NPC USAs - Vegas or Bust
One of the biggest figure competition in 2005 is coming up this weekend in one of in America's top tourist destinations.. and I'm dreading it.
Normally, I'd be amped to be around 175+ of the top physiques in the world in Sin City, but things just seem off for me this year. First off, I don't really have any shoots scheduled, which is one of the main reasons I go to these larger shows. With so many competitors in town, it's almost unfathomable to not have anything set up, but it just seems like my contacts are dwindling, or perhaps I'm falling out of favor because I don't pay for shoots.
Secondly, I prefer to shoot outdoors.. and in July, Vegas' average temperature is pretty close to that of the surface of the Sun. We're looking at a low of just under 90 degrees this upcoming weekend, which is slightly unbearable. That would mean any shoots I do would have to be indoors, in a hotel room, which is something I dread. I'm at the point where I don't really like shooting just for the sake of shooting.. I like to create somewhat cool photos. And when there's an A/C unit and a hotel phone in the backdrop of the photo, that tends to knock down the 'cool' factor a couple of notches.
Thirdly, the demand to take photos at the show itself is somewhat lessened because there are so many more people doing it these days. Many moons ago, there was just Gene, myself, and maybe another couple of people covering the figure side of the show thoroughly. Nowadays, there are alot more people willing to do it, so I say more power to them. I don't even know if people really check out my contest coverage anymore these days, so I'll spare my wrists the advanced stages of tendonitis and take it easy this time around.
Finally, I'm missing 3 huge concerts this weekend in SD that I'd really like to go to. And I'm not talking about Hall & Oates or Yanni.. I mean Nas, Snoop, White Stripes, the Killers, Social D, Black Eyed Peas, Unwritten Law, the Used, Death Cab, Method Man, Rise Against, Louis XIV, Hot Hot Heat, Mixmaster Mike, Spoon, Swollen Members, and the Hieroglyphics Crew. Yes, they are ALL playing down here this weekend. So if I drive all the way to Vegas and end up chilling in my hotel room, playing Dig Dug on my PSP the whole time, I'm not gonna be too happy.
Good times. Email me if you wanna challenge my Dig Dug high score in the host hotel lobby.
3 Comments:
C'mon Conor, don't be so glum, although I do agree with you on how stinky it is missing those concerts!
OK, girls time to step up to the plate. I know you all have seen his work and without a doubt it stands tall above the rest. Yes others are willing to pay you but think about this in more than terms of $$, think about it in terms of useability and marketability.
Conors phenomenal photos directly contributed to my wife's portfolio and I'd say short of my shots of her, Conor's are the best. OK so Conor's are the best, but for just a moment I felt good : )
Plus, I just can't bear the thought of him having to spend the weekend playing video games with all the heavenly bodies just waiting to be shot!
A couple of fine examples of his work...
http://www.julielohre.com/galleryimages/j.jpg
http://www.julielohre.com/galleryimages/n.jpg
http://www.julielohre.com/galleryimages/z.jpg
Rick
Aw Conor, I promise if I were going to Vegas that you'd be one of my first contacts for setting up a shoot! Heck, I wanted to at Jr USAs but I guess you didn't want to venture to the east coast. ;) But if you do come out here for Nationals in November, I'd love to shoot with you then!
I've scheduled shoots with those that promise to pay, and all I got was a lousy phone call that someone more important was getting shot in my place. I don't need the money; I prefer the marketability.
I'd just like to point out that I was indeed playing my PSP in the lobby the majority of the time, and no one challenged my Dig-Dug skills! I was more disappointed in that than not shooting the entire weekend.
Ah well.. next time.
Thanks for the kind words Rick (c'mon now, it's not like your photos are exactly chopped liver).. and Alissa, hopefully we'll cross paths at a contest in the future.
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