#lefteyeimages

[pedalingontheroadoflife]

Was fortunate to score another plane share before dawn with some great photographers Doug Perrine, G. Brad Lewis and skilled pilot Scott Wilson with Aloha Skies Aviation here on the Big Island of Hawaii. Tomorrow is my last day in Puna so trying to cover as much ground as possible, AP picked up another dozen images today so that takes the sting out of the expenses to come - I’d have done it either way! While there has been lava in the caldera chamber on and off for eons, it is totally drained now and being fed through the lava tubes along the new rift zone and still pumping like mad mostly out of Fissure 8. A cone is now forming on three sides and growing higher daily, lava pouring out and forming what folks here are calling “The River” flowing all the way down to Kalapana miles away and ending at the ocean. As devastating and it’s been to hundreds of residents and their properties there’s no denying to beauty and power of nature. More to come!

[pedalingontheroadoflife]

Women’s UFC Featherweight Cris Cyborg defeated Holly Holm after 5 hard-fought rounds during their UFC219 fight at the T-Mobile Arena. Seems to me others saw things a bit differently but I saw Holm take the fight to Cyborg, connect often and stay extremely active. Clearly it was close but I’d have given it to Holly this time, guess that’s why I’m not a ring judge :D

[pedalingontheroadoflife]

Of course I would have preferred to be shooting game action at the T-Mobile Arena but that’s not how it worked out this time. Instead I enjoyed the evening with 4,500 others on hand to watch the Vegas Golden Knights battle the Washington Capitals during their first Stanley Cup finals game on the big screen at a Henderson Pavilion watch party. Was a lot of fun, some great energy and lots of laughs too. One of the best parts was a lone Washington Capitals fan John Straum amongst a sea of Knights fans who had the guts to rise and celebrate each time they scored, he took the loss well too and will be back Wednesday to try it again. That’s a fan!!!

[pedalingontheroadoflife]

Awesome to be in the building as the Vegas Golden Knights edged out the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 during their first NHL playoff game at the T-Mobile Arena. No ice-level position but my spot from the second level is quite good too, easier to see what’s going on for sure. So many great shots on goal but it just took one to win, Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) faced many too but rejected them all. The game was chock full of hard hits, steals and skirmishes with the intensity level clearly up for both teams. Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) is excellent too and it seems these will be low scoring games. Enjoyed the giant helmet descending down to the ice, my sports entertainer friend Cameron Hughes grabbing a fan’s popcorn bucket and tossing it in the air, the group of front-row Elvis’ and much more. Excited for tomorrow night’s game already!

[pedalingontheroadoflife]

Might as well jump on the bandwagon and post some of my pics from the Vegas Golden Knights against the San Jose Sharks during their first game of round 2 in the Stanley Cup playoffs at the T-Mobile Arena. Was quite the rout, certainly not what was expected in their first meeting and hope it continues. A fantastic team effort for sure especially with all the cheap shots by the Sharks, Fleury a force as usual in the net. Will be on other freelance Saturday so will have to monitor the game online, possibly I won’t cover another until the 3rd round if all goes well next week :D

[pedalingontheroadoflife]

Finally made it to the Kilauea east rift zone for some lava coverage, a little tired but I’ll sleep when I’m dead. Access is super tight, checkpoints all over and even with credentials one can’t go in the restricted zone without an escort. Will be going out with the Hawaii Air National Guard once or twice a day as permitted, other than that scouring the Pahoa area for residents, agencies and such. There are a few shelters set up but access for media is restricted too, just gotta hustle and find the good stuff. Will be in the air at least once and on the water too hopefully soon.

Got to see fissure #8 from the park in Leilani Estates last night, even behind a grove of trees it was an impressive 250 ft. high, from the air will be amazing I bet. We then saw a river of lava at the end of a street but had to stay pretty far back, gotta take what the Guard will give me. Also, found a weekly community meeting at Pahoa High School where they do updates on all things eruption. Photographed Vacationland residents Tetyana Khodus, dog Cooper and husband Uri who just looked spent, getting ID’s after I came to learn they had just lost their home within the last 24 hours as the lava made its way through Kapoho. Tough stuff, more and hopefully better to come!

[pedalingontheroadoflife]

Pleased to have been able to cover game 4 as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Winnepeg Jets 3-2 at the T-Mobile Arena as the Stanley Cup playoffs get down to the nitty gritty. Working for Powers Photography I had a great vantage point yet seemed to be on the backside of the action, most big plays on the other end of the ice or back to me though I gave it my best effort. Al told me that sports photography is 50% skill combine with 50% luck and I’ll have to agree, headed to soccer now and will give it my best again because that’s what we do!

[pedalingontheroadoflife]

Busy three days concludes with coverage for Sipa USA at the Billboard Music Awards on the Red Carpet then press room where winners showed off their hardware within the MGM Grand Garden Arena. It’s a challenging situation out there on a riser four bodies deep by twenty all blasting away and doing their best to catch the attention of those walking. They don’t spend a whole lot of time out there but glad to see the likes of Janet Jackson, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, BTS, Christina Aguilera, Kesha, Chantel Jeffries and 21 Savage with Post Malone, Plenty more to work...