chimperscage

2012 NFL Draft possibilities are all Normal

2011-12-02T09:41:00.003-10:00

Well, I got to wondering today just how many players I had shot that were possibly going to be in the 2012 NFL draft. A quick search of some of the polls and listings and a quick search of my archive came up with a number of players. One, Cody White I have been photographing since he attended High School at Normal Community West. There were a Number of Illinois State Redbirds that made the list and a good parcel from the Missouri Valley Conference. Fill in the rest of the non-conference games at Hancock and I got the following into a gallery. I only selected one image of each person for this gallery. If you search my archive by name, you will find several more of each. Unfortunately there were several players I did not capture.

Enjoy, and good luck to all involved when the draft takes place.

2012 NFL Draft Prospects - Images by Alan Look

Do it Yourself fresnel lense flash extender

2011-11-17T08:36:00.007-10:00

A few short weeks ago, I was shooting a night time IHSA playoff game at Normal Community West High School and ran in to a fellow shooter and friend. As I made my way around the field to say hello and chat for a couple seconds, I noticed something that made me take a second look. On his flash unit was an extender. I'd heard of Better Beamers before but had never seen on in person, still haven't. His unit was a dozen or so years old and while it used the fresnel lense technology like the Better Beamer, it was made by someone else.

Inquiring about just how much it would help and what if any side effects there were, I decided to look into one. Online, I found a couple different variations with the Better Beamer being the more popular. Next I visited a couple of photo chat rooms to get an idea of what people thought that had used them. They are used a lot in nature photography and I found some using them in sports photograpy. The biggest compaint I could find was escaping light. The Better Beamer uses two side brackets to hold the fresnel lens out in front of the flash, but has no top or bottom sides. So, while the light making its through the lens is magnified and does add benefit, the escaping light was lost or in some scenarios left unwanted side effects.

I didn't really like the price and the DIY guy on my shoulder convinced me to look around to see if I could find the material to make one.

The fresnel lens is most common in pager readers. They are thin sheets of magnifying plastic that you hold above a sheet of print to enlarge the print to ease reading. They are available at most department stores (Kmart, Walmart, Barnes and Noble, Etc.) I found them for as little as $2.70 for a full size sheet to nearly $8.00 for the same size. When I found them for less than $3 apiece, I bought a few.

Next I needed something to make a bracket. Well, they say you can do anything with duct tape... A roll of black and a couple page size sheets of foam core and I was ready with the knife.

Trimming the fresnel page down to about 3x5 inches seemed about right. Trimming the foam core was a bit trickier so that I could make it into more of a retangular funnel so the size would increase from the flash head to the fresnel lense. Add the duct tape to put it all together and it was complete.

That weekend, as luck would have it, the 2nd round playoff game was once again at the same location. I took my blaster and it worked! I think I saved my self about a full stop at mid-field range. The only drawback with this was it was just too large, enough at the flash end that it slipped around a lot on the flash head.

Back to the drawing board - and the local lumber/hardware store. I cruised every aisle looking for something that would be more of a tubular bracket that I could reinvent to make it work. Well, ever wonder why they have grocery store items at those places? Not me, not anymore. Wandering past the plastic garbage cans and liners, I stumbled on plastic food storage containers. Finally deciding on the medium sized (approx. 6x6x5) square ones. A package of 4 - I don't remember, but I'm sure it was under $5 for the package. Complete with lids!

Well, the rest was pretty easy. Cut a hole in the lid, centered and about 1/2 an inch smaller than I cut the fresnel lens material. a little black tape inside and out all the way around to hold it in. An H shaped cut on the back with the total outside dimensions just the size of the flash head (I actually put a wrap of gaffers tape on the flash head so it wouldn't get marke up). The H cut allows for 2 flaps, one on the top of the flash head and one on the bottom. These are used with either tape or a velcro belt to hold the unit in place.

Here are photos of both units. I have yet to test the 2nd version and wish I had a longer "container" to use, but I'm confident that these will be useful both bouncing light for basketball season and for field sports in the spring and fall.

DIY Flash Extenders - Images by Alan Look

Ugly or boring? Not in the Fall

2011-11-02T14:01:00.003-10:00

Well, The Indianapolis 500 gets Indiana rev'ed up in the spring but what is it like in the fall? Well, Parke County has the Covered Bridge Festival in October and Brown County turns a thousand colors. Would you believe it's hilly in Brown County? I swear, where did the hills come from. Get very far in any direction and it's back to the flat grain growing ground.

Get a cabin, stay at a Bed and Breakfast, take a bus trip or just make it for one day but go check out both places next October.

Covered Bridges - Images by Alan Look

Brown County Indiana - Images by Alan Look

Lanier Contract not renewed by Cornbelters

2011-09-13T08:05:00.003-10:00

Basing the decision on the second season in which expectations were much higher than what was acheived, the decision was made by Cornbelters General Manager Steve Malliet to not renew Hal Lanier as field manager. Under Lanier's two seasons at the helm, the Cornbelters were .468 with 90 wins and 102 losses.

Redbird Volleyball

2011-09-09T05:49:00.003-10:00

The season has started and in non-conference matches at home the Illinois State Womens volleyball team in 2 wins ans 0 losses.

The fanbase could be a little better this season, but I expect it will improve as they move to MVC play. Just to wet your appetite here are 2 galleries to let you see what you have missed.

20110830 Southern IL-e v Illinois State - Images by Alan Look

20110907 Western Illinois v Illinois State - Images by Alan Look

Be sure to check out the Normaite's website at www.normalite.com, pick up a printed copy or sign up for a mailed subscription.

Never thought this would be true

2011-08-19T15:47:00.006-10:00

When I was in high school pumping fuel at the corner station I used to drool over the Mercedes Benz sedans that would come in. I still do. Many would have badges of courage on the front grille showing how many miles they had survived. Many were in the hundreds of thousands of miles and most were still in very good shape.

My dad pretty much always drove Chevy's or Pontiac's, usually new and kept them for four or five years. I remember a stray Fiat that he bought on a repo deal and a Ford LTD, but mostly GM's. The first car with my name on it was a 1st edition Monte Carlo, after that I've pretty much been a Ford Truck man, with the exception of one really bad Buick. It was a very comfortable car, but I couldn't keep a transaxle in it. I think it kicked about 3 of them out in the 14 months I owned it.

I also spent some time in a few different garage settings were I got to drive a lot of different models from all sorts of foreign and domestic makers. I still migrated back to Fords. I couldn't tell you how many different models or the years, but it's been a good portion of them. Everything from Pinto's to the large Sedans to pickups and even an 8 ton dualie with that split shift 5 speed. I just like the Fords.

Well, my current F150 is a 2003. Beautiful truck with about 50,000 miiles on it. Yes, 8 and a half years old and only that many miles. It gets massaged and treated pretty well. It's pulled a trailer full of scout camp gear that had to weigh 4 ton total, and it hauls everything to and from the house for repairs and such. So even though it's pampered it also works.

I generally try to trade every 10 years or so. That and some of the newer feature and option offerings have had me online looking (I'm not brave enough to go to the lots, my resistance isn't that strong). The build your own utilities on the manufacture's websites aren't perfect, but they can get you close enough for comparisons. This is where I'm really getting surprised.

The one option I'd really like to have is heated leather seats. I'm out a lot in the winter at ball games and I'd just like the comfort of driving home with a little extra warmth. To get that on a Ford F150, it seems from those calculators that you have to get to the Lariat package. I also like the 4x4 option because it gets me to those games and home again when the weather turns ugly. Add to those a set of nice wheels, a rear slider, the package with the electric locks and the fob unlock and you end up with a sticker somewhere in the $45,000 range. That scares me a bit even though I know I'll have it for 10 years.

Moving on, I decided to check on the Mercedes Benz site. No pickups available. Not sure if they just aren't offered in the states or that they don't make them. I know they make step vans and larger trucks, but no pickups. But, I like the Mercedes product so I looked at the SUV's, then checked on the BMW's SUV selection too. Equipped as closely to the F150 as I could get them and guess what... The price was almost the same! So, I guess I have a couple years to decide if I'm still gonna be a Ford Man.

What would you do?

Hey, as a bonus to this blog entry, how about taking a look at some of the oldies running around Central Illinois. These were all seen at the 2011 McLean County Antique Automobile Association show at the David Davis Mansion a couple weekends ago.

2011 McLean County Antique Automobile Association car show - Images by Alan Look

Football and Volleyball start in a couple weeks. Stay tuned.

I'm getting ready for some football.

2011-07-27T06:08:00.007-10:00

Wow, what a lot of drama this summer. Football and the economy. One report had people more interested in the NFL lockout than the US debt ceiling issue. And why not, financial issues get to be monotonous and stressful. So, let's talk about football instead.

High school ball is just around the corner. Summer strength and condidioning should be wrapping up. Practices should be starting. Opening night is August 26th. Intercity at Hancock Stadium is September 2nd. If you haven't heard, the south stands at Hancock were to be removed. I haven't been to the stadium lately, so I'm looking forward to seeing what all has been done. I believe the west stands were also to get a facelift.

College can't be far off either. The Redbirds have an interesting bend on the normal Media Day this year. The fans and friends will be invited to attend and can also participate in a moderated question and answer session with some of the coaches and players. It all starts the morning of August 8. I'm not sure I'll be there, but I think the questions the fans will ask could be interesting.

I'm also getting excited about the NFL settlement. I haven't read a lot about the contract. What has been crossing my screen are reports of players from the Missouri Valley Football Conference being signed by teams. There are 7. ISU offers Chris Riley who is with the Bengals as will Colin Cochart from South Dakota and Stephen Franklin from Southern Illinois. South Dakota alum Cole Brodie is headed to Jacksonville and Derek Domino to the Broncos. North Dakota State sends Josh Gatlin to the Saints. Also headed to the Saints is Kolby Hurt of Missouri State. The NFL will be more fun knowing these people have passed before us at a more local level. I hope they all make the final cut.

Here's a small gallery of Chris Riley.

Chris Riley - Images by Alan Look

See you all along the stripes.

Are you better off?

2011-07-07T14:35:00.003-10:00

Normally I try and give my slant, humor or opinion on something on this blog. This time it's your turn. Keep it simple and non personal. We aren't going to roast anyone here in a belligerent manner ( I do have the power to delete posts), but feel free to comment on the following:

The last few weeks I've read several articles about the economic recovery being 2 years old. The stock market has come back some. I guess the unemployment is down compared to 2 years ago, although I haven't researched the numbers any. So, do you feel like you are better off than you were two years ago?

BTW, if you came here looking for photos, go here: www.alanlook.com

Best to all.
AL

Cornbelters drop first series at home.

2011-05-30T08:39:00.004-10:00

The Cornbelters started out the season away from the 'Crib coming home for the opener in Normal at 4-2 but dropped the complete series to the Miners of Southern Illinois to drop to 4 and 5 and 2nd from the bottom in their division in the Frontier League.

20110527 Miners v Cornbelters - Images by Alan Look

Cornbelters ready for 2011 season

2011-05-15T12:49:00.003-10:00

I was lucky enough last season to be able to make the inaugural game of the Frontier League Cornbelters at the Corncrib in Normal. They are ready to start their second season and opening night at the 'Crib is May 27th at 7pm against the Southern Illinois Miners. I hope to be there. Being on the Media List, I get lots of notices from them. The latest just hit my email box about 10 minutes ago. They have hired a new Hitting Coach. The Media release follows.

"CornBelters sign former MLB as new hitting coach

‘Boots’ Day joins team following 2 seasons in Calgary

NORMAL – The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, are pleased to announce the signing of Charles ‘Boots’ Day as the team’s new hitting coach for the upcoming season. Following a six-game road trip to begin its’ second season, the CornBelters will play its’ first home game of the 2011 campaign at the Corn Crib on Friday, May 27 at 7 P.M. versus the Southern Illinois Miners (CEFCU Opening Night).

Day comes to Normal after serving as hitting coach the past two seasons with the Calgary Vipers of the Golden Baseball League. The Vipers won the league championship in 2009, a team that also featured current CornBelter outfielder Colin Moro. In the minors, Day has also coached in the Pacific Coast League and California League, among others.

A native of Ilion, NY, Day began coaching in 1982 with the Detroit Tigers organization, and scouted for the team from 1984 to 1988. He has also spent time in the Royals, Cardinals, Indians, Nationals, and Diamondbacks farm systems. As a player, Day made his major league debut in 1969 with the St. Louis Cardinals, but spent a majority of his 6 seasons as a center fielder with the Montreal Expos.

Day joins manager Hal Lanier and pitching coach Brooks Carey on the CornBelters staff. The team begins the 2011 regular season May 20 on the road against the River City Rascals."

If you missed posts from last season's opening game, here are some images to help you along...

20100601 Thunderbolts v Cornbelters - Images by Alan Look

On the Illinois State front, the Athletic Directors slot vacated by Sheahon Zenger has been filled by Gary Friedman. Friedman has ties to Illinois and to the Bloomington-Normal Sports scene.

Questions of the day and one answer

2011-04-25T05:49:00.003-10:00

The older I get the more I find out just how much I don't know and I always find questions about things I take for granted.

Last night whild being lazy and watching some pro Bull Riding, I started to question something I've seen for years at this event... a rope tied around the bull behind the rider and in front of the rear leg muscles. What on earth can that be for? You certainly can't lead a bull from the behind! As it turns out, it's called a flank strap. The flank strap is affixed by the supplier of the bull and is used to make the bull use it's back legs to buck more.

An other question that keeps popping in my mind when being lazy and watching the tube is medicines. I know why people take them but watching those commercials just has to make you sit up and go HUH! Many of them can actually promote what your hoping to fix or give you side effects that could be far worse than what you have. Buyer beware and careful! One such drug that I see promoted heavily is supposed to help with the sypmtoms of depression but in the long list of possible side effects is in rare cases the ability for it to give you suicidal tendencies? WOW. Others trying to fix other ailments may not be quite that far off, but they can still do lots of harm. I think I'll be very careful in what I let get prescribed for me. Next time you see one of these commercials, turn up the volume and listen.

Bradley loses Les

2011-03-07T08:22:00.003-10:00

After nine years, one trip to the NCAA sweet sixteen (2006), an overall record of 154-140 and 74-88 (MVC), and a less than stellar finish in the Valley (4-14) this season, the Bradley Braves said goodby to Jim Les. Athletic Director Michael Cross stated that the decision was difficult but in the long-term best interest of Bradley basketball, the student athletes and the university.

If you live or have lived in Central Illinois for any length of time and followed college basketball to any degree, you know Jim Les and the Bradley Braves Well. Les played for Bradley as a student and then in the NBA for seven season. The Braves and the Illinos State Redbirds share a mutual rivalry best know in basketball by the tag "War of 74". The arenas are always filled, the fans always pumped, the volume level almost crushing.

Coach Jim Les - Images by Alan Look

One has to wonder

2011-01-05T05:50:00.003-10:00

in 2007 Illinois State Athletic Director Sheahon Zenger reached to his home state of Kansas to gather Tim Jankovich as a replacement for Porter Moser. Mosers tenure was tenuous at best and Zenger pulled the plug early on his 7 year contract. Best I can tell is Jankovichs contract is a 5 year contract with a rollover for extensions at the end of the term. That leaves him the remainder of this season and one more till the end of his first term.

The first 3 years were pretty decent. Jankovich was able to keep the best of the talent that Moser had discovered and added some transfers along with signing some other good talent. Now, O is absent. Dinma gone. Talented others are on board, but the Birds are 0-3 in the conference with Witchita State coming here on Friday with a record of 3-0 in the Valley tied for first with Missouri State. The season has been disappointing to say the least. Soft preseason play is responsible say some.

3 Days ago, Zenger takes a job back in Kansas. Who will take his place? Will they allow Jankovich to move on with his program that seems to be off the tracks? Will they be too busy settling in or working on other things to do an evaluation? I don't have the answers, but think the coaching situation at ISU will be a topic before the end of this season and certainly before the end of the next.

Don't get me wrong, I like Coach Jankovich and wish him and the team all the best but what else will be looked at? The talent is there but seems to be lack those things that make it click.

Tim Jankovich - Images by Alan Look

Heyworth a Star and a Buzz

2010-11-29T04:27:00.003-10:00

In 1961 when I first moved to Heyworth, the Heyworth Star was a thriving weekly newspaper. I can't tell you the whole history of the paper, but it was then run by Glen Beverage and his son Jim. I also don't remember a lot about Glen except that he always had a smile when I saw him.

Jim lived 3 doors away from us on Poplar St. with his wife Nancy who taught school in a near by community and Sonja their girl who was the same age as I.

Jim was a newspaper man through and through. Always looking for the scoop. Always at the local sports events. Always wearing a dress hat, carrying a camera, tablet and pen and when it was cold, a trench styled overcoat. He was inquisitive and full of common sense. He also liked to show off his shop to any youngster that showed an interest. More than once I walked in unannounced and he would appear in the front office and offer a quick tour. Didn't matter how busy he was, he always had time for an interested youth.

In those days it was type press machinery. All the type was set on aluminum plates, put together on carriers and loaded into the press. All the plates were made on site at the Star. I may still have a couple floating around somewhere that Jim made for me on one of those tours. Clink, clink, clang, bang and there was your name on the edge of one. The Star also printed stationary, invitations, etc. to bolster the coffers and add a service to the community.

Several years ago, Jim passed on and Nancy became the owner of the Star and kept it open with employees. Gone also were the typeset days and computers replaced much of that layout and printing work. Staying the same was the offering of local news about Heyworth to the community and to those who had lived there an moved on.

Speed ahead to about 2 years ago... The economy in the tank, the newspaper industry sinking under the weight of new "paperless" technologies, and her age, Nancy decided to sell the Star to the Daily 12 miles to the north. The Pantagraph was able to justify and keep the paper open until last month when it announced that it was pulling the plug on 3 or more weeklies it had been publishing. It seemed the town would be without a mainstay that it had for a long long time.

Enter newpaper man, Ed Pyne. Ed jumped at the opportunity to get a paper in the Heyworth communuty. He had also bid on the Star when it was for sale a few years ago. The inaugural edition of the new Heyworth Buzz was published on November 18. Not knowing what to put into the first edition was a real puzzler until the Heyworth High School Hornet volleyball team won the state title in their division. The Hornets had never won a title in any sport. The volleyball match against Scales Mound was exciting and had maybe one of the best finished of any volleyball match I've ever viewed or covered. The Hornets came from behind at match point for the final 5 points to put away their opponent. Too bad Jim couldn't have been around to see it. He was one of Heyworth's biggest cheerleaders for a long time.

Congrats to Heyworth Hornets, the Heyworth Buzz and the whole community.

20101113 Heyworth v Scales Mound - Images by Alan Look

Economics from someone who knows nothing

2010-10-06T13:55:00.003-10:00

I just read another headline about the economy... Dollar drops lower, Feds to take more drastic measures. Well, that's probably not an exact quote but you get the idea.

Sure the recession ended last year, there isn't any fear of a double dipper, unemployment is down.... Good grief, do we really believe all that sunshine?

I've been saying for sometime that, yes I'm going to get opinionated about something I have absolutely no schooling in - well I did take econ101 in college - and no real experience talking about, jobs are the key to the recovery. I'm not the only one saying it, it's just that the people in the know that are saying it just don't believe themselves. I'm talking REAL jobs, not seasonal jobs that will be gone when the trees change from one color to many or the other way around. Not jobs that pay 30% of the pay that one someone just lost. Not jobs that have no benefits like the last one that someone had. I'm talking about honest to goodness REAL jobs that someone can earn a decent comfortable living at for themselves and their family.

Then I got to thinking. Honestly, I was signing up for online banking and they told me I'd have to come to the brick and mortar (really?) to finish the sign up. Kind of surprised me that I couldn't complete the application online, but no big deal I'm at the drive thru every week anyway. Sure it's a big deal! Someone actually holds a job at that bank. If I could do it all online, they probably wouldn't have that job, or maybe it wouldn't be full time.

So (follow me, I get off on tangents. I'll try to pull it all back together) are we shooting ourselves in the foot. We keep talking about doing everything online, banking, shopping, communicating, even working. We want to bag our own groceries, pump our own gas, even check out ourselves at the hardware store! All those things we used to have someone else do for us in the past. I've even mailed in meter readings before, just so some one could send me a bill that I can now pay online.

Just think about it, every time we do one of those things we put someone out of work. Honest, hard, silver dollar paying work.

Next time I'm at Lowe's, I'm going to wait in line for the real teller. Next time I get groceries, I'm going to a place where they have someone that bags them for me and maybe even takes them out and puts them in the truck. Gas, well there aren't any full service ones left but I can at least walk in and pay the cashier instead of paying at the pump. Banking, I'll still check my balances online and maybe look at a statement or two, but bill paying is going by snail mail and a check.

Convenience? I like it as much as the next person but I just think the price is getting too high.

What can really ruin a good game viewing experience

2010-09-27T07:51:00.004-10:00

I've been informed several times that I'm a pessimist. Well, I do seem to see the ugly side of things or the bad things that may happen, but I really think I'm more of a realist. How would bad things be avoided or even corrected if someone didn't identify them?

Football viewing is a good example. There are several things (I'll include my short list below) that really irritate people (myself included) that can destroy the feeling of a great game. I think there are some simple steps that could be taken to remedy them.

My short list, in no particular order.

1) Media Time Outs. Let's call them what they really are, enough of the politically correct. They are TV timeouts to sell advertising. Heck, they get more time outs per game than both teams combined. Did I miss something in the 1960's and early 70's listening to the games on WJBC with my dad? I don't recall any commercials unless there was a legitimate break in the action. I'm sure on the few occasions when we went to the stadium that there wasn't some WJBC director in an orange vest standing on the field to tell the official when they could restart the game (heaven forbid it would start and an ad for a little blue pill, or a cold beverage, or car insurance would get cut short). It may be great for business and maybe even for the sport if someone in the sport is getting monies to help offset expenses, but it's not necessarily good for the game.

2) Announcers. There are good ones and bad ones, funny and serious, informative and irritating. Football is one game I can almost watch in completeness without the sound. I do turn it up when I want to hear an explanation of a call that I can't figure out. Not needed at all is a lot of frivolous talk about themselves, the same topic that may not even pertain to the game they are calling for more than 5 minutes of air time. Oh yeah, trying to coin a new phrase for which they will forever be known. Just doesn't cut it for me.

3) Parabolic mics? Why? Crowd noise? It gets so loud you can't hear the irritating announcers when you actually turn the sound on. If I want crowd noise, I'll go to the stadium and add some of my own. The one thing I wish I could hear is more of what the players on the field were saying (then again, I may not want to if I actually heard it). It would enhance the experience if I could hear the QB calling the play or the linebacker signaling an all out blitz, or the kickers foot hitting the ball.

4) Un-needed roughness. Yes, I love a great hit/block as much as the next fan. Helmut to helmet or after play controversies are just not sportsman like. Get on with the next play. If you had a problem with the last play, make it better on the next one with a good legal solid hit. Besides, the guy your clobbering and fighting this week may be your team mate and have your back next season.

5) Coaches in thug clothing. Growing up watching the likes of Coach Ditka, Tom Landry and others you had respect for the coaches. They dressed the part as well as they played it in front of the camera. Some of today’s coaches dress like a bunch of thugs. Ripped off sleeves, shirts that don't fit, faded and torn hoodies. I'm not saying you can't earn respect without a shirt, tie and dress shoes, but at least try and look human on the sidelines. A nice team polo and some Dockers, even a nice pair of un-ripped non-faded jeans and a button down would be an improvement. And if you think I'm wrong, consider this. A high school coach living on a teachers’ pay dresses nicer on Friday night under the lights than a multimillionaire standing there on Sunday afternoon. It can be done.

Enough.

The ISU Redbirds are 3 and 1 and last week were ranked #25 in the coaches FCS poll. This week’s poll yet to be announced.

The latest game was won in double overtime against the Bears of Missouri State at Hancock by a score of 44-41.

20100925 Missouri State v Illinois State - Images by Alan Look

Finally

2010-08-29T03:14:00.002-10:00

School is Finally back in session.
The hottest part of summer is Finally coming to an end
The sweet smell of fresh corn is Finally in the air
Football is FINALLY back in season.

I enjoy the preseason games on the tube in the hot beginning of August. It's always a welcome view compared to the reruns from last season, the hohum of new reality pilots, award shows and yet another season of the Cubs losing. I do hesitate to put a lot of credence to the preseason games of the NFL. They are full of rookies and 3rd place depth chart players working hard to make an impression on either the team they are currently with or for one of the hundred scouts watching each game to find a player that will get released and help their team. So, the action is usually filled with some great plays and emotion. That always seems to die a little in the last week of the preseason schedule. Still, couldn't the Bears look a little more like they really want to win?

The 27th was opening night for IHSA Friday Night Football, Football under the lights. I was assigned to the local Normal Community Ironmen game. The Iron were hosting the Maroons from Champaign Central. A decent game that could have used a little more fan base from the city 40 miles east. The bleachers on their side were pretty vacant. Maybe every school needs to put the bathrooms and concessions on the visitors side... But the game itself had a good bit of action. Lots of tough runs up the middle, some short yardage runs and passes up the sidelines, interceptions, sacks, and a TD about anyway one could be scored. Even one kick off that nearly went through the uprights (but that's a feet for the kicker from West).

The only bummer on the night was the mosquitoes who seemed to have lined up a week ago for admission. They had me almost thinking that I wished it was Finally time for a hard freeze - ALMOST!

Enjoy the images.

20100827 Champaign Central v Normal Community - Images by Alan Look

Thngs that make me go - Huh?

2010-08-05T08:37:00.001-10:00

Ok, I haven't posted in a while and I've been collecting these for a bit. Yes, I know they are a bit off the wall, but here it goes. My first edition of things that make me go HUH?

- The box to check mark on the utility bill to donate a $1 for those who can't pay their bill. Do they think that maybe lowering the rate would help a lot more people to afford it and a lot more people to be able to donate for the less fortunate? How much of his bonus does the CEO donate?

- Pay at the pump's where if you want to pay cash inside make you pre-pay. How do I know how much it's going to take to fill the tank?

- Sports commentators that think they have to state the obvious and ones that think we tuned in to hear them talk. No need to explain.

- Sports commentators that think they we tuned in to hear them talk about themselves. No need to explain, you know who I'm talking about.

- 911. Quick, you need a police officer for a non-life threatening situation. what number do you call. 911 and E911 are great ideas don't get me wrong, but shouldn't the police across the country have some kind of standard number for those other situations?

- Women's Hosiery. Where did it go? Business casual dress becomes the norm and suddenly no more women wearing hose. I'm no fashion czar, but it just occured to me that they were no longer envogue.

- Talking on the cell phone in the bathroom - public or private. I was in a public bathroom the other day and the guy in the booth next to me talked the whole time he was in there till it was time for him to finish. "I call you back in 2 minute." Two minute? What no pluralization? Please, I know the whole world is a phone booth now but even Superman found a better one than the head.

A couple oldies. All these inspired by a college roommate:
- Staying up to study till 7 am for an 8am exam and falling asleep just in time to miss the test.
- opening the window and turning up either the heat or A/C depending on the time of year to try and adjust the temp.
- catching flies only to release them through the open window, then not shutting the window.
- putting on head phones so not to disturb others in the room, then turning up the volume so loud the people 3 doors away can hear it anyway.

The Cornfield?

2010-06-02T02:52:00.004-10:00

June 1, 2010 - the home opener for the Normal Cornbelters in the stadium cited as the Corn Crib. I guess that makes the playing surface the Corn Field! The Cornbelters lost the game 3-2 but the fans appeared to be winners.

Unfinished as it is, the Crib is an amazing place by collegiate standards, let alone a community college. Even more amazing is the very few dollars overall of government money invested.

There are plenty of box seats complete with backs to help keep you comfy and some enclosed suites if you just have to be in your own little group or if you require shade and A/C (at least I think they had A/C). The outfields are accessible and many families were out there on blankets watching the game. The sound system left a little to be desirable, but who really goes to the game to listen to the commentator. You can listen to the game on the radio if you can't understand the PA guy. I really only find the PA useful to tell me who is at bat and maybe a tidbit or two here or there if something special is about to happen.

The players are also pretty well taken care of. The field is turf, the soft kind you would find on most football fields - full of those small ground up rubber pellets. The dugouts are very spacious and include a porta potty. I think maybe they dugouts were built around those because I can't figure out how they are ever going to get them out and replace them.

Short comings? Yes, I saw a few of those too.

PARKING - why is it that no one in this town can seem to put in enough parking. It's been a major complaint of attendees to ISU events since Redbird Arena was opened. Yet, here we have another venue with limited parking next to the field. Most parking is required a half mile away at Heartland's main campus. Buses and a wide walking path through some tall grass is used to get patrons to the park. There is also parking across the street on Lincoln College's campus. Wonder how long you will be able to get by using it.

Signage. There is adequate signage over the store, restrooms and restaurants, but there is little directional signage. I'm hoping this changes as the work to put the finishing touches on the park. One has to walk and walk and walk hoping they are headed in the right direction. Finding the staff is also a bit hard. Dark green shirts too close to being identical to the ones everybody can buy online or in the gift shop.

Cover... If it rains or you want to get out of the sun, forget it unless the bathroom is empty or you can squeeze into the gift shop. Fortunately, half that issue is resolved with the schedule - all evening games. So if you work 2nd shift, plan on attending on a week end or taking a day off.

Stairs - stairs in the stands are a foot too narrow if you are carrying anything. Sorry if my lens banged you on the head as I tried to navigate up and down to the field.

Lights (field) - Well, what can I say? I'm a photographer, there is never enough light.

Press areas? Where are they. Shooting from the dugout fun and you get to chat with the players. Makes the game go faster. It is also a bit limiting. Complimentary work room with snacks and drinks? I never found one. I know most don't always think a lot about it and those that do may thing the media is spoiled, but much of the media has nothing to do with scheduling. Meals, even a snack are hard to get unless the venue you are covering offers something. Even bottled water would be an improvement. It's outside in the hot sun and the press is there giving free coverage, least you can do is help keep them hydrated. Parking close by, especially for those with short deadlines or lots of equipment to carry in and out is always appreciated.

All in all, I think the Crib will be a very nice addition to the community. Getting organized quickly to handle all the different situations a people will be a make or break for it. Hopefully some of my insight above will be a helping hand.

20100601 Thunderbolts v Cornbelters - Images by Alan Look

Finding treasures

2010-04-29T16:00:00.003-10:00

Once in a while I have a reason to dig through some old images. I always seem to find a couple of treasures.

I shot the Eastern Illinois Homecoming football game in 2002. Tony Romo was still pretty much an unknown. He was in his senior year at Eastern. They were playing the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, a rival from the same Ohio Valley Conference. Not only was it homecoming, but the two teams were tied for 1st place and this game was well into the season being played on October 12.

I was shooting for a small wire out from the east coast. I'm not sure I ever knew and I certainly don't remember if the images were being used by the media or a school, but there I was.

Well, 8 years later, Tony is very well known and in the NFL. One of the images in the gallery below has licensed several times - from books to ESPN, it seems to get some pretty good play. When an image becomes popular, it also starts to get used by people who don't want to pay. So photographers start doing things to find out where all it has surfaced. Yep, I found the image in a cropped state that had been used by a news organization on at least 4 blog sites.

Anyway, that got me looking for the rest of the take from that fun game. The Panthers won by one point at the very end of the game. The best of my takes (was one of the first I shot with a digital camera) are below.

Enjoy.

20021012 Eastern Kentucky v Eastern Illinois - Images by Alan Look

Softball?

2010-04-15T14:45:00.004-10:00

It's normally the time of year that I must hit the yard and the house repairs before being able to get to any game. Pretty much, that means evenings spent working and maybe a game or two on the weekend when I get bored of the house and yard.

Well, April 13th was different. It was just too nice to be all work, so I scooted out to the Illinois State campus to watch and shoot a little softball. Former Ridgeview star Lauren Kellar has been getting starts and lots of playing time as a freshman. It's always good to see local athletes on the local college teams and even more fun to get to see them play.

Sure hope I can make some more of America's ball this season.

20100413 Illinois v Illinois State - Images by Alan Look

Pingeton leaves high flying Redbirds for MU Tigers

2010-04-08T07:35:00.003-10:00

Robin Pingeton is leaving the Illinois State Redbirds after 7 years as head coach and taking her assistants with her.

I can't say it is a real shock that a large D1 school had their eyes on her or even that she took the job. She is certainly qualified. It did surprise me that it happened so fast with what seemed to me as little discussion about it by anyone. Of late, the only real converstations I'd overheard were about 1st assistant Randy Norton who was reported to be a consideration at Indiana State. Randy last week expressed his desire to stay in Bloomington-Normal while his family enjoyed his daughters last year at Central Catholic High as a part of the recent State Champion Lady Saints.

Well, surprise, surprise. It will be interesting to hear the reactions in the community. Robin has been great at ISU and has really built a program that was hardly even noticed under her predecessor Jenny Yopp. At the 7 year mark, Robin had shown both her prowness on the court as well as that with recruiting. The program is truly hers. On the other hand, it's depressing or maybe just sad to see someone experienceing so much success and community recognition to just leave it all behind. Robin, we'll miss you.

ISU - find a suitable replacement. We know there is only one Robin, but this program is really buzzing and the community doesn't want to see it lose any steam. The 6000+ crowd at the last game should prove that the community really like to watch the women on the court.

As always, there are photos. I've been fortunate enough to have been shooting for Robin's complete career at ISU. So, here's a 25 image tribute. And yes, it really did take me 5 years to get a shot of Robin's 4 finger whistle.

Robin Pingeton - Images by Alan Look

It's been too long

2010-04-02T15:24:00.003-10:00

Wow, it's been a long time between rants! It's been a busy season. 72 games for me since Aug 29th of 2009, not counting a few that I was just a spectator at.

Some of the recent highlights were the girls Illinois State High School playoffs, the D3 Women's NCAA Final Four, and several WNIT games. Be sure to check out the galleries at www.alanlook.com

More later.

Ridgeview Lady Mustangs swat away the Heyworth Hornets

2010-02-11T05:50:00.002-10:00

Well, the High School Girls Regionals are here. Play this year is at Lexington. I guess it is already down to the semi and final rounds.

Last night, Ridgeview swatted the Heyworth Hornets. The Mustangs are so well organized and execute so well. THey are a pleasure to watch.

20100210 Heyworth v Ridgeview - Images by Alan Look

Historic McLean County Tournament

2010-01-17T05:40:00.002-10:00

Ah, one of my favorite weeks of the year started Saturday January 16th. No, not because of the weather, because the McLean County Tournament has started! Yes, the weather always seems to throw it's rimshot too. I've seen everything from blizzard like conditions to sunshine to torrential rains on Championship day, but the fans and teams always show up.

This year the competition should be pretty good, although some of the team rankings are pretty different from past years. ElPaso-Gridley boys are seeded in the top 5, a different look than some of the past years where they struggled past the 1st round. Ridgeview played two games on the 16th and was eliminated from the rest of the competition. That's a big change. The Mustangs seemed to be just a half a click off with just about every play attempt. I did see a couple of sequences that went well for them, but for some reason they just aren't quite there.

Heyworth looks to be back in it, but on the boys side, it appears that no one will take down Fieldcrest. EP-G came within 10 the other night, so maybe they will get a second chance on the 23rd.

On the girls side, the Ridgeview Mustangs look to be the team to beat. They only lost one senior last year from a team that competed at Redbird Arena for the state title in March. Nord, Gleeson, Jones, Hardman, Hughes and the rest should be fun to watch.

Those of you who follow my images will probably notice that last year and this year are both billed as the 99th McLean County Tournament. Well, there is a story for that. This is actually the 100th year, but only the 99th tournament. 1933 did not have one. Now you know the answer to that question of life.

be sure to visit the galleries tab on http:\\www.alanlook.com for galleris of the games I was able to cover. Looking is always free and prints are always competitively priced.

State Farm Holiday Classic Coed Basketball Tournament

2009-12-30T10:00:00.004-10:00

Wow, the holiday tournaments are here and as I write - almost over! There are several good tournaments in central Illinois. Pontiac, Pekin, Monticello and the State Farm Holiday Classic in Bloomington Normal to name a few. I've never covered any of them except the Classic, so let me talk about it.

The Classic is billed as the largest holiday basketball tournament in the country and the best basketball this side of March. It schedules 4 days of games for 32 boys and 32 girls team divided into 2 divisions. The divisions are split 1a/2a and 3a/4a along the lines the Illinois State High School Association draws for those schools. The Classic also follows the rules of basketball as stipulated by the IHSA. More on that later.

Last night, I did indeed seem some of the best basketball this side of March. The Richwoods ladies were playing the Normal West ladies. What a game. they went toe to toe, shot for shot in a see-sawing battle for the first 32 minutes. A 3 point buzzer shot evened the score at the end of the fourth quarter starting OT. One went by the score still even. On to double OT. This time the Richwoods team got the better of the Wildcats as the steam was running out for both teams. It was a really great game to watch.

I've been to some others at the tournament too. Photos from all are available and look for coverage in the Normalite and online at the Normalite.com as well. A sample gallery is below, but be sure to go to my site for complete coverage of the games I was able to cover.

Now for the rules.

2 rules need to be changed in the IHSA rule book.

1. A couple of years ago, there was a mercy clock. a 30 point lead in the 4th quarter sent the clock ticking till the end of the game. It was a good thing. If there is a 30 point difference in a game that normally only gets 60-70 points no one will be enjoying that game. Right now that rule only exists in tournament situations. It needs to be reapplied to seasonal play as well.

2. I don't know when they implemented the jersey lettering rule, but someone must have owned stock shares in a uniform company to come up with this one. The rule requires a minimum distance between any lettering on the jersey and the number. Also, the arc of the letters can't have the bottom of the letter lower than the top of the numbers. Ok, we probably don't want circular text on the jersey, but assessing a technical foul on the bench for this is just ridiculous. IHSA - get a better rule. Our schools have more important things to spend money on than replacing every sporting jersey they own.

Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday.

2009 State Farm Holiday Classic - Images by Alan Look

da 'birds go 7 and 0

2009-12-06T15:41:00.002-10:00

Knocking off the Chippewas of Central Michigan moved the Redbird basketball team to 7 - 0 for the non-conference season. Still to come are Niagra, Ohio, Utah and Grambling before the race for March starts at home against the Shockers of Wichita State the last week of December.

I haven't been able to make every game, but so far I would say the Chippewas have been the best challenge the 'birds have seen this season. It also got a bit physical with several players going over shoulders, hitting the floor hard and being rammed into the goal standards.

Newbies have certainly been a plus this year. The 'birds have a much deeper bench than I've seen in several seasons. The 6th man on the court - the crowd - also seem ready and able this season. I didn't get the attendance and it isn't listed on the stats, but I believe the number was pretty good considering a non-conference competition.

20091205 Central Michigan v Illinois State - Images by Alan Look

The Lady Redbirds continue to do well too. They stormed past the Huskies of Northern Illinois on Friday night erasing an early 8 point deficit to bring their record to 5 and 2. Loses were to Big Ten schools Iowa and Illinois. Look for them to make their presence felt once again in the Valley this season.

20091204 Northern Il v Illinois State - Images by Alan Look

Chicago Bears woes

2009-11-23T05:00:00.003-10:00

I started a rant on Facebook yesterday about the Bears. In the rant, I suggested it was time to Cut Cutler and Free Forte. I'll stand by that as in my view, both are disappointments.

I'd like to expand a bit too and play armchair GM for a bit... Really, doesn't everyone enjoy playing GM?

Lovie - you need to give back the defensive calling to the defensive coordinator. Your not doing such a good job. I know that your past lends that you are great at it. I have no doubt that your are/could be, but it appears that your mind has too many other things to do to handle that duty as well. Delegate!

Now on to the real question - how do we get the Bears to win a game (Lions games exempt - heck maybe we should includ the Lions. I'm not sure the Bears could beat them right now)without the help of Brian Urlacher.

Let's think outside the box - please try to follow along, this line of thinking is going to confuse a lot of people.

Who knows the offense better than anyone? Yes, the Offense Coordinator. So, let's have him analyze the opposing offense. Same with the Defense. After the analysis, let's swap play calling between the coordinators. Let the O guy call the D set ups. He knows how he would play the other sides offense, so he should be able to call the plays to defend against it. It works the same way for the D guy. He knows how he would defend the other offense, so if he's calling the O plays he can come up with something unexpected by the opposite side.

Special Teams - let's get over this Hester protectionism. Put Hester and Knox both back for kickoff and punt returns. They are both exceptional return guys. Hester is good at reciever, but returns are where he really excels. Exploit it!

Cutler - bench him until he decides that he wants to care and care enough to get excited. I don't care how much he is being paid. At this point paying him to warm the bench would send a great signal.

Forte - 2-4 yards a run don't cut it when your playing 2nd and 17. I like the new guy Bell. Mix them up more. Forte's running has become too predictible and complacent.

Well, that's about all the advice I'm allowed to give on my salary. See you next season Bears. This one hasn't any daylight left.

Redbird Basketball begins

2009-11-22T07:55:00.003-10:00

Well, for me anyway - Saturday was the 1st game. Yes, I know they played one already at Redbird. I was unable to attend. Seems like a lot of ticket holders didn't show up for the game against North Florida either. You missed out. I know, it's not conference season yet, but watching this team was truly special.

Defense seems to have been stepped up with the addition of some of the youth and transfers on this years squad. Watching Osiris, Dinma and Phillips are still fun. Dinma is still a hole filler underneath and Phillips is more confident out front. Osiris has stepped back up hit offensive attack (I thought it was a bit muted last season). The new guys make this a real treat. Johnson, Lewis, and especially Carmichael are filing in nicely. If you come to see nothing else, come to watch Carmichael. He's a blocker and he does it with quite a style.

20091121 North Florida v Illinois State - Images by Alan Look

Ridgeview goes winless, Heyworth to playoffs

2009-10-24T04:28:00.003-10:00

Well, the Ridgeview Mustangs ended the football season winless losing the final game at home to the Heyworth Hornets 62-38. The game was played in the rain and on a muddy field producing ground campaigns from each team and keep fans to a minimum. Those that did come saw a lot of courage and fortitude by players on both teams.

Mudbowl, then sunshine

2009-10-18T02:46:00.002-10:00

Friday night was a real mudbowl at Normal Community Ironmen game. The Iron ended up losing by 6 to the Danville Vikings, 12-6. I guess on the positive side, the rain had quit by game time. By the 3rd play of the game, I was left wondering why there were numbers on the jerseys. You couldn't see them.

20091016 Danville v NCHS - Images by Alan Look

By Saturday afternoon, the skies had lightened up and there was alternating clouds and sun for Illinois State Univerities Redbirds homecoming football game. They knocked out the Indiana State Sycamores. One just has to wonder when the Sycamores will win a game. I believe they are 1-51 since 2005. I don't want to know who they beat. My game ball goes to Bert Whigham who blocked a punt.

20091017 Indiana State v Illinois State - Images by Alan Look

Galena and the Mississippi Palisades

2009-10-15T14:31:00.003-10:00

My wife and I got away for a short few days and went to Galena. We'd both been either near or through the area before but hadn't stayed long. My most vivid memory was a day trip with my parents about 40 years ago to the Palisades and an over-night with my new bride about 28 years ago in nearby Dubuque Iowa.

Galena is of course the home town of our 18th president, Ulysses S. Grant. His home was not open the day we were there as it is closed on Monday and Tuesday of each week. We were able to walk around the grounds a bit and grab a few photos. Main Street and the riverfront area (both sides) have attractions. The old railroad terminal is down the hill from Grant's home on the south side as is Grant Park. Main Street - full of lots of small shops, restaurants, and Bed and Breakfasts are on the north side. There are levies and flood gates to protect the northside from flooding as the Galena River can grow quite large during melt-off and storm season.

We stayed at the Stoney Creek Inn, on the north edge of town along route 20. A very nice place to stay. The warmest hotel I've ever been in. We ran the AC everynight even though it was in the low 40's outside and I don't remember turning on the heat. We did run the fire place one morning. The decor is a wonderfun mix of rustic cabin and golf theme. Our only complaint was they just wiped the dishes we used (we had a suite with a kitchenette) instead of washing them or replacing them with fresh. Still, I'd rate this place a 4 out of 5. Off season and an AARP rate got us the room for about $150 a night. During the "season" it runs just over $300!

The Mississippi Palisades State Park is just north of Savannah. Maybe 30 miles south of Galena. It has several vistas overlooking the Mississippi River and Buffalo Lake as well as several walking trails.

Galena & NW Illinois - Images by Alan Look

See you on the sidelines...

Redbird Volleyball

2009-10-11T04:13:00.003-10:00

This weekend I decided to follow some more Redbird Volleyball. It was early September since I had seen the Redbirds play and The Bradley Braves and Northern Iowa Panthers were in town.

Friday night, a larger than I expected crowd filtered into Redbird Arena. Bradley is always a favorite since they are a mere 40 miles away making them a rival at any sport. Their volleyball team has had some challenges the last few years, this year being no exception. A quick scan of the roster shows a lot of their on court staff at 5'5" or less. Not that shorter people can't play great volleyball, but it does leave the front line a bit challenged. Still the Braves managed to at least show that they were on the court. The Redbirds took the match in 3 sets. Kasey Mollerus received an award before play started for breaking the Redbirds record for most digs. She truly is one of the best I've seen. Rarely is she faked out by an opponent or out of position. Congrats Kasey!

20091009 Bradley v Illinois State - Images by Alan Look

On Saturday, the annual Pack the Arena promotion filled the stands even more for the bout against the Panthers of Northern Iowa. The Panthers are undefeated in the Missouri Valley Conference and have only lost 2 matches all season. In fact, coming into the match against the Redbirds they had only lost 2 sets in Valley play. They lost their 3rd against the Redbirds and had 2 more challenging sets only taking the first one by any number at all.

Tigers scratched by Wildcats

2009-10-03T05:39:00.003-10:00

Well, the first really rainy night I've spent shooting football this season. Not really a downpour, more of a nuisance rain. The night went the way of the West Wildcats who left the Tigers with little more than a goose egg by the end with a score of 41-0. There were plenty of touchdowns and great runs, but my highlight of the night goes to the West kicker who put several kickoff out of the end zone and one of them through the uprights. What a trick. I haven't seen anyone at any level do that for a long long time. I'm sure the 15 mph wind didn't hurt, it was mostly at his back but was blowing a little left to right as well. At the other end of the field, he drove it to the 7 yard line.

Congrats to the Wildcats. Get ready, the Raiders approach.

20091002 Urbana v West - Images by Alan Look

A busy weekend

2009-09-30T03:41:00.007-10:00

The weekends have certainly been busy in Bloomington, Normal and McLean County with some classic matchups. Last weekend, Normal Community entertained Normal Community West on the gridiron. It never seems to matter who is ranked where when any of the intercity teams meet one of the others, this game was no different. Most gave NCHS Ironmen the nod, and they did eventually win over the Wildcats of NCWHS. The Cats fought had and kept the score tied till past the halfway point. Not the run away game that some expected.

20090925 NCWHS v NCHS - Images by Alan Look

On Saturday there was so much going on something had to be left out. The day started at intercity vollyball. Several good match ups with no clear winner. The torunament ended up with 3 teams 3 and 1. I came away thinking that Central Catholic had some of the best fundamentals, but the worst luck. They seemed to miss the critical poinst when needed the most.

Several galleries from the intercity matches. Go here: http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/alanlook/gallery-collection/2009-10-High-School-Sports/P0000I5WBN4XTGKs All my high school coverage for any sport this season will be on this page as well.

The afternoon was spent dumping cards and processing. I'm sorry to say that made me pass on Redbird v Bluejay volleyball. ISU did come out over Creighton 3 sets to 2 to take that match.

The evening capped the weekend with a night football game at Hancock Stadium. It was the Redbirds of Illinois State hosting the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State in a Missouri Valley Football Conference match up. The Jacks stumbled around in the first half but bounced past the 'Birds in the 2nd half. The first half highlight for the Redbirds was a pass interception by Chris Garrett that he returned for a touchdown.

20090926 South Dakota v Illnois State - Images by Alan Look

Ridgeveiw loses, Illinois State wins, Robinson and Collins bronzed

2009-09-20T04:48:00.005-10:00

What a weekend. I'm ready to sit back and enjoy someone else's work. NFL will be on later.

Friday night football took me to Colfax for the Mustangs hosting the Raiders from Iroquois West. It was a better game than the score showed. Each team started the game with no wins on the season. Ridgeview remains winless. One thing I guess I missed last season that I noticed this season is the lack of cheerleaders for Ridgeview football. Come one come all, let's get that tradition restarted. Colfax needs to fill the stands as well. The only downfall last Friday night was the aphids, but surely you can put up with those while supporting your team. Heck, they don't even sting!

Saturday, Illinois State honored 2 of the best that ever graced their sports program, Will Robinson and Doug Collins. If your too young to remember their story, check it out. Will was the first black head coach in any NCAA DIV 1 program. Doug of course is now a broadcaster, but he was also a 4 time All American, the #1 draft pick in the NBA, an NBA coach, and was ripped off in 1972 from what should have been a gold medal performance by the USA Olympic basketball team.

20090919 Robinson-Collins statue dedication - Images by Alan Look

Later that night ISU's Redbird football team beat Austin Peay 38-7. It wasn't a pretty game, plenty messy on both teams part but ISU was able to pull it out.

Now, you may have noticed that the Redbirds new uniforms, both home and away, are void of the players name. The scoop is that Coach Spack doesn't like names on uniforms. He prefers the Redbird on the fron and the back so that the player plays for the team on the front and the team on the back. Opposed to the team on the front and the player on the back? Sorry Coach, we disagree. The purpose for the name on the back is for fan recognition of each player without having to memorize all the numbers. If your players are using it for a vanity high, well nothing we can do about that. We vote for putting the players names on the back.

20090919 Austin Peay v Illinois St - Images by Alan Look

Southern Illinois Edwardsville Cougars nipped by Redbirds

2009-09-16T07:57:00.003-10:00

Last night was more volleyball. The Cougars of SIU-E were sent packing in 3 sets by the local ISU Redbirds. Some of the action is captured below.

20090915 SIU-E v Illinois State - Images by Alan Look

Decatur McArthur and Normal West - missed opportunities

2009-09-12T10:59:00.002-10:00

20090911 Decatur MacArthur v Normal West - Images by Alan Look

Seems like I get to shoot this match up every year, same this season. Shooting all the time, it's often hard to get a real feel for the game. This one was no different, but I did get a sense of lots of missed opportunities for each team. The offense on each side got over 30 points, and the defense of the wildcats seemed to have a lot of highlight, but they were also spotty enough to let the Generals past them one too many times as the Generals came out on top this game.

Friday Night half lights

2009-09-05T07:34:00.003-10:00

Friday night the action at Hancock began at 4pm with intercity foes Uhigh and Bloomington Central Catholic at odds on the gridiron. The Saints of CCHS came out on top at the end of the 4 quarters 33-7. The defense of the Pioneers of UHS looked good getting a number of sacks, stops and blocked passes but they just couldn't outlast the toughness of the Saints.

Then it was on to the half of Intercity played under the lights, the Normal Community Ironmen matching up with the Raiders of Bloomington High. The Iron heated up and struck first high stepping into the north endzone and following up with a PAT. In the 2nd half, the Raiders botched a field goal attempt by not getting the ball down. THe handler picked it up and the Raider scored a TD instead. The score at the end was 21-14.

Between games the athletic directors awarded a participation plaque to Sandy Adams of YouNameItSports.

A big thanks to the weather Gods, temp and sky were wonderful.

20090904 Intercity Football - Images by Alan Look

Redbird Volleyball Classic

2009-08-30T08:42:00.005-10:00

Volleyball season has started. I spent most of my time this weekend shooting the Redbird Classic - a 3 session (6 matches) affair between the Golden Eagles of Oral Roberts, the Runnin' Bulldogs of Gardner Webb, the Mavericks of University of Texas - Arlington, and the host school Redbirds of Illinois State. It's always difficult for me to tell who exactly won, especially this year since I only made it to the Friday and Saturday evening Redbird games. Fridays was a little lopsided with the Redbirds sweeping the Runnin' Bulldogs in 3 sets and in fairly handy fashion. The Saturday afternoon game I heard most online and the Redbirds and Mavericks went 4 sets and the Redbirds came away on top. Saturday evening the 'birds fell to the Golden Eagles in 4 sets. The birds took the 1st set on Saturday evening before falling flat on their feet the last 3, often passing on in bound balls they thought were out thus giving the points to the GE's.

2009 Redbird Volleyball Classic - Images by Alan Look

LeBron makes United Way stop

2009-08-10T14:25:00.004-10:00

LeBron James stopped at the Corporate Headquarters of State Farm Insurance today for a stop on his United Way tour. Kids from one of the local community centers were there to shoot some hoops with him. The 4 story atrium was a packed house with a make shift basketball court taped off on the floors. Baskets were compliments of a local university.

No, I didn't switch from still images to video, but I am expanding! Be kind, I don't have any video software editing capabilities, this is the raw stuff.

LeBron at State Farm for United Way - Images by Alan Look

Ahh August - the savior month of summer

2009-08-02T04:26:00.003-10:00

August a month that is normally one of the most hated in central Illinois for it's terribly hot and humid weather has finally arrived. But wait! There is some redeeming qualities for the month. School starts. After the hustle and bustle the first 2 weeks, it's off to the books and classrooms for the anxious and sometimes frustrating tots, leaving the stay at home moms time to meet at the local coffee shops to muse about the upcoming school year, summers vacation, and the start of the holiday season (maybe a little early to mention that)without the whining and crying of all the teens and little ones. For all the working class, it's time to concentrate on those upcoming projects and other items that have been neglected during the summer when family vacations, a few rounds of golf or tennis matches were sprinkled in between the days taken off for home repairs and lawn work.

My student is back to college. It's been good to have him home, but it's always good to get him off to school. So many things operate differently with him either here or away.

August is also the time for FOOTBALL to start. Everyone is back to training, from the peewee to major leagues. The first Pro game of the year is the Hall of Fame game at Fawcett Stadium on August 9th! A short week away. I've already got my reservation in on the tv viewing list. Pre-Season starts with a host of games the following Thursday evening - August 13th. Looks like ESPN will be televising the Arizona @ Pittsburg game that night. I wonder what life after Kornheiser will be like :)

As has been the norm the last decade or so, I'll be on the sidelines at local high school Friday night under the lights and also on the sidelines during many Illinois State Redbird and Illinois Wesleyan Titan games this season. The highlight appears to be a game between the Redbirds and the Illini at Memorial Stadium in early September.

Let's not forget Volleyball. It's probably my favorite sport to shoot and also one of the most difficult. It can also be one of the most dangerous. In all my years of shooting sports, I've been hit the hardest at a volleyball match. That ball really travels faster than one thinks. You don't want to take one in the forehead. It will just about knock you out and you will see stars for several hours. I speak from experience.

Give me a holler if you see me on the sidelines or court!

Present and Past Professional Athletes - Images by Alan Look

How to go out of business in a bad economy

2009-07-25T14:21:00.002-10:00

In today's economy it really amazes me how little people pay attention to the details that keep one in business.

On Thursday, I dropped off my pickup truck at a local tire shop with instructions to do a front end alignment and rotate and balance all the tires. I have to say that when I called for an appointment on Wednesday I was impressed when they said they could get it in the next day. I don't think that had ever happened to me before.

When I picked it up on Thursday evening, I paid the bill, just short of $100 and was told that it was good I had come in as the alignment was so far out that it was almost not recordable. Having driven vehicles for 35 years, worked in 3 dealerships and a couple of other automotive oriented establishments, I found that kind of odd because the vehicle was still tracking almost dead on when driving and removing the hands from the wheel for a short time. But, I was happy and in a bit of a hurry so I didn't question it.

On Friday, I finally got around to looking at the work. The original reason I took it in was because the front left tire was wearing more than the others and especially on the outer most part of the tread. Well, the left front was still the tire that had that type of wear. I thought to myself, they forgot to rotate them I'll just get it myself in the morning. Even though I'd paid them $40 to do the rotate and balance I figured it would just be easier to do it myself.

On Saturday after lunch, I gathered up the jack, stands, and four way wrench and got to it. I popped the caps, loosened the lugs, jacked up the left side and proceeded to remove the lugs. I did the front first without hassle. The rear however was frozen to the axle hub confirming my suspicion that they hadn't been rotated. Now I was wondering if they had even been balanced since they would have had to remove them to get them on the balance machine. Then I noticed that the break dust was still evenly distributed except what I had just disturbed. I went back to the front tire that I'd already removed and looked at the back. The weights on the front and the back hadn't been removed. They hadn't balanced that tire. I moved to the right side and jacked up the front and again, the wheel came off without incident. The weights and dust were the same as the left front. This wheel hadn't been balanced either. At this point, I didn't even fool with the right rear but I was now wondering if they had even done the alignment that was supposed to be so far out that it was almost off the scale.

Inspecting the tie rod ends and the steering hardware I noticed that there were no shining threads. They were all still full of rust. Looking at the crown nuts and cotter keys, they were also still all rusty and no signs of any wrench ever touching them. My blood pressure is starting to rise.

Grabbing the phone I call the shop and inquire of the man that answered. He was all alone and would call me back. A little later he truly did call me telling me that he had found the alignment sheet and that my truck was already dead on so they did not alignment. But it was supposedly so far off that it almost didn't register? I'm confused, but restate my position that they still hadn't done the balance and rotate. To top it off, when I put everything back together I discovered a nail in my right rear! What a day. Had they just took off the tires to balance them; they would surely have found the nail and got a few extra bucks for fixing a nail hole.

In this day, age and economy there is just not much of an excuse to give this bad a service. After all they were the ones that told me they had the time to do it that day. I know that everyone makes mistakes, but this is on top of the same place taking 3 times to fix the same flat on my wife's car last fall. It seems that the flat was the fault of a corroded aluminum rim. Maybe so the first time, but what about the other two - I took it to them to fix it, couldn't they have fixed the corroded rim one of the first 2 times?

I get my money back on Tuesday.

Did I mention that the Thunderbird below is for sale? Contact me at alook@alanlook.com if you are serious.

2002 Thunderbird - Images by Alan Look

There is always something new

2009-07-16T04:07:00.003-10:00

I've lived within 20 miles of Bloomington Normal since I was 3 and in Central Illinois all my 50 years. Seems like there is always something new to see.

Growing up I remember seeing the hawks, vultures and other raptors when driving through the country. By the time I was in my late teens, DDT had cut their numbers to the point that they were a rare sight. Eagle in Illinois during that period were limited to the northwest edge of the state along the Mississippi River. Today, the raptors are back and I almost always see one a week somewhere - even when I don't get out of town. Eagles are as close as Starved Rock State Park or the Illinois River at Peoria and Pekin. Once in a while one will even spend time at one our our county parks.

Yesterday it was a moth that appeared on the brick siding of my home. Turned out to be a female Imperial. What a beautiful creature. It hung there for a few hours, then disappeared as mysteriously as it had come.

Imperials - Images by Alan Look

Lauren Kellar participates in the IBCA All Star Game

2009-06-22T07:28:00.005-10:00

On Saturday (June 20), the Kellars of Ridgeview got together at what may have been their last family basketball event. Rodney, Teri, Michael, and Lauren have been a basketball family for a long time. Rodney is the 23 year coach of the Ridgeview Mustangs. Teri, his wife plays many roles at the school in addition to a full time position at a local corporation and mom to Michael and Lauren. Michael graduated about 4 years ago and has one semester of student teaching left before getting his degree. That student teaching will take place at Ridgeview Jr. High. Michael has also played baseball during college. He pitches. While attending Ridgeview, Michael was a multi sport student playing basketball and baseball. He's currently being scouted for some major league and independent leagues to continue with the small round ball.

Lauren just graduated from Ridgeview. While there, she was also a multi sport athlete. She practically grew up on the basketball coach, often seen after games playing on the court while waiting for mom and dad to finish up duties before heading home. She also made a place for herself in center field during softball season. Well, softball it is. She has accepted a spot in the outfield for the Illinois State University Redbird softball team beginning next season.

I'm sure to see Rodney and Teri at more Mustang basketball, but it looks like the foursome is also looking to get some sun and dust in their eyes listening to the ting and thunk of the aluminum and maple bats. Best wishes to all.

20090620 Girls IBCA - Images by Alan Look

Down time project

2009-06-16T06:36:00.005-10:00

Well, the late spring and summer are generally down time for sports action photography in Bloomington Normal, at least for me. In late June, I normally cover the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All Star games, but other than that I get to work on personal projects. Those could be anything from home repairs, car updates to photo shoots.

One photo project I work on when I get time and some good weather and light is my collection of landmarks in the Bloomington Normal area. See the slideshow below. Recently added were some shots from downtown. The old McLean County Courthouse, now the Mclean County Museum of History and the State Farm Downtown building and a few others in that vicinity were my recent takes. Also some stitched panoramics of Miller Park on Bloomington's west side.

Downtown is of real interest. It's been dying an agonizing death for years. I'm sure there are people that have moved in to town a dozen years ago that have never been down there!. The old buildings have some real character and many have very interesting personalities and features. I'll try to get some more before the down time is over.

Bloomington - Normal Sites - Images by Alan Look

Hot air create energy

2009-06-09T02:49:00.002-10:00

Just east of Bloomington Normal is the Twin Grove Wind Farm. This electricty producing farm is the largest in the nation and has just started the paces of getting larger. It's also the subject of many people with cameras. I don't go out there very often that I don't run into someone else stopped along side on of the blacktops taking photos.

I first went out there a few years back when they were still installing the turbines. they basically are built using 3 components - 3 prop blades, the turbine housing and a multi-part stand. All is trucked in from a rail yard. The trucks are so long that they had to build very large corners on all the roads so the trucks wouldn't be dragging the back end through the ditch.

There are so many mills in this field it's really hard to figure out what to shoot and also pretty hard to not get at least one good shot if you stick around for a hour or so. Last night, there were some scattered clouds and I got there a couple hours before sundown. The light wasn't awesome but was just getting there. Use of a gradient neutral density filter did help with bluing up the sky.

Twin Grove Wind Farm - Images by Alan Look

George Strait & Big Z

2009-05-28T06:44:00.004-10:00

Yesterday (May 27) was one of those weird days. I spent a couple of hours in the dental chair getting a tooth ready for a crown. Normally I would say that was a bad thing, but in this case it gave me a rare opportunity to see a day time Cubs game. Yes, the dentist has a TV within viewing site of the chair. Carlos Zambrano (Big Z) was attempting his 100th career win for the 2nd time. No, he didn't get it - he got tossed in the top of the 7th instead, leaving the game with a 2 - 2 tie agains the Pirates. Here's the deal: The Pirates had one on third. Carlos threw a wild pitch which sent Giovanni Soto chasing. Z covered the plate, placing his right foot between the plate and the base runner. Soto corralled the ball and tossed it to Z, who applied the tag as the player bellf-flopped a slide in. The camera angle and zoom weren't sufficient for me to tell if the runner was safe or out. The umpire called him safe setting off Z. Now for the real tricky part. Z got tossed for making contact with the ump. I watched the replay at least 3 times and the ump leaned his left shoulder the way of Z. If he didn't touch Z, he was within a whisker. Z reacted and leaned in as well. The rest is history and I'll have to let the MLB sort it all out. The real loser of the whole altercation was the Gatorade drink dispenser in the Cubs dugout which had just been rebuilt after being stuck by an ill tempered Dempster a day or two earlier. Dempster used his left fist on the machine, Zambrano may have put it out of it's short lived life using a bat on it in lieu of his body. Sure beat an episode of Rachel Ray, which the dental assistant had tuned the TV to. Good thing my dentist is a Cubs fan!

George (King George) Strait. What a fitting title and tribute, Artist of the Decade. Great interpretations and performances all around by the artist performing his songs. My special accolades go to Taylor Swift sining Run and to Jamie Foxx for his redition of You Look So Good In Love. I didn't even know Jamie was a singer. I think he may have stole the whole show.

By the way, if you don't have the Troubador album by George you are really missing out.

http://www.alanlook.com/

Unofficial start of SUMMER!

2009-05-21T08:46:00.003-10:00

Tomorrow is the Friday before Memorial Day. Memorial Day was originally created to pay tribute to and remember those who put their lives on the line so we can all enjoy the freedoms we have in the United States of America. Let's all stop to remember that on Monday.

Memorial Day in the last generation or two has become more of the unoffical start of summer - 3 weeks shy of the summer solstice which really makes that beginning. The Friday before, brings lots of people out after the long winter and dreary wet spring to begin that early start to summer even earlier.

The beginning of summer also marks the start of camping, hiking, climbing, barbque, vacation and a host of other "seasons" we hold precious in the times of good and warm weather. Many of those activities take us to the many state and national parks for picnics and day activities with family and friend - in addition to those listed above.

Starved Rock State Park in Illinois is about an hour to the north of my residence. I don't get there as often as I like. A couple of years ago, my wife and I celebrated our anniversary there and took a hike in the morning after staying a night at their popular lodge. We walked back to the bottom of the falls in St. Louis Canyon. A short hike of a little over a mile each way. Near the falls, I found a large sandstone rock - about as large in diameter as a large dining room table and about 3 inches high. It was a pretty cool rock and looked like a good place to lean to take a short rest. As I walked over to it I became aware of some etchings in the rock. Yes, it had been graffitied with peoples initials. I was heartbroken. Our parks are for everyone and are a pretty fragile part of our eco system. Please if you visit these places leave them better than you found them. The rock is pictured in the gallery below.

The outdoor code is a good thing to read and remember. Have your kids read and remember it too.

Outdoor Code (created by the Boy Scouts of America:
As an American, I will do my best to -

Be clean in my outdoor manners.
I will treat the outdoors as a heritage.
I will take care of it for myself and others
I will keep my trash and garbage out of lakes, streams, fields, woods, and roadways.
Be careful with fire.
I will prevent wildfire.
I will build my fires only where they are appropriate.
When I have finished using a fire, I will make sure it is cold out.
I will leave a clean fire ring, or remove all evidence of my fire.
Be considerate in the outdoors.
I will treat public and private property with respect.
I will use low-impact methods of hiking and camping.
and

Be conservation minded
I will learn how to practice good conservation of soil, waters, forests, minerals, grasslands, wildlife, and energy.
I will urge others to do the same.

Leave no Trace principles are also good to follow - http://www.lnt.org/

Enjoy my short gallery of park images and enjoy your summer!

National and State Parks - Images by Alan Look

Yet another Eagle Scout

2009-05-17T14:39:00.003-10:00

As much as I love to be out taking pictures, it is always more special when you are shooting something you care about or believe in. Today was one of those times. I was blessed with an invitation to another Troop 3 Eagle Court of Honor. This time around it was for #144 of Troop 3 - Wesley Humphrey.

I've been fortunate to have been hanging around Troop 3 since my son joined the troop in 2003 (or so). He is #142. Troop 3 has been Chartered since 1919 and is one of the longest running troops in Central Illinois.

The first time I remember meeting Wesley was in the parking lot getting ready to go on a camping trip. Wesley was still a Webelos scout and was attending the campout as a visitor. Troop 3 holds one of these campouts every year so that Webelos and their parents can attend and see if they would like to join Troop 3 after crossover. Wesley and his dad - Chuck - both attended. I think we went cabin camping (it was December) at an old scout camp on the outskirts of Peoria.

In the spring after, the Humphrey's became members of Troop 3. Chuck later became a scoutmaster for a year or two.

Wesley progressed through the ranks, all the while keeping active in school, working as a paper boy (to pay his way to Japan) and doing other fun things boys like to do. Wesley, did well and today was rewarded. Wesley is also a staff member this year at the Youth Leadership Training at the scout camp.

Congrats to Wesley and the rest of the Humphrey household!

20090517 Wesley Humphrey - Eagle Scout - Images by Alan Look

Baseball, Rain and Wind and Boy Scouts

2009-04-27T05:18:00.002-10:00

Baseball in the spring seem tenuous at best. It's been raining all spring. Between my day job and all the weather, it has been pretty hard to get out to any baseball or softball games. Well, I finally made one on Saturday morning. The rain came early dumping about a quarter of an inch on the Twin Cities. The games originally scheduled for 10 am, got started around 11. I knew they would be late so I didn't even arrive at the field until about 10 minutes till 11. The games were at Normal Community West (NCWHS), a double header between the Green Wave of Mattoon and the Wildcats of Normal West. It was a bit of a treat in seeing a pitcher from West that normally doesn't pitch a lot. Blake Brown, a Missouri recruit was on the mound and pitched a wonderful 5 and 2/3's innings. He walked away with the win with some great hitting and base running of his own and a lot of team support.

Now, the rain - I'm really glad we had that 1.4 inch. It wet the field down and with a 40 mile an hour breeze, it was needed. The dust would have been 1930's era had it not been for the rain. Holding the 300 2.8 on a stick attached to the IIN was a real challenge. The first baseline was getting the wind unrestricted, behind the plate was worse. I did find one vestige of relief between home and 3rd base using the dugout as a shield.

Be sure to check out Blake and his team mates

20090425 Mattoon Green Wave v Normal West Wildcats - Images by Alan Look

Boy Scouts - It's no secret that I'm a Boy Scout supporter. Fact is, I owe my photographic interest to Boy Scouting. On Sunday afternoon I had the honor of attending and photographing Bloomington's Second Presbyterian Church's chartered Troop 3 for an Eagle Scout presentation. Benjamin T. Freimann earn the rank of Eagle and was awarded the medal and right to be forever an Eagle Scout at a ceremony held at Calvary United Methodist Church in Normal. Congrats Ben and best wishes on everything you strive for in the future.

20090426 Ben Freimann Eagle Court of Honor - Images by Alan Look

Be sure to continue and check out all the other images at http://www.alanlook.com/

Macrolite, Taylor Swift and more...

2009-04-18T13:45:00.001-10:00

It's not a very pretty device, but it does get the light where you need it when taking a macro shot. For less than $40, a mere 1/10th of what you would spend on any type of macro light from a large manufacture, you could have this one. It's to simple a 5th grader could make one. Be sure to check it out if you like to make your own accessories and take macro shots. It's at http://www.alanlook.com/gear along with the other contraptions I've concocted. They aren't all pretty, but the do work and cost less than manufactured units.

I don't generally talk about my dreams. I'm not a person that really takes a lot of stock in them. The other night I had a dream that ended up with me at a Taylor Swift concert. (Get your mind out of the gutter). Funny the evening started out with me at the Shirk Center shooting some kind of event. As I was leaving, I saw the Tri-Valley roller derby team on the track in Wilder Field. Strange, roller derby isn't a high school sport. Well, since I had my gear I thought I would get a few shots. As I got into the field, the event switched from roller derby to a Taylor Swift concert. It was now all Romeo and White Horses. Standing in the pit, minding my own business taking in the music and photos of Swift for about 3 songs I was approached by a burly guy in a yellow shirt. Event Security I guess the 3 songs I was allowed to photograph was over. Looking over my shoulder as I left were 6 thousand fans with point and shoots taking photo upon photo. Why didn't I think to bring a $100 camera instead of $10,000 worth of gear? Thank goodness I woke up.

www.alanlook.com

Madden retires from the booth

2009-04-16T05:57:00.000-10:00

I'm speechless. the AP this morning reported that Football Hall of Famer John Madden is retiring from the broadcast booth. Sunday night football won't be the same. John is 73 and has a list of credentials too long to mention. Needless to say, he was one of the few broadcasters last season to really respect and listen to.

John, we'll miss you but remember the chalk drawings and lessons you taught.

On par at the Masters

2009-04-09T07:00:00.000-10:00

This morning I wast thumbing through the ever decreasing pages in the weekly newspaper I get and found an article about the Masters Golf Tournament that plays this weekend. It seems that all the players are complaining the course is too tough. Too tough? That should make it more challenging for them No more expecting to break par on every hole. I kind of like it. I occasionally take a heavy bag of 14 clubs to the manicured grass at some of the local places. What I do isn't considered golf, but it entertaining and does one good to get out in the open air away from the office and relax. It would really do wonders for those of us who shoot in the 90's or 100's to see the pro's look a little more human, have to reconsider their strategy from each tee, and really have to work for 4 rounds to take home that chump change. (yes, I expect many who read this figure I just don't know what I'm talking about.

Let's compare to baseball. The long ball used to be the exception. Now it's the norm for winning a game. That alone takes out much of the risk taking that used to occur as it did in the 60's and 70's. Base stealing was an art and risk back then. Now they just stand on base till someone knocks the leather orb into next week. It makes for a very boring game. Baseball like golf could use a bit of over hauling to make it more fun for the fans and more competitive for the players. Move the fence back or build it higher. It's worked for the Masters. They lengthen the course. Tighten up the strike zone. Let's see some real control from those kamillion dollar a game pitchers. It worked for the Masters - they made smaller tee boxes so the course couldn't be overly shortened.

I'm not saying lets to away with all those ooo's and ahh's. Let's just make them more special.

End or Beginning? and What's with Indiana and Basketball!

2009-03-31T07:49:00.001-10:00

In the past week, I've had the pleasure of covering the Illinois State Lady Redbirds play 2 home games in the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). The Redbirds were honored to host both on Doug Collins Court in Redbird Arena. The first, a sweet 16 game against Marquette came down to the wire with Kristi Cirone sinking 2 free throws with 9 seconds left to put the Redbirds ahead by one point. A buzzer launched shot from the baseline missed, rimming out the game and season for the Golden Eagles.

Following that Thursday night game was a Sunday 2:05 game against none other than the Hoosiers of Indiana. Wow, is about all I can say for that game. The 3600+ in attendance were rowdy and made as much noise as a crowd 3 times the size. Why didn't I put in my ear plugs, I'll never know. On the floor, the passion from each team to continue on to the final 4 was evident. It was a pretty bang up game with girls hitting the floor on almost every up and down. The officiating? Well, it’s always difficult to figure out especially while holding the camera and shooting. One doesn't always see everything that happens - which from a photog perspective is good. If you see it, you missed it! At one point, and I have to admit, I didn't see the whole thing, the coach from Indiana had me frozen. Had she actually done it, I'd have missed it. Miffed about a call - or lack of one - she got really irritated and went down towards the end of the bench and grabbed a chair. I thought it was going to be Bobby Knight all over again. What is it about Indiana coaches, basketball, and chairs?

I'm not sure if the Redbirds will make it to the finals or win the WNIT, but when their year is over, so is the college career of Kristi Cirone. It will be hard to replace 30 points a game. It's been great to watch, follow and document her days on floor at Redbird Arena. I can't imagine that sometime in the near future, we will see #10 retired and hoisted to the rafters. She will be in some very elite company. It does beg to ask the question, what about next year? If you were at the game against Indiana you have the same hopes that I do. Kristi was on and off the floor as were all the uniformed underclassmen. All performed and many of the younger gals stepped up. Nicolle Lewis, a junior was the leading points getter with 13 for the 'Birds and grabbed 13 boards to boot. We saw Amanda Clifton take point and Emily Hanley mix it up.

Spread the Red. and be sure to look at the photos on http://www.alanlook.com/. Reprints are available

On the cover

2009-03-23T04:49:00.000-10:00

One question staff phtograpers always ask me is why I shoot both teams. Aren't you on assignment to shoot a particular team? Well, yes I am. But, being a freelancer and keeping your copyright - something that staff shooters can't do - means that there are always other opportunities to market your work. So, shooting one team can also mean shooting the defensive end. It can also mean an additional payday.

Last Wednesday I arrived home to find the March 23rd March Madness edition of Sports Illustrated in my mailbox. This edition has a cover comprised of a photo of a player from each of the college teams that make it to the NCAA tournament. I immediately got out my magnifying glass and found 2 teams that I had shot. After looking at them and looking through my archive I realized that both those images were my shots. Wow! I've been inside Sports Illustrated with a few of my automotive images and also in SI for kids a few times, but never on the cover. So the first time on the cover I get a 2fer. Sometimes it pays to be a freelancer.

The WJBC area all-star games are tonight. I'm amazed that there is not one player from the 3rd in state Ridgeview Lady Mustangs on the roster. What gives?

High School Basketball done, Indoor football begins

2009-03-13T10:01:00.000-10:00

Well, the high school sports season is coming to a close for the season for me. Specializing in football, volleyball and basketball generally leaves me to special projects and household chores by the middle of March. Sure, I'll do an occasional softball or baseball game but the real busy season for me has concluded.

Fertilizer, paint, and a circular saw are certainly in my near future. Most likely a wash mitt and a chamois as well.

Thinking of special projects, I may just begin on one that I've wanted to do for a few years. I like to build things. If you look at my website - http://www.alanlook.com/ - you can see the floor mount and the flash bracket that I've made. I've also dabbled a bit with some flash diffusers and I'm also working on a bandalero style camera strap similar to the R strap by BlackRapids. Most of my creations stem from need. The one on my mind right now is far from needs based. Large format has always been too expensive of an endeavor for me to try. Kits are available to assemble one that works for a fraction of the cost. Yes, film may seem like a regression to many, but it still kindles a small flame when I think about using it with large format.

Don't forget to stop my my website and view all the latest images from Illinois State University, Normal Community High School, Normal Community West High School, University High School, Ridgeview High School, Illinois Wesleyan University Athletics and their opponents. Also check out the stock images and images of some of my peers in my Virtual Agency - Blue Truck Imaging. That link and others are available on my website - http://www.alanlook.com/