Orlando Cruz (March Fight vs Aalan Martinez)

Puerto Rican boxer Orlando Cruz punches Mexican boxer Aalan Martinez during the fifth round before a sixth-round knockout at the Kissimmee Civic Center on March 15, 2013 in Kissimmee, Fla. 

A few months back, It caught my eye that boxer Orlando Cruz was boxing locally. Cruz. from Puerto Rico, is the first openly gay boxer.  This was his second fight since coming out last October. I called my editors and photographed the workout and then the fight.

It was the marquee matchup and was by far the best of the night.

More after the jump....

Boxing, Pt 1

Luis Olivares fights Victor Vega before winning in a first-round technical knockout at the Kissimmee Civic Center in Kissimmee, Florida on Friday March 15, 2013.  Olivares' win was his second while fighting for SMS Promotions, owned by Rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson.  (David Manning/DavidManningPhoto.com)

So I photographed boxing for the first time several months ago here locally at the Kissimmee Civic Center, mostly for the Orlando Cruz fight later that night. I photographed all of the undercards and here's the best of those.

More, as always, after the jump....

Murphys Monday..... six months later

Al Barr of Dropkick Murphys sings while playing at House of Blues as part of their annual St. Patrick's Day Tour on Saturday, March 2, 2013 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Murphys are currently supporting their new album "Signed and Sealed in Blood." (David Manning/DavidManningPhotography.com)

If you've followed this blog for years, you know that I'm a fan of Dropkick Murphys and I've photographed them several times. Through a stroke of luck, I got a last minute photo pass complete with the sarcastic labeling "Out of my way, I have a fancy camera" .... Which aptly describes most concert photographers that I've met in my days.

I meant to share all these months ago but through circumstance, I withheld them until now.  More photos after the jump

Star Wars Weekends Redux

Emperor Fabulous

Stepping outside of the photojournalism realm for a minute and into a galaxy far, far away.....

I went to many of the Star Wars Weekends at Disney this May & June.

Here's a sampling of many of the guests and cast from the show.

FBI Shooting in Orlando (May 22nd)

A member of an FBI evidence recovery team photographs the building following the shooting of Ibragim Tidashev, 27, in the 6000 block of Peregrine Ave., in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday, May 22, 2013. An FBI agent with two Massachusetts State Police troopers and other law enforcement personnel were interviewing  Tidashev in connection with the Boston Marathon bombing investigation when a violent confrontation occurred. During the confrontation, the individual was killed and the agent sustained non-life threatening injuries, said Special Agent David Couvertier, Public Affairs Officer for the FBI's Tampa Field Office.

(David Manning for The Boston Globe)

Its always fun when the phone wakes you up.

In this case, it was the Boston Globe. The FBI shot and killed a man allegedly connected to the Boston Bombing.  I'm an hour from the scene. You get out the door in five minutes and hope to hell I don't hit traffic.

Trayvon Martin/Anti Gun Violence March

J'Mila Pittman, of Orlando, Fla., yells during a rally in support of slain teenager Trayvon Martin in Orlando, Florida July 17, 2013. Martin was shot dead by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in 2012.  REUTERS/David Manning  (UNITED STATES)  

In the wake of the George Zimmerman verdict, many rallies have taken to the streets to protest the verdict.  I will touch on covering this trial sometime in the future.

I covered one last week in Orlando that drew 1500 people at the last minute.  It was peaceful; one counter-protester and overall was the typical protest march.

As always, hit the jump.

NAACP Convention in Orlando

Hazel Dukes, a member of the board of directors of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), cheers at the end of a speech by NAACP president Benjamin Jealous  to the 2013 NAACP convention in Orlando, Florida July 15, 2013. In the wake of the George Zimmerman murder trial, civil rights leaders, including Jealous, are urging the Justice Department to pursue federal civil rights charges against Zimmerman.  REUTERS/David Manning 

Stepping back into my role as a press photographer, I spend two days at the NAACP convention in Orlando, mostly for NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous.

As always, hit the jump for more photos

Eric Holder at NAACP (laterpost)

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder speaks at the annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Orlando, July 16, 2013.  Holder on Monday called the death of Martin, an unarmed black teenager, "unnecessary," raising questions about whether he believed Zimmerman, acted in self-defense.  REUTERS/David Manning 

I'm working in reverse order on my posts.... 

Last week I went to the NAACP convention for two days; the first day for Benjamin Todd Jealous and the second for Attorney General Eric Holder.

Some thoughts after the jump....

Daytona International Speedway for the New York Times

Crewmembers for Dale Earnhardt, Jr.,'s crew push his race car toward the inspection area at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, July 4, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Fla. International Speedway Corporation, parent company of the racetrack, recently announced a $400 Million renovation plan for the grandstand of the 54-year-old track.  Changes would include improved aisle ways in the grandstand as well as 53 hospitality suites and the eventual removal of the backstretch grandstand.  The renovations are expected to be completed by January 2016. (David Manning for The New York Times)

Hey Folks.  Its been awhile....  Call it a seven month hiatus.

Anyways, for July 4th, I went our to the Daytona International Speedway to photograph for the New York Times for a business story on DIS' redevelopment plans.  More after the jump.