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I finally did it. My portfolio gallery has made it the #4 most popular gallery on PBase. Two days ago it was #8, yesterday it was #6 and today #4. If you have a PBase account, keep those votes coming and get me to #1.
Thanks everyone for the votes.
I finally finished going through my archives and picked my favorite action sports images to create a true portfolio. This is something I have been thinking about for a long time, but was always turned off by the daunting task of going back through all my images. What finally gave me the spark to get it done was the release of Apple's kick butt new software, Aperture. While importing all my galleries, I painstakingly cataloged and added keywords to all of my images. From there I went through each gallery and tagged my favorite images (in all categories). I think I narrowed my favorite sports images down to about 300 shots. From there I picked the best-of-the-best and created my official portfolio.
I now invite you to take a look. At the bottom of the images you will see links to Vote for the gallery and to Leave a comment. If you like the portfolio, please click the vote button. If you have time, leave a comment (and still click the vote button).
And now, to the Portfolio.
I also like to go back through all the images I took at an event a few days later. It seems as though my eye always picks up things I missed during the first round of picks or I'm just in a different mindset.
Tonight I went back through my images of the 2006 Mavericks Surf Contest and created a new Part II Gallery
For the past three years I have waited in anticipation for the Mavericks Big Wave Surf Contest. Each year, 24 of the top big wave surfers in the world are invited to the contest held in Northern California's Half Moon Bay. No one is certain when the event will happen because it all has to do with the weather. From January 1st to the end of March, contest organizers watch the swell and weather forecasts trying to determine when the big waves will hit and if the weather will allow good conditions. When it looks like a go, the word is put out and all contestants, organizers, sponsors and spectators are given 24 hour notice that the contest is on.
The night before the contest I usually can be found scrambling around getting my gear ready and attempting to get some sleep. My alarm goes off at 4:30am and I quickly have some coffee, get dressed, kiss my wife, grab my gear and head out the door. By 6am I am at the boat dock waiting for my ride out to the surf break. By 8am I am sitting 100 yards from giant 30+ foot waves, my eyes are wide and my heart is pumping. I get my camera together and it's showtime.
This year was spectacular! The weather could not have been better. 75 degrees, no wind, blue skies and perfect waves.
Enough talk, now to the photos. The complete gallery can be found at www.SportsShutter.com.
