USA Today

Spot|DSE wrote on 9/5/2008, 6:19 AM

If you have access to this newspaper, I'd humbly request that you open it to the photo essay contest in today's edition, and ask that you consider voting for my photograph. It's the only skydiving image in the paper, and features the space shuttle Discovery taking off in the background.
Apologies to anyone offended that I've asked the community for a favor.

Comments

apit34356 wrote on 9/5/2008, 6:28 AM

Pleaseeeeee....no non-sony topics........ ;-)

You have my vote! I'll see if I can talk some UM college kids this game weekend into checking out USA Today and voting for you. ;-)

Adontech wrote on 9/5/2008, 6:34 AM

Is the contest in the paper only or is it online also? If online, can you provide a link? My copy of the paper is at home and I'm at work.

farss wrote on 9/5/2008, 6:44 AM

After all the favours you've done us collectively and individualy I think you're entitled to ask for a few in return without apology.

Bob.

jrazz wrote on 9/5/2008, 7:08 AM

Do you have a link to the voting poll? I did a few searches online but could not find anything concerning a photo contest on USA Today's site.

j razz

richard-courtney wrote on 9/5/2008, 7:36 AM

As long as there are no "paper ballots" I'll vote.

Tom Pauncz wrote on 9/5/2008, 7:37 AM

I'd love to add my vote, if I had a link. Tried searching with no joy.
Tom

Spot|DSE wrote on 9/5/2008, 10:32 AM

http://www.usatoday.com/marketing/brand_mkt/openair/photo_contest/flash.htm[/link

It's the "skydive photo."
in the magazine, it's picked as one of four the staff preferred, and is the lead photo in their print.
Been on a lot of 'name' projects, but this is the one that stirs my excitement.

JohnnyRoy wrote on 9/5/2008, 10:33 AM

> I'd love to add my vote, if I had a link.

OK, try this. Really cool photo Spot!

~jr

Terry Esslinger wrote on 9/5/2008, 10:37 AM

I'd vote for it except it says that it is by Scotty Burns not our DSE???

Spot|DSE wrote on 9/5/2008, 10:38 AM

I'm IN the photo, not the photographer.
I actually submitted the photo because Scotty wasn't happy w/it. The copy you see in the newspaper/magazine is copy I wrote for him, because he felt he did badly with the shot.

JohnnyRoy wrote on 9/5/2008, 10:43 AM

> I'm IN the photo, not the photographer.

Yea, Spot is the one on the top right in blue and yellow. Kind of like a "flying squirrel" ;-)

~jr

Terry Esslinger wrote on 9/5/2008, 10:56 AM

Ahhh
'Rocky' Spotted Eagle

Tom Pauncz wrote on 9/5/2008, 11:05 AM

Got it - thanks. Looks like a healthy lead so far!
Tom

jrazz wrote on 9/5/2008, 11:13 AM

You got my vote and apparently 50% of all votes! Talk about being your own worst critic...

j razz

CorTed wrote on 9/5/2008, 12:10 PM

Love to give you a vote Spot, for all the things you do for us.
It's a pretty cool picture.
Looks like it is working got almost 50%

Ted

birdcat wrote on 9/5/2008, 12:19 PM

Got my vote - As of right now it's in the lead!

DavidMcKnight wrote on 9/5/2008, 12:50 PM

I bet it was an awesome experience. Chalk up another vote!

DGrob wrote on 9/5/2008, 1:31 PM

I'm in. It really must have been something!

Darryl

Spot|DSE wrote on 9/5/2008, 1:54 PM

http://skydivernetwork.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=1197788%3ABlogPost%3A74427 has the full story if you're interested.
Warning, some of the subject matter in my skydiving blog is a little macabre, and some not suited for children. All the pix are safe for work, however.

craftech wrote on 9/5/2008, 2:06 PM

Douglas,

With all that you have done for us, it is the least we can do.

John

Harold Brown wrote on 9/5/2008, 10:35 PM

We need some more votes for DSE!!

GlennChan wrote on 9/5/2008, 11:16 PM

Placed a vote. :)

The blog post on That First Chop was interesting. I've seen some skydiving gone wrong videos on Youtube... thankfully you aren't in one of those!!
(Though I remember looking over some statistics and skydiving looked as dangerous/safe as driving... lots of car accident videos on Youtube too.)

Richard Jones wrote on 9/6/2008, 3:49 AM

vote from the UK - mad, brave or what. You have my admiration, Spot.

Need some more votes now, though, as you seem to be falling behind. Come on guys. This is "our" Spot we're helping and someone we all owe so much to.

Richard

AlanC wrote on 9/6/2008, 3:59 AM

I voted but Spot's trailing in second place with 34% against 43%.

Need more votes to get him up in the lead.