Tag: sports

Jumping into Year Five of Blogging

Dear Blog Readers,

Just after midnight, WordPress notified me of the blog’s anniversary.  Four years.

So today’s post is the beginning of year five! 

The  blogging effort got off to a slow start, I didn’t exactly  know what to post and wondered if anyone would look at the posts, let alone follow the blog.

There were spaces between days of blogging.

I’d taken a Purposeful Blogging class with photographer John Craig at the Silver Eye Center for Photography and at the end of the class, I wasn’t sure what my purpose was but I plunged in anyway. A photo. A thought.  Something  My first post was just a photograph of  my grandson Michael in “time out” and the family dog Murphy the Airedale, waiting for him to get out of the corner. You can see the very first post by clicking here.  Michael’s  going to be 8 next month. And Murphy passed this Spring.

Thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement, your taking time to look at my photographs and leave some good words now and again, for clicking the “like”  button and for understanding my not being the best replier. Being part of the WordPress Blogging Community has added much to my life.

Grateful for family, friends, fellow bloggers, guest bloggers, readers and followers.  xxooxx Ruth

Jumping in the Pool

Anna jumps in the pool to get on her mark for the back stroke heat.

by Categories: Airedale Terrier, PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , 45 Comments

Who Do You Root For? For Whom Do You Root?

Is it whom or who?

 

Graduation on Saturday.  Everything going without a hitch. Supposed to be a solemn occasion.  Serious business.

I was standing with my camera, photographing the seniors as they filed in and found their rows.

Mr. Milinski, Health and Phys Ed teacher, Cross Country and Tennis Coach, was at the end of the first row.

Be seated after the National Anthem.

I hear a soft voice, “Ms. Hendricks, Ms. Hendricks.”

Mr. Milinski lifted his robe to reveal some crazy Green Bay Argyles.  Of course, I photographed them.

In fact, I think he wanted me to get the shot.   He seemed pleased that I captured his individuality.

This morning at school I ran into him in the main office and I asked him if it would be okay to blog his socks.

He said I could even use his name.  And I asked him why he was a Green Bay Fan in the middle of Pittsburgh? and his response was

“Because I’m smart!”

It Can’t Be Easy Being a Cheesehead Green Bay Fan (it’s not derogatory anymore) in a Sea of Steelers Fans!

was my original title.  

Mr. Milinski and I  had a chuckle and here’s the photo of his Cheesehead socks.  Everyone has their team allegiance, often due to place of residence or where one was born or hails from….can’t end a sentence with “from” either. Yikes.

I think he’s from the South Side of Pittsburgh, nowhere near Lake Michigan but I’ll check on that.

Green Bay Argyles

by Categories: photo of the day, PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , 7 Comments

The Umpire and the Softball Coach After a Consultation on the Field

I was at the Girl’s Softball game (high school ) last Monday.  When I look at this photo of the third base coach walking away from the PIAA umpire after a discussion, it makes me smile, too.

I considered showing the first photo of their discussion on the field  but this walking away after they spoke seemed the more powerful and effective shot.

You just wonder what was said.

I was shooting with a 70-200 mm Canon L series Lens and had to keep ducking behind the chain link fence for protection as those foul balls kept whipping towards third  base.

Softball coach and Umpire

 

by Categories: PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , 10 Comments

BUCKEYES Reflection- Guest Blog

My son Mark sent this to me  from his phone today.  He was with Anna at an Invitational Swim Meet, Ohio State University – The Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion to be exact.   The text he had written to me with the photo was:

Photo Challenge Reflection.

No matter that the Weekly Photo Challenge for Reflection was the beginning of December.  I thought it was fun to receive the photo he took with the accompanying words.  He saw that and thought of the Photo Challenge Reflection. And he thought of the blog.  It was nice to receive and so I’m sharing it you.

Thanks Mark. Continue reading →

by Categories: Family, Guest BlogTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , 7 Comments

Getting Ready for Baseball Season in Pittsburgh AND Florida

Everyone has their favorite teams.  Depends where you live, where you were born, where you moved, or who your family roots for, what players you like…..

some fans prefer football but the beginning of baseball means that Spring will be coming.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training is already happening in Bradenton, Florida.

I know cause my friend and frequent commenter, Sue R.  is headed down to watch some games. Has her tickets.   Seriously.  She is one proud Lady Buc!

This post is for her so she knows that the fans at home are getting ready, too.

My favorite part of the photo is that the house number is also the Pittsburgh area code.  412!

Hope you are enjoying the warm weather and that the Pirates are looking good, Sue.  It’s snowing right now.  Nothing major but it is gray and cold and snowy.

You can find Sue at PNC Park when the season starts.  And then it will be SPRING!!!!

Baseball Team Window

by Categories: PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , , , , 5 Comments

Night Game Christmas Tree at Heinz Field

On the way back home, after a weekend with the family, I drove by the night game.

We’re not talking about who won.  It’s been a rough season.  Not looking so good.

I didn’t post it on the Monday after due to the  disappointing outcome for the Steelers.  But I like the scene. And it was exciting to hear the roar of the crowd.

Shot with a 50mm lens, ISO 200, f/1.8 and a slow shutter 40- propped on the  rolled down driver’s window- without a remote cable release but managed without  camera shake. Canon 5D Mark ll

by Categories: Night Light in the CityTags: , , , , , , , , , , , 6 Comments

How the Weather Changed at the HS Football Game in a Blink

Friday afternoon, Cupples Field on the South Side, right after school.

I went to my first High School football game in years!

The flag flew at half staff.   (There is a site that lists notifications to fly the flag at half staff.)

One minute it was blue sky and fluffy white clouds, the sun catching the gold dome of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Church on West Carson Street.

A wind came up and the rain began to spit.  The temperature dropped.  The sky got dark.

I’d taken cameras for students to take photos outside of the classroom.  It was time to head home!

by Categories: PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , , , 11 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Dreaming

Dreaming-

definitions 3 and 4

a wild fancy or hope

a condition or achievement that is longed for; an aspiration

 

 

Not a long exposure photo as suggested by the challenge originator, but I took this picture Saturday morning at the T-Ball game and saw that line of little legs and shoes dangling, not long enough to reach the dirt.

Field of Dreams.  Dreaming of the big leagues, the hits, the runs. A double play.  A perfect pitch. Bases loaded. A championship, a home run, safe.

 

by Categories: Childhood, Weekly Photo ChallengeTags: , , , , , , , , , , , 26 Comments

Swim Coach Clay Saves the Day

After the Dive Championships at Worthington Hills Club in Ohio, we were waiting around for the results and awards presentation.  Jack McG (5) threw his favorite Woody (Toy Story) t-shirt up into the air.

A gust of wind caught the shirt’s billow and sailed it up onto the Pool Clubhouse roof.  Uh-oh.

Jack’s face would have made a good photograph but I’m not that fast.  He didn’t expect the shirt to disappear on the roof.

This kind man, who happens to be a coach of the Penguins of New Albany, came over and pulled over a stool AND a big golf umbrella, climbed up onto the stool and retrieved the favorite shirt, snagged it and flew it down to Jack.  What a nice guy.

By that time I had the camera to my eye, shot this image and then asked if it would be okay to blog him and he graciously agreed.  Thanks,  Coach. Good sportsmanlike conduct, eh?

by Categories: PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 7 Comments

Michael (6) Airborne

Diving meet Monday afternoon.  I cannot tell you which dive this is or what the degree of difficulty is.

I like the pool’s reflected light on his skin.  His other grandmother is taping all of the diving competition for the Olympic Trials to inspire the 3 grandchildren who dive. They sure start them young!

It was a beautiful day and could even be called “chilly”. Michael received a ribbon for 3rd place in his age group.

by Categories: ChildhoodTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 9 Comments