Eyes on a Tiger...

Denton York's mom did everything she was supposed to do.

She covered her bases... called early... asked questions... did her due diligence... locked up a prime spot for her son the first of August.

All the plans were perfectly placed... locales selected, outfits picked out... and then it happened.

Just like a nasty curveball that Denton mixes in after a white hot 86 mph heater, the session hit a snag.

As a part of back-to-back state basketball teams at Grinnell High School, it was originally the plan to get on the floor at GHS's gymnasium.   The state banners... the scoreboard... the Tiger logo blasting out of the wall behind the basket.   All needed to be taken in and documented.

Except for the little part about the floor being completely redone and painted.

Waaa... waaa... waaa... WAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Angie and her husband, Brian Bond (yes, East Marshall followers... THAT Brian Bond - Class of 1994) pleaded worked every angle with the athletic director, but they were assured... no one would be setting foot on that floor for a couple of weeks minimum.

So our marching orders were set... we would have to return for the basketball images at another date... in the meantime we still had lots to do.

Clearly this was a session centered around sports even without an opportunity to get on the hardwood.   Mr. York had just finished his junior campaign at Grinnell where he roamed the area around 3rd base and used every bit of his 6-foot-5, 210 pound frame to bring fastballs with authority for the Tigers.   Football just started yesterday for big number 74 and he'll be holding down one of the tackle positions for Coach Jim Dunne this fall.

It only made sense then to meet Angie, Brian and Denton down in Grinnell then to start our day on the baseball diamond there west of the school.  We covered every angle... mom holding reflectors... step dad gettin' down and dirty holding auxiliary flashes whenever and where ever we needed.

A young man of few words, his serious look certainly fit the bill on the sports stuff to be sure.

I caught up with Brian... got the low down on Grinnell athletics... got him up to speed with East Marshall's and told Denton I wish my son had a few 6-5, 210 pounders to rub shoulders with on the offensive line or on the front count.

We eventually left Grinnell and drove north about 20 miles to the studio and tortured Denton some more before finally ending up with some more sports stuff, fittingly.

I'm not so sure that his folks weren't more excited when we got all the sports stuff hung up and then starting lighting stuff on fire.

:)

At the end of the day, however, we still had only 90 percent of things completed.   So a reschedule was in order and I would make a encore down at GHS a couple weeks later.  

We walked into the beautiful gym two nights ago and the smell of paint was still in the air.   After about 30 minutes of tearing down duct taped plastic that was everywhere to protect from overspray, and wiping down essential surfaces like glass backboards and padding behind hoops we were finally in business.

Again... Angie and Brian were busting it from spot to spot giving me all the help I could ask for and our two-time state qualifier was covering that gym like a Dr. Tom Davis full court press.

Two hours later the gym cried uncle and at long last, Denton's session had come to completion.   I told our guest of honor that he'd always be the first to be photographed on the new floor there.   That makes him the originator... and all else imitators.   He smiled probably the best grin I had seen in two trips to see the giant young man... shook my hand... thanked me for my efforts, and I was on my way.

His folks kept thanking me for extra effort and such, but I assure them that this is just what I do on a regular basis.   It didn't hurt that what they were asking me to do was right in my wheelhouse, but nonetheless, I hope the images do justice to Team York/Bond/Stewart's teamwork.