He’s absolutely right. I now know the feeling all my friends who’ve become fathers before me would tell me about, but on a personal level it goes so far beyond that. I sit here looking at this beautiful piece of art and I can’t help but think about the fact that he’ll meet hundreds of people, experience some important events, and clearly have firm opinions about many things all before he’ll even remember any of it.

I can’t help but immediately have a new collective consciousness about me. One of empathy for any parent who’s had to experience the horror of their precious baby being hurt in any way. And upon feeling this, I also feel a sudden form of guilt for any time I’ve, in my earlier more immature days, wronged someone’s kid, not because I feel bad for the kid. He or she probably deserved it. Plus we’re all A-holes when we’re kids, but I suddenly am knowing the uncertainty it is to be someone’s parent. To be my parents.

When I first saw my boy enter this new world I was blown away first by how calm he was, but it was truly amazing and beautiful to see his big eyes scanning the room, looking at me and mom and recognizing our voice, but those eyes, oh those eyes. I’m a changed man.

I followed a link today from the Nikon Rumors Forum that led to a collection of photos from the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics by Sports Illustrated photographer Robert Beck on CNN.com. As a fellow artist and sports fan, I am fully aware of the “one man capturing as much as you can from one location” issue when it comes to shooting such events. I’m even more aware of the fact that Robert Beck has had the honor of having his photos displayed on the cover of Sports Illustrated more than 50 times and they’ve even been included in Time Magazine’s Pictures of the Decade.

So when I read the comments that followed the story I became outraged. Outraged not by the fact that what I read there was something new. More outraged that this is what I see everywhere in cyberspace:

voidzone wrote:
Another overpaid guy with a camera. I could do better. Where’s my ticket to the Olympics?

Niceking wrote:
I agree voidzone. I’ve seen better pics at a grade school fair.

hed3d wrote:
amazing ? these photo’s are pedestrian at best

These comments immediately followed the story on CNN.com, not on the Nikon Rumors Forum.

I would never stand here and say these are the same types of photos that make a cover or earn some prestigious award. I’m pretty positive Robert Beck wouldn’t say that either. Any photographer can tell you that you can take hundreds of photos in a day like this and be lucky to have a small collection of keepers. Robert works for the press. He has an obligation. The obligation to show part of the story, at any cost. To illustrate the triumphs and disappointments that took place during a day of competition.

Anyone would love a ticket to the Olympics to take photos, but it’s easy to say that when you’re only real experience with a camera is that of a tourist or hobbyist. This guy is out there trudging up hills carrying a lot of gear. He’s sitting out in the cold waiting for hundreds of athletes to compete. He’s being judged by the ones who truly matter – his employers. It’s truly not all it’s cracked-up to be. He’s working when he’s up on the hill. I can’t for the life of me imagine that being a staff photographer for SI means you can just be lazy and turn in just any crap.

So when I read comments from what is undoubtedly just feeble internet trolls, I couldn’t help but get a little irked. You see, I read this crap all the time online, and it’s always from someone who could do better. Someone who says another person sucks and doesn’t deserve the opportunities they have because “I could do his job with my sister’s point-and-shoot.”

The thing is, these people remain nothing but trolls. They will always be nothing but because they are quick to talk smack about someone else doing their job, but never in their life would they EVER leave a link to their own photos so the rest of the world could judge them. It’s so easy to talk about someone else when you don’t even have the balls to put your real name behind the words you carelessly throw around.

I want links to voidzone’s amazing sports photography. I’d like to critique Niceking’s stunning use of a depth of field and composition. I feel a bit robbed that we don’t have the option, if we so wished, to happily use colorful ways to describe what most undoubtedly is a jealous person’s not quite good enough to be a staff photographer for a major magazine’s images.

I guarantee hed3d absolutely sucks at everything and is pedestrian at best at merely existing.

It sure is easy, isn’t it?.

Now I can rest easy,
Tyler

In a world where change is inevitable, change sure is happening a lot more these days when it comes to Clear Channel radio here in San Diego.

“offering the DSC team a very lucrative, multi-year offer”

I can’t help but feel this truly means a substantial pay cut for multiple years. I hope they find their way back on air soon. With the sad news today I’d like to pay tribute to the DSC with some samples from the years I’ve worked with them. This news truly sucks.

-Tyler

SAN DIEGO — Fans of the KGB radio morning show featuring long-time host Dave Rickards and cohorts Shelly Dunn and Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph are starting off the new year with news the show is no longer on the air.

With little fan fare, the station posted a notice on its Web site this morning announcing the following:

After extensive negotiations. and offering the DSC team a very lucrative, multi-year offer, we were unfortunately not able to reach an agreement to keep the show with KGB.

We wish Dave, Shelly and Chainsaw all the best in their future pursuits and thank them for their contribution to the station. KGB has had a special relationship with listeners in San Diego as the leading Classic Rock station for many years. We look forward to continuing that tradition.

DJ Coe Lewis, filling in for the show this morning, said she hoped listeners appreciated the economic realities that led to the decision.

“We’re feeling the loss just like you,” Lewis said on the air, adding the DSC cast were like family. “But we’re here and we’ll always be here and I just want to let you know I really appreciate you, like, listening…”

The Trouble with Money Movie Movie Poster

No Brainer DVD Cover

The DJs are the Heroes CD Cover

DSC Crew Character for The DJs are the Heroes CD Insert

Dave Shelly and Chainsaw sold their CDs and DVDs to collect money for the DSC fund which helped San Diego families in need.

Arne Holt from Caffe Calabria and I arrived in Milan to a crisp, cold temperature, which was quite a shock. Much of this city is cold and industrial, artistic in it’s own right, but not what I was looking for to incorporate into my Italian images. I must say that the Duomo there is absolutely stunning though and worth seeing if you are ever in Milan for any reason.

Piazza Del Duomo, MIlan

Duomo, Milan

Duomo, Milan

Hundreds of statues are carved into the walls and spires of this impressive Duomo.

Statue on the Duomo, Milan

Inside the Duomo

Flanking the Duomo is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a shopping center built between 1865 and 1867 and hosts some very expensive shops and cafes.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, MIlan

Lost Pegasus – Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, MIlan

Milan, Italy

Milan, Italy

Milano Centrale railway station

From Milan we took the train to Como, a beautiful village on Lake Como just in time for a nice weather change along with the leaves changing color. Lake Como is 35 minutes north of Milan by train and is at the foot of the Alps.

Lake Como

Autumn Tree on Lake Como

Just before the bite – Como, Italy

Statue at Villa Olmo – Como, Italy

Villa Olmo – Como, Italy

Lake Como, Italy

Arches, Piazza Alessandro Volta – Como, Italy

Statue of Volta, an Italian physicist known especially for the development of the first electric cell in 1800. He was born in Como and taught here. Someone adorned his statue with a real over-sized tie for the fall season. This statue is about 25 feet tall.

You can take the furnicolare to the top of the hill above Como to Brunate. Here you’ll find majestic views of Lake Como with the Alps in the background and several unbelievable Villas.

A view of Curnobbio from Brunate, Italy

Church of San Andrea – Brunate, Italy

From Como, we took the train back through Milan to Florence just in time to see the Ponte Vecchio at twilight.

Ponte Vecchio

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

We stayed in the beautiful boutique Hotel Anglo American in Florence, a hotel which dates back to 1792.

Hotel Anglo American, Florence

The following morning I walked around Florence, or Firenze as it is called in Italy, amazed by how much beauty is everywhere here.

Ponte Vecchio

River Arno

A gondola parked under the Ponte Vecchio

The number one mode of transportation in Firenze

Lungamo degli Acciaioli at Ponte Vecchio – Firenze

Walking around Firenze, it’s easy to turn a corner into an unassuming, perhaps dark and dreary alleyway and find an absolute gem so I highly recommend exploring all the dark corners too. The following couple images were found in places I almost didn’t explore.

Big Bike – Via de Girolami, Firenze

Walking down one dark alley I came to a dead end, turned around and saw this, perfectly framed across the street. This man stopped mid-walk to focus on an article in the paper. Given the fact that it was such a strange spot to stop on this street with such a narrow sidewalk, I felt it was meant to be.

Graffiti is everywhere in Italy and although it’s a nuisance, sometimes it may be a nice additional touch to an otherwise ordinary image.

Maestro Cellini Bust – Ponte Vecchio, Firenze

The RIver Arno is much like a mirror, beautifully reflecting the ancient architecture in Firenze.

River Arno at Ponte Vecchio

Reflective Arno

Skimming across the glass – River Arno

Inside-out

A beautiful fall day in Firenze, Palazzo Vecchio in the background

Next we took the train with Mirkò and Giovanna to the gothic-era walled-city Lucca, one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen. The sites here are unbelievable. Everywhere you look is a perfect picture waiting to be captured by camera or by memory.

Everyone is happy in Lucca, and why wouldn’t they be?

Little Bike, Lucca

A small church in Lucca

Lady in Red, Lucca

Lucca at night

Next we headed out to Chianti to have some good wine and view the old vineyards among the beautiful rolling hills. We were lucky enough to have Shad of Solutions Espresso and his wife Tammy pick us up, as they were staying in a farmhouse out in the countryside. We had a great time exploring the area with good people.

Greve in Chianti

Fattoria Montagliari – Montagliari Vineyard, Chianti

Fattoria Montagliari – Montagliari Vineyard, Chianti

Castellina, Chianti

Castellina, Chianti

Our last day, we walked up to Piazzale Michelangiolo to view Firenze from across the river and visit the Basilica di San Miniato

Firenze from Piazzale Michelangiolo

Headstone at San Miniato

A street violinist plays beautifully as we walk by, a perfect way to end our trip.

The Comic-Con after party with Stretcher at Brick By Brick

Ruby and Chystal’s Rollin’ Circus and Freak Show

Devices, D Frost, Honey Bucket, Hyde, Tritium – Double Down Saloon, Las Vegas

Imperative Reaction, Brick By Brick

Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie – Rock Before Christmas, San Diego Sports Arena

Devices, Decompression, Cortical – Blind Melons

VIII Fraud, Eroticide, FM Revolver, All, Some, or None – Brick By Brick

KRS-One, M.T. Hollis, South Psycho Cide, DJ Sake, Trail Mix-A-Lot – Brick By Brick

Kill Hannah – Epicentre

Devices – Blind Melons