Culver Academy Senior Photos: Tom O’Neil
A couple of weeks ago, Ginny and I shot senior pictures of Tom O’Neil. His mom joined us on the shoot. Tom is a laid back guy with a great smile. We had a windy day because of earlier rain, but Tom had patience with getting some shots. I think his mom also promised a nice meal afterward. We had a great time shooting him and wish him all the best when he heads off to Chicago for college.
Indiana Sports Photography: CMA Varsity Baseball vs. CCHS
Earlier this week, the Culver Academies Varsity Baseball Team hosted the Culver Community High School team. Both teams played very well and managed to keep the score close. The CMA team won with a score of 3-to-2. I’ve posted some photos here; there are several more posted at:
http://www.culverphotos.com/4_14_11_baseball
High School Senior Photography: CMA Graduation Invite
Last weekend, Ginny and I traveled to Culver Academies for a photo shoot of 5 CMA seniors who have been friends for many years. Unlike normal Senior shoots, our purpose for this was to get some photos to use on a Graduation party invitation and possibly have on display during their party. It was a warm day but overcast. The seniors we shot were in good spirits, even though their friends were playing volleyball not 30′ away. Ginny kept saying on the way home, “The parents of these five should be very proud. They were five of the most respectful high school students I’ve ever met… so polite, so easy going…” We are lucky as photographers that we get to work with this generation, as we think our future is in good hands when we meet some of the students coming out of the two Culver schools. If you attended this year’s Relay for Life and saw the students from both schools, we think you would agree with us. This year’s graduating class is indeed an impressive one. We wish these five the best of luck in their upcoming graduations and college experiences.
Photos from Culver Academy’s Basketball Win at Semi-State!
Ginny and I traveled to Huntington to see the Culver Military Academy’s basketball team play in the semi-state game. This was one of the most intense experiences we’ve had as photographers. We were so caught up in the game, in the noise from the fans, and by the close score throughout that we had a hard time maintaining our focus on taking pictures.
We saw so much class and heart on the basketball court during this game, and we also felt that the coaching on both sides was impressive. The Columbia City Eagles played well. They were especially good at the three-point shot, but any time they came within giving the Culver Eagles a threat, the Culver team would step up the defensive intensity and show great patience and team play on offense. They simply wouldn’t give up their lead in the fourth quarter.
We were also impressed by how many students showed up after a long bus drive to show their support for the Culver Eagles. They never stopped cheering throughout the game, and they never lost faith in the team. They chanted often, “We believe that we can win.” It was remarkable to see so many people in the stands. Faculty, alumni, and parents showed in great numbers.
For the first time ever, the Culver Eagles captured a semi-state win to take the team to the state event next weekend. We captured this game and plan to attend the state event. All of the photos are free to anyone who wants to download them. If you know a player, be sure to let him know that he can have any of these shots for free. Congrats Culver Eagles! You made your school and town proud!
I’ve posted some of my favorite photos here. There are many more photos from the game posted at:
http://www.culverphotos.com/2011semistatebasketball
Culver Engagement Photos: Lyndsey and Brandon
This past weekend, in addition to shooting the Culver Eagles basketball game, Ginny and I shot one of our favorite people, Lyndsey Fisher, and her fiance Brandon. Lyndsey and Brandon are getting married this coming July. We’ll be traveling to Florida, as Ginny is going to stand up in the wedding with Lyndsey’s mom Jeanine and one of Lyndsey’s friends. I’ll be photographing the wedding ceremony and reception. I think these two are going to make a beautiful bride and groom. As you can tell from the pictures, they take a great picture.
Lyndsey worked for CulverLodging her junior and senior year and became more than an employee to us. She’s much like our own family. More than once I tried to chase off Brandon, but he didn’t let me shake him. I have to respect a guy who can put up with more than one of me in his life, as Lyndsey is surrounded by a lot of people who have a lot of love for her. It can’t be easy being the finance. We look forward to their wedding day and hope they like their engagement pictures. We enjoyed shooting them and giving Brandon a hard time for being an IU guy while Lyndsey is a Purdue gal.
We didn’t have the best weather conditions, but these two take a great picture. Ginny says it’s all the love going on between them and their “smiling eyes.” I tried to tell her it’s the photographer, but after looking at these pictures, I think Ginny is right. I guess I better stop giving Brandon a hard time.
Indiana Hockey Photographer: Culver Academy Prep Hockey Tournament
Wow what a busy schedule! Last weekend, Culver Academy’s Prep Hockey Team hosted a tournamanet with six visiting teams from the U.S. and Canada. I attended (with my camera): 4 games, 1 locker room parent’s open house, a party, a ceremony for the seniors, and an awards ceremony. For me, it meant close to 15 hours of shooting, 3000+ photos to sort through, and at least 12 hours of editing. I was tired by Sunday night, but I can’t forget that there were others who probably worked harder over the weekend than me. A big shout out to Keith, Greg, and Rosie, the trainer. All three were there at the rink every time I was.
The last game of the season is always a little sad for me with any team, as I get to know many of the parents and kids. For the seniors, this is especially true as it was their last game with their team and most likely the last time that they’ll play in the Henderson Ice Rink. After the last game of any season, you can see the emotion on the kids’ faces as most realize this fact.
Culver played well in the tournament taking second place overall. They played against UCC, Ridley, NSA, and St. Louis. Culver easliy won their first three games, but they struggled in the final game on Sunday with St. Louis.
Following are a few of my my favorite photos from the four games. I’ve posted additional photos seperated by game at:
http://www.culverphotos.com/cma_prephockey
Indiana Sports Photography: Culver Academy Prep team Banners
A few weeks ago, I photographed the ten seniors on Culver Academies’ Prep Hockey team. Using their photos, I created senior banners that the team hangs during their senior recognition night. In the past year, I’ve done similar banners for some of the other sports teams. When printed, these really are sharp and life-sized!
Let me apologize if the image quality doesn’t appear as crisp as one would expect. I had to shrink my original files (3 foot by 7 foot) to an image size that would actually load by most browsers.
Indiana Sports Photographer: St. Louis Lady Blues
I’m sorry if the title for this blog is confusing. I’m an Indiana-based photographer who was asked to do the team photos for a St. Louis based hockey team. But… I did this while the team was in Indiana playing a U12 hockey tournament at Culver Academies.
The St. Louis Lady Blues U12 AAA Hockey Team has kids that participate from six different states. Because of this, the girls do not practice together. Additionally, all the girls belong to local teams in their own home towns and often have to miss games. Because of this, the 13 girls almost never play together. Given that the season is almost over and everyone was able to attend the Culver tournament, they decided it was time for a team photo and individual shots of the players.
With limited time on the ice, we rushed through and managed to take three seperate sets of photos. We took team photos (players and then players with the coaches), individual shots, followed by individual action shots where the kids sprayed ice as I photographed them. Considering that each set required moving lights, backdrops, and getting the kids posed, I am surprised that we got through it and things turned out as well as they did.
I’ve posted some photos here. Other are located under the Lady Blues Team photos at:
http://www.culverphotos.com/2011_u12
Indiana Photographer: Culver U12 Tournament
Last weekend, Culver Girls Academy hosted a U12 Hockey Tournament for three of the best AAA U12 teams in the country with the St. Louis Lady Blues, the Ohio Flames, and the Compuware U12 team from Michigan. As this was a U12 tournament (kids 12 and under), Culver did not participate. Culver was merely a host for the tournament.
Watching the U12 girls was a lot of fun for me as I have never watched a non-high school or pro hockey game. The kids did very well and truly have some great skills that I’m sure will take them far if they stick with hockey.
I’ve posted some photos here. The rest of the photos that I took during the games are located at:
http://www.culverphotos.com/2011_u12
Indiana Hockey Photography: CMA Prep vs. Lake Forest Academy
On Sunday afternoon, I watched the Prep Hockey Teams from Culver Academy and Lake Forest Academy play one another at Culver’s Henderson Ice Rink. There has always been a rivalry between these two hockey programs, as the schools areonly a couple hours away and each school often gets kids that might have gone to the other school. (I recall that 25 years ago, I had friends at LFA and it was one school that I considered when looking at Culver.) As one parent described the rivalry to me a few days before the game- “We are their Shattuck”. What he meant by this was that Culver Academy is one of Lake Forest’s hardest compititors and the team that it strives to beat each year. It is the game of the season that defines how well their program is this year.
As expected, the game was high energy and fast action. It was a little on the brutal side with a lot of penalties and a few injuries. Overall, though, it was a lot of fun to watch both teams play their hearts out. Culver did not disappoint. Though they gave up the first goal of the game, they took the win at a score of 5 to 2.
I’ve posted some photos here. Other photos are located at:
http://www.culverphotos.com/2_20_11_hockey
