Flying Tomato Smash and Bash

An arsenal of 25,000 tomatoes (10,000 pounds) were launched by a mob on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Tobacco Road, Miami's oldest bar provided the tomatoes for Miami's first Tomato Smash and Bash. 

There was no need to travel to Spain for La Tomatina Tomato Fight Festival, it happened right here at Patrick Gleber's Tobacco Road, 626 South Miami Avenue. Every year since 1957 1,000’s of people join together in Bunol, Spain to participate in the traditional La Tomatina festival. Around 150,000 tomatoes, which equals out to be over 90,000 pounds are smashed and participants from all over the world begin this crazy traditional Tomato fight that lasts an hour long.

Some of these participants actually look familiar! Tobacco Road owner Patrick Gleber, left, myself and Andrew Innerarity. Andrew was shooting for Reuters while J Pat Carter covered it in tomato paste for Associated Press. 

 

Tobacco Road Owner Patrick Gleber

David Bergman on Adorama TV

Adorama Photography TV presents How'd They Do That with David Bergman. David is a concert, sports and action photographer based in New York. David has photographed everything from major sporting events like the World Series to the high intensity world of rock concert tours. He has photographed six U.S. Presidents and his Obama inauguration GigaPan has been viewed over 12 million times.

Bergman was my guest blogger in January. David Bergman: A Legend Photographs a Legend

To see more of Bergman's work go to DavidBergman.net

or TourPhotographer.com

U Pick 'em Think Tank Photo Contest Winners Picked!

Photos by Cindy Seip SplashFoto.com

Valentine cupid Angelika makes a splash to announce the winners of the U Pick ‘em Think Tank Photo Contest. Julian Jenkins wins first place and Logan Mock-Bunting wins second.
Jenkins wins the Think Tank Photo Urban Disguise® 35 V2.0 and the Black Rapid RS-7s camera strap. Mock-Bunting takes home the Think Tank Photo Hydrophobia® Flash 70-200.


“It was fast. It was frenetic. And it was ferocious” That’s how Miami Herald Sports writer Susan Miller Degnan described the game as West Virginia routed Clemson at the Orange Bowl, 70-33.


That describes how I edit when the kick off is way beyond 8pm. There is not much time to do any less. My heart raced with excitement as I shot the sequence unfolding before me. It’s that adrenaline rush that makes shooting sports amazing.


The image of frame #1 was already picked out in my mind as I ran outside the stadium to reach our cramped photo trailer to transmit on deadline. By the time I saw the sequence I had doubts. I still chose #1. The next day, I looked at the same set of images again and chose #3 but #2 sure looks damn good!


Here is a rough count as you picked them. Frame #1 total votes 51. Frame #2 total votes 31. Frame #3 total votes 88. Thanks for playing.


Contest winners were selected at random using the True Random Number Generator on Random.Org. Congratulations to the winners and please support our 
sponsors Think Tank Photo and Black Rapid!

U Pick'em Winners Picked!

Winners of the U Pick'em Contest are in. First place is the Think Tank Photo Urban Disguise® 35 V2.0 and the Black Rapid RS-7s camera strap. Second place is the Think Tank Photo Hydrophobia® Flash 70-200. Watch for the announcement on Monday!

BlackRapid joins U Pick ‘em Contest!

Black Rapid joins U Pick ‘em Contest!

First place is now the Think Tank Photo Urban Disguise® 35 V2.0 and the Black Rapid RS-7s camera strap. With over 150 entries Think Tank Photo has offered for second place the Hydrophobia® Flash 70-200. If the blog ALDIAZPHOTOblog.com hits 200 entries with comments TTP will toss in the Digital Holster™ 10 V2.0 for a third prize! So tweet, post, facebook it etc. to spread the word and increase your chances to win more prizes! Here is the link for rules to enter U Pick 'em contest.

Ron Henry with the RS-7 Sport

Founded in 2008, Black Rapid is a manufacturer of innovative and creative photography products including the wildly popular R-Strap. The company focuses heavily on responding to customer input to create the most comfortable and functional equipment.

After years of shooting the Seattle music scene, weddings, and other dynamic environments, Ron Henry had a flash of brilliance that would turn the camera world upside down. No more straps sliding off your shoulder. No more fumbling around, wasting time, or neckaches. Like a few of history’s most inspired inventions (the wheel, pre-grated cheese, the bug zapper, etc.), the concept is so simple it evaded everyone… until now. Your camera hangs upside down, ready to maneuver into position at a moment’s notice via a sliding ConnectR that allows the camera to move freely while the strap stays put. Like a true revolutionary, Ron shared the wealth (so to speak) and started BlackRapid Inc. to ease the pains of the people. In a class of its own, the R-Strap is here to stay.

Guest Blogger - David Bergman: A Legend Photographs a Legend

The man who proved Bon Jovi is not dead, goes on to photograph a legend photographing a legend.

David Bergman, en route to becoming a legend himself, shhh… don’t tell him I said that, accompanied photographer Neil Leifer to photograph Muhammad Ali for the boxing legends 70th birthday.

Bergman, a former Miami Herald staff photographer who is now a New York action photographer and video producer, spent three days providing technical assistance for Leifer who was on assignment for Sports Illustrated. Leifer is considered one of the best sports photographers in history.

Then there is last month. Bergman proved everyone wrong when rumors of the death of Bon Jovi circulated the internet. As the rock star legend's tour photographer Bergman simply shot a few quick frames of Jovi still living on this planet. He then posted it to his Twitter feed and Facebook page. The picture went viral with millions viewing the image on the Internet.

Here is Bergman's back story on shooting legends. 

A LEGEND PHOTOGRAPHS A LEGEND

By David Bergman

I haven't been a photo assistant in a long time, but when Neil Leifer asked me to help him photograph Muhammad Ali, I jumped at the opportunity.

Ali turned 70 years old this week. Whatever you think of his political or religious beliefs, there's no denying his status as a cultural icon. At one point, he was considered to be the most recognizable person in the world.

(Nikon D700, 24-70 at 70mm, ISO 200, 1/250, f/4)

Neil Leifer's career will forever be tied to Ali's. If you don't know him by name, you've definitely seen Neil's iconic photograph of Ali standing over Sonny Liston during their fight in 1965. Ali knocked out Liston with one punch during the first round.

I helped Neil make the transition to digital photography a few years ago for a special project and am proud to call him a friend.

He's a filmmaker now and rarely picks up a still camera, but with the birthday just around the corner, Neil ventured to Ali's house in Arizona to make rare portraits of the man at home for Sports Illustrated. He asked me to come along and help with the technology.

How could I say no?

(Nikon D700, 24-70 at 24mm, ISO 320, 1/60, f/13)

I certainly wish I could have covered Ali in his prime, but it was still an amazing experience to finally meet the man. He is a kind soul who is respected everywhere he goes. One night at a restaurant, everyone stood and applauded when Ali came in the door.

His 30-plus year battle with Parkinson's disease is well documented and it makes photographing him more difficult than in the past. But Neil and Ali are old friends, so they were able to make some classy, timeless photos over the course of the three days we spent out west.

 (Nikon D700, 24-70 at 52mm, ISO 160, 1/250, f/14)

You can see Neil Leifer's new photographs of Muhammad Ali on SI.com and in this week's Sports Illustrated magazine.

(Photo (c) 2012 Neil Leifer -- Nikon D700, 24-70 at 24mm, ISO 200, 1/250, f/14)