Thanks for your visit, and we hope to see you at our new blog home!

As part of our marketing overhaul we are also restructuring our order fulfillment process.  Beginning in June our images for sale will be integrated into our website, providing seamless viewing and ordering of client photos.  In preparation for the change we will be deleting all of our images presently online from 2008, 2009 and 2010, including:
Best of 2008
2009 Bill Volk Leukemia Cup, Keyport, NJ
2009 Lightning Atlantic Coast Championship, Toms River, NJ
2009 Hobies at Wildwood, NJ
2009 Barnegat Breezer, Bayville, NJ
2010 Bill Volk Leukemia Cup, Keyport, NJ
2010 Barnegat Breezer
2010 Lightning North American Championship, Toms River, NJ
2010 Avalon Cup, Avalon, NJ
2010 Flying Scot Atlantic Coast Championship, Toms River, NJ
2010 Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race, Baltimore/Annapolis, MD

We want to provide you with one more opportunity to purchase prints and products from past years, and we are offering them at a substantial discount.  Place an order by May 31 and we will take 20% off your total order price.  Prints, enlargements, gallery wraps, coffee mugs…everything is 20% off.  To obtain the discount simply type in the word “CLEARANCE” at checkout.  We hope you’ll take advantage of this great offer.  And spread the word to your crews and fellow sailors so that they have the opportunity to grab a print or a gift before they disappear.

To view the images and place an order please visit michaelbagleyphoto.shutterbugstorefront.com.

Our goal is to present the array of services we provide in an interesting and easy-to-navigate format.  If we hit our mark, please let us know.  If there is something that needs attention, please let us know that too!  Thanks!

Friday’s racing was exciting, with winds hovering between 15-20 knots and seas rolling in at 4-6 feet.  Daniela and I used Viewfinder to cover the two offshore race courses while Allen took care of the three inshore circles with the dinghy.  The racing was hard fought and the action on deck was fast paced.  I did most of the driving so Daniela could concentrate on shooting, and she did a great job capturing close up images of the shipboard action.

When I awoke Saturday our friend Jim Cantore on the weather channel was warning of severe weather including tornadoes for the area.  Yes, Jim can be a drama king, but in this case he didn’t seem to be exaggerating.  In fact, by the time the judges had to make a call about the day’s racing the sustained winds were already above 30 knots.  No racing in those conditions.  I hauled Viewfinder onto her trailer in case the major storms did come through, and then spent most of the day wandering around Charleston exploring with my camera.  What a beautiful city!  Great architecture, friendly people, lots of green space, and I even found a schooner!  I am looking forward to getting back there again in the future.  Fortunately, the dangerous weather never did bother Charleston.

The weekend wrapped up with light winds but blue sky and warm temperatures.  Again Daniela and I focused on the offshore racing and we were able to get some nice images.  Allen started with the inshore crowd, but the Melges’ and J’s aren’t too exciting in 5-10 knots of breeze, so he joined us outside the jetties.  Between the three of us we had thousands of shots to share with the sailors.

It was great to visit a new place and fun to work with the Photoboat crew.  Next stop: Cedar Point Yacht Club’s One Design Regatta on Long Island Sound on the first weekend in June.

UPDATE – Jada was adopted on 2/13/11!! – Jada is a gorgeous dog!  She is strong and lean, and listed as a Boxer/Lab mix.  A study of her profile, though, hints that there may be some hound DNA in her genealogy.  She can be a little shy, but she is sweet and energetic, fun on the trail, and would make a great playmate.

Jada

Jada

Jada and the hound snout

Sireece is an awesome Akita!  She is beautiful, strong, and lively and is ready to run.  She would make a great addition to an active family that spends a lot of time outdoors.

Sireece

Sireece

UPDATE – ShyAnn was adopted on 2/14/11!! ShyAnn is special.  She is six years old, sweet, mellow and calm, and definitely has her own agenda.  Her favorite activities are sleeping and cuddling!  ShyAnn would be happiest in a quiet home where she can be queen.

ShyAnn

Natalia will steal your heart from the moment you meet her.  This 9-month old pit bull has an endearing face, a playful demeanor and would be the perfect dog for a home with playful teenagers who are looking for a wrestling partner!

Natalia

Natalia

Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter is open every day from 1-4, and has a great selection of dogs and cats.  For more information visit fosocas.org.

Over the years I have reached out to several shelters and offered to use my photography to support their mission.  What better way to lure people in to adopt a companion than through a great photograph?  To my surprise not one ever responded.  Until last week.

Friends of Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter (FOSOCAS) is a group of committed volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain, market, and place dogs and cats that have become homeless.  They clean cages, bathe and walk dogs, play with cats, pick up poop and do anything that is needed just to make the animals happy.  It is an amazing group of people.  I stumbled across their Facebook page, sent a note, and a few days later received a warm “C’mon down!”  Today we came on down.

We met six dogs today, and the plan is to visit once or twice a week and make as many images as possible for FOSOCAS to use on Petfinder, their Facebook page, and other online presences.  We will also print a shot of each dog so that their new human can go home with a portrait for the mantle.

If you’re interested in any of these dogs visit fosocas.org and click on the Petfinder button.

Puddin'

Kaya

Sireece

Johnny Boy

Sally

Jersey

Favorite Photo #5 - e33 in the Avalon Cup

An e33 in a trough in the Atlantic

We were invited to photograph the Avalon Cup, an annual regatta from Avalon to Cape May, New Jersey.  The wind in August on the east coast is not reputed to be exciting, but this year the Avalon Cup fell just after there was some major storm activity well offshore in the Atlantic Ocean.  We launched our Viewfinder in Cape May to head north to the start, and as soon as we reached the mouth of the Cape May Inlet we knew we were in for a ride.  In fact, we considered turning around and heading home.  The wind was reasonable – 15-20 knots out of the northeast.  The sea, however, was putting up a fuss and presenting 6-12 foot rolling waves for our boating pleasure and the 25 mile run north, normally an hour-long trip, took us over two.  We were greatly rewarded for the effort, though.  Two fleets competed in the Avalon Cup, a Flying Scot fleet that sailed a buoy course in their home waters, and everyone else who would cruise the coast to Cape May.  The sailing was exciting, and the aforementioned rollers provided unique photographic opportunities as a boat after boat dropped into a trough and we captured just the rig rising above the crest.  The day, which earlier had started with an uncomfortable commute, turned out to be great fun, and we captured some good images.  As we returned to Cape May at day’s end we had the pleasure of shooting our friend the schooner AJ Meerwald.  Bonus!

Favorite Photo #4 - Promo shot for Folk Engineered

Jake aboard his Folk Engineered bicycle in front of Newark City Hall

Our friends Marie and Ryan build hand-built bikes and run a company called Folk Engineered.  They build great machines and needed some photography to show off the high degree of customization they put into each one of their bikes.  In May we created three images, including this one of Jake who worked for the City of Newark and commutes on his bike to City Hall each day.  Two other shots included Ryan showing the speed of his bike, and another customer doing some “urban camping” in the city with his hybrid cycle.  The photos were printed as postcards, and have become very popular as Folk Engineered displays at trade shows, bike swaps, etc.

Favorite Photo #3 - Mystic Whaler before the storm

It was a dark and stormy night...

The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race is always the highlight of our shooting calendar.  Forty or fifty schooners descend on the Chesapeake Bay and race from Baltimore to Norfolk for bragging rights and to raise money for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.  The boats are amazing and the people are awesome.  This year the weather at the start was cold and wet with decent breeze to propel the schooners down the Bay.  Just after the big boats crossed the line a dark squall line came marching down the Severn River toward the fleet.  We captured this shot of Mystic Whaler as she braced for the storm and worked to move through the fleet.  Happily, the squall line was heavy on rain but light on wind, and everyone had a great sail to Virginia.

Favorite Photo #2 - Shadow

Whatchyou lookin' at?

In December each year we team up with our friends at Camp Bow Wow to offer holiday pet portraits.  The sessions provide pet owners with the opportunity to have a photo of their dog for their holiday card, and the fees for the sessions are donated to a worthy cause.  This year we raised over $600 for a local beagle rescue organization!  Photographing dogs of all shapes, sizes and demeanor is a treat every time, and this year proved no exception.  Shadow the Boxer decided he had modeled well enough and his session was done.  That’s when we caught this look.  He seemed to be serious.

And…Favorite Photo #1 - Family pictures with Help-Portrait Asbury Park

You won’t see the images here or anywhere.  That wasn’t the point.

In December we joined up with a great crew in Asbury Park who volunteered to be part of the growing movement called Help-Portrait.  Started in 2009, Help-Portrait is a simple concept: Find someone in need.  Take their picture.  Print it and give it to them.  On December 4 thousands of photographers all over the world shot tens of thousands of portraits of people who otherwise might not have the opportunity to have a holiday photo.  We were lucky to be counted among those photographers, and it was a moving experience to say the least.  There are many stories from the day, but two best sum up the meaning of Help-Portrait.  After photographing a woman in her mid-30′s and her three children Mike was saying goodbye to the family.  The young mom, who when she arrived was reserved and appeared exhausted, smiled and said “Thank you.”  When Mike began to respond she interrupted and said “No, really, thank you.  I have never had a photograph like this taken of me in my whole life.  Never.  Thank you.”  Later on in the day another mom shared with us that she would be sending the photo we shot to her son’s father who hasn’t seen the boy in three years because the father lives in Georgia and neither parent can afford to travel.  It was a gift to be involved in such a wonderful project, and we look forward to the 2011 version on December 3!

2010 was a great year.  Thanks to everyone who came before our lens.  Thanks to those of you who invited us to be a part of your event, your regatta, your family.  We appreciate the opportunity.  We are looking forward to an even better 2011!

Save yourself some of the headache and give sailing photos this holiday!  Your crew, spouse, or sibling will cherish an action shot from a regatta.  Your friend-with-a-boat will know how much you appreciate being on board when you share a beautifully-printed photograph of the vessel.  You can’t go wrong when you surprise someone with a one-of-a-kind image.  Visit our galleries at michaelbagleyphoto.shutterbugstorefront.com and check out our vast selection.  Prints start at just $5.00, and there are a variety of sizes and papers available.  Also, check out some of our specialty products – put that great shot on a coffee mug, drink coaster or greeting card.  Regardless of the shape or size, your gift of a photograph will be treasured for years to come.

Happy Holidays from Michael Bagley Photography!

We captured some excellent sailing this summer!  The light winds of 2009 were replaced by good breezes in 2010, and the sailing seemed a lot more intense this year as well.  Sailing photos remind us of those warm summer days and the great times chasing the wind.  Boat owners: thank your crew for their efforts with a photo of them hard at work.  Parents: show your pride in your kids’ accomplishments with a shot of them on the water.  Spouses: imagine the delight your husband or wife will feel when he or she sees that shot of themselves working the bow, trimming the sails, or helming the boat.  A great action shot makes a once-in-a-lifetime gift.

Order your photos before December 1 and take 15% off the cost of your order.  Small prints, enlargements, specialty products…they’re all eligible for the discount.  Visit www.michaelbagleyphoto.shutterbugstorefront.com to dive in to the galleries and make your selections.  After you select your images and products, enter “Holiday2010” in the “If you have a discount coupon, please enter it here” box and the discount will be reflected in the cart.

Spread the word and tell your friends!