Monthly Archives: January 2014

Last night I was granted clearance to photograph Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean at Xcel Center in St. Paul MN. I am not really a country music fan, but I am still shooting under the moniker of TownSquare Media, so I requested to be in the house for them.
This was my first shoot since my ankle injury 16 weeks ago.

With three days left in 2013, I was fortunate to be presented with an opportunity to purchase a variety of Nikon lenses which will facilitate me going after more gigs, for now I have the confidence of equipment ownership. It’s makes having to rent lenses no longer a need.

Even though I have used these lenses before, it was rather fun to go to the new equipment case and look over eight different lenses and decide “What I should shoot with tonight”

Since I knew I would be shooting from the sound board, I choose the 70-200mm f2.8 with a 2x convertor and the 24-70mm f2.8.

It was a difficult shoot. Florida Georgia Line used alot of intense back lighting, which looked good from a distance, but was a bitch to shoot up close. I had a photographer on each side of me from major publications and one was yelling the obscenities I was thinking.

I was able to create, but it was a challenge.

The full set can be view here:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/joebielawa/sets/72157639905181523/ 

Jason Aldean’s lighting was alittle more conducive to shooting, but he was still yards away, it’s difficult to get in close.

I am excited by the prospect of having these lenses. They will give me far more accessibility to create even more imagery than I was capable of in the past, and with the events that are on my calendar, it will be an exciting prospect at that.

Fifteen weeks since the ankle break, 14.5 weeks since the surgery to repair the break, and I am back full-time in my employment role starting today.

I met with the surgeon last week and she is still amazed at my progress.  I have been experiencing some discomfort on the inside of my ankle opposite where the pins and plate were placed to repair the break.  When I described my concern to her, she indicated that it was a stressed Posterior Tibial Tendon, which is common with runners from over activity. She said: “Dude! When most of my patients are just starting to walk with out crutch or cane assistance at 14 weeks post surgery, you are suffering a runner’s injury. Dial it back a little”

Can you image?!? An addict in recovery obsessing?  So I am trying to take it easy.

It is great to be back at the gym and working out. I am just starting with what was once my normal routine, yet still not at the level I once was. I am exercising my right leg more than the left as I rebuild the muscle that has atrophied. But it is returning, gradually. Exercise and movement are my anti-depressants, and its no wonder I was riding through a rough for the eight weeks post surgery, as I was immobile for the first stage of the healing.

Since there is a risk, there is no winter biking riding, nor will there be until spring….unless I travel to a warm climate for a bike ride.

Which brings me to my lack of writing.  Consumed with a certain darkness, I just didn’t feel complied to write.

A page turns, a calendar flips and it’s all about renewal. Ya. Ok. whatever.  I’m not one for resolutions.

There are things on the horizon that have me excited. And I will keep my momentum going forward with hope that these events will come into fruition.