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World No. 11 Shahar Peer has officially entered the 2011 Family Circle Cup.  Peer, whose world ranking has set a new record for a player from Israel, joins World No. 5 and defending champion Samantha Stosur, Jelena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova, Daniela Hantuchova, and Melanie Oudin in a stellar player field assembling on Daniel Island.  As one of the Official Photographers of the event, I encourage you to come out and enjoy the world class tennis from April 2-10, 2011 at the Family Circle Tennis Center in the Best Tennis Town in America, Charleston, SC.

“Shahar Peer is a very talented tennis player who also transcends the game as an Israeli national hero,” said Eleanor Adams, Family Circle Cup Tournament Manager.  “She is playing the best tennis of her career, and has a very large and supportive fan base in Charleston, so we really look forward to watching her compete on Daniel Island this April.”

Throughout her 8-year WTA career, Peer has notched five singles titles, 309 singles victories, over $3.7 million in prize money, and posted three Top 20 seasons.  She has also competed on the Israeli Fed Cup Team from 2002-2009 and 2011, and her nation’s Olympic Team in 2008.  Peer’s official web site is www.shaharpeer.co.il.

“I’ve really enjoyed competing at the Family Circle Cup, and I’m excited to return to Charleston this spring,” commented Peer.  “I’ve received a lot of fan support at this event, so I’m looking forward to participating in this historic tournament again.”

Daniela Hantuchova, 2010 Family Circle Cup semifinalist, enters Charleston after capturing the fourth WTA title of her career on Sunday, February 13, in Pattaya City, Thailand.  Hantuchova joins World No. 5 and defending champion Samantha Stosur, World No. 8 Jelena Jankovic, former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova, and American teen sensation Melanie Oudin in a stellar player field assembling on Daniel Island.  Marking the tournament’s 39th consecutive year, the Family Circle Cup is scheduled April 2-10, 2011 at the Family Circle Tennis Center in the Best Tennis Town in America, Charleston, SC.

“Daniela Hantuchova is a very skilled and talented WTA veteran,” said Eleanor Adams, Family Circle Cup Tournament Manager.  “We congratulate her for the Pattaya City victory, and we look forward to her competing in Charleston.”

Throughout her 11-year WTA career, which began in 1999, Hantuchova has notched four singles titles, 421 singles victories, over $7.2 million in prize money, and posted eight Top 30 seasons in the last nine years.  She has achieved a career-high World No. 5 singles and doubles ranking during her tenure.  Hantuchova has also competed on the Slovak Fed Cup Team from 1999-2003, 2006-07 and 2009-2011, as well as and her nation’s Olympic Team in 2004 and 2008.

Hantuchova’s philanthropic involvement centers on health and education.  In November of 2010, she spent two days at a Hungary photo shoot for a 2011 calendar, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting a children’s hospital in Cambodia that specializes in juvenile HIV treatment, called House of the Smile. With her international appeal transcending the game, she appeared in the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, alongside fellow WTA stars Maria Kirilenko and Tatiana Golovin, in a pictorial entitled Volley of the Dolls.  Hantuchova’s official web site is www.danielahantuchova.com.

Cami & I were up in Maine a few months ago to lead one of our Lightbending 411 Workshops for the Aroostook F-Stops.  While we were there, we stopped at the famed Portland Head Lighthouse to create our spin on this heavily photographed landmark.  After shooting the usual suspects, we decided to go for something “different”. 

Waiting until twilight, I stood on a ledge a couple hundred feet away.  Cami took a Nikon SB-800 with a full CTO gel on it and walked back to stand right under the tower.  I set the Nikon D3’s white balance to 4100K to make the sky go blue and dialed in a long exposure.  An SB-900 was mounted to the camera and set to Commander Mode to control the flash Cami had.  I dialed the power to 1/2 and fired.  The CLS signal from my flash was then picked up by the RadioPopper Px Transmitter mounted to it, converted to radio waves, transmitted to the RadioPopper Px Receiver mounted on Cami’s flash, converted back to a light signal that her flash could understand…and PRESTO!  Like Magic, her flash lit up the building like a spotlight.  She then moved to the other side of the tower and I took a second shot…later combining the two images in Photoshop.  Here’s the before and after so you can see what a difference one tiny little flash can make to an entire scene!  Enjoy…

Former World No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam Champion Maria Sharapova has officially entered the 2011 Family Circle Cup.  Sharapova enters this WTA Tour Premier Event player field currently ranked No. 16 after posting a solid 2010 season, which included her 21^st and 22^nd Tour singles titles at Memphis and Strasbourg. 

Eleanor Adams, Family Circle Cup Tournament Manager said  “We’re thrilled that she will begin her clay court season at the Family Circle Cup in preparation for her pursuit of the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros.”  The 23-year-old, six-foot two-inch Russian superstar currently owns a 371-91 singles record, has amassed over $13.5 million in career earnings, and has notched major titles on three different continents. 

“I was very disappointed that I could not compete in the Family Circle Cup because of an injury last year, so I’m excited to enter the 2011 event,” said Maria Sharapova.  “I love the history and charm of Charleston, and I really look forward to returning to Daniel Island.”

I am BLOWN AWAY by the response to our Lightbending 411 Workshop coming up in Greenville on March 7th!  We opened registration for this latest wireless off-camera lighting workshop on Friday.  Here we are only three days later and already OVER HALF the available seats have sold out!!!  So if you’re inteested in joining us for this fun, hands-on, all-you-wanted-to-know-about-flash workshop, better head over to www.lightbending411.com and register right away.  We’re going to have a blast!  I can’t wait to see everyone out there!!!

Jelena Jankovic, World No. 8 and 2007 Family Circle Cup Champion, has officially entered the 2011 Charleston event.  Jankovic joins World No. 5 and defending champion Samantha Stosur, former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova, and American teen sensation Melanie Oudin in a stellar class player field assembling on Daniel Island.  Marking the tournament’s 39th consecutive year, the Family Circle Cup is scheduled April 2-10, 2011 at the Family Circle Tennis Center in the Best Tennis Town in America, Charleston, SC.

“Jelena Jankovic’s game offers a true look at world class power and excitement for our ticket patrons.  She thrilling to watch, and her big personality really creates a connection with her fans,” said Eleanor Adams, Family Circle Cup Tournament Manager. 

Throughout her 11-year WTA career, Jelena Jankovic has notched 12 singles titles, 415 singles victories, over $11.6 million in prize money, and finished a season as the World No. 1 player in 2008.  The 25-year-old Serbian marked her fourth consecutive Top 10 year-end ranking in 2010.  

“Charleston is such a beautiful city, and I always have so much fun there,” commented Jelena Jankovic.  “My Family Circle Cup championship meant a lot to me, and I’m very excited to return for another shot at this historic title.”

Terri & Danny are an AMAZING couple!  Click here to read about their amazing story. We really bonded on that photo shoot and I was so excited to be there for them on their wedding day.  My good friend and fellow photographer, David Strauss, helped me cover their wedding at Northwood Baptist Church.  It may have been raining, but the sun was shinning brilliantly in everyone’s hearts! 🙂 To see the rest of their photos, visit www.chrisandcami.zenfolio.com.
CONGRATULATIONS, Terri & Danny! You two truly deserve each other. May your lives be blessed as you open new doors together!

I had a great time at the PPofSC Annual Convenion this weekend. Mark Garber  did a fantastic presentation. He’s from Dayton OH, where Cami & I met. In fact, Mark was an instructor at the Ohio Institute of Photography when Cami was there. Small world, huh?