Click the image to see it un-scrunched.
Shots from the 2014 Gateway Classic are up on the site, which judging by the page counters some of the more impatient people must already know. :)
I like this show. I like the promoter, the venue, the short trip to Gainesville’s nearby northern neighbor. I like the historic downtown of Lake City and the relaxing scenic drive.
I had one issue with the camera: I don’t think it was really designed to shoot vertically, and somehow I thumbed the autofocus selector to the “bottom” position. Not knowing that, it appeared that the camera just started to randomly focus all the way in and all the way out and never trigger the shutter– I thought it had lost its computer brain or had low batteries or something. Anyway I missed some shots and had to manually focus some others (didn’t do too badly there).
I’m also still fighting the fluorescent-jams issue from the men’s physique competitors– the camera thinks there is WAY more visible light coming in than there really is, and compensates unless I override it– which I do, but usually not strongly enough; the shots come unusuably dark for the most part.
However I had an inspiration on the drive home– what if I were to double-up on UV filters? Theoretically it should have only marginal impact on the other spectra but might filter out the UV screaming out of the day-glo jams. I’ll report back on that.
Missed the Galaxy in St Augustine last week due to having some crud that’s been going around– figured I’d keep the germs to myself (you’re welcome) but sorry to have missed the show.
Next up would normally be the Seminole Classic but I have a schedule conflict and will have to miss that one as well. So unless I get a wild urge to shoot one of the South district shows on May 17, more likely I’ll be headed for the Natural Suncoast Classic in Tampa on May 24. After that the NPC schedule gets hectic!
Enjoy the shots.
The foundation of pure democracy rests on a cracked cornerstone:
It is unreasonable and cruel to ask a person to vote in the best interest of the nation if they cannot provide for themselves and their family.
Mister Scott, attend! the conn is thine
To shining planet ‘neath our bow I go
Contesting alien creatures there below:
‘Pon crimson-shirted Starfleet crew they’ll dine.
Asking
“Which politician has the best answer for the abortion question?”
is like asking
“Which flavor of bread is best for hammering nails?”
The greatest among us are necessarily humble; their greatness comes from their deeds, not the pursuit of adulation.
I’ve finished entering all the available information from the official NPC schedule and the promoters’ show sites into my online schedule. Even with my handy “class typewriter” it was a big job. :)
I also added a couple of features, including adding the venue names to the addresses, making the address info a little smaller, new host hotel information and the ability to click on a promoter’s name to email them. (If an email bounces, please let me know and I’ll validate it.)
In addition I added a couple of “behind the scenes” features for my own use, such as driving notes and whether I plan on going or not and why (usually distance or schedule conflict).
For what it’s worth, I also try to keep a consistent hierarchy in the order of the show classes. Don’t read any implications into the orders.
Class order:
Bodybuilding
Physique
Fitness
Figure
Bikini
Subclass order:
Open
Novice
Teen
Masters
Special categories (First Time Novice, e.g.)
Other patterns:
Men’s classes before equivalent women’s classes (again, don’t read any implications into the orders.)
I think that helps organize a LOT of free-form information into something a little more readable.