New Balance Ocean State XC Invitational is pleased to announce that it will have three photographers in action throughout the meet. Together Dan Grossman, Scott Mason, and George Ross will take 3,000 – 4,000 photos and have them available via their websites:

• Dan Grossman will be photographing students participating on Saturday in the Ocean State XC Invitational. This is an out-and-out amenity of this event: he will take the pictures for free, and students can print them for a few cents. This is not a profit center for the event or for a professional photographer. It is simply a volunteer taking pictures for the students and their parents.

Dan uses the same equipment and skills as does a professional photographer, but he is a volunteer. He will take a picture of the vast majority of students participating as a volunteer. He is not compensated, in any way, shape, or form for taking the pictures or for the printing of pictures.

In the two days after the event, the pictures will be posted online. Links to the photos are www.MapleLeafPhotos.com. Students and their parents can see the pictures and purchase prints. The web site makes prints for a few cents: 9 cents for a 4x6, and $1.50 for an 8x10, for example. The cost is negligible, of course, because this is a volunteer service.

Since 2000, Dan has taken about 100,000 digital pictures as a volunteer for high schools, colleges, hospitals, and other non-profit organization. He doesn’t get paid for any of this work. He uses professional Nikon digital cameras that can take up to 8 pictures per second. He has taken the most pictures of cross-country runners and of track and field competitors. At every event he has one goal: to take a good picture of every participant.

• Scott Mason has been photographing sports for 35 years, specializing in running events. He has shot races throughout New England for Frontrunner Magazine as well as doing some freelance work. Being an accomplished runner also gives Scott a unique perspective when it comes to his photo work. His work can be viewed at www.scottmasonphoto.com. Contact Scott at scottmasonphoto@mac.com

Scott will be working in conjunction with George Ross to shoot both Friday's and Saturday's Races, capturing all runners at various points on the course.

• George Ross’s DIGITALphotoconcept is a regular sports photography contributor to New England Runner magazine, including photographs from the 2008 New Balance Ocean State XC, and George will be shooting for the magazine at the 2009 meet. George covered the Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials in Boston and shot the magazine cover photograph. Additionally, DIGITALphotoconcept.com provides photo retouch and photo-restoration services, examples of which can be on his web site. Check his web site for George’s full bio and details of his photography equipment, including product reviews.

George will be at the meet on both days, and all photos will be posted by Sunday evening. Additionally, George will create two YouTube photo slideshows, one for Friday and one for Saturday, and these will be posted on George’s YouTube channel. George B. Ross Cell: 401-595-8671 DIGITALphotoconcept.com "...creating art, with your photography."