Sorting Pics for Grand Canyon/Hoover Dam

Had a great time at the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon, currently sorting pics for uploading. One more week here in the US and then I'm back to blighty:

What's coming up...

Just to let the billions of followers know that possibly two very good updates coming soon. Firstly we're visiting the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon this coming week then on the following weekend photographer Dwight McCann (click on name to see his work) has kindly allowed me to use his studio to take some portrait shots of my sister Sadaf and her husband James.
Dwight is an amazing photographer and character and very kind with helping me learn more about photography and the amount of equipment he has is mind blowing!

Finally I've included a picture of a local lad made good here in Lompoc. Rory is a drum major and has been selected to represent his school, Lompoc, and indeed the US in the New Years Parade in London. At seventeen it's his first trip to London and as you can imagine he is very excited. His mother Darlene is naturally very proud of him.
He is currently raising money for the trip and I wish him the best of luck, I hope to see him at the parade. Here he is with his mother and younger sister Cecilia:

BBQ and Sparring

Ok, a double topic post. I had a sparring session on friday, with an undefeated pro MMA fighter no less! I was quite poor - I havn't sparred in ages and was a bit nervous. My opponent took it easy on me by request but i was still badly flagging by the end. Apologies for the out of focus camera work!

On saturday a much moe relaxing experience at the POTN central coast BBQ, graciously hosted by Dwight McCann. POTN is a forum for Canon Camera owners. It was great to meet fellow photography enthusiasts and learn so much from them. My pictures are poor quality but the tri-tip steak was most excellent!

My Favourite Boxing pics..

I've got too many pics and couldn't possibly show them all which is a shame as there are many good ones.(If you click on the slideshows below you can view the whole album at photobucket). Big thanks to Pepe(the guy with the mohawk) and the other boxers. Pepe is a pro and the others are the cusp of turning pro and are very generous in helping me with my technique, he promised to set me up with sparring session next week. I might get someone to film that and may upload it depending how badly i get beaten. Here are some of my favourites...

Boxing Pt 2 Slide show

More boxing pics..more to come.

Boxing Pt 1 Slide show

Ok, because of the volume of pics i took (over 2000) i have to break this up. I've selected a random few to make a slide show. More to come..

Shooting Range

One of the true cultural differences between Americans and the British is the attitude towards guns. An afternoon spent firing one's 9mm at human shaped targets might be viewed with some consternation and disapproval by my compatriots but it's quite a common past time here in the US.
I won't get involved in the gun debate except to say it's good fun firing my sisters gun!