"If you want something done..."
"If you want something done, give it to a busy person."
Although this quote annoys me when I am the aforementioned "busy person," I do find it pretty accurate. You just get in the zone, all adrenaline rushing and brain circuits firing.
Yesterday, as you probably already know, had no dance competition. It was also the day I got the least amount done. I was parked in the last row of the media section for 14 hours, and I don't think I got up even once. Granted, it was great to be able to watch the competitions like a regular spectator rather than through a camera lens. I did a bunch of proof reading and started deleting photos and pulling bloopers for the IDC photo gallery. I do not want to run out of hard drive space at an inopportune time. I didn't get very far, but I'm up to 24 GB free, so I should be OK.
Pairs just wrapped up. The 1-10 ladies have their warm ups now (no music, just time to skate around a bit). Katie and Daphne ran off to the cat show that's also in this complex, and I'm guarding the stuff until they return. Then it's time to try to snag a photo position for the free dance. People are starting to trickle in, so I guess they're finished clearing and cleaning. They've been letting people stay inside, unlike past years where they've had to go stand out in the cold. Today is a head wave: 25 degrees when we passed an outdoor thermometer. A 40-degree jump from one week ago. Wild.
One of the best parts about long skating competitions is having the opportunity to sit and chat with people you don't normally see. During practice last week, I had a long conversation with Shannon Wingle about injuries and how they affect you more than just physically. I've never really spoken with Shannon, so to have a deep discussion was very cool. It's difficult for people who've never had an injury that has totally turned your life upside down to understand how hard it is when the work you identify as part of who you are as a person is taken from you to some degree. You lose part of who you are. It's scary and depressing and incredibly frustrating.
When I wasn't part of the impromptu kiss & cry during that practice session, I was trying out the equipment Canon loaned me to try. The one lens is the 28-300/3.5-5.6. The weirdest part for me is that it is a push-pull lens, and not one that rotates to zoom. It's also very heavy. Because it's a slow lens, it is not a great choice for shooting skating. As different people came over to our section, some of them wanted to try the lens out. One of my favorite parts about photography is sharing knowledge and equipment and getting to try new things.
Later, when we got back to Karen's apartment, I downloaded the photos and realized I had no idea who shot what! I knew a few that I did not take, since I never went down into the seats. Other than that, they were a mystery. So if you were wondering why there are no photo credits in the practice photos--that would be why. It was a team effort.
Speaking of team efforts, our little media nook has been really great. Jayar from Goldenskate and Kelly Behning from "Blades on Ice" have been sitting by Daphne and me. Since we all need quotes from different things, we've had each other's back, sharing tapes from press conferences and notes from mixed zones, plus confirming that we just saw what we think we saw. That kind of stuff. I love teamwork like that, because I think everyone benefits from it.
Final flight of ladies just took the ice for their warmup. Kimmie is wearing a new (?) dress that is silver shimmer. I love how it looks on her. Katrina Hacker is in black warm-ups, and Rachel Flatt is in black pants and a baby pink top. I'm not sure if Ashley and Mirai are wearing practice or competition dresses. Ashley's in black and Mirai in baby blue and white.
After the junior free dance the other day, I had the chance to sit down with Keiffer Hubbell and meet his newest children. He had a bunch of digital photos of his snakes and other reptiles and things that kind of squick me out. He's so passionate about them! I did learn that one of the snakes who is kind of a pale orangey-white will eventually become green over the course of all his skin sheddings. I don't remember the name of the snake, though, so I guess I'm not a very good student. I'm just hoping that I never need to put this knowledge to use, actually. I would be happy if I never came face-to-face with a snake, even if it is non-poisonous.
Yesterday, Daphne had a mini-lesson for Katie on Dreamweaver software during one of the longer breaks in competition. Class size doubled when Jennifer Wester stopped by and wanted to learn, too. She then stayed to watch the men's event. It's always interesting to hear a skater's opinions of competitions. She and Katie spoke Russian with each other. It was all kind of oddly surreal at times. Oh, and Jennifer is more beautiful than anyone should be allowed to be. You know how some people look pretty on TV or from a distance, but up close is not impressive? Not Mrs. Barantsev.
Ladies are almost finished, so I'm going to upload this and get psyched for the senior free dance. More later.
Although this quote annoys me when I am the aforementioned "busy person," I do find it pretty accurate. You just get in the zone, all adrenaline rushing and brain circuits firing.
Yesterday, as you probably already know, had no dance competition. It was also the day I got the least amount done. I was parked in the last row of the media section for 14 hours, and I don't think I got up even once. Granted, it was great to be able to watch the competitions like a regular spectator rather than through a camera lens. I did a bunch of proof reading and started deleting photos and pulling bloopers for the IDC photo gallery. I do not want to run out of hard drive space at an inopportune time. I didn't get very far, but I'm up to 24 GB free, so I should be OK.
Pairs just wrapped up. The 1-10 ladies have their warm ups now (no music, just time to skate around a bit). Katie and Daphne ran off to the cat show that's also in this complex, and I'm guarding the stuff until they return. Then it's time to try to snag a photo position for the free dance. People are starting to trickle in, so I guess they're finished clearing and cleaning. They've been letting people stay inside, unlike past years where they've had to go stand out in the cold. Today is a head wave: 25 degrees when we passed an outdoor thermometer. A 40-degree jump from one week ago. Wild.
One of the best parts about long skating competitions is having the opportunity to sit and chat with people you don't normally see. During practice last week, I had a long conversation with Shannon Wingle about injuries and how they affect you more than just physically. I've never really spoken with Shannon, so to have a deep discussion was very cool. It's difficult for people who've never had an injury that has totally turned your life upside down to understand how hard it is when the work you identify as part of who you are as a person is taken from you to some degree. You lose part of who you are. It's scary and depressing and incredibly frustrating.
When I wasn't part of the impromptu kiss & cry during that practice session, I was trying out the equipment Canon loaned me to try. The one lens is the 28-300/3.5-5.6. The weirdest part for me is that it is a push-pull lens, and not one that rotates to zoom. It's also very heavy. Because it's a slow lens, it is not a great choice for shooting skating. As different people came over to our section, some of them wanted to try the lens out. One of my favorite parts about photography is sharing knowledge and equipment and getting to try new things.
Later, when we got back to Karen's apartment, I downloaded the photos and realized I had no idea who shot what! I knew a few that I did not take, since I never went down into the seats. Other than that, they were a mystery. So if you were wondering why there are no photo credits in the practice photos--that would be why. It was a team effort.
Speaking of team efforts, our little media nook has been really great. Jayar from Goldenskate and Kelly Behning from "Blades on Ice" have been sitting by Daphne and me. Since we all need quotes from different things, we've had each other's back, sharing tapes from press conferences and notes from mixed zones, plus confirming that we just saw what we think we saw. That kind of stuff. I love teamwork like that, because I think everyone benefits from it.
Final flight of ladies just took the ice for their warmup. Kimmie is wearing a new (?) dress that is silver shimmer. I love how it looks on her. Katrina Hacker is in black warm-ups, and Rachel Flatt is in black pants and a baby pink top. I'm not sure if Ashley and Mirai are wearing practice or competition dresses. Ashley's in black and Mirai in baby blue and white.
After the junior free dance the other day, I had the chance to sit down with Keiffer Hubbell and meet his newest children. He had a bunch of digital photos of his snakes and other reptiles and things that kind of squick me out. He's so passionate about them! I did learn that one of the snakes who is kind of a pale orangey-white will eventually become green over the course of all his skin sheddings. I don't remember the name of the snake, though, so I guess I'm not a very good student. I'm just hoping that I never need to put this knowledge to use, actually. I would be happy if I never came face-to-face with a snake, even if it is non-poisonous.
Yesterday, Daphne had a mini-lesson for Katie on Dreamweaver software during one of the longer breaks in competition. Class size doubled when Jennifer Wester stopped by and wanted to learn, too. She then stayed to watch the men's event. It's always interesting to hear a skater's opinions of competitions. She and Katie spoke Russian with each other. It was all kind of oddly surreal at times. Oh, and Jennifer is more beautiful than anyone should be allowed to be. You know how some people look pretty on TV or from a distance, but up close is not impressive? Not Mrs. Barantsev.
Ladies are almost finished, so I'm going to upload this and get psyched for the senior free dance. More later.
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