Title: Candy Couture.I have to share this photo because I love…

Title: Candy Couture.

I have to share this photo because I love the facial expressions on these candy coated models. Such a vibrant portrait.

Outtake from Runway For Charity, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Shoot with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III and a EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens.

There Are 97 Days to Michigan Football

Michigan has had a collection of multi-sport athletes or even multi-position athletes. Don Dufek was part of team 97 but didn't stop his athletic exploits at Michigan Stadium. To add to his three earned letters in football, Dufek was picked as an All-American in football and then played around the corner of State and Hoover at Yost Ice Arena. He earned four letters for the hockey team.

Red Wings AMAZING performance, and thanks to Bob Cole

OK - now to NHL Hockey.  If anyone saw the same hockey game me and Big Bob were watching last night, you have got to tip your hat to Jimmy Howard, the goalie for the Detroit Red Wings.  That game was AMAZING, the Joe was erupting with noise, and the Wings are kicking the Blackhawks arse.  About ready to drive the Hawks out of existence, with a 3-1 series stranglehold.

The best part?  Listening to Bob Cole, the best hockey announcer alive, announce the DEE-TROI-AAAHHHTTT game for CBC. The NHL bypasses NBC or ESPN, and instead uses the Canadian coverage as the official stream for its games.  And, you can tell why, just watch and listen... Brings a tear to mine eye:

I Used to Love You

I stalked you quietly from my silent window this morning. It’s been ages since we last spoke. You seemed happy, thrilled, a little calm. A light hit your face and illuminated it against the darkness in the room.

You tell other people how happy you are being alone, surrounded by a gaggle of happy, giggling girls and your mounds and heaps of work that keeps you busy and fulfilled. You tell other people to surround yourself with good friends, lady friends, and that they are a great source of happiness and strength. I used to be one of those good lady friends who brought you happiness and contentment. I used to love you. You used to love me. We used to share insider jokes and chortles under our breath. We used to walk the neighborhood, to our nearest sweets store, excited for the next sugar-induced giggle spree.

Those were good times.

Then you ended them. And badly. I still have no idea why.

It was a mistake to look through my window at you again. You’re content. But you’re happy without me. So I’m happy for you, yet regretful. It’s a bittersweet, wistful sort of happiness for you. Sort of wishing I were a part of it to share it all with you.

I used to love you. Now I’m just a footnote in your book of life in the section of people you used to know. I should learn how to file the era of our friendship in my footnotes as well.

—-
Friendships end for whatever reason. Some can grow with you and some grow out of you. But all serve a purpose: teach a lesson, help you mature, broaden your horizons, or serve a more selfish purpose, if only to be there to make you feel good.

It was a mistake to look back at her again, the friend I loved so much. I should have been happy with that she is living a dream and wish her well. Instead, part of me hoped she missed me, too. Don’t do that. Don’t brood. It doesn’t suit you. And don’t look back. Looking back only makes you stumble on your way forward.

Anyone who makes you feel less than, for any reason… F*ck ‘em. Thank them for whatever they gave you and move forward. You deserve to live the best version of life you can. Regret only serves to diminish what you have. Move on. Life is too short to spend time and energy on people who don’t treat you with love, dignity and respect you deserve.

Title: Applause Line.Wanted to post this crowd shot from Runway…

Title: Applause Line.

Wanted to post this crowd shot from Runway For Charity. It not only pops as a black and white photo, but I love the story that it tells with my use of depth of field and placement of the runway/horizon line.

Image taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III and a EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens.

Title: Mirror Image.Some of my favorite images that I make at…

Title: Mirror Image.

Some of my favorite images that I make at fashion shows are the ones that are made backstage. These backstage shots of the models getting ready are always so full of emotion and they tend to introduce you to the overall vibe of the event. The photos from backstage have an slight voyeuristic feel to them as well and you get the chance to let the viewer look into something that they normally never get to see, feel, or experience. 

Outtake from Runway For Charity. Shot with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III and a EF 85mm f/1.2L II lens.

Your Friday Drinking Instructions are the Champaign of Beers

I always enjoy Big Ten preview season. It lets me go find beers and be snarky about other Big Ten schools. Plus, in the long cold summer before football, thinking about football keeps me going.

This week, we're previewing Champaign, the home of Illinois' flagship state university and stunning mediocrity on the football field. I always get a little scared when I see a Scheelhaase or a Juice Williams, but I don't really remember any of them panning out. AJ Jenkins was a MAN but that's the only Illinois player I can remember.

I can't be too mean because Illinois fans are actually some of the best tailgaters in the Big Ten. At some point this year I'll make a post trashing eight schools and saying nice things about Illinois and Nebraska... anyway, I've been to Champaign twice for football and once for basketball, and all three times I ended up in a dive bar with a bunch of people I didn't know and really liked. So there's that.

I've written before about all the beers I can remember from Champaign, including a delicious strawberry wheat - but the last time I was there, I went to Seven Saints and had a Tank 7 and a Dead Guy. Good place. Good food, too.

So the Tank 7 is a Farmhouse Ale and perfect for summer. I've got a six-pack for Memorial Day barbeque purposes, and it's gonna be great. It's a little bit bitter, but has a nice grapefruit hint to it. I think I had about five of these last time I drank them. Boulevard is from Kansas City, and there's a couple of really good barbeque beer sauce recipes floating around on the Internet if you're game. My opinion: dump the beer over whatever you're grilling. Eat. Drink more of it. Cool?

hey guys remember this game I was terrified but then we won and it was awesome click this

Illinois fans are really nice. Nice enough to share a keg of Rogue Dead Guy - like, how did they even find a keg of that stuff? - at a tailgate last year. Rogue is dark and delicious, but not really a summer beer. Then some dude opened up some vanilla ice cream and put it in a pint glass. I don't ordinarily condone beer beer floats, but this actually hit the spot. The vanilla worked really well. Take some vanilla ice cream and dump it in your Rogue Dead Guy. Go now, do this, and thank the Illini fans that I met that one time.

At right: ice cream and beer. It's delicious at any point in your drinking experience. Show up with one at a Memorial Day barbecue and watch the new friends line up to bask in your glory.

Illinois is a vague place, and I can't say I've explored their beer culture that much, but I'm looking forward to going back for basketball sometime soon. Oh - and guys, don't hold your breath about that converted-wr-or-rb quarterback that puts up 6 TDs against Toledo or NIU. He's probably going to suck.

MnB B1G Preview 2013: Illinois- Checking Under the Bed

via cdn0.sbnation.com

Checking Under the Bed is a final sweep through at the miscellaneous points of interest surrounding teams in the B1G.

As we've previously discussed, Illinois Football is bad, bad, bad. Naturally, most of this piece will be about the hilarious, optimism crushing dust bunnies rolling through Champaign. No better allegory exists than Tim Beckman getting decleated by an official and then flopping on his ass on the sidelines en route to a 14-50 loss to Northwestern.

This is after being thoroughly dismantled by Louisiana Tech 52-24 at home the week before opening the B1G slate. A few boisterous member of Chief Illiniwek's tribe were giving up early into the season (From TWIS):

Louisiana Tech 52, Illinois 24 POSTGAME

mdonsbach: Did we win? Was watching recruiting updates.

ncoillini: One would think that the ILLINI have never played football. Good night, I have to go cleanse myself. I feel very dirty after watching that garbage.

OrangeKrush: TIM BECKMAN YELLS A LOT SO THIS MAKES HIM A GOOD COACH

GeorgiaIllini: they beat us worse than they beat either Houston or Rice.

UIUC1867: Here's what I think of your lasagna . . .

If you don't get the lasagna reference, allow me to enlighten.

I seem to remember something about stones and glass houses juxtaposed with Josh Groban, so I'll cut him some slack. Who doesn't love lasagna? It's pasta cake. Think about it.

As BHJ linked to on Monday, Tim Beckman is a man's man, even on the sideline. He deserves credit for restraining himself. Because we all know Tim Beckman is a double horseshoe dipper.

We here at Maize n Brew also invite you to release your inner whitewalker and thank Illinois for allowing this glorious INTD call. Valar Morghulis, ya'll.

Illinois, you are cleared to check out, please put the towels back.

Friday Michigan Football Recruiting Roundup Is Devilish

Plenty of New Offers Out

I can't touch on all of these players due to time constraints and a lack of information on some of them.

CA QB Josh Rosen (2015)

Rosen is an awesome prospect at quarterback. He isn't overly athletic, barely outrunning some high school linebackers and safeties, but he more than makes up for it with a smooth release, great arm strength and consistent footwork. It's not hard to tell that Rosen studies the game. He's ranked fifth overall in 247's initial rankings for the class of 2015. He's definitely interested in Michigan:

2015 QB Josh Rosen: "I'd probably apply to Michigan if I didn't have anything to do with football.": es.pn/166OWHf

— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) May 22, 2013

It's no coincidence that California and Stanford are the presumed leaders right now.

FL LB Jeffery Holland (2015)

FL CB Kevin Toliver II (2015)

TX LB Anthony Wheeler (2015)

FL WR Sam Bruce (2016)

IL OL Erik Swenson (2016)

Massive young lineman already has the length to play tackle in college; he might end up being too tall to deal with speed rushers on the thrower's blind side. He loves Michigan, so much that myself and three other recruiting editors already have him going to Michigan. His family loves the Wolverines as well:

While I was on the phone w/ Swenson's dad a neighbor wearing a Michigan jersey walked by and yelled, "Go Blue." Swenson returned the favor.

— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) May 22, 2013

Erik called the offer his "dream offer". The last time I heard that it ended with a commitment to Michigan.

Multiple Updates to Rankings

247 Sports has released a new Top 247 list. Bryan Mone moved up into the top 50, but the majority of the class dropped ever so slightly. The company also released their initial Top 247 for the class of 2015. Don't put too much stock into that list, as half of the players on it might not be there this time next year.

Rivals also has a new Rivals 250 out. The top two of Da'Shawn Hand and Jabrill Peppers remains intact, and Michigan's commitment generally dropped by a small amount.

Why do Michigan's commitments always seem to trend downward? Because they're committed early; it isn't just Michigan's commitments, it's everyone's commitments. Players who didn't have much exposure get recognition, ultimately moving ahead of players like Michael Ferns and Mason Cole, who sit in the middle of the pack of the top 250 players. It isn't that these players' ranking are regressing, rather that other players are being noticed and bumped up.

I think Bryan Mone could move up a bit more on Rivals and Scout if he hits the camp scene hard over the summer, and Wilton Speight could earn a fourth star if he continues to work as well. Ian Bunting is criminally underrated because of his past injuries, but he should be a unanimous four-star by the end of the process if he has a strong, healthy, senior season.

Also, rest assured that recruits know where they stand in the rankings:

#1 Wr.... #3 Player in FL.... #16 in the nation

— George Campbell (@GeorgeCampbell0) May 22, 2013

Players like Campbell love it when they receive recognition, and unappreciated prospect like Maurice Ways use their lowly rankings as motivation.

Cass Tech: DBU

Detroit Cass Tech High School puts out more four-star defensive backs than some states do. The school's defensive coordinator tweeted out a few interesting thoughts:

I've put out a lot of bcs kids at db! Mathis Oregon best cover guy, Holowell Michigan most physical, lyle iowa, most underrated,

— jermain crowell (@JermainCrowell) May 21, 2013

@jermaincrowell JD of Michigan best playmaker ever! Wow I can't believe I'm saying this but Webb ohio state might be most complete!

— jermain crowell (@JermainCrowell) May 21, 2013

@jermaincrowell Delano of Michigan most potential of any player I've ever coached!Skys the limit! He will do what he chooses to do!

— jermain crowell (@JermainCrowell) May 21, 2013

That's a four-star corner at Oregon, a fringe three- to four-star slot corner at Michigan, a three-star safety at Iowa, a four-star freshman corner at Michigan and another at Ohio State, and a fringe three- to four-star safety at Michigan. Sooner or later Cass Tech will be able to point at multiple NFL teams' defensive backs and say, "Yea, we coached every last one of them."

Jabrill Peppers' Decision Looms Large

Consensus five-star cornerback Jabrill Peppers will announce his college decision on May 26th between 4:45 pm and 6 pm. ESPNU will broadcast the decision live.

What are Michigan's chances as of now? According to Tom VH and Rivals Mike, they're about as close to a lock as it gets:

0%? 1%? at least of of today. @kyleigh_cyrus: @rivalsmike odds Peppers doesnt choose Michigan?

— Mike Farrell (@rivalsmike) May 22, 2013

General Notes and Multimedia Items

Class of 2013 safety commitment Delano Hill is still fast:

Delano Hill of Cass Techjust ran 10.4 in 100 meters wow!

— damon webb (@webbdamon) May 23, 2013

Delano Hill is soooo fast its crazy!

— jermain crowell (@JermainCrowell) May 20, 2013

That's even faster than what he ran a few days ago.

I might not ever get the chance to make a mini board for 2014 running backs: the staff isn't honing in on any particular prospects, and the running backs worth their time aren't deciding any time soon. This tweet is now a bit easier to understand:

#Michigan's running back board in 2015 is clearer than 2014's. An in-depth look at the possibilities (VIP): michigan.247sports.com/Article/2015-M…

— Steve Lorenz (@TremendousUM) May 20, 2013

This is mostly due to the fact that 2015 back Damien Harris, the 90th player in the country according to 247 Sports, has Michigan ahead of the competition by miles.

Michigan is still in pursuit of offensive lineman Jamarco Jones:

Michigan stopped by today! #GoBlue

— Jamarco Jones (@jjones_73) May 22, 2013

All signs point to Jones becoming a Buckeye right now, but nothing is set in stone in the world of recruiting. He's the only elite lineman left on the board who is giving Michigan a legitimate look.

Nick Saban admits that not all Alabama scholarship offers are committable:

"To get some of them to come here in the summer I think is a really big tool in evaluation as well as an opportunity to get to know guys, to see if they have the right character and attitude to fit in your program."

Satban isn't trying to see if these kids have "the right character", he's making sure they've progressed enough as athletes to receive a scholarship that isn't, you know, a lie. If, for example, Jayru Campbell fails to develop as a passer, his 'scholarship offer' from Alabama will go poof. Now you see me, now you're suddenly committing to Kansas.

Finally, this has nothing to do with recruiting, but it made me laugh out loud:

I just saw two kids punting the ball outside...brought a tear to my eye #someonecares

— Zoltan Mesko (@ZoltanMesko) May 22, 2013

The Space Emperor is a hilarious and interesting follow on Twitter.

Founders Brewing Co.

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