Bodybuilding & Fitness 2005 (56k warning)

[drisley]

Well, it's that time of year again.
We only get 2 bodybuilding/fitness shows each year, and this past weekend was the finals, and the last show until next march :(
It's really hard to practice shooting these types of events only twice a year.
The bodybuilding pres has seen my past shots, and liked them so much, he gave me a vip/volunteer pass so I was able to access the entire theatre, even backstage! I was the only photographer allowed backstage, and the first one in quite a few years as the last photographer got in trouble taking and posting pictures from the lady's pump rooom. :rolleyes:

The morning show started at 10am, and lasted until 2 pm. The evening started at 5pm and went until 10pm. It was a LONG day, but very much fun. I got to talk to a lot of the competitors, and I have never before met such a friendly bunch of people. The amount of hard work and dedication I saw from these people is unlike anything I've ever seen before from any line of work or any sport. It's truely inspiring to say the least.

The two things that they all told me they couldn't wait to do after the show was eat pizza, and drink lots of water or any type of liquid they could get their hands on. Some competitors hadn't ingested any fluids in almost 24 hours.

I took 500 pictures, and kept about 300. I probably could have removed quite a few more that I didn't like, but I kept them in case the bb association wanted to use them. Oh, and I discovered that all the promo posters and programmes had my pictures on them from the last show. I was very impressed. :)

The lighting for this show was quite bad compared to the previous two. My shutter speeds were almost 5x slower than I was able to use previously in the same theatre. I was averaging 1/400s speeds at ISO3200 sometimes, and even then I was underexposing by almost 1 stop! Oh, and this was my first show using C1 Pro and my newly purchased ETC 20D profiles. I really love the colour accuracy of these profiles, but getting the WB correct (even in raw) was difficult.

Oh, and I know that the majority of Joe Q Public may not like bodybuilders, etc.
So, PLEASE KEEP DEROGATORY COMMENTS TO YOURSELF! I honestly don't care if you think the women are too fit, etc. I've heard it ALL before, ad nauseum, in every thread I've posted on this subject in this forum. Making a comment like "not my taste" and that is all has NOTHING to do with photography, so again please keep it to yourself. I wish I didn't have to post this disclaimer, but even though the majority of the members here are extremely polite, there seem to always be a few who ruin these threads. It is very discouraging to say the least, and you can tell I have been very bothered by this. A wise moderator once told me, never post anything here that you would not say to the person face to face. ;) Thanks guys.


A couple of the friendly girls I met backstage:
http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005misc/IMG_9957.jpg



Body Awareness Dance Team:
http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005misc/IMG_0632.jpg


This might be my favourite picture, taken backstage:
http://210.245.164.161/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005women/IMG_0094.jpg


Pumping up:
http://210.245.164.161/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005women/IMG_0017.jpg


A friend I made in the men's "pump" room:
http://210.245.164.161/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005men/IMG_9954.jpg


A shot I took in the balcony:
http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005men/IMG_9978.jpg


The FUNNIEST pose I've ever seen:lol: :
http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005men/IMG_0493.jpg


Great posing routine:
http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005women/IMG_0405.jpg


I wish I had abs like that!
http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005women/IMG_0672.jpg


She is always the most colourful performer:
http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005women/IMG_0684.jpg


Winners!
http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005women/IMG_0838.jpg


One of the intricately designed trophies:
http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005misc/IMG_0014.jpg


Getting oiled up :) (severely underexposed ISO3200 shot, hence the noise):
http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005men/IMG_9956.jpg


Morning show is over. Only 4 more hours to go!
http://210.245.164.161/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005misc/IMG_0252.jpg

[lomond]

Drisley, that's a great series of shots.
Super sharp, great contrast and colour saturation plus WB looks spot on.
Very impressive.

Marvellous insight into the world of bodybuilding.

Regards,

[Wazza]

Very cool, sharp shots again Drisley. :)

I always wondered what the colouring was.

How is the oil applied? Brush? Sprayed?

Cheers.

[schmoelzel]

Nice shots Drisley!! I love the 7th shot.....(funny facial expression!!). Did you get to use the 16-35 at all? Probably too dark I would imagine. First one is ok but I can tell that this is the cheapo lens!!:)
The others have a distinct look to them that that plastic lens just doesn't have.......ok, I will stop my rant against the evil 'thrifty 50'.........good work especially under the difficult lighting conditions. My 1D would't have lasted very well without remote flash etc.

[drisley]

Thanks Lomond. It really is a different world. Many do not understand it, but I grew up reading Muscle & Fitness, and "lived" at the gyms during my college years, so it almost feels like home.

Wazza, the colouring is a combonation of real tans (sun or tanning booth), self tanner, and finally applications of bronzer (body paint). Some prefer not to get real tans because of the health problems though. The body paint is REALY messy. Everything they touch turns brown. But it is a must. Even afro-american people have to wear body paint because the stage lights will just wash out the colour of your skin otherwise.

Schmoelzel, the 50/1.8II really impressed me with it's focusing abilities backstage. I would still prefer the 1.4 version, but in a pinch this lens performed extremely well. In fact, pictures 4,5 & 13 were taken with the thrify fifty as well! Oh, and I did use the 16-35L for a while, but the 50mm seemed a little better for the task as it help seperate the contestants from the clutter a little better. The last picture above was taken wide open at 16mm.
I didnt discover until half way through the first show that I could actually bounce the 420EX flash and get better results than my initial "direct flash" attempts. The ceilings were like 20 ft high, and the 420EX was still powerful enough for bounce. I was impressed!

[smudge]

Some nice shots. Your favourite is mine also. Mostly because you don't get the flash reflection on the skin seen in some of the others. I shoot close up sweaty bands and used to have the same problem until someone suggested pointing my flash head straight up and attaching a plain white piece of paper by elastic band to the back of my flash head...The bigger the paper the better the bounce. You look like a twonk...but it works really well where there is a high ceiling and nothing to bounce off. I use A4 mostly.

[drisley]

Smudge, I didn't use flash on any of the stage shots. Any reflection you see is from stage lights.

The only time I used flash was backstage, and I used the exact method you described for some of them (after I learned the 20ft + ceilings were not too high for bounce). It can really work well. Although, I am now wondering how something like the LightsphereII would work in backstage situations like this?

In bodybuilding, they oil up the competitors to purposely get some sheen/reflection on the skin to make the muscles look bigger. This gives the metering problems as it often wants to underexpose, and really it gives an extreme dynamic range. Most photography you see in the magazines have MUCH stronger highlight reflections on the skin than seen here as that seems to be prefered in bb photography. However, I, like you, prefer to keep that to a minimum. That particular girl had great skin colouring, and no oil (since she was in fitness). So, her pictures don't have that same glare. The pictures I take of her at this, and other contests, are always my favourite, and that may be why. Well that, and she always dresses in bright colours! Oh, and that particular shot was taken while she was at the back of the stage, away from the really bright spotlights.

[swatcop169]

Great shots drisley.

On a side note, am I the only one that think they look bad? I mean its great to be in shape but that's just plain horrible.

[Croasdail]

first of all - you did a good job photographing the event.... subject matter - like you said - no comment. I like the non-flash shots the best - you did well with the conditions you were dealt. Obsiously these people are made up to look good with stage lighting, and the flash and proximity to the people make them look just a little over the top. I would resist using direct flash if it were me. I know it is hard when the lighting is poor and these venues have high ceilings making bouncing the flash tough. But hey - it looks like you had fun and there are plenty of keepers here. And that is the main point. Cheers!

[smudge]

Smudge, I didn't use flash on any of the stage shots. Any reflection you see is from stage lights.

The only time I used flash was backstage, and I used the exact method you described for some of them (after I learned the 20ft + ceilings were not too high for bounce). It can really work well. Although, I am now wondering how something like the LightsphereII would work in backstage situations like this?

In bodybuilding, they oil up the competitors to purposely get some sheen/reflection on the skin to make the muscles look bigger. This gives the metering problems as it often wants to underexpose, and really it gives an extreme dynamic range. Most photography you see in the magazines have MUCH stronger highlight reflections on the skin than seen here as that seems to be prefered in bb photography. However, I, like you, prefer to keep that to a minimum. That particular girl had great skin colouring, and no oil (since she was in fitness). So, her pictures don't have that same glare. The pictures I take of her at this, and other contests, are always my favourite, and that may be why. Well that, and she always dresses in bright colours! Oh, and that particular shot was taken while she was at the back of the stage, away from the really bright spotlights.

Ooopps. Sorry I didn't mean to try and teach you too suck eggs. I can see now what you mean about the stage lighting. As far as I can make out, that means you did an even better job than I thought at first.

[Dante King]

Nice shots drisley! You have done very well with a horrible lighting situation.

[drisley]

Croasdail,
Yes, they actually almost look BLACK up close. But, they have to because the stage lights do make them look pale and "flat" otherwise. I never use flash for the stage because I doubt my little 420EX can improve on the thousands of dollars of stage lighting. In fact, all you will get are ugly shadows, and a less 3d appearance. Funny thing is, the few "pro" photographers I saw there were trying to use flash.
Have a look HERE (http://www.bodybuilding.ca/provincials05.htm)at the "official" pictures, taken with a flash.
As I said before, I didnt realize that even with the 20ft high ceilings backstage I could actually use bounce and have enough power, until the morning show was almost over :(

Smudge, I thank you for sharing that technique. There is no way for you to know that I knew about that. In fact, I didn't even think of using that method until very late in the morning. Just to show you are right, below is a shot I took using your method. Keep in mind that the "ceiling" was at least 20ft. high! That 420EX is amazing. But I am no seriously looking at the Lightsphere II. If you think the card and rubber band look funny, this LSII looks REALLY funny! :lol:

Dante, thanks. The lighting was bad, but that is par for the course I guess.

Swatcop, as I mention in my first post, I realize that most people don't like the look of bodybuilders, but that is a given. I hear it so often that I just don't like talking about it here. Since I am submitting the photographs, I don't have a problem if people are trashing my skills and pictures (well I would rather they didn't ;)), but these people have no control over me posting, and don't have a say here, so I would rather they be respected as the dedicated and friendly people I found them to be. Thanks for at least being tactful about it though. :)

Oh Wazza, I forgot to mention, I think the oil and paint is applied by hand like a lotion. It's very messy stuff, and the first thing I would do after a show (after eating) is jump in a shower and get that stuff off me! Yuck!

Ok, this picture was taken in the same spot as the first picture above. However, I used the method Smudge recommended. I wish I would have done this sooner :)

35mm F2.8, bounced flash with white index card (the "Smudge Solution" ;))
http://210.245.164.161/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005misc/IMG_0244.jpg

[drisley]

Oh, to show why body paint is needed (even for black competitors), the guy on the right here is actually very tanned. But look how pale he appears on stage.

http://210.245.164.161/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005men/IMG_0879.jpg

[kenyc]

Oh, to show why body paint is needed (even for black competitors), the guy on the right here is actually very tanned. But look how pale he appears on stage.



Looks MUCH better to me without the paint. Much more natural. Much better.

KAC

[drisley]

That is the point of body paint. They don't want to look "natural". They want to enhance the muscles and almost look "cartoony".
It would make taking pictures easier though if they were all pale. Fewer problems with dynamic range I think.

[schmoelzel]

Drisley: Had a quick look at the official site and some of their pics and they should be hiring you.....some of the shots are really badly OOF and soft! Is this a pro photog doing them or just someone affiliated with the event? That last one has got to be the 135??

[drisley]

Schmoelzel,
I think those photos were done by the guy who also makes the site. I was told that my pictures were going to be on that site, but perhaps they don't want to ask the webmaster to remove his images and put mine up for obvious reasons.
I have to say the lighting even gave the 20D and 135L a tough time, so any prosumer camera would definately have an almost impossible time getting a decent picture.

Yes, the last shot was taken with the 135, as were all the stage shots. I think it stands out because by that time I finally figured out the bad lighting in the theatre, and adjusted accordingly. I actually find that some of the sharpest ones were taken with the 135 + 1.4x extender. I honestly can't see any loss of quality with the extender.

As an example, this was taken with the 135 +1.4x wide open at ISO 1600:
http://210.245.164.161/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005women/IMG_0335.jpg

[emurph2]

These pictures are awesome!! The funniest pose is my favorite, but all are really good and fun to look at. I will now rethink getting a tan this summer. I use the 1.4 extender too and have done several test and have not found a visible loss of image quality.

[Michaelmjc]

I dont like girl bodybuilders, but they are great shots. you did a good job.

[MTalley]

Excellent shots. I'm rather partial to girl bodybuilders myself, since one works at my office. She's not in competition any more. However, I was astounded to find out that she's a month older than I am (and my 46th birthday is coming up soon).

[drisley]

Thanks emurph2, michaelmjc, and MTalley. :)
There were at least 3 competitors at the show who were 60+.
It really is an amazing thing to see somebody that age competing because it takes it's toll even on the 20 year olds.
Unless I'm mistaken, the best posing routine was awarded to a man in his 60's.

[Rob612]

Great shots drisley.

On a side note, am I the only one that think they look bad? I mean its great to be in shape but that's just plain horrible.

No, you are not alone. I've been in gyms from my 8/9 until my 35, practicing a lot of heavy sports (weightlifting at first, then I moved to some martial arts, ending up with judo with decent results in my 25s). So I know what does it means to be in shape - now at 44 I am not in shape anymore, unless you mean a "round" shape :D).

But those, IMHO, look awful. Its just too pushed. I can't even imagine to date a woman like those (and I suppose that the reverse is true also, but I have no experience :D).

Perhaps, the pics are really good.

[Croasdail]

Hey - took a look at the shots on the site.... like others had said, yours are far better.

[Skip Souza]

Drisley your captures are very good. The ones on the site are simply awful :-(
Yes, Rob, round is a shape, and a very good one I might add. ;-)

[Lotto]

Great job! drisley. And agree with the others, your pics are 1001 times better than the official wedpages. Maybe submit your shots and get a paid job from them?:lol:

[Rob612]

Yes, Rob, round is a shape, and a very good one I might add. ;-)

:D :D I see that we all think the same way... Strange, indeed :D

[drisley]

Rob612, please read my disclaimer. I said I do not want to hear this stuff. Individual sexual preference has nothing to do with photography. Making rude comments about people who aren't here to defend themselves is even worse (although I understand that you were also nice enough to poke fun at yourself which is cool).

One day I will post some pictures in the "General Chat" and we can all talk about whether or not we think this looks good. But for now, I would like to keep these types of comments to none because I've had to endure this EVERY time I post pictures from one of these events, and it's seriously made me consider leaving this forum because it only seems to happen here. But I love you guys, and I really don't want to leave, so I'm in a very difficult position.

As I said above, do not say anything here you would not say to someone face to face.

And I know you wouldn't want to say anything disparaging face to face with this guy :)
(Trust me, he looks even bigger in person) :)

http://210.245.164.161/albums2/sharpnsmart/prov2005men/IMG_0199.jpg

[drisley]

Croasdail, Skip and Lotto, thanks very much for your compliments :)

[schmoelzel]

Drisley, that last shot is great!!! Just too bad that his feet are cut-off but the detail in the skin is incredible! I agree with everyone here about the official site..........shots look like snapshots; not good promotion for the events themselves but if the guy does the website..........oh well......I am sure you'll impress them again next time around.

[wintoid]

Drisley I think I understand where you're coming from but I feel slightly constrained in what I can say, so I'm going to say it extra carefully and clearly.

I would like to say your shots are great, and they have produced a strong reaction in me partly due to the subject. This reaction is mainly fascination, and nothing to do with any sexual preference. Hopefully you don't mind me making that comment. You captured the subjects very well, and I am finding it fascinating looking at the pictures, and imagining how hard these people have worked. I've been back several times to stare at their amazing physiques.

[drisley]

Thanks schmoelzel :)
Yes, too bad about the feet, but such is the life of using a prime. I actually got to the point of not worrying about feet and even hands as much because everybody is more interested in the the detail in the muscles, etc.

Oh, and I just recieved this email from the bb pres:
"Your pictures are outstanding, congratulations on taking such phenomenal pictures. We will be using them on the 2006 posters for sure."

I just wish my pictures were being used on the website as I thought they were going to be. That is because I told a few competitors that would be the case, and now I am worried that they will think I took those.

[drisley]

Thanks Wintoid, and I actually felt like I was constraining people in what they say too as I wrote my "disclaimer", so I was a little hesitant. If people say they think these people have gone a bit too far, well that is acceptable. But to outright say they are ugly and are destroying their bodies (something I've heard many times) is going to far as I'm sure you would agree. So, I thought it would just be best to put a stop to it. Thanks for your input. :)

And in my very first post last year, I actually didn't mind the discussion. It was rather interesting. But things really digressed and became very repetitive and mean really fast.

To put things in perspective...
I don't have kids. Now imagine if every time you posted a picture of your baby, or son or daughter, I came in and said "nice picture, but why the heck would you want to have kids! they are so messy and annoying and dirty....". Now imagine if the vast majority felt this way (as most feel about bodybuilders). So, every time say Schmoelzel posts one of his amazing pictures of his beautiful daughter, the thread ended up in a fight about "why would you want a kid?!", etc. It gets very annoying and sad after a while. It's what I have had to put up with whenever I post my bb pictures.

I totally understand that I am in the minority, but it really is disheartening and I don't know what else to do. I really hope everybody understands, and I really hope I don't sound like a jerk.

[Rob612]

As I said above, do not say anything here you would not say to someone face to face.

And I know you wouldn't want to say anything disparaging face to face with this guy :)
(Trust me, he looks even bigger in person) :)



Drisley,

I have to admit that its my fault. Curious to see the pics, I just skipped your disclaimer and went straight to the pics. I have just read it. Sorry about that, no doubt its my fault.

But I always stand on my opinion, face to face or trough a forum. I have had several chances to be in close contact with those guys, and I never had a problem in telling them what I thought. With some of them, we ended up friends. And I had to buy bigger chairs, BTW :D

They are persons, first of all. This means that they can be the best persons of the world and that I can appreciate them for what's inside those sculptured bodies that I do not like.

I am not scared by the human beings. The average human being is always able to talk and understand others. For those who dont, of course, there are other solutions, here we have a proverb: "the bigger guy makes more noise when falls on the ground" :D :D But that will tend to the concept of self defense, and of course its another story.

Anyway, sorry if my comments offended you or anybody else. It was not my intention and here I publicly apologize for skipping your disclaimer and consequently commenting the wrong way.

Friends ? :)

Edit to add: all this has nothing to deal with sexual preferences or the similar. It was just an aesthetical matter.

[drisley]

Rob612, I have to admit, I do the same thing ;)
I usually look at the pictures, and then read the posts after. But sometimes when the post is long, as mine was, I skip that part altogether. :)
I may have over reacted in your case. I guess I'm just touchy and shell shocked on the subject.
You obviously have experience in the world of bodybuilding, so that is cool. But some do not, and don't think that, as you said, "they are persons first of all".

Some of you may not realize, but I hear the same negative comments all day long from my friends and pretty much anybody I show the pictures to. I really feel bad, because most of the competitors are the nicest people I've ever met. I think it's nice to have a hobby/goal, even if it's not the same as mine. I'm sure they would laugh if I told them how much I spend on photo gear (and how much time I spend on my arse getting out of shape ;)

Thanks again Rob for such a nice post. That was very "big" of you ;)

[mickle]

Great captures, great subject matter.

[ayotnoms]

... I really hope everybody understands, and I really hope I don't sound like a jerk.

Personally, I think you've been the model of restraint and courtesy.
Perhaps the disclaimer should go to the top of the post...in bold typeface.

People who have been around and know your excellent work will be able to view, comment, and otherwise enjoy the photos, while the newcomers or infrequent visitors can be forewarned to skip the posting and resume their regular viewing habits.

If they fail to heed the warning and post an annoying comment, you can justifiably invite them to enjoy a nice, hot cup of STFU!

...just my 2¢

[drisley]

Thanks mickle, that is very nice of you.
We may not always like what we see, but isn't it nice to get a well rounded view of the world?

Thanks Ayotnoms, I can understand that people seeing these types of pictures for the first time might be shocked. However, I just think that since I'm responsible for posting images here, I feel bad if the subjects are abused.
It's much the same as somebody posting a picture of a model, and having people talking about how "ugly" she is. I think one person already left this forum because of this very thing.

For example, look at THIS (http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/236777/0)picture and thread. The subject is not my idea of beautiful at all, but it's really an eye opener to see something this different. You will also notice the types of responses in the thread. Nothing derogatory at all. And come on, I know we here at POTN are better than "those guys" :lol:

[Lotto]

Well, I see a lots of pro/auther call their beatiful models Subjects in the books and videos. People will always have their personal experience/perspectives relate to all subjects. It's up the photoghrapher to present the subjects in the best possible way, in turns of sharpness, color, compositions, ect. So technically, drisley, you did a fantastic job on your images. And that's what matters to me, as a viewer and a photograhpher wanna be.

When people ask question like why buy $3K computer/ L lens, or why have kidds(or not), what's wrong with the answer like this..."Because I can!"

[drisley]

Hehe, thanks Lotto.
To be honest, I actually miss "discussions" about this subject. But I found that things often just got out of hand, so that is why I asked people not to make judgements on the competitors themselves. I am not a moderator, so I can't FORCE people not to say what they think about the sport and the subjects. All I ask is for people to take into consideration other people's feelings when posting. It is actually more fun to talk about the pictures, and the subjects, but like I said, it seems that in extreme cases like this, things really can get heated. I am to blame also because I get very defensive about it, and so I would rather not open the whole can of worms. I think they (competitors) look great, but in no way do I expect others to think so too. Just please, respect them as people.

[Rob612]

I think that everything is clear now. What I really wanted to say, actually is that I HATE those bad looking....OUCH !!!!!!

JUST KIDDING, FOLKS !!!!!!!!!

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[drisley]

;)

[Croasdail]

hey - not to drag this post on for ever.. .but your last image was the best. why did you hold it back?

[Beeclose]

The shots are nice and sharp, pity about the subject matter, I always think the female ?contestants look like dried up Prunes. Sorry.

[drisley]

hey - not to drag this post on for ever.. .but your last image was the best. why did you hold it back?
Hehe, I have over 300 images, and I have a hard time knowing which one is best.

[3oh6]

hey dris, just saw these...much much better from the last set i saw of yours (i think form last year). these are fantastic!! absolutely wonderful. it is so fun to watch your shots improve this drastically...WOW. i can't give enough praise because i know how tough those conditions are.

The two things that they all told me they couldn't wait to do after the show was eat pizza, and drink lots of water or any type of liquid they could get their hands on. Some competitors hadn't ingested any fluids in almost 24 hours.having spent a number of years in the bodybuilding community i can atest to this quote. most competitors by this stage are so de-hydrated and malnurished that their eyes are sunken in and they just look dead. they suck on ice cubes, but not too many, to make their bodies think they are getting water. it's all about being ripped and that doesn't involve water between their skin and muscles.

going out for dinner after the competition is what its all about. you have not seen food until you have seen bodybuilders eat after a competition. the term 'piece' does not exist...it is entire cheese cakes that get devoured. i have seen whole pizzas disappear like somthing in a movie. next year go out for dinner afterwards and document that...that is a show in itself ;)

once again, good stuff mate, i am already looking forward to next years shots.

[drisley]

3oh6,
Wow! Thank you sooo much! It's these type of posts that make it all worth while :)
Not only do we share our tastes in lenses (which were almost identical until I sold my 28/1.8) but we also have experience with the bb community. Nice.

One way for me to break the ice with the bodybuilders was to ask them what they wanted to eat after. One guy told me "EVERYTHING!". He just wanted food and lots of it! I wish I would have went to the restaurants afterward with them. I'm sure it would have been a site to behold. I'm sure the bills would have been sites to behold too.

Once many years ago I had read about the benefits of "fasting". So, I decided to try it for 2 days. I ate nothing but a certain type of fruit juice for exactly 48 hours. When you come off your fast, you are supposed to take it slow. No way bubba! I ate a whole box of donuts first thing that morning! So much for healthy! But you know what? During the second day I really got a new perspective on all the fast food in the western diet. I could not believe all the TV commercials for junk food. It really made me sick actually.

[skade]

Excellent work drisley! I love bodybuilding with a passion, and love to see shots like these! Shot #3 is just brilliant!

[drisley]

Thank you VERY much Sandi! :cool:
If you want to see more, just let me know.

[DavidEB]

These are great photos of interesting subjects. good job.

I'm glad that each person has unique tastes, otherwise my wife would never have picked me.

[drisley]

These are great photos of interesting subjects. good job.

I'm glad that each person has unique tastes, otherwise my wife would never have picked me.
Exactly :)

[huminuh83]

they are raisins!!!!

Awesome pics.

[3oh6]

3oh6,
Wow! Thank you sooo much! It's these type of posts that make it all worth while :)
Not only do we share our tastes in lenses (which were almost identical until I sold my 28/1.8)
no worries, its easy to make posts like that when what i am saying is true. see and i had to get rid of my 135 a couple months ago because it was just not getting the use for the paid jobs to cover its cost. maybe some day we will be back to the exact same gear as we were at one point ;) take care buddy.

[bikerider]

The photos are fantastic Drisley and yours leave the pro-pics for dead....the subject matter, well a famous man once said, 'opinons are like a*&^#holes, everybody's got one.
Roger.

[drisley]

Thanks bikerider.
And, I will have to remember that quote :)
I just talked to a pro bodybuilding/fitness photog in another forum, and he said he quit posting pictures because he got "tired of idiot immature comments." So I guess I'm not the only one. He also added that "a number of really good pros have quit posting here and anywhere because of the same stupidity." Isn't that just sad?

[DavidEB]

Homo sum: humani nil a me alienum puto (Terentius, c 160 BC)

(I am human, so I consider nothing human strange to me)

in other words, even if it isn't just like your narrow view of life, you can still be interested in it. And, obviously, many people do like it.

Personally I admire the immense effort these bodybuilders put into what amounts to a pursuit of personal esthetics, just like photographers trying to take a fine photo.


and, my own butchered latin -- cogito, ergo photo.

[drisley]

David, that is perfect methinks.
That is the way I like to look at things. It's probably why I LOVE to go to restaurants from different countries, and order the "strangest" looking item on the menu.
Most others though will go to, say an indian resaurant, and order a hamburger. :) That is something I always find perplexing.

[nat869]

Hey Drisley,

I am back from my trip to Vegas and just got to view your pics. Awesome shots!! You did a great job backstage and from the audience. There is such a difference in your pics and the pics on their website...too bad yours are not up there too. Did you pass out any business cards? Looks like some good competitors too, of course I always love to see fit muscular women. Once again, great job!!! you need to come out and cover a contest I am at sometime, so I can learn something!!

[drisley]

Thanks nat. The backstage stuff was definately a learning process, and I now know what I should NOT do next time. I didnt bring any cards, as I figured I could direct people to the bb website. Big mistake! Well again I know better for next time. It's still alot of fun, and very good practice. To bad there are only 2 shows a year. It makes it difficult to get into a groove.
I would love to come to a contest down there sometime :)