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Posts Tagged ‘John Fisken’

One year, a million (or so) photos

Posted in Photos, tagged , , , , on December 25, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Taylor Brotemarkle celebrates at the state volleyball tourney. (Jackie Saia photo)

Emotion beats equipment.

You can have all the fancy cameras in the world, and a grainier image which burrows deep to nail exuberant happiness or tender sadness will still win the day.

At least in my book.

As I looked back at the photos run here on Coupeville Sports in 2023, I didn’t try and balance the various sports.

Some are featured more than others. It is what it is.

And there certainly is no ranking, which would be madness. The order they’re running in across this story is random in the extreme.

But these 23 pics, for me, in this moment, capture the year as it was.

Argue, debate, or simply accept that as long as I’m the only one able to publish on this blog, I’ll always be right in the end.

Wolf grad turned college basketball player Caleb Meyer gets really into the holidays. (Photo courtesy Aaron Wiley)

Cole White, master of Crotch-Fu. (Jackie Saia photo)

The future of Coupeville basketball. (Photo courtesy Megan Richter)

Kimberly Kisch and her mini-me share a moment. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Mia Farris — born to be a star. (Photo by JohnPhotos.net)

Riley White is poetry in motion. (Jackie Saia photo)

Basketball stars Desi Ramirez-Vasquez (left) and Skylar Parker make a new friend. (Bailey Thule photo)

Madison McMillan lets no volleyball escape. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Kassidy Upchurch commands an army of cheerleaders. (Brittany Kolbet photo)

Grey Peabody hugs it out with Katie Marti. (Bailey Thule photo)

Gridiron guru Bobby Carr threatens to get emotional as Peyton Caveness wraps up his prep football career. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

“I put the pedal through the metal, son!” (Jerry Helm photo)

“You can get your car washed … or maybe, possibly you don’t see that car again. Just sayin’.” (Mandi Black photo)

Prairie history goes up in flames. (Jon Roberts photo)

Jada Heaton prepares to bounce a softball off the light pole. (Jennifer Heaton photo)

Issabel Johnson passes on wisdom to the next generation. (Cory Whitmore photo)

Two versions of Scott Hilborn duel for the camera’s attention. (Wendi Hilborn photo)

Zac Tackett gets limbered up. (Josh Guay photo)

Chase Anderson discovers he can fly. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Ryanne Knoblich gives mama some love. (Karen Carlson photo)

Chelsi Stevens soaks up knowledge. (Kristi Stevens photo)

Logan Downes gets up close and personal with the hardwood. Spoiler alert: It’s called hard for a reason. (Bailey Thule photo)

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Car crunched, snapper safe

Posted in Cars Gone Wild, tagged , , , , on July 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »

The car may be wrecked, but the cameraman driving it is A-OK. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Protect your camera clickin’ hand!

John Fisken, the hardest working sports photographer on Whidbey Island, is on a summer RV vacation with wife Diane — one which took an unexpected turn Friday.

Tooling through Walcott, Iowa in his car while the RV sat at a truck stop, the Diet Coke-lovin’ paparazzi met some locals in a violent manner.

As Fisken was driving into town, a car in the opposite lane was stopped to turn left after he passed.

Instead, the parked vehicle got belted from behind from another car, sending car #1 into the other lane, where it smashed into the owner of John’s Photos.

Hey, at least the little honeycomb survived!

All drivers came out of the accident seemingly OK, though the one who didn’t take note of a vehicle stopped in the road is likely looking at a well-deserved ticket.

Or a public caning. Not sure what the law is in Iowa.

Fisken’s car took the brunt of the damage.

“I fear it has suffered fatal injuries and will be going to car heaven,” he said.

But being able to walk away from the accident (and immediately shoot pics) is a blessing, and the couple plan to continue their trip across the backroads of America.

“I am fine, no neck, back or head pain of any kind,” John Fisken said. “We have another month to go on our trip and will soldier on.

“The car did its job and protected me well.”

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Your photo-clickin’ fingers complete me!

Posted in Photos, tagged , , , , on June 20, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Hoops hotshot Skylar Parker pauses during summer ball to let mom snap a close-up. (Corinn Parker photo)

I am not a photographer.

With the exception of one (accidentally) well-timed high school wrestling pic I snapped 30 years ago during my Whidbey News-Times days, no one is likely to look at anything I’ve shot and be like, “dang, David.”

So, it’s a good thing so many people have allowed me to use their photos here on Coupeville Sports over the past 11 years.

From my first steady contributor — Wolf Mom Shelli Trumbull — to my busiest one — Diet Coke-fueled paparazzi John Fisken — their contributions have been invaluable.

And this past school year has been an especially strong one.

I don’t know 100% for sure, but it certainly feels correct when I say that we ran photos from more photographers this time around than at any time in the past.

Fisken was a constant presence, as always, though other commitments pulled him away from my blog at times and opened up a lot of opportunities for others.

Chief among those who stepped up to provide a fresh spin on the photographic arts was CHS yearbook advisor Jackie Saia, and her many students.

Bailey Thule, Chloe Marzocca, Lucy Tenore, Carlota Marcos Cabrillo, Brenn Sugatan, Helen Strelow, Delanie Lewis, Andrew Williams, and Brionna Blouin all shot pics which graced the blog this school year.

A brilliant student who went to the state championships in two different sports, Helen Strelow both snaps pics, and poses for them. (Brian Strelow photo)

One thing which I noticed was you get a different perspective a lot of times when teenagers are taking photos of their fellow classmates.

There is a different relationship at work than when it’s an adult behind the camera, and the student photographers captured some of my favorite images of the year.

Not that we want the adults to put down their cameras or phones.

From coaches who snap pics, to school board directors who wield cameras, there are 10,001 photographers out there, and we’re lovin’ it.

Having a pack of Wolf Moms (and dads, and grandparents, and cousins, and uncles and aunts) who snap photos, then are willing to share them with the world at large through Coupeville Sports sets the blog apart from its competitors.

If there’s anything people like more than seeing their names in bold, it’s seeing their faces in pics.

Way back at the start, the first couple of stories on Coupeville Sports were just words, and no photos, but that changed fast.

No matter how good the writing is, the photo (and the headline) are the first things people see, and you need to suck readers in before they can appreciate any wordsmithing.

So, a huge thank you to each and every person who has graciously allowed me to use their images this school year, and over the past 11 years.

Coupeville Sports would truly not be the same without your images.

As we roll forward into the summer season, while looking ahead to a new school year starting in a few months, keep your cameras and phones clicking.

And keep me in mind.

If you shoot it, I probably want to share it, and you can reach me at davidsvien@hotmail.com or message me over on Facebook.

Remember, the Wolf Nation that shares photos is the Wolf Nation we need.

All the action, all the intensity, all the colors of fall. (Morgan White photo)

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Diamond action, cameraman’s reaction

Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged , , , , on May 2, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Softball action has returned to Whidbey Island little league fields. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Batter up, and cameraman to the ready.

Little League softball has returned to a diamond near you, and wanderin’ photo snapper John Fisken is usually on the scene to capture the action.

The pics above and below, from a recent clash between Central and North Whidbey, are courtesy him.

To see more, and possibly buy some mementos, pop over to:

SB 2021-04-30 CWLL Minors vs NWLL – John’s Photos (johnsphotos.net)

 

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Strange year, stellar pics

Posted in Photos, tagged , , , , on December 26, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville teaching legend Deb Sherman hangs out with one of the grandkids during a basketball game coached by son Brad. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

This was an unusual task.

With sports shut down most of the year thanks to the ongoing pandemic, selecting the best photos of 2020 was both easier and harder than normal.

For one thing, with virtually no games after February, there were a LOT less pics, and pretty much every sport except for basketball was AWOL.

Still, actually getting down to 20 was once again brutal, especially when it came to cutting from about 24 down to the final group.

But I did it.

So here we go, in no particular order, the photos which stand out to me.

Makana Stone changed continents, but continues to scorch the hardwood. (Photo property of Loughborough University)

Future Wolf stars show their support for current sweet-shooting sensation Hawthorne Wolfe. (Morgan White photo)

Avery Parker proudly displays some of her pandemic artwork. (Corinn Parker photo)

Natalie Hollrigel smushes Mica Shipley for charity. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Mask in place, Kylie Van Velkinburgh joins her CHS softball teammates in a return to action.

Sean Toomey-Stout gets bendy.

Greg White (left) and Larrie Ford share a laugh.

Ty Hamilton splashes home a bucket.

Chelsea Prescott yanks down a rebound.

Ja’Tarya Hoskins fires the javelin right before COVID-19 shut down sports. (Brian Vick photo)

Nick Armstrong grapples for control of the ball. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Sylvia Arnold hugs husband Garrett after being gifted with a restored version of her grandfather’s truck. (Photo courtesy Jerry Helm)

Ryanne Knoblich goes low during volleyball practice. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

A taekwondo champ comes in hot.

Jessenia Camarena claims a loose ball.

Melia Welling celebrates graduation with her mom.

Xavier Murdy slices ‘n dices the South Whidbey defense.

Mica Shipley, with a little help from Gavin St Onge, stands tall.

Lauren Grove, one of the strongest women I’ve written about, remains unbowed while recovering from a kitchen fire. Follow her example as we head to 2021.

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