Cross Country

It’s been a little while since I posted anything here on the blog so I thought I would talk about the Cross Country meet this past weekend. Now as a photographer you sometimes have to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to try something new. Now some of you might be saying shooting a sporting event is nothing new for me but in truth every sport offers different challenges and perspectives. This was my first cross country meet ever. Now since I did not know how the whole thing works I was lucky enough to find one of my co-workers whose son was running in the event. This was an opportunity to learn about how the course was going to be run and where the best vantage points to capture the action would be. I was able to jump around to 4 or 5 different spots within the course and see the race from different angles. Getting from one location to the next on the course was a matter of moving my feet and walking quickly to try and catch the runners that I knew in the race. I’ll give the runners some credit I walked to the spots and they ran the 5k course and made me work to get the shots I did. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and I am a fan of cross country racing. Check out some of the photos from my website at: www.mikedugganphotography.com/sports

Wonderful Photo Journal

I wanted to highlight a recent photography blog that I have been following. The blog is entitled “Photography Blogger”. It is a creative photo journal that shows some stunning photographs and interesting photographic topics. Look for the link on the right side under “My blog list”

Baltimore Ravens Training Camp

I took the opportunity this morning to visit the Baltimore Ravens at training camp. A pleasant morning brought a large crowd to McDaniel College in Westminster, MD to see the Ravens prepare for the upcoming season. The players warmed up and then completed different drills based on position. The quarterbacks received a lot of attention form the crowd as did the defense back field players. I hope you enjoy the photos and as always please visit my web site to see the rest of the photos under the “sports” section.


Receiver Demetrius Williams (87) gets past corner back
Chris Carr (30)


Corner Back Evan Oglesby setting up.



Line backer Brendon Ayanbadejo

Quarterback Troy Smith dropping back

Quarterback Joe Flacco taking the snap

from center Chris Chester.

Joe Flacco looking down field

Troy Smith take the snap from center David

Hale

Quarterback John Beck searching for a receiver

Cornerback K.J. Gerard at the ready

The Maginot Line - Hackenberg Fortress

The Hackenberg Fortress is the largest of the fortifications along the Maginot Line. The site (on the outskirts of Veckring France) was chosen due in part to the forested ridge that rises 1,125 feet and the proximity to Germany which is only 8 miles or 13 kilometers from the boarder. The Hackenberg Fortress was the largest of the fortresses along the line and was the proto type for the remaining fortress. The French occupied the fortress from 3 Sept 1939 until the French cease fire on 25 June 1940. The Germans maintained control of the fortress until 17 Nov 1944.

More information on Hakenberg Fortress can be found here.


Front of Fortress

Front of Fortress

E.M. is the entrance. We traveled to B9 which is 1 mile
deep within the fortress and underground.


Rail line for transport supplies and men

Outside Block 8

Shell that bombed fortress

Shelled by Americans in 1944

Barracks

Operating Room

Dental Clinic

X-Ray system

The Maginot Line - Fort Schoenenbourg France

The Maginot Line was an immense fortification between France and Germany. After the First World War, where France suffered horrendous loses in both men and buildings, Andre Maginot designed a fortification system that was in theory going to be an impenetrable fortification between France and Germany.

The photos below show the fortification called Fort Schoenenbourg which is located in the Haguenau region of Alsace, France. The Maginot Line was constructed between 1930 and 1940. Unfortunately we arrived late and were not able to view the interior of the fortification. I was able to tour the inside a few years back and can only say that it was a small city within itself.

More information can be found at:
http://europeanhistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa070601a.htm

http://www.bunkertours.co.uk/the_maginot_line.htm

Switzerland

Well I thought that Switzerland was beautiful the last time I was there, but now I am convinced it is one step away from heaven. Along the way we stopped at a rest area and where I took these shots. Can you believe that such beauty exists right off a major highway?

We stopped in a little town called Beckenried, Switzerland. Beckenried is right on the crystal clear Lake of Lucerne in the Swiss Alps.

Lake Como, Italy

We departed Vicenza Italy for Germany via Switzerland. Along the way we passed Lake Como, Italy and made a detour to view the town and take in some of its flavor. The photos below do not do justice to the town due to photos being taken in the harsh mid day sun. It was a warm pleasant day with abundant sunshine.

This is how the rich and famous arrive. :)