Feeling Blessed!
February 26, 2016
It has been a bit of time from the last entry! The time between entries has been full of up’s and down’s, but then what would life be without up’s and down’s, it wouldn’t be life!!
Not going to bother you with the down’s but with the up’s! The one up that came across came today in the form of an article about twin sisters and a coach who happen to be at Texas State University. As those that follow my entries know I have a association with the school and it’s awesome softball program!! My association is not official but one of admiration for the program and the coach’s and athlete’s including parents of the program. What started as just taking a few photos has become a high point in capturing “Dreams Becoming Reality on the Field”! The prime motivation is to preserve those awesome efforts put forth on the field and to capture the smiles, frowns, tears and sweat!
Today I saw and read an article about two of the athlete’s and a coach. (click the link for the full article or copy and paste:
As I was reading the article, I noticed that the accompanying images in the article are moments captured through my lens!! I am proud to have them used in the article to help illustrate the heart and hustle of these sisters (Randi and Sara) and their coach (Cat).
When you see the sisters on the field they faces are filled with determination and fierce focus as well as their coach who is so well know in the world of softball across the world that if you mention the first name “Cat” everyone knows who your talking about!! On the other side of these fierce focused faces are the faces with free heart warming smiles and laughs that can bring sunshine into the darkest of days!!!
I am “Blessed” in many ways, but one of the greatest is that I know these three women and many more through the “Field Where Dreams Become Real!” The photographer in me is also Blessed to have three images displayed on ESPNW accompanying the well written article. Blessed to call these gifted women friends. I always wish them and all the women I have met during my travels at The “Field” the very best in all they do “On and Off” the “Field” wherever they go and whatever they do, today, tomorrow and forever!! That’s why I feel “Blessed”!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sara
Randi
The coach and the twins
The ole guy and a “Life’s Treasure”!
Capturing Moments
February 15, 2016
Over the years I have captured many moments, split seconds of time frozen for all to see, witness to a fraction of a second!
Most of the moments captured bring a smile to the heart, mine and others. The athletes, coach’s, family and friends! Sometimes I also capture moments that show the agony, the pain of a moment! I don’t look for those moments, but sometimes they must be shown, for in that moment there is caring, kindness and hope!
So if the moments captured and shared here bring a smile to your face and heart then I have done a job. If the moment makes you feel concern and makes you hope that it all turned out alright, then I have done a job!
Over the weekend I again witnessed moments of “Victory” and moments of “Agony”, but most of all I witnessed some awesome women making moments on a “Field of Dreams”! Thank you to all those awesome women who made many faces smile!!
Never Give Up!
Concern and caring!
Help from friends
Best care anywhere
Celebrate!
Welcome HOME!
Smiles!
The Line Up is Set!
February 11, 2016
My line up is set! In one day I will again attempt to capture “Kodak Moments on The Field!”
Looking forward to witness the “Heart and Hustle”, the “Passion and Play” that occurs when these talented young athletes step onto the field. Led by some of the “Best in the Business” the season begins in 24 hours and I am excited to capture and be in some small part of the magic that is called Texas State Softball!
I will not make any predictions on the season, but there is something grand going on with this program. New fire has been added to an already on fire program. The fire is in the hearts of the people involved, from the athletes, coach’s, family, fans and supporters of the game. So let those magic moments be seen on a
“Field Where Dreams Become Reality”!
As Blue would say “PLAY BALL!!!” The best to the athletes, coach’s, staff who make the moments happen!
The Field Where Dreams Become Reality!
My Line Up is Set!
I wanna Hit and Throw Like a Girl!!
February 7, 2016
For those that are scratching and hitting your head right now at the title, let me explain, so go get the coffee, ice tea, beer or fill a glass with Crown cause I’m gonna explain it!
Yesterday I got to go to the “Field of Dreams” but this “Field” is different cause “Dreams Become Reality on this Field”! For many years I have been taking photos of the action on this field and the action is awesome. Every February the season starts for Division I, II and III NCAA Softball All across this great land teams get up early in the morning to go practice on a cold field or in a gym or field house somewhere in hopes of getting their team to the Women’s College World Series! They work very hard on catching, hitting and throwing, their journey stated at 6 or 7 years old and even though they are anywhere from 18 to 20 years old when they enter college they have banged around the fields for ten years or more. They throw, bat and catch with such ease that sometimes the only way I know I’m watching a softball game is because of the yellow ball, pony tails and ribbons!!
Yesterday I got to take the field and step in the batter’s box and face a great pitcher, a 2 time Olympian, All-American, strike out wizard , coach, mentor, role model, teacher but most of all fine young lady Miss Catherine “Cat” Osterman. The duel was short lived, only took 4 pitches, the first was low, the next three had me swinging the bat like an old rusty gate, but then again I am old (er) now and most joints are in need of a squirt of WD-40 for better movement! I went down swinging, but that’s the way you suppose to go swinging, if the bat don’t make contact with the ball let them know you where trying and was not about to give up. There’s a Life’s Lesson there too!!
As I stepped away from the batter’s box a young man appeared in my minds eye on a ball field on 96th Street and Second Ave in NYC and he had just faced, Whitey Ford or Tom Seaver or Nolan Ryan. But the man walking away had just faced a great women, an awesome pitcher and tried to take just one pitch out of the yard! If I go to meet God today, I can stand before Him and say Father I batted against Cat! He will come back at me and say I know, son she can throw!!!!
So the reason for this entry, when you think about telling someone they, throw, catch or hit like a girl, take a second before uttering them words cause a big yellow ball may be getting bigger as it nears the target (you)! I wish I could hit and throw like a girl!! I also wish I had enough hair to put in a pony tail too!!!
I know I will be heading to the “Field of Dreams” so I can capture “Dreams Becoming Reality” So if you get a chance, go out to a college ball field and watch them hard work women catch, hit and throw like a girl!!
Thank you Texas State Athletics, Texas State Softball and Cat Osterman for providing the chance to hit like a girl! Thank you to every single one of the fine young ladies I have had the honor of capturing with my lens give their all on “The Field”!!!
Throw Like A Girl
Catch Like a Girl!!
Run Like a Girl!
Hit Like a Girl
A Dream Becomes Real!
Cat, “A Life’s Treasure!”
A day of doubt!
February 4, 2016
Some days we face self doubt, most days we don’t and that’s the way it should be! For them days when self doubt comes about and I think I make no difference I get reminded in a very subtle way!
When I think that what I’m doing has no effect, I get reminded by two four legged creatures that I do matter! When I reach this house and Mister Red stands at the gate to the back yard, tail held high and wagging at a 100mpg I am reminded that someone missed my presence, when I walk in the door to the house I get a second reminder by Mister Cruiser who in that subtle way of his that he too missed me, the head butt against my leg, the tail wrap around my calf and for good measure a meow or two! I come in the house to shed the uniform and reflect on the rights and wrongs of the work day, Mister Cruiser comes back in and meows until I follow him outside to take part in the sunshine and peace of the afternoon, Mister Red comes and sits nearby I think to let me know it’s all good, no worries and to lean on me and remind me that I am needed by him and his brother from a different mother (Cruiser).
So when I think that I don’t make a difference in someone’s day I get reminded in the simplest of ways that “Unconditional Love” still exists and in the purest form!
There are moments in ones life that show you make a difference they comes in a smile, a wave or by the simplest of gestures! Last year during senior day at Texas State on of the departing seniors handed me a rose from her bouquet to say thanks for all the photos I took of her during her career on the field. To this day when I look at that rose now dried and fragile I am reminded that a difference was made and a tear of joy wells up in the corner of my eye!
Thank You Courtney
So I guess the moral here is that we all make a positive impact on someone’s life, don’t stop caring and giving from the heart! (I heard my own words!!!)
Mister Red putting the lean on me! Feb 4th 2016
A new month is at hand
February 1, 2016
The second month of 2016 is on us! This first day has been busy as far as the job goes, which is good as the day moves along fast! I look forward to this month as the season begins for Bobcat Softball! The month also brings Valentine’s Day and a chance to make lady feel special. I have not decided which lady will be honored this Valentine’s Day, but is my wish that she smiles and keeps a fond memory of the day!
Most of all I look forward to going to the “Field where Dreams Come True!
I hope that this month bring many dreams into reality!!
South Texas Shooters (Photography That Is!) 