It doesn’t seem that long ago that I photographed WNBA #1 draft pick Nnemkadi “Nneka” Ogwumike. The then Cypress-Fairbanks High School senior was putting up all-world numbers as one of the top players in the nation while leading her team to a three-year record of 108-2, scoring over 2200 points with nearly 1300 rebounds and…you get the picture. This young woman could play.

When we met in her school gymnasium for a portrait session, Nneka had committed to Stanford where she would play on four Final Four teams and garner a room full of honors with statistics similar to her high school career. But what impressed me more than her physical achievements was how she handled herself as a person. Ogwumike was quite possibly the most cordial and respectful person I have ever photographed. She was not new to the limelight but was patient while we changed set-ups and continually produced a smile that would melt butter. When the final frame was made, she thanked me before I could do the same and offered to help move my pile of gear. We shook hands as I told her she had already done enough and wished her luck.

I again wish Nneka good fortune with her new team, the LA Sparks.

Almost two years to the day, I was back at Cy-Fair to photograph Nneka’s younger sister, Chiney, for a similar story. Chiney followed her big sister to Stanford and is doing well. I look forward to telling that story when she gets drafted in 2014.

“I made a picture today of Bela Karolyi feeding a camel. I’m still stunned,” read the note to my editor. Normally, photographing someone feeding an animal would not elicit such a reaction from me but we were in the Piney Woods of East Texas and this was gymnastics coaching icon Bela Karolyi.

The Karolyi Ranch, owned by Bela and Martha Karolyi, was recently designated an Olympic Training Site by the U.S. Olympic Committee. The Ranch will continue to be the official training site for the women, and also will house USA Gymnastics’ rhythmic, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic programs. My job was to photograph the Karolyis and their 2000 acre spread north of Houston, a lot of ground to cover in the 4-5 hours we were allowed.

“Gymnastics is a very flexible sport but we are not very flexible,” was the line from USA Gymnastics VP of Communications Leslie King over coffee before heading out to the Ranch near New Waverly, Texas. She said it in the very nicest possible way and I was completely aware from previous visits to the Ranch that Ms. King was speaking to the access I would not have while photographing the final day of a recent training camp. There are three spots in the cavernous gym that photographers are allowed to work from during a training session, a balcony at one end, the bottom of the stairs leading up to said balcony and the entryway to the training area. All three positions are at the same end so after about four pictures, you’re kind of done with all the imperfect angles.

However, in all fairness, the facility is designed to train medal-winning Olympic athletes not to make photographers look good.

Training winners is something the Karolyi’s have done quite well for quite some time. Since defecting to the U.S. in 1981, the pair have produced 9 Olympic champions, 15 World champions and winners in many other competitions. Hundreds of photographs of past champions including Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton, Kerri Strugg, Kim Zmeskal and so many others remind all who visit the center of the Karolyi legacy.

Like the champions before them, Olympic medalists and World champions Nastia Liukin, Bridget Sloan, Alexandra Raisman, McKayla Maroney, Jordyn Wieber and the rest of the current elite were working out that day. Distraction was not an option.

As U.S. National Team Coordinator, Mrs. Karolyi is responsible for all aspects of the team, including the selection of athletes for competitions, determining apparatus lineups at meets, and making recommendations regarding skills and routines. She oversaw the workout with stoic intensity, pointing out the slightest missteps in form and encouraging perfection. After the final spin, twist and tumble she thanked each of the young ladies for their hard work and sent them off with best wishes.

While Mrs. Karolyi works with the athletes, Mr. Karolyi spends the majority of his time managing the Ranch. Away from the training center he continues to build a sanctuary for the sport and a menagerie of exotic livestock. A new lodge recently completed for championship coaches and other special guests is filled with much of his own woodwork and a stock of tuica, a high octane Romanian plum distillate, he insists on sharing with visitors.

Along with camels, the Ranch is home to a herd of red deer, peacocks, horses, donkeys, goats and a variety of other creatures. Adorning a fence line, the skulls of predators and prey give testament to life on the edge of the Sam Houston National Forest.

Mr. Karolyi remains deeply passionate about the sport of gymnastics. The centerpiece of his “Walk of Fame” recognizes each member and alternate of every U.S. Women’s Olympic team. He speaks fondly of all those he and his wife have helped and there is space for the many more to come.

“As long as I will be around, this facility will work very well, efficiently for the kids,” says Mr. Karolyi. “We will give them a good home.”

Our time had come to an end but before I packed up from an unprecedented day, the Karolyis agreed to a quick portrait in the gym. Bela put his arm around Martha and the stoic veneer of the morning melted from her face. It was clear to me that they truly love the work they do and their life together.

“You’re only gonna use one, right?” was my introduction to country music legend Merle Haggard. I was already a little nervous about the portrait session because the singer has a reputation of being a bit cantankerous and this wasn’t the way I was hoping to start our conversation.

“Actually, Mr. Haggard, we are hoping to get a few different looks for a spread but I promise to only keep you for a few minutes,” I replied. He kind of smirked and took his first position.

Thankfully, fortune favors the prepared mind along with the help of a great assistant.

It was a few hours before our scheduled appointment time when assistant Nathan Lindstom and I arrived to scout possible sets. We found a couple of nice spots around the casino where Haggard was performing later that evening and came up with what we thought to be a good plan. Unfortunately, when we checked in with Mr. Haggard’s manager we discovered he wanted to do the pictures by his tour bus, no chance for a reprieve. Given the option of “by the bus” or not at all, I’ll take “by the bus” every time.

One o’clock in the afternoon on an asphalt parking lot is not my first choice for a portrait location but we proceeded to mark out some angles and lighting schemes. We were able to plot 5 different setups within thirty feet of the bus door. I had brought almost every piece of grip and lighting equipment I own but opted for a single Plume Wafer 140 modified Dynalite on two spots with the idea that Nathan could move the first one to the third spot while I had Mr. Haggard on camera at the second and continue the rotation. With this setup we were able to get him through the 5 shots in about 8 minutes.

Mr. Haggard was terrific on camera. He even cracked a wry grin a couple of times, perhaps because for half of the session I was lying flat on my stomach on the asphalt in an effort to eliminate light poles and lousy backgrounds.

When we finished, I told Mr. Haggard we really wanted to do one more shot in the hall he would be playing. He paused but agreed before disappearing into his bus.

Remember that “prepared mind and great assistant” part? Well, after setting up outside the bus, we had almost an hour before we had talent so I asked Nathan to set up a lighting scheme we planned earlier just in case we could get a shot inside.

About 30 minutes later, Mr. Haggard emerged from his bus, jumped on a cart and headed toward the concert hall. As we walked in he told me a story about a photographer once asking him to swim out into a pond and sit on a log for a picture. I assured him we didn’t have any logs but wanted to photograph him on stage. “I wouldn’t be on stage without my guitar.” “Yes sir, I was hoping we could get your guitar.” “It’s still packed,” he said. “Not a problem,” I replied, “since we don’t have a log, we’ll do the picture in the seats.”

Three minutes later we were shaking hands and offering thanks to Mr. Haggard for his graciousness.

As we were leaving, his manager said, “You really caught him on a good day.”

Maybe so but I prefer to think one professional artist appreciated the preparation and professionalism of another artist.

Nestled far in the back corner of my gear closet, behind Super Bowl swag, random cases, bags and other photographic reminders of lifetimes gone I found today my once cherished Kodak fanny pack commemorating the 1988 Olympic Games. Still attached was a marker indicating what was likely the final time it carried my film and Nikkor 24mm f/ 2.8 on the sidelines.

The game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Oilers on September 1, 1996, was the opener of the Oilers’ final season in Houston. The Oilers lost 20-19, setting the stage for a whacky season. Owner Bud Adams had attempted to hold the city hostage for a new stadium but mayor Bob Lanier wanted no part of it. At the end of the 1995 season, Adams announced he was moving the team to Nashville for the 1998 season. Ticket sales went in the tank with an average game attendance of about 20,000 loyalists. The once rowdy Astrodome became a cave where a conversation in the stands would echo about. The team was 2-6 at home that season but somehow managed to go 6-2 on the road. Regardless, the city and the league cleared the way for the team’s departure a year ahead of schedule and so ended my ten seasons photographing the Houston Oilers.

But I digress.

This beat up old thing is the great grandaddy of fanny packs, or waist bags for the fragile of personality. Long before Think Tank was a thought, this bag had travelled thousands of miles and faithfully carried as many rolls of film along with other small stuff I needed to do my job as a photojournalist. It was as critical to my success as the Nikons over my shoulders. I’m not sure why I abandoned it. I suspect it was for some new Lowe Pro design with purple and teal accents lauded by colleagues embarrassed for me and my old worn friend.

Kodak is now but a memory and the spring cleaning will continue though my once favorite bag will not be leaving.

I recently had the pleasure of photographing uber mixologist Bobby Heugel crafting a variety of fine cocktails at his very comfortable Anvil Bar and Refuge in Houston. Unlike the typical happy hour bartender pouring some of this into some of that with a splash from an X-Box controlled retractable hose, watching him at work briefly reminded me of the days spent in a Texas A&M chemistry lab so many lifetimes ago. Precision, care and passion with a measure of genius make his work something special.

“Vieux Carre”

“Saratoga Brace-Up”

“Campari Alexander”

“Grackel”

“El Hechicero”

The best “Mint Julep” I have ever tasted!

Heugel puts the finishing touches on his signature “Brave” cocktail. Mezcal and Sotol never tasted so good! Not for the faint of heart.

Remember to drink responsibly and have a safe and happy New Year!

Often I am asked what was the coolest, bestest, most awesomest subject I ever photographed. After pausing to consider, I always come up with the same answer, “My first space shuttle launch.” Over thirty years, I have witnessed a lot of amazing and sometimes disturbing things but I have never been juiced like watching the Shuttle Discovery lift off from Pad 39-B at the Kennedy Space Center for mission STS-26. The Return to Space.

This weekend’s launch of the Apple iPad marks the first really big step into a whole new world of publishing. Unlike the clumsy architecture of magazine websites, digital forms of our favorite printed publications have the potential to come alive.

A minute with the Champ. from Dave Einsel on Vimeo.