Oct 17
Completing In A Photography Contest
Posted on Sunday, October 17, 2010 in Entertainment
The best way to assess an individual's photography talents can be to enter a photography contest and be judged by their peers. After putting all the work into learning about photography and gaining the skills needed to take decent photographs, entering a photography contest can seem like the next appropriate step to take. It is a way to have your work viewed by other photographers, thus advertising your skills on a wider level. A photography contest generally comprises of various levels and areas of photography and so it is important for the contestants to be certain of categories that they should be submitting their work to. It can be necessary to pass certain requirements and/or to pay fees in order to enter a photography contest. Some photography contests only allow amateurs to enter and this can keep the contest fair, as it will not pit a total amateur against a professional. This is also why there tends to be different categories and skill levels. The category is important, as it can be very hard to judge macro photography against general wildlife photography. Entering a photography contest is a good idea for any photographer whether they win or lose. It can give the photographer an idea of how they may improve their work and also give examples of what their peers are working on in the meantime. Entering many contests can provide the background to enable a photographer to win contests in the future. Losing a contest does not mean that the photographer is bad at what they do; it simply means that they did not provide what the judges were looking for at that time. Winning a Photography Contest Winning a photography contest can be a stroke of luck for many people. Some win on their first try by simply having an excellent piece of work on show. Nobody is perfect however and there is always room for improvements. The contest will probably have some requirements or be looking for a certain type of photography in particular and it is important to bear this in mind. Entering the same contest every time it runs can be helpful as it may provide background into the type of work that appeals to the judges and so the contestants can aim for this in the future. Entering a wide variety of contests can be advantageous on various levels. It can advertise a person's work to a large amount of people and begin establishing a photographer's name in the field. The various judgments and critiques can be more useful than compliments as they help the photographer focus on areas they need to work on. Winning a photography contest can also be helpful to those that are interested in becoming professional photographers, as winning competitions can be a nice addition to a resume, especially if the contest is particularly prestigious. Many people feel confused that they cannot take the beautiful wedding pictures with glasses. Choosing the contact lenses and a top photographer to serve your wedding ceremony may be cool.
Oct 12
Cowboys Trounce Seahawks
Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 in Entertainment
Quarterback Tony Romo had another solid game, and the Dallas Cowboys made short work of the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon in a 38-17 victory. Romo threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, and receiver Miles Austin caught a touchdown pass for the third straight game. The Cowboys improved to 5-2 with the win, while the Seahawks dropped to 2-5. The Cowboys also got on the winning side of the NFL pointspread ledger with the win and cover as -10 home favorites. Dallas is now 4-3 against the spread for the season, while Seattle fell to 2-5 versus the number. Romo has made greater patience in the pocket a priority this season, and it's paying dividends. Sunday's game was his third straight without an interception and he's stayed interception free in five games this season-more than he did all of last year. Romo couldn't resist a joke at his own expense: "Shock! I'm seeing things. It's as simple as that. I'm not throwing and hoping." Head coach Wade Phillips expressed his pleasure, but didn't want his team to start believing their own press clippings: "I feel good about the progress we've made, but we've still got a ways to go." Team owner Jerry Jones was happy with the performance and already looking ahead to next Sunday's game at Philadelphia: "I'm just glad to see as many people really do as well and play as well as they did today. Philadelphia is the kind of game that I think we're ready for. ... Plus, I think we all remember so much -- I know I do and so many players on this team remember -- how we left Philadelphia last year." Seattle quarterback Todd Hasselbeck played well, amassing 249 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions but didn't get much help from a defense that couldn't put the necessary pressure on Romo. He sounded frustrated in his postgame comments: "We put two weeks into this game plan. I felt like we were ready. We just didn't get it done. .... I feel physically drained, emotionally drained. I'm frustrated. We're all searching for answers." The big game for the Cowboys that Jerry Jones alluded to is next Sunday night as they travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles. The Cowboys have been installed as +3 underdogs with the total set at 47'. They'll head to Green Bay to take on the Packers the following Sunday. Seattle will host the lowly Detroit Lions next Sunday, with the Seahawks a -10 home favorite and the total set at 43. They'll hit the road for their next two games, facing the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings. Ross Everett is a freelance writer and noted authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
Sep 24
Carolina Thumps Slumping Tampa Bay
Posted on Friday, September 24, 2010 in Entertainment
Carolina Panthers' quarterback Jake Delhomme struggled on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was fortunate that his running backs bailed him out. Delhomme threw for only 65 yards with two interceptions, but D'Angelo Williams (152 yards) and Jonathan Stewart (110 yards) kept the chains moving as the Panthers won their second straight game defeating the Bucs 28-21. Tampa Bay has now lost ten straight dating back to last season and are 0-6 for the first time since'85. Carolina improved to 2-3 with the victory. NFL sports bettors were faced with a choice between two teams with dismal ATS records in this game, and those who had the guts to take a 1-3 team as a -3 road favorite were rewarded with the cover. It was Carolina's first NFL pointspread cover of the season and left them with a 1-4 record against the number. Tampa Bay has covered one of their six games this year. The 49 points scored went OVER the total of 40'. Delhomme attempted only seven passes in the second half, but the way Williams and Stewart were running there was no reason to put the ball in the air. Williams said that even though Tampa Bay knew what was coming they couldn't stop the Panthers' running game: "I'm sure everybody in the stadium knew what we were going to do. There were times they had nine in the box and we were still getting 7 or 8 yards." There's been little impatience locally with Bucs' rookie head coach Raheem Morris, but his weekly habit of explaining the obvious to rationalize yet another loss is starting to wear thin: "We got overpowered at the end, and really throughout the game." Carolina safety Dante Wesley was ejected after clobbering Bucs' return man Clifton Smith after a fair catch call. After the game, Wesley gave this defense for his actions: "I was just trying to make a play. You can check my record. I've never really tried to hurt anybody. I've never tried to take a cheap shot on anybody." Wesley could face a possible fine or suspension from the NFL but, in all fairness, it did appear to be a momentary mental lapse as he was trying to make a big play and not a deliberate attempt to injure Smith. Tampa's schedule has the look of them going from 'the frying pan into the fire' as they host the New England Patriots next Sunday-fresh off of their 57 point drubbing of Tennessee. The Bucs are +14 home underdogs to the Patriots with the total set at 45. They'll get a week off after that contest and return to action on November 8 as they host the Green Bay Packers. Carolina has an easier draw, hosting the Buffalo Bills next Sunday. The game is currently off the board pending the status of Bills' QB Trent Edwards who suffered a concussion in Sunday's win over the New York Jets. The Panthers will then play on the road the following two Sundays, traveling to Arizona and New Orleans. Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
Sep 6
UFC 88 Flashback: Rashad KO’s Liddell
Posted on Monday, September 6, 2010 in Entertainment
Rashad Evans was fighting for respect. He didn't scream about demanding respect in his prefight interviews because hes smart enough to know that respect must be earned. He earned it and then some with a devastating 2nd round TKO of Chuck Liddell in the main event of UFC 88: Breakthrough. If Evans needed any more validation of how little respect he was getting, he could have taken a look at the UFCs text message prediction poll of the main event which favored The Iceman by a whopping 81% to 19% margin. Or he could have listened to the UFC announcers, who had all but penciled Liddell in for a return to light heavyweight title contention after his inevitable victory. Instead of complain, Evans let his fists do the talking and with a perfectly placed overhand right will likely never have to worry about a lack of respect again. From the opening horn, Evans showed no fear of Liddells once legendary power. Instead, he danced and moved (which was dumbly criticized as showboating by the UFC announce team), using his slick footwork and speed to dart in and out of range of Liddells punches. In the process, he was able to use his superior handspeed to get off first. His punches werent exactly highlight reel power shots at this point, but were nonetheless effective as evidenced by a cut opened under Liddells eye. The end was to come in the 2nd round. Liddell backed Evans up near the cage wall and went to throw an uppercut. Simultaneously, Evans responded with an overhand right that landed quicker, harder and more accurately. The perfectly placed punch knocked Liddell out cold and referee Herb Dean jumped in to cover him up and wave off the fight without taking a second look. Rashad Evans raised his record to 17-0-1 with the TKO victory. Liddell, meanwhile, saw his record drop to 21-6. Liddells loss notwithstanding, it was a good night for UFC veterans as Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson won their fights in impressive fashion. Franklin looked particularly sharp in dismantling tough Matt Hamill, eventually prevailing by 3rd round TKO. This was the UFCs first trip to Atlanta and despite a good attendance the crowd itself was somewhat disappointing. In a marked contrast to the knowledgeable and enthusiastic fans at the Target Center in Minneapolis for UFC 87"arguably the best MMA crowd ever at a US venue"the live crowd at Phillips Arena often acted as if they were at a taping of Georgia Championship Wrestling. Every foreign fighter was booed mercilessly"including South Korean Kim. Perhaps the audience didnt realize that South Korea has been a US ally since its establishment after WW II. More problematic was the crowds utter lack of respect for the fighters postfight. Poor Dong Hyun Kim was booed during his postfight interview--not quite the respect that a 4th degree judo black belt whod just won a very tough fight deserves. Kims treatment by the fans cant be written off as a reaction to a close split decision victory; Rashad Evans was booed after his victory over Liddell, and short of decapitating The Iceman there was no way his win could have been more decisive. Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on baseball betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
Aug 11
Saints Top Vikings To Advance To Superbowl
Posted on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 in Entertainment
Until Sunday, it looked as if the return of Brett Favre to the NFL would have a storybook ending and propel the Minnesota Vikings to the Superbowl. Instead, the New Orleans Saints will be heading to the Superbowl for the first time in franchise history. Garrett Hartley nailed a 40 yard field goal in overtime to give the Saints a 31-28 victory in the NFC Championship game after Brett Favre was intercepted deep in Saints territory during the final seconds of regulation. Favre may be headed back to retirement, while the Saints are headed to Miami to play the biggest game of them all. The Vikings did reward NFL betting fans who took them as +4 underdogs with a pointspread cover. Minnesota finished the season a solid 11-6-1 against the NFL pointspread while the Saints head into the Superbowl with a 9-9 ATS mark. The 59 combined points scored went OVER the posted total of 53'. After the game, head coach Sean Payton drew an analogy to the city of New Orleans' recovery after Hurricane Katrina: "This is for everybody in this city. This stadium used to have holes in it and used to be wet. It's not wet anymore. This is for the city of New Orleans." Winning quarterback Drew Brees extended that same metaphor: "In reality, we had to lean on each other in order to survive and in order to get where we are now. The city is on its way to recovery, and in a lot of ways has come back better than ever. We've used the strength and resiliency of our fans to go out and play every Sunday and play with the confidence that we can do it, that we can achieve everything we've set out to achieve." Place kicker Hartley was low key despite securing the victory with his overtime field goal: "Just helping my team get to Miami. Just doing my part." Brett Favre didn't have much to say in defeat: "I've felt better. It was a physical game. A lot of hits. You win that and you sure feel a lot better." Mississippi native Favre did throw his support behind the Saints: "I would have loved to represent the NFC. But, as I told Sean throughout the year when we talked, if it's not us, I hope it's you guys." The Vikings gave up a total of five turnovers including three fumbles. That, said running back Adrian Peterson, was the game: "We really gave those guys the game. Too many turnovers. It's eating me up inside. Ross Everett is a consulting advisory handicapper advisor for Oddsbay. He's a highly respected expert on soccer betting, as well as a published freelance writer specializing in sports betting, horse racing, falconry and model railroading. He lives in Las Vegas with his Asian houseboy, three Jack Russell Terriers and a retired racing wombat.