Preserve your NPC competition body

Competing in a NPC tournament in South Florida this year?

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Here are the dates for the rest of the year, courtesy of NPC Florida Events.

April

1-2 – IFBB/NPC Miami Muscle Beach Pro/Am – National Qualifier -Eden Roc Hotel, 4525 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140 – Guest Appearance: 2X Mr. Olympia Men’s Physique Jeremy Buendia – Geobanny Paula – 786-217-2110 –MiamiMuscleBeachPro@gmail.com– web: MiamiMuscleBeachPro.com.

9 – Gold Coast & Mari Redondo Classic – National Qualifier – James LKnight Center, Ashe Auditorium, 400 SE 2nd Ave., Miami, FL 33131 - Mari Redondo & Sergio Pacheco – 786-295-9146/305-301-1314 –redondomari@aol.com web: sergioandmariiproductions.com

9– Renegade Classic – National Qualifier – Helen Blackburn Auditorium, 550 Alf Coleman Rd., Panama City Beach, FL 32408 – Mike McKinney – 850-527-4479 – Michael@mckinneyfitness.com and Tim Gardner – 813-281-4696 – tgflex.florida@gmail.com web: TimGardnerProductions.com

9 – JAX Physique – Central District Only – UNF Performing Arts Center, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL – John Meier 904-584-5544 or Gail Elie 904-234-1182. Web: jaxphysique.com

16 – Southeast Classic – National Qualifier – South Broward High School, 1901 N. Federal Hwy., Hollywood, FL 33020 – Guest Poser: 2016 IFBB Arnold Champion Kai Greene – Maggie Cambronero – 786-877-0438 –maggy305@gmail.com– web: npcseclassic,com

16 – Panhandle Showdown & NW Florida – National Qualifier –Pensacola High School, 500 W. Maxwell, Pensacola, FL 32501 – Russ Mesey – 850-244-1629 – iammaxfit@yahoo.com - web:Panhandleshowdown.com

16 – Galaxy – Open Nationwide – Pedro Menendez High School, 600 SR 206, St. Augustine, FL – Gene Schlossberg - 904-471-9093 -flexgene@aol.com & Pete Fancher 321- 917-1340 –pfanc79582@aol.com – web: galaxychampionships.com

23 – Diamond Classic – National Qualifier – Olympic Heights Community High School, 20101 Lyons Rd. Boca Raton, FL 33434 – Andres Miller – 954-326-8821- qcbbpromotions@gmail.com - web:DiamondBodybuildingClassic.com

23 – MONSTA Classic – Open Nationwide – Levy Performing Arts Center, Florida Gateway College, 149 E. College Place, Lake City, FL –Tony Curtis – 386-697-6315 – web: monstaclassic.com

29-30 – IFBB/NPC Europa Show of Champions – National Qualifier –Orange County Convention Center, 9400 Universal Blvd., Orlando, FL – Ed & Betty Pariso – 817-498-3631 – Bettypariso@aol.com web:europagamesexpo.com



May

7 – Naples-Bonita Classic – Open Statewide – Immokalee Seminole Indian Casino, 506 S. 1st St., Immokalee, FL – Paco Hernandez, Golden Lion Productions - 925-548-1882 or 239-253-9956 –pf1on1@yahoo.com– web: npcnaplesbonitaclassic.com

7– Seminole – Central District Only – Winter Springs High School, 130 Tuskawilla Rd., Winter Springs, FL – Ty or JoAnna Pope - 321-355-9983 –tyjopope@yahoo.com– web: seminoleclassic.com

14 – IFBB/NPC Florida Grand Prix – National Qualifier – Northwood University, 2600 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33409 – Serge Saric, Fitness Urge, LLC – 561-460-6000 – web:probodyoutlet@gmail.com – web: probodyoutlet.com

14 – Riptide Classic – National Qualifier – Helen Blackburn Auditorium, 550 Alf Coleman Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32408 - Mike McKinney - 850-527-4479 - Michael@mckinneyfitness.com & Tim Gardner - 813-281-4696 - tgflex.florida@gmail.com web: TimGardnerProductions.com

20-21 – Jr. USA –National Contest & Pro Qualifier – N. Charleston Performing Arts Center, 5001 Coliseum Dr., N. Charleston, SC – Tres Bennett – 843-270-4373 –tresb@comcast.net– web: npcjuniorusa.com

21 – Progress & Pride Classic – Open Nationwide – Ft. Myers Beach Bonita Center For The Performing Arts, 26100 Old 41 Rd., Bonita Springs, FL – Brian Raymond (239-825-8388) –web: progressandprideclassic.com

28 – Florida Muscle Classic – National Qualifier – Carol & Barry Kaye Auditorium, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431 – Jocelyn Jean – 954-445-4454 –trainer83@yahoo.com– web:Floridamuscleclassic.com

28 – Suncoast Classic – Drug Tested – Open Nationwide- Qualifier for Team Universe – Tampa, FL, Location TBA – John Hansen – 630-915-9029 –naturalolympia@gmail.com– web: npcnaturalsuncoast.com



June

4 – Tampa Bay Classic – Central District only – Gaither High School, 16200 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, FL – John Schleicher – 813-962-1354 - prewarcollector@yahoo.com – web:tampabayclassicbodybuilding.com

11 – National US All Military Forces – Wilmington Convention Center, Wilmington, NC – Mike Valentino – 910-200-2920 –mike@goldsfitness.com– web: ncnpc.com

11 – Bill Wilmore Classic – National Qualifier – South Broward High School, 1901 N. Federal Hwy., Hollywood, FL 33020 – Bill Wilmore – 305-562-7972- Wilpower8599@gmail.com – web: BillWilmoreClassic.com

11 - Central Florida District – Open to Central District only – qualifier for Open overall winners - The Lakeland Center, 701 West Lime St., Lakeland, FL – Deb Callahan – 863-812-8788/863-683-9300 –debsgym@gmail.com web: debsgymandmore.com

17-18 – Jr. Nationals – National Contest & Pro Qualifier – Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel, 9300 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont, IL 60018 – Pam Betz – 407-876-4467 – Pambetz@aol.com – web: npcjrnationals.com

18 – Mid-Florida Classic – Open Statewide – Dr. Phillips High School, 6500 Turkey Lake Rd., Orlando FL – Deke Warner –321-276-3057 –Deke@bellsouth.net– web: Dekewarner.com

25 – West Palm Beach and Anna Level - National Qualifier – Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33401 – Frank Dalto –561-627-9638 –Frankdalto44@yahoo.com

25 – Sunset Classic – Central District only - Location TBA Sarasota, FL – Chris Eaddy - 407-474-8502 - Ceaddy@me.com – web:npcsunsetclassic.com



July

1-2 – Team Universe – National Contest & Pro Qualifier – Hasbrouck Heights, NJ – Steve Weinberger – 516-933-1111 – info@bevfrancis.com– web: bevfrancis.com/shows.html

2 – Miami – Open Statewide – James L. Knight Center, Ashe Auditorium, 400 SE 2nd Ave., Miami, FL – George Prince – 786-236-4691 –rosyprince21@yahoo.com web:miamiclassicbodybuildingchampionships.com

8 – Maria Bellando & Manny Mair Southern States (Bikini, Figure, Fitness & Men’s Physique )– National Qualifier – Air Travel Awards –War Memorial Auditorium, 800 NE 8th St, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304 – Guest posers IFBB Bikini Pro Noemi Olah and IFBB Fitness Pro Michelle Blank – Peter W. Potter – 954-763-2718 – usasports1980@gmail.com – web: npcsouthernstates.com

9 – Southern States (Bodybuilding, Women’s Physique & Classic Physique) – National Qualifier – Air Travel Awards – War Memorial Auditorium, 800 NE 8th St., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304 – Guest posers IFBB Pros Alex Cambronero & Cody Montgomery plus Special Appearance 8X IFBB Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman plus Mixed Pairs Omar & Angie Garcia – Peter W. Potter – 954-763-2718 –usasports1980@gmail.com– web: npcsouthernstates.com

16 – Ancient City – Central District Only – Pedro Menendez High School, 600 SR 206, St. Augustine, FL – Gene Schlossberg – 904-471-9093 –flexgene@aol.com - web: ancientcityclassic.com

21-23 – Teen, Masters & Collegiate Nationals – National Contest & Pro Qualifier – Pittsburgh, PA – Gary Udit – 412-377-1438 -gudit@comcast.net - web: garyudit.com

23 – Beach Bodies Classic – Open Nationwide – Satellite High School, 300 Scorpion Court, Satellite Beach, FL – Rick Blackwood 321-720-5175 & Donna Temouri 321-652-9551 –beachbodiesfitness@ymail.com– web:beachbodiesclassic.com

29-30 – USA – National Contest & Pro Qualifier– Artemus Hall, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV – Jon Lindsay – 310-796-9181-jon@musclecontest.com – web: musclecontest.com

30 – IFBB/NPC Prestige Crystal Cup – National Qualifier – Lynn University Performing Arts Center, 3601 Military Trail, Boca Raton 33431– Andres Miller – 954-326-8821 – qcbbpromotions@gmail.com - web:PrestigeCrystalCup.com

30 – Gainesville Classic – Open to Central District only – Oak Hall High School, 8009 SW 14th Ave., Gainesville, FL – Tony Curtis – 386-697-6315 – web: npcgainesvilleclassic.com



August

6 – IFBB/NPC Tampa Pro Bodybuilding Weekly & Tim Gardner Extravaganza – National Qualifier – Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay Hotel, 2900 Bayport Drive, Tampa, FL – Tim Gardner – 813-281-4696 –tgflex.florida@gmail.com– web: timgardnerproductions.com

6 – Dexter Jackson Classic – National Qualifier – UNF Performing Arts Center, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL – Dexter Jackson – 904-234-1182 – web: dexterjacksonclassic.com

20 – Florida State Championships – National Qualifier – State of Florida residents only – Olympia High School, 4301 South Apopka Vineland Rd, Orlando – Deke Warner –321-276-3057 – Deke@bellsouth.net – web:Dekewarner.com

24-27 – IFBB North American – International Contest (USA, Canada, & Mexico), Pro Qualifier - Pittsburgh, PA - Gary Udit – 412-377-1438 –gudit@comcast.net– web: garyudit.com

27 – MAX FIT Classic – Open nationwide –Emerald Coast Convention Center, 1250 Miracle Strip Parkway, Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548 – Russ Mesey – 850-244-1629 –iammaxfit@yahoo.com– web: ecpexpo.com

27 – Treasure Coast Championships – Open statewide– Pt. St. Lucie Civic Center, 9221 Civic Center Place, Pt. St. Lucie 34952 – Frank Nappi – 772-204-7101 –FNappi@cityofpsl.com– web: cityofpsl.com

27 – IFBB/NPC Naples Pro & NPC Greater Naples Classic – Open nationwide – Ritz-Carlton Resort, 2600 Tiburon Dr., Naples, FL – Paco Hernandez, Golden Lion Productions – 925-548-1882 or 239-253-9956 –pf1on1@yahoo.com– web: goldenlionproductions.com



September

3 – Royal Palm Classic – Open nationwide – Newport Beach Resort, 16701 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 – Calvin Choy -239-247-7324 or 305-944-0660 –royalpalmclassic@yahoo.com– web:royalpalmclassic.com

3 – Lakeland Classic – Open to Central District only – The Lakeland Center, 701 West Lime St., Lakeland, FL – Deb Callahan – 863-812-8788/863-683-9300 –debsgym@gmail.com– web:debsgymandmore.com

10 – Iron Bay Classic – Open to Central District only - Jefferson High School, 4401 W. Cypress St., Tampa, FL - Jose Santiago 813-440-9258jsantiago169@hotmail.com or Son Tran 678-762-9455ironbayclassicinfo@gmail.com - web: ironbayclassic.com

10 – IFBB/NPC Precision Fit Body Championships – National Qualifier – South Florida Expo Center at South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33411 – Janis Garrido – 561-370-8198 –Janis@precisionfitpb.com– web: pfitbc.com

24 – IFBB/NPC Hurricane Bay/Typhoon Bay – Open Nationwide. Typhoon Bay – steroid tested, qualifier for NPC Team Universe - Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St, Tampa – Tim Gardner – 813-281-4696 –tgflex.florida@gmail.com- web: timgardnerproductions.com

24 – Ruby Championships – National Qualifier – Olympic Heights Community School, 20101 Lyons Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33434 - Andres Miller - 954-326-8821 –qcbbpromotions@gmail.com– web:RubyChampionships.com



October

1 – IFBB/NPC Ft. Lauderdale Cup- National Qualifier – War Memorial Auditorium, 800 NE 8th St., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304 – Shannon Dey, Bombshell Fitness – 407-757-2804 –events@bombshellfitness.com – web: npcftlauderdalecup.com

1 – Daytona Beach Classic – Open Nationwide – News Journal Center at Daytona State College, 221 N Beach St., Daytona Beach, FL – Tony Curtis 386-697-6315 & Mike Matassa 386-299-3487 –toobehuge@aol.com web: npcdaytonaclassic.com

8 – Southeastern USA – National Qualifier – Location TBA, Orlando,FL - Chris Eaddy – 407-474-8502 - ceaddy@me.com – web:southeasternusa.net

15 – Champions Cup – Open Nationwide – Steroid Tested – Qualifier for Team Universe – Edgewater High School, 3100 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, FL – Chris Challenger – 407-493-1481 –npcchampionscup@gmail.com– web: npcchampionscup.com

22 – Paradise Coast – National Qualifier – Helen Blackburn Auditorium, 550 Alf Coleman Rd. Panama City Beach, FL 32408 – Mike McKinney 850-527-4479 –Micheal@mckinneyfitness.com & Tim Gardner 813-281-4696 –tgflex.florida@gmail.com– web: TimGardnerProductions.com

22 – Ocala Cup Classic – Central District only - Marion Tech Institute, 1614 E. Fort King St., Ocala, FL – Sandra Howell 352-410-4300 –sandyfit7@hotmail.com– web: ocalacupclassic.com

22 – IFBB/NPC Dayana Cadeau Classic – National Qualifier –DoubleTree by Hilton, Miami Airport Convention Center,711 NW 72nd Ave., Miami, FL 33126 – Dayana Cadeau – 561-351-9722 –bodygift2001@yahoo.com–dayanacadeauclassicshows.com

29 – IFBB/NPC Mel Chancey Port Charlotte Pro & NPC Champion Harbor Classic – National Qualifier – Port Charlotte Harbor Convention Center, 75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda, FL - Mel Chancey – 708-955-7653 & Tim Gardner – 813-281-4696 - Tgflex.florida@gmail.com – web:timgardnerproductions.com



November

5 – All South – National Qualifier – St. Augustine High School, 3205 Varello Ave, St. Augustine, FL – Gene Schlossberg - 904-471-9093 –flexgene@aol.com& Pete Fancher - 321-917-1340 –pfanc79582@aol.com– web: allsouthchampionships.com

5 – IFBB Florida Victory Pro – Pros only – no NPC amateur event –Olympic Heights Auditorium, 20101 Lyons Rd, Boca Raton, FL – Andres Miller –954-236-8821 –qcbbpromotions@gmail.com– web:qcbbpromotions.com

12 – Florida Gold Cup & Amanada Marinelli Classic – Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33401 – Frank Dalto 561-627-9638 - Frankdalto44@yahoo.com - Amanda Marinelli 772-834-3807 –amandamarinelli@aol.com

12 – Flex Fest – Location TBA, Pensacola, FL – Mauri Harrison – 850-969-9111 –mauri@npcflexfest.com & Scot Perry 850-450- 9001
Web: npcflexfest.com

18-19 – Nationals – National Contest & Pro Qualifier – James L. Knight Center, 400 SE 2nd Ave., Miami, FL 33131 – Pam Betz 407- 876-4467 -Pambetz@aol.com web: nationalbodybuilding.com

26 – South Florida – National Qualifier – Miami Dade County Auditorium, 2901 W. Flagler St., Miami, FL 33135 – Sergio Pacheco 305-301-1314 or 305-823-8346 –redondomari@aol.com– web:sergioandmariproductions.com



December

5 - IFBB/NPC Winter Classic – National-Qualifier – The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, 321 N. Ft. Lauderdale Beach Blvd,, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 – Paco Hernandez, Golden Lion Productions – 925-548-1882 or 239-253-9956 - pf1on1@yahoo.com–goldenlionproductions.com

Why my Lytro Illum ended up on eBay

We looked up at birds and created planes. We went from smoke signals, to letters, to telegrams, to phone calls, to email, to cell phones, to satellites and video calls. We went from film to digital. We went from the darkroom to the computer screen.

The imagination and innovation of the human species seems only limited by the technology we have developed thus far.

For many years, poor Charles Holland Duall (the US Commissioner of Patents 1898 to 1901) was reported to have said at the turn of the 20th Century; "Everything that can be invented has been invented"... A pretty narrow minded and dumb thing for a person to say. Especially a person who makes his living from people inventing new stuff!! This was later proven untrue. Duell actually said; "In my opinion, all previous advances in the various lines of invention will appear totally insignificant when compared with those which the present century will witness. I almost wish that I might live my life over again to see the wonders which are at the threshold".

Two blaringly opposing statements. One incredibly wrong, one incredibly right... And how right he was... In the end.

...What's my point?...

Well, somewhere around the middle of 2014, a little company named Lytro announced their newest creation. Lytro had previously gained a small cult status in the photographic/nerd world by inventing a little funny shaped low resolution camera. Not impressed yet?... This camera could take a picture, then have the user focus AFTER they had snapped the image.

What?!?!?! How can this be possible? Honestly, I'm not 100% sure of the science. But it worked. Picture quality however, was a bit shit.

Fast forward a few years, the beautiful design of the new Lytro Illum was revealed. It looked like something Captain Kirk would use after he'd talked one of his alien bedchamber companions to pose for a couple of nude pics. A beautiful design that promised the world!

With a 40 MegaArray sensor (yes, "Mega-Array") and a constant f2.0 lens with 28-250mm equivalent zoom, I hear you all 'Ooo-ing' and 'Aaah-ing' and rightly so. Quite an amazing spec list. My best Nikon zoom lens with a constant aperture is only f2.8 and 70-200mm. Pft. Pathetic.

Hopping back quickly to that 'MegaArray' thang. Does it mean 40 whopping megapixels?? Technically yes... Un-technically, no. The best way I think of this, is to imagine the sensor inside the camera is not flat but 3 dimensional. So image data is being read on multiple surfaces at the same time. However, you take that beautiful data and place it on your computer screen and we're back to flat 2d again.... Boring!

Boring it is not. All that data is still there to be accessed, with the right software. However, if you are looking at just the flat 'traditional' style image, it's the equivalent to a 4 megapixel shot. So where did the other 36 MegaArray-Pixel-Things go?

Fire up the Lytro software and suddenly, you can move around your still image, shifting the perspective and adjusting the focus. Cooool! With a bunch of groovy presets, you can record a short 'animation', bringing your image to life.

I had such high hopes for this technology. I got on the pre-order list and committed to a $1,500 price tag to be one of the first to get this optical marvel in my hands.

When I finally received the camera... On my birthday! (how's that for perfect timing), I carefully removed it from the beautiful packaging. The camera was so well crafted. The right mix of heavy quality with portability. It looked f'in cool too! I charged the battery, updated the firmware (as recommended) and popped in an SD card. I focused on a nearby object and hit the shutter. A satisfying 'crunch', confirmed my shot had been taken. There it was on the rear touch screen. I tapped on different parts of the screen to shift focus. Super awesome... Or was it? In my opinion, the Lytro Illum sensor is just too small (I would guess it's the equivalent to a micro 4/3 sensor). I'm not talking about the number of megapixels, I'm talking about the physical sensor size. As you may or may not know, a larger sensor equals a more pronounced depth of field. Some techy stuff known as 'Circle of Confusion' governs this. So to really see an exaggerated manipulation of the depth of field, you needed to use the widest aperture and zoom in as close as possible.

But wait, zooming in narrows the focusable area considerably! Just like with a regular camera and lens, DOF (Depth of Field) will be more pronounced with a longer zoom. So that means that anything more than a couple of feet behind the main object being photographed, cannot be placed back into focus with a tap on the screen.

My imagination had already outgrown the camera... Bummer.

Please don't get me wrong, this is amazing technology. Stuff that Sci-Fi dreams were made of just a few years ago. I see amazing developments in this area of photography in the future, however we're just not there yet.

I would have loved to have kept the Illum, just so I could have it in the future. When this technology grows into something that can be used in a more practical fashion, it would be like owning a Superman Issue 1 comic book (I hear that's a big deal in nerdville), or a '69 Mustang, or the very first Polaroid camera. But I just could not bear to see $1,500 sitting on a shelf gathering dust.

There are definitely applications for the current model, just very limited. If you visit the Lytro website, you can see some fantastic examples of what other artists had created before delivery began to the general public. Some of the results are truly beautiful.

So for now, I will have to revert to focusing my image correctly as I take it and wait for an updated version of the illum, or for another manufacturer to bring something to the table. However, by the looks of things, I might not have to wait very long!

Sony (you may have heard of them) have supposedly filed a patent a couple of years ago for a lightfield sensor. In addition, they have seemingly solved the problem of the lost resolution!

No official word yet from the electronics giant when they plan to do anything with this, or if they plan to do anything at all... Fingers crossed though.

If this is the case, you can definitely put me on yet another pre-order waiting list.