What a great show! And an awesome experience for our children. Bravo to the Missoula Children's Theater directors, the wonderful cast of young people, the parents and volunteers and to the sponsor: Muskego Performing Art Council. Bravo!

Here's a collage we made for the Directors as a Thank You gift. Enjoy it and then click on it to go to the gallery. This week we'll be creating the memory book of the performance!

One more show ski nationals under our belt marks the coming end of the 2008 show ski season. It's probably a good thing, as this morning's air temperature at the Lake Wazeecha tournament site in Wisconsin Rapids was only 44 degrees! More than one competitor awaited their next act while wet and shivering.

Again this year we were the official photographers at the Indmar Marine Engines Division I Show Ski National Championships. Originally destined to be held at the Rock Aqua Jays site in Janesville, the floods that occurred earlier this year forced a last minute move to Wisconsin Rapids. The Rock Aqua Jays teamed up with the Wisconsin Rapids Aqua Skiers to host a very successful event which featured skiers vying for individual national titles as well as 14 teams competing to be tops in the nation.

Our sincere thanks and congratulations go out to each competitor, team, judge and official ... this was a great event!

This is the height of the graduation photo season in our studio, so we will balance those sessions with our processing and posting, and proceed as quickly as we can! We'll be publishing the photos in the same order as performed:

• Swivel - Published 8/10/2008
  
• Doubles - Published 8/10/2008
  
• Team Jump - Published 8/10/2008
• Webfooters - Published 8/11/2008
• Chippewa Lake - Published 8/11/2008
  
• Mad City - Published 8/12/2008
  
• Muskego Water Bugs - Published 8/12/2008
  
• Midwest Ski Otters - Published 8/13/2008
  
• Badgerland - Published 8/13/2008
  
• Lake City Skiers - Published 8/13/2008
  
• Five Seasons - Published 8/13/2008
  
• Backwater Gamblers - Published 8/14/2008
  
• Wonder Lake - Published 8/14/2008
  
• Rock Aqua Jays - Published 8/14/2008
  
• Little Crow - Published 8/14/2008
  
• Waterhawks - Published 8/14/2008
  
• Beaverland Must-Skis - Published 8/14/2008
  

Check out the possibilities!

While we're taking photos all this weekend, Swivel Girl will be selling their apparel and sharing their spirited passion for show skiing. Our line of photo bags will be included in their booth so stop by and take a look. There are show specials and extra discounts on prints available only there!

It was our privilege and pleasure to photograph D2 Show Ski Nationals in Warsaw IN last weekend. As we usually do, we printed and hung a banner with photos of many of the competing teams. This year's banner was requested by nearly a dozen of the attendees.  If you're interested in a copy (exact) we will print more. Cost through 9/15 is $60 (a 30% discount). The copy has to be exact (no substitutions) to receive this special price. Custom banners are available and priced by their size. This one is 24"W x 60"H.


The banner is printed onto a durable Polypropylene banner material and then coated for scratch and UV protection. Hung indoors out of direct sunlight it will last years. Outdoors it will last 3-6 months depending on conditions.

To place your order please email your request. Include your phone number and mailing address. We'll call you to make arrangements for payment. If you call (262.679.7900) in your order, we may not be available so please leave the same information (as for an email order) on our voice mail and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Once again this year we were invited to be the official photographers at the eighth annual Indmar Marine Engines Division II Show Ski National Championships which were held Saturday and Sunday in Warsaw, Ind. Hosted by the Lake City Skiers, the tournament featured six teams competing for the Division II show ski national title, as well as many contenders for individual titles.

This is the height of the graduation photo season in our studio, so we will balance those sessions with our processing and posting, and proceed as quickly as we can! We'll be publishing the photos in the following order:

• Swivel - Published 8/3/2008
  
• Doubles - Published 8/3/2008
• Team Jump - Published 8/3/2008
• Individual Awards - Published 8/3/2008
  
• Lake St. Louis Arch Rivals - Published 8/3/2008
  
• Hartwick Huskies - Published 8/3/2008
  
• Silver Lake Ski Club - Published 8/4/2008
  
• Spray Masters - Published 8/4/2008
  
• Grand City Show Skiers - Published 8/4/2008
  
• Ski Broncs Water Ski Show Team - Published 8/4/2008
  
• Team Awards - Published 8/4/2008

Once again this year we were invited to photograph the Wisconsin State 3-Event Tournament. What a great weekend of skiing. The weather was awesome and the skiers great company - what could be better?!

This is the height of the graduation photo season in our studio, so we will balance those sessions with our processing and posting, and proceed as quickly as we can! We'll be publishing the photos in the following order:

• Men's Slalom - Published 7/27/2008
  
• Boy's Slalom - Published 7/27/2008
• Woman's Slalom - Published 7/27/2008
• Girl's Slalom - Published 7/27/2008
• Male Trick - Published 7/29/2008
  
• Female Trick - Published 7/29/2008
• Male Jump - Published 7/30/2008
  
• Female Jump - Published 7/30/2008
  
• Jim Babcock Jump - Published 7/28/2008

Due to a big project, the only progress made on the 28th was Jim's Jump. After a few years of not jumping, our exalted Safety Director landed a jump and made us all proud! So proud, that I had to publish his effort tonight. Way to go Jim!!!

It's been weeks since I've been able to blog about anything other than water skiing. While I love the sport and more so its participants, I'm really in love with my portrait work. It is "graduate season" so we've seen several since I last wrote and we had the added treat to meet 3 and a half month old Shae. Here are a selection of the collage samples that I created for each of them. Enjoy!

The Wisconsin Rapids Aqua Skiers and tournament director Maggie Muleski did an outstanding job of hosting this (the 42nd annual) event. We are grateful to have been invited and welcomed to the competition. The skiing was amazing, the stage shows entertaining and most of all the people - skiers, boat drivers, dock and sound crews, announcers, and supporters - were a delight! We captured images of it all, so stop back often to see what's been published so far.

Today Rachael and her family spent a couple of hours with us creatig her Senior Portraits. She aspires to be an elementary art teacher and even brought a beautiful self-portrait that she painted last fall. I really enjoyed her energy!

I've known Kathy for nearly 2 years. She's an awesome person and a great business woman. Having 3 brothers, parents in Madison and all busy families and lives, it has been difficult to get everyone together for a portrait. Today, finally, they were all in our studio. They are a lively bunch and the session was fun. Thanks Kathy and family for a wonderful morning!

This montage may be a bit more unusual than the adults will appreciate, however, the "boys" will probably appreciate it....