interesting to me, since the sky was so dark to the east, and overcast to the west. Usually when I shoot there, it is in strong westerly sun. These kinds of conditions provide some interesting backgrounds, and nice colors.

If you know anyone from Seacrest, would you kindly tell them about these pictures, or provide a link to naplespix.com so they can see them too.

Thanks,

Mike

Football: FBCN Beacon "Bowl"

2008-09-27T20:34:00.004-04:00

Okay, nobody actually said that Beacon "Bowl" comment. I might be a bit punchy, but somehow it seemed cute to me at the time.

It was nice that today was cooler and cloudier at the FBCN Campus. Today was Beacon vs. Beacon with all 3 divisions. Since I was out of town last weekend for the games at Marco, this was the first time in two weeks I had watched the teams, and improvement was evident.

I snapped a lot of pictures, so you may have to wade through many to find yours, but I have made an attempt to show quality shots of as many kids as I can. Personally I recommend clicking on the slideshow - adjusting it to "fast", maximizing my browser, and sit back to watch.

As you might expect, the Pee Wee game is first, Junior begin around picture 121 and Senior pix start about number 173. Check your browser, but this should be close.

I do intend on shooting next Saturday as well, so if we didn't get everyone this week, there is still a chance next week!

Thanks,

Mike

naplespix.com

Football: Barron Collier Cougars host Palmetto Ridge Bears

2008-09-27T20:22:00.004-04:00

I attended Friday night's Barron Collier vs. Palmetto Ridge Varsity game at Cougar stadium. There was lots of action, and the Cougars led most of the way by a comfortable margin. It was quite late Friday night by the time I was able to post my images on Naplespix.com. As it is I am writing this almost 24 hours later because I have been shooting other football action since early Saturday morning.

Please check out the photos, and tell everyone connected with Barron Collier to check them out too. Give them a link to naplespix.com and tell them to click on the "football" tab.

Thanks,

Mike

Football Barron Collier JV hosts Palmetto Ridge High JV

2008-09-25T22:56:00.006-04:00

Thursday night, I took some time to attend the JV game between Barron and Palmetto Ridge at Cougar Stadium. It was a nice night with the humidity and temps down from the usual, but the crowd was on the small side. The game was entertaining. I had missed the Freshman game from earlier, but was told it was quite good.

I snapped a few shots, and hope you will enjoy them. I am trying to shoot some of the defensive and offensive lines too. Those guys play their hearts out, but since they don't carry the ball, they don't get all the attention they deserve. Look for players you know, and pass along our website address, so they can see themselves on Naplespix.com

The Varsity game is tomorrow night. See you there!

Mike

Weekend Update

2008-09-22T08:41:00.012-04:00

The weekend has passed, and with youth sports really heating up, so has the traffic on NaplesPix.com. I have seen a large increase in picture views (happy), and some orders for prints (also happy). I know that my coverage of other schools has brought in new viewers to the site, so I want to mention a few items that might not be obvious.

If you like any pictures, you can order prints in a variety of sizes and finishes. We are debuting a brand new "hi-tech" Metallic paper and finish from Kodak. These should produce awesome pictures that really pop! Click the logo for more information.

You can also buy any picture for download to your computer. It's a great way to have a picture to send to friends and family by email, to make a screen saver, or to print unlimited copies for personal use on your own printer at home. If you click on "Buy this photo", you can see all the options without committing to actually buying anything.

I have been receiving requests for actions shots of specific teams and events, and I will try to accommodate as my schedule allows. Email me schedules and information. If I can get sideline access to your event, it will help dramatically.

I have also started team photo's where (as with school pictures) we can offer packages with individual and team shots in a variety of sizes and printed on specialties (trading cards, calendars, mouse pads, etc). Let me know if your team has interest in this service.

Thanks for your support! It will help me be able to keep taking pictures!
Mike
http://www.naplespix.com/

Football: Gulf Coast Sharks host Immokalee High Indians

2008-09-19T23:36:00.008-04:00

Another Friday Night Lights... Football in Naples. I chose the Gulf Coast Sharks hosting Immokalee High tonight. I had not taken pix of either team yet this season, and I was looking forward to watching both teams, along with rounding out my offering on NaplesPix.com.

It was a good game, with the exception of penalties, which seem to me to hurt Immokalee more than the Sharks (but that's just one opinion). Gulf Coast won.

I was able to get a good offering of shots up on the website Saturday morning. Tell parents and classmates from Gulf Coast and Immokalee they can take a look. And remember, you can also buy prints online and they will be professional printed and shipped to your address.

Thanks

Mike

FBA Boys JV Soccer hosts Cape Coral Christian

2008-09-18T22:54:00.006-04:00

Thursday afternoon I dropped by First Baptist Academy of Naples to do a retake on a FBCN Beacons football player for the team and individual photos. The FBA High School (JV) Soccer team was hosting Cape Coral Christian School.

The match was late in the second half when I finished my retakes, but I squeezed off a few pix while I was there. Apparently the game was tied 3 apiece, and had been for quite some time. Shortly thereafter FBA scored two goals, and won the match 5 to 3, but hard fought all the way.

I didn't have time for many good shots, but this was my first glimpse at this particular squad this season. (I have a hard time keeping track of Varsity Middle School and Junior Varsity High School, not to mention the 6th grade team).

I wanted to recognize these young men with a posting of at least a few. I hope to see more of them this season.

If you know anyone at Cape Coral Christian, please tell them to look for these pix on NaplesPix.com!

Thanks,

Mike

High School Football Barron Collier JV Host Golden Gate Titans JV

2008-09-17T23:02:00.007-04:00

I had a request emailed asking if I could take some pictures of a Barron JV game. I wasn't sure I could make the timing work this week, and next Wednesday wasn't looking good either. But I managed to sneak in the first half of tonight's (Wednesday 9/17) game, and have posted some of my shots.

I have no idea if I got any pix of the boy who's mother asked me to come. That's the way it goes sometimes. I would be happy to try for another game this season to round it out.

I do enjoy mixing up the teams, so I hope not only the Barron Collier JV's will like these pix, but the Golden Gate Titan JV's as well. Perhaps you could let them know where to look...NaplesPix.com!

Thanks,
Mike

FBA Boys Varsity Soccer hosts Sarasota Christian

2008-09-16T22:35:00.007-04:00

I was able to watch the first half of the FBA Boys Varsity Soccer match versus Sarasota Christian School. I have to find out who won and edit this post later, but by the end of the first half I think FBA was up 3-0.

Even though FBA's squad is dramatically reduced this year due to "Beacons Football" defections, they still seemed to have some genuine talent on the field. I was told there are only a handful of 8th graders on the team, and the balance is 5th-7th grade. What I saw was good.

I managed to snap off a few pix, and since I don't know how many of their games I will be getting to this season, I hope I got a majority of the team. It's hard with substitutions, and not always being on the "action" side of the field.

Whenever I shoot sports I have a tug of war with myself. My intention is to try and get a feature shot of each player, but a "follow the action" drive seems to take over, and I always walk away wondering who I missed, and hoping I'll get them next time around.

Sometimes a very active player doesn't get the best shot because I may have been blocked by another player, or his back is to me, is too far away, or yes once in a while... out of focus. Ironically, this is most frequently the case on scoring plays. If I am ready for a close shot at one end, invariably the action shifts rapidly to the other end. I may shoot in vain, getting shots of players backs moving swiftly further and further away! Such are the travails.

If one waits patiently though, sometimes they are rewarded. If you look at the gallery of pix from this game on NaplesPix.com, you may just see such a reward.

Feel free to leave comments.
Mike

Naples High Eagles Vs. Palmetto Ridge Bears

2008-09-16T11:18:00.008-04:00

Naples High School came to Palmetto Ridge High School after a heartbreaking 1 point loss the week before. I had never shot at the Ridge before. As with most High Schools, stadium lighting is fine for watching a game, but less than ideal for stop-action photography (Big College and Pro stadiums light for television, and as a result, throw many more lumens down on the field). This makes picture taking a bit more of a challenge.

Photographers try to make up the difference with "fast" lenses (they allow in more light), "pushing" the ISO (to increase sensitivity), using "fill flash", and setting shutter speeds lower than they would during a day game. All of these techniques can help, but all have drawbacks as well.

This week the job was made even harder by the presence of smoke wafting across the field from the concession grills on the east side of the stadium. Smoke tends to make pictures look hazy instead of crisp and clear. A west wind would have made all the difference!

I have some shots from the Naples and Palmetto game, and hope to get more of both teams as the season progresses. Keep checking back to see if your favorite player was captured on NaplesPix.com!

Beacons vs Marco Eagles Football Sept 13, 2008

2008-09-16T10:48:00.012-04:00

Saturday was the "opening day" for the FBCN "Beacons" Football teams. The six teams in 3 divisions played against teams from the Marco Island Eagles. I think the players and families all had a great time, and enjoyed finally getting to have a "real" game.

I have pictures from one of the Pee Wee division games, both Junior Division games and one of the Senior Division. It was a long day, and other obligations kept me from being there from 8 until 4.

I hope to be able to catch the other teams in action soon.

I appreciate Coach Sparacio and Coach Jansen's encouragement to get right out on the field so I can bring you closeups like the one I have here.

Please take the time to browse all the galleries on NaplesPix.com to find shots you would like to keep.