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.

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.

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.

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....

Traveling! Depressurizing!

Every now and again I will update this. I'm going to post some vacation photos... because if you cant post those, what can you post? If you can't have fun with photography, put down the cameras.



Thats my friend Jess. She insisted I photograph her with her parasol.

More photos after the jump

Final Shuttle Launch: STS-135

Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off launch pad 39-A for the final launch of the shuttle era at Kennedy Space Center on Friday, July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Atlantis is flying for a scheduled 12-day mission to the International Space Station which ends the shuttle program after 135 missions.

Wow, its been 5 months since I updated this. Lets start someplace fun..... like the final, historic space launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis. Here's the whole story:

Womens Hoops: Georgia vs Mississippi State

Georgia forward Porsha Phillips (21) is fouled by Arkansas guard Lyndsay Harris (33) with five-tenths of a second to go in overtime as Georgia beats Arkansas 57-54 in an NCAA Women's basketball game at Stegeman Colisuem on Thursday, February 3, 2011 in Athens, Ga. Phillips finished with 9 points and 18 rebounds while Harris had a game-high 22 points. Phillips' 18 rebounds is the most in Georgia history in an SEC game.

I shoot women's basketball differently from men's. Instead of shooting from the corners during men's (due to the phenomenon of "Ref Ass"), i like to shoot more form inside and under the basket as there seems to be less legs to shoot through. Its also a little more violent in the paint.

Georgia forward Porsha Phillips (21) looks up as the ball sails over Arkansas forward Ashley Daniels' (12) head with one second to go in overtime as Georgia beats Arkansas 57-54 in an NCAA Women's basketball game at Stegeman Colisuem on Thursday, February 3, 2011 in Athens, Ga.

The start of the play of from above.

Georgia guard Ronika Ransford (4) waits for the team to be introduced before Georgia plays Arkansas in an NCAA Women's basketball game at Stegeman Colisuem on Thursday, February 3, 2011 in Athens, Ga.

Pregame. I always shoot this. I have a LOT of these.

Georgia guard Khaalidah Miller, center, and Georgia forward Jasmine Hassell, right, huddle with their teammates after Georgia beats Arkansas 57-54 in overtime in an NCAA Women's basketball game at Stegeman Colisuem on Thursday, February 3, 2011 in Athens, Ga.

Postgame huddle.

Georgia guard Ronika Ransford (4) screams after hitting her head on the floor as Georgia plays Arkansas in the first half of an NCAA Women's basketball game at Stegeman Colisuem on Thursday, February 3, 2011 in Athens, Ga.

Georgia forward Porsha Phillips (21) shoots overtop if Arkansas forward Jamesha Townsend (3) as Georgia plays Arkansas in the first half of an NCAA Women's basketball game at Stegeman Colisuem on Thursday, February 3, 2011 in Athens, Ga.

Athens Music Landmarks (that are still left)

The steeple from St. Mary's Episcopal Church where REM played its first ever show on Thursday, January 27, 2011 in Athens, Ga. Steeplechase Condominium Association, which owns the steeple, recently reviewed the ongoing costs for repairs and voted to destroy the structure.

There's a lot of local landmarks in this town and when it comes to the music scene around here, most of them are defined by the band R.E.M.

We did a story about how these landmarks are falling by the wayside as time passes on.

Special Needs Pageant

Last month I was asked to shoot a rehearsal for a "Special Needs Pageant" as we would be unable to attend the actual event. I drove out to spend the afternoon with some very fun people.

More after the jump....

Lincoln/Lee Papers

They're celebrating the sesquicentennial of the Civil War and the University of Georgia has a lot of papers from the period.

To try and keep things balanced, I made sure I had a photograph with both a letter from Abraham Lincoln and a letter from General Robert E. Lee in it.

Beyond that, I'm not sure that a war that killed more Americans then any other was and brought our society to the bring is a cause for celebration.

Florida beast Georgia in 2 OT

Georgia Bulldogs forward Trey Thompkins (33) is fouled hard by Florida Gators forward/center Patric Young (4) as Florida beats Georgia 104-91 in double overtime on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 in Athens, Ga., at Stegeman Coliseum.

Ive been shooting a lot of basketball lately. High school, college, you name it. The shots are beginning to look the same after awhile; I'd really like to see a scramble facing me or something nice happen right in front of me without 12 pairs of legs in the way.

The worst part of sitting at the Georgia end in the Second Half is all the people who run out in front of you at the end of the game. Security, Police, and countless other people get in the way as really nice jube is happening at the other end of the court.