Jul 31 2008
Flyin’ High with Ben (Pic of the Week)
(click to enlarge. Cropped.)
Benjamin soared at a recent birthday party. Later, I threw him (pics follow).
This place was great. During the school year it’s a preschool with a gymnastics bent, and in the off season its doors are open to anyone who shells out cash, and their guests. The kids can play in bounce houses, inflatable obstacle courses, and, of course, the pit of foam cubes.
Then the staff doles out the squirt guns. (click any pic to enlarge)
The only restriction was “stay on the blue mats,” which floored a huge portion of the place. We adults couldn’t help joining in the action, and a few brandished a water pistol in each hand, relentlessly soaking anyone who even looked at them funny. Welcome to Texas!
I was fairly disappointed that most of the serious gymnastics equipment was off limits. Back when I was eight I had a mean balance beam dismount. We learned this one killer tumbling routine to the tune of the groovy disco adaptation of the Star Wars theme (back when there was only one movie).
These shots are a little noisy (grainy) because it was fairly dim in there and I shot at 1600 ISO. Because I still had to use slow shutter speeds, my main goal was to get some panning shots wherein the subject is sharp and the background is motion-blurred. I did okay. Of course my lovely wife shot the one of Ben and me.
Great pictures Mark! Looks like Ben and his dad had a nice time..
Have a great weekend!
Hmmm, another “throwing a child into a pool” picture. If only I had the time today, I’d splice in a bit of Mustafar for a “The Moment Ben became Little Vader” shot. But alas, I shall have to content myself with imagining it.
Alos, I kinda dig the graininess, it makes the motion pop a bit more
I’m glad pic of the week is back, but where’s the new banner for August? Didja forget???
Nooooooo. No new banner. You just can’t improve on a picture of me..multiple me-s, even better. Is my time at the top truly over? It feel slike I just got there :(
Sorry Moksha, your time is at an end. I’m sure Mark will rectify that soon enough.
This makes me think of how much both our boys loved their gymnastics classes every week. I think the most fun I had was tossing them into the similar big pit filled with foam cubes. And then leaping in after them. Good times.
Flying through the air and playing with water guns. What’s not to love. Sounds like any young boy’s dream party.
Dave - We all had a great time! I just didn’t happen to take any pictures of my lovely wife.
Moksha - Ah, yes, I almost forgot about that photo you so skillfully altered. Good stuff.
Shan - Oops. Thanks, dear. All fixed now. Some of you may need to force your browser to reload everything (Shift-F5 or Shift and click the refresh button)
Moksha - I admit that was one of my favorite banners ever.
Simon - I found the one I had prepared for August. So, your visage shall have to wait for its chance to shine in the banner.
Eve - That’s all’s I’m sayin’. But, the girls and ladies were right out there with them.
Yeah, I was wondering how you managed to get in a pic!!! Fun place!
Great pics. I love that ya’ll spend quality time like this with your kiddo.
I think the photos are really cool, they’re all actiony.