A Season in the Valley League 2010

A few images from recent games

2010-06-29T14:36:00.003-04:00

Some Fun pics from Sunday

2010-06-22T09:30:00.001-04:00

Fathers day at the Ball Park

2010-06-22T09:28:00.000-04:00

On Fathers day after visiting my Dad and spending some quality catch up time with him We went to the game, To my surprise my friend Mike Barrett showed up with his son Alex( aka Drew to me for some reason) it was great fun to see them. I had the pleasure over the winter to Photograph Mike and his family for a recruitment piece done but Augusta Health and it is always a heart warming to spend time with a man like him with such a cool family. Thanks for coming out Mike and can't wait to see you guys again soon....

From the 9th ( just thought that soundeed funny)

2010-06-12T11:05:00.003-04:00

A late win and new players

2010-06-09T06:36:00.002-04:00

The game against the Turks was a fight to the end but our boys turned up the heat and took it in the 10th. We also got the chance to meet our new and second summer son Chris Colquhoun a Catcher and first base player so our home is full and our summer family complete, Here are a few images from the game.

And 2010 Begins

2010-06-08T13:38:00.003-04:00

OK so it took some self searching and a little convincing but after much though (about 12 seconds) I decided to shoot the season again and follow the generals for another season. We have taken in 2 players this year only 1 has arrived so far Greg Smith coming from NC. I spent the evening on the 6Th shooting the Home opener and we had a great crowd of kids of all ages and it is already shaping up to be a great season everyone is in good spirits and ready to roll. Here are just a few of the images I captured for the kick off.

In Closing (for this Season)

2009-08-05T13:54:00.003-04:00

Well I have been a little out of touch on this project lately and there are a few reasons mostly I have been busy with the day to day stuff of my studio. In the last few weeks I have been struggling with how to bring this project to a close.

The difficulty with most personal projects is just that. All to often as artists we get these great ideas and head out on these personal projects without allot of planning. While we always seem to know when and where to start frequently we get excited about the images we are creating and the people involved and forget to plan an end. To be honest this happens to me all to often and I have several projects that have for a lack of a better term been abandoned or orphaned. I have made a conscious effort not to let this happen to The Season in the Valley League.

With that said and one simple closing image here it is as I see it and felt it.

When I decided to take on this project and I set the wheels in motion I knew I would come away with insight and a change in me personally. What I did not know is just how profoundly the project would effect me.

I have learned allot about baseball you may recall I am not a real sports guy. Funny thing is Tysha my wife has learned allot more. But most of all I have learned allot about me and about life the season kind of forced me to take a look within myself. (Sorry to get all serious on you but hey it's my BLOG and well you don't have to read it) If I had to say thank you to one person for this season and the lessons it has brought me I would have to thank Brandon. As you may recall he is the young man that we housed for the season. As a pitcher and one of the younger guys Brandon may not have had the chance to play as much as he would like or as much as we thought he should but I can without reservation say he was one of the most important people to the team and one of the most influential people I have met in a long time. He was always there with a smile and had the attitude that it was really more important that the team do well than he get to pitch and do well. Though I have no doubt he desperately wanted to pitch and be part of each game.

Brandon brought this same thing home with him every evening. Always thankful for what he had and what little Tysha and I had really done for him (in our eyes) Tysha and I both now take time to view things through a different set of eyes thanks to Brandon I truly hope he realizes the impact he had here on us and that with his amazing personality and attitude he will impact any life he touches in a positive way. You have become part of our family and will always be so you are stuck with us and to that end I say thank you Brandon, Tysha and I wish you all the best in life and I hope you can come back to see us next season. (PS we will be watching you from here whenever we can)

Having said that part I have to add one last thing, T and I attended as many games as we could and every single one of these young men left an ever lasting impression on us. Like Jeremy Dobbs what a neat guy funny and didn't even realize it. Ryan Knott Amazingly kind and intelligent. Just to name a few that spent time at our place but I have to say that everyone we spent time with left a great impression on us.

I suppose that's enough said. CYA Next Season Kevin and Tysha

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Time is running out

2009-07-20T17:56:00.006-04:00

I think that's a song not sure. But the fact is time does not stand still and the season is coming to a end soon like 2 weeks plus a few for play offs. WHEN WE MAKE IT. I figure if you say it then it will happen. At any rate I will be writing soon to close things out but I wanted to put a few more images up we have taken. Like the sign up board for meals, and the images that pull at your heart like a rainbow after a heavy yet fast rain thet the boys played right on through. and last but not lease the image from last night of us all waitng for Dominion power to get the power fixed so we could well Play Ball. And few others Ijust like
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A Season in the Valley League

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One Moment @ F8

Dinner fit for a King or at least a pile of Ball players

2009-07-20T17:52:00.002-04:00

We had dinner for the guys at our place on the 10th YEAH YEAH I know been a while since I posted and yeah I put that image up but we went to an away game and man can these guys put away some pizza..
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A Short Video

2009-07-11T16:47:00.000-04:00

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Dinner at the Blackburn Ranch

2009-07-11T10:14:00.002-04:00

Well it was our turn to fix dinner for the team last night and with the help of Garner and Tess we pulled it off. On the menu BBQ and Teriyaki Chicken, Green Beans, Baked Beans, Mac and Cheese (home made of course) Lemonade, and assorted drinks, adn for desert Vanilla Ice cream with brownies and chocolate chip cookies. here is a shot of a few of the guys piled up in the theater taking it all in.

Thanks to everyone that helped and thanks to all the guys that came by and ate most of the food.

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A beautiful evening

2009-07-04T16:37:00.005-04:00

Wow the game was a great time last night. It was family night and a number of the players families made it as well as host families. Tysha and I had the chance to meet Brandon's Parents and little sis. WOW what wonderful people it is no wonder Brandon is the young man he is. ( sorry for that dude) Any way it was a simply wonderful evening and with a sunset like this to top it off it just makes you feel great inside. Tysha and I are truly being blessed this summer.

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A new meaning to Rally Cap

2009-07-03T15:34:00.006-04:00

Ok so I have to be honest I had not planned on making the game last night and I got to feeling guilty so after dinner and a workout I hopped on my trusty bicycle with my shoulder bag and headed off. Little did I know I would still see 9 innings of baseball I showed up at the top of t 6th just in time to see Brandon pitch a real treat for me. At any rate the Score was 4-3 the and it began and sure enough at the bottom of the 9th were tied up Now into the 14th the guys are getting a little odd and giving an entirely new meaning to rally cap as you can see heck the even had their cloths on backwards ( at least the shirts I was afraid to find out what else may have been put on backwards) any way you stack it It worked and we got the winning run on a sacrifice fly and at 1040 it was over. Well not really then it was clean the field and hold a 20 min autograph session for the kids that were real troopers and stuck it out to 11ish Now that's a dedicated kid if you ask me.......

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A Season in the Valley League

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The Bus ride that wasn't

2009-07-02T13:02:00.003-04:00

Well I made an attempt to ride with the team on the bus for an away game in Luray. I have been hearing horror stories about this beast so of course I felt the need to torture myself. Fortunately or Unfortunately we sat on the bus for an hour waiting just to find the game was cacled for rain. Well maybe next time but it still made for some great images and a good laugh. Never know what you are going to see or hear around this bunch
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A Season in the Valley League

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Waiting on the rain or the fire hose ???

2009-06-30T08:13:00.003-04:00

Well early in the season it seemed we couldn't catch a break from the weather all it did was rain. If the games were delayed at the start at some point the game was delayed, called early or simply didn't get played. ANd while this makes for getting great images not so much for the game itself. Well now almost at the end of June that seems to have ended and now we resort to watering the feild so the players don't choke to death on the dust. I swear I will understand this sport before the end of the season( yeah right)

Coming together

2009-06-25T10:36:00.004-04:00

Even when these guys are far from family it seems that they come together and their host families do as well. And just like a family sometimes things can be a little embarrassing like say your birthday. I believe it was Andy's Birthday so of course there was a cake after the game. No one would break into song to serenade him a happy birthday tune but I have no doubt he is still catching flack from the team for the cake and balloons....

Just the gang

2009-06-23T16:50:00.003-04:00

Hanging by the dugout fence and selling 50/50 Tickets

A few nights ago we won the 50/50 $107.00 WOW we never win anything I think we are going to go buy some sunflower seeds for the team seems like they are eating those things as fast as they can be grown........

6-23-09

2009-06-23T16:36:00.002-04:00

( WHO SAYS THE NUMBER1 FAN HAS TO BE HUMAN)

Well this started for many reasons not the least of which was to see how in these times if baseball could still bring people together. well so far at the hand full of games I have been able to go to (and we are going to tonight's game) I can say it really does bring people together.

But it really does allot more than that. It brings the players together this being new to me I had no idea how it worked but as it turns out these guys come together from all over the place local and not so local and the first thing I noticed is in no time they not only as a team came together but also as young men came together.

these players who do not know anyone in this town until they get here have a profound effect on each other and on the towns people that come out nightly to see them.

The effect it has had on me is I have made some great new friends re-enforced some old friendships but simpler than that and I had no idea this would happen. Going to the games briings some peace and calm to my life. When Tysha and I go or if I go alone if I there with the camera capturing moments or if I am just there watching I feel at ease and relaxed and for a few hours I am not worried about anything not work not money not what I have to do tomorrow I am just in the moment and it is Nice

How it Started

2009-06-19T07:39:00.003-04:00

In recent months I have been on this kick of trying to find more personal projects that inspire me and hopefully inspire others. Along with keeping up with my personal blog
and My Faces of Waynesboro Project which has taken a bit of a break as of late I decide I wanted to do a photo essay of sorts on something that would bring a community together in these not so wonderful time.

Well it hit me when a local friend and publisher was made the general manager of our summer baseball team The Waynesboro Generals (lite BULB) that's it the all American past time right here in our back yard. They are part of the Valley League here in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. So I made some calls sent some emails and here I am.

Now I have to say this. When I get into things I tend to go all in to use poker speak and this has been no different My wife Tysha and I have been going to as many games as we can we have players over for movies and dinner and we are hosting Brandon one of the teams pitchers. WOW I am having a blast.

The Images you will see in this series are meant to be a story of the summer season from all aspects not just action shots. I hope you enjoy the images and the posts.

What I know about Baseball

2009-06-19T07:35:00.002-04:00

So here it is until this year here is all I knew about baseball. 1 I played as a child of 7 and 8 and was even as a kid terrible. I think I realized early in life I was not an athlete and I was meant to be an artist. 2 Brandon is staying at our house. ( the image with this post is Brandon)

First things First

2009-06-14T17:47:00.002-04:00

Well here it is. This BLOG is just what the title says it a season in the Valley League through my eyes. With that in mind here are a few things people need to know. The images I take are for a personal project as a photo essay.. NOT action shots or straight up editorial photography so there will be creative license taken in post production. Also If a shot is set up I will post it as so if it doesn't say I set it up then it was taken as you see it.
Deal with it.

I am a commercial and Corporate Photographer not a news paper photographer see above. In coming posts I will write about the idea and reason for this project and the impact I hope it will have. IMPORTANT NOTE HERE any comments posts or ramblings that I post are strictly my views and observations and in no way reflect the personal or corperate views of anyone or any of the teams or the Valley League. Ok I suppose that covers most of the legal and required stuff. Enjoy these first few images and stay tuned for more post. Oh One more thing the images are posted in no real order and may not be in the order they were taken or even all from the same game in the same post.