Shots from the 2008 Tampa Bay Classic are being posted to the site.
Originally this show wasn’t on the list. It’s a traditionally large show, and one which can run long, plus it’s not far from Ian so it’s practically guaranteed that the show will have photo coverage.
And yet some positive things about the show kept nagging me. I recalled the high-powered lighting, and the gorgeous blue background, and the seating that allows for decent shooting angles if you arrive early (and one huckster actually tried to talk me out of my seat this year, but that’s a story for another time).
I also recalled that the promoter strongly prefers for the bodybuilders to do at least a shortened version of their routine at the prejudging. That makes life a very great deal easier for me, as I’m certain to see each competitor at least twice: anyone I miss during their routine, I can pick up in the comparisons.
About halfway down, somewhere near where the Florida Turnpike meets I-75, I had an epiphany.
It was obvious in retrospect. Good epiphanies usually are.
I had been trying to choose which shows to attend to based on parameters like driving distance and calendar dates– aspects that were actually pretty irrelevant to the quality of the shots I get.
I realized that, if I’m going to lever my happy carcass out of a comfy bed at zero-dark-thirty in the morning (or fork over a day’s wages to a legalized pirate trolloping hotel rooms if I want to stage locally the night before), drive one to three hours to get to the show, unload another wad of cash for gas, parking, meals, admission, and miscellaneous, drive one to three hours to get back home, then spend *another* four hours of my life editing and posting the photos…
… if I’m going to go through all that, then, quite simply, I want to go to shows where I can take good photos.
Period.
It doesn’t make sense to do this any other way.
I’m happy that I went to the Tampa show this year. I hope you’ll enjoy the shots too.