We were expecting this since the beginning of the week. Yesterday was crazy here in Dover; gas stations had long lines and the grocery stores were packed. It looked like people were doing their last-minute Christmas shopping, except it was for food & gas. The traffic was so heavy with people preparing for the worse, I saw numerous accidents last night on the way home. The funny thing about that was the snow, rain and ice didn’t even start yet.

Anyway, I just wanted to blog and say all is good here in Dover, Delaware! Blogging is better than shoveling snow at this point. I already dug out the cars once this morning at 9 am. By then, we received about 8 inches of snow and it was still coming down. This is a good time to relax, blog, take photos and reading how to “Get Big! 5 Fast-Mass Winter Workouts” in the January 2010 edition of IRON MAN Magazine; starting with the Editor’s Note by Steve Holman on page 26.

Time to go! Dave Goodin and Crystal West are getting a little cold out here.

Every now and then, I receive an email from a news agency requesting permission to use one of my photos I have shot over the past 3 and a half years for IRON MAN Magazine.  Most of the time it is for the positive side of bodybuilding and the promotion of good health and fitness.  So far, I’ve had only one request for one of my photos that a newspaper wanted to use to identify an accused individual in a pending investigation.

Last week I was contacted by the Army Times Publishing Co. requesting a photo I took of David Henry at the 2007 Atlantic City Pro, where he placed 3rd. I’ve taken many more photos of The Giant Killer since that contest but it’s the one they wanted. I personally think some of my better photos of David were from the 2008 Olympia Weekend, Men’s and Men’s 202 and Under, placing 15th and 1st respectively. Photos from the 2009 IFBB New York Pro 202 & Under, 3rd Place; and 2009 Olympia Weekend, Men’s 202 and Under, 2nd Place; are my favorites of David.

One thing I did not know about The Giant Killer is that he is in the Air Force; something we have in common except that I retired from the Air Force in 2001 after 22+ years of service. I have a great deal of respect for David knowing the demands of being a top pro bodybuilder while serving his country. The operational tempo and deployments make it hard for the regular military service member; I can just imagine how hard it is for any pro athlete to train and compete on a regular basis.

I know I went off in a different direction than I intended to but here is the point of this whole blog: Read what David has to say in the article named “Get ripped: Build a bigger, badder, bolder body” in any the following publications:

• Air Force Times
• Army Times
• Marine Corps Times
• Navy Times

David, best of luck in the 2010 pro season and thank you for your service. HOOAH!

It’s been a long time since I blogged. I tried to at the USA and Olympia, both in Las Vegas, but was too busy processing & posting images. This time I’m hoping to have a little more time to blog even though there are 500 competitors between Men, Women, Figure & Bikini.

I’m covering the Nationals with Ironleader this weekend. Between the both of us, we have some fanatstic Canon cameras & lenses to capture the action. I also brought the latest addition to the coverage arsenal; a Canon VIXIA HF S100 HD video camera. I’m hoping to capture some great interviews with Lonnie “The Swami” Teper as he moves around the venue. Tentatively we are hoping to do interview Jon “The Jaguar” Lindsay and Jennifer Nicole Lee. Look for these videos to up sometime this weekend, as well as all the images from this weekend here in beautiful Hollywood, F-L-A!

Catch me on Twitter! Getting ready to head out to Vegas next week for the USA. Got some new toys for video production; can’t wait to use them on Lonnie & Ruth!

Greetings and Happy Easter from Dover, Delaware! I hope all of you enjoying this day with friends and family.

Yesterday, the grandbabies went on an easter egg hunt we had set up in the house; it was too wet outside from the rain we experienced until late afternoon. Before the hunt, Sue made an awesome Easter dinner consisting of ham, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, deviled eggs, and a fruit tray. There was enough food to have fed The Experts, especially Ron “Yogi” Avidan. We cheated on the ham; Sue & I bought a precooked 7-pound boneless ham from the local Amish meat market for about $30. Doing this saved time and oven space; not to mention supporting the local economy in these hard times.

This morning I made everyone ham and eggs for breakfast. It was very enjoyable and relaxing making and eating breakfast with the whole family. It made my day.

For me, the Easter Bunny came a day earlier. I finally gathered all of my tax info and went to see my tax man. After spending about 20 minutes in his office, he uttered a word to me that I have not heard in about 10 years; “REFUND,” on both federal and state returns. I almost fell out of my chair. It had rained most of the day yesterday but I was seeing sunshine after hearing that.

Now about the attached picture. Some of you may wonder what IRON MAN photographers do between contests besides our daytime jobs. I know Merv Petralba photographs weddings in the Southern California area. I do whatever it takes or jump on any opportunity that comes my way. On April 4th, I helped my co-worker and photographer, Jason Minto, owner of Jason Minto Photography in Dover, Delaware. He asked me to help him with a job at a local college that required on-site printing; pictures with the Easter Bunny. The alumni association provided a free 4×6 print of children with the bunny. Actually, I think half of all photos we shot and printed, 50 percent were of young children and the remaining 50 percent were either parents or college students with the big bunny. Everybody loves the Easter Bunny!

Happy Easter to all!

Another year has come and gone for both of us.  It’s hard to believe that you are 67 today; I still see you as if you were still in your 30’s or 40’s.  I take it I’m safe repeating your age since Lonnie’s Teper’s blog was the first to go up today wishing you a happy birthday.  I also posted his blog, too.  Now that I have a few minutes, I can post my birthday wishes to you.  One of my favorite pictures of you was taken by Steve Downs.  That whole series of photos taken at Vince’s Gym is the way I still see you.  It’s amazing how a single photo can trigger so many wonderful memories.

I hope you have a great day and I wish you many more healthy years to come.

Love, Roland