This small animated GIF demonstrates the steps taken to create the composite from Olivia “The Predator” Gerula’s Photoshoot. (Hit REFRESH to see it again.)

Recently, a trio of fitness athletes assembled in studio for a “fun” project (soon to be released). During that session, some time was devoted to shooting some basic “fitness portfolio” images for each of the athletes. This is one of my favorite images with Lise, and even though she is not “smiling”, she had fun, I swear!! LOL … Lise is the winner of both FITNESS STAR BIKINI 2013 and FITNESS STAR ATHLETIC MODEL PRO 2013. This shoot was shortly after the two competitions, and was put together quickly by gohabster photography favorite, “Fitness Ballerina Stephanie”. Steph assembled the group and together, the “fun” project was launched. Thanks to Steph, Lise, and Matt !!

Olivia “The Predator” Gerula is a professional boxer training out of Winnipeg Elite Boxing and MMA Academy. Olivia took an afternoon off from her preparation for an upcoming fight to join Laura Lynn Make-Up and I for a extremely fun photoshoot. This is one of the looks we created … and yes, it was “created”. As we were preparing for the shot, I asked Olivia, “Can you drop your guard and expose your face?” To which I got a puzzled, “What?? No!!”…. I had to clarify, “No, I mean for the picture … your fist is blocking the light … I need better light on your face!” So before her Coach criticizes her technique, I need to remind everyone that this is all “pretend”. Anything to get the shot!! And yes, we captured a lot of great shots. This is just one of them. I will share a few others on gohabster Facebook. Thanks to Olivia, Laura, Lisa and Coach Kent!

The last edition of The Huddle Magazine featured (former) Winnipeg Blue Bomber quarterback Buck Pierce on the cover. Scott Taylor’s cover story eloquently described the athlete and the man who became a part of our City, and a member of our Community. Sure there are some “fans” (really?) who choose to mock everyone involved with the Quarterback Saga, but for Winnipeggers like me who got to meet and spend time (albeit at a photoshoot) with Buck Pierce, the realization that we have lost something deserving of more respect leaves behind a degree of sadness. Football Manitoba recently asked fans what their favorite Buck Pierce memory was. Mine was the simple silly moment at the end of the shoot when I handed him a garbage bag for his gear, and he said, “that’s perfect! It’s all I need.” And as he left, “if you need anything else, just call any time.” Working with Laura Lynn Make-Up always produces inspired results, and this shoot confirmed that. Everyone involved with this photoshoot thanks Buck Pierce and wishes him only the best.

The University of Manitoba BISONS Football season began with a victory on August 30, 2013. Football Manitoba‘s “The Huddle Magazine” published a special edition for the BISONS 2013 Program. The image below is one of the unpublished shots of Evan Gill. Get yourselves a copy of the magazine to see more shots from the Gill and Anthony Coombs photoshoot. Besides being featured on the cover and in the story by Scott Taylor, Anthony also appears in the OLD DUTCH Crunchers advertisement that included Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive lineman Glenn January. Glenn took time out from his “date night” to attend the shoot…. so I must thank his girlfriend for patiently sitting through the Old Dutch shoot. Poor Anthony sat through the entire Old Dutch shoot and then waited for Evan to arrive before we started shooting for the BISONS program. At least the Crunchers (including Anthony) left with a lot of Old Dutch samples! Thanks, everyone!! (Old Dutch Arriba Jalapeño Cheddar Tortilla Chips … YUM !!!!)

I am always impressed by the awe-inspiring bodies of the athletes that I shoot. From the massive CFL Football stars to the lean fitness ballerinas like Stephanie, the amount of training and dedication to fitness (and dance) exemplifies what it must mean to work hard to achieve a goal. Stephanie admitted that she has not been actively dancing recently because she is training to compete in the “Fitness STAR Model Search WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2013” on August 17th in Toronto. That training often seems to be a full-time job (on top of a full-time job) for most athletes. While this must be stressful for them, I am sincerely impressed with how supportive athletes are towards each other. Even though they are often in direct competition with each other, they are always sharing training tips and motivating each other. I know that I will never become a ballerina (LOL) or World Class athlete, but I can strive to always be improving my passion … my photography. Thanks to “Fitness Ballerina Stephanie” !! And look, Steph… NO HASHTAGS !!! LOL …

The latest edition of The Huddle Magazine was launched during the Winnipeg Blue Bomber season opener against the Montreal Alouettes. The outcome of that June 27th game was not what Winnipeggers were hoping for, but the results (images, editorials) of this Football Manitoba publication were exactly what we were hoping for…. Bigger, better…. This issue is great. The CFL pros, Eddie Steele and Don Oramasionwu, were easy to work with and so friendly. I can’t imagine that they would be “menacing” on the football field… LOL. Meeting the upcoming future stars, the Manitoba amateurs, was also fun. Thanks to everyone involved with my participation in this issue…. the models (Eddie, Don, Andrew, Donovan, Roxanna and Marshall, Rick, Kiana, Te and Tim) and everyone behind the scenes (Scott, John, Ron, Rebecca, Andrew, Edwin, Terry and the gang at Relish). Pick up your copy from the Football Manitoba offices to check out the pull-out poster!! Coming soon to select local retailers, too.

Attended “SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS 2” put on by the Winnipeg Elite (Boxing & MMA) Academy. I was invited by one of their regular photographers because she was on the fight card and wouldn’t be able to shoot. I must say … shooting Boxing has got to be one of the most challenging sports to capture. Definitely a good learning experience. This was an indoor venue and the results were very much reliant on the gear… and probably a lot of practice. The fighters ranged in age and experience. This image captures two females in their three-round bout.

Captured some exciting football action while representing The Huddle Magazine during Football Manitoba‘s U18 Blue & Gold Classic at the East Side Eagles Field in Winnipeg. There was still snow on the sidelines, but the sun was shining and it was a great day for football. A lot of proud parents and supporters in attendance.

The second (Winter) edition of The Huddle Magazine was released with much fanfare in March 2013. (Yes, in Manitoba, March is in the MIDDLE of winter). This issue featured BC LION (CFL MVP and Grey Cup champion) Andrew Harris on the cover, in a fold-out poster, and in an in-depth article. The shoot with Andrew was smooth and easy … me thinks he’s done this before. Was again proud to be affiliated with The Huddle … with gohabster photography images being selected not only for the cover, poster, and Andrew Harris feature, but also for stories about Chad Nellis, and about the “Black Death Defense” from Murdoch Mackay Highschool in Winnipeg.