Magnolia Roller Vixens vs. Pearl River Swamp Dolls! (5.29.10)
so, a few weeks ago, the Magnolia Roller Vixens facebooked me and asked if i would come shoot one of their bouts.
i wasn’t sure at first. i’d never shot a roller derby bout before so i wasn’t really sure what to expect or if i could even pull it off (i wasn’t even sure what the rules were!)
of course, all of those worries is what finally made me say yes. i mean, how would i know if i could pull it off if i didn’t try and, thanks to the power of the internets, the rules were right at my finger tips.
so i wrote back and told the ladies i was down and they put me on the press pass list (fancy!)
after that, i once again harnessed the power of the internets and talked to my good friend and fellow photographer Joey Miller (who’s shot his fair share of roller derby bouts) for any tips and/or advice.
with those powers combined, the night of the bout i made my way downtown to the Jackson Convention Complex to watch the Magnolia Roller Vixens take on the Pearl River Swamp Dolls!
i got there about two hours before the bout started so i could get the lay of the land and figure out just how i wanted to light and shoot this thing.
plus i wanted to get some pre-bout photos
here we have Lizbeth Von Lush warming up. this will be her first bout as a member of the Zebra Brigade
(this was my first lighting set-up. i was using an off camera flash and umbrella. but after a few more shots, i decided i didn’t being kinda stuck in that one spot. so, for the rest of the night i slapped a speedlite on my camera and shot it that way)
it’s team captain Rowdy Reeta Ricochet chillin’ with teammate Cold Shoulder -30 Degrees
(oh, all these pre-bout shots were all avaible light. i only used the flash during the bout)
Princess Sledge Rammer warms up with Rowdy Reeta
Lizbeth Von Lush posing 🙂
the fans and zebras mingling
it’s the Vixen’s mascot (whose “name” i’ve forgottne!)
the Vixen/Swamp Dolls merch tables
the Vixens take to the track and start warming up
there was music playing during the pre-bout warm ups and, as you can see, Princess Sledge Rammer was digging it
(and can i just say, i LOVE that fact that roller derby ladies have “code-names”. maybe it’s because i read comics and love super-heroes but, whatever the reason, i dig it) 🙂
gotta stretch!
meeting in the middle with the Swamp Dolls and a ref to talk over, well, i’m not sure what they were talking about. what? i was there to take pretty pictures yo!
the Zebras checking to make sure the ladies had their gear strapped on right and they weren’t hiding any switch blades or throwing stars in them. what? this ain’t no powder-puff sport! this. is. roller derby!
the Princess getting Brawlin Nawlin all strapped up
chillin’ with the mascot
heh, love those shorts
Rowdy Reeta grabbin’ some pics for the photo gallery
let’s get ready to boooouuuttttt!
the Swamp Dolls rolling by for the pre-bout team meet.
let’s hear it for our roller girls jackson!
the Swamp Dolls did the meet and greet it as a group, the Vixens, do it one by one
let’s get this bout started!
and away we go!
the Jammer hits the track! but she didn’t stay down!
the Swamp Doll’s Jammer comes around!
the Pack get’s lined up for another Jam!
(shooting note: i was able to get inside the center ring to shoot the bout. i just had to stay out of the way of all the Zebras)
l
like i’ve said, roller derby is a full contact sport!
Rowdy Reeta, as the Lead Jammer, gives the signal that calls off that Jam
(you’ve read the rules by now, right?) 😉
Kimbeaux Spice gives a Swamp Doll the eye of the tiger and the Swamp Doll returns the look!
roller derby ain’t for the timid, yo!
One Hitter Quitter keeps an eye on the Pack
two Swamp Dolls team up to try and block our Jammer!
Rowdy Reeta is the Jammer again as she makes her way through the Pack!
bam! the Swamp Dolls Jammer becomes the Lead Jammer!
(you can tell by the hand signals of the ref)
a Vixen tries to block the Swamp Doll’s Lead Jammer as Rowdy Reeta comes around the curve!
new jam!
Mischief Maker is the Jammer for the Vixens this time!
by this point, the Vixens were still in the lead
Mischief Maker becomes Lead Jammer and never slows down!
new jam!
Marla Stinger is the Jammer for the Vixens!
NitroGlisten and Judicious doing some blocking as the Swamp Dolls’ Jammer comes around!
Marla Stinger got knocked out of bounds!
Vixens may get knocked down, but they never stay down!
a Swamp Doll hits the track!
i said it once and i’ll say it again, this ain’t no tea-party! roller derby is a full contact sport!
look at NitroGlisten go!
(a little blurry, i know, but damn i love this shot)
new jam!
by this point, the Swamp Dolls had taken the lead!
but the Vixens didn’t take that laying down!
it just made The Pack hungrier!
and it made our Jammer jam harder!
blocking!
look at that Pack!
that’s not a Pack you wanna meet in a dark alley!
The Jammers take the curve at top speeds!
as halftime approaches, things get more intense!
the Princess gets knocked down and forced out!
Judicious starts to come around a Swamp Doll!
after this it was halftime.
halftime consisted of Mississippi Championship Wrestling.
no. i’m not even kidding LoL
it was the most random halftime i’ve ever seen. but it was fun.
also, met up with fellow photographer Ritch Southard and we started talking cameras and i mentioned how i wish i had a zoom lens for some of the shots and long story short, he let me borrow his Canon Rebel xti (cause it had a zoom lens) to shoot the second half of the bout. thanks man!
so let’s get back to it!
the second half started with the Swamp Dolls in the lead! the Vixens would have to stage a comeback!
(just looked better in black/white)
yeah, i’m not in the inside cycle yet. wanted to make sure i knew what i was doing with the Canon before i got back in there.
(look at Marla Stinger take that curve!)
back in the center circle and Rowdy Reeta is Jamming!
(by the by, credit were credit is due. that Jammer for the Swamp Dolls up there? man, she was a threat!)
Rowdy Reeta takes the Lead Jammer spot in a hard fought contest!
new jam!
Christyphrenic does some blocking, Rowdy Reedy is a Pivot, and Mischief Maker is Jamming!
whew! look at that hungry Pack!
Rowdy Reeta at the Jam Line!
(see why i wanted a zoom lens?)
Rowdy Reeta taking the curve!
NitroGlisten at the Jam Line!
Marla Stinger at the Jam Line!
Bam! look at that block!
One Hitter Quitter trying to block that bad-ass Swamp Dolls’ Jammer!
Rowdy Reeta, Jamming at speeds The Flash would envy!
boom! a Vixen takes a spill!
Marla Stinger gets forced out while Jamming!
Capt. Rowdy Reedy on the sidelines!
Coach going over some notes!
(at least, i think she was the coach. help me out here Vixens!) 🙂
Judicious talking some stuff over with Rowdy Reedy while NitroGlisten listens in.
as time ticked down, things got even more brutal!
Kamdemic gets the Pack to form up on her as the Vixens try to rally for a comeback!
Kamdemic blocks as the Pack rallies!
Brawlin Nawlin at the starting line as we see Rowdy Reedy head to the Jam Line in the background.
this is it!
last Jam of the bout!
Marla Stinger delivers a block as the Vixens leave it all on the track as they fight for a comeback!
but the Swamp Dolls aren’t just coasting! they’re fighting for the win too!
epic crash! Rowdy Reedy collides with a Swamp Doll and they both tumble out of bounds! nearly taking out the people sitting in “Suicide Seating”!
as the medic makes her way over to check everyone out (i think Rowdy Reedy got the wind knocked out of her) the clock ticks to zero and the bout is over!
Final Score: MRV – 97 / PRSD – 126!
this was an awesome bout! the both teams played a hell of a game! many congrats to our Magnolia Roller Vixens for a hard fought game and many congrats to the Pearl River Swamp Dolls for their hard fought victory!
group photo time!
one in black and white
and all the rest in color 🙂
some fans hopped in the photo! one of them was celebrating her birthday and both teams sung happy birthday to her during the photo 🙂
high five!
and that will wrap it up!
i really had a great time, i can see why so many people love roller derby!
Blogging Soundtrack!
Uncle Leon & The Alibis “Roller Derby Saved My Soul”
have a good one everybody!
see ya next week!
oh wait!
there’s something i’ve been meaning to do for awhile.
if you’ve been noticing my spelling and/or grammer improving with these posts, it’s because of one of my very good friends, K. May Li!
she’s been leading me her free time to read over and edit these for me. so, here’s a special shout-out!
many thanks for helping me out! 🙂
Scenes Around Jackson Photoblog 
This is just so great!! Thanks for taking these great photos of us and supporting your local roller derby! I love the write-up and the captions, too. Thanks sooooo much!
Kimbeaux Spice
you’re welcome! 🙂
This IS SO AWESOME! Thanks for taking the time to do this! I love the photos and the captions!
and you’re welcome too! 🙂
Thanks so much!!!! The pics are 100% WIN and the write up is awesome! Hope to see you back June 26th!
“(at least, i think she was the coach. help me out here Vixens!) ”
Bonnie aka Golden Goonie was acting as Bench Coach for the night. She broke her ankle, so she couldnt play. She’s usually one of our jammers.
Also image 89 of 92 is of Brawlin Nawlin.. not Kamdemic 😛
😀
d’oh! fixed!
and thanks! 🙂
Thanks for the great pics and write up! It’s made of total awesomeness! Hope to see you at the next bout on June 26th!
you’re welcome your highness! 😉
You rock, dude! I’m usually the AV person for my team. LOL! Nice to have other people take photos for once. 😉
no prob reeta!
i had a great time doing it 🙂
Wow these are really awesome. I especially like the close ups of Nitro and Marla at the jam line.
thanks sara
yeah, i really like those too 🙂
LOVE the shots, and the write up is awesome!!! Hope to see you again at the next one!!!!
many thanks marla!
These photos are awesome! I was wondering if i could send a few to our newspaper because they are doing an article on us before our next bout, you be credited in the article. please email em back if its cool!
thanks,
restnpeaces
sounds cool to me
which ones and which email addy do you want them sent to? 🙂