Greetings all, I hope this finds everyone well this Labor Day weekend. I'm currently recovering from a rather hard stretch of completed work, including three straight football games in three days. The most grueling of which was the annual Kickoff Classic between Lutheran South Academy and Bay Area Christian School. The game eventually went into overtime before LSA pulled out a 20-17 victory, but it's a game that I'll remember for how much work went into it. As many know, football is my favorite sports to shoot, but it's also the most physically demanding, even under the best of weather and physical conditions. And on Friday night, even at 9:30p, it was still very hot and brutally humid outside. And with all the running back and forth across the field, I expended a great deal of fluid and was severely dehydrated and lightheaded from the fourth quarter onward, almost to the point of passing out, twice. Even consuming water and Gatorade proved ineffective as I sweated it out almost immediately after drinking it. But I somehow made it through and was there to capture the whole game and the aftermath, although it's something I hope not to repeat, because it was the worst I had ever felt when shooting a sporting event.

As I reflect on it now, and as arrogant as this may sound, I liken the game and my contributions to that of former San Diego Chargers tight end Kellen Winslow Sr. and his incredulous performance in the Chargers-Dolphins NFL playoff game in January 1982. (Backstory: In that game which was also brutally humid, Winslow logged 13 catches for 166 yards and a touchdown, along with a blocked field goal, despite extreme dehydration, a pinched shoulder nerve and a gash on his lip.) The shot below is of him being carried off the field after the Chargers' win.

Was there a point to this entry, aside from self-promotion or just bragging? I dunno, maybe just this. Sometimes in life, it's not about talent or equipment or skill to survive, much less succeed. It takes heart, will, desire and an unshakeable fortitude in crummy conditions (and especially in Houston humidity). Two teams showed it on Friday night, and I was glad to just be there. Anyways, I wish everyone a great weekend and great week ahead, especially this upcoming Sunday when the Houston Texans start their season. Thank you all for the support, and until next time, fare thee well.

Good morning all, I hope this finds everyone well ahead of another sunny weekend. Anyways, I have a bit of news to share. After a three year exile of sorts, I have been approved to cover all Houston Texans home games this season, with the possibility of shooting the playoffs as well. But I will be there for the preseason, season opener and all the action.

Needless to say, I am beyond overjoyed to be covering the Houston Texans again, in their biggest season to date. But it's also a sense of achievement in accomplishing the biggest goal I set for myself since 2009. A little backstory, I actually did cover the Texans a few years ago, shooting 14 games across four seasons (2006-09). But due to unfortunate circumstances, I was unable to continue shooting pro and college sports after October 2009. After a real down period, I was able to work my way back into that realm from March 2011 onward, covering mainly college athletics, yet I always had the NFL as a distant goal. Even as this calendar year has progressed with shooting more of the Dynamo and Astros, I still hoped to cover pro football again. And as of yesterday, that goal has been realized. I won't lie, I might be a little emotional at the regular season opener before kickoff, but it will be "earned tears". It's an accomplishment born out of hard work, sacrifice, hitting bottom yet willing to bounce back and fight harder for what one wants....and not settling for anything less. It makes it all the sweeter, but now I'm rambling.

Anyways, I just wanted to share this with all of you. Thank you all for the support, I hope to do you proud once again. Until next time, "Rock and Roll!" and fare thee well.

Greetings and salutations all, I hope this finds everyone well. Things have been getting rather busy for me, as the Astros and Dynamo seasons have been trundling along and with the recent start of Houston Texans training camp. And I recently had another Astros photo from this season published by SI.com.

Anyways, during this month, I've been debating  my future in photography and deciding what the eventual next step is, if there even IS one. Certain factors may not allow me to keep doing photography full-time (such as the fluctuating economy and unfortunate changes to the industry as well), so it's about time I have a new plan in place in case I can't be a seven-days-a-week shooter. While I'm not above getting a "joe job", an idea of mine that I have been seriously considering is eventually becoming a high school photography teacher, focusing on photojournalism, using my prior experience to instruct others as well. Granted, it would involve going back to school for another degree and/or teaching certification, which I'm NOT crazy about. But in terms of the future, this is a way to have an impact after my shooting days are done. And for years, people have been asking questions or asking for advice or whatnot regarding photography. Now even with a career change in place, that doesn't mean I would give up photography for good, just downgrading it with one eye on "tomorrow". But even with an uncertain future, I'm very thankful for the memories and to the people who stood by me from day one and through all the rough times.

Well, that's it for now, I hope to have another entry online this upcoming Saturday or Sunday, after "The Showdown" between the Houston Dynamo and New York on Friday night. Thanks for reading and until next time, fare thee well.