A Photographer’s Gamble…

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On April 18, 2010 MGM Grand in Las Vegas hosted the Academy of Country Music Awards.  The award show where everybody who is anybody in the world of Country Music is in attendance. 

For two years, I had been requesting permission to attend.  (I did not send in this year… only so many times you can be told ‘no.’)  Sending in forms, and waiting and waiting… only to be told ‘no.’  Of course being told ‘no,’ is done very politely… as you can see: “Regretfully, we are not able to accommodate your Media Credentials Request for the Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. We are limited on space this year and I’m sorry we do not have room for all of the amazing, amazing media we would like to have on-site. Thank you so much for your interest and support in this event!”

So when the time arrived this year to submit a request to cover the ACM Awards, I didn’t even pay it any mind.  No sense in wasting my skills and time where I was not invited.  Instead I was honored to be covering the PBR World Cup, at the Thomas and Mack.  Did I mention I love bull riders… great guys, honest, and you know you are welcome there.  I love the PBR, so covering the World Cup was awesome… but, that is for another post.

Well I had got done photographing the PBR World Cup the last bull was bucked, and the winning team was crowned.  It was time to head back up from the arena floor to the media room to get close to the winning team.  I squeezed through the mob of fans (excuse me, pardon me, excuse me…) still crowding the breezeways and halls of the Thomas and Mack, and finally arrived at the media room.

When I arrived I was told that I had a chance to cover the ACM Awards, for another media organization.  All I had to do was show up at the credential office and they would meet me there.  I was leery of such an offer, I didn’t know this media organization and it seemed like I was being set up.  But, friends of this guy assured me that he was good to his word and I would be able to go to the ACM Awards.  There was nothing to worry about.  Yeah, right.

I was torn should I go cover the ACM Awards that I never had a chance to, or should I stay and hang out with the bull rider’s?  Well I chose the ACM Awards, I knew I would be able to see the bull rider’s at the PBR World Finals in October.

So I packed up my gear, traded shirts with a friend, and got a lift to the MGM.  I found the credential office.  I was not on their list, and they didn’t have any tickets for me as media.  Never mind the fact the person who was handling the credentials had just packed up, despite the fact I was told the media office was still open until four o’clock.  A nice lady tried hard to track down the person I needed to see about my credentials, I even made it to the media room, but was told I was not on the list so I couldn’t be there.  I was told to go wait in the hallway and somebody would get back to me. 

 By now I knew I had been set up and I was upset.  The guy with the other media organization never returned numerous phone calls.  I waited for over an hour, before I gave up and accepted the fact he wasn’t going to show.  I doubt he even had access to the ACM Awards… I have learned not to trust some guy who says he has access to a big event, even if he has people that agree with him. 

Never trust people you don’t know and believe everything you hear.  Old advice that I did not heed, and I paid the price for it.  I got burned but, it won’t happen again. 

Camera Wench
“Have Camera… Will Travel”

Arabian Breeders World Cup – April 15 to 18, 2010

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This twelve year old mare is special, not only was The Arabian Breeders World Cup her first show, but, even more amazing she was rescued from a home of neglect. Eight months ago she was only skin and bones, to see her before and after photos and to see her transformation is amazing.

I had a chance to visit with her Owner and listen as he explained how far she had come, in those eight months.  From being haltered to having her feet picked up, this mare had to learn to trust humans all over again.  As a statement to the Arabian Focus Princess showed what love, kindness, and a good home can achieve.

For one mare and one Owner, miracles do happen.  Focus Princess I look forward to seeing you again next year.  Thank you to your Owner and Handler for sharing your amazing story with me.

Following is a little more information on the Arabian Breeders World Cup… The Arabian Breeders World Cup was held in Las Vegas at the South Point Hotel and Casino from April 15 to 18, 2010.  The Arabian Horse Breeders Alliance or “AHBA” was the sponsor of the fourth annual Arabian Breeders World Cup.  The AHBA is a non-profit organization, whose goal is to promote the Arabian horse.

The Arabian Breeders World Cup strives to introduce people to the beauty and majesty of the Arabian horse.  The Arabian Breeders World Cup brings the finest purebred Arabian breeding horses to Las Vegas from around the world. 

The Arabian Breeders World Cup is based on shows from Europe.  This show format allows the horses to be presented more naturally, further highlighting their inherit beauty and spirit. There were five International judges from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, South Africa, Morocco, and Brazil. Five International Judges score the horse on the following six areas; on a scoring system of ten to twenty points per area:  Arabian Type, Head and Neck, Shoulder, Body and Topline, Feet and Legs, and Movement.  The total possible number of points awarded to each horse was one hundred and twenty.  Horses were judged standing, walking, and trotting.

I would like to thank the Arabian Horse Breeders for bringing these beautiful horses to Las Vegas, and to the South Point for providing the venue.  I look forward to seeing everyone next year.

Camera Wench
“Have Camera… Will Travel”

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