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

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.

Two from Nassau

Nassau/Paradise Island on Sunday, October 21, 2012 in Nassau, The Bahamas. (David Manning/David@DavidManningPhoto.com)

As I'm going through things I've meant to blog about, I stumbled over these two shots from my last trip to the Bahamas.

Above, what i refer to as "THAT Palm Tree" on Paradise Island at the Atlantis Resort.  Its very distinctive and if you've walked the beach there, you know exactly where this shot is.  Suffice to say, that is the quietest place I found on Paradise Island.

Other photo after the jump....

Foggy Fireworks

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm an insane fireworks junkie.  Living in Orlando allows me to see high quality shows on a regular basis.... to the point where I can tell when things change.

Alas sometimes, mother nature plays havoc.  Usually December yields great weather for fireworks - low humidity and strong breezes to blow the smoke away.... sadly in the photo above, not quite the case.  A horribly thick bank of fog rolled into the area just as I pulled up.  Knowing the show i was about to photograph, I decided to make the best of a bad situation and try and use the fog to my advantage.

This is the finale of their Holiday Wishes show. Slightly overexposed. But i love how the fireworks just open above the clouds....

Tilt/Shift Fireworks

Well this is just weird.  I decided to dig out my lensbaby and try and photograph fireworks.  (Such is the beauty of living near a theme park empire, there's a constant supply of fireworks and photographic subjects.) 

Not sure if this works.... more after the jump  

OneBeat

Foot percussionist Aditi Bhagwat, of Indian, dances as fellows with OneBeat rehearse on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. OneBeat is an intentional cultural exchange program that brings together over 30 young musicians from around the world to live together and write and perform music. The program is an initiative of U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Last month, I went out to New Smyrna Beach for The New York Times to cover the rehearsals of OneBeat, a musical collaborative program sponsored by the State Department that brought together 30 musicians from around the world.  In short, they took some highly talented musicians, threw them in a room with the express purpose of making music and then taking the show on tour.

More after the jump.... 

Kentucky vs Florida Football

Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver DeMarcus Sweat (83) sits on the bench at the start of the fourth quarter as the #14 Florida Gators beat the Kentucky Wildcats 38-0 in an NCAA Football Game on Saturday, September 20, 2012 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. (David Manning for The Lexington Herald-Leader)

Its been almost a year since I covered a college football game and I'm trying to figure out if I'm rusty or if it was just Kentucky?

The tale after the jump.....

DNC Protests

Protestors yell at police during a march outside the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 in Charlotte, NC.

In addition to my PR duties at the DNC, I came across a couple of protests, three of them over the five days I was in Charlotte. 

Things were peaceful and chill, yet that was at least three more major protests than I saw in Tampa.

Sunshine Silks

Just random eye-candy from The Huffington Post's Oasis at Flex and Fit in Charlotte.  The light was perfect last Wednesday afternoon, filtering into the yoga studio. Someone was playing on the silks hanging from the ceiling and they swung into the sunlight.

My Night with Bill (or .....sometimes you have to be in the crowd)

President Bill Clinton speaks at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 in Charlotte, NC. 

Sometimes, you have to put the cameras down and just experience the moment.  Such was my adventures over the past 10 days doing PR work around the Republican and Democratic Conventions. Alas one night, I was able to get away and actually attend for an evening and see what all the hoopla was about.

The night's speaker: None other than President William Jefferson Clinton.

Last Frame

Protestors hold signs outside the Charlotte Convention Center during a march during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC., on Thursday September 6, 2012.

10 Days.  Two cities. Two conventions. 15 hour workdays. 80 gigs of photos. Politicians everywhere.

This is how it ended for me.  Last frame before heading to the hotel.

Fish are Friends, Not Food

Recently, during some of my downtime while at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, The Bahamas I took the time to explore the giant aquariums they have at the resort and decided to make some photos out of it.

Assignment: Blackberry

Research in Motion Chief Executive Officer Thorsten Heins holds up a prototype of the Blackberry 10 smartphone at the Blackberry World Event on May 1, 2012 in Orlando, Fla. Research in Motion is set to launch a new generation of BlackBerry 10 smartphones later this year while continuing to lose market share to Apple's iPhone and Android devices. REUTERS/David Manning (UNITED STATES)

Earlier this month, I covered the 2012 Blackberry World for Reuters News Service as it was held at Marriott's World Center in Orlando, Fla.

(Full Disclosure: I use the iPhone but I once owned a Blackberry)

Via Con Dios, Snow White

After nearly 40 years, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is ending "Snow White's Scary Adventures"and closes June 1.  

(This means if you want to ride it, Thursday May 31 is the last day)

One of the original attractions in the park is being replaced by a princess meet-n-greet.

I decided to take a few photos and put them up here.

A little flare

Guests walk in front of Spaceship Earth at Epcot at the Walt Disney World resort on February 8, 2012 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

So I've been on a lens flare kick lately.... which means I'm on a healing brush kick to get all the damn dust out of the photos. However, i happened to like this particular one.   Probably part of a future project.

2012 WDW Marathon

Runners streak under the only light available at the start of the Walt Disney World half-marathon on Saturday, January 7, 2012.

Sunday, my good friend Dan ran a half-marathon at the Disneyland resort.  Due to budgetary constraits, I wasn't there.  However, three weeks ago, he ran a half-marathon at the Walt Disney World resort.

I was there to document some of the carnage fun.

2011 Pictures of the Year

Emily Cooper, Hailey Chapman, and Carson LeCroy sled through the snow at the University of Georgia on Monday, January 10, 2011 in Athens, Ga. Approximately five inches of snow fell overnight before changing over to sleet and freezing rain.  

2011 Photos of the Year.

Here's one final Salute to my work in 2011.  My favorite photos. A goodbye to a part of my life as I'm done working in Athens, Ga.

Back Porch Sessions: The Glorious Dead

Local whiskey bar Blue Sky is starting a series of small, intimate shows on their back porch. The first night featured "The Glorious Dead" and Dustin Gannon. Photos after the jump.....

Fashion Shoot with Shelby McLeod

On the hottest day of the year, I photographed a fashion shoot with local country singer Shelby McLeod in the middle of a sunflower field in Rutledge, Ga.It was hectic, fast, furious, sweaty and a lot of fun. Shelby was great to work with and did everything I asked for.

More after the jump....