February 2015

#TBT – 2014 Philadelphia Naval Yard Crit

February 26, 2015 by Scott Kingsley in Cycling, Gallery, Road

The Philadelphia Naval Yard Crit was one of my favorite events last year. The race is nestled into the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, which at one time was one of the most important shipyards in the nation. With the evolution of naval warfare, the original shipyard was abandoned and a new facility was constructed on League Island in 1871. Over time, land was reclaimed around the island, connecting it to the shore and creating the Reserve Basin.

During World War II, the shipyard went on to become an important building and repair facility on the east coast, along with continuing aeronautical research at Mustin Field that had begun in the 1917. Research at the facility’s naval laboratory led to the development of the liquid thermal diffusion technique, which separated U-235 for the Manahattan Project.

After the war, many factors led to the base’s eventual decline. Mustin Field eventually closed due to air traffic at nearby Philadelphia International Airport, and ship building began to be consolidated and awarded to private firms. By the 1990’s, most naval activity had come to an end, with a large portion of the yard being leased out to a tanker and shipbuilding firm. By 1995, the once thriving facility of over 40,000 workers had been reduced to a repair and engineering center. In time, many of the buildings fell into disrepair, until the City of Philadelphia took ownership of much of the facility, and began to develop it into a business center. Some buildings were demolished while others are being transformed into modern facilities for a wide range of businesses.

All of that history is what I love about the race. Going into it’s 5th edition in 2015, the the course travels through a mix of urban decay and freshly renovated buildings. The riders pass by many of the historic buildings in the oldest part of the shipyard, including the Chapel, Firehouse, Receiving Station, Enlisted Men’s Quarters, and multiple warehouses, admin buildings, former production facilities. The back drop these buildings provide is incredible. The flat, “P” shaped course has five 90 degree corners, with the start/finish line located where Kitty Hawk Avenue crosses 11th street. Riders who can corner well and accelerate quickly will excel and those who are willing to put in an attack have been rewarded with success in the past. Even with a lack of climbing, it is still one of the hardest crits in the area.

Registration is now open for the 2015 edition, presented by Tri-State Velo.

Click here for the full gallery. Sorry for the watermarks. If you are interested in purchasing any pics without watermarks, please let me know and I’ll get the image posted.

Colavita-Bianchi Women’s Professional Cycling Team Camp

February 20, 2015 by Scott Kingsley in Cycling, Gallery, Road

Back in January, my lovely assistant and I had the pleasure of traveling to Clermont, FL to spend the weekend with the Colavita-Bianchi Women’s Professional Cycling Team at their team camp. I’ve been looking forward to meeting up with the team for my first of many events with them this season. I already knew one of their newest riders from the cyclocross season, Seattle, Washington’s Jessica Cutler, but besides some emails with rider and team director, Mary Zider, it was my first time meeting everyone in person. I also finally met Bicycling’s Selene Yeager, who was also a guest at the camp.

The team had set up operations in a house in Clermont, and had a full list of activities planned each day to maximize the trip for everyone. Before we arrived, each rider had already received their kits and clothing, were fitted on their bikes, and had started to get to know new members of the team. On my first day, I met everyone, and it was off for the first ride. Jame Carney, former director of the team, was there to help out, and ended up being my driver for most of the weekend. He had a Jeep Patriot rental, the back of which became my mobile studio. Besides having a blast shooting, it was great to get to know Jame and receive and education on many parts of the cycling world that most people don’t see or even think about. The rest of the weekend was filled with team rides, head shots in my makeshift studio at the house, team shots at the beach, and editing as fast as I could.

On February 5th, Peloton Magazine posted a press release that came out from Bianchi with my pics from the camp, and the team has also sent out a newsletter to their fans with a recap from camp. Here are some of the pics that have been posted already. Sorry, no gallery on this one, but keep an eye out for pics of the Colavita-Bianchi Women’s Pro Cycling Team later this year. If it is a race on the east coast, chances are it is my pic.

Erica Allar
Morgan Brown
Jessica Cutler
Katie Donovan
Jessica Prinner
Whitney Schultz
Mary Zider – Director
Amanda Rose Shission – Soigneur
Andrea Smith – Mechanic

The Dishart Wedding

February 20, 2015 by Scott Kingsley in Events, Gallery

I can’t believe I didn’t post this sooner. I was looking through some pictures and realized I never posted it. So here it is.

First off, I’m not a wedding photographer. It’s just not what I’m into. It’s not that I don’t like weddings, but I don’t want to have to deal with most brides. There have been two couples I have made an exception for, Dina and Tim Jackson, and Matt and Melinda Dishart. For Dina and Timmy’s wedding, I wasn’t even really an official photographer, but I happened to bring my camera with, and ended up taking some of their favorite pictures of the night. Matt and Melinda were a little different. Matt is the president of the cycling team I belong to, and when the first lady of the Empire asks you to shoot their wedding, you do it. All kidding aside, Matt and Melinda are a great couple, and I was honored to share the photography duties with her sister-in-law, Kathy on their big day.

I’ll admit, I was a bit apprehensive about shooting the wedding. I’m not a fan of staging people and taking their pictures, and I knew there were going to be a lot of wedding-type shots that they would want, and I just wouldn’t think of. That is where Kathy came in, and was a HUGE help. She did most of the staging, and took those wedding shots that I missed. As a team, I think we did a pretty good job. I also had another opportunity to shoot at The Black Comb as the groomsmen all got shaves before the wedding.

I also have to thank my lovely assistant for all of her help. Along with providing my photography services, we also brought the sound system for the wedding, and my lovely assistant did a great job hitting the queues for the music. It was also her encouragement that made me see it was just like any other shoot, except you might have some times where you can retake the shot to get what you want.

So here it is, the Dishart Wedding.

Get JazzED 2015 with Dave Liebman

February 20, 2015 by Scott Kingsley in Events, Gallery

Once a year, the Berks Arts Council holds an event called Get JazzED. A select number of local middle and high school jazz bands are invited to the Citadel in Reading, PA, to work with some legendary names in the jazz world. For 2015, the headlining artist was Dave Liebman, a Brooklyn born saxophonist and flutist with over 50 years in the industry. Liebman has played all over the world, and got his big break when legendary trumpeter Miles Davis hired him to play in his band. From 1970-74, Liebman toured and recorded music with Davis’ ensemble which went on to help define a new sound in jazz and funk. Since then, he has continued playing with a number of artists from around the world.

Many would recognize the work of another great artist in attendance, Bob Dorough. Think back to when you were a kid and listening to Schoolhouse Rock on a Saturday morning. Whether it was Grammar, Multiplication, Science, America, Money, or Earth Rock, Dorough had a hand in writing and performing many of the songs. “Zero, My Hero”, “Three Is A Magic Number”, “Conjunction Junction”, and “Electricity, Electricity” are just a few of his hits. You’re singing them now, aren’t you? That is why these songs were so important. What started as a way to teach kids their multiplication tables through music, started a cultural phenomenon that lives on today. There is more to Dorough than Schoolhouse Rock though. The 91 year old singer, songwriter, composer, producer, arranger, and pianist is still traveling the world performing, and has worked with many greats along with way, including Miles Davis, Mel Torme, and Spanky and Our Gang.

Students also had the opportunity to work with Drummer Marko Marcinko, Bassist Tony Marino, bassist Bennie Sims, keyboardist Cliff Starkey, Dan Pearce, and East Stroudsburg University’s Professor of Music, Pat Dorian. The clinics were held all throughout the Citadel, and culminated with a performance by Liebman, Dorough, Marino, and Marcinko.

Many of these artists will be back in the Reading area for the 25th annual Berks Jazz Fest, so don’t miss your chance to catch many of the great performances during the festival.

Click here for the full gallery.