Spring Training: Off Day

The sun sets being the statue outside of Space Coast Stadium.

Hey kids.....

Its an off day. This means being able to sleep in and having a good dinner .... as well as editing more photos, data management, laundry, and all the other things that i may have neglected in the past 27 days such as my car registration....

My update and more photos after the jump....

Dispatches from Clearwater

Ryan Howard walks off the field to head to the dugout.

Its Tuesday. I think.

Part of covering Spring Training for a wire service is that I'm on my own here.  No support, no resources, no reporters bird dogging anything for me.  There are 12 teams in the grapefruit league and I have to follow my instincts....

Spring Training Update (Pt 1!)

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Max Scherzer signs autographs after the Tiger's first workout of Spring Training at Joker Marchant Stadium. 

I've spent the past two weeks crisscrossing the State of Florida covering Spring Training workouts.

I've been as far south as Fort Myers for Red Sox Media Day, Bradenton for the Pirates, TanakaMania and the laid back fun of the Blue Jays in Dunedin.   Spring training isnt about (just) grabbing a photo of player X doing whatever to feed the beast. Its an opportunity to make some artistic photos and step outside of the box.

Its been a lot of frames and a lot of features so far.... and here's some of my favorites. 

Lots more after the jump...

Whats in the Bag? Spring Training Edition

I try to travel light.....

Ive never done one of these "What's in the Bag" blogposts.  I'm not a gearhead and I'm not impressed by people who walk around like a pack mule.

That being said.... I wanted to share with everyone what I'm bringing to Spring Training. (*Photo day lights not included)

Here's my game action kit.

• Nikon D3 (Its a workhorse)
• Nikon D700 w/Battery Grip (The best camera Nikon ever made IMO)
• Nikon D7000 (Remote Body)
• Kodak Vigilant Six-20 (It was my Grandfather's)
• 300/2.8 (Its a very old one but sharp)
• 300/4 (When I dont want to carry the 2.8)
• 70-200/2.8 (Recently repaired by Kiwi Photo in Orlando! Best repairs around)
• 85/1.8 (Remote Lens!)
• 24/2.8 (When I need a wide)
• 1.4x Teleconverter (For when 300 isnt long enough)
• Nikon SB-800 Flash. (There's a lot of dust on it)
• PocketWizard Plus III (x2)
• Pretrigger Cable
• Manfrotto Magic Arm w/ Super Clamp and Ball head.
• Safety Cable! (Very VERY important)
• Not pictured: Wawa Iced Tea, Memory Cards, Film, Batteries, Suntan Lotion, Sun Hat, more Wawa Iced Tea, Monopod, Laptop, Extra Hard Drive, Thinktank Utility Belt, stool to sit on, batting helmet, iPhone and the good Tastykakes.

I try to travel as light as possible. I enjoy my Wawa. There's a film camera in there.... I'm just trying to do something unique. 

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