"Catching the Light in Lakewood"

[Alex Belisle]

There's nothing better than exciting HS comeback games like the one I shot this evening (12/8/15) against Avon Lake. I really doubted they could do it, but their resilience and hustle plus a few critical 3 pointers got them back into the game and a victory in the last minute!

http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... basketball

[Alex Belisle]

12/11/15

I've been shooting more with my Sony a6000 using a Zeiss 24mm (35mm equiv.) prime lens f/1.8 (a cropped sensor mirrorless camera with a flip screen) doing on the floor shooting up shots. I like the perspective of these shots. Wished I had this when I was shooting for NIKE (Nike Basketball) in NYC.

There are some of these photos in this album:

http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... basketball

[Alex Belisle]

12/14/15

I know it's the holiday season but the weather is weird (more like spring) and the sky looks weary looking north over Lake Erie. I'm missing the summers at the beach, specifically Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay Park (the largest in NYC) and their outdoor salsa concerts with all the spicy, dancing latinas. So, I mad an album of some of them to lift my spirits and maybe yours (Christmas can be quite depressing for some people)

http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... m-da-bronx

[Alex Belisle]

FEELING SAD

As I sit here feeling sad and upset at things Lakewood, I don't know how to process the fact that a good friend of mine in the UK has been given 3 - 5 years to live due to an inoperable brain tumor.
I tend to bitch and moan about things that are mostly out of my control and later in retrospect prove to be "stupid shit" anyway. Getting old(er) sucks, but so what! Everyone ages, some well, some not.

My friend is 52, a member of Team Great Britain Age-Group Triathlon Team, an outstanding athlete who is now facing death but in the most admirable and tenacious way I have ever witnessed. This is what I wrote to him recently:
" Whenever I start bitching about stupid shit or my age, I'll think about you, our virtual friendship over the last 8 years and your amazingly positive and tenacious attitude about life. I know you'll live the rest of your days to the max. That's who you are and I feel fortunate to have had made your friendship through Nike+ as we both shared a common love for running. Now you have the most important race to run, the one we call life."

This is his blog which he has made public and given permission to share: http://www.madeupname.co.uk/

As Christmas and the joy associated with it approaches, keep in mind the things we really need to be joyful about and which are usually the things we take for granted.

[Alex Belisle]

MY 1st CHRISTMAS IN MY NEW HOME AND IN LAKEWOOD

12/25/15

Sad to say, it's not quite the merry Christmas I thought it would be. The weather is more like spring, warm and wet, not like all the snow we saw when we moved here last January. My wife is recovering from a very bad ankle break but I have to be thankful for the expeditious and professional care she received at Lakewood Hospital.

After being as much of a citizen, helping out as a photographer in different venues and being a participant in various civic activities, I've come to know the 'real' Lakewood that lies behind the facade of "one of the best cities to raise your children" (which with its great school system is very true), I've come to see the "light" that casts a dark shadow over this city.

Although most of the "light" that I've caught in nearly a year in my new abode has been happy, joyful, bright and positive, the "light" that reflects politics and capitalism that all cities cast is particularly disturbing since it exposes those dark shadows that we'd rather not look deeply into.

As much as I may disagree with the decision to close Lakewood Hospital, I can understand the motivations to do so. The primary one which drives everything in our society is that of money and the desire to make more money. I guess the Bible was right when it said "The love of money is the root of all evil." This is what it is and this is what it shall be. Democracy is increasingly morphing into plutocracy in our country.

The other primary motivation is politics. I can understand that too. When I covered the political scene as a newspaper photographer in NYC, my eyes were opened to the corruption and ambitions that are both its bed partners and its driving force. It's no different here, only on a smaller scale.

I'm thankful that the hospital was still open when my wife badly broke her ankle in a fall and the EMS was able to so quickly arrive and the EMTs were so caring and professional in their duties and the Hospital was so close to our home. Not only that, but she was able to get the necessary surgery that very next morning.

Since I'd like to end this post in a positive manner, I have to express the great admiration I have for Lakewood's educational system and the people who are heavily invested in it. Coaches like Mike Ribar and Stephanie Toole and others have really been bright "lights" that shone clearly through the lens of my cameras.

Lastly, my wonderful friends I've made here in Lakewood, both virtual through social media here in NE Ohio and real ones who live on my block and in my neighborhood who have shown me the "light", the bright and shining path to the city on the hill that Lakewood can aspire to if it wants to.

Yes, this Christmas may not be merry, but it is a good day to reflect on what our past, present and futures hold for us.

[Alex Belisle]

12/31/15

It's the last day of my 1st year as a Lakewood resident and happily I think I got my best Lakewood HS basketball photo album from last evening's game with the girls playing Elyria-Catholic (Panthers). I have to say my most positive and uplifting experiences have been my involvement(s) with the Lakewood school system. As a former HS teacher myself, I love working with young people and trying to be a positive influence in their lives. They are our future.

What inspired me while shooting their events was their enthusiasm and hard efforts. The various teachers, coaches and support staff have to be highly commended. It is clear that they have a vested interest in our young people. Some examples were the football team, even with a losing season never complained, spoke badly about each other, railed on their coaches or displayed a losers attitude. And the marching band, cheerleaders, Rangerettes, Sparkle team and vociferous and hugely supportive student section was a joy to watch, listen to and photograph.

Another was the boys soccer team when they beat St. Ed's (Lakewood's archenemy I found out) and they won their qualifier won the sectional championships. That picture was a moneyshot! - such joy and elation.

http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... iacatholic

[Alex Belisle]

I've lived here for nearly one year in about 2 weeks and this was my first trip to Mahalls, which is just a few blocks from my house, to shoot their NYE event. Wow!, what a great venue to have special events like these and such a large group of beautiful people who loved having their pictures taken.


http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... t-20152016

[Alex Belisle]

It's nearly exactly one year that I've been in Lakewood and I'm happy to have my work ("catching the light"/photography) recognized locally. I feel honored 1) to be asked to be a judge of visual arts for a national contest and 2) approached to be a Cleveland-wide sports photographer. It feels good to have your work appreciated. In all things we are measured by our fruit - the quality of our work. Sadly for some truly great creatives, they had to die first. I'm not saying I'm in their category but once again, it's nice to be recognized.

[Lori Allen _]

Congratulations Alex! I have enjoyed your pictures here on the Deck and look forward to seeing many more.

[Alex Belisle]

1/6/16

My 1st day in the Lakewood Citizen's Police Academy was very rewarding, informative and will be exciting when we get to shoot real guns. Organized and run by PO Angela Ortiz and assisted by Lieut. Roger Warren, the 1st day was a station tour and address by the Mayor and Police Chief Timothy Malley. NYPD has similar academies that they run like this one and some of my NYC friends have attended them. These are wonderful ways to enhance both citizen policing and citizen awareness of the law enforcement system especially in light of some of the recent abuses that have been reported in the media.

Matter of fact, everyone who can, should sign up for this. Everyone who has taken this has only good things to say about it. Looking forward to my remaining 11 classes and hope to report on them. And especially looking forward to my ride along where I can bring my camera and hopefully get some good action shots.

[Alex Belisle]

1/9/16

With all the drama, histrionics, stress and hypocrisy, I'd like to post some nice, happy stuff about our educational system and our future (our youth). The Sparkle Effect (a group that helps to promote students with disabilities in activities that encourage inclusiveness) made its basketball cheerleading debut in the Boys Varsity Basketball game vs. N. Ridgeville. It is always a pleasure to see their beaming faces as they catch the light of warmth and acceptance from their peers, teachers and parents in these activities. Our educational system here in Lakewood is doing a great job with programs such as these. In the darkness that enshrouds this town re: hospital, there is "light" and it is reflected in the faces of our youth.

[Alex Belisle]

I love the "faces" of our coaches here in the Lakewood HS sports programs. And when I can catch their "light" which at times looks very dark and ominous like this one of Matt Svetz (the boys JV basketball coach) I like to portray it in black and white to more strongly reveal the mood of the moment

[Corey Rossen]

Great pictures.

Just noticed something in the Sparkle pictures (great program, by the way) and thought of a new possible suggestion for you...

In the last attached picture you posted there are many people in the stands who are looking down at their cell phones while all the action is taking place right in front of them. You could seek moments where the crowd is more taken by their devices than by the action of the game. You could call it "Being in the moment...or not."

Years ago I took someone to a CAVS game and we had floor seats. They spent the entire game leaned back in their chair watching it on the jumbotron overhead. It drove me crazy.

Just an idea/suggestion...

[Alex Belisle]

Corey

Very astute observation. I see it all the time but I also see parents who are riveted on their children at play. I was thinking of what you said and in my "Faces of Lakewood" page on Facebook (check it out) I think I'll post some crowd comparison shots. Thanks.

[Alex Belisle]

After last night's 2nd session at the LPD Citizens Police Academy, I must say I am very impressed with the professionalism, knowledge and dedication displayed by the staff. I say this because even though there are strong disagreements between Lakewood citizens on municipal governmental issues, the LPD is indicative of efficient and effective management of their municipal functions. In other words, I don't see the incompetence, laziness, nastiness et al that I've witnessed in NYC and Cleveland proper. Case in point, LPD is known for having the highest standards in their reports countywide. It's small matters like these that are benchmarks for the quality of city services.

If you haven't been interested in joining the Academy, you should. This newcomer is sure glad he did!