They Call me the Zog-Tog: Sports Photos for ZogSports

Two of my favorite things combine in Photography and Adult Rec Sports (with ZogSports)

 

For the past year, I’ve captured the rise and fall of the adult rec athlete.  From touchdowns to strike outs, Zog brings together active adults from across the spectrum; diverse backgrounds, ages, skill levels, and even different sports.  Players form a team and play in competitive or recreational leagues in the name of competition, camaraderie, and playing for a cause.  Yes, each team plays for their chosen charity.  Zog has a unique take on adult rec sports.  In addition to competing week in and week out, teams also designate a charity or cause.

 

In many leagues, when a team wins a championship, they get a trophy that ends up gathering dust on a bookcase or collecting cobwebs in that corner of the garage you can never seem to organize.  However, at Zog, at each Zog-sponsored, end-of-season party, donation checks are presented to winning teams on a GIANT check (think Publisher’s Clearing House … but at a bar).  Over the last several years, Zog teams have presented more than $3 million in donations to more than 2000 charities.  That’s a whole lot of home-runs, touchdowns and strikes!

 

ZogSports grew from the ashes of tragedy.  Robert Herzog originally founded the organization in New York, following his close close call on September 11, 2001¹.   Zog was founded to bring together like-minded people in an environment that emphasizes fun, giving back and also creates a community.  The city of New York found strength and fostered giving back and making a difference in the aftermath of those cruel attacks.  ZogSports followed that lead and evolved the same “charitable spirit which pervaded the city following 9/11.”

 

It’s exciting to be part of an organization that not only knows how to have a good time, but also gives back to their community.  I also love that each week I am shooting a different sport: soccer, volleyball, football, ultimate frisbee, kickball, bowling, softball… there’s pretty much an option in there for everyone and it’s never boring for the photographer!  It’s good for the soul to be outside in the California sun, at a park or at the beach; it’s hard to have a bad day.  

 

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Want to see more cool sports photos?  Check out my gallery of Sports Photos here

Interested in having photos of your league or team? Contact me here

Want to play? Visit Zogsports.com for league days and times.  ZogSports plays in multiple sports throughout the US and 7 days a week!

¹Learn the story of the tragedy that lead Robert Herzog to found ZogSports here

Your Ultimate Guide to Los Angeles Dodgeball

A fun Monday morning read all about dodgeball; where to play and what to wear!!  Oh, and a number of photos by me 🙂

https://www.citizine.tv/article/your-ultimate-guide-to-los-angeles-dodgeball

#PlayingForPaula

 

I’ve written before about #dodgeballfamily , how the dodgeball community is more then just a rec league where people sweat and throw rubber balls at each other.  When you look across the court and see a ball being hurdled at your face, you might think that people don’t care, but off the court dodgeballers look out for each other.  Paula Rebecca is dodgeballer Ashley Guevara’s cousin.  At the age of 16 Paula was diagnosed with cancer. A family member of the dodgeball family is also family and when a family member is in need the community rallies behind them and in what better way then through a dodgeball tournament to raise funds and show support!

From the #playingforpaula event page:

“In October 2015, my 16 year old cousin was diagnosed with cancer. She’s recently had surgery to remove the infected bone, but she still has more chemo she has to go through. Her name is Paula Rebecca and she loves dancing. Even though this has been a tough situation, she’s managed to maintain her bright, bubbly, and positive personality.

This is a fundraiser tournament where all proceeds will go towards helping my cousin with the medical costs.”

A total of $2,700 was raised from the tournament, if you would like to donate, please contact Ashley at: ag.mpoison@gmail.com

 

2013 in one post…

Sometimes you blink and a year goes by! I know I have had a serious lack of posts, but it’s not for a lack photos. With 2014 now upon me, I am refocusing my photography efforts. I now have a new price list and plan on reworking my website. As I started pulling photos for this blog, I realized, it’s been quite the year! No wonder I didn’t have time to post! Below are my 2013 highlights. Here’s to a fantastic 2013 and looking forward to an even brighter 2014!!

Early in 2013, I started working with an exciting organization, Nerd Nite LA. Nerd Nite LA hosts monthly lectures at Witzend in Venice. Lectures vary in the nerdy topics, discussing topics ranging from Google Glass to new innovations in cancer treatments. As one friend described it, “Nerd Nite is like Ted Talks with booze.” Yes, drinking and heckling the speaker are both encouraged.

Though many new things happened in 2013, some things stayed the same. I continued to shoot dodgeball for the World Dodgeball Society. Covering leagues from Long Beach to Melrose and even a tournament in San Francisco.

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And in venues that sometimes also include the Staples Center

There were also head-shots

And a family trip to Sedona, where I was able to take a breath and shoot scenery instead of people for a few days.

But since it was Spring-training that week we had to stop by for a game in Phoenix on the way home.

In April, my Otis coworkers and I hosted the 2nd Annual Kite Festival. This year we more than doubled our event passing out 2000 kites and having close to 5000 people in attendance. Save the date for next year, we’re planning for it to be even bigger and better, Sunday, April 13th.

KTLA Coverage http://ktla.com/2013/04/14/otis-2nd-annual-kite-festival-sunday-in-santa-monica/#axzz2qWACzoDn

Later that month, I shot the wrap party for the Jeff Prost show. You might remember Jeff Prost as host of Survivor. Jeff and his crew were some of the nicest folks I’ve ever had the pleasure to shoot. It’s rare that you find a crew that cares so genuinely for each other, that even an outsider can feel the warmth.

In the Summer, I returned to Palau with Otis College, which in a lot of ways was like coming home. (More blogs about Palau in past blogs)

One of the more special shoots I had this year was of this little fella’.

He’s truly a miracle baby. His mother was on bed rest for months before he was born and he was still born months early. Every step of the way this little guy had to fight and has won. However, with a dad who is called “Super Dave,” he was born to be a warrior.

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I did my second shoot for AYSO and although it was a long day (thousands and thousands of photos), it was fun to be outside and in the middle of excited kids kicking a ball (that wasn’t going to errantly hit me in the head).

The Year ended for me with a trip to Paso Robles for no other reason then to enjoy and celebrate all the hard work of 2013.

Phew! Ok, so that’s why I was so tired.

Now it’s 2014 and I’m up and running. This year was off to an early start, beginning at sunrise on New Year’s day. If you know me, you know that I love my sleep; however, some things are worth waking up pre-dawn for, such as having the honor to shoot a very special wedding.

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They say what you do the first day of the year can set the tone for the rest of the year. If this is true, it’s going to be a year immersed in photography and surrounded by beauty and love.

Wishing everyone a fantastic 2014; stay tuned! – Allison

Behind the Scenes with X-Games star Tom Schaar

I’ve always been a little envious of people who could skateboard; their ability to glide through space and twist their bodies, creating 360’s 720’s and more. I fall, I’m really good at falling, ok, actually I’m bad at falling, watching the pros gracefully skid to their knees on the ramp, I realize they’re good at falling, I’m even bad at falling.

On an early Saturday morning, I had the pleasure to do behind the scenes photos for Buzz Media’s shoot on Tom Schaar, as part of bing.com’s “Summer of Doing” series. Tom might only be a minor (he’s only 12!), but he is a major star of the X-games! Tom is the first person to land a 1080 (he’s even in the Guinness Book of World Records!), a trick that also won him a gold medal in the China X-Games (making him the youngest ever x-games champ). However, what I quickly learned is that not only is this kid an amazing skateboarder, but he’s also just a great kid!

Looking up to his older brother John, Tom started skating around the age of 4, entering his first competition when he was only 7. So although Tom is only 12 years old, he’s been skating for most of his life. Now a professional skateboarder, years before he can even apply for a learner’s permit, Tom’s family is hugely supportive, but also wants to make sure he enjoys being a kid. I was really impressed by the Schaar family, they are truly a special group and I’m excited to see what the future of skateboarding holds for Tom!!

Below are behind the scene photos from the shoot, to see the awesome video Buzz Media put together click here!

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Taking it to the “Next Level” … Basketball that is

On May 19h and 20th Next Level Sports Complex hosted the “May Madness” youth tournament, hailing close to 50 teams and yielding close to 20,000 photographs! YIKES!! Below are some my favorite photographs from my team (yes thankfully there was a team of photographers and desk people and they rocked!!).

Wow, two in a row of non-dodgeball posts!… Ok, well sort of non-dodgeball posts, I did meet the people for the baseball team and the basketball league because of dodgeball. Gotta say, shooting basketball, made shooting dodgeball feel like cake! However, there is something special about youth sports; the excitement and the purity of kids going out there, competing and having fun is a pretty great thing to be a part of.

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Jordan High School Baseball

I have a backlog of blogs I’ve wanted to post, but with the end of school year chaos, dodgeball tournaments, birthdays, etc, I’ve been remiss. However, with the school year just coming to a close and Palau on the horizon (yep we’re going back!! … photos soon), I had a few hours to sneak away and hang out with a great group of kids from Jordan High School.

The below photos were a nice change of pace. I haven’t shot baseball in years and it felt good to spend a couple hours in the sun enjoying the game I grew up on.

Congratulations to the Jordan High School Bulldogs on completing a tough season.

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Tron Ball the birthday edition

Tron ball take 2… bigger, badder, brighter….

No Boyz Allowed League Invades The Staples Center

Dodgeball at the Staples Center?? Yep, after the Clippers and Blake Griffin were done slam dunking the Wizards, the Ladies of the World Dodgeball Society took the floor to battle it out with an equivalent intensity. Such an epic night, I got to both play and shoot at the Staples Center, special thanks to Alicia to snapping some shots while I was playing! (more photos here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.349644771734699.84982.108534545845724&type=1)

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And just in case you’re looking for more information on dodgeball…. Long Beach dodgeaball made the cover of City Beat Magazine, check it out! http://citybeatlb.com/2012/02/features/hit-squad/

Tron Dodgeball… ohhh yaaaaah

What’s cooler and more daring then regular dodgeball? Black-light dodgeball in a dusty warehouse of course!!

I guess I knew what I was getting myself into, but then again I didn’t. For some reason, when I thought black-light dodgeball I thought laser tag, which it kind of was in a way, but way more intense!! Last Friday, the fog was pea-soup thick which gave the street outside the warehouse an ominous feel, adding to my normal fog of where am I going wonderment. Thankfully, just as I was passing the address, Alicia called and confirmed I was in the right place. I parked and she greeted me at the gate wearing dodgeball tights, glow necklaces and a dust mask, it was quite the outfit. Alicia then guided me with the light from her cell phone through the empty warehouse to the sounds of thunks and laughter and there it was Black-Light Dodgeball aka Tron Dodgeball! It’s kinda like walking into the fight club for the first time, that extra element of danger in the air, I mean, you thought it was difficult to catch a regular dodgeball zooming at you in a well lit gym… well try one in a darkened warehouse while breathing into a dust mask and oh ya, Vince is the one throwing it! Ya, I happily attempted to take pictures of Tron Dodgeball instead of playing and it was pretty awesome even from the sidelines!!